The Zombie Renaissance

Zombies have long been part of folklore and horror stories. There are a number of reasons that zombie lore can be found in every culture, but these days zombies have escaped the confines of the horror genre and B-Movies and can be found in just about every type of book, so regardless of your favorite genre, there is likely a zombie book out there for you. If you want to explore beyond Walking Dead and Warm Bodies and the cross media success they have had, here are some suggestions. 

Breathers: A Zombies Lament by S.G. Browne is not your typical zombie novel. This is a romantic comedy tale told from the zombie’s point of view. it shades light on the troubles faced by two zombies in love.

The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan is a young adult novel with romance, action, and a very quick pace. Mary's isolated village is governed by the Sisterhood. After they set a monster, one of the Unconsecrated, loose within the village, Mary and the few other survivors set off in the unknown.

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Seth Grahame-Smith is one of the monster mash ups that flooded the market a few years ago. Combine Austin;'s idyllic English countryside with a zombie plague. Elizabeth Bennett must save herself and the alluring though infuriating Mr. Darcy.

Graveminder by Melissa Marr will appeal to those that love gothic fiction. Drawn back to the home of her youth, Rebekkah Barrow learns the secret of keeping the dead in their graves and the role she has inherited.

The Reapers are the Angels by Alden Bell was an 2011 Alex Award Winner and a Nutmeg Award Nominee. It follows the journey of a young woman who wanders a vast wasteland never knowing what life before the zombies was like. Savoring glimpses of beauty and kindness, Temple is torn between hope and despair and must face forces beyond her darkest nightmares.

Gil's All Fright Diner by A. Lee Martinez
The Duke of Werewolves and the Earl of Vampires stave off hordes of the undead at a roadside diner in this uproarious debut novel.

Happy Hour of the Damned by Mark Henry
Fashionista zombie Amanda Feral investigates the disappearance of an undead friend in Seattle. Full of visceral action, this urban fantasy series has plenty to sink your teeth into.

Craving even more zombie goodness?

• Cell by Stephen King
  Filled with the gory details that made Stephen King’s name synonymous with horror, this faced-paced novel evokes a world where zombies are made not with a bite, but with a phone call.
• Zombie Movies: The Ultimate Guide by Glenn Kay
  Summarizing more than 250 films made between 1932 and 2008, this resource chronologically lists the outbreak of zombie films and their unyielding rise to popularity.
• Patient Zero: A Joe Ledger Novel by Jonathan Maberry
  Baltimore detective and Army veteran Joe Ledger puts all of his considerable talents to the test when he is recruited into a shadowy government agency responsible for keeping the zombie menace at bay.
• World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War by Max Brooks
  Set 10 years after a zombie war, the story is a collection of first-person accounts from survivors and covers all angles of the earth-shattering event.
• The Zen of Zombie: Better Living Through the Undead by Scott Kenemore
  Learn the secrets to true and sustained happiness by exploring the uncomplicated yet philosophical and insightful world of the zombie.
• Pay Me in Flesh by K. Bennett
  Lawyer Mallory Caine is a far cry from your stereotypical zombie, though she does eat brains. Sexy, smart and put together, this savvy lady fights for justice for all.
• Zombie Haiku by Ryan Mecum
  Chronicling one zombies slow but inevitable decomposition in the form of haiku, this ancient art form is elevated to hilarious new heights.
• Nekropolis: A Matt Richter Novel by Tim Waggoner
  Zombie private investigator Matt Richter walks the mean streets of Nekropolis trying to keep the peace, and himself from falling apart.
• Zombies for Zombies: Advice and Etiquette for the Living Dead by David Murphy
  Becoming a zombie can be really demotivating. Full of tips and tricks on important topics like fashion, hygiene and nutrition, this guide is meant to usher you into your new “life” with ease.

Novels that Will Make You Nervous

What do you find scary? It is not always the obvious monster in the dark that is truly scary. Sometimes it is the monster in ourselves, people in power, our loved ones, or even that innocent looking child down the street that is the most frightening. Here are some books that might scare you in unexpected ways, and make for a supernatural read at the same time.

