Revenge and the Wild by Michelle Modesto

Standalone
384 p.
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Published: 2/2/16
Source: Edelweiss and Publisher for review

The two-bit town of Rogue City is a lawless place, full of dark magic and saloon brawls, monsters and six-shooters. But it’s perfect for seventeen-year-old Westie, the notorious adopted daughter of local inventor Nigel Butler. 

Westie was only a child when she lost her arm and her family to cannibals on the wagon trail. Nine years later, Westie may seem fearsome with her foul-mouthed tough exterior and the powerful mechanical arm built for her by Nigel, but the memory of her past still haunts her. She’s determined to make the killers pay for their crimes—and there’s nothing to stop her except her own reckless ways. 

But Westie’s search ceases when a wealthy family comes to town looking to invest in Nigel’s latest invention, a machine that can harvest magic from gold—which Rogue City desperately needs as the magic wards that surround the city start to fail. There’s only one problem: the investors look exactly like the family who murdered Westie’s kin. With the help of Nigel’s handsome but scarred young assistant, Alistair, Westie sets out to prove their guilt. But if she’s not careful, her desire for revenge could cost her the family she has now.

My thoughts:

I had fun with this mash up of western, magic, paranormal, and steampunk. It seems like a lot to thrown in together but here it works. In this one we follow Westie who is a wild girl that lost her family to cannibals. She has a new home now with wildly different kind of people and a mechanical arm. She also has a mouth on her so you know I liked this character. She does cause a lot of problems because she is impulsive, but at least she does try to take responsibility for what damage she wrought.

The mystery was interesting but I didn't like how her new family reacted to some revelations on her part. I don't want to go into what they were because it would be too spoilerish but it just didn't quite jive with me in how otherwise supportive her family was about everything else. I did like the romance between Westie and Alistair. I loved Alley and how he helped Westie and how he loved her. There was a aw moment for them in there for romance lovers. ;) The ending was not as surprising as I think it meant to be but was still enjoyable. I didn't love how it ended but I didn't hate it either. There were also small things that I thought were important which were left out. Like who was spying on Westie and Alistair? I only mention this one specifically since it really doesn't give anything away. This was mentioned as if it was important but yet just didn't give us any clues or answers to what was going on. There was also another incident which I cannot go into but had the same problems. Nothing big but it bothered me a bit. I'm guessing it was the same person, but no answers for those small niggles.

I give this book 3 1/2 stars. I did enjoy it and I liked Westie. I think this could have been developed into a series and I think it would have been even better as such. I think then not having small questions go unanswered (not the ones I mentioned, but a few others... small but possibly important) wouldn't have bothered me as much. I do recommend it to those that love mash ups of genres with a good dose of fun.

Disobedience by Alvania Scarborough

Series: Harker's Hell #1
334 p.
Publisher: Silver Harbor Press
Published: 6/16/14
Source: Caffeinated Virtual Assistant Services for review.

Harker’s Hell. Early settlers thought they’d found a western re-creationist’s heaven. Instead, the new world is a hellish version of the Old West. Now the seeds of long-ago conflict are stirring to life.

Dissonance Walker believed she’d seen the worst life had to offer, only to find she’s dead wrong. Sold to a secret organization by her parents for the price of a new stove, her ability to disobey is ripped away by a brutal experiment. Determined to find the key to restore her freedom, she manages to escape her captors, only to end up in the worst place for a woman that can’t say no—on a saloon stage, ready to be sold to the highest bidder.

Bram Spencer is sure the heat has baked his brains. With his friend murdered and his ranch under attack, he needs to attend a little unfinished business. Buying some fool woman because she pokes at scabs he thought long healed, isn’t on the list. It’s bad enough he has to go through the fuss of rescuing her, now he discovers the only way to grant her freedom is to marry her. This is why he never plays the hero—no good deed goes unpunished.

Secrets have a long life. Sometimes decades. Now the sins of the past have returned, ready to collect their dues. Only trust can save Dissonance and Bram from a shocking evil… but trust is a hard commodity to come by on the frontier.

My thoughts:
This is a mash up of several genres. One is a western which is quite obvious. However, it is set on an alien planet, not earth. While this might sound confusing at first, it really isn't. In fact it reads more like an old western historical with alien parts thrown in for good measure. That made you pay more attention to the worldbuilding.

