Book Review: Shady Lady

Shady Lady

By:  Ann Aguirre

Publisher:  ROC Fantasy

Publish Date:  April 2011

Format:  Paperback, 311pgs; pocketbook size

Genre:  Fantasy, Urban Fantasy

Series:  3rd in A Corine Solomon Novel series: Book 1 ~ Blue Diablo, Book 2 ~ Hell Fire

Recommendation:  OH YES!!!  Did you enjoy book 1?  Well, this one is just added to it!

Book Synopsis:
I'd spent my whole life settling, trying not to attract attention, doing what it took to keep other people happy.  I didn't want to do that again.  Not when I was finally comfortable in my own skin.  Sure, there were challenges, like a drug lord who wanted me dead, and the fact that I owed a demon a debt that he could call due at any moment.  But everybody's got problems, right?

When Corine Solomon touches an object, she knows its history.  But her own future concerns her more and more.  Now back in Mexico, she's running her pawnshop and trying to get a handle on her strange new powers, for she might need them.  And soon.

Then former ally Kel Ferguson walks through her door.  Muscled and tattooed, Kel looks like a convict but calls himself a holy warrior.  He carries a warning for Corine: The Montoya cartel is coming for her - but they don't pack just automatic weapons.  The Montoya's use warlocks, shamans, voodoo priests - anything to terminate trouble.  And Corine has become enemy number one...

First Sentence:
Lust sizzled through me.

My Thoughts and Summary:
**I'm trying to keep this short and sweet to not ruin the mystery of the book here.**

Corine is back home in Mexico with Shannon and things seem to be going well until she receives a salt and pepper shaker set.  Just as Corine goes to pick up one of the set a tall mysterious man walks into her shop, one that Corine quickly recognizes ~ Kel Ferguson.  Kel has been assigned as Corine's guardian as she will be important in the future and is in deadly danger now, and the salt and pepper shaker set is part of her starting troubles.  Corine and Kel are on their way to learn about the magic cast on the shaker set and learn of the man who's after Corine, Montoya.  Corine pairs up with Kel and an unlikely ally to try and save her life.  What will it cast Corine and her friends in the end?

Ann is quick to bring us right back into Corines life at the beginning of this book.  We get a taste of Corine's "touch" gift at the very beginning to bring us right back to her abilities strengths.  And there is more she can now do, but not sure who to trust the new abilities with.  As the book goes we see some new developments in Corine's powers and abilities.  I love how she slowly starts to grow in her strength and as a character.

The action!  Wow.  Ann is amazing at keeping the story on fast forward.  Just when I think it's starting to calm down and Corine might be able to get a nights sleep, all heck breaks loss once again.  I enjoy this constant movement in a book.  It's one to make me wonder what will happen to the characters and where will we go.

Corine even makes a few choices in this book.  She picks a man.  She learns more about herself.  And about others as well... Yes, we learn more about another character ~ Kel.  I have to say for a character I liked where Ann took Kel as being a mysterious bad guy (with potential as maybe being a good guy for who he worked for) to being a character I loved.  This was a great manifestation here!

I'm looking forward to see how strong Corine grows with her powers and to what extent she will be able to use them.  Along with a few other questions... the men!  And her future!?!  I can't wait for more of Corine Solomon!


I purchased this book for my own enjoyment.

This book qualifies for the Speculative Fiction Challenge hosted by Floor to Ceiling Books, and Horror & Urban Fantasy Reading Challenge hosted by Book Chick City.

Blog Book Chat (13) End!

We have finished SHADY LADY by Ann Aguirre!  WOW!  What can I say!?!  Okay, so we will get to all that in the comments.  Have you read it?  Come chat with us.

Do Note:  If you have not read the book yet, there WILL BE SPOILERS in the comments and potentially in the questions we post here.

Robyn of The Bookoholic Zone and I have a few questions to get us started.  But this is just the tip of the iceberg.  This book has so many great things to discuss!  What ever questions or thoughts you have, please feel free to share.  We just ask to be respectful in your comments. :) Thank you!

Robyn's Questions:
1.)  Will we see Kel again?
2.)  Will Jesse and Shannon ever remember Corine?
3.)  Was it me or did Corine welcome Chance back pretty quick?  She said they would start off slow.  Did she forget Jesse all of a sudden?
4.)  How is it Butch can spell out words?  Does he have some type of power?  Where did her get it?

