Book Review ~ Disenchanted & Co.

His Lordship Possessed (Disenchanted & Co. #1, part 2)

by Lynn Viehl
published by Pocket
genre: Adult, Steampunk, Fantasy, PNR

**EGalley received from netGalley and Publisher
***Review for part 1 can be found (here).

Summary (Goodreads): The second half of Disenchanted & Co.—the thrilling conclusion. In a steampunk version of America that lost the Revolutionary War, Charmian (Kit) Kittredge makes her living investigating magic crimes and exposing the frauds behind them. While Kit tries to avoid the nobs of high society, as the proprietor of Disenchanted & Co. she follows mysteries wherever they lead.

Lady Diana Walsh calls on Kit to investigate and dispel the curse she believes responsible for carving hateful words into her own flesh as she sleeps. While Kit doesn’t believe in magic herself, she can’t refuse to help a woman subjected nightly to such vicious assaults. As Kit investigates the Walsh family, she becomes convinced that the attacks on Diana are part of a larger, more ominous plot—one that may involve the lady’s obnoxious husband.

Sleuthing in the city of Rumsen is difficult enough, but soon Kit must also skirt the unwanted attentions of nefarious deathmage Lucien Dredmore and the unwelcome scrutiny of police Chief Inspector Thomas Doyle. Unwilling to surrender to either man’s passion for her, Kit struggles to remain independent as she draws closer to the heart of the mystery. Yet as she learns the truth behind her ladyship’s curse, Kit also uncovers a massive conspiracy that promises to ruin her life—and turn Rumsen into a supernatural battleground from which no one will escape alive.

My Thoughts: I'll start by saying I have found I don't like reading books broken into parts. Especially when I have a long wait between the readings. I didn't enjoy part 2 as much as part 1. Where the first seemed to flow and read as a cohesive story. This second part seemed to jump all over the place. We go from a sorta steampunk victorian like city to a world where two groups of ancient mythological beings, who want to go to war, taking over the land and the people. Throw in some time travel and eventually it gets back to where the book started.
Overall, I don't know if this had been better if I had read both parts at the same time. The beginning and the end were a promising start to what could be a good series. Unfortunately the middle section kind of got muddled and seemed to go off track. I did like that at least for this story the author did not have a love triangle between Kit, Dredmore, and Doyle. There was enough between Kit and Dredmore that it did not need anything else thrown at it.

Rating: 3.5, Overall for Disenchanted & Co: 4

Book Review ~ Her Ladyship's Curse

Her Ladyship's Curse (Disenchanted & Co. Book 1, part 1)

by Lynn Viehl
published by Pocket Star
genre: Adult, Steampunk, Supernatural, 

*e-galley received from netGalley/ publisher in exchange for an honest review.
**Disenchanted & Co. was first released in 2013 as two parts. The full book Disenchanted & Co. is available as of 1/28/2014

Summary (Goodreads): In a steampunk version of America that lost the Revolutionary War, Charmian (Kit) Kittredge makes her living investigating magic crimes and exposing the frauds behind them. While Kit tries to avoid the nobs of high society, as the proprietor of Disenchanted & Co. she follows mysteries wherever they lead.

Lady Diana Walsh calls on Kit to investigate and dispel the curse she believes responsible for carving hateful words into her own flesh as she sleeps. While Kit doesn’t believe in magic herself, she can’t refuse to help a woman subjected nightly to such vicious assaults. As Kit investigates the Walsh family, she becomes convinced that the attacks on Diana are part of a larger, more ominous plot—one that may involve the lady’s obnoxious husband.

Sleuthing in the city of Rumsen is difficult enough, but soon Kit must also skirt the unwanted attentions of nefarious deathmage Lucien Dredmore and the unwelcome scrutiny of police Chief Inspector Thomas Doyle. Unwilling to surrender to either man’s passion for her, Kit struggles to remain independent as she draws closer to the heart of the mystery. Yet as she learns the truth behind her ladyship’s curse, Kit also uncovers a massive conspiracy that promises to ruin her life—and turn Rumsen into a supernatural battleground from which no one will escape alive.

My Thoughts: The author did a good job of sucking you right into this story considering the length of this first part. I was instantly interested in Kit, her job, and what exactly made her so special. Was there something "special" about her or was she correct in her belief that there is no such thing as magic?
I found the rest of the characters just as interesting if not liable. I liked both of Kit's friends, they were so very different from each other and different from Kit that it worked and made sense for these two to be her friends. I started with a strong dislike for Dredmore but at the same time wanted to know where the author was going with the relationship between him and Kit. It had some very high moments just to turn around and have some of the lowest follow almost immediately.
Overall, while this was just part of the first book in the series, it gives you a glimpse into the world and the characters that live there. I thought the alternate America was well done without making it the typical western that you find in some steampunks. I am looking forward to reading the rest of this story/series.

