Blood Bath & Beyond

Title: Blood Bath & Beyond

Author: Michelle Rowen aka Michelle Maddox aka Morgan Rhodes

Publisher: Obsidian Mystery

Series: Immortality Bites Mystery, Bk 1 ; a continuation of the Immortality Bites PR series

ISBN: 9780451237644

Pages: 308

Obtained: Library copy

Comments:

Vampires are spreading to the cozy mystery, but they still aren't so common as in some genres.  This means they can be fun and interesting without becoming hackneyed.  Beyond that, I've read and enjoyed Michelle Rowen's books before in other genre's.  She's written paranormal romance (of which I've read Angel with Attitude), paranormal YA fiction (I've read Reign or Shine and Reign Check), paranormal shorts (I've read "Familiar"), contemporary romance, urban fantasy, ... What I didn't read (and man was I a confusing mix of "That figures." and "What? I can't believe it!" once I realized), was the Immortality Bites paranormal romance series which I used to own, but am pretty sure I never read.

As I was reading the book, I felt like there was a back story behind the relationship of Sarah and Thierry.  It simply never occurred to me there might be 5 books worth behind it.  The really unfortunate part is that I have a sneaking suspicion I ended up donating those books.  Now I'll have to check them out at the library.

But perhaps you'd like to hear my thoughts on the book in question?  I enjoyed it.  I like Sarah.  She can be both confident and uncertain depending on the circumstances, which made for a nice balance.  The story itself was interesting.  There is a serial killer vampire in Vegas that needs to be stopped.  I guessed a part but certainly not all of what was going on.

Speaking of Vegas.  The bulk of the book is set there, but it starts in Toronto.  Which is of particular note because Michelle Rowen is from Ontario, qualifying this read for the Canadian Book Challenge 6.

"Familiar"

Title: "Familiar" from Kiss Me Deadly: 13 Tales of Paranormal Love

Author: Michelle Rowen

Publisher: RP Teens

Copyright Date: 2010

Print Date: July 2010

ISBN: 9780762439492

Pages: 32

Book Description (from back cover):

'Til Death Do Us Part...

For those who thirst for accounts of paranormal romance, Trisha Telp has compiled some of the most thrilling tales of forbidden love in this collection. First crushes and last rites; dark spells and bright magic; forbidden lovers and enchanted beings—and always , always hungry games of desire. Puckers up for a darkly sweet collection of ghosts, shape shifters, fairies, unicorns, vampires, and demons in tales from today's biggest writers of the paranormal persuasion.

Comments:

I actually made up a post-it note for this so I'd remember.  What follows are my notes (parenthetical notes are my current interpretations of what I had joted down)...

Cute. Short, obviously. Not a lot of depth possible. As much as possible crammed in. (Referring to depth.) Leaves a lot to the imagination. (I'm pretty sure I meant this in a positive way.) Good Characters. Quick ending. (Apparently I wasn't in the mood for complete sentences.)

Anyway, I had intended to read all the short stories then write a line or two about each one, hence the post-it note. As that isn't going to happen, I thought I'd share my thoughts on what I did read.

reign check

Title: reign check

Author: Michelle Rowen

Publisher: Walker & Company

Copyright Date: 2010

Print Date: June 2010

ISBN: 9780802795496

Pages: 292

Series: 2nd in the Demon Princess series

Book Description (from back cover):

Nikki Donovan has had a lot to deal with since learning she was half human, half demon. But things take a darker turn when Rhys, a gorgeous — but potentially dangerous — faery king enrolls at her high school to investigate Nikki's potential for fulfilling an apocalyptic prophecy. Nikki knows she'd never turn violent, and she certainly couldn't destroy the world...could she?

Of course, all Nikki really wants is to be reunited with Michael, a Shadow creature whose status as her personal servant is further complicated by their undeniable attraction to each other. Even though the rules of the Shadowlands strickly forbid their romance, Nikki is determined not to let Michael go. But when she is summoned to the Underworld to appear before a demon council, it will take all her courage — and perhaps a bit of demon-level strangth — to get herself out again.

Comments:

Okay, I'm going to start at the end of this. I can't help it. I can't find anything about a 3rd in series. This may be the last. I'm cool with series that end ... when there's a set or obvious ending. :sigh:: I guess I'll just keep hoping for at least a 3rd in this one.