Toni Andrews scares us with her Mercy Holling series, which starts with Beg for Mercy. It is not the things that go bump in the night that will make you nervous in this series. It is the abilities of Mercy, whom developed a special ability at puberty to influence people's will. If Mercy is angry and tells you to go jump off a bridge, you will. Imagine that as a teenager, all the implications of losing your temper ad saying something rash. Now imagine trying to control what you say while drunk, angry or joking to be sure that you do not hurt or kill someone. If she can do all of that then what can your next-door neighbor do?

Laurell K. Hamilton writes a more traditionally scary set of novels with her Anita Blake series. Starting with Guilty Pleasures, we are immersed in a world of vampires, shape shifters and power struggles to be in charge or kill those that defy you. Anita is a vampire hunter with some added abilities. She kills the monsters, but on some level, she is not very different from them. As the series progresses lines between human and monster are bent and broken and leave the reader wondering about the true nature of the own self as well as that of those around them. One word of warning, the plot seems to fade and fall away for a few books in the middle of the series and the books tend to revolve around the more intimate moments of the character's lives. Do not read this series if you are offended by sexual situations. Frankly some of what Hamilton writes in that arena might be as scary as her vampire and zombies if it catches you unaware.

I now have to admit it; a teen novel series scared me. Darren Shan, known for a vampire series recently made into a movie, has a series called the Demonata. The first book, Lord Loss, bothered me enough that I have yet to be able to go back and finish the series. The books are all short, but extremely disturbing with visions of our world and that of demons being very close, with only a very thin veil between them. There is gore, more than I usually need in a horror book or movie, but plenty of physiological fear inducers too.

I have been focusing on novels published fairly recently, but if you really want to be scared then I suggest looking into some classics. Stephen King's Misery or The Shining will get to me every time. I cannot even read It because clowns already bother me, if I read the book I would be traumatized at the next child's birthday party sporting a clown. No thank you. Like in the Mercy Holling series, what make these so scary is that the action does not seem too far removed from reality. It feels like it could happen, and the worst things are what you see in your mind rather than what is spelled out for you on the page. I remember reading a couple books by Dean Koontz and Robin Cook in the 1990's that seriously frightened me, and though I can almost picture the covers, I cannot seem to recall the titles. 

To continue in the theme of slightly older material than check out the work of Algernon Blackwood. The Wendigo and The Willows give me the shivers just thinking about them. H.P. Lovecraft's works are also guaranteed chill inducers and completely disturbing. I am barely even scratching the surface of paranormal stories that can completely freak me out, there are just too many out there to name, but these are my go to materials for when I want a scare from my reading material.

Book Review: Witch Hunt: An Urban Fantasy Mystery by SM Reine

Witch Hunt: An Urban Fantasy Mystery is the first book in the Preternatural Affairs series by SM Reine. When Cèsar Hawke wakes up after a grand celebration and a bit too much to drink he discovers scratches on his arms, a discharged Glock on his coffee table, and a dead woman in his bathtub. Regardless of what it looks like he knows for a fact that he didn't kill her. He's an agent with the Office of Preternatural Affairs. He doesn't hurt people, he saves them. However, the evidence is daunting and no one seems to believe him so Cèsar is on the run and out to prove his innocence. Isobel Stonecrow speaks with the dead, for a price. She brings closure to the bereaved and heals broken hearts. But when she resurrects someone for the wrong client, she ends up on the OPA's most wanted list. Tracking down Isobel was the last case assigned to Cèsar. Now he is searching for he to find answers and to prove that he didn't kill that waitress. He can clear his name, get his job back, and bring justice to the victim.

Witch Hunt is a fast paced murder mystery and start to what looks to be a great series. Cèsar is a man used to rescuing others, and turns that experience towards capturing Isobel and clearing his name. His partner helps him as much as she can, but can he still trusty her? Dirty agents, the legitimate police, and still mounting evidence keep Cèsar on his toes, and sometime doubting himself. Isobel is smart and tricky. I really loved her spunk and ability to outsmart and out pace just about everyone. The mystical elements of witches, demons, and the like offer a unique world which is well built and explored in this series opener. The twists and turns kept me on my toes and guessing.

I would recommend Witch Hunt to those that like suspense and mystery mixed in with their urban fantasy. Fans of Jim Butcher's Dresden Series or Simon R. Green's Nightside series might particularly enjoy this blend of  investigation and magic.

