Death’s Excellent Vacation – Spotlight & Review
Death’s Excellent Vacation – Anthology
Book Description:
“The editors of “Wolfsbane and Mistletoe” and “Many Bloody Returns” deliver a new collection-including a never-before-published Sookie Stackhouse story.
“New York Times” bestselling authors Charlaine Harris, Katie MacAlister, Jeaniene Frost-plus Lilith Saintcrow, Jeff Abbott, and more-send postcards from the edge of the paranormal world to fans who devoured “Wolfsbane and Mistletoe” and “Many Bloody Returns.”
With an all-new Sookie Stackhouse story and twelve other original tales, editors Charlaine Harris and Toni L. P. Kelner bring together a stellar collection of tour guides who offer vacations that are frightening, funny, and touching for the fanged, the furry, the demonic, and the grotesque. Learn why it really can be an endless summer-for immortals.”
My Thoughts:
As with any anthology with several authors, there were a few stories that I LOVED, some that I really liked, some that were just ok and a couple that just didn’t do it for me, but all in all it was a good read. I also found a couple new authors that I’ll be looking into, so that’s always a bonus!
Charlaine Harris’ Sookie Stackhouse short, Two Blondes, was excellent and the only thing wrong with it was that it was too short, lol. A full length novel about Sookie is too short for me, I can never get enough of these characters! Sookie and Pam go away for a weekend and while attending an unexpected business meeting they come across unexpected complications.
Jeaniene Frost’s – One For The Money: Cat & Bones’ vacation is interrupted when her uncle needs them to do him a favor. As always, any story about Cat & Bones, it was filled with suspense, danger, action, some smexy time, and great characters including Cat’s mom and Fabian the ghost. I always love a Cat & Bones adventure!
Meanwhile, Far Across The Caspian Sea by Daniel Stashower is about a young aspiring writer/journalist. He takes an entry-level job at a non-fiction publishing house and interacts with some pretty eccentric characters. There’s a surprise at the end.
A. Lee Martinez – The Innsmouth Nook Two men open up a bed and breakfast in a small strange town and strange things occur that lead to a completely unexpected ending. Creepy creatures, that’s all I can say without spoiling it.
Jeff Abbott – Safe & Sound A self involved TV journalist uses the disappearance of a college student in an attempt to boost her career. They all travel to the tropical island where he disappeared, despite a rude awakening of the paranormal kind, she never lets up in trying to put a self promoting spin on things up until the end.
L.A. Banks – Seeing Is Believing A young woman who has the gift of “sight” goes on a working vacation to New Orleans to gather supplies for a werewolf problem at home. She meets a young man who is able to help her and finds out just how special he really is.
Katie MacAlister – The Perils Of Effrijim Aisling Grey’s demon Effrijim or “Jim” as he likes to be called is sent off to be taken care of or supervised, while Ash & her family go on vacation. Calamity ensues when her caretaker’s apprentice banishes him to Akasha. Hilarious!
Christopher Golden – Thin Walls Aman who lost his wife a year ago goes on a “farewell” tour of all the places she loved as a tribute to her. He’s kept awake half the night at the hotel he’s staying at by, shall we say, some overly enthusiastic people in the next room. This story plays out in a surprise ending.
Lilith Saintcrow – The Heart Is Always Right A gargoyle saves a woman that he’s attracted to and then finds out that she’s very special. He’s very conflicted with what he knows he has to do with her and with his feelings for her. As always, Saintcrow’s writing and characters had me enthralled right up to the end.
Chris Grabenstein – The Demon In The Dunes A Man reminisces of a long ago summer when he was in his teens and on vacation for the summer with his family and friends. About a night where he & his friends snuck out to meet some girls and he saw a demon in the dunes. Interesting twist.
Sharon Newman – Home From America A great story of a fourth generation Irish man wanting to go to Ireland to find his roots. He ends up going with his whole family for a family reunion and is in for a big surprise!
Toni P. Kelner – Pirate Dave’s Haunted Amusement Park A newly turned werewolf returns to her favorite childhood vacation spot to be alone & come to terms with her situation. She comes across a vampire who is the owner of the Pirate themed amusement park she loves and the sparks fly!
Buy Death’s Excellent Vacation at:
Hunter’s Prayer – Spotlight & Review
Hunter’s Prayer by Lilith Saintcrow
(From Back Cover)
“Jill Kismet Is In Trouble
Another night on the Nightside…An ancient evil looms over Santa Luz. Prostitutes are showing up dead and eviscerated. And Jill Kismet just might be able to get her revenge against an old enemy.
There’s just one problem. Someone wants Jill dead – again. And if they have to open up Hell itself to kill her, they will.
Sometimes, even when you’re Jill Kismet, you don’t have a prayer…”
If you’re a Lilith Saintcrow fan, then this second book in the Jill Kismet series does not disappoint! I really like the character depth that is simutaneously revealed along side a rip-roaring ride of dark and gritty urban fantasy at it’s best. Paranormal elements mixed in with mystery, romance, extreme danger and so many themes it’s amazing.
A master of her craft, Ms. Saintcrow has an uncanny ability to not only put you inside the protagonist’s “head”, but to make you “feel” every thought, emotion, pain, triumph, relief, hope, fear and joy that Jill Kismet experiences, and have you rooting for her and Saul all the way.
I will give a “little bit of gore described” warning, so if watching the morgue scenes on CSI is too much for you, then be prepared, but I find that it adds to the “reality” that is Jill Kismet’s world. I, for one, am really anticipating the next book in this series, Redemption Alley, (I can’t find a release date for it yet!?).