While I did like the interplay of genres, there was parts of a journal which started each chapter. It was about the founder and how the area became to be known as Harker's Hell. While I did like the added information, it really tended to confuse me. I didn't see how it played in the story until toward the end. Even then it has no conclusion and it appears to be the arc within the series. I think there will be more information as the series progresses. It does look like it continues on within the next book.

While that may have gave me pause, the story as a whole was fun to read. While I actually didn't like Bram at the beginning and even wanted his arse to be kicked throughout most of the novel, I actually melted when he realized he was causing Dissonance, the heroine, actual pain. When his understanding dawned and even though he had to go though one more arse kicking to "get it", when he did, he fully understood and became so kind and sweet to Dissonance. It was his kindness that really got to me. Yes, he had me as a fan in the end.

I give this book 4 stars. While I did find some of the worldbuilding a bit confusing I also felt it will have it's place as it builds within the series. What really shone in this book is the romance and how they truly came together. I recommend it to those that love a good fantasy romance.

Review and Giveaway: Karen Memory by Elizabeth Bear

Standalone
352 p.
Publisher: Tor Books
Published: 2/3/15
Source: From the publisher for review

“You ain’t gonna like what I have to tell you, but I'm gonna tell you anyway. See, my name is Karen Memery, like memory only spelt with an e, and I'm one of the girls what works in the Hôtel Mon Cherie on Amity Street. Hôtel has a little hat over the o like that. It's French, so Beatrice tells me.” 

Set in the late 19th century—when the city we now call Seattle Underground was the whole town (and still on the surface), when airships plied the trade routes, would-be gold miners were heading to the gold fields of Alaska, and steam-powered mechanicals stalked the waterfront, Karen is a young woman on her own, is making the best of her orphaned state by working in Madame Damnable’s high-quality bordello. Through Karen’s eyes we get to know the other girls in the house—a resourceful group—and the poor and the powerful of the town. Trouble erupts one night when a badly injured girl arrives at their door, begging sanctuary, followed by the man who holds her indenture, and who has a machine that can take over anyone’s mind and control their actions. And as if that wasn’t bad enough, the next night brings a body dumped in their rubbish heap—a streetwalker who has been brutally murdered. 

Bear brings alive this Jack-the-Ripper yarn of the old west with a light touch in Karen’s own memorable voice, and a mesmerizing evocation of classic steam-powered science.

My thoughts:
I didn't quite know what to expect from this book but the book is distinctively a steampunk western! It is like walking into an alternate universe where steampunk slightly changes the landscape we know through books and movies. We also get a good look at it since the author is so descriptive though our heroine, Karen.

Karen is a soiled dove. She is registered as a seamstress but the profession is a bit older that that. That fact makes it more of an adult book but there really is no heat in that area even though there are a few scenes with some romance. It is, however, light on the romance. While I did enjoy the worldbuilding and I could easily cheer for our lucky or unlucky (depending on how you see it) heroine, I loved the diversity in this book. The book is filled with diverse backgrounds and a few of them are based on real people (the note at the end of the book tells you who she chose to inspire various people in the book). I also felt that the history was well woven into the story.

I give this book 4 stars. I loved the blending of diverse characters and the history into this steampunk world. It isn't too heavy with steampunk that those that aren't mechanically inclined can follow easily and enough contraptions for those who are inclined will be entertained. It is a great way to get your feet wet with the steampunk genre.

Giveaway!

I accidentally received 2 hardcover books instead of 1 so I decided to give the second one away. If you tried for it last month and didn't win it, here is your second chance! I'm only shipping to the US so if you have a US snail addy you are in luck! Just fill out the rafflecopter form below to enter. Good luck!

Guest Review: When Hell Came to Texas by Robert Vaughn

384p.
Available Now
Publisher: Pocket Books
Source: From publisher for review

DEVIL IN DISGUISE? 

In the days after the Civil War, a solitary rider travelled the open frontier—but he wasn’t alone, for Death seemed to travel with him. Or maybe it was the Devil himself who gave him the lethal pistol shot that earned him the name “Death’s Acolyte.” And when the stranger with the scarred face, who calls himself Ken Casey, rode into the peaceful Texas town of Wardell, maybe peace—for his own ravaged soul—was all he wanted. But in Wardell, all hell is about to break loose. 

