The Machinist by Erik Robert Nelson

Essie Gray just wanted to be a thief. And she was damned good at it.Issington is a city under a century-long siege from the air. A curfew and blackout have driven many citizens underground  for business and pleasure. Automatons originally designed for war patrol the dark streets of the city at night, now used as a means of keeping the uneasy domestic peace.

When a job goes horribly wrong, Essie finds herself on the wrong side of both the criminals she once thought allies and the law. Now Essie faces a difficult task: to find out what she stole, and who hired her.

That may be wa more daunting task than she realizes. With the criminals, the constabulary, and a major corporation leveraging power against her, the chance of success appears thin. But then she might find allies in unexpected places....


  This was one of those book I was glad having read. Mr. Nelson crafted a world that hope will never be. A worl ravaged by war. People have passed the age of technology and now live in the era of the machine. Where electricity is a thing of the past and everything is built with cogs, springs and steam. Where "blackout" is actually the only way to live and the light of a single candle can mean the distruction of a whole city block and the death of many.

  It is a smarty mystery story, filled with suspense and dark humor. Essie, the main character is likeable and entertaining. The friends she has helping her get out of the mess she's in, add there own charm to the tale and the backdrop adds flare and flavor to it all.

Spring Fever by Mary Kay Andrews

 
Annajane Hudgens truly believes she is over her ex-husband, Mason Bayless. They’ve been divorced for four years, she’s engaged to a new, terrific guy, and she’s ready to leave the small town where she and Mason had so much history. She is so over Mason that she has absolutely no problem attending his wedding to the beautiful, intelligent, delightful Celia. But when fate intervenes and the wedding is called to a halt as the bride is literally walking down the aisle, Annajane begins to realize that maybe she’s been given a second chance. Maybe everything happens for a reason. And maybe, just maybe, she wants Mason back. But there are secrets afoot in this small southern town. On the peaceful surface of Hideaway Lake, Annajane discovers that the past is never really gone. Even if there are people determined to keep Annajane from getting what she wants, happiness might be hers for the taking, and the life she once had with Mason in this sleepy lake town might be in her future.
This was the first novel of MKA that I've read and it was a perfect weekend read. It was fun and easy going and exactaly what This Reader needed after a hard week at work.
  Mrs. Andrews tale of second chances and do overs was delightful and charming. Annajane, the main character is both smart and likeable. Celia is the bitch we all love to hate. and Pokey is the best friend we all had at sometime in our life and if lucky still do.
  You take these three women add romance, small town gossip, adorable kids, a little intrigue and a huge family secret and you'll end up with Spring Fever.

Talion by Mary Maddox

Two victims. One sociopath. Lots of terror.
Serial killer Rad Sanders has big plans for his teenage victims:

Lu will watch as he kills Lisa and be offered a choice – become his slave or share the fate of her friend. Then Rad will get so deep inside her that she will no longer know where he ends and the pathetic remnants of herself begin.

But Lu has a little surprise for Rad . . .

When I read the summary of this book, I found myself fascinated by a story that mixes suspense with a bit of the supernatural. So of course I had to read it. And I have no regrets what so ever.
  Mary Maddox captures the readers intrest with fast pace dialogue and a keen eye for detail and a scenery so beautiful one can easily forget that the most beautiful of places can sometime hide the ugliest of monsters.I felt both disgusted and captivated by Sanders. The author did an effective job of showinghow muchof a monster Sanders actually is and how he had come to be a serial killer. Both Lisa and Lu interesting in their own way. One spirited and the other abused.
  Although the story may be about two teen girls make no mistake this is an adult book. And one I recommend to all.

A Soul To Steal by Rob Blackwell

 


 This Reader enjoyed this read til the end and I loved every minute of it.

  Could this book be considered a horror story? Or a mystery? YES!!! This story may read like a mystery but don't be fooled, read it only if you're not afraid of the dark. If the things that go bump in the night don't make your heart race and your imagination go wild.

  It's a story that mixes one of american horror literature classic's with a whole modern twist. If Mr. Blackwell's intention was to remind us that there are darker things in this world the mere serial killers, then he has succeeded very well.

  Rob Blackwell blend of "whodunit" with classic horror is one every reader of both generes will love. He keeps you guessing who the killer might be 'til the end. And at the same time keeps the reader at the edge of your seat wondering about the Headless Horseman.