Rating: 4

New Releases ~ week of 2/24/2014

*All links go to Goodreads

A Growing Suspicion by Jacqueline Dembar Greene (#10 American Girls: Rebecca)

A Promise at Bluebell Hill by Emma Cane (#5 Valentine Valley)
A Taste Fur Murder by Dixie Lyle (#1 Whiskey, Tango & Foxtrot Mystery)
A Wicked Pursuit by Isabella Bradford (#1 Breconridge Brothers)
Angel Seduced by Jaime Rush (#3 Hidden)
Baby, Be Mine by Vivian Arend (#2 Thompson & Sons)
Before the Devil Knows You're Dead by Patricia Eimer (#3 Speak of the Devil)
Blackberry Pie Murder by Joanne Fluke (#18 Hannah Swensen Mysteries)
Blades of the Old Empire by Anna Kashina (#1 Majat Code)
Burn Bright by Bethany Frenette (#2 Dark Star)
Creature Teacher: The Final Exam by R L Stine (#6 Goosebumps Most Wanted)

Dear Drama 2 by Braya Spice (#2 Dear Drama)
Death Among the Ruins by Pamela Christie (#2 Arabella Beaumont Mystery)
Death of a Policeman by M. C. Beaton (#30 Hamish MacBeth)
Dog Gone! by Mary Amato (#2 Good Crooks)
Evening Stars by Susan Mallery (#3 Blackberry Island)
Fire & Flood by Victoria Scott (#1 Fire & Flood)
Four Weddings and a Fireman by Jennifer Bernard (#8 The Bachelor Firemen of San Gabriel)
Hard As You Can by Laura Kaye (#2 Hard Ink)
Heavy Hitters by Mike Lupica (#3 Game Changers)
Honor's Knight by Rachel Bach (#2 Paradox)
I Survived the Nazi Invasion, 1944 by Lauren Tarshis (#9 I Survived)

Is Not Exactly Famous by Steve Cotler (#4 Cheesie Mack)
Killer Frost by Jennifer Estep (#6 Mythos Academy)
Kiss and Tell by Fern Michaels (#23 Sisterhood)
Labyrinth of Stars by Marjorie M Liu (#6 Hunter Kiss)
Love and Chaos by Gemma Burgess (#2 Brooklyn Girls)
Love Another Day by Gina Robinson (#4 Agent Ex)
Love Game by Elise Sax (#3 The Matchmaker)
Love Match by Monica Seles (#2 The Academy)
Missing Monkey! by Mary Amato (#1 Good Crooks)
Mr. Jack Is a Maniac! by Dan Gutman (#10 My Weirder School)
Night Owls by Lauren M Roy (#1 Night Owls)

Out for Blood by Michael Spradlin (#3 Killer Species)
Queen's Man by Rory Clements (#6 John Shakespeare)
Shame On You by Tara Sivec ( #1 Fool Me Once)
Storming the Black Ice by Don Brown (#3 Pacific Rim)
Take a Chance by Abbi Glines (#1 Chances #6 Rosemary Beach)
The Book of the Crowman by Joseph D'Lacey (#2 Black Dawn)
The Bride Says Maybe by Cathy Maxwell (#2 Brides of Wishmore)
The Chance by Robyn Carr (#4 in Thunder Point)
The Chase by Janet Evanovich, Lee Goldberg (#2 Kate O'Hare)
The Clockwork Wolf by Lynn Viehl (#2 Disenchanted & Co)
The Cottage on Juniper Ridge by Sheila Roberts (#4 Life in Icicle Falls)
The Missing Marlin by David A Kelly (#8 Ballpark Mysteries)

The Problem with Promises by Leigh Evans (#3 Mystwalker)
The Raider by Monica McCarty (#8 The Highland Guard Series)
The Resistance Man by Martin Walker (#7 Bruno, Chief of Police)
The Rift by Bob Mayer (#3 Area 51)
The Scandalous Duke Takes a Bride by Tiffany Clare (#3 Dangerous Rogues)
The Secret Diamond Sisters by Michelle Madow (#1 Secret Diamond Sisters)
The Shadow Throne by Jennifer A Nielsen (#3 Ascendance Trilogy)
The Thief by Stephanie Landsem (#2 Living Water)
The Time Tutor by Bee Ridgway (#2 Time Travel)
The Trouble With Honor by Julia London (#1 The Cabot Sisters)
The Undead Pool by Kim Harrison (#12 The Hollows)
Thea Stilton & the Great Tulip Heist by Thea Stilton (#18 Geronimo Stilton Special Edition)
Thrown for a Curve by Sugar Jamison (#2 Perfect Fit)
Top Student by Miranda Baker (#4 Come Again)
Tremor by Patrick Carman (#2 Pulse)
Two to Tango by Sheryl Berk (#2 Dance Divas)
Unforgotten by Jessica Brody (#2 Unremembered)
When Shadows Fall by J. T. Ellison (#3 Samantha Owens)
When the Duke Was Wicked by Lorraine Heath (#1 Scandalous Gentlemen of St. James)
Where Evil Waits by Kate Brady (#2 Mann family)

