Firespell, A Novel of the Dark Elite by Chloe Neill

Publisher: Signet Books/New American Library/Penguin Group
Pages: 246

From the Cover: When Lily’s guardians decided to send her away to a fancy boarding school in Chicago, she was shocked. So was St. Sophia’s. Lily’s ultra-rich brat pack classmates think Lily should be the punchline to every joke, and on top of that, she’s hearing strange noises and seeing bizarre things in the shadows of the creepy building.

The only thing keeping her sane is her roommate, Scout, but even Scout’s a little weird—she keeps disappearing late at night and won’t tell Lily where she’s been. But when a prank leaves Lily trapped in the catacombs beneath the school, Lily finds Scout running from a real monster.

Scout’s a member of a splinter group of rebel teens with unique magical talents, who’ve sworn to protect the city against demons, vampires, and Reapers, magic users who’ve been corrupted by their power. And when Lily finds herself in the line of a firespell, Scout tells her the truth about her secret life, even though Lily has no powers of her own—at least none that she’s discovered yet…

Lily finds herself thousands of miles away from the parents, currently sabbatically in Germany where they hope to peruse ancient philosophical documents. Thrown into the Windy City, known as Chicago, she has to adapt to her new surroundings. St. Sophia's Prep School for Girls, where she an outsider from Sagamore, NY and maybe not all that wanted. She's a junior in high school and has to start all over making friends and connections that are unfamiliar to her. And Chicago is nothing like Sagamore.

Scout, her suitemate and hopefully her new BFF, shows her around, giving her the nickel tour of the school and the Second City. But what lurks beneath the city is what holds Scout's attention, and all to soon, Lily's as well. There are really monsters and most are in human form. Evil denizens that want nothing more than siphon away what the others have, power. Magically power. Lily with her new found family of Adepts will have to confront things that have never been known to her before, if they can stay in one piece.

Firespell by Chloe Neill was a very fast fun YA read. I love books about magic, where is comes from and how it's used. Chloe Neill offers a new take on magic and how it happens to be born within the soul, and when it needs to be given away. Our unwilling heroine, Lily Parker, finds herself thrown into a world not of her own making, but since she's there, she's going to make the most of her situation. She's strong, positive or as positive as a teenage girl can be at a new school with strangers for friends, and she has no idea what she's in for. After befriending Scout, the mysterious girl with nightly errands, Lily has her eyes opened about more than just St. Sophia's and life of a 'regular' (a non-magical person). Jason, Lily's would be hero, is more than he's appears to be as well with his glowing sapphire eyes and wicked smile, but then there's the enigmatic Sebastian, one of the would be bad guys (one of the Reapers - a vampiric type of witch who as they age, need to sustain their power by drawing energy from others, human or witch a like), can see Lily's power and encourages it's use. But is Sebastian what he appears to be? He fights along side the evil denizens, but helps Lily when she needs it most and no one but Lily knows. How he comes to figure into the later storylines, this reader will be interested to know.

Firespell by Chloe Neill is a little reminiscent of the House of Night Series, but not too much, which I have seen it compared to. I think the resemblance begins and ends with Lily being sent to a prep house that isn't exactly what it appears to be. If you enjoy House of Night or Dead is the New Black Series, you'll enjoy this new series as well. I had fun with this little pager turner that demanded to be read, I certainly had trouble putting it down. If you're looking for a new YA series for the new year, trying Firespell, A Novel of the Dark Elite Series. I can't wait for the next in this new series. I recommend this book for lovers of YA, magic, mystery, and mayhem. I had fun with it.

I bought this book for my own enjoyment. Thanks Chloe Neill for a great read.

Turn Coat by Jim Butcher

Turn Coat by Jim Butcher
Publisher: ROC, New American Library, Penguin Group
Pages: 432

From the Cover: The new novel in the hit New York Times bestselling Dresden Files series.

The Warden Morgan has been accused of treason against the Wizards of the White Council and there's only one, final punishment for that crime. He's on the run, wants his name cleared, and needs someone with a knack for backing the underdog. Someone like Harry Dresden...

Now, Harry must uncover a traitor within the Council, keep a less-than-agreeable Morgan under wraps, and avoid coming under scrutiny himself. And a single mistake may cost someone his head someone like Harry.

The eleventh book in the Dresden's File Series.