  So read it only if you dare.

The Strange Case of Finley Jayne by Kady Cross

  
Finley Jayne knows she's not 'normal'. Normal girls don't lose time, or have something inside them that makes them capable of remarkably violent things. Her behavior has already cost her one job, so when she's offered the lofty position of companion to Phoebe, a debutante recently engaged to Lord Vincent, she accepts, despite having no experience. Lord Vincent is a man of science with his automatons and inventions, but Finley is suspicious of his motives where Phoebe is concerned. She will do anything to protect her new friend, but what she discovers is even more monstrous than anything she could have imagined...
So I read this little novella, in a blink of an eye at that and all I can say is I WANT MORE!  It turns out that this is just a prequel to  an upcoming or more like already out series. A little something to tease the reader and get them hooked on the series and let me tell you it worked.
  I loved this whole old but advance time in which the story takes place, the Steampunk era. A time where the car is still new, only the rich have indoor plumbing and yet they have robots or "automatons" for servants.
  And I loved Finley. A young woman with two sides both aware of the other and different from each other as night is to day. You have the young, proper english servant wanting nothing more then not to cause any trouble. And then you have the darker, stronger don't mess with me or mine or you'll be sorry side.      
  I want to get to know more about Finley and her strange powers. Who is her father? What is going on with those bank robbing automatons and so much more.    
  This Reader will most assuredly read Ms. Cross Steampunk series and if it's as good as this novella then we shall all be talking about it soon.

The Witch Thief by Lori Devoti

  Joarr Enge never believed in the powers of the chalice he was tasked to guard—but he sure as hell wasn't going to let the captivating witch who'd robbed him escape. Now, a century after her betrayal, Joarr commandeered Amma's body and blocked her magic. She would spend every moment by his side until the chalice could be found.
Amma had risked everything to uncover the secrets in her past—even the rage of her powerful and mysterious dragon lover. But as Joarr's passionate fire tempted her to dream of a future with him, could their magic unite two separate worlds for the most precious thing of all…their son?
Just when I thought I was done with the fantasy romance, Lori Devoti lures me back in.  Her tale of a witch that steals something more valuable then she realizes and her dragon (yes DRAGON) lover that will stop at nothing to get it back. Was exactly what the docter ordered. This book was simply fantastic!!!  
  I loved how both characters were strong headed and willfull. Each doing what they had to to get what they wanted. Neither one could dominate the other but find perfect balance to make their love unique.  
  Thou a fantasy by far (dragon lover heelloo!!!) Devoti has the ability to make the whole thing seem real. From realm portals to earth dance clubs run by dwarfs. From posh hotel rooms to a dragons lair, the reader can easiliy believe that these place can actually be real.
  This Reader enjoyed every second of this book. I hope to read more of this author soon.

Bride of the Night by Heather Graham

She's the vampire that could destroy a nation.

At least, that's what Pinkerton detective Finn Dunne thinks of Tara Fox. Capturing her aboard a ship sneaking its way northward, he's convinced she's been sent to take out President Lincoln. While she's certainly the most attractive assassin he's ever faced, that won't keep him from his duty.

Tara has always been caught between worlds. As a vampire born and raised in Key West, she has many friends among the humans. Many friends that are now fighting and dying in the raging Civil War.

When her strange dreams began, she thought of them as abstract visions. But she now knows that she must travel to Washington, D.C., and protect the president at all costs. Finn still won't trust her, despite what he's seen. And if Tara has to go through him—or bring reinforcements—to save Lincoln, she will do whatever it takes, even if it costs her her heart.

 Aahh!!! Not such a fan of this book. I've read a few of Heather Graham books to say I'm not a fan of this one.
   The book was a little boring and unlike many of her other books, way too discriptive for my taste.  The writing was so discriptive that you knew what was about to happen before it did. Not something you want when it's suppose to be a beat the clock story.
  This Reader wanted the distrust between the Pinkerton and the half-vampire to be over with so the could realize they loved each other but the boring story line kept me from cheering them on.
  I don't say this often but I was glad to get to the end of the story. Sadly This Reader does notrecommend this book, especially if you're a Heather Graham.