Review: Spartan Frost

Reviewed by Jen
 

I have to say, I was so excited when I found out we were getting a novella from Logan's POV. I'm always down for getting in the head of a series hero, but this one was even more tempting to read because of the angsty way the last book ended. After all, the dude tried to kill his girlfriend!  The emotional impact should have been huge.  Only, it wasn't really.

Yeah, Logan feels like crap for what happened. He blames himself. He doesn't trust himself. And he wants revenge on the Reapers.  But if you're looking for anything deeper than that, you're SOL.  This is novella is really short. A third of it focuses on recounting the events of Crimson Frost, a third of it focuses on a battle with some Reapers, and the rest is a look at Logan's relationship with his dad (and a really descriptive scene involving the contents of their breakfast.)

Don't get me wrong. I enjoy Estep's writing (and her foodie scene always make me hungry.) But this was pretty superficial and didn't show me anything new about Logan as a character.  It wasn't a bad read, but it felt I could have gotten just as much out of this if it were pared down and delivered as a web short.

Just ok.

Rating: C

*ARC Provided by Kensington via NetGalley

Click to purchase: Amazon

Spartan Frost

by Jennifer Estep

Release Date: June 28, 2013

Publisher: Kensington

Review: Deadly Sting

Reviewed by Jen
 

I still love you, Jennifer Estep.  And I still love the Elemental Assassin series.  But Owen... I feel like my longstanding and overwhelming love for Owen Grayson has suffered irreparable damage with this book. Which makes me both a little bit angry --and sad.

The following will contain spoilers for anyone who has not already read Widow's Web.

As the story begins, Owen and Gin are still apart, as he deals with the fact that she killed his ex-fiance.  Nevermind the fact that Selina tried to kill his sister. Nevermind the fact that she was going to kill Gin and was obsessed with the idea of getting him back.  Oh yeah --and let's not forget her big evil plan to kill all those folks with her big revenge plot.  But still, he's off "thinking about things." For three months now.  Gin is hurting (which I hate) but she is trying to soldier on.

Finn gets the bright idea to drag Gin to a huge party to showcase all of Mab Monroe's treasures at an art museum.  He even talks her into getting a fancy new dress. But nothing is ever simple for Gin.  First of all, Owen is there. With a date.  Then the party turns into a huge hold-up as a group of giants plot to steal Mab's fortune for themselves.  And Gin must find a way to take them all down before any harm comes to her loved ones who have been taken hostage.  Kind of like Die Hard. In a red dress.

As always, the action was great. I love that Jennifer Estep is always coming up with new ways for Gin to kill people.   While many of the last books focused on her ice magic, this book was more focused on the stone.  There were tons of cool fight sequences and big stuff with Jonah MacAllister.  Plus --a great setup for where the series is likely headed next.

If you're anything like me, however, what you really care about is what's happening with Owen.  Sadly, this was the only part of the story that I didn't enjoy.  Owen was one of my favorite characters in a series filled with amazing characters. He came around on the heels of weenie-toad Donovan Caine, who made Gin feel damaged and unworthy --and he loved her for who she is.  He accepted her. And now, HE is making Gin feel small. And alone.  He is indecisive. He is a wuss.  And a stupid-head.  And honestly, no matter what happens in future books, I question whether I can ever see him the same way again.  Scratch that.  I know I can't.... which really stinks.

Where do they end up?  You'll have to read the book, of course.  I will tell you, though, that it is not a fun ride.  At least, it wasn't for me.

This all leaves me with mixed feelings at the end of the book.  The parts that weren't about Owen were everything I have come to love about the series.  I liked the plot, the villain, and the growing overall arc.  But the romance.... fail.

*ARC Provided by Pocket Books

Click to purchase: Amazon

Deadly Sting

by Jennifer Estep

Release Date: March 26, 2013

Publisher: Pocket Books

Review: Crimson Frost

Reviewed by Jen
 

I think this is the strongest installment so far in Jennifer Estep’s Mythos Academy series. It’s also the second book of hers this year that has left me feeling emotionally fragile.

The story starts off in a good place for Gwen, despite the fact that Loki is now free and ready start a Chaos War. That’s because she and Logan are finally together. After much angst and a great deal of waiting, they have both admitted their feelings to one another and are going on their first date. From there, though, everything starts to go downhill… fast.

Before the date even ends, members of the Mythos governing body –the Protectorate—place Gwen under arrest. She is accused of freeing Loki intentionally and a trial date is set. The student body turns against her; a guilty verdict seems a foregone conclusion. Making the situation worse, Gwen knows that the Reapers have something even worse on the horizon. But how can she beat them when her own future hangs in the balance?

I liked the whole Protectorate storyline. The leader, Linus, is such a dick. His righteous rhetoric is played to perfection. I love how he’s all tied in with Logan and how that plays into Gwen’s life even more. I enjoyed the new character Alexi and his surprising link to Gwen’s band of friends. The action was great. Gwen’s emotional turmoil was great. The bigger picture is advanced. And the end… well, let’s not linger too much on the end. Suffice it to say that Jennifer Estep likes making us work for our happy moments. I guess we’re not done working yet.

I had a pretty good inkling who things were going to go south for about halfway through the book, but didn’t find the other elements of the climax to be very predictable. I just wish we could get a little more of a mature dynamic in the relationship department. It doesn’t have to be dirty or anything, but it feels very innocent for 17. (Maybe this would be less bothersome for folks who are bigger YA fans. I read these because I love Estep… not necessarily the genre.)

Gwen is getting stronger and stronger. While in some of the past books that has played out with her magical gifts, here it’s a different kind of strength, the internal kind. I hope she wipes the floor with those Reapers in Midnight Frost.

Rating: B

*ARC provided by author for review

Click to purchase: Amazon 

  Crimson Frost

by Jennifer Estep

Release Date: December 24, 2012

Publisher: Kensington

Favorites From... Jennifer Estep

Jennifer Estep

Greetings! First of all, I want to say thanks to Jen for hosting me on her blog today. Thanks so much, Jen!

