Naughty Editions Books

Jaz Parks, an uber assassin and vampire companion with a hottie vampire as a partner – what is not to love about that? I have been reading about Jaz Parks for a while now and I absolutely love her. There are five books in the series,

For those who haven’t had a chance to read this series, here’s the blurb for Once Bitten, Twice Shy (Jaz Parks),
the first novel in the Jaz Parks series…

I’m Jaz Parks. My boss is Vayl, born in Romania in 1744. Died there too, at the hand of his vampire wife, Liliana. But that’s ancient history. For the moment Vayl works for the C.I.A. doing what he does best–assassination. And I help. You could say I’m an Assistant Assassin. But then I’d have to kick your ass.

Our current assignment seemed easy. Get close to a Miami plastic surgeon named Assan, a charmer with ties to terrorism that run deeper than a buried body. Find out what he’s meeting with that can help him and his comrades bring America to her knees. And then close his beady little eyes forever. Why is it that nothing’s ever as easy as it seems?

One More Bite was the latest release. (I love the cover art, where do they get the gear?)

I’m Jaz Parks. My boss is Vayl, born in Romania in 1744. Died there too, at the hand of his vampire wife, Liliana. But that’s ancient history. For the moment Vayl works for the C.I.A. doing what he does best–assassination. And I help. You could say I’m an Assistant Assassin. But then I’d have to kick your ass.

Our current assignment seemed easy. Get close to a Miami plastic surgeon named Assan, a charmer with ties to terrorism that run deeper than a buried body. Find out what he’s meeting with that can help him and his comrades bring America to her knees. And then close his beady little eyes forever. Why is it that nothing’s ever as easy as it seems?

Its a good thing that she has them coming out starting in July in mass paperback, I almost went broke buying ever single one in trade paperback. So if your looking for a good urban fantasy without a bunch of erotica to it, this is your girl. If not, its still good reading.

As a matter of fact, all the previous books by Jennifer Rardin in this series all sported some rockin’ sportswear and a really great story line. Another One Bites the Dust is another grood book, leaves you hanging thought.

Jaz Parks has enough trouble in her personal life. What she doesn’t need is more trouble with her vampire boss and another mission. This time she has to retrieve a vital piece of biotechnology by killing the maniac who stole it: an ancient Chinese vamp. Their cover in this mission: professional entertainers at the Corpus Christi’s Winter Festival.

The crew’s all here: a psychic, a techno-wizard, a singing vampire, a juggling PI, and Jaz. Holy crap in a bottomless well, Jaz is going to bellydance. It’s definitely, probably, quite possibly going to be the end of the world as we know it.

Each book leaves you on your seat waiting for the next one i.e. Biting the bullet.

This is a mission unlike anything my vampire boss, Vayl, and I have ever been on. It’s not our usual take them out and run; it’s an undercover mission that needs the whole gang: a psychic, an interpreter, and a weapons specialist. We’re joining a Special Ops team to nail the Wizard, a major terrorist thorn in the military’s side. We’ve never gone in with such heavy artillery before, but the more the merrier, right? Um . . . nope. At least not since Vayl and I learned part of our job is to ferret out a mole concealed in our unit.

To add to our problems, we’re being harried by a pack of reavers bent on revenge, and targeted by a Seer who wants to share Vayl’s power – at any cost. Oh yeah, and let’s not forget the army of demonic, soul-sucking parasites either. This is going to be a blast.

Bitten to Death did bite at me though, I must admit. With her brother in the mix and so much infromation being tossed in it made me have to read it a few time to actually get it.

Jaz Parks here. My latest mission has taken me to the ancient Greek city of Patras; but instead of soaking up its splendor, I’m here to infiltrate a Vampere Trust. Only two vamps have ever escaped the tightly bound communities and lived to tell the tale: Edward “The Raptor”Samos, the most reviled criminal mastermind in recent memory, and Vayl, the CIA’s number one assassin who also happens to be my boss.

The Raptor is trying to take over Vayl’s former Trust. Unfortunately the Trust’s new leader has her own plans.

This job is going to be the death of me.

One More Bite seemed to sum up all of my frustrations as to why the two protaganist, Val and Jaz have not gotten together. I dont think Jennifer is into writing sex scenes. Although I would like to read it. I also think she is trying to keep within her own “not to much nookie” boundary. Loads of killing and bad words but no sex. Hmm go figure. I hope to not be disapointed to not read about what is happening with her in the other realm, outside of working with the government. I guess I will have to wait and see.