(From Jim Butcher's webstie @ http://www.jim-butcher.com - thought everyone would like to see how Harry Dresden would describe himself and the add he has in the phone book.)

HARRY DRESDEN — WIZARD

Lost Items Found. Paranormal Investigations.
Consulting. Advice. Reasonable Rates.
No Love Potions, Endless Purses, Parties or Other Entertainment

The Dresden Files are set in a "alternate" Chicago where magic is real, but only a few actually believe in it; it's a first-person tale told by an irascible wizard named Harry Dresden, who regularly gives the magical establishment indigestion — and the police, the same. Take Sam Spade, your Average Joe Underdog Action Star, and toss in some spellcraft, and you get Harry Blackstone Copperfield Dresden. Heck of a guy.


As the story opens, Harry Dresden, Chicago's wizard extraordinaire and sometime warden, is having an odd day. Nothing seems to be going right. Suddenly there's a pounding at his door. The White Council's Chief Executioner, Morgan is pounding and swaying at his door. Morgan who has been trying to remove his head for years. Morgan who doesn't know how to break one of magics rules. He staggers against Harry's door, wounded and bleeding, begging Harry, 'Help me, the wardens are after me' as he falls, slipping into unconsciousness and into Harry's arms.

'Hells Bells', what the blooding hell's going on? Morgan has wardens after him? How can this be possible? Harry doesn't know what to do, but he does know one thing, Morgan would never break a magical law, especially not the murder the White Council is claiming he committed. He's an innocent, and Harry must help him. He cannot watch another innocent be hunted and killed. It hits too close to home and what Morgan has tried to do to him for years.

First, he must control Morgan's blood loss, Butters is the only answer. Butters, morgue MD and friend, will have Morgan fixed up, but at what cost. As Harry provides shelter and aid to a now enemy of the White Council, it could cost him and his friends their heads. Mouse, Harry's Foo dog is set to keep watch over Morgan as is Molly, Harry's assistant and apprentice. Without knowing what else to do, Harry contacts Thomas, his half vampire half brother of the White Court. Since the recent war with the Red Court Vampires, the allegiance between the White Council and the White Court Vampires has been tenuous. (White Court Vampire have silver white eyes when thirsty, but they don't live off on blood, but emotions and sex - sex with a White Court Vampire can kill, or at least be addicting, inducing someone to become a thrall. Red Court Vampire are exactly as their name implies - blood drinkers and they don't play with their food, they kill it.)

As Harry starts to investigate, he realizes a strangeness in the air, something is just not right. Harry slips into his Second Sight to see the world at it truly is and to his amazement and horror, he discovers a hideous skinwalker, a naagloshii (an magical creature who has refused to leave life and has gained strength over the centuries),is hot on his trail. Wizards don't take this particular skill on second sight lightly. They don't stare for too long into each others eyes; it can bring a soul gaze that opens the viewers eyes to what is buried deep within the wizard's or person's soul, and sometimes, it isn't pretty, sometimes the evil corrupts from the inside out.

The evilness of the skinwalker makes Harry physically ill and he heads for the only safe place he knows, the Wolves. Will and Georgia as well as Will's young pack of wolves were shown how to morph by a misguide lycan witch, and have become one of Harry's strongest allies. As Harry recovers, the young wolves start patrolling, trying to pin down down the location of the skinwalker. Kirby and Andi, part of Will's pack are savagely attacked, killing Kirby and severely injuring Andi. Now Harry has more blood on his hands. Karin Murphy shows up to lend what help she can, but since the last fiasco with Harry, she's all but lost her rank with the Chicago Police Department as head of the SI, demoted to investigator.

As the story becomes more involved, Harry starts to question the wisdom of the White Council, even starts the question the Captain of the Wardens, Anastasia Luccio who has recently been occupying quite a bit of Harry's free time....and why has Ana suddenly become so fond of Harry? When Harry makes a trip through the Never-Never (the fey land of in between where fey live and strike or capture those who enter and whom the White Council currently has a truce with) to Edinburgh, Scotland....he discovers even stranger happenings going on.....Could the 'Black Council'(those trying to over throw the White Council) have an active agent on the White Council? How are the White Court Vampires involved? How can the naagloshii be defeated?