Stacking the Shelves

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga at Tynga's Reviews to share your weekly book haul. It can be what you bought, received, borrowed, or were gifted. For more info you can go here.

**Mostly library books lately but I did request one (turned into more while doing this post) from netGalley so thought I would share.


NetGalley
The Republic of Theives by Scott Lynch (Gentleman Bastard #3)
The Enchanter Heir by Cinda Williams Chima (The Heir Chronicles #4)
Her Ladyship's Curse by Lynn Viehl (Disenchanted & Co. #1)

Library
Omens by Kelley Armstrong (Cainsville #1)
Shadow City by Diana Pharaoh Francis (Horngate Witches #3)
Replica by Jenna Black
Weather Witch by Shannon Delaney
Stormbringers by Phillipa Gregory (Order of Darkness #2)

Book Review ~ Dead of Night

Dead of Night (The Youngbloods #2)
by Lynn Viehl
published by Flux Books
expected release date: July 8, 2012 (my birthday!)

*Received from Flux books via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Summary: Catlyn Youngblood has a secret life. Despite being a natural-born vampire hunter like her two older brothers, Cat has fallen for Jesse-an ageless boy from a centuries-old vampire clan.
Cat's job cataloguing rare, mystical texts at a bookstore allows her to meet with Jesse alone every evening. But when girls who look disturbingly similar to Cat start disappearing from town, Cat and Jesse discover frightening clues to their whereabouts within the book collection. Together, they must stop a crazed man from realizing his dark scheme- one that would claim Cat's life.

My Thoughts: I love the premise of a young Van Helsing descendant who is in love with an almost vampire. I also liked the overall story of this book. Young girls who look a lot like Cat are going missing (for some reason Cat is the first one to realize this, and why are there so many in such a small town?). They've been taken by some crazy old man who thinks Catlyn is some Egyptian Queen of the Cats who can give him immortality.
These are the problems I had. It never quite went far enough to cause any real drama. I never felt that Cat was in any sort of danger from this guy. Also, this is the second book and I still feel like I'm missing a lot of background. We found out some more about why they moved so often but I'm more interested in their individual powers. Where they come from, what their purposes are, etc. I don't really get the cats. Other than they show up en mass whenever Catlyn seems to be troubled we don't know how or why they do so.
Overall, I like both Cat and Jesse. I even kinda like her brothers. But... I'm just not sure. The last page of this book which leads us to book three makes it seem like the story is going to go into the area that I am most interested in. Since I don't hate the books I will definitely be reading on.

Rating: 3

Book Review ~ After Midnight

After Midnight (The Youngbloods #1)
by Lynn Viehl
published by Flux

Summary: Sophomore Catlyn Youngblood is used to her nomadic existence. When they settle down in Lost Lake, Florida, Cat meets the enigmatic, handsome Jesse Raven. As their attraction intensifies, Cat learns that the Ravens are a centuries-old vampire clan, and--worse still--she is a descendent of a world-famous vampire hunter.

My Thoughts: Overall I enjoyed this story. I ended up liking the premise of the series more at the end once everything was explained. Who Cat's parents were and the different gifts the three Youngbloods have.
Cat and Gray worked for me but I'm not sure how much I care for the oldest brother Trick. He just seemed to over the top with his controlling of everything. Even after you find out why it seems like too much.
The romance between Cat and Jesse was OK. I'll wait to see where it goes before I make a final decision. I did like the fact that being around him or thinking about Jesse helped Cat to remember things she was meant to forget.
High school drama didn't work for me. I had that figured out right away but it detract from the book any. I love quirky so my favorite characters were Ego and Kari.
The only problem I had while reading this book, there seemed to be a lot of editing errors. Between missing word, double words and words out of place it became annoying. I'm used to there being a few but it seemed to be happening more often than usual in a finished book.

Rating: 3 I have the 2nd book on netGalley and I'm looking forward to see how Cat remembering everything while the rest of the town has been made to forget works out.