Anyway, back to the story. Honestly, I prefered the first book, Reign or Shine, BUT (and that's a big but), I enjoyed this one too. (Obviously, right? Why else would I want a 3rd?) Nikki was still a great character. I was intrested to see what would happen with the Faery king, Rhys. And I was kind of surprised not to see more of her best friend Melinda. But she did spend a chunk of time in the Underworld, so I guess that's part of the reason. Speaking of the Underworld... I loved Beasley — a being that looked like a giant ::ech:: cockroach (I'm dramatizing a bit there. I've held a Madagascar cockroach and it was pretty cool. Of course if it had been human sized? That'd be another story.). Anyway, Beasley was a little character, but still a great one.

Beyond the characters, the story was interesting. And as I'm finding is usual for Michelle Rowen's work, the humorous bits scattered throughout were a plus.

REIGN or SHINE

Title: REIGN or SHINE

Author: Michelle Rowen

Publisher: Walker & Company

Copyright Date: 2009

Print Date: October 2009

ISBN: 9780802795342

Pages: 274

Series: 1st in the Demon Princess series

Book Description (from back cover):

For Nikki Donovan, being a teenager can be h___. Literally.

Nikki didn't think her life could get any more complicated after she moved to the dreary town of Erin Heights — fitting in at a new school while navigating the social scene was stressful enough. But when her sixteenth birthday rolls around, she's visited by a mysterious stranger, Michael, who tells her that her long-lost father is actually the demon king of the Shadowlands — the dimension that protects our world from the Underworld and Hell.

Maybe it's because she's in shock, or maybe it's because Michael is seriously cute, but Nikki follow him into the Shadowlands. There she learns about her half-demon powers, about the potential war between the Shadowlands and the Underworld, and that her father wants her to assume the throne — forever. Not to mention that her growing crush on Michael is completely forbidden...

Ruling a kingdom, navigating a secret crush, and still making it home by curfew — what's a teenage demon princess to do?

Comments:

I really enjoyed this. I liked the characters and the story. The bit of romance, the suspension of seeing it all unfold (I didn't read the blurb at all, so it was a complete adventure), and the humorous bits throughout.

I even read the excerpt of the 2nd book, Reign Check, which I don't often do. Speaking of... Reign Check is waiting for me at the library. I'll be picking it up tomorrow and hopefully enjoying it soon.

Angel with Attitude

Title: Angel with Attitude

Author: Michelle Rowen

Publisher: Warner Books Paranormal Romance

Copyright Date: 2006

Print Date: August 2006

ISBN: 0446616990

Pages: 347

Book Description (from back cover):

When you're hot for a demon, you might as well kiss your halo good-bye...

Falling naked into the killer whale tank at MarineLand is always bad news, but it's a real bummer when you've just been kicked out of Heaven. Former angel Valerie Grace is determined to reverse her banishment—Earth's just no fun. Her best friend is a slightly perverted human-turned-rat (note to self: never cross a powerful witch) and she's being tailed by a sexy Tempter Demon named Nathaniel who's trying to lure her to Hell with kisses that are almost worth the trip.With the talking rodent sneaking peeks down her shirt and Nathaniel getting more irresistible every minute, this ex-angel has only one hope: find the stolen Key to Heaven and go home. Then the oddest thing happens—Nathaniel starts to show signs of loyalty and love. And soon Val is asking herself if it is such a bad thing to have the hots for a demon.

Comments:

I won a book of my choice from Michelle Rowen's backlist ages (well, months) ago. At the time, that meant one of the first 3 Immortality Bites books (Bitten & Smitten, Fanged & Fabulous, Lady & the Vamp) which I already owned, Angel with Attitude, or Countdown (published under the name Michelle Maddox). I decided on Angel with Attitude because it sounded like a lighter, more humorous book. When it arrived, it was set aside with my other autographed books, away from my other books. I'm sorry to say I ::whispers:: forgot it. Anyway, I suddenly remembered it.

It was a pleasantly light read—complete with angels, demons, and talking rat (originally a human). It was mostly focused on Valerie and her self-appointed mission and some fun Reggie the human-in-a-rat's-body interaction. Nathaniel was there, but...

It wasn't as much about a relationship growing as the individual Valerie Grace growing. That isn't a bad thing, but it's not what I normally expect from a book labelled romance. However, I'm happy I chose it and I'm glad I finally read it.