A New Kind of Heroine
589449
Ophelia Wylde is part con artist and a budding detective. She uses her brains to deal with enemies real and other worldly. Some disgusting behavior by the evil ones, but only a small part of the book.  Happy there is a second book to enjoy.
1267314
Interesting new idea. Liked that the heroine was not a mild character. Good continuation, looking forward to more books in this series.
4389922
I really enjoyed this book and look forward to more with this character. I think the author can do a lot with her and will enjoy seeing where she takes her. The other characters are also interesting and likable. I found the storyline intriguing without the unneeded red herrings some authors throw in.
728210
A must read.  This author opens a new world to the reader, never seen, never spoken of; and a heroine weve never heard of, but surely should know.
1088303
Dana Carlton is a black witch minding her own business in a remote location when a private security firm run by her estranged foists a werewolf on the run onto her. Dana is torn between her attraction to the wolf and her pressing need to be left alone to curse people for money. Everything changes when Dana realises that the people looking for Mr Wolf have another witch in tow  one she knows well. Black paints a deliciously original urban fantasy heroine: one who is morally grey, with a dark and irreconcilable past. This novella is the opener to what looks to be a promising saga of a powerful woman coming to terms with her own darkness. I really enjoyed this story, finding it refreshing and original. Here and there I found some wobbles in phrasing. Im not keen on some of the heroines internal reflections on Mr Hunk werewolf, but thats really more a stylistic consideration. I also felt the book could have been longer. However, it is a series so it will be interesting to see how it develops. Black has a knack for dark fantasy, and Im looking forward to seeing how this series evolves.
3914596
C.E. Murphy's heroine Joanne Walker (aka Shioban Walkingstick) brings to the Urban Shaman the one thing that is so important for a first person urban fantasy heroine and that is a good 'voice'. Joanne's inner dialog is entertainingly sacarstic and she is likable enough that you'll care what happens to her as she stumbles into a battle between Celtic demigods. Before being skewered by the sword belonging to Lord of the Hunt, Joanne was a firm skeptic with both feet planted firmly in this world --  but near death has a way of making believers. Joanne chooses to accept the coyote spirit guide waiting for her at death's door in order to survive and her new belief awakens Joanne's dormant shamic and healing powers.

 But even with her budding powers, Joanne is going to need more than just her spirit helpers if she is going to stop the gods from murdering other shamen and send them and the 'Hunt' of Celtic myth back to the otherworld where they belong.  And Joanne's support group is an interesting one, Gary a cabbie who deals himself into the action because he just has to know how everything is going to turn out, Morrison her police captain boss and nemesis who gives her enough rope to hang herself because seeing is believing and he's seen that she's the real deal, and Billy Holliday a crossdressing coworker who see's dead people.

I liked Urban Shaman, it moved right along and Murphy's descriptive language, her heroine and the supporting cast made for a pleasant and entertaining read. I've had this book and the two that follow on my bookshelf for a while so I'm off to read the next one and see where Murphy takes her heroine next.
4729472
I liked the heroine and her crime solving mindset. It was different and I enjoyed the characters and all the intrigue.
4047985
I enjoyed this book very much (except for a very few word substitutions that I noticed.) It's a new take on the Fae--in Pennsylvania.  The characters were engaging, the romance was (mostly) sweet (not that I minded the bit more at all), the Irish background was well-portrayed, and the set-up for the saga (finding the lost Fae treasures) was well-integrated into the daily adventures of our heroes. I liked this book and the characters so much that I bought the sequel as well (and on my budget these days, that's really saying something!)  My favorite thing to find in a book is characters who care about other people, and this book had LOTS of them, so another reason to really like it. I also liked that the protagonists were grown-ups (in personality as well as age) and not whiny, not stupid, and not clueless. The sub-plot regarding the abusive husband (of the friend of heroine Tressa) could be upsetting, but it was pertinent. It also gives a compare and contrast to the upcoming battles these characters will be fighting in future books (may the whole series come to be!)  Good job, Ms. Gordon!
663473
The HEA was expected, but the book took the heroine through REAL problems to real solutions. Looking forward to more.
2373007
Jane Yellowrock is an interesting heroine to base a series around. She wasn't exactly what I was expecting because she is a shapeshifter. Not a were, that is different she actually can take the form of almost anything given the correct genetic material. But she also shares one body with something she calls beast and I liked the way that this is explored in this book. When she is in Beasts form those are the thoughts that are in the forefront and so we see the world very differently as an animal would and it is a cool way to spend some of the story. Plus it has this added benefit since the story is all from Janes PoV of giving her someone to talk to inside her head instead of only having an internal monologue.

