ARC Review: Flame in the Dark by Faith Hunter

Series:	Soulwood #3
Pub. Date:	Dec. 5, 2017
Publisher:	Ace/Roc Books
Length:	368 pgs
Source:	NetGalley

The Soulwood series is so freaking unique and captivating that I simply cannot get enough of it. The diverse cast of paranormal characters, supernatural abilities, and action and suspense keep me glued to the page from the first word to the very last. I definitely recommend that you start this series from the beginning so you have the full story on our diverse cast of characters.

Nell Ingram, our special agent and widder woman from East Tennessee continues to surprise and evolve from her cult/church upbringing. I have really enjoyed watching Nell blossom (literally) and grow into an independent woman, who has become slightly more worldly with each book. Her common sense approach to life is refreshing, and her new experiences out in the world away from the church are usually humorous as all get out. 

ARC Review: Blood of the Earth by Faith Hunter

Series:	Soulwood #1
Pub. Date:	Aug. 2, 2016
Publisher:	Berkley
Length:	384 pages
Source:	NetGalley

So this was my first read by Faith Hunter... I know, I know - I have been living under a rock! I have been meaning to start the Jane Yellowrock series, but I'm so far behind that I need to pick a month where I can work them all in at once.  Soon, I promise! This is a new spinoff series from Jane Yellowrock, but I didn't feel confuzzled for not having read the main series. So you should be fine if you have been keeping me company under my rock.

Audiobook Review: Skinwalker by Faith Hunter

Series:	Jane Yellowrock #1
Pub. Date:	April 13, 2010
Publisher:	Self-pub
Narrator:	Khristine Hvam
Length:	14 hrs 34 min

I'm late to the game on this series and author. I was first introduced to Faith Hunter through her new Soulwood series, a spinoff of this one. I fell in love with the unique characters so hard that I knew I had to go back to the beginning and find out about Jane Yellowrock, and Faith Hunter's brand of supernatural.

I should mention that I didn't realize there were seven prequels to the series before I started listening to this audiobook. There were numerous references to past events so I thought I missed a book... which led me to investigate. Looks like I missed seven short stories. But it didn't kill enjoyment of this first full book, just made me feel like I was out of the loop sometimes.

ARC Review: Curse on the Land by Faith Hunter

Series:	Soulwood #2
Pub. Date:	Nov 1, 2016
Publisher:	Ace/Berkley
Length:	352 pages
Source:	NetGalley

Curse on the Land has been one of my most-anticipated releases for the fall. I just fell in love with Nell and Soulwood in Blood of the Earth. I found her character to be so unique and refreshing despite it being the fifth cult-themed book I had read for the year.

Nell Ingram is a young widder-woman, having been a junior bride to a man who left the polygamous cult in East Tennessee. Since Nell met the paranormal agents of PsyLED, she has experienced a great amount of personal growth. In the first book of this series, I enjoyed watching Nell experience new things... pizza, Krispy Kreme, wearing clothes that are outside anything she would wear as a churchwoman, and generally learning that it was okay for women to have their own voice. In this second installment, Nell has just returned to Tennessee from Spook School and is wearing pants and jeans for the first time in her life. She has even cut her hair into a short bob, something that she would never have been able to do as a member of God's Light Church. Nell also has a special brand of magic tied to her land, Soulwood. She has some very unique abilities which have now been recruited by PsyLED, a paranormal division of a governmental investigation agency. Through this consultant position, Nell is learning self-importance because she is dang good at the job.

ARC Review: Cold Reign by Faith Hunter

Series:	Jane Yellowrock #11
Pub. Date:	May 2, 2017
Publisher:	Ace
Length:	378 pages
Source:	NetGalley

After delivering two fantastic books in her new series, Soulwood, Faith Hunter is back with a dynamic offering in the long-standing Jane Yellowrock series. I was a late-comer to this series, discovering it after I read the Soulwood books, but Jane and Beast quickly became one of my favorite heroine/duos in urban fantasy. This is a series that you must read in order as its a continuing storyline, but I also recommend that you read it in publication order in conjunction w/ the Soulwood series, as there is some character crossover.

ARC Review: Circle of the Moon by Faith Hunter

Series:	Soulwood #4
Pub. Date:	Feb. 26, 2019
Publisher:	Ace Roc Books
Length:	368 pgs
Source:	NetGalley

I'm a huge fan of Faith Hunter, and this series is a perfect example why. Our heroine, Nell Ingram, is such a unique and interesting character that I could read about her every day and never get bored. I love the aspect and characteristics of her power and land, and her upbringing in a polygamous cult adds a dynamic aspect to her character that brings her down to earth and makes her relatable. Not because of the cult aspect, but just her simple common sense approach to everything, and even her ability to turn on the church widder woman persona when she wants to prove a point or manipulate someone.

Bambi's Top Books of 2016

Hello readers!

