Fantasy Dreamer's Ramblings

I changed the name of my weekly list of new reads. "Books Bought and Received" was a bit boring as far as titles go, so I came up with "Feeding the Need to Read". I think this title says it all.

This week was a very good week in books for me.

Must Love Hellhounds by Ilona Andrews, Meljean Brook, Charlaine Harris, Nalini Singh

I won this over at Odd Shots and it's signed by Meljean Brook!

Book Blurb from Amazon.com:

From New York Times bestselling authors Charlaine Harris and Nalini Singh and national bestselling authors Ilona Andrews and Meljean Brook, tales of man's worst friend...

In these hound-eat-hound worlds, anything goes... and everything bites.

Follow paranormal bodyguards Clovache and Batanya into Lucifer's realm, where they encounter his fearsome four-legged pets, in Charlaine Harris's The Britlingens Go to Hell. Seek out a traitor in the midst of a guild of non- lethal vampire trackers, one that intends to eradicate the entire species of bloodsuckers, in Nalini Singh's Angels' Judgment. Find out why the giant three-headed dog that guards the gates of Hades has left the underworld for the real world-and whose scent he's following-in Ilona Andrews's Magic Mourns. Embark on a perilous search for the kidnapped niece of a powerful vampire alongside her blind- and damn sexy-companion and a hellhound in Meljean Brook's Blind Spot.

These four novellas by today's hottest paranormal authors will have hellhound lovers everywhere howling.

About the Authors
Charlaine Harris writes both fantasy/mystery and mystery. The HBO series True Blood is based on her Sookie Stackhouse novels. Nalini Singh is the author of the Psy-Changeling and the Guild hunter series. Ilona Andrews is the author, most recently, of Magic Strikes. Meljean Brook is the author of the Guardian series.

Dark Time by Dakota Banks
Book 1, Mortal Path

I recieved this book from RachaelFromNJ in exchange for a review on her blog Enchanted by Books.

Book Burb from Amazon.com:

Three hundred years ago, she sold her soul to a demon. Now she wants it back.
For centuries, the woman calling herself Maliha Crayne has lived a second life—as an assassin for the malevolent creature who owns her soul. A haunted killer with the blood of countless victims on her hands, she has finally discovered a way to nullify the demonic pact that chains her: If she saves a life for every one she has taken, she will be free.
But if she fails, her punishments will be unspeakable, unendurable . . . and neverending.

Tainted ARC by Julie Kenner
Book 1, The Blood Lily Chronicles
Release Date: October 27, 2009

Recieved for review.

Book blurb from Amazon.com:

Lily Carlyle has lied, cheated, and stolen her way through life.

But in death, she'll really get to be bad...

When her little sister is brutalized, a vengeful Lily determines to exact her own justice. She succeeds at the cost of her own life, but as she lies dying, she is given a second chance. Lily can earn her way into Paradise by becoming an assassin for the forces of good.

It's the job Lily believes she can really get into-but she doesn't realize that she may not be able to get out.

Biting the Bullet by Jennifer Rardin
Book 3, Jaz Parks

I won this over at Amberkatze's Book Blog and it's signed by Jennifer Rardin!

Book Blurb from Amazon.com:

I'm Lucille Robinson (aka Jaz Parks). This is a mission unlike anything my vampire boss, Vayl, and I have ever been on. It's not our usual take-them-out-and-run; it's an undercover mission that needs the whole gang: a psychic, an interpreter, and a weapons specialist. We've never gone in which such heavy artillery before, but the more the merrier, right? Um...nope. At least not since Vayl and I learned part of our job is to ferret out a mole concealed in our unit. To add to our problems, we're being harried by a pack of reavers bent on revenge, and targeted by a Seer who wants to share Vayl's power - at any cost. This is going to be a blast.

Rosemary and Rue: An October Daye Novel by Seanan McGuire

I bought this at Borders, I couldn't resist all the great reviews I've read about this book plus I've wanted to read since I saw it mentioned at Lurve a la Mode.

Book Burb from Amazon.com

October "Toby" Daye, a changeling who is half human and half fae, has been an outsider from birth. After getting burned by both sides of her heritage, Toby has denied the Faerie world, retreating to a "normal" life. Unfortunately for her, the Faerie world has other ideas...

The murder of Countess Evening Winterrose pulls Toby back into the fae world. Unable to resist Evening's dying curse, which binds her to investigate, Toby must resume her former position as knight errant and renew old alliances. As she steps back into fae society, dealing with a cast of characters not entirely good or evil, she realizes that more than her own life will be forfeited if she cannot find Evening's killer.

Drawn into Darkness by Annette McCleave

I bought this at Walmart, yet another book that the reviews I read lead me to buying this book.

Book Blurb from Amazon.com

Serving a five-hundred-year sentence as a Soul Gatherer-one who battles demons for the souls of the dead-Lachlan MacGregor keeps his distance from humans. That is, until the lovely Rachel Lewis knocks on his door, begging for help.

As they struggle to rescue her daughter from the clutches of a powerful demon, Lachlan finds himself increasingly drawn to the artistic single mother. But when Death assigns him an unbearable task, he's left wondering who will provide more for his soul.

What A Dragon Should Know by G.A. Aiken
Book 3, Dragon Kin Series

I bought this at a local bookstore, The Book Cellar. I haven't even read the first two books in this series but Amy ( who I'm going miss tremendously in the blogosphere! ) at Romance Book Wyrm has me convinced this is a must read series. I have the first two books already, just need the time to read them.

Book Burb from Amazon.com

Only for those I love would I traipse into the merciless Northlands to risk life, limb, and my exquisite beauty. But do they appreciate it? Do they say, 'Gwenvael the Handsome, you are the best among us - the most loved of all dragons?' No! For centuries my family has refused to acknowledge my magnificence as well as my innate humility. Yet for them, and because I am so chivalrous, I will brave the worst this land has to offer. So here I stand, waiting to broker an alliance with the one the Northlanders call The Beast. A being so fearful, the greatest warriors will only whisper its name. Yet I, Gwenvael, will courageously face down this terrifying...woman? It turns out the Beast, a.k.a. Dagmar Reinholdt, is a woman - one with steel-gray eyes and a shocking disregard for my good looks. Beneath her plain robes and prim spectacles lies a sensual creature waiting to be unleashed. Who better than a dragon to thaw out that icy demeanor? And who better than a beast to finally tame a mighty dragon's heart?

Once Bitten, Twice Shy by Jennifer Rardin
Book 1, Jaz Parks Series

I bought this at The Book Cellar also. I've been seeing a lot posts on this series so I thought I would give it a shot.

Book Burb from Amazon.com

I'm Jaz Parks. My boss is Vayl, born in Romania in 1744. Died there too, at the hand of his vampire wife, Liliana. But that's ancient history. For the moment Vayl works for the C.I.A. doing what he does best--assassination. And I help. You could say I'm an Assistant Assassin. But then I'd have to kick your ass.

Our current assignment seemed easy. Get close to a Miami plastic surgeon named Assan, a charmer with ties to terrorism that run deeper than a buried body. Find out what he's meeting with that can help him and his comrades bring America to her knees. And then close his beady little eyes forever. Why is it that nothing's ever as easy as it seems?