Author Archives: karenjvjohnson

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Jason

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Jason (Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter #23)

My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars
This was a nice short that gave a showcase to Jason Schuyler, a werewolf who works for Jean-Claude at his club and is also one of his blood donors. The story is straight forward and moves along cleanly and concisely as it lays itself out. The characters are mostly well established with a few new faces that are fleshed out good enough to make me like them. The language is just what you expect from the series after all this time. I am so happy that Jason got a feature since he has always been more of a side character, though he is mentioned quite often.

Jason has been speaking to several of Anita’s live-in loves behind her back. He has a request that he feels he needs back-up for even though Anita has managed to change so much over the past years. Jason is in love and he wants Anita to help him show J.J., the love of his life, what his type of rough sex is. He is considering making a move with J.J. and wants her to be completely good with who he is, just like he is for her. Things can go very well or very badly with the people involved in this little venture.

I would recommend this to anyone who has enjoyed the Anita Blake series.

“Anita,” Jason said. I looked at him and J.J. “You okay?” I shrugged. “I think this is the most complicated BDSM scene I’ve tried without Jean-Claude or Asher involved. It’s like we have all this talent and potential, but no one is in charge.” That was all true. It wasn’t exactly what was spooking me, but it was still part of the truth. It also meant that they’d probably quit asking me what was wrong. “I cannot be with Asher,” Jade said. I shook my head. “I wasn’t suggesting it, just not sure who’s directing everything.” “We’ve made love with Nathaniel in bed with us before,” she said, her voice soft, low, and strangely musical. Her voice didn’t always sound that way, but it often did when she was trying to persuade, or I guess manipulate me. I’d asked her if she’d had theater training, but she didn’t seem to know what I meant, so I’d let it go. I let a lot of things go with Jade, even I knew that, but when she puzzled me enough I stepped back rather than pushing. I wasn’t sure if I was growing up, or she was winning. “You’re in charge, Anita,” Domino said, “so be in charge. What do you want to do?” In my head I thought, Leave. Maybe it showed on my face, because he said, “Do what you enjoy and Jade will follow your lead.” Jade nodded. “Really?” I asked her. “Truly,” she said. “Okay, I know what I want to do.” “I will follow where you lead,” she said. I knew it was both the truth and a lie. She’d follow me for a while, until she decided she didn’t want to, or she got too uncomfortable, then she’d do whatever the hell she wanted to do and somehow it would be my fault, again. I was starting to seriously sympathize with the men who were dating me.”
― Laurell K. Hamilton, Jason       Laurell K. Hamilton
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Witch’s Bell 3

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19191100

Witch’s Bell 3 (The Adventures of Ebony Bell #3)

My rating: 4 of 5 stars
In this third book things do not change so much from the others. The story is advancing but seems to not be very much different from the previous ones. The characters are well established and though they do not seem to be growing very much they are still consistent. The story flows well and does advance the overall story arc forward.

Once again Ebony stands in the middle of something that she has no idea how to handle. Ebony is having dreams that are so real she cannot tell reality from fantasy anymore. Harry has retained his human form and is continuing to help as much as he can, though he has never actually run into anything like this outside of a book. And our poor knight Nate is being turned all around as Ebony tries to handle things on her own.

The portal is still very important and something is still trying to enter the world but other things are trying to control Ebony so as to help that entity. As usual when Ebony realizes that she is being manipulated she dives headlong into danger without first trying to research what might be happening. Luckily her friends are there for her and she manages to pull off the save as always.

I am coming to like Ebony a little more each time I read about her exploits. In the beginning she seemed to be a self-centered character who was not going to be very interesting and maybe annoying. I am still waiting to see what happens with Nate, he is a bit of a mystery. Worth the time.

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Devoured

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22433773

Devoured (Brides of the Kindred #11)

My rating: 4.3 of 5 stars

This was another great entry in a series that I have come to love so much. The characters are ever-changing and yet still manage to allow time for characters which had been established in earlier books. The stories seem simple but have a complexity that makes them more interesting than if you had something just totally straight forward. The narrative flows very well though there are sometimes things that hold it back a little. The characters speak and act as you wold expect them to in most instances, though sometimes they seem to do things just to make the story progress.

Garron has been banned from his home-world, Pax because of his siding with his half-brother Truth when he had visited with his twin and mate. Garron is Rai’ku but his father was a twin Kindred who had lost his twin and mate. He is living on the mother ship and trying to come to terms with the new feelings that he has been having as well as the fact of his ‘other’ possibly coming out. Tess is running from an abusive spouse who could end her life and make it seem like an accident or something someone else did and has nowhere she can really hide. Her friend takes her to live at the Pairing House (pleasure-bots) for the unmated males where they figure her ex would never look for her. She has lived there for a week with no problems when Garron comes to choose one of the pairing bots and accidentally chooses her. Neither of their lives is ever the same after this.