Book Review: Dream Boy by Madelyn Rosenberg and Mary Crockett

Dream Boy is a young adult novel by Madelyn Rosenberg and Mary Crockett. Annabelle Manning feels trapped in the small town of Chilton, Virginia. She has a group of good friends, and some crazy dreams that include one perfect dream boy. But the blue-eyed boy with the fairytale smile is just that, a dream. At least until the Friday afternoon he walks into her chemistry class. One of friends suspects he’s an alien. Another is pretty sure it’s all one big case of deja vu. Could Martin Zirkle really be a dream come true? More importantly, if dreams can become real, what else can? 

Dream Boy started with a really good premise. a girl dream and somehow her dream boy finds his way into the real world. as usual, getting what we think we want causes more trouble than expected. Suddenly her male best friend is acting weird and a creep girl has started making her normally nice dream time something she would much rather avoid. Then the inevitable 'you are the special one' comes about along with the love triangle- or is that parallelogram? The book had a lot of promise, and some of it really worked. I liked the character development that took place in the immediate circle of Annabelle's friends, but honestly I came to like her friends more than her. The action of the book started slowly, which actually was a perfect pacing to allow readers to figure out exactly what was going on and form their own ideas. However, I felt like towards the end the pace alternated between crazy slow and so fast that I had trouble remembering who was where are doing what. it was still a good read, and I am glad i read it, but i felt like it could have been even better with a smidgen of work on Annabelle and Martin's characters and some work on pacing. 

I would recommend Dream Boy to readers that enjoy urban fantasy and do not mind a few cliches finding their way into the story. Not a perfect read, but one worth some time this summer.

Book Review: Knightley and Son by Rohan Gavin

Knightley and Son by Rohan Gavin is a young adult novel about family, mystery, and connections. Alan Knightley is an expert in crimes too strange for Scotland Yard to handle, but four years ago he fell into a mysterious coma. His thirteen year old son Darkus is determined to follow in his father’s footsteps and find out what really happened. But when Alan suddenly wakes up, his memory is out of wack and he needs some help. There is a mystery that gets weirder by the minute, a bestselling book that makes its readers commit terrible crimes, and a sinister organization known as the Combination, and unusual family members who are all more than they seem.

Knightley and Son is a novel with a little bit of everything. There is mystery and humor with quirky characters and connections that will keep you wondering what will happen next. I always love a book with odd characters that are written sop realistically or surreally that I half expect to bump into them out in public. Alan Knightly, Darkus, and the variety of characters are each well fleshed out, and each have a vital role in the story. the larger mystery has enough twists and turns to keep every reader on thier toes while giving us just enough to feel like we already saw coming that we feel smart and engaged as we read. Darkus is dedicated to his father, and solving mysteries. While I felt like there were a couple aspects of him that I just did not get, like I had missed a prequel or something, I still found him to be a character I would watch on television.

Young adult and preteen readers that enjoy Sherlock Holmes, mystery, and humor will enjoy Knightley and Son. Adults that monitor their children's reading and those that are willing to pick up books labeled children's or teen books will get some enjoyment from the book as well. I will admit that there were some slow moments, but there were some break neck speed moments as well, so I feel it all balanced in the end and left me as a satisfied reader. 

Blog Tour Book Review and Giveaway: Contact by Laurisa White Reyes

Contact by Laurisa White Reyes is a young adult novel about sixteen year old Mira, a girl with a unique ability that is driving her to attempt suicide. When ever she touches anyone else skin to skin she gains their every thought and memory. Some might see this as a gift, but Mira sees it as a curse. Complications are mounting, as if things are not hard enough for Mira. Her father is being investigated for misconduct in unsanctioned drug trials that lead to the deaths of several volunteers, and Mira's mother starts asking questions and ends up in a coma. Mira cannot let it go, and her questioning could very well led her to the death she had been hoping for just as she finds something worth living for.

Contact had me interested from the very beginning. Mira is a sympathetic character with desire to end the torment she feels when she touches anyone else skin to skin. She also carries guilt for this desire, and love for her family, and disappointment with her father's distance. The combination makes her a well developed character with a lot of room to grow and develop further as the story goes on. Her parents are each caring, though in their own ways. I really enjoyed that no character felt like they were exactly what they appeared from the beginning. Even Mira's new friend slash love interest was a multi layered character. The mystery and suspense aspect of the story had me intrigued and while I suspected part of the twist, I did not see the full extent of the reveal coming.

