Category Archives: Paranormal

Kitty’s House of Horrors

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The age of reality TV comes to Kitty’s world with an offer to bring her, and several other well-known supernaturals, together in a house with a skeptic for a period of time.  Kitty’s House of Horrors (Kitty Norville, Book 7) is Carrie Vaughn’s latest entry (that I’ve read) in her superb Kitty series.  Werewolf Alpha Kitty finds herself being wooed by television executives and her radio boss to go to an isolated cabin in the mountains for the reality show despite her objections, she goes.

51mWRrMMdfL._SL160_ Once at the location, Kitty learns that her cooperation was used to convince others to join the reality TV show.  The producers managed to convince the most high profile of the movers and shakers in the supernatural community – including the most vociferous skeptic.  This is the first sign that something may not be all as it seems.

As the guests start settling in, strange things start happening – including murder.  Soon, the safety escape route is gone as well and the contestants find themselves fighting for survival.  This story places the novel in the horror camp as not everyone survives despite the combined power among the house’s inhabitants.

This is a worthy entry into the Kitty mythos.  It acts as a universe expanding book where larger battles previously hinted at start to come to fruition.  Some scenes are truly gory and may upset sensitive readers – but they are appropriate for the story. 

I have noticed some folks complaining that there was no character development in this story.  I have to disagree.  I think it shows that Kitty is growing in her recognition of what it really means to be the Alpha and in charge of a pack – no matter how that pack may be defined.

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Hex in High Heels

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Jake’s past is finally catching up to him.  His former pack has moved into the resort next door to town.  His mother has set eyes up on the two witches who have lived there for at least a hundred years, Stasi and Blair.  Of course, Blair is a more interesting prey as she seems to have encouraged an interest in Jake which his mother does not approve of at all.

51o-XgMfVIL._SL160_ Now Jake hasn’t wanted anything to do with his pack for quite some time.  He left them, and believed they left him as he is not like the rest of them.  (Saying what that is, would be telling.)  He is the family black sheep, or so it seemed.  He smells trouble on the wind and wants to keep his favorite witch, Blair, out of the way.

Blair, of course, has different intentions.  Matters are not helped when the town starts creating more magical trouble by hiring elves for their winter festival from the most disreputable supernatural temp agency around.  The elves that show up are not as advertised, but Agnes, the town busybody, seems determined to bring the supernatural forces to heel much to the chagrin of Blair and Stasi.

Did I mention those loveable bunny slippers, Fluff and Puff are spending some quality time with Blair?  This adds a whole new dimension of trouble with weres, elves, and witches running around.

Hex in High Heels by Linda Wisdom is a wonderful summer read.  Nothing too serious or taxing, a number of grins, and a good time for the reader.  Wisdom’s books really do keep improving and I am anxious for the next book after reading the tantalizing teaser at the end. 

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Sucker for Love

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Lil Marchette continues to attract all sorts of trouble.  Somehow she ends up in Texas with her human and pregnant sister-in-law, mother, and best friend.  Her mother is, of course, trying to rid herself of her human daughter-in-law, her best friend is trying to hide from true love with Lil’s brother, and her sister-in-law is clueless as to what is going on.

41FGD9KsNjL._SL160_Did I mention that Lil is trying to track down her missing client, Esther?  It seems that there is a rogue warlock who wants to use Esther in some nefarious plot that hell – and Merlin, yes that Merlin – know all about but won’t let Lil stop! 

Does Lil care that hell says no to getting involved? She wouldn’t be Lil Marchette if she did. And between staying alive, she even finds new clients.

Sucker for Love: A Dead-End Dating Novel (Dead-End Dating Novels) by Kimberly Raye is a great beach read.  No brain cells need apply while reading.  I really enjoy the misadventures of Lil as she tries to escape her father’s copying and office supply business with her own venture.  She really is a likeable, if a dense character.

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Binnall of America (Podcast)

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Do you enjoy a wide array of esoteric topics? Everything from superstitions in baseball, to the influence of professional wrestling on culture, UFOs, conspiracy theories, and esoterica you might never come across otherwise?