Night Shift – Spotlight & Review
Night Shift by Lilith Saintcrow
ORBIT Books was kind enough to supply me with an ARC of Night Shift, and am I ever happy that they did! Night Shift is the first book in the Jill Kismet series, and it starts off with a bang. Jill Kismet is a complex character, tough yet vulnerable, more than human, and I was rooting for her from beginning to end.
A dark, gritty Urban Fantasy with tons of action, captivating characters, tension, a mystery, high octane danger, and even more diabolical characters that you love to hate! Ms. Saintcrow delivers an awesome tale of Hunters, Weres, Demons, and other things that creep in the night.
For fans of the Dante Valentine series, this new series is every bit as tantalizing and addicting! I can’t wait for the next book, Hunter’s Prayer, coming in September 2008.
( Moved over from my original blog )
7 Comments.
Posted by Pike stephenson:
Why can’t I read faster?! I’ve wanted to dive into Lilith’s books and this one sounds as intriguing as the others. The TBR stack is gonna topple over.Posted by sidhevicious:
I too wish I could read faster, heck if I could grow a couple more sets of eyes, that would work too. 😛
Posted by Pike stephenson:
You’d have the makings of a fine character in one of your own books!Posted by sidhevicious:
Posted by flip:
Posted by Amber:
Posted by Sidhe:
Waves at Amber! 😀 I think you’ll like it. That’s too bad that the Dante Valentine series didn’t work for you, I loved it and wish there were more coming.
The Devil’s Right Hand – Spotlight & Review
The Devil’s Right Hand by Lilith Saintcrow September 2007 by Orbit
(from back cover) ” Meet Dante Valentine. Necromance. Bounty Hunter. She is short on sleep and not a happy camper.
She’s just signed away seven years of her life – and her partner’s – to hunt down four rogue demons that have escaped from hell. Maybe she’ll find them. Maybe they’ll find her. Nobody said it was easy being the Devil’s right hand.”
This book, the third installment in the Dante Valentine series, continues the on-going adventures of kick-ass heroine Dante Valentine and her seemingly uncanny ability to land in some deep trouble no matter which way she turns. It’s non-stop action, introduction of a few new interesting characters and finding out more about the characters I’m already hooked on kept me flipping the pages to know more. I’m still in awe of the world Dante lives in, and find Lilith Saintcrow’s rendering of Dante’s world completely absorbing. I love the character of Japhrimel, and can’t wait to find out more about him!
Definitely another two thumbs up for this book. 
( Moved over from my original blog )
2 Comments.
Posted by Amber:
Posted by Judi:
I went and bought the last two, I still want to know what’s going to happen.Dead Man Rising – Spotlight & Review
Dead Man Rising by Lilith Saintcrow Sept.’06 by Warner Books (also republished by Orbit)
(from back cover) ” When The Dead Call, She Answers
Bounty hunting is a helluva job, but it pays the bills. And it lets necromance Dante Valentine forget her issues – like struggling with her half-demon side and the memory of her lover’s death.
Now psychics all over the city are being savagely murdered – and a piece of the past Dante thought she’d buried is stalking the night with a vengence. Too bad she’s got no way to tell which fiend – or friend – to trust. Or that her most horrifying nightmares are gathering to take one kick-ass bounty hunter down for the count.
But that’s only the beginning. The Devil just called. He’s looking for Dante’s lover – the one he killed…”
With this, the second book in Lilith Saintcrow’s Dante Valentine series, I am completely hooked! I can’t say enough how much I love this world, the characters, and Ms. Saintcrow’s talent at putting it all to paper. For the first time in my 36 years, I cried my eyes out from a scene in a book. I ordered the last two books in this series as soon as I finished reading it. (I already have book 3)
Dante Valentine is an ass-kicking heroine that attracts trouble like a magnet. She is tough and vulnerable, and one of the most intriguing female leads I’ve read in a long time. The only bad thing about these books is that they end with the fifth book. I’m thinking 5 more would be good. =) (And I haven’t even finished them)
( Moved over from my original blog )
Working For The Devil – Spotlight & Review
Working For The Devil by Lilith Saintcrow
(from back cover) ” Dante Valentine’s working relationship with the Devil wasn’t her choice – but you don’t turn down a contract with Lucifer and live.
Hired to kill Vardimal Santino, Dante can count as allies only a demon familiar she doesn’t trust and a small band of psychics. The thing is, Dante doesn’t need friends, she needs a miracle. Because the first time Dante Valentine met Santino, she almost died.”
I LOVED IT! The idea of this book was similar enough to LKH’s Anita Blake to pique my interest, but the character of Dante Valentine and the story captivated me through-out. She’s a totally different character than Anita, but I found her (Dante), to be every bit as compelling.
Lilith Saintcrow writes an amazing tale about a very interesting world with kick-ass characters. I can hardly wait to read the next in the series! I was totally captivated while reading this book. This is one of those rare works that was so good, I wish I had written it. Action, Romance, Paranormal elements, Danger, Heartbreak, Redemption, Revenge and a hell of a cast of characters make for a wicked mix.
( Moved over from my original blog )
2 Comments.
Posted by Louise:
xxxxxx
Posted by Judi:
I hear that! I really, really hope that Japh is alive somehow, but don’t tell me, I want to find out by reading. 🙂
About Me
I read Urban Fantasy, Paranormal Romance, Light Fantasy, Young Adult and Graphic Novels in said genres. I’ve also been known to read the odd historical romance if they involve uber-sexy highlanders, vikings or knights & if they involve some time travel and a lot of humor. Heh! 😀 If any Authors, Publicists or Publishers would like their books reviewed or would like to schedule a Guest Blog or Giveaway please contact me at sidhevicious@gmail.com
Please see the BIOS page for more info on our reviewing style and for other info.
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