Bite Marks comes out in October of this year. And grab all of her other releases as they come out in paperback starting in July 2009.

Read Order:
Once Bitten, Twice Shy
Another One Bites the Dust
Biting the Bullet
Bitten to Death
One More Bite
Bite Marks (10/29/09)

The Mage- Jean Johnson Book Eight in the Sons of Destiny

 I was looking forward to this book because Morganen has been such an integral part in all the other books.  He came across as a character that was kind, charming and always looked out for his brothers and those around him while keeping his own talents a mystery.  Unfortunately it didn’t live up to what I was expecting.  Even though I have read the other seven books in this series, I was confused with the first chapter of this book.  I sat there as I was reading going “huh?”   Even after it switched back to “present day”, I felt like I was being jolted around.  There were parts I loved, like when Morganen goes to retrieve Hope and ends up in a mage fight.  I really loved that whole chapter.  To me it was Morganen finally coming into his own.  However the ramifications of the fight were basically ignored and only seen as asides thereafter.  There were parts I really disliked.  Like when Hope steps across the veil she blurts out her big secret without any prompting and the others all dealt with it as if it is no more than a pesky fly. Overall the book came across as disjointed.  The author was trying to tie up loose ends and it seemed to me that she rushed it through.  It was hard to get into and follow the story and I was disappointed.  This book unfortunately moved the series from my keeper shelf.

Tempt Me With Darkness – Shayla Black 1^st of the Doomsday Brethren

From the first page I knew I was going to like this book.  Anything to do with the Arthurian legends whether it be good bad or indifferent in everyone else’s eye is great in mine.

Marrock of Canterbury was once an honoured warrior of King Arthur but an indiscretion with Morgana Le Fay (Arthur’s half sister) stripped of him of everything.  Unfortunately the only thing not stripped from him was the curse Morgana placed on him – immortality and no sexual satisfaction.  Marrock stole Morgana’s Doomsday Diary in an attempt to free himself from the curse but here he is 15 centuries later still trying.

Olivia Grey is a descendent of Morgana’s and has come to England to look for her father that she has never seen.  At the first meeting between Olivia and Marrock,  Marrock believes she is Morgana and as such tries to convince her to release him from his curse.  He then convinces her to go to his house under the pretense of seeing his carving  and again tries to get her to lift the curse.  Things get heated and during their first most intimate encounter, Marrock, who still thinks Olivia is Morgana, responds to Olivia’s mate bonding figuring he cant get anymore cursed.  This sets the tone for the rest of the book.  Gradually Marrock realizes that Olivia is not Morgana and beings to fall in love with her.  Olivia tried to convince herself that she shouldn’t fall for the tortured warrior because if she can break his curse, then she believes he wishes to die and leave her. 

At the same time as all of this is going on, a heinous villain by the name of Mathais is after not just the Doomsday Book but Olivia as well.  He is determined to succeed where he failed last time and will stop at nothing to tear the world apart.   With his evil followers both wizard and human out numbering the Brethren I cant wait to be introduced to more Brethren charatcers

Eve of Darkness – S J Day 1^st of the Marked Series

Eve is an interesting character in a subgenre where heroines often seem to be all cut from the same cloth only with an interchangeable name. Just like most of us out there she has a strained relationship with her parents. But she has a good friend in her next door neighbor who is a widowed older lady.  She has a career she loves and the only thing missing is a man.  Unfortunately all the men she has met have failed to capture her heart like the one who left her ten years earlier without a word.

Eve had an experience ten years prior to the start of this book which started a chain of events that culminates in a tryst in a stairwell and becoming marked with the “Mark of Cain”.  Coming from the chosen life on an agnostic, she is suddenly right in the middle of the battle between good and evil, heaven and hell, angel’s and demons.  Everything she has believed is turned on its head.  What is up could be down or could be sideways or even back to front.  One minute she is an up and coming designer the next she is learning that the things that go bump in the night are out there and she is tasked with the charge of working off her penance by hunting down the bad guys and removing them.

