My Top 5 Urban Fantasy Picks for March

Not only is this post super exciting to put together, because these are books I feel like I've been waiting forever for; but also, the covers are all freakin' gorgeous! Squeeee! Here are my top 5 Urban Fantasy picks for March, which I never thought would finally get here. Basically, every book in this post belongs to a series that you MUST be reading if you are an Urban Fantasy fan. These are literally all new releases of some of my most favorite UF series. I AM SO EXCITED. 

March 5th

Crave the Darkness (Shaede Assassin #3) by Amanda Bonilla
This series has been a favorite of mine from the very start. I cannot wait to pick back up where we left off with the last book. I need more Tyler. Please make him okay...

Nothing comes easy for Darian. Her heightened powers make her indispensable to the Shaede Nation, but dangerous missions have driven her lover, Tyler, to his breaking point. Darian must salvage their bond, but a new assignment to protect Anya—a fellow Shaede and the first of their kind to become pregnant in centuries—stands in their way.

It doesn’t help that the two Shaedes are longtime rivals and share nothing besides mutual hatred. But when it becomes clear that someone—or something—is bent on destroying the expectant mother and her unborn child, Darian must put her feelings aside and track down Anya’s would-be assassin.

As she probes into Anya’s past, Darian digs up long-buried secrets—and a connection between Tyler and the mission that could destroy everything between them…

Frost Burned (Mercy Thompson #7) by Patricia Briggs
Another of my ultimate favorite series and one of my very first introductions to the Urban Fantasy world. We also get two full chapters from Adam's POV!! I love the direction this series is heading in. 

Shapeshifter Mercy Thompson's life is calming down, at least enough that she can focus on mundane matters like Black Friday sales. But on her return, Mercy is unable to contact her mate, Alpha Adam Hauptman, or the other members of their pack. All she knows is that Adam is angry and in pain. With the werewolves fighting a political battle to gain acceptance from the public, Mercy fears Adam's disappearance may be related - and that he and the pack are in serious danger. Outclassed and on her own, Mercy may be forced to seek assistance from the most unlikely of allies: the vampire seethe.

Agave Kiss (Corine Solomon #5) by Ann Aguirre
ANOTHER one of my most favorite series, and this is THE END. Yes! Another Ann Aguirre series has come to its end. So bittersweet! 

Chance was gone; he’d sacrificed himself so Shannon and I could escape Sheol. We’d raised him on Shan’s spirit radio, which meant his soul wasn’t wholly destroyed by the demon gate….

Once Corine Solomon only had the touch—the ability to read an object’s past by handling it. Then she inherited her mother’s magick, and that ended up being a hell of a burden. But if Corine can wrestle a demon queen and win, she can bring back her lover Chance after he’s made the ultimate sacrifice. Can’t she? All Corine knows is that she can’t leave Chance behind if there’s anything she can do about it.

But the clock is ticking—and she still has to deal with debt-collecting demons and a maniacal archangel who’s running a recruitment drive. The stakes have never been so high…and this time it’s truly Corine’s last chance to save the love of her life.

March 26th

Of Shadow Born (Shadow World #4) by Dianne Sylvan
Dianne Sylvan is not afraid to take risks. I love that about this series, no matter how uncomfortable these books have made me at times, they are super well-written, and yep, here lies yet ANOTHER one of my favorite Urban Fantasy series. 

Spread throughout the dark corners of our world lies the Shadow World, a society of vampires who feed off the living. In Austin, Texas, one woman must rise from the ashes of tragedy and confront an ancient evil before it destroys everything she holds dear…

After a heartrending night of loss and blood, Miranda Grey-Solomon, vampire Queen of the South, now stands in the ruins of her life determined to pick up the pieces and move on. David, her husband and Prime, is missing and presumed dead, and Miranda is lost without her soul mate by her side…But she has little time to grieve as enemies both old and new emerge to test her yet again.