I would highly recommend Contact the young adult, new adult, and adult readers that enjoy dynamic characters and a unique story. The mystery, suspense, and deep character development kept me turning pages several times instead of tending to dinner or going to bed. A book, or anything really,  that an make me delay bed time after the kids have crashed is pretty special. The story left me satisfied with the ending, but also with plenty of room for a sequel. I cannot wait to see where we go from here.

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Links:
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5244611.Laurisa_White_Reyes
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Laurisa-White-Reyes/e/B006IL8HUK/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_pop_1
Twitter: https://twitter.com/lwreyes
Blog: http://laurisareyes.blogspot.com
Web: http://www.laurisawhitereyes.com

Author Bio:

After earning her B.A. in English in 1995, Laurisa White Reyes spent many years writing for newspapers and magazines before gathering enough courage to live her dream of writing novels. Contact is her third published book. She is currently pursuing her Master’s degree in creative writing, is a book editor for Hamilton Springs/Xchyler Press, and is the Editor-in-chief of Middle Shelf Magazine. She lives in Southern California with her husband and five children. 

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Early Book Review: Archer Coe & The Thousand Natural Shocks by Jamie S. Rich, Dan Christensen

Archer Coe & The Thousand Natural Shocks by Jamie S. Rich and Dan Christensen is a graphic novel currently scheduled for release on June 10 2014. Archer Coe is a performing hypnotist with the stage name “The Mind's Arrow.” He also moonlights as a special consultant for the rich and powerful. His latest client is a woman who claims to know him, but whom he swears he's never met. Things take a strange turn when Coe's neighbor and then the woman's husband ends up dead. the police suspect Archer of not just killing him, but also of being a sinister killer nicknamed “The Zipper.” Archer has holes in his memory, and as little bits are revealed to him he wonders if he really does have blood on his hands.

Archer Coe is a mystery and a mind bending tale. The artwork and story compliment each other perfectly, in a complicated web of coincidences and deliberate action. I liked that Coe is a character that is initially very confident in himself and his abilities, but comes to doubt himself in several ways. The deceptions within the story are deep, and I would hate to ruin the unfolding by giving any big spoilers. So I will leave it with saying that the main players are all masters of mind games, simply using different methods and lures. I am interested in seeing more of Coe, and hope to see more of him in the future.

I would recommend Archer Coe & The Thousand Natural Shocks to adult readers that enjoy classic noir and mind bending mysteries and to readers that enjoy graphic novels that do not fit the mold. I love a book that makes me think, and that even when I have an idea of the outcome am surprised with the reveal or some level of the twist involved. while this is not the best graphic novel that I have explored, I was impressed with the character building and dept as well as the story.

Book Review: The Taken (Celestial Blues #1) by Vicki Pettersson

The Taken is the first book in the Celestial Blues series by Vicki Pettersson. Griffin Shaw used to be a PI, but that was back when he was still alive. Fifty years have passed and he's an angel helping the souls of the newly dead find their way. One mistake altered fate, and now he's back on mortal mudflat to collect another soul. However that soul, Katherine "Kit" Craig, is a journalist whose latest investigation is about to get her killed like it did her best friend. Grif refuses to let her die. His fascination with Kit saves her life, while also offering a chance to solve the mystery of his own unsolved murder. Kit and Grif search for answers leads past the Strip and into the dark heart of an evil conspiracy. A ruthless killer is determined to destroy them, but Grif's angelic watchers and attraction to Kit might pose as big of a threat as the mortal conspiracies.

The Taken has a neat concept, and the characters started out brilliantly. I loved the idea of afterlife and the world building that Pettersson does here. I am intrigued by the hierarchy and want to read further just to explore this aspect of the series.  In the first few chapters I really came to enjoy the determination and quirks of both Kit and Grif. Soon I was interested in the side characters and mystery surroundi9ng Kit's investigation and the much larger conspiracy that I knew must be there. Grif was a private investigator back in the 1960's, and close the members of the Vegas mob families. Kit is a dedicated reporter living the rockabilly lifestyle. They are both interesting, and attracted to each other almost instantly. However, the character's individual quirks slowly became a little old and stale- with a regular repetition about what makes them each 'unique'. It was a little distracting after a bit, but I was able to push it aside for the most part. However, I hope that some of this is to get everything solid in the reader's mind so that when we move onto book two in the series the character and mythology is firm in our heads.