I liked the story between Tess and Garron because they were both kind of lost. Tess because her ex had beaten her down so much she could not see the good in any man and Garron because he had loved and tried to protect someone he couldn’t and sought to punish himself forever. There was the requisite trip off-world which I have come to expect and look forward to since you never know what type of place it will be. I got to catch up with my girls from previous books to see what was happening in their lives. And we got to meet the next couple who will be brought together, and see what the malevolent entity in their midst will cause to happen. Really want that wrapped up because it just annoys me a bit.

Overall I would recommend this along with all the series as a must read!

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The Haunting of Hill House

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The Haunting of Hill House

My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I have seen both versions of this story in movie form and actually prefer the 1960’s version for its lack of overt special effects. Saying that this is the first time I have ever read the book, though I have wanted to for years. This is a character study more than a haunted house story, but the house does play a central role. There is not an emphasis on scares but a setting of mood and atmosphere that really draws you in, very much like the original movie. The characters are not flat but come to life as well-rounded and with personalities that make them very approachable.

Hill House has stood for 80 years and is considered to be haunted or at least tainted in some way. A researcher decides to try to prove that the supernatural exists by bringing in a team to stay at the house and document their experiences. The question that needs to be answered is whether there is a haunting or is it only the imagination and psychosis of those in the house that brings it to life. Eleanor and her companions find that Hill House has its own agenda and they are a part of it.

All of the characters are very different from their cinematic counterparts in subtle ways and some very big ways. Eleanor is even more of a neurotic in the book, Theo is actually a bit nicer than depicted, and Luke is not a lush. The other characters, one not even depicted in the movie are vastly different and not necessarily for the better. If you enjoyed either movie, you should read this to get a better understanding of what happened and how things progressed. And you can see that Shirley Jackson was very good for her time.

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Anita Blake: Guilty Pleasures, Volume 2

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Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter: Guilty Pleasures, Volume 2 (Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter Graphic Novels #2 issues #7-12)

by Laurell K. Hamilton (Goodreads Author), Ron Lim (Artist), Brett Booth (Artist), Jessica Ruffner (Text)
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
The graphic novel did a great job of condensing the original novel. The art work is fantastic and gives a total sense of who the characters are. This is all well before Anita had found that monsters come in all varieties, and not just those with fangs and claws. A must have for Anita fans. Great visual for those who have read the novel and enjoy it.
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The Scarlet Deep

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25500387

The Scarlet Deep (Elemental World #3)

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I have loved these books since I read my first Elemental Mysteries novel. I was pulled into those and when the series ended and started again with the Elemental World I was more than happy to continue following. We have many of the characters from the first series showing up and having an active place in these books, which always makes for a good read since you are able to relate to them as you get to know the new characters, though here most have been seen in prior books. The story which was started in earlier novels continues here and is added on to seamlessly as events continue and those in the past are recounted. The characters continue to evolve and become more than just flat actors on the page.

Patrick Murphy is a man who seems to have everything he could want, he runs the immortal side of Dublin with efficiency and a soft touch, he can have any woman he wants immortal or human, but he has regrets that keep him from fully enjoying his life. Anne O’Dea ran away from a relationship after 30 years because she felt her mate was not to be trusted and she had lost herself in their life together,and was no longer who she had been. With the threat of Elixir becoming more and more real for everyone in Ireland these two have to decide what they want before the choice is taken from them.

Murphy is a scoundrel but a lovable guy that you can’t help but root for as he tries to win back the love of his life. Anne is like most intelligent people, she can see the mistakes others make but not her own. The mystery of who is distributing Elixir is still an important part of the story and it is not neglected for the love story. I totally enjoyed this.

“I HATE you,” she told her sister over the speakerphone in her secure wing of Brigid and Carwyn’s house. “No, you don’t.” “I do.” “What did Murphy do?” “Nothing.”  Except kiss me in Galway and remind me that I miss him like a lost limb.  Stare at me during the opera as if he’d eat me alive in the most pleasurable way possible.  Show off his intellect, which has always been the most attractive thing about him.  “Patrick Murphy has been a complete gentleman,” she said. “Unerringly polite and respectful. Painfully welcoming.” Anne heard Mary suck on her cigarette and release a breath. “Hateful man. That would irritate the piss out of me.”
― Elizabeth Hunter, The Scarlet Deep  Elizabeth Hunter
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Zombie 2.0

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Zombie 2.0 (Zombie Botnet #2)

My rating: 3 of 5 stars
This did not pull me in like the first novel in this series. While the characters were still interesting and the introduction of the new character was handled well, the story did not really flow from the beginning. It did pick up however  after the first three chapters. The narrative is good but it sometimes seemed to do that third wall thing where the narrator speaks directly to their audience. I don’t particularly like that in movies so in a book it irks even more.