So today, Jen asked me to recommend a book or series that I enjoy. I write the Elemental Assassin urban fantasy series, so you might think that I would be recommending an urban fantasy or paranormal romance series. I do enjoy reading in those genres, but you know what? I really like reading contemporary romance too, so that’s what I’m going to recommend today.

One of my favorite authors for contemporary romance is Lisa Kleypas, especially her Travis series, which includes Sugar Daddy, Blue-Eyed Devil, and Smooth Talking Stranger. The books take place in Texas and focus on the lives and loves of the Travis family.

Why do I like these books so much? The answer is simple: the voice. All of the books are written in first-person and focus on three very different women with their own sets of issues, problems, and heartaches. But Kleypas’s writing just makes these characters come to life, and they seem so real that you could picture yourself having coffee and chatting with any one of her heroines. Plus, the heroes and the secondary characters are also interesting and entertaining. Kleypas’s writing is so elegant, and yet it seems so smooth and effortless at the same time. The words just flow, and you want to keep reading just to see what happens next.

I like the whole series, but if I had to pick, I’d say that my favorite book of the three is Sugar Daddy, the first one in the series. Sugar Daddy focuses on Liberty Jones, a girl who grows up in a trailer park and has a crush on the bad boy next door. A lot of bad and tragic things happen to Liberty over the years, but she always keep struggling and fighting to make the best of things. She works hard to take care of herself, her mother, and her younger sister, and when Liberty finally gets her happily ever after, well, it makes you cheer and close the book with a contented sigh. For me, seeing a character get her happily ever after is one of the reasons that I read books in the first place.

So if you like contemporary romance, give Kleypas’s books a try, especially Sugar Daddy.

What about you guys? What are some of your favorite books and series to read, contemporary romance or otherwise?


A big thanks to Jennifer Estep for sharing one of her favorites with us! I asked Jennifer to be a part of this feature because I am a big fan of her Elemental Assassin books.  Her heroine, Gin Blanco, is an awesome, kick-ass killer-for-hire who wields the power of multiple elements. She takes up causes for people in need and shows that she is a really good person beneath all that killing.  Gin has a wonderful support network that showcases her ability to love and be loved, despite the loner she thinks herself to be. Click here for more on the Elemental Assassin books.

In the meantime, this is your chance to try out Jennifer's recommendation, Sugar Daddy.  To enter the giveaway, just fill out the Rafflecopter form below. You can also enter to win Jennifer's latest book, Widow's Web.  U.S. residents only.

Be sure to check out all of the Favorites From My Favorites posts and giveaways this month, by clicking here.

Read more »

5 for Friday - September 28

It is Friday, September 27... three days after the release of JR Ward's Rapture. I still have not read it.  I fail at both fandom and blogging.  But we have tons to talk about this week!

5. I know this is a week old, but Jennifer Estep revealed the cover for Deadly Sting, the next book in the Elemental Assassin series.  Check it out:

Red is definitely my color. Good thing, because in my line of work, I end up wearing it a lot.

Most people shy away from blood, but for an assassin like me — Gin Blanco, aka the Spider — it’s just part of the job. Still, it would be nice to get a night off, especially when I’m attending the biggest gala event of the summer at Briartop, Ashland’s fanciest art museum. But it’s just not meant to be. For this exhibition of my late nemesis’ priceless possessions is not only the place to be seen, but the place to be robbed and taken hostage at gunpoint as well. No sooner did I get my champagne than a bunch of the unluckiest thieves ever burst into the museum and started looting the place.

Unlucky why? Because I brought along a couple of knives in addition to my killer dress. Add these to my Ice and Stone magic, and nothing makes me happier than showing the bad guys why red really is my color.

It's a stepback cover and I love that we see Gin's face, but... Did you guys notice the one word missing from that blurb?? I'll give you a hint. It starts with an "O" and ends with a "wen."  I pray that we get some happy news on the romance front with this next book.  Deadly Sting is out March 26.

4. Lord's Fall is just weeks away and Thea Harrison is giving out advanced copies of her newest Elder Races book.

This is another Dragos & Pia book!  You can win a copy at Thea's blog or pre-order now.  It's out November 6th.

3. If you don't read Stacia Kane's Downside books, you may not understand the pure moment of squee I had when she tweeted the following:

That was followed by:

I don't know anything else. But whatever this turns out to be.... I will buy it. I love Terrible so hard.

2. Two big announcements from Ilona Andrews.  First, the spectacular writing duo announced the name for the next Kate Daniels book.  MAGIC RISES will be out in July or August of next year.

In the meantime, they are putting out a free serial on their blog.  It's called Clean Sweep. You can link to it HERE and they will likely release it as an ebook when they are done.  Help spread the word.  I love these two.

1. And finally... I promised you some big news last week! I've got a huge feature coming in the month of October. It's called Favorites From My Favorites.

Every weekday in the month, I'll have a guest post from one of my favorite authors, offering up recommendations of their favorite books for you to try. We'll have great giveaways, thanks to the amazing folks at Penguin, Harper Collins, Grand Central, Kensington and St Martin's Press.  And some of the authors are sharing their own work as well.  I could not be more excited about the lineup.  We've got such a great variety of authors from Urban Fantasy to PNR, fantasy and HR.  From NYT bestsellers to debut authors and some you may not even be familiar with.  But each one of them is a favorite of mine!  So please give them all a warm welcome.  Be sure to enter the giveaways and leave lots of comments.  Our first guest is Jennifer Estep --and her post will up first thing Monday morning.

I hope you love it!

XOXO,
Jen   

*"Favorites from..." photo: Copyright (c) 123RF Stock Photos  

Review: Widow's Web

Reviewed by Jen
 

Jennifer Estep... how could you do this to me?  Yes, you made it very clear where this story was heading, but it didn't make it hurt any less to see the hits coming.