Overall this is a good beginning to a series. We get a pretty good glimpse of the world with some hints to the strange backstory that will accompany the vampires. There are also hints that perhaps later in the series we will see some were-somethings and Fae. I liked Janes witch BFF and the cutest little girl, I really want some extra time with them in future installments.

I don't know a lot about Native American culture so that was a good addition to Janes overall character depth and matched up with her skinwalker nature as well. She seems like she is a pretty badass chick most of the time.

The only thing that Im not in love with was that for a while in the middle it turned more PNR than UF where everyone wants to sleep with Jane. I mean I get it she is new and interesting but still it was like she was the last woman on a dessert Island with a team of football players. Even the other women in the story mad passes at her. I also was not a fan of any of the potential love interests for various reasons. I know this is a character introduction but our serious choices in this book seemed to be power-hungry vampire sociopath, lead henchman to the power-hungry vampire sociopath and extreme douchebag A. I really didn't like any of them and the thought of her hooking up any of the dudes from that selection is just EWE gross.

Still the story was action packed and gave me just enough to want to know more about Jane and her journey. I don't think youll guess who the bad guy is since there weren't a lot of clues to that but still the story is interesting and tense at times. I do hope we get some better love interest material as the series continues though since that area is in a sad state for me at least.
4052089
A different take on the classic imperiled heroine story, although I really wanted to see the women embrace and utilize the magic that was their birthright.  Perhaps in future stories.  A page-turner, sorry that the book's over!
601774
I liked Maggie immediately.  She is a very different kind of heroine.  When she leaves her former home, with only a few items of clothing and her dog, we wonder what is going to become of them, but God takes over.
1168523
Trying out this new series, and must say looks to be an interesting one.
Our heroine, Chess is an imperfect character with lots of flaws, including a drug habit. She's a tattooed witch that works for the new government, The Church of Real Truth. It has rescued the world from the human killing dead.
Her job is to banish ghosts to their new prison, the center of the City. At any rate, there are all kinds of problems that arise, and her debt in drugs, gets her another side job that has all kinds of danger. This book has a complex new world that takes some adjusting to, and is entwined with some really interesting characters. It's dark and dangerous, with a hint of romance. Kept me intrigued throughout the book.
396919
Whether a fan of Ms. York's or just looking for a new twist on the modern-day romance, this new series is great.

Set in power circles of Washington D.C., an investigative journalist and a Capitol Hill worker decide to work together to solve the mysterious death of the son of a wealthy power broker.

While still featuring some traditionally York features - powerful sex, mind connections, intrigue - this is also a new direction for her.  I really enjoyed this first book, and I can't wait for the next book, Beyond Fearless.
4702159
I hadn't read anything by Lizzy Ford in quite a while.  Really glad I started this series (although am disappointed as I was with her Incubatti series that the next one to come is so far off).  While the employment of elemental powers (fire, earth, air, water) is not new, the hero definitely isn't of the usual standard.  At first, I had a hard time liking him because he seemed so callous and rude to the heroine, but as the story unfolds and his personal tragedies are learned, you understand why.  The heroine I really enjoyed as well - at first I was afraid she was this spoiled, naive water mage, but her background as a princess stood her in good stead for sussing out the ulterior motives of other nobles who are all in pursuit of her for her power.
2272052
Different and interesting characters and story.  The author delivers a provoking plot and hero/heroine that I'd like to 'meet' again.
1480324
I enjoyed this book: the heroine is competent without being super-heroic, smart, sarky, with moments of vulnerability, and 'felt' like a real person.  High prose it isn't, but it was a light-hearted, fun read, and I would definitely recommend it to my friends.  I look forward to the next book!