The story takes up where we left off, Baby Tomas had been affected by the botnet. When we ee them again Ven has become catatonic because of the perceived loss of her child. Cassie is with her at the barn they had taken refuge at and found to be lacking. Mike and Kyle have gone to town to a library in order to find a place they can be safe. There are other survivors and they have the good and bad luck to run into them. Things go from bad to worse for our group and there are changes in the dynamic they could not have seen coming.

The zombies are getting more interesting, the story line is expanding, and the characters are starting to gain more depth. Though I have to say that Ven works my nerves a lot, I kind of feel for her anyway. I will be reading more and would suggest them to other zombie lovers.

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Bite

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Bite (Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter #8.5)

My rating: 4.6 of 5 stars
 Each story was very different from the other and while I liked some better than others I was still kept entertained by them all. The stories are all supposed to be based around vampires and lust, but only a few actually hit upon the lust.

‘The Girl Who Was Infatuated with Death’ is an Anita Blake short that takes place between Blue Moon and Obsidian Butterfly, which means Anita is still fighting her attraction to Jean-Claude, silly girl. A mother comes to Anita asking for help in finding her daughter before she can be turned and Anita goes to the one person she claims to want to avoid. While the heat level could have been higher I give it 5 stars for just showcasing Jean-Claude, who could have me with a look.

‘ One Word Answer’ is a Sookie Stackhouse short, very short, that does not really give much of anything. Bubba is present as well as Bill but this is about a cousin who is mentioned only briefly and does not really affect things one way or the other. The Queen of Louisiana sends two of her men to inform Sookie that her cousin is dead and has left her a legacy. This was a bit bland with nothing to really make it a true part of the overall story. I gave this 4 stars for at least having vampires in it.

‘Biting in Plain Sight’ is a Queen Betsy story. I really like these shorts with the dippy Queen, you always get to meet some of her more interesting subjects. Dr. Sophie is a veterinarian in Embarrass, Minnesota and has been for the past 40 years, not that anyone mentions it. It seems that one of her clients has had a crush on her since he was a little boy and now he is ready to act on it. The only problem is she is going to need to see the Queen because a vampire is being bad. I gave this 4.5 stars, it has a good story along with a little lusting going on. There are some laugh out loud moments as well.

‘Galahad’, is a great story and I am glad to have found this author who I have never read before. Caroline has only recently been turned into a witch and transported to Avalon, which is in another dimension. She starts having visions which show her fighting beside a very handsome vampire which she cannot ignore even though she would like to. This was a story that had everything as advertised, hot vampires, sex, and action. I gave this 5 stars and will be looking for more in the Mageverse.

‘Blood Lust’ is another story with an author I have not read before but will  in the future based on this. Daniel Hart is a scientist who has been working on synthetic blood in order to benefit mankind. He gets backing from a man who turns out not to be what he seemed and who steals all his research leaving him broken and battered. When he is healed he goes looking for revenge and finds much more than he expected. This got 4.5 stars because it had just the right mix of romance and vampire intrigue.

I would definitely recommend this book to vampire lovers.

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Red Sands

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24384174

Red Sands: An Orbs Prequel

My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This is a continuation of the story started in White Sands. Jeff and David have survived alone for an unknown amount of time. They are staying ahead of the aliens and hoping that maybe their father was able to do the same. The writing is still very clear with a nice feel for who the boys are. There is also a look at the man in charge of the NTC, Dr. Hoffman, who seems to want to save humanity but if it might risk his life he will not try very hard.

Another nice entry in the Orbs saga leading us to what is behind the invasion and what we can do to win.

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Guilty Pleasures

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Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter: Guilty Pleasures (Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter Graphic Novels #1-2 issues #1-12)

My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I totally enjoyed this graphic novel based on one of my favorite series. The story follows the novel but gives you that visuals that you always had to supply yourself. If you enjoy the Anita Blake series then you will definitely want to give the graphic novels a look. They hit the mark very well on their renditions of the characters. Going to keep reading them as long as they have them.