The book begins with Gin happy.  She and her sister are solid. Mab is dead. Things are good at the Pork Pit. And her relationship with Owen couldn't be better. Right there, you know it's all going to fall apart, because things are never easy for Gin Blanco.

Trouble comes in the form of the beautiful water elemental Salina, henceforth to be known as "the evil bitch."  She makes her first appearance while Gin and Owen are enjoying a romantic dinner.  It becomes quickly apparent that she and Owen have a romantic history together and she wants him back. As much as Owen loves Gin, it's obvious his old feelings haven't gone completely away.  Of course, this wreaks havoc on my Gin's heart. Her jealousy and fear is only exacerbated by her gut-instinct that there is something nefarious underfoot.

Owen's old-friend-turned-enemy Phillip Kincaid already knows what Gin suspects: the evil bitch is, indeed, an evil bitch.  She is back from years of exile to get revenge on her enemies and to rekindle her relationship with Owen. Phillip tries to hire Gin to intercede before either can happen.  Gin is conflicted by her assassin instincts and her love for Owen, but once the murders begin and secrets of the past start coming to light, it becomes more and more clear what needs to be done.

I have loved Owen since the moment I met him. He was everything Donovan Caine wasn't. He was honorable and loyal and he treated Gin the way she deserved to be treated.  He killed me in this book.  Don't get me wrong... he never stops being the good man we know him to be.  But his loyalty and honor blind him to some hard truths.  Blind Owen breaks my heart.

What I love most about this series are the characters.  They grow and evolve, but stay true to their core.   Which sometimes... hurts. We went through this with Donovan in the past and with Bria too. Sometimes, their journey takes them somewhere we want them to go and other times.. well, it's just another chance for life to knock Gin down.  She always get up, though, which is one of the amazing things about her character.  This book is where we see Owen have his moment of reckoning.

Is there still action? Yes. Sex? Yep. Flashbacks? Gore? Snark? Cooking? All of the above.  It's not just about Owen, but when the book is over, his actions and decisions will be what stay with you.

Rating: B+

*ARC provided by author for review

Click to purchase: Amazon

Widow's Web

by Jennifer Estep

Release Date: August 21, 2012

Publisher: Pocket Books

5 for Friday - June 22

This week has really flown by! Of course, I spent half of it getting a healthy dose of sunshine and extended family during my vacation at Fontainebleau State Park.  It was gorgeous out there and I was happily surprised that they had wi-fi in the cabins, so I wasn't completely cut off from the blog and my Twitter addiction.  Hours of play knocked the kids out at night and mixed drinks did the same for the hubs, so I even got a little reading time in!  But there is no place like home and I'm glad to be back with Tumblr you guys.


5. Tuesday is a huge, huge release day.  It's like the publishers decided to save up a ton of big books to drop on us all on the same day.  Some of the best coming out this week: Once Burned by Jeaniene Frost, Thief of Shadows by Elizabeth Hoyt, and Wicked Nights by Gena Showalter.

I also enjoyed Chasing Magic by Stacia Kane and Tempest's Fury by Nicole Peeler.  Oh! And Consumed by Rebecca Zanetti.  But really, those are just the tip of the iceberg.  What big June 26th release tickles your fancy?  Tell me what you're looking forward to *or* which books you wanna spread the word about.

4. A couple of tidbits from the awesome Jennifer Estep.  The next book in her Elemental Assassin book, Widow's Web is out in August, but if you can't stand the wait, she's got Chapter 1 up on her blog. In the meantime, she has revealed the cover for her next YA Mythos Academy book Crimson Frost.

That one is out in January. And Estep says the name of the book after that will be Midnight Frost (out August 2013.)

3. The amazing Ilona Andrews is giving us a sneak peek of the next Edge book. You can find chapter 1 of Steel's Edge up on her blog.  This is the last contracted book in the series from what I understand and I must say I am sad. I really was hoping for a Jack and/or a George book. (**sniff**) I shall keep hope alive.

2.  By now, everybody and their mama has seen the Breaking Dawn Part 2 trailer. But you could be living under a rock. Or just itching for a chance to talk about it.  Either way, here it is:

  

Yes. I will go see it.

1. And speaking of guilty pleasures. Dallas is back.

I was a huge fan of the original recipe Dallas, back in the 80's.  Of course, I was around 10 years old and I didn't even realize how much of it I didn't "get" until I watched the episodes again during a CMT re-airing while I was in college.  So, have any of you seen the new version? Is it worth watching?  Here's the trailer if you've missed it.  I need opinions before I commit.

**Bonus Item**

 
I saw this cover reveal on Harlequin's Facebook page and Rrraw. 

Badly disfigured Lady Isobel Dalceann has fought fiercely to defend her keep, with little thought for her safety. Why, then, has she let a stranger within her walls? While he threatens danger, his battered body marked by war mirrors her own scars and tempts her to put her faith in him.

Marc de Courtenay is a mercenary and a loner, although he is drawn to damaged—beautiful—Isobel. But in taking him into her highly defended, buttressed walls, she has unwittingly given him secrets that will enable him to betray her. What would she do if she were ever to find out who he really is…?

XOXO
Jen

Review: Dark Frost

Reviewed by Jen
 

I have yet to meet a Jennifer Estep book I didn't like.  And this one is no exception. In fact, I think it's the strongest installment in the Mythos Academy series so far.

Only weeks have passed since the events of the last book.  Winter break is just wrapping up and Gwen is unsure where she stands with the sexy Spartan, Logan. They haven't seen each other or spoken during the break.  Just as they reunite at a museum for a school project, the building is overrun with Reapers.  They're searching for the ancient dagger to free the god Loki.  And leading the charge, is the masked woman who killed Gwen's mother.

The battle is bloody, but Gwen and her friends survive and the head Reaper gets away.  The whole thing really drives home for Gwen how important it is that she find the dagger first, to keep Loki locked away.  The story follows her efforts to uncover the weapon her mother hid all those years ago, while struggling with her fragile relationship with Logan.