If you do, Binnall of America is the podcast for you. Tim Binnall has created one of the best online radio shows about the things that many of us will talk about late at night – but may not admit to wanting to know more. His guests have included journalists, physicists, historians, and a wide array of people from all walks of life who have been touched in some way by the strange and unexplained. (Yes, professional wrestling does count for the unexplained.)

Tim Binnall comes to this arena with no preconceived notions. His interview style comes very much from the “I don’t know if what you say is true, but I want to learn more.” He also, unlike many, takes the time to read or watch the media his guests have produced before interviewing them. This makes for insightful interviews that deserve more airplay.

I wish more of those involved in this fascinating part of the human experience would follow his lead. This is one of a handful of podcasts that I listen to regularly. And, yes, his archives are available to listen to online.

Leader of the Pack

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51sPPpaMH8LLeader of the Pack (Tales of an Urban Werewolf, Book 3) by Karen MacInerney is the latest book about Sophie Garou – a werewolf who lived outside of the pack and wants to avoid pack politics like the plague.

In the last book we were left wondering what exactly is Mark, her client/boyfriend – and boy do we find out. Why Sophie and Heath fell into another’s arms makes a lot more sense once the identity of Mark is revealed – and what he wants from Sophie. It’s little wonder her mother disliked him from the start. We also were left wondering why Tom continued to lead Lindsay on – even this is answered to some degree in the latest book.

Leader of the Pack (Tales of an Urban Werewolf, Book 3) opens with Sophie’s erstwhile father, Luc comes to town and is accused of murder. Sophie finds she must take on Wolfgang, his female alpha, and learn all about pack politics seemingly overnight.

I enjoyed this book but am a little confused by the number of people calling this a humorous book. I didn’t find it especially humorous, but I did find it a pleasant completion of the previous two books.

The Accidental Demon Slayer

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The Accidental Demon Slayer by Angie Fox is a major disappointment. I wanted to like this book. It had an interesting concept but there was an underlying meanness to the book and its characters that I had a lot of trouble getting past.

51FW77h8qGLThe main character, Lizzie becomes unlikable and unbelievably inconsistent as the story wears on. First, she indicates that she figures her biological family was probably nuts and thus never wanted to find them. As time wears on, she suddenly seems to seethe with resentment towards her adoptive parents and have trust in a group of people who have been nothing but abusive to her in the few days since she met them! Make no mistake, the way she is treated is just plain abusive.

I had a great deal of trouble getting past that. The last thing the world needs is yet another glorification of someone being abused into being someone great. The novel indicates that the constant berating Lizzie undergoes at the hands of the various characters in the “biker roadkill witches’ coven” is responsible for transforming her into a kick-ass demon slayer. Huh? This is a group that literally physically beats her up while trying to kill her and she starts believing they are her real family? WTF?

Not only is the white trash biker coven physically abusive, they refuse to give her a straight answer about anything and then she muses that they have been “nothing but honest”?!!??!?!

Avoid this book! Do not encourage such books to be written. The glorification of abuse in any form is a bad thing.

Undead and Unworthy (Audiobook)

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Disappointing. That is the word that encompasses how I felt about Mary Janice Davidson’s Undead and Unworthy (Queen Betsy, Book 7) read by Nancy Wu.

51uWzKwkG7LAuthors are allowed some internal inconsistencies, but, when those inconsistencies make the plot completely infeasible, a line has been crossed. The storyline around The Fiends made no sense in several ways – from their hatred of The Queen, to their survival without Alice, to Garrett’s behavior throughout. For that matter, where was the snarky Betsy we have come to know and love?

I was, at one point, tempted to say that Betsy was finally coming into her own as The Queen, but felt that the inconsistencies with the book and the character – as she has been established – made that a false statement. The abandonment of her ghost secretary for this book with the addition of The Ant – for no apparent reason – was unfortunate.