Turn Coat by Jim Butcher is the eleventh book in the Dresden Series. The name states what the story is going to be about, a turn coat or traitor in the ranks of the White Council. If you haven't read the series to date, this is not the place to start. This is a series best read in order, many twists and turns in the plot create the need to start at the beginning. Some of the early books could be read as a stand alone, but the later books are missing too much information to be satisfying to the reader. Harry Dresden has been hunted his whole life by Morgan. It was only through the good graces of Ebenezer, Harry's mentor and teacher, that he was allowed to live after killing his evil foster-father. Harry's mother and father are both dead, at the hands of vampires and magic. Now, Morgan has come to Harry for help because he knows Harry is the only one who has a chance to save him. Harry is a romantic hero, not that there's a lot of romance involved in this book. He's a romantic hero by his actions, his sense of right and wrong, the way he stands up for his beliefs against all odds. He will put his life on the line time and time again, but will never ask another for the same. He cherishes those around him, even the tiny fey - faeries to who Harry has been a hero and leader - Toot is one of my favorite characters. Despite his minuscule size, he's always there. Harry's heroine is hard to place in this novel, Ana Luccio, Molly Carpenter, Laura Raith, or even Karin Murphy could be seen in this role, all for different reasons. Ana Luccio's mind and soul were ripped from her body and she has taken up residence in the body of her murderer, her only place for refuge, and Harry's current lover. Molly is in the same boat that Harry found himself in as a teenager, without Harry's kindness as mentor and teacher, she would've lost her head to Morgan's blade. She also the daughter of Michael Carpenter, one time avenging angel that is Harry's long-time ally. Laura Raith is Harry's half brother's sister, and unchallenged, but also impostor, head of the White Court. She feeds off of emotion, and she would like nothing better than to eat Harry whole. She could easily kill Harry or enthrall him, but values their uneasy truce more at this time. Karin Murphy has soul gazed with Harry, and Harry has seen her true inner soul, that of a fierce warrior for the weak, but being smudged by the evil around her. She is Harry's guiding light in his darkest hours, one of his closest friends and allies. I've explain more than I had intended, and I hope I'm not spoiling the books. I love the Dresden Files. Harry is so lonely; he wants and needs to be a white knight. Harry wants to be a part of a family; I think this is why Michael Carpenter's family has played such a significant role in the stories to date. Everytime he gets close to his desire, something goes wrong and it slips through his fingers as he watches in desperation. Jim Butcher is one of the best urban fantasy writers out there. I would have liked to seen a more involved love interest in this book, to explore the relationship between Harry and Ana, but it was a doomed romance. Morgan's and Ana's story would have been nice to explore as well, when Morgan was her apprentice many years ago. There is the romantic feel to the story that I enjoyed, like most gumshoe mysteries, that Noir quality that seems to be missing from more recent mysteries. For more information about Jim Butcher's Dresden Files or his Codex Alera Series, visit his website. From his website, all of his books can be accessed as well as a free short he has available online. He also has a blog and a writing forum that readers can participate that are accessible from his website. All his novels are worthy reads that I highly recommend.

Since there isn't a book trailer, here's a peek at the now defunct series trailer. Why did SciFi cancel it?

Murder With Reservations (A Dead-End Mystery) by Elaine Viets

Publisher: New American Library / Penguin Group
Pages: 263

From the Cover: Living life one the lam and working wherever she can find a paycheck, Helen Hawthorne has a knack for keeping a low profile. But when her coworker dies, and her two-timing ex-husband tracks her down in South Florida, it going to get a lot harder to fly under the radar.....

Helen Hawthorne is on the run and her creep of a scumbag ex-husband, Rob, is still on the hunt, tirelessly tracking her down, hoping to collect on the alimony. Rob doesn't deserve a stinking nickel, he boffed whatever walked by and the judge taking his side. Okay, maybe she shouldn't have killed his SUV, but better it than killing Rob.

Helen has been force to take menial jobs, the only ones that paid cash, to escape the greedy clutches of her ex. No more corporate jobs, corporate lunches or expense accounts, and no more Rob. She'd take the menial over Rob any day, especially after walking in on his last conquest. Helen now lives in sunny South Florida far from St. Louis, away from the prying eyes of her meddling mother and the concern of her sister. The Coronado is the typical retro style apartment with a shimmering pool found in South Florida, not the best place, but not the worse either. And Margery, her landlord, keeps the place hopping with sunset wine at poolside and a hunk of a neighbor, Phil, next door to keep the nights from being lonely. If Helen could just lose the creep of an ex, who keeps searching endlessly for her, her life would be pretty good.