I hope everyone is starting off to a good New Year. I am ready to rock 2017! There are some changes coming to the blog, so stay tuned for those. However, before we can officially say goodbye to 2016, I need to pick my top reads for the year.  As you can see from my Goodreads spread below, I had an exceptional reading year. 

Bambi's 2016 Reading Challenge / 295 of 250 books

I do hope 2017 is as bountiful... having a hard time picking favorites is a first world problem that I love to encounter. Because its so hard for me to pick, I list my picks a little differently. Instead of doing a countdown style list, I recognize why each book made it to the top of my pile. So take a gander below at my cream of the crop for 2016!

ARC Review: Dark Queen by Faith Hunter

Series:	Jane Yellowrock #12
Pub. Date:	May 1, 2018
Publisher:	Ace
Length:	432 pgs
Source:	NetGalley

Sigh, I was so happy to be back with Jane and the gang that I really didn't want this book to end. Then as I was reading, with this being the end of a story arc (the Sangre Duello), I was afraid it would be the end of the series. Jane and Beast have become one of my very favorite heroine pairs in urban fantasy, and I hope they stay around for the foreseeable future.

Series Review: Blood Cross & Mercy Blade by Faith Hunter

I am a late comer to the Jane Yellowrock series, having started after I was introduced to the world in Faith's new spinoff series, Soulwood. But I am enjoying Jane and Beast so much, that I am in the middle of a binge read/listen. The big problem with binge reads for me in a series like this is that the stories start to run together and I can't remember what happened in which book - so that is why you may see a couple of these review posts where I am reviewing the books together.

ARC Review: Spells for the Dead by Faith Hunter

Series:	Soulwood #5
Pub. Date:	July 28, 2020
Publisher:	Ace
Length:	384 pgs
Source:	NetGalley

I so enjoy spending time with Nell Inghram, our widder-woman who liberated herself from a cult in East Tennessee. Oh, and a yinehi with unique powers and abilities. I have loved watching her come into herself as the series has progressed. As Nell's experiences have grown beyond pizza and Krispy Kreme, she has amassed a family through blood and the land. So Nell is no longer our loner against the church, but now has a team to help fight battles both personal and professional. Her common sense approach to life and solving crimes is endearing and inspiring. And her relationship with Occam, the werecat, is so dang cute that I can't help but smile at their interactions.

Review: True Dead

True Dead by Faith Hunter
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I feel like it's been so long since I last read a Yellowrock book (and I'm about 6 months late on this one) do I was glad I was able to read Of Claws and Fangs first for a refresh. If you need one of those like me, all the Claws and Fangs stories take place before this book.

Lots of action here, but that's expected whenever Jane and Beast are involved. But we head back to New Orleans for Jane to finally claim her position as the MOC and Dark Queen. Challengers and betrayal and surprises abound. It was interesting to see the change in Jane/Beast since their pass thru the rift, and to find out just what happened to Sabina and Leo. I really really like Koun, and would love to see some spinoff or short stories featuring him. I also like the new addition of Quint, because who wouldn't love a loyal sociopath!?!

I got sucked into this story and devoured it in 2 days. But it makes me sad that the ending is nigh, as these are some of my absolute favorite characters in urban fantasy.

View all my reviews

Kindle Unlimited Review: Shame on You by Tara Sivec

Shame on You 
by Tara Sivec
Series:  Fool Me Once #1
Pub. Date:  Feb. 25, 2015
Publisher:  Brilliance Audio
Narrator:  Amy McFadden
Length:  3 hrs 47 min
Format:  Audiobook
Source:  Kindle Unlimited
Challenges:  KU


My Rating:  
Sultry Scale:

War veteran Kennedy O’Brien is in the business of sticking it to the man—or at least any man who tries to cross a woman. After she returned home from Afghanistan and caught her husband in bed with the nanny, Kennedy lost her faith in men and started Fool Me Once Investigations with her two best friends. After all, there’s no better bounty hunter than a woman scorned.

When Kennedy takes a case to slap cuffs on a bail jumper turned dog-napper, she figures it’ll be an easy paycheck. But trouble has a way of finding Kennedy. Enter the last man on the planet she’d willingly choose as a partner: her cheating ex-husband’s best friend, Griffin Crawford.

As gorgeous as he is unwelcome, Griffin has always had a thing for Kennedy, and after keeping quiet about her ex’s cheating, he’ll do anything to earn back her trust. Whether or not she wants to admit it, Kennedy will need help as the case of the Chihuahua thief spirals out of control. Griffin may be just her man—in more ways than one.

As I was scrolling through Kindle Unlimited this morning, I saw that this series is was available with narration. As I was looking for a book to listen while I did some computer work, I grabbed this one up. It's a great story to pick up if you want something to listen to while doing housework or some other mindless task that you need to be distracted from. (Ladies - I am not talking about putting on this audiobook while your husband is making amorous advances... though maybe thinking of Griffin might get you in the right frame of mind!)