Review: Tangled Schemes by Jennifer Estep

Title: Tangled Schemes

Author:  Jennifer Estep

Series: Elemental Assassin

Format: freebie from the author

Genre: Urban Fantasy
Release date: Published 2011

Number of pages: 15

This short story spans a period of time start­ing from the last chap­ter of Spider’s Bite and end­ing right before the begin­ning of Tan­gled Threads. It’s told from Detec­tive Bria Coolidge’s point of view and shows her search for her long-lost sis­ter Genevieve Snow. What Bria doesn’t know is what she’s going to do about the fact that Genevieve also hap­pens to be the assas­sin the Spi­der.

It was fun seeing that Fletcher was looking at Gin all along and he’s responsible for Bria Coolidge coming to town. But the best part is what Gin doesn’t know but Bria is actually looking for her long lost sister now that she’s discovered she’s alive.

 

I liked this little novella because we can Bria through all the events in the later book. Fun to know she’s not a bitch and it’s actually just like Gin thinking on the good and trying to save the world off Mab.

 

 

SERIES IN ORDER

#0.5 – Poison
#0.6 – Web of Deceit
#0.7 – Spider’s Bargain
#1 – Spider’s Bite
#1.5 – Web of Death
#2 – Web of Lies
#2.5 – Wasted
#3 – Venom
#3.5 – Tangled Dreams
#3.6 – Tangled Schemes
#4 – Tangled Threads
#4.5 – Spider’s Nemesis
#5 – Spider’s Revenge
#5.5 – Thread of Death
#6 – By a Thread
#7 – Widow’s Web
#8 – Deadly Sting (Expected publication: March 26th 2013)

Review: Tangled Dreams by Jennifer Estep

Title: Tangled Dreams

Author:  Jennifer Estep

Series: Elemental Assassin

Publisher:  freebie from the author

Format: online

Genre: Urban Fantasy
Release date: Published 2011

Number of pages: 10

This short story takes place in between the events of Venom and Tan­gled Threads. It’s told from the points of view of Jo-Jo Dev­er­aux and her sis­ter, Sophia Dev­er­aux. When a car­jacker fol­lows an injured Gin back to Jo-Jo’s beauty salon, Jo-Jo and Sophia join forced to elim­i­nate the threat.

It was different to see Jo-Jo POV, but what I enjoy the most on these novellas is the fact we get to see what other very important characters think and this time we have an insight in the Deveraux sisters.

I’ve been thinking for awhile that Jo-Jo has a fairly good idea of what will happen in a fight between Mab and Gin, this novella only proved that is possible she does know the answer, but she’s much more than just that.

I also liked the fact how protective they are of Gin and it showed they really are a family.

SERIES IN ORDER

#0.5 – Poison
#0.6 – Web of Deceit
#0.7 – Spider’s Bargain
#1 – Spider’s Bite
#1.5 – Web of Death
#2 – Web of Lies
#2.5 – Wasted
#3 – Venom
#3.5 – Tangled Dreams
#3.6 – Tangled Schemes
#4 – Tangled Threads
#4.5 – Spider’s Nemesis
#5 – Spider’s Revenge
#5.5 – Thread of Death
#6 – By a Thread
#7 – Widow’s Web
#8 – Deadly Sting (Expected publication: March 26th 2013)

Let’s Talk #5

Welcome to the Let’s Talk weekly discussion meme!

Originally hosted by Melissa from i swim for oceans, Smash & Kt took her original inspiration, and made it their own, expanding it to more than just books. Let’s get personal (but respectfully so) and learn more about one another!  Each week, a different question will be posted along with a place to link up your posts and visit other people’s responses. This meme is definitely meant to bring out conversation and meet new people. So, Let’s Talk!

End of the first month and the questions are getting trickier…

How much time do you think you spend on blogging each week, including commenting on other blogs, participating in events, Twitter/Facebook blog talk, etc? Do you have a time management system that works well for you? We’d love to know!

I have no idea how much time I spent on blogging, but at least 2 hours a day, I don’t have a time management or anything, but I try to visit other blogs and comment on memes and reviews.

I’ve been improving on twitter and Facebook, but it’s still difficult for me to spent huge amount of time on both of those. I need more time on twitter to know better other bloggers, but I’m getting there. It’s so much fun to make new friends.

December Dreaming on It!

There’s some great books releasing this month that deserve some attention. And of course I have several of them on pre-order, but until these beauties get home, I’ll show some of my dreams. So what’s your dreams for December?

4th

  

11th

  

18th

 

26th

   

31th

Top 10 of 2012!

This year I’ve read way to many books and decided to participate in this end of the year retrospective. It sounds really good and definitely gives a chance to show off some of those amazing books we fell in love with.

WOW! Has the year flown by or what? I can’t believe we’re ready for another fun filled week where we look back at some of the best of all things books of 2012 and what books we’re looking forward to in 2013. Last year I participated in this event and had so much fun I’m co-hosting this year with my favorite fellow bloggers – Lisa from A Life Bound By Books, Jessica from Confessions of a Bookaholic, Rachel fromFiktshun, and Jaime from Two Chicks on Books.