A major point of difference with this book as opposed to most other books in the paranormal/urban fantasy area is that this book is about angels.  After reaching a near saturation level of vampires, werewolves and demons it’s great to see this branching out. The twist on the biblical story of Cain and Abel makes us challenge the knowledge we grew up with and as a reader you begin to question if the Bible is the equivalent of today’s modern media.  It’s also good to see that with this series, S J Day has got the jump on one of the stars of the paranormal world, JR Ward whose angel series doesn’t come out until later this year.

This book is the first in the trilogy with Eve of Destruction released  June 2^nd 2009 and Eve of Chaos to be released on June 30^th 209

The Demon King and Iis the first book to be released in the Guardian series,from Candace Havens, the author of the Charmed books. It’s a terrificly witty new series featuring wealthy party girls with an interesting side job of being Guardians of portal to other worlds.

The Caruthers sisters are heiresses with privilege, wealth, beauty, and brains. But these party girls have something extra. As the Guardian Keys, possessors of an ancient family secret, they hold the fate of the world in their hands.

Gillian, the eldest, is a sensation in the art world– this world, that is. In her other world, she’s the Assassin, a knockout who snuffs out dimension-jumpers who foul up her personal space. She never expected to join forces with one. But when a plague of murderous demons plunges the earth in darkness, she has no choice but to get a little help from a being who knows his stuff.

I really liked this book. It was funny in all the right places, it had spunk and it inspired an emotional connection as you get to know the characters. And I only have three words for Candace Haven, YOU. ARE. AWESOME. I an now a gun toting, yellow Jimi Choo show wearing fan of her’s. Well maybe not really but if I could afford it. I recommend it to anyone to read this one. Its light on the sex, heavy on the action and reaction. It is an absolute treat. If you liked this one you will love her next one called Dragons Prefer Blondes, which releases July 7, 2009.

Last Vampire Standing – Nancy Haddock
This book picks up where La Vida Vampire ended. Cesca is a 228 year old vampire that was buried for 200+ years. Now she back in the world of living and wants to get on with her afterlife. Unfortunately for her, the other vamps just won’t let her get on with it. A stranger vampire called Jo-Jo lobs up on her step requesting sanctuary which sets off a whole chain of events and murders which Cesca and Deke, her scrumptious partner, then work together to solve.
This book and the previous one, are light, airy and they will make you laugh. There is no tortured hero or heroine that needs redemption that they can only find through their “true” bond with a mate. The only darkness is the baddies and you know what, I think that’s the way it should be. Cesca doesn’t let being a vamp define her. It is what she is rather than who she is. Her definition of herself is in what she does or doesn’t do not that she happens to have fangs and the ability to do all those really cool vampire things. I’m looking forward to the next installment

Today, I was trolling Ellora’s cave website trying to figure out what to read, when I came across the most erotic book cover. I have to admit that i really didn’t care what was in the book as long as i had the “photo”.

Tapestries – Woven Dreams By N.J. Walters


Third in the Tapestries series.

In Javara, women are scarce and brothers must share a woman, although only one can claim her as a wife. Scarred and maimed from a battle fought almost a year ago, Jarmon Bakra is afraid chances are slim that he and his twin brother, Garrik, will find a bride.

While on a hunting trip, the brothers stumble upon a woman claiming to be a tapestry bride. Now that fate has dropped a beautiful, courageous woman in their path, they will both use all their sexual skills separately and together to convince her to stay.

But Genny has secrets of her own and they have only three days to uncover the truth.

This is not a print book from what I can find. But its a excellent eBook. You can find it at Ellora’scave.com Happy shopping!!

Okay after careful rethinking I won’t say this is my last Anita Book because we all know that is not the truth. But I do need to vent so I will say this

Vent/Rant Post. Will CONTAIN EXTREME SPOILERS

This is my take on spoilers, discussions and reviews that try not to spoil everything for you.
• People get upset that they read the review and it didn’t tell you anything.
• Or they get upset about a review that tells them too much.
• Then they get upset that they just spent $27 on a book that they really didn’t want to read and they blame somebody (review or discussion group, author, they guy that writes the book synopsis on the back cover)
I feel like that about LKH last one. And have decided that that is the book that has no name to me because it is dead. When Laurell wrote that one sentence dismissal of the fact she slept with a 16 year old and it was okay because it was in that state, she lost my respect on that. It was too close to being a pedophile for me.

