Virtual Virgin (Delilah Street Bk 5) by Carole Nelson Davis

 

I wasn't sure where Virtual Virgin was going to go, as the last book in this series left so many things up in the air.

To be honest, I'm not sure what keeps drawing me back to Delilah Street. The first two books in the series were a 5 of 10 for me, and the third and fourth were a 7 of 10. And yet, there is something so bizarre about the settings, so intriguing about the idea of the silver in old films being used as a supernatural / metaphysical medium, I just keep reading.

There were a few rewards in Virtual Virgin -- we finally learn a bit about Delilah's mom. However, as these things so often do in books, the answers we get just give us even more questions. Yes, I think it's probably enough that I'll be reading the next book, too.

Here's the blurb:

She’s Like a Virgin . . . Simulated for the Very First Time

For a red-blooded male, Las Vegas offers a virtual smorgasbord of temptation: sexy showgirls, vampy vampires, zombie starlets, you name it. But paranormal investigator Delilah Street isn’t worried about losing her man to these vixens. Especially when the one woman with a soft spot for the guy also has a hard-shelled exterior. . . .

She’s a robot—or a CinSim, to be exact—a near-perfect simulation of the silver-metal robot Maria from the classic science fiction movie Metropolis. Part innocent teenage actress, part depraved sex goddess, the new Maria is hooked on Delilah’s partner, Ric, who raised her from the dead. She also happens to be the perfect secret weapon for a demonic drug lord. Which could be one hell of a problem. Delilah’s not the jealous type, but this tin-can temptress must be stopped—even if it forces Delilah to forge a dangerous alliance with her wicked mirror-twin, Lilith. If robo-girl goes ballistic, every player in Vegas loses. . . .

As for the writing elements:

• The plot was one part predictable and two parts surprise.
• Pacing was better than in previous books, but still not great.
• Prose and dialogue were well done.
• Character development is a bit spotty and I'm not sure stays all that consistent between books. Some of that is because of the whole change and growth thing, but not all of it.
• World-building is imaginative and unique and I love it most of the time -- but occasionally it can be just a tad bit confusing. 

Virtual Virgin gets the highest rating I've given a book in this series,  but the series rating will remain a 7 of 10.

If you are looking for something different, and if you can handle a large cast of characters and some very complex world building, this series is a unique take on Urban Fantasy.

• Book Rating: Virtual Virgin: 8 of 10
• Series Rating: 7 of 10

1. Dancing with Werewolves
2. Brimstone Kiss
3. Vampire Sunrise
4. Silver Zombie
5. Virtual Virgin

 

Review: Explosive Eighteen (Stephanie Plum series) by Janet Evanovich

 

Explosive Eighteen continues to tease us along in the Ranger vs Morelli lust triangle.

The beginning of the book is particularly annoying, as we are strung long, not knowing who she went on vacation with, or what happened.

Once we get beyond that and find out what happened, I have to wish the story had been made into a book. I think it would have been a much better story than the one we were given. The basic plot wasn't that bad, it was the execution of the plot, and the silly shenanigans getting there, that were the problem.

One good thing though - Stephanie manages to rescue herself in an amazing fashion, without being rescued by either of her guys. I'