Undead and Unworthy (Queen Betsy, Book 7) is the weakest in what had been, until now, a fun bit of escapism. Hopefully, Davidson will not allow her success with this franchise to cause a repeat of the Laurel K. Hamilton disease wherein the only good scenes are the sex scenes – and even some of those not so much.

I read or listen to these books primarily for the humor. I believe this is true for most of the audience. In this, Undead and Unworthy (Queen Betsy, Book 7) fails.

Salt and Silver

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Salt and Silver by Anna Katherine is a look at what might happen in the later years after an adolescent opens a doorway to hell. It is an interesting book, but for some reason I was not captured by the characters. Perhaps they were too shallow?

Salt and Silver is a journey through hells of various flavors in order to save the world. It is also a love story between the perpetrator, Allie, and her hero, Ryan. Ryan is a member of a group of “hunters” who are sworn to keeping the bad things from overflowing through the doors into our world.

51QExYIbOBLI was not sympathetic to the characters. I found that there was something missing from this book that I cannot quite put my finger on. I love paranormal romance, but this book left me cold. I will not be seeking out any sequels or prequels as I really don’t care what happens to the characters. I guess, for me, characters are more important than world-building and plot – or maybe I’m greedy and expect all three to be there when I read something.

Salt and Silver may be worth getting from the library, but I wouldn’t consider it a book to spend hard-earned cash on.

Nice Girls Don’t Have Fangs

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51t9AYhVA+LNice Girls Don’t Have Fangs (Jane Jameson, Book 1) by Molly Harper takes a bad day and makes it worse to funny paranormal heights.

Jane Jameson is – or was – a children’s librarian in her home town. Due to nepotism, she finds herself jobless and enjoying the nectar of the local hangout where she meets the delightful stranger, Gabriel Nightengale. Somewhat inebriated, Jane enjoys a lively – but little remembered – discourse with the hunky Gabriel. Gabriel, fortunately, takes a shine to Ms. Jameson.

Not only has Jane lost her job, on the way home, in the middle of the night, in her “roll up the sidewalks” town, her car breaks down. She then finds herself blacking out of the entire world for a few days. Three days later she awakens to find herself in pajamas not her own in an unfamiliar bedroom when Gabriel walks in to inform her she is a vampire now.

In Nice Girls Don’t Have Fangs (Jane Jameson, Book 1), vampires are known and working for civil rights, but who wouldn’t freak out if you found you were now one of them? Jane wants nothing to do with her sire and soon her days and weeks turn more and more upside down with murder, mayhem, and real estate.

This is a lighter read that is perfect for the last days in August – or the Labor Day Weekend getaway. Nothing too serious, but pretty well put together, this book draws the reader in. I am anxious to read the sequel to Nice Girls Don’t Have Fangs (Jane Jameson, Book 1).

Wicked by Any Other Name

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51dqq8jXj0LWicked by Any Other Name by Linda Wisdom centers around Jazz’s friends Stasi and Blair. Stasi finds herself being summoned to Wizard’s Court by fellow townie Carrie who blames Stasi for her husband leaving her.

Now Carrie is no sympathetic figure but she manages to get one Trevor Barnes to represent her in Wizard’s Court. The Wizard Lawyer has no idea what has hit him when stars appear above Stasi once he lays eyes on her.

Stasi can’t believe Cupid is serious with this particular arrangement. A witch does not fall in love with a wizard – they just don’t mix. Of course, she has been being wooed by the new bakery’s owner, Reed. For some reason he just will not be rebuffed. Whose bed does she find herself in?

Blair has been finding herself allowing her heart to allow a stray collie to share her bed and steal her covers while she is trying to capture one Jake, the handyman. Of course, her talents don’t fall in line with capturing a man’s heart as she sends all sorts of mixed signals. Of course, Jake is keeping secrets of his own.

Linda Wisdom’s Wicked by Any Other Name is a wonderful read for a leisurely late summer afternoon. Witches and wizards as you would never expect to see them. As light as this romance is, it is still a pretty well written and well-imagined world that can pull you in and keep your attention.