Melissa's Questions:
1.)  What do you think of Corines new found witchin' powers?
2.)  Which man do you prefer Corine with?  Jesse, Chance, or even Kel?
3.)  Could we see Maury and Dumah in the future?
4.)  What did you think in the end?

Teaser Tuesday (75)

Teaser Tuesday

is a weekly event

Sponsored by MizB of Should be Reading

Here's how it works:

Grab the book you are currently reading (anything at all)

Open the book to any random page.

Share 2 teaser sentences from anywhere on the page

Please Make Sure They Are Not Spoilers!

(Don't Give Too Much Away)

Just enough to pique our interests

This Week:

"You don't like to fly?" I guessed.

His mouth turned down ever so slightly. "No like this."

Shady Lady

By Ann Aguirre

183 pg

Blog Book Chat (13) Stop 1

We have come to our first discussion stop for Shady Lady by Ann Aguirre.

We are only doing two stops for this book as I don't think I could stop again once I get started back into the story.  This stop was hard enough! lol.  We are stopping at half way and then chatting again at the end when we are all done (next Thursday).

And WOW!  What a story so far!  I don't know where we will start, but I know I have loads I want to mention and as what you think.

This weeks chat is hosted by Robyn at Bookoholic Zone.  So, jump over there and join in with us.  Oooo, is there so much to chat about!  CLICK HERE or Robyn's name to jump over.

I hope you join us this week and next week for the finally.

Blog Book Chat (13)...Schedule

We have our next book all picked out and ready to go.  We have been sticking to the series we already have started in these chats, so this book was a given when it recently hit the shelves.  We have become a big fan of the author and the series and were greatly looking forward to this one.

So what book is it!?

Shady Lady
By Ann Aguirre
I'd spent my whole life settling, trying not to attract attention, and generally doing whatever it took to keep other people happy. I didn't want to do that again. Not when I was finally comfortable in my own skin. Sure, there were certain challenges, like a drug lord who wanted me dead, and the fact that I owed a demon a debt that he could call due at any moment. But everybody's got problems, right?

Whenever Corine Solomon touches an object, she immediately knows its history. But her own future concerns her more and more. Now back in Mexico, she's running her pawnshop and trying to get a handle on her strange new powers, for she might need them. And soon.

Then former ally Kel Ferguson walks through her door. Heavily muscled and tattooed, Kel looks like a convict but calls himself a holy warrior. This time, he carries a warning for Corine: the Montoya cartel is coming for her--but they don't just pack automatic weapons. The Montoyas use warlocks, shamans, voodoo priests--anything to terminate trouble. And Corine has become enemy number one...

Schedule:
From what we've heard of this book and the anticipation we have for this book, we have decided to read it in two weeks.  I'm thinking this is another one we wont want to stop reading...
Stop 1 ~ May 12, 2011 ~ page 154, end of Chapter: Where Fire Eats the Sky
Stop 2 ~ May 19, 2011 ~ end of Book

Looking Forward To...(44)

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...

Shady Lady

By:  Ann Aguirre

Due Out:  April 5, 2011

Robyn at The Bookoholic Zone and I do the Book Chats here on our blogs.  And we have read the first two books in the Corine Solomon series, and have enjoyed them so.  So this book would be a given for us.  I can't wait to read this book!

Goodreads Synopsis:
I'd spent my whole life settling, trying not to attract attention, and generally doing whatever it took to keep other people happy. I didn't want to do that again. Not when I was finally comfortable in my own skin. Sure, there were certain challenges, like a drug lord who wanted me dead, and the fact that I owed a demon a debt that he could call due at any moment. But everybody's got problems, right?


Whenever Corine Solomon touches an object, she immediately knows its history. But her own future concerns her more and more. Now back in Mexico, she's running her pawnshop and trying to get a handle on her strange new powers, for she might need them. And soon.


Then former ally Kel Ferguson walks through her door. Heavily muscled and tattooed, Kel looks like a convict but calls himself a holy warrior. This time, he carries a warning for Corine: the Montoya cartel is coming for her--but they don't just pack automatic weapons. The Montoyas use warlocks, shamans, voodoo priests--anything to terminate trouble. And Corine has become enemy number one...