Between vampires trying to take advantage of a Queen without a Prime, incursions by a mysterious organization of humans calling themselves the Order of the Morningstar, and the continuing threat from those within the Shadow World who have already tried to destroy her, Miranda and her allies are running out of places to turn. In order to save her territory and the ones she loves, Miranda must look to the ancient past, to the first days of the vampire race, and uncover secrets about the Signets that could change the course of history…

Deadly Sting (Elemental Assassin #8) by Jennifer Estep

Surprise!! Yet ANOTHER FAVORITE UF HEROINE, right here, in Gin Blanco. This series kicks ass and no matter how painful it is right now to endure what Gin is going through, the action is definitely not lacking. 

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.

So tell me, what books are YOU looking forward to in March?! 

Announcement: We're Having a Baby!

Keeping this on the down-low for the past 2+ months has been agonnnyyyyy, but I'm finally knocking at the 2nd trimester door and we are ready to share the news! I'm pregnant with our first child, at 12 weeks!

8 weeks: upside down kinda, with lil nubs for legs & arms, facing forward :)

Me and my husband had our first visual introduction with him or her at 8 weeks, and we discovered that we had a "wonderfully-placed" gummy bear, with a "super strong heartbeat". We got to see its heart flutter, and its spine. 

We got to see our baby a second time at 11 weeks, 4 days for the 1st NT scan. Oh my gosh, not such a gummy bear anymore. We listened to its heartbeat, and then it started waving its arms and kicking its legs for us! It also flipped around a few times. Then it got shy and chilled out for a bit. We could not believe how much it had grown in 3.5 weeks. It was truly amazing to see! 

11w4d: side view, after waving its arms and kicking its legs, it flipped over for us :)

And that's where we're at! For those curious, I had some queasiness and nausea during weeks 5-9, and again at 11 weeks, making it super hard not to spill the beans to people, because I wanted to complain and whine, hello! I had no major issues during the 1st trimester, just had crazy fatigue, and weird smell issues revolving around food aversions (OMG, WHAT IS HUBS COOKING!!! *sobs* and now I need a nap, I'll just be over here sleepi... zzzz), which I know I know, is normal. I've still been able to workout and do all the same fitness activities I love, for the most part, which the Dr. has encouraged. Is it possible to feel high from hormones? Because that is how I feel, frequently. So happy I can't breathe at times. I hope to continue this journey as smoothly as possible. *crosses fingers* Thanks for letting us share our exciting news with you! The due date is predicted as August 26, 2013. 

Spaz ARC Reviews: Winterblaze by Kristen Callihan

My latest ARC guest review of Winterblaze by Kristen Callihan is up at WLP! 
This is a spoiler free review. With Winterblaze, Kristen Callihan brings us the third book in her Darkest Lodon series. You've seen me here before, gushing over these books. We are already quite familiar with the heroine Poppy Ellis Lane and hero Winston Lane from the events in the two previous books Firelight and Moonglow. They always seemed like the solid couple that nothing could come between, but when Winston is torn apart by a supernatural being and learns that for the past fourteen years of their marriage, Poppy has kept a giant secret, he drops her on her butt. Learning that she not only had a place in the supernatural world, but is also a part in The Society for the Suppression of Supernaturals, sends him packing his bags. Continue reading...

Spaz Reviews: Painted Faces by L.H. Cosway

My latest guest review of Painted Faces by L.H. Cosway is up at WLP.

If you are like me, an avid romance reader of all sub-genres, sometimes you find yourself in a place of "every single book feels like I have read it before." Sound familiar? So when I saw a review of Painted Faces at Smexy Books, my interest was peeked after skimming it. When I finished the book, I wanted to talk to everyone about it because it left me with such a deep feeling of satisfaction, and left me wanting more. From the start, I felt heavily invested in both the characters, and the story. The premise is entirely unique. This is a m/f romance, but the male is a straight drag queen. It is equal parts funny and sexy, and yes, romantic. Continue reading...