Oh and another thing she killed off Mommy dearest with a bomb I think since the Queen vampire was haunting Anita thru so many books that she should have had her own book also to give it a more fitting ending. Unless it’s not the last we will see of her…

Skin Trade by Laurell K Hamilton

Skin Trade is the 17th book in the Anita Blake vampire hunter series. In this latest installment:

When a vampire serial killer sends Anita Blake a grisly souvenir from Las Vegas, she has to warn Sin City’s local authorities what they’re dealing with. Only it’s worse than she thought. Ten officers and one executioner have been slain paranormal style. Anita heads to Vegas, where’s she’s joined by three other federal marshals, including the ruthless Edward. It’s a good thing he always has her back, because when she gets close to the bodies, Anita senses tiger too strongly to ignore it. The were-tigers are very powerful in Las Vegas, which means the odds of her rubbing someone important the wrong way just got a lot higher.

And “higher” it did. She pissed off everyone she met; cops, witches, tigers, vampires, vampire lovers, SWAT Teams, demons and a tiger Queen. I wish I could get more into why she does what she does, but it would be giving away the story and what is left of the plot to you. We also see the re-entry of Edward, I love Edward. (He needs his own storyline.) Together they do absolutely nothing. Anita actually takes a backseat and lets cops do their job. She how ever gets under foot when she thinks she is helping. Lots of action out of scene and lots of “soul searching” going on for Anita. I don’t think she actually had to fire a bullet during the entire book.

Do you remember in the beginning of the series when Anita had a clear since of who was good and who was bad? Well, I think now she is starting to realize that she may not be the good guy she thought she was? This latest epiphany did not hinder her from having sex with more people and doing other bad things under the guise of “I didn’t know!” As a mother, I consider one of the worst things an author can do, is commit a grossly offensive and illegal act in a book against a child and write about it as it were another day. Again I can’t go in to any detail without giving away the book, but I can say this, Anita is dead to me. This character has gone down a path that she cannot redeem herself from no matter what LKH does. It goes against all that I know and love. This is my last book for that series that I am willing to pay for. It was not edgy or right.

Atlantis Unleashed (Warriors of Poseidon, Book 3)

As in the previous book,
Atlantis Awakening, Lord Justice gave up the life he knew to protect the family that never knew he was family. To save the life of his brother, Lord Justice volunteered to become the prisoner of evil vampire goddess Anubisa. Lord Justice is half Atlantean and half Nereid with both halves fighting for supremacy over the other. His sacrifice has begun to take its toll on his sanity. Lord Justice is only holding onto sanity because of a vision. The face is Other. It’s not his face or of his mind and it is not evil. He has to fight his way out of the Void and the face is his focal point. The more he concentrates on the face in his vision, the more his sanity returns and he starts to make plans to leave the void.
Justice’s brothers will do anything to find him and bring him back, even if it means travelling outside Atlantis.
Dr Keely McDermott is an archeologist who has always felt out of synch with the world around her. She has a gift which means that she must be careful of everything she touches lest she be pulled into the past. Her parents don’t understand her and the colleagues around her don’t know of her gift. Keely’s gift would come in handy to Prince Conlan with the High Prince planning to reveal the existence of Atlantis to the world. But first she needs to be convinced to visit Atlantis.
Dr Keely has being carrying around a small carved fish that she found on a dig as a talisman. Every time she touches it, she sees a blue haired warrior from hundreds of years in the past. So beautiful and primitively male that he takes her breath away. He is her imaginary friend.
This story is about two people who for different reasons hold themselves apart from the world around them; whether it is because if they break the geas placed upon them, they then have to kill the people who hear the truth or because if people knew their secret they would get sent to an insane asylum.
They find each other and each one in their own way works to complete the other. Lord Justice is everything we have come to expect from Alyssa Day’s warriors. Strong, honorable yet at the same time vulnerable and maybe even a bit broken. Dr Keely is the opposite. Vulnerable and broken but with a back bone of steel and logic that helps Justice reconcile the two halves of his soul.
As with the previous books in this series, there are strong secondary characters and storylines. None of them overshadow the main story but Alyssa Day seamlessly knits them all together and gives more flesh for the stories that are to follow. After reading this book, I just had to go back and revisit Ms Day’s other heroes. When it comes to the Poseidon Warriors one is just not enough.
Click here to pre-order Atlantis Unmasked (Warriors of Poseidon, Book 4)