OR SAVIOR ON HORSEBACK? 

Awaiting a train shipment of gold, Angus Pugh and his army of outlaws, including notorious gunslinger Luke Draco, take the town hostage and kill a few innocent citizens as a lesson to any comers. Donning priestly vestments, Ken Casey, ordained man of the cloth, steps from the shadows to conduct the victims’ funeral rites—and that’s just his first revelation. For Casey can destroy souls as easily as he saves them, and earthly justice is delivered in gun smoke and blood.

Bloggy note:

I thought for Father's day I would, instead of giving my dad a day off, ask him to do a review. I got this western and I thought it was perfect for him. So... here is his review... short and sweet! 

Dad's thoughts:

The book was easy to read as the sentences and words flowed naturally. The author did a good job of weaving the story to explain how the main character could be so diverse. He was very well educated, not rich and was a natural leader having been put in many difficult situations beginning in early life. He developed into a religious man and then a killer and once again because of difficult issues. All in all, the book was quite well written for enjoyable, easy and interesting entertainment.

Thanks dad! :)

Wilder's Mate by Moira Rogers Review and Giveaway!

Description:

Wilder Harding is a bloodhound, created by the Guild to hunt down and kill vampires on America's frontier. His enhanced abilities come with a high price: on the full moon, he becomes capable of savagery beyond telling, while the new moon brings a sexual hunger that borders on madness. 

Rescuing a weapons inventor from undead kidnappers is just another assignment, though one with an added complication--keeping his hands off the man's pretty young apprentice, who insists on tagging along. 

At odds with polite society, Satira's only constant has been the aging weapons inventor who treats her like a daughter. She isn't going to trust Wilder with Nathaniel's life, not when the Guild might decide the old man isn't worth saving. Besides, if there's one thing she's learned, it's that brains are more important than brawn. 

As the search stretches far longer than Wilder planned, he finds himself fighting against time. If Satira is still at his side when the new moon comes, nothing will stop him from claiming her. Worse, she seems all too willing. If their passion unlocks the beast inside, no one will be safe. Not even the man they're fighting to save. 

Warning: This book contains a crude, gun-slinging, vampire-hunting hero who howls at the full moon and a smart, stubborn heroine who invents mad-scientist weapons. Also included: wild frontier adventures, brothels, danger, betrayal and a good dose of wicked loving in an alternate Wild West.

This is a fun erotic western paranormal with a good dash of steampunk! The interaction between Satira and Wilder is fun from the start. They both get under each other's skin and I really enjoyed they way they kept challenging each other. Wilder is also unlike other bloodhounds and respects Satira's ability with weapons and invention. He also sees her as an assest to have on his mission rather than a liability. His only problem? She really gets under his skin unlike any other female. So he keeps Satira's ire going so she doesn't worry about her mentor whom they are going to rescue.

My problems with this short novel are few. I would have liked the challenging to go on for a while longer as they got to know each other. They fell a little too fast for me but it didn't make those (kiddies, stop reading) steamy scenes any less steamy (pun intended). Their chemistry in bed was well done so it didn't feel like they fell too fast after a few wicked scenes. ;D (okay kiddies... you can start reading again)

I would have also liked to have known more about the guild who seems to have a lot of hold over both Satira's and Wilder's life. Even despite wanting more of that back story you knew enough to understand that they are a group that monitors and sanctions the making of bloodhounds and vampire hunting inventions. Perhaps that is enough for now. :)

I give this book 4 stars. It was a fun smexy steampunk western adventure. *breath* So, if you are wanting a bit more smex in your steampunk PNR, look no further. 

I was given this ebook by the author for review and no compensation was given.

Read an excerpt of the book HERE!

Author's Website

Buy the book:

Amazon, Amazon UK, Amazon.de, B&N, Kobo, Fictionwise, Samhain Publishing

Giveaway!

The author is giving away one ebook to a winner! It is international! Just comment below and remember to add an e-mail addy to your comment if it isn't in your profile. Also, be sure you are 18 or older since this is a adult book. I'll end the giveaway on the 20th. 

Good luck!!
Giveaway is over!