I would recommend The Taken to readers that enjoy Pettersson's other works, those that enjoy books featuring angels and similar creatures, and those that enjoy a mystery with a nostalgic feel. The mystery is solid, with a solution that left me more than a little heartbroken for some of the characters. However, the larger mystery about Grif is left unsolved, presumably to carry through the series as the connecting arch. The romance is well done, if not a little frustrating at times, but a good read for a cold winters night or while traveling.

Book Review: Colton by Blood by Melissa Cutler

Colton by Blood by Melissa Cutler is the second book in The Coltons of Wyoming series. Dr. Levi Colton is called to Dead River Ranch to care for his father, a man that never claimed him as a son. Looking for some closure, and to help his half sisters, Levi knows he is in for a challenge. When he did not expect was to find Kate McCord, a pastry chef with her own mission and sweet smile. Neither is eager to put their heart on the line, and plenty of more pressing matters are on their minds. The Colton patriarch is dying, an unsolved murder and kidnapping plot still weighs heavy on everyone's minds, and wildfires are burning. Can the pair come to terms their own demons and their attraction before they fall prey to a killer's trap?

I will start of by saying that I did not read the first book in the series, The Colton Ransom by Marie Ferrarella. However, while there were certain bits of background story that I might have not had a complete picture of, I felt that Colton by Blood stood on its own well. There was a well balanced mix of drama, fun flirting, and suspense. Kate is a woman looking to rebuild her life after losing everything she cared about. Tragedy took her family, and left fear of the dark and a bundle of debts in their place. She is trying to survive and do better every day, but never really expects love or even success in her future, just survival. Levi has been the denied bastard son for most of his life, and is making peace with his situation. The loss of his mother, his less than picture perfect childhood, and one forgotten night leave him with ghosts to do battle with. Levi's response to to become a doctor in order to help others, and to find a healthy way to connect to others. Together the pair fight their attraction, not wanting to be detracted from their goals, but cannot seem to stop the connection or flirting that seems to pop up between them. The larger family dynamics and suspense are extremely well done and had me intrigued- interested to read more of the series.

I have to admit that there was one thing that bothered me, and that just might be my issue rather than a problem with Colton by Blood. I think it was about half way through the book, I saw the start of a plot twist. It certainly made things more dramatic and intense, but I thought it a little to obvious. In fact, I commented on it out-loud and received a strange look from my husband as I told my Kindle how disappointed in that aspect of the story. I do not want to give it away, and the story as a whole was still very good, but I thought it was a little to easy of a twist to tie everything together.

I would recommend Colton by Blood to readers that have read and enjoyed the other books by Cutler, or The Colton Ransom by Marie Ferrarella. The characters and flirting were perfect, and the suspense was fairly well done as well. If you like all the mysteries introduced in a story to be tied up in the end, then you would be disappointed here. To get all the big secrets about the Colton family, I think readers will have to dive in and read the complete series. However, if this book is an indication of the quality of the entire series, the effort will be no chore.

Early Book Review: Texas K-9 Unit Christmas by Shirlee McCoy and Terri Reed

Texas K-9 Unit Christmas is a pair of christian romance novellas; Holiday Hero by Shirlee McCoy and Rescuing Christmas by Terri Reed. A new edition of this pairing is scheduled to be released on November 5th 2013.

In Holiday Hero by Shirlee McCoy readers meet Emma Fairchild, who has returned to her childhood home in order to care for an ailing Aunt Bea. One night Emma is trying to paint and prep her new restaurant for its upcoming opening when she is attacked and left for dead. Emma's childhood friend, and current K-9 officer,  Lucas Harwood finds her and starts on a search for justice. Can  he get to the bottom of the attack, and perhaps find love along the way?

