Review: In the Fields

In the Fields by Willow Aster

My rating: 5 of 5 stars






Willow Aster sure has a talent for breaking your heart wide open. Caroline's story is so devastating, and unbelievably unfair. Every person, in every lifetime will have their share of sorrows, but Caroline seems to have quite a bit more than her fair share. Without her biological family, she continues to move forward, and take one more step every day. Throughout circumstances that would have most people crumbling, she overcomes and finds a family of her own.



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Review: Black Arts

Black Arts by Faith Hunter

My rating: 4 of 5 stars






I started the Jane Yellowrock series four years ago, and I still look forward to reading these when the come out. There are very few series that I can stick with for long, because after a while most of them turn into filler, to make another buck. Downside Ghosts, Night Huntress, and Vampire academy are the only other series I can think of that I am still hanging on to.
Jane and her new partners, Eli & Kid are still working together to keep New Orleans safe. Molly hasn't forgiven her for taking Evangeline's life, even though she didn't have a choice. When two of Katie's working girls come up missing, and then Evan shows up irate, looking for his wife Molly, Jane gets sucked into leading another paranormal investigation.



***Spoilers***
Jack Shoffru, master vamp in Mexico, and old world pirate has entered the Louisiana territory seeking asylum (or so he says). He learned that Jane killed the Damours, and thought Molly had the blood diamond that was recovered from the black magic using family. When he learns that Shiloh, Molly's missing niece is in fact newly turned, and coming out of devoveo, he kidnaps her to draw Molly in. She heads to New Orleans to get Jane, and to try to fix things, but Reach (computer genius turned traitor) is working for Shoffru, and alerts him to her presence there. He kidnaps her before she can ever see Jane, and uses her magic for his own nefarious purposes. He keeps her blood drunk, and compliant. In the last battle Eli is badly injured, and almost dies. Leo beats Shoffru in a duel, killing him in the process, and Jane takes out his second. Bruiser is officially split from working for Leo, since his new Onario status prevents him from being bound. He is bunking at Janes house for a little while, with the Younger brothers, and Molly & her family. Ricky came back into Janes life, only for a moment before he ditched her for another werepanther from Africa. She is heartbroken, but determined never to allow him back in. The kitten Aggie One Feather gave Jane, turns out to be a familiar for Molly, helping her to keep her new bad magic at bay until she can figure out a long term plan. For now all is right, and Jane's adopted family is safe.



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Review: Erased

Erased by Jennifer Rush

My rating: 3 of 5 stars





Anna, Sam, Cas, & Nick are all on the run after escaping the Branch. They are all experiencing flashbacks, erased memories that are resurfacing. When they get word that someone is searching for Anna in the town of their latest hideout, the person the discover is a shock to them all. This discovery changes everything, and whatever decision they make, alters the course for all of them.
Erased wasn't as good as Altered, but I do like the series, and plan to continue with book three.


***Spoilers***
Dani is the one searching for Anna, but she is captured by the Branch before they find her. They call Trev for help, and he gives them the locations he knows of that they might have her in. When the find her they are ambushed, and barely escape. Anna only escapes because Trev frees her from an agent. Did he set them up? It's ironic they show up there, but why set them up just to save her? Dani is fine with Sam and Anna's relationship, even though they used to be together. All this time everyone thought she was dead. Dani sets them all up, making a deal with Will, their uncle who is also the founder of the Branch. She exchanges the boys, for hers and Anna's freedom. Anna does not go along with this plan, and ends up killing Dani while trying to escape. She also learns from her memories that she is the one who killed her parents after her dad shot her, and was going to kill the rest of them. In the end, Trev helps the boys free Anna, and she kills Will, knowing they will never be free of the Branch with him alive. Trev catches up to Anna in a coffee shop, and gives Anna a cell phone with a detonate button. When the button is pressed, all three of the Branch's locations are blown up. None of the employees are talking, and only Riley is unaccounted for. The four of them are together, and trying to settle into a life without looking over their shoulders at every turn, or fleeing for their lives.



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Review: The Descent

The Descent by Alma Katsu

My rating: 3 of 5 stars





The Descent wrapped up The Taker trilogy nicely. It wasn't as thrilling as the previous two books, and that was probably because it was written as an end. I can't say that the ending was all that shocking, though very unlikely.



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Four Seconds to Lose - K.A. Tucker

My review of K.A Tucker's second book had something along the lines of finding all of her work, even those in crayon. I read that review before starting Four Seconds to Lose to refresh, and couldn't figure out why I would say that. Well now I remember! Tucker is an amazing writer, and Four Seconds to Lose was just as fabulous.
Cain owns the strip club featured in the last two books. He is the exception in that he is not a sleaze bag. When Ginger introduces him to Charlie, her new friend looking for a job, he feels like he is seeing a ghost.
Charlie needs this job, and has to put on a convincing face that she has done this before. Her beloved step father has put her in a really bad situation, and she needs cash fast if she's going to escape him.



***Spoilers***
Charlie's step dad Sam raised her after her mother passed away, and has always been wonderful. After turning 18 he has her dropping packages for him, that she soon realizes are drugs. The packages keep getting bigger, and the people more dangerous. After a scare he sends her to Miami to hide out for a while, though he starts her right back up as a runner. He has a pretty elaborate trade going, but it makes Charlie sick to know she is a part of it. She knows Sam's best friend Dominic tried to get out once, and ended up dead. If she wants to escape, she will need to save up as much money as possible, and disappear.
Charlie reminds Cain of Penny, the girl that he let slip into the hands of her murdering new husband. He hires her, and can't help his infatuation, especially when Charlie starts stripping for him to ease her nerves. He knows she is hiding something, but can't her to come to him for help. After they finally hook up, and realize they're perfect for one another, Charlie is forced to do one more drop. The new guy is psycho, and holds his gun to her head and pulls the trigger. Luckily there aren't any bullets, but that doesn't stop Charlie from being scared to death. She knows it's only a matter of time before she is killed, and also knows that to protect her new friends she must stay away. She packs up and leaves, stopping in Mobile Alabama. Cain is distraught, and has finally figured out what all she is into. Sam comes to Cain threatening him, and the girls working, telling him he knows that Cain knows where Charlie is. Cain knows that Charlie will never be safe, and never return to him with Sam alive. He tells the mafia boss that has been highly pissed about Sam encroaching on his territory, that he is in town and where to find him. They take care of that problem, and Charlie calls Cain to make sure he's alive after hearing Sam is dead. He scoops her up, and they live HEA!!