Once again, Logan manages to piss me off with how he treats Gwen and I was really about to write him off for good this time.  That is, until we learn his Big Secret.  Granted, the secret wasn't so big that we all hadn't figured it out already, but through his willingness to eventually share his vulnerability, we finally see him grow.

There are some engaging subplots, surrounding Gwen's friend Daphne and the return of that Frenrir wolf we met in the last book. But the main theme of the story is really Gwen's journey of self-discovery.  It's painfully clear at times how young she still is.  It's frustrating to watch her blame herself for things she can't control --and make everything all about her.  But that is the way of a 17 year-old, I guess.  The important thing is that she is growing... not just as a person, but as a powerful being.  What she learns to do with her powers here is pretty bad ass.

Estep's writing style is always a win for me. It's such easy reading, the books always fly by. There's a lot of action and some major developments in the overall series arc.  Stuff I did not see coming.  I'm looking forward to see how Gwen will manage to live up to her potential in the next book.

Rating: B

*ARC provided by author for review

Click to purchase: Amazon

Dark Frost

by Jennifer Estep

Release Date: May 29, 2012

Publisher: Kensington

Review: By a Thread

Reviewed by Jen
 

I have to admit, I was worried. When Jennifer Estep wrapped up the Mab Monroe storyline in the last book, it felt like it could be the end of the Elemental Assassin series. Then I head two words that made me shudder: road trip. Few authors can take their main character out of the familiar environment and make the story work. But let me tell you right now, not only did Jennifer Estep make it work, she's given us the very best installment in the series to date.

After Mab's death, Gin thought her life would get easier. But thanks to Jonah MacAllister, Gin's identity is no longer a secret. And every day, a new thug is showing up at the Pork Pit to challenge her. So Finn convinces her to take a vacation. Gin jumps in the car with Bria, back to her sister's home town, hoping to leave the violence behind. She also hopes she can bridge the growing gap between her and her sister.

I must say, Bria really ticked me off here. She is so judgmental of Gin; she blames her for things that are not her fault; she basically acts like Gin is beneath her. Very reminiscent of Donovan Caine in the earlier books. --And speaking of Donovan-- He is suddenly back in the picture as Gin finds herself in the middle of a conflict involving one of Bria's old friends. The woman is getting pressure from a vampire crime boss to sell her restaurant and Gin can't help but to try and help the woman who was like a sister to Bria for years. The woman who also happens to be involved with Donovan... who is still a complete toad.

This book is fast paced and full of action. But what makes it so good is that its also full of emotional turmoil in Gin's life. She has to learn hard lessons about the limits of her power. She must decide how much crap she is willing to take from her sister. And she needs to figure out where her heart lies. Is Owen the only man for her? Can she let go of her old feelings for Donovan? Do I ever stop wanting to punch him in the 'nads?

The absence of Mab and the change of venue gives the series an infusion of new life. It feels fresh without trying to reinvent the core of the series. It brings back all my favorite characters (and even some better left to rot beneath a bridge.) It is unpredictable. And it managed to make me worried, angry, sad, hot, happy, and triumphant, all in equal measure. I couldn't have been more satisfied and I wouldn't change a thing about how it all played out. I can wait to find out what's next for my favorite assassin. 5 stars.

*ARC Provided by author for review

Click to purchase: Amazon

By a Thread 

by Jennifer Estep

Release Date: February 28, 2012

Publisher: Pocket Books

Review: Thread of Death

Reviewed by Jen
 

This novella was great way to tide me over until I could read By a Thread. (**WARNING** This review contains spoilers from the events of Spider's Revenge.) The story picks up just a couple of weeks after the end of the last book, and it gives us a peek inside Mab Monroe's funeral.

Gin has just barely recovered from her fight with the powerful elemental, but she feels like she must attend the funeral to give herself closure. Unfortunately, the other attendees are basically a who's-who of Ashland's underworld. And the word is out that Gin is the Spider. So this is no quiet service. Someone is gunning for Gin and she has to fight for her life, with even greater implications than usual.

Among the cool things we get are multiple POV's, which is unusual for the series. I liked getting outside impressions of our heroine. I also liked that this book begins to set up a villain for future installments and it sparks some intrigue surrounding my beloved Owen. The story is short, but it's not filler. I expect to see the implications from these events play out in future novels. Good stuff. 4 stars.

*ARC Provided by author for review

Click to purchase: Amazon

Thread of Death

by Jennifer Estep

Release Date: January 31, 2012

Publisher: Pocket Books

Elemental Assassin: Short Stories & Novellas

Reviewed by Jen
 

Jennifer Estep has provided a wealth of wonderful short stories to fill in the blanks of her Elemental Assassin series. Most can be found free on her website.  Here's a breakdown:

Poison - One of three prequels to the first novel.  It's told from Finn's perspective.  It seems Gin's foster brother wasn't always her biggest fan.  In this story, Finn is 15 and Gin, at 13, has just come to live with him and his dad.  He is jealous that his father has decided to train Gin to be an assassin instead of him.  But Gin really saves Finn's bacon when he gets into a tough spot, cementing a friendship that will last them a lifetime.

Web of Deceit - This is the second prequel story. It is told from the point of view of Fletcher, Gin's adopted father and mentor. He watches as Gin undertakes her first solo mission as an assassin. She is 16. The target: two brothers who are kidnapping teens and pimping them out. It's nice to get to know the old guy a little and see the love he has for Gin.

Spider's Bargain - The final prequel to the first novel follows Gin on one of her hits.  In this case, she's going after a dirty cop named Cliff Ingleas.  Cliff has been forcing sex out of vampire hookers and has most recently raped and beaten a 13 year-old girl. When she learns what he has done, Gin decides to kill him for free.  The events of this story are referenced in Spider's Bite.

Web of Death - This story takes place between the events of Spider's Bite and Web of Lies. Gin has retired from the assassin business and is in the process of moving into Fletcher's old house, when she comes across a female vampire prostitute being attacked.  Taking down the two male vamps who were doing the attacking gives Gin the first real excitement she's had in her life since she left the killing business.