Holiday Hero was a cute story with some suspense. I enjoyed the reuniting of childhood friends, and first loves, becoming more. However the story did not stand out as fantastic for me. I liked Aunt Bea's character and the care that Emma has for her. I also liked Lucas for the most part. Emma was a decent character and I loved the danger and suspense that she faces, but for some reason I just could not connect to her. I think that it might have been because of my frame of mind while reading rather than any fault in the writing.

In Rescuing Christmas by Terri Reed, Lily Anderson is a K-9 dog trainer that has managed to escape a kidnapping but has a killer hot on her heels.  Jarrod Evans was supposed to be her student, but after a fateful meeting he has declared himself her bodyguard until the threat has been dealt with.  Now, more that just her life is at risk.

Rescuing Christmas was a novella that just struck me as a little too short. I wanted a little more about Lily and Jarrod. I know novellas are supposed to be short, and this is part of a longer series, but I felt like I wanted to know the characters better. I am fairly sure that these two characters, and several of the side characters, have significant background stories in the series, but since I have only read one or two books, I feel like I was missing some of the most interesting background and future details. My other annoyance is stemmed from the mystery, because there was no way for me to know who the big bad was. Every suspense or mystery should include a chance for the reader to actually solve the mystery, that is half the fun!

I did enjoy reading Texas K-9 Unit Christmas, and for the most part felt satisfied when it was over.  I would recommend it to readers that have enjoyed the other books in the series or the other writing from either of the authors. For readers (like myself) that typically avoid christian romance, I will say that the religious moments were very well done and very in character for the most part. There were a couple moments that I felt like I was being reminded that I had to add the term "Christian" to any discussion to the book, but for the most part it was natural. The mystery and suspense portion was very well done, aside from the moment of frustration I mentioned above, and there were some very high action moments that worked very well.

Cover Reveal: It's a Shame by C.E. Hansen

Grace and Cole were trying to put the pieces of their broken lives back in place, working towards a future together. It seems as though things were just starting to get back to normal. Well, as normal as things could be for the survivors of a twisted serial killer. What they didn't know, what neither of them expected, was that their nightmare was just beginning. They were about to be pulled back into the clutches of a madman, but this time, they weren't the only potential victims. Was their love strong enough to get them through the next disaster? Do they have what it takes to stay together, or is whats lurking

around the corner too much for them both?   

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website http://www.c-e-hansen.me 

twitter CynthiaEHansen 

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Book 2 It's A Shame available November 11th

It's a Crime

by C.E. Hansen

Wealthy New York socialite Grace Preston uses men for amusement, holding her heart inside an ice fortress for protection. Spurned by a sociopathic male model, Grace picks up a new man with all the right moves; smooth as bourbon, Cole slides under her wall and touches her in places she thought were well-guarded. But after a weekend of fiery passion, he leaves, devastating her.

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Early Book Review: Born Wild by Julie Ann Walker

Born Wild is the fifth romance in the Black Knights Inc. series by Julie Ann Walker. It is schedule for release on November 5 2013. Eve Edens is one of the few people privileged enough to know the truth about just who what Black Knights Inc really do, partly because she played helped out in a previous adventure. However, you do not have to have read the previous books to enjoy this installment. Eve in very wealthy, with an overbearing father, press that hounds her every move, and is a hairs breath away from her doctorate degree. Unfortunately, she has had some serous accidents lately, and she is sure that someone is out to kill her. The only place she feels like she can turn holds its own dangers. William 'Wild Bill' Reichert was her first love, and the man she betrayed by dating, and marrying, another man while he was away. He is also a member of the Black Knights and the big brother of her best friend Becky. Together they need to find out who is behind all of Eve's bad luck, unfortunately the answer is likely closer that anyone wants to consider. When all is said and done will they give romance a second chance?

Born Wild is a suspenseful romance full of action and mystery. It also has some lengthy sex scenes and some little things that started to irk me by the end of the book, but lets talk about the good first. Bill is a strong, solid character. He is the epitome of the stoic alpha male with the heart of gold, a boy scout with strong, capable hands. He is a wonderful character that tried to do the right thing even when he feels like the person he is helping might not deserve it. His only weakness is Eve, and his long standing love and desire for her. Eve has been sheltered and had her father calling the shots for most of her life, mainly because she does not have the heart to tell him no. But, she has done a lot to better herself (defensive driving, learning to shoot, martial arts, etc) and become stronger physically and emotionally. However, all that work might go to waste if she does not find out who is out to kill her. Eve has a balance of looking innocent and weak, while being steady and strong under the surface. The tension between the pair, and the set up for the next book with another couple were done very well. As was the level of action and suspense, though I will admit tat I figured out the bad guy about halfway through the book, even though I was not completely sure on how the motives matched them until the very end.