Helen now works for Sybil at the Full Moon Hotel, not a high class place, but kept clean by the maids. That's her job description now--maid, but it's good hard work and the pay comes in the right form. Denise, Cheryl, and Rhonda keep the work interesting and the occupants keep the work hard. People are such slobs on vacation! The third floor is the worst, and Helen and Rhonda, the newest hires, keeping pulling that duty. But there's always the treasure to look for in room 323. Rhonda, a red haired stick woman, moans her about life but brags about her new lover, a dark hair beach boy with money to spare. He's going to take Rhonda away from her troubles. When on the next day, Rhonda doesn't show up for work, Helen assumes the beach boy kept his word.

For all Helen's hard work, her mother sends Rob her way and as luck would have it, he picks the Full Moon as his choice for accommodations. Now if Helen wants to keep her job, she has to skulk around hiding from Rob. The service entrance to the hotel is next to the dumpster and her perfect hiding spot, but the most disgusting scent is wafting out of the dumpster. Helen, with Denise's prodding, crawls inside to find the missing Rhonda, green, purple, and dead. Now, not only does Helen have to duck her ex, but the police too.

Cheryl, the suffering single mother of a Down child, goes hysterical. After all the mean things they've said about Rhonda, lying dead in the dumpster outside the hotel, and then the slob in room 322. In the meantime, Rob has found Helen's apartment, but the wiley Margery sets Rob up on date with an old girlfriend, Marcella, the Black Widow of Florida. With any luck, Rob will meet his match.

Into the picture walks Rhonda's replacement, the gorgeous Craig, and Rhonda not even one day out of the dumpster. Craig as it turns out is a blond beach type boy....... Helen starts to put two and two together when Craig starts talking about Rhonda like they were old lovers. Did he murder Rhonda and throw her into the dumpster like yesterday's garbage? Will Rob marry Marcella and live happily ever after on her millions or will the next victim of the Black Widow be Helen's ex? And, worse yet, who killed the slob in room 322?

Murder Without Reservations by Elain Viets was published in May 2007. It's the sixth book in the Dead-End Job Mystery, no need to read them in order. For background information for her books, Ms. Viets tries out each job found in her novels. She's a brave woman! MWR is a fun filled book full of humor as well as mystery. How Helen gets herself in and out of trouble in too much fun! And then she has her own personal private detective to go home to at night, Phil. MWR was a very fast read, only a couple of hours. Margery is a cagey old gal with energy to spare and helps Helen keep out of trouble. If you'd like more information about Ms. Viets books, check out her website or at the Lipstick Chronicles. If you'd like a fun filled read, you'll like Murder Without Reservations.

Dottie ;-)

The Blackbird Sisters Mystery Series by Nancy Martin

I've read three books by Nancy Martin in the Blackbird Sisters Mystery Series..... Time for a Series Review!


How To Murder A Millionaire by Nancy Martin
Publisher: New American Library / Penguin Putnam Inc.
Pages: 254


From the Cover: From Riches to Rags.......The three Blackbird sisters of Philadelphia--breezy Libby, practical Emma, and fragile but responsible Nora--are to manor born, but it seems there's a curse upon them, as all their husbands died young. Worse yet, their parents have just flown off to luxurious tax-evaders haven.....

Nora Blackbird is a penniless heiress, born to be a debutante, silver spoon and all. That is until her parents spend the family fortune and abscond to better and jail-free, tax-free climates. What's left of the family heritage; portrays to Emma, furniture to Libby, and the broken down family farm and land to Nora is almost worthless. The tax bill on the farm alone is two million dollars. What's an heiress to do? Seating arrangements are her specialty!

When millionaire and family friend, Rory Pendergast, offers Nora her first job on the Philadelphia Intelligencer, she is beside herself. At 31, Nora has her first job, on the society page. Kitty Keough, maven of the society page, doesn't want or need an assistant, but what Rory says goes.

Nora arrives at the Pendergast estate to attend a party, but she instead finds the host dead on his bedroom floor. Nora has another problem, she faints at the sight of a dead body. Who could do such a thing to Rory, a kindly old man? Nora soon discovers that Rory may not have been as sweet as she thought with knowledge of Rory's newest rage, erotic art! The search is on for Rory's killer; could it be his long time love, Peach? His rival in the erotic collectibles? Or, is it the local mafia don's son? All good questions which Nora will try to answer.