Wasted - This short story takes place in between the events of Web of Lies and Venom.  And it's told from Finn's point of view. When a beautiful woman passes him over to start up an affair with his boss, Finn knows something is up.  Sure enough, she has less than honorable intentions and Finn makes it his own mission to keep her plan from succeeding.  A cameo from Xavier helps set up the main story arc regarding Roslyn in the next book.

Tangled Dreams - This short story takes place in between the events of Venom and Tangled Threads. And here we get a tale from both Devereaux sisters.  Gin is injured saving a mother and daughter from some carjackers and comes to Jo-Jo for help.  We learn what healing is like from Jo-Jo's perspective, but more importantly, we learn a little more about her other gifts (like prophesy.)  When the surviving carjacker tracks Gin to the house, Jo-Jo takes care of him herself and calls her sister to clean up the mess. Sophia picks up the rest of the story, giving us a closer look at her elemental gifts and how they are different from her sister's.

Tangled Schemes - Here we get a story from Bria's point of view and it takes place just before the events of Tangled Threads. Bria is trying to track down her sister and learn the identity of the Spider, obviously having no idea that they are one in the same.  We get her perspective on why she came to Ashland and even a little bonus conversation with (the weenie-toad) Donovan Caine.  Bria gets herself in a tight spot as she continues her investigation, but manages to come out of it all ok in the end.

Spider's Nemesis - Here we see the murders of Gin's mother and sister from Mab's point of view.  The story starts where Tangled Threads leaves off and Mab is contemplating who the mysterious Spider is.  She remembers the first time she met Gin's mother as well as the meeting with the great-aunt who foretold her death at the hands of a Snow girl.  Pretty cool to see the pieces all fall into place as Mab slowly figures out who her nemesis really is.

Thread of Death - Reviewed here.

Review: Kiss of Frost

Reviewed by Jen
 

I don't know if I have told you this before, but you really can't go wrong with Jennifer Estep. I love her writing style... it's just so easy to settle into. Her first person narrative is always down-to-earth, believable, and fun. And this book is no exception.

The story picks up just a few months after the point where Touch of Frost left off. And I've got to tell you, my number one goal when I started reading was to determine whether I was going to love Logan or hate him. He really made me angry when he blew Gwen off. And by the time we were halfway into the book, I was ready to start making a voo-doo doll. But I'll get back to Logan in a minute.

The story takes Gwen and her classmates at Mythos Academy on a skiing trip for Winter Carnival. But it's no relaxing vacation for Gwen. Someone was already trying to kill her before they even left and the danger only intensifies when they reach their destination. Gwen tries to distract herself with parties and a new boy, but it's hard to ignore attempts on your life. Fortunately, Gwen's magic is growing, giving her better skills to cope with what she might face.

I'm not usually a YA reader, but I do like this series. It's satisying to watch Gwen start to grow and get stronger. Like I said before, I had a hard time warming up to Logan, seeing as how he had his tongue in another girl's mouth for a large hunk of the story. But I guess I'm coming around --a little. YA or not, I need this little love connection to pick up the pace. It's moving along, but very slowly. Fish or cut-bait, people!

Overall, a good read that opens new doors for the future of the series. 4 stars.

*ARC provided by author

Click to purchase: Amazon or The Book Depository

Kiss of Frost

by Jennifer Estep

Release Date: November 29, 2011

Publisher: Kensington

Spider's Revenge: Feature & Giveaway

No one will ever confuse me with a writer. I don't have the skill or that wonderful creative spark that brings characters to life.  But the awesome Jennifer Estep, author of the Elemental Assassin series, was kind enough to overlook that long enough to play along with me, when I asked if I could take a short walk through Gin Blanco's world. 

My little imaginary trip to Ashland should help bring you up to speed on our amazing assassin as we get ready for the big showdown with her nemesis in Spider's Revenge, which is out tomorrow! Take a look.


==========================================================

It's been a long time since I've been to Ashland.

I'm not really good at keeping my head down. And with someone like Mab Monroe running the city, if you can't keep your head down, you're likely to lose it. But I've heard through the grapevine that things are changing there. Someone is fighting back. Someone called the Spider.

With that in mind, I packed my bags and flew in for a visit. I even dropped by my favorite club, Northern Aggression. The guys there are so hot! One was hot enough to prompt me to follow him out the door, around to the side of the building. Imagine my surprise, when Mr. Beautiful started picking up speed and pulling a gun. Long story short, he took out a giant who was about to pounce on a woman standing in the alley. Damsel in distress?  I think not. I watched as she carved a rune into the ground with a knife. A spider rune. It was only then I noticed all the other bodies surrounding her.  And then she looked up and saw me.

So, those are the events that lead me to a back room in the club, with an incredibly charming, gorgeous guy and a woman I can only assume is the assassin they call the Spider. I thought she would kill me, but she didn’t. Instead, we somehow ended up sitting around a table, with drinks in our hands. One drink turned into two and then into three, before I was unable to keep my mouth shut a minute longer..

Me: So, how long have you two been together?

Gin: Finn’s father, Fletcher, took me in when I was thirteen and living on the mean streets of Ashland. The old man taught me everything I know about being an assassin, and most importantly, how to survive. I’ll always be grateful to him for that. (lifts her glass in honor of Fletcher)

Finn: (lifting his glass as well) Hear, hear. And Dad would be proud of you and all the folks you’ve helped lately. But yeah, we’ve known each other since we were kids and have been getting into and out of trouble ever since then.

Me: Well, I guess you don’t have much time for relationships in your, er, line of work.

Gin: Well, that’s not necessarily true. I’ve been seeing someone lately: Owen Grayson. So far, things are going well between me and Owen, and I hope they stay that way for a long time to come.

Finn: And I’ve got my eye on one Detective Bria Coolidge, a very attractive blond who is playing hard to get, although everyone knows how much she secretly wants me.

Gin:(rolling her eyes) I think the only thing Bria really wants is to slap that smug smile off your face.