One of the things that did get on my nerves while reading was Eve's constant pep talks to herself about 'lady balls'. Come on, I am all for a woman being strong, but why would a woman that can not even swear when her life is one the line use that kind of terminology so often during her inner dialogue? Again, she uses crass words with Bill, I think more in an attempt to shock him or herself. I have no issues with characters swearing or using crass language IF it fits their personality, and I do not think it really fit in this case. My other moment of upset can with the sex scenes. Again, I am all for some hot and steamy moments and look forward to them when well done. However, I think that this series is falling into the trap than many romance series fall into, the loss or suspense and plot for the sake of sex. Any time the main characters ignore common sense and danger and have marathon sex sessions I feel a little let down. I expect more from Walker, and feel like this series is falling into that downward spiral- though I hope it redeems itself in the next story.

I would recommend Born Wild to fans of Walker and the Black Knights series. However, if you are a reader that gets easily annoyed at either of the issues I mentioned above, you might want to pass for now. I will give Walker another chance, because she usually makes me happy, and I will let you if the series will stay on my reading list or fall away.

Early Book Review: The Naturals by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

The Naturals by Jennifer Lynn Barnes is a young adult novel that is scheduled for release on November 7 2013. Cassie is seventeen and living with her father's extended family. Her mother was a stage psychic, before being murdered, and Cassie excels at skills her mother taught her, mainly reading the body language and little details about the people around her. One day while waitressing Cassie is approached by the FBI to join a special team of other teens with natural abilities. Joining the team would mean moving to Washington D.C. and helping to solve cold case files. Cassie cannot pass up the chance to solve her own mother's murder. However, no one on the team is quite what they seem and a new killer brings danger close to home. Cassie and unique team need to solve the case before one of them becomes a victim.

The Naturals has just about everything you could want from a young adult novel. There is a cast of quirky and well fleshed out characters that still defy categorization, a mystery or two to solve, action scenes with life and death scenario, teenage 'I do not fit in' angst, and romance (the required triangle of course). There is also strong young adult characters that while flawed hold true to their values, adults that are equally flawed, and an ending that had resolution but still left me wanting more.  Cassie is an independent, caring, and strong character. She is willing to risk herself to help others, but does not take foolish risks. Michael is snarky and seems overconfident but seems to be wearing that personality as a mask to protect himself, he is naturally skilled at reading emotions. Dean is a profiler like Cassie, he is the strong silent type who isolates himself and tries to control his temper with exercise. Lia is a vain, pretty teen who can tell when others are lying and the ability to lie to anyone. Sloane is a statistical genius and is more than a bit quirky. The team work with the FBI agents and are under the watchful eye of a caretaker while in the house. Of course, you throw this many teens in the house and there will be power struggles and romantic entanglements- however for the most part these are secondary to the set up of the plot and the mysteries that need solving. Cassie does spend a significant amount of time over-thinking everything, but that is part of being a sixteen year old girl.

The Naturals is at its heart a teen drama and a thriller. The danger is slow to evolve, and I was completely surprised by the final answer, even though I  had the 'bad guy' narrowed down to just three people by the time the full story was revealed. While readers might need to suspend their disbelief as they deal with the idea of people with the innate abilities or the idea of the FBI working with a teen of talented teens, others will just be able to shrug and move on. I was one that was not bothered by those two things, mainly because real life is so unbelievable these days that I feel like these is not so far fetched.

The Naturals is a good start to a new series. I really enjoy Barnes' writing style, and everything I loved about the characters in the Raised by Wolves series is here as well. Readers that like Cold Case, Criminal Minds, or any of the shows with a psychological look at crime solving will see something that they like in this series. I have not seen anything about the sequel to this book yet, but I will definitely be reading it when it is released.