The event runs for five consecutive days, the last week of the year. Five days of some of our favorite lists and we invite ALL of YOU to join in on the fun and share your lists with everyone too!

Each day of the event we hope you’ll visit one of the hosting blogs and share your list with the Linky that will be provided. Just be sure you follow which lists goes on which day. Speaking of… here’s what we’re doing for this years event –

Monday, December 24th – Best Books I’ve Read in 2012 (Doesn’t have to be released in 2012, just a book you’ve read in 2012)

Tuesday, December 25th – Best Book Covers of 2012 (MUST be a book released in 2012. Would be best if it’s a book you’ve READ in 2012, but it’s not required)

Wednesday, December 26th – Best ________ Of 2012 (Readers/Bloggers choice. Please fill in the blank with ONE of these topics – Villains, Contemporaries, Dual POV’s, Novellas, Adult titles, New Adult titles, Love Triangles, Couples, Bad Boys or Debuts. REMEMBER – this list MUST be from books you’ve READ in 2012)

Thursday, December 27th – Best Book Boyfriends of 2012 (MUST be from a book released in 2012 and from a book you’ve READ in 2012)

Friday, December 28th – Top 10 Books I’m looking forward to in 2013. (This list should be comprised of books released ONLY in 2013)
How you do these posts/lists is totally up to you. What books, covers and characters you pick are all your own.

The only rules to follow are posting the topics on the dates we’ve provided.

Until them!!!

Review: Venom by Jennifer Estep

Title: Venom

Author:  Jennifer Estep

Series: Elemental Assassin

Publisher:  Pocket Books

Format: ebook

ISBN: 1439148015

Genre: Urban Fantasy
Release date: 1439148015

Number of pages: 389

What kind of assassin works pro bono?

It’s hard to be a badass assassin when a giant is beating the crap out of you. Luckily, I never let pride get in the way of my work. My current mission is personal: annihilate Mab Monroe, the Fire elemental who murdered my family. Which means protecting my identity, even if I have to conceal my powerful Stone and Ice magic when I need it most.

To the public, I’m Gin Blanco, owner of Ashland’s best barbecue joint. To my friends, I’m the Spider, retired assassin. I still do favors on the side. Like ridding a vampire friend of her oversized stalker—Mab’s right-hand goon who almost got me dead with his massive fists.

At least irresistible Owen Grayson is on my side. The man knows too much about me, but I’ll take my chances. Then there’s Detective Bria Coolidge, one of Ashland’s finest. Until recently, I thought my baby sister was dead. She probably thinks the same about me. Little does she know, I’m a cold-blooded killer . . . who is about to save her life.

Third book and this series continues to get better specially now that Gwen has some serious problems to handle with Mab Monroe. But not everything is bad and now Gin has an admirer on the fabulous and very dangerous Owen Grayson.

I loved this book and it’s amazing to see how Gwen is handling her retirement and some off her plans to destroy Mab empire. And now we also have Bria Coolidge in town. And she’s a fighter always trying to save the world and avenge the wrongs.

But this book is not all about revenge, Gwen is also helping her friend, because she feels guilty, but since all the bad people on Ashland is more darker than anything in this book she has to kill an abusive giant. He’s also Mab right hand, maybe this a two points with one hit.

SERIES IN ORDER

#0.5 – Poison
#0.6 – Web of Deceit
#0.7 – Spider’s Bargain
#1 – Spider’s Bite
#1.5 – Web of Death
#2 – Web of Lies
#2.5 – Wasted
#3 – Venom
#3.5 – Tangled Dreams
#3.6 – Tangled Schemes
#4 – Tangled Threads
#4.5 – Spider’s Nemesis
#5 – Spider’s Revenge
#5.5 – Thread of Death
#6 – By a Thread
#7 – Widow’s Web
#8 – Deadly Sting (Expected publication: March 26th 2013)

Waiting on Wednesday #28

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine, that features future books I’m highly anticipating for this year.

This week’s pre-publication "can’t-wait-to-read" selection is:

Title: Blood Vow 
Author:  Karin Tabke
Series: Blood Moon Rising Trilogy 
Publisher:  Berkley Heat
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Release date: December 4th 2012
Number of pages: 320

The coming of the Blood Moon will lead two Lycan packs into war, spur two rival brothers into conflict, and spark an act of vengeance so evil that its effects will be felt for generations.

One woman stands at the center of it all…

A volatile mix of both Lycan and Slayer, half-breed Falon is Alpha female of her pack, marked by both Lucien and Rafael—rival Alpha brothers that share equal hold on her heart. But when Falon’s mysterious past completely unravels, it is revealed she is the daughter of the Master Slayer who murdered Lucien and Rafael’s parents. The revelation throws her relationship with both brothers into chaos.

Falon begs them not to condemn her for her father’s deeds. She realizes before her Alpha mates that they are destined to be one and pleads with them to accept the unusual triangle. If the brothers accept her as their mate then the Blood Law of an eye for an eye would be null and void. But if Lucien and Rafael cannot overcome their pride and accept their fate, the annihilation of the Lycan race waits within the shadow of the Blood Moon…