Finn: (grinning) Your baby sister will come around sooner or later. It’s only a matter of time. No one can resist the charms of Finnegan Lane for very long.

Gin snorts and takes another sip of her drink.

Me: Have you always done the kind of work that you do? I mean, you kill people, right?

Gin: Yes. My name is Gin, and I kill people. That’s all you really need to know.

Finn: Actually, she used to kill people for money... a lot of money. *Sighs dreamily* But lately, she’s been doing all these pro bono jobs.

Gin: Yeah, lately, it seems like I’ve been handling bad situations for good, decent folks who have nowhere else to turn and problems that the law can’t handle. It’s dangerous work, but it’s rewarding, knowing that I’m saving some innocent lives.

Me: But Mab Monroe isn’t exactly a regular mark.  They don’t come any scarier than her.  Why would you put yourself on her radar?

Gin: Because Mab killed my mother and older sister when I was a kid. Not only that, but she tortured me and would have killed Bria as well. And ours isn’t the only family that she’s destroyed over the years. Mab deserves everything that’s coming her way, and all the wrath that I can rain down on her and her men in the meantime.

Me: So... (I find myself whispering) Are you going to kill her?

Gin: That’s the plan, sweetheart. That’s the plan. Whether it actually happens or not *shrugs* we’ll see

The last word was barely out of her mouth when Finn’s phone rang. He spoke quietly for a moment than ended the call and looked up at me. Finn tells me my cab is here, I’m headed to the airport, and to get the hell out of town.

Sitting in the cab, I can’t believe the night I’ve had. The Spider was nothing like I expected. I’m almost sorry to be leaving. I have a feeling things here are about to get really interesting.

=========================================================

Ha!! This was so much fun. A big thank you to Jennifer Estep for letting me visit with Gin and Fin and taking the time to share their answers with me. 

If this has whet your appetite for Spider's Revenge, you're in luck.  We're giving away a copy! This contest is only open to Red Hot Books followers in the U.S.  So if you'd like to enter, just fill out the Rafflecopter form below. 

Read more »

Review: Spider's Revenge

Reviewed by Jen
 

Every time I start a new Elemental Assassin book, it's like visiting an old friend. Not that I'm tight with any killers. But these books are so familiar, inviting, exciting and fun. What's more... They are consistent. The series has a tone, a voice, that never wavers. And from the first page of each installment, I am back in Gin's world, like I never left.

Fans of the series have been waiting for this book from the beginning. We've known for a long time that Mab Monroe is the woman who killed Gin's family; the woman who set in motion the life changing events that turned her into an assassin. Now Gin is finally poised to have her revenge and kill her nemesis. One of the things that surprised me, though, is that Gin's efforts begin on page 1. From the start, our Spider has her crossbow in hand, ready to fire. But, as Gin likes to remind us, luck is rarely on her side. The hit doesn't go according to plan --and her attempts only ratchet things up another notch.

Ashland is crawling with bounty hunters, targeting not only Gin, but her baby sister Bria too. And with that risk, there can be no more waiting. Gin has to step up her game and finally strike down Mab before she loses the last living member of her family.

There were so many things I loved about this book. The action is awesome. The characters are wonderfully fleshed out. (Their voices are so clear, I feel like I know them.) We're treated to more great nuggets of backstory... Including the recounting of what happened to Sophia all those years ago. We've got more progression in Gin's relationship with the amazing Owen. And of course, the big showdown... which doesn’t disappoint.

There are only two things that keep me from shouting from the rooftops. One, Estep does tend to repeat details. Like the fact Mab is "the most powerful elemental born in 500 years." I think we got that nugget 3 or 4 times. Granted, I read an advanced copy and perhaps all those references won't exist in the final book. But it bears a mention. The second issue: what I'll refer to as Bria and Finn's "big mistake." I won't spoil the details, but the pair makes a major error in judgement that just didn't work for me. Their lapse felt out of character for both of them, given the circumstances they were in. It felt more like a plot device than a natural progression, and it bothered me.

But (and this is a big BUT) neither issue would keep me from recommending this book. Gin is such a great character. She is smart, brave, loyal and strong. Estep never shies away from the fact that she is a killer but there is never any doubt that she is also a heroine. Even though I know there are more installments in the works, this book could have easily served as an end for the series. I felt so good when I finished... triumphant. And I loved reading that last line: "My name is Gin. And I kill people."  You're damn right!  4 1/2 stars.

*ARC provided by author for review.

Spider's Revenge

by Jennifer Estep

Release Date: September 27, 2011 

Publisher: Pocket Books

Review: Touch of Frost

Reviewed by Jen
 

I don't usually read YA fiction, but I am a big fan of Jennifer Estep's Elemental Assassin books... and that is what led me to this first installment of her new Mythos Academy series.

The story centers on a teenage Gypsy named Gwen. She has the give of psychometry, which means she gets psychic impressions from the things she touches. Shortly after the death of her mom, Gwen's grandmother enrolled her in the Mythos Academy, a school for teenagers with special gifts. The halls are filled with Valkyrie, Amazons, Spartans, and other skilled warriors. But Gwen feels out-of-place. She's no warrior and she certainly doesn't come from the privileged background of her peers.

Things go from bad to worse for Gwen when she discovers the bloody body of the most popular girl in school in the library. In the aftermath, she is shocked to see that no one is mourning for the dead girl and no one wants to dig beneath the surface to solve her murder. So Gwen decides she will use her powers to figure out what really happened to Jasmine. The story follows her investigation and people who enter her life as a result.

This book has the same easy and relaxed writing style I've grown to love from Estep. Her books use simple and clear language which allows you to forget about the words and focus on the story. The concept of the series is pretty good, though not entirely groundbreaking. Gwen is a likeable heroine. And Estep does well to advance her story while still leaving the door open for much more in future books.

