Throwback Thursday (34)

There are so many amazing books already on the shelves and new ones coming out.

For a list of books yet to be released I'm looking to get, you can also look on my right Sidebar at the ever growing list titled Desired Reads - just scroll down. Of course there are tones of other new books to come out that are amazing as well, but these ones are part of series I have already started or for one reason or another caught my eye (and haven't seen much on other blogs yet). But I will highlight one here each week.

(mentioned in order of Release Date then Alphabetical if there are more than one book coming out on the same date.)

Next Book Is...

Black and White

The Icarus Project #1

By:  Jackie Kessler & Caitlin Kittredge

Aaaa... I loved the idea of this book, superheros and that gray area we all know to well.  It sounds like an amazing read.  And I've enjoyed books by both these authors.  So what else can you ask for? ... More reading time? 

Goodreads Synopsis:

It's the ultimate battle of good versus good.

They were best friends at an elite academy for superheroes in training, but now Callie Bradford, code name Iridium, and Joannie Greene, code name Jet, are mortal enemies. Jet is a by-the-book hero, using her Shadow power to protect the citizens of New Chicago. Iridium, with her mastery of light, runs the city’s underworld. For the past five years the two have played an elaborate, and frustrating, game of cat and mouse.

But now playtime’s over. Separately Jet and Iridium uncover clues that point to a looming evil, one that is entwined within the Academy. As Jet works with Bruce Hunter—a normal man with an extraordinary ability to make her weak in the knees—she becomes convinced that Iridium is involved in a scheme that will level the power structure of America itself. And Iridium, teaming with the mysterious vigilante called Taser, uncovers an insidious plot that’s been a decade in the making…a plot in which Jet is key.

They’re both right. And they’re both wrong. Because nothing is as simple as Black and White.

Throwback Thursday (21)

Let's talk about those books already on the shelves, yours or the stores.

I have a post for books I'm looking forward to coming out;

Looking Forward To...

But what about all those wonderful books that are ALREADY on the shelves.

Whether it be on your shelf waiting to be read or on the shelves in the stores waiting for you to give it a good home.

So, I thought I would share a book a week that is just waiting for me to travel through it's world.

Now... where do I start? Lets go by Published Date on the books...

This Week:

Aaaa, this one.  This one I DO want to read and CAN'T wait to get to it.  I loved the first book in this series. The main character was fun, sexy, and soooo knew nothing about being a human female. :) So it made for a great fun read.  I really need to get back to this one to see what happens with her and her lovely boyfriend.

Goodreads Synopsis:

In Jackie Kessler's debut novel Hell's Belles, she introduced readers to Jesse Harris, a succubus-turned-human with a tart tongue, a way with a g-string, and a soft spot for sexy undercover cop Paul Hamilton. Now Jesse's back, and where she goes, Hell is sure to follow...

There's Nothing Worse Than A Demon With A Grudge

Jesse may no longer be a soul-stealing succubus, but she's got a Hell of a past. She'd love to come clean to her sweet, super-hot boyfriend Paul, but how exactly does a girl start that conversation? There's no name tag that reads: "I Used to Have Sex with Men before Taking Their Souls to the Lake of Fire--Ask Me How!" Just like some people are worth being monogamous for (shudder), some secrets are worth keeping. Like the fact that bad boy incubus Daunuan keeps popping up from the Underworld to put some toe-curling moves on her; that her former associates are trying to strong-arm her back into the fold; and that every supernatural entity on the planet seems to want to have a conversation with her in the bathroom. But someone in the Underworld isn't ready to play nice (go figure), and this time, the stakes are nothing less than Paul's immortal soul.

If Hell wants Jesse back so badly, they've got her. But payback's a bitch, and this bitch is about to rock Hell like a hurricane--or lose her soul trying...

Book Review: Hell's Belles

Hell's Belles

By:  Jackie Kessler

Publisher:  Kensington/Zebra Books

Publish Date:  January 2007

Format:  Paperback (pocket sized)

Genre:  Paranormal Romance

Series: 1st book in Hell on Earth series.

Recommendation:  Yes, this is definitely a romance paranormal book.  So if you like some steam and fire with your paranormal you would enjoy this one.

Book Synopsis:
Once upon a time, Jezebel was a powerful succubus, capable of seducing men and sucking out their souls.  But that was before Hell put a bounty on her head.  Now her only chance to escape a fate far worse than death is to live as a mortal, losing herself in a sea of unfamiliar humanity, in a place where sinners walk hand-in-hand with saints - a place like New York City.

Working as an exotic dancer is a piece of cake for a former demon who once specialized in sex.  But she hadn't counted on meeting sexy Paul Hamilton, a man haunted by his past. Good-bye, succubus; hellp, lovestruck.

But Hell hasn't stopped looking for her.  The secrets Jezebel holds are the most dangerous of all, the kind every demon in the Underworld would do their worst to protect.  Demons are closing in, which is enough to make Jezebel shiver in her G-string.  But it's her love for Paul that's going to have deadly consequences...

First Sentence:
On the night the Underworld put a contract out on me, a crescent moon dangled overhead like a celestial fishhook and stars bobbed in the sky.

My Review and Summary:
The story starts right off with Jezebel on the run looking for the witch who can help her become mortal to keep her off the radar of the underworld creatures who will be out to take her back in, one way or another.  Jezebel, a succubus who feels is good no great at her job and loves it, now is mortal.  What was the horrible thing happened in the underworld to make her feel she has to leave the life she loves so much?  Through the book you get hints but in the end you get all the pieces connected together.

The story started off with the action right away.  Even though there was movement forward in the book, I had felt it was a little slow moving.  But, by the time I hit half way through the book we were of full speed forward.  This is a great start to a series.  The world is set, both in mortal earth and in hell.

I enjoyed the connection with Jezebel and Paul.  The teasing and tension between them was great from the moment they met.  There is definitely romance in this story, as Jezebel takes a job as a stripper and with the feel from her and Paul.  There are a few great secondary characters added in the book whom could be expanded on greatly in future books and I look forward to seeing more of.  There is a complete story here and there are setting planted for the future books.  Very nicely done.

However, in the end of the book I felt there was a moral to be seen.  I felt there are things we have done in which maybe as a whole we could change and there is hope for us all.

I am looking forward to reading more of this series to see where Jezebel will be and what she will do.



This book qualifies for two of my challenges - Speculated Fiction at Book Chick City, and Mini-Challenge of New Authors: The League at Literary Escapism.