Nancy Martin, herself a descendant of the Mayflower crossing, writes an excellent mystery novel that finds Nora looking for answers in all the wrong places. It puts her in direct contact with the gorgeous and supposedly deadly, Mick Abruzzo. But Nora has sworn off men with the death of Todd, her drug taking dead husband. Nora soon discovers she has a nack for murder, at least solving it. If you want to read a book that keeps you laughing and looking for a killer, pick up How to Murder a Millionaire. This is the first book in the new series published in 2002.


Cross Your Heart And Hope To Die by Nancy Martin
Publisher: New American Library / Penguin Putnam Inc.
Pages: 262


From the Cover: Tempest in a C-cup....Things are going great for the Blackbirds. Columnist Nora is still dating mobster's son Michael Abruzzo. Emma's recovering nicely in a clinic for the rich and infamous, and Libby's please about her new career with Potions and Passions, a company that keeps its customers very satisfied.....

Nora Blackbird is at it again. She moving and shaking it with the rich and famous, or infamous, and showing it all on the society page. Kitty Keough is bitchy as ever, never giving Nora a moments rest or a kind word. Mick Abruzzo is helping to fill Nora's nights with hot lovin',sweet dreams, and maybe a baby.

Then, a terrible surprise happens, Kitty Keough shows up on Nora's farm house porch, dead as a door nail. As usually Nora faints away....When the police arrive, they assume Mick has beaten Nora and killed Kitty. How wrong they are!

As Nora covers a fashion show for the new bra that isn't a bra, things are 'uncovered' about Emma, bra designer Brinker Holt (Brinker's Bra), and Hemmings Lamb, known to close friends and family as Hemorrhoid, and all the while Libby struggles to sell her inventory of pleasure items. Nora must revisit the home of childhood friend, Oriana, to discover the truth. She can only hope to do it before Mick is arrested.

Cross Your Heart and Hope to Die is the 4th book in the Blackbird Sister Mystery Series published in 2005. Nancy Martin again uses humor and luck to solve another murder mystery. This book is a quick read and, though its nice to read the books in order, it's not necessary. For a good time and a fun read, try Cross Your Heart and Hope to Die.


Have Your Cake and Kill Him Too by Nancy Martin
Publisher: New American Library / Penguin Putnam Inc.
Pages: 260


From the Cover: Heiress-go-lightly......Nora Blackbird has been reduced to wearing her grandmother's vintage couture. She's teetering on the brink of losing her job as the city's most talked-about society columnist. And she's got two hot men wanting to sweep her off the champagne circuit for wedded bliss. She doesn't need one more family crisis.......

Nora Blackbird is just a society columnist, but when Zell Orcutt turns up dead, all hell breaks loose. Orcutt is the scourge of proper society, married in--not born. When he attempted to sell Fitch's Fancy, the Fitch family estate, after the death of his long suffering wife Hannah, the jet set has a fit! When Nora is asked to investigate this dastardly deed, she finds a long time friend, Delilah, framed for the murder.

With Emma's new job as a dominatrix, Nora's fragile pregnancy and on-again-off-again romance with Richard (sans Mick), and Libby's nude calendar, there's not much time left for solving a murder. The one clue is Orcutt's Cupcake Club, strip club extraordinaire. How is his step-daughter and granddaughter involved in all of this? And why was Libby poisoned after eating cupcakes from Verbina's shop(Orcutt's step-daughter) made especially for the Cupcake's dancers?

Nora is pregnant with Mick baby, unknown to Mick. How will he handle the news now that he has vowed to leave Nora alone to marry Richard? Richard is a clumsy lover and Nora already knows she can't spend her life in a loveless marriage, not after being romanced by Mick. What will she do and who murdered Orcutt?

Have Your Cake and Kill Him Too is the 5th book in the Blackbird Sisters Mystery Series published in 2006. Again, Nora Blackbird has herself in hot water. How will she solved this case and who will pose for the calendar? Nancy Martin brings humor and laughs to another murder mystery. It was a quick, easy, fun read that left me wondering what Nora will get into next. Pick up Have Your Cake and Kill Him Too for a good read and a fun time.

Try any of the Blackbird Sisters Mystery Series, they were all fun and fabulous, darlings, as the society mavens would say!

Dottie :)