I liked the book, but I didn't love it. My biggest problem was in the repetition of thoughts we got from Gwen, especially in the first half of the book... her what-if's about her mom, her guilt, her angst, her same questions and reflections over and over. It did peter out before it drove me crazy, but I couldn't quite ignore it. Also, I didn't like how things played out with Logan, the love interest. I know Gwen was supposed to feel jerked around, but dammit, I felt jerked around by his hot-and-cold behavior. And while I know this is an ongoing story, I'm a stickler for an HEA, and I was annoyed by the resolution of this part of the storyline... or lack thereof.

I did enjoy watching Gwen begin her transition into something more than she was at the beginning of the story. I think over the course of the series, she is really going to blossom and that will be what makes the books shine. 4 stars.

*ARC Provided by author for review

Touch of Frost

by Jennifer Estep

Release Date: July 26, 2011

Publisher: Kensington

Tangled Threads: Giveaway & Chat with Jennifer Estep

This giveaway is closed. The winners are mbreakfield, Allison, Kristen, Lexie & Heather.

 If you've never read the Elemental Assassin series, you are definitely missing out. This is a fun, fast moving Urban Fantasy series, featuring a female assassin, who can command both ice and stone magic.  The latest installment of Gin Blanco's adventures, Tangled Threads, is just days away from release.  (If you want to want to read my review, click here.)  To celebrate, the mastermind behind Gin's story, Jennifer Estep, is here to answer some of my burning questions about the series:

Jen: One of the things I really love about these books is that they are Urban Fantasy but not the same old vampire and werewolf fare. Explain the world of the elementals and where you got the idea for it.

Jennifer: Basically, in the Elemental Assassin series, there are humans, vampires, giants, dwarves, and elementals – Air, Fire, Ice, and Stone. Some folks can also use related areas to the four main elements, like electricity is an offshoot of Air and metal is an offshoot of Stone. Anyone can be an elemental – humans, vampires, giants, and dwarves. My heroine, Gin Blanco, aka the assassin the Spider, has a very rare talent in that she can use not one but two elements – Ice and Stone in her case.

I just thought it would be cool to use elemental magic. I thought that using that sort of magic system would let me come with some interesting powers for Gin and the bad guys that she faces. For example, Gin can use her Ice magic to make knives, lockpicks, and more, while her Stone power lets her make her own skin as hard as marble. And the bad guys have everything from Fire magic to electrical powers.  

Jen: Donovan Caine was Gin's initial love interest in the early books. Did you ever intend for him to get over his issues with Gin or was their relationship doomed from the start?

Jennifer: At first, I intended for Donovan to be Gin’s love interest throughout the series. But after writing Spider’s Bite, the first book in the series, I realized that they were going to have the same argument in every book about her being an assassin. Donovan is such a straight arrow that I really couldn’t let him come around to Gin’s way of thinking without really weakening his character. So I decided to have Donovan leave Gin at the end of Web of Lies, the second book in the series.

I’m glad I made the change. Having Donovan walk out on Gin made for some great drama – and so did bringing in Owen Grayson, the sexy businessman who is Gin’s new love interest. So far, most folks seem to be on Team Owen, which is really satisfying to me. ;-) 

Jen: Will we ever see Donovan again? Does he feel the pins I stick into his voo-doo doll?

Jennifer: Heh. That’s funny. A lot of folks seem to not like Donovan after what he did to Gin. I’m thinking about bringing Donovan back at some point, if only so Gin can get some closure about their relationship. Donovan walked away from Gin, and she didn’t like that very much. Plus, I think I could write some interesting scenes with Gin, Donovan, and Owen. We’ll see what happens.

Jen: Do you intend to ever tell Sophia's backstory?

Jennifer:  Readers will learn more about Sophia in Spider’s Revenge, the fifth book in the series, including why her voice is so broken and raspy. If the series goes long enough, I’d like to do a book that really delves into Sophia’s background – including the bad guys who hurt her.

Also, there’s a free short story on the Excerpts page of my website called "Tangled Dreams" that has some scenes from Sophia’s point of view. Here’s the link to read it and the other stories I’ve written for the series: http://www.jenniferestep.com/excerpts-short-stories/ 

Jen: Will Spider's Revenge be Gin's last book?

Jennifer: Actually, I’m working on book six right now, which I’m jokingly referring to as “Gin on vacation.” Gin decides to get out of Ashland for a while, but trouble manages to find her no matter where she goes … Such is the life of an assassin. LOL.

A big thanks to Jennifer Estep for stopping by and for joining me (and some of my other blogging friends) for chat earlier this week.  You can hear her join us about 10 minutes into the chat. If you're interested, check it out:

 

So, are you sold on the series yet?  If not, I've got something to sweeten the deal! I'm giving away 5 copies of Tangled Threads!  The contest is open to all followers of Red Hot Books in the US and Canada.  To enter, just make sure you're following with Google Friend Connect, then leave me a comment, telling me what your favorite Urban Fantasy series is!  The contest will run through the weekend and I'll announce the winners Sunday night.



Review: Tangled Threads

Reviewed by Jen
 

After spending the last 17 years in the shadows, Gin is now putting her work as an assassin in the spotlight.  Her plan: to start unraveling the organization of crime-boss Mab Monroe... one death at a time.  Gin is killing Mab's minions and leaving her own personal symbol behind.  And Mab is getting mighty pissed off about it.  So much so, she has hired another big name assassin, Elektra, to take her out, once and for all.  Of course, Mab doesn't know that "the Spider" is really Gin Blanco. 

Elektra wields the element of electricity. And she enjoys killing.  The combination makes her a formidable opponent.  Gin is a great assassin, but what we're coming to see, is that isn't the real reason she survives.  She perseveres because she has this makeshift family that has her back.  It's ironic that Gin sees herself as this unloveable, lone wolf, when in reality, she has these people in her life who are completely devoted to her.  How would she make it without Finn at her back? Without Jo-Jo to fix her injuries?  Her circle is expanding to include Rosalind, Xavier, and most notably Owen.

And let me say, I really like Owen.  I love the way he loves Gin. It's such a sharp contrast to Donovan Caine, the weenie-toad who was the embodiment of all Gin's fears about being unlovable.   I hate that we still are hearing about him, but it shows what a crater he really dug in her heart.  On the plus side, we get a little bit of dirty-action between Gin and Owen. Nothing too over-the-top, but just enough to raise an eyebrow or two.

The last big piece of the puzzle here is Bria.  She has no idea that Gin is really her long-lost sister Genevieve or that she is the infamous Spider.  But it's only a matter of time before she finds out, because 1) she's a cop trying to find the assassin and 2) she's also on Mab's hit list.  All of Gin's insecurities are in play with Bria --and as the book unfolds, we have to wait and see whether she will accept Gin's love or slam the door in her face.

I really like this series. And I think the biggest reason is because I love Gin. She is strong, powerful, humble, loyal and good... without ever being annoying. She kicks ass and so does this book.  5 stars.

*ARC Provided by Simon & Schuster

Review: Venom

Reviewed by Jen
 

The action just keeps building in this latest installment of the Elemental Assassin series, Venom.  Demoralizing boy scout Donovan Caine has left town and has taken a piece of retired-assassin Gin’s heart along with him.  (I’m sticking pins into his voo-doo doll likeness as I write this review.)  But Gin soldiers on, despite the toll his rejection has taken upon her.  And it’s a good thing she can stay on her toes, because retired or not, someone else is in need her special brand of justice.

This time, it’s vampire-madam Rosyln Phillips. It seems crime-lord Mab Monroe’s muscle man, Elliot Slater, has been stalking her. More specifically, he is forcing her to be in a sick parody of a relationship with him, under the threat of violence.   Slater is already on Gin’s radar, since he beat the stuffing out of her for Mab’s lawyer, Jonah McAllister. The attorney was trying to figure out if Gin knew anything about his son’s death. (Of course, we know she killed him and stuffed him in Mab’s bathtub in Web of Lies, but our bad-guys don’t figure it out.) Anyway, Gin vows to kill Slater, more to protect Roslyn than anything. But it won’t be easy. Slater is a giant. He is strong and fast and is surrounded by guards of his own.

There are several other big points I can’t ignore. Bria, the little sister Gin thought was dead, shows up in Ashland… as the replacement for Caine. That’s right, she’s a detective and one who is not corrupt.  Should Gin tell her who she is? What she does?

And we’ve got Owen Grayson, Gin’s new love interest.  Finally, a man who sees her for her strengths. But will he still feel the same when he finds out she is a killer? All this, plus the added intrigue surrounding the murder of Gin’s mother and sister. She now knows who killed them, but can she do anything about it?

I love this series. I love Gin.  And I will be waiting with bells on when Tangled Threads comes out in April.  5 stars.

Review: Web of Lies

Reviewed by Jen
 

Let me begin by saying, Donovan Caine is a weenie-toad.  Now that I have that off my chest…

Web of Lies picks up about 2 months after Spider’s Bite left off. Gin has retired from her life as an assassin and is now running the BBQ restaurant her foster-father Fletcher had left her in his will.  Things are going smoothly (maybe a little too smoothly) when a punk kid, wielding fire magic, and one of his friends tries to hold up the Pork Pit. He threatens a young co-ed customer and Gin can see murder in his eyes. She subdues him. When the police comes she finds out that he is the son of a prominent lawyer and right-hand to Mab Monroe, the woman who rules the city.  Despite the trouble that could mean for Gin, she presses charges.

In the meantime, a young woman named Violet comes to the restaurant looking for Fletcher. It turns out, Violet’s grandfather and Fletcher had been old friends. Now the head of a powerful mining company, Tobias Dawson, is trying to bully her grandfather for his land & is targeting Violet to get to him.  Gin decides to help, by going after Tobias herself.

While all this drama is going on, Gin is dealing with her feelings for Detective Caine. They hooked up briefly in the last book and are thrown together by the events in this story. But he still can’t over Gin’s past. I really rooted for these two all through Spider’s Bite, but he has hurt Gin too much.  He doesn’t deserve her. And now I find myself rooting for Owen Grayson, the powerful brother to the co-ed Gin saved at the beginning of the book. He doesn’t look down on Gin and seems to see her worth.  Caine can take a long walk off a short pier.

I really enjoyed this book and I really love this series. There is plenty of action and character development. Not to mention the undercurrent storyline of what happened to Gin’s family and the mystery of her missing sister. Can’t wait to jump into the next installment. 5 stars.

Review: Spider's Bite

Reviewed by Jen
 

I need to fall in love with yet another series about as much as I need a hole in the head. But here I am, falling in love with Gin Blanco. Gin is an assassin and she wields elemental magic.  As the book opens, she is in the middle of a hit. But we learn quickly, that despite her profession, Gin is no bad-guy. She has a standard for her jobs: no kids and no innocents. All of her marks have done wrong.

As soon as she wraps up her job, she meets up with Fletcher, an old man we learn is her father-figure and mentor. He also is the middle man on her hits.  Fletcher took her off the streets, when she was 13. Her family had been murdered by a woman wielding fire magic… and Gin was trying to fend for herself. Fletcher taught her to be an assassin and gave her a home –and a makeshift family with him and his son, Finn.

There’s already another job waiting for Gin. A big one. She just has to kill this corporate big shot embezzler and she’ll have enough money to retire. Only the hit is a double cross;  one where Gin is supposed to end up dead as well. She manages to escape but when she makes it back to Fletcher, he has been brutally killed. And even though she didn’t kill her mark, she is being framed for it.

Gin goes on the hunt for who is behind the elaborate scheme and the death of her beloved Fletcher. Her investigation pairs her with sexy detective Donovan Caine.  They are undeniably attracted to each other. But Caine is a straight and narrow cop who can’t let himself forget Gin is a killer.  Their sexual tension is off the charts and when they finally give in… WOW.

Gin is tough as nails, but is steeped in humanity. She is a very fleshed out character and she is very easy to root for. I can’t wait to start Web of Lies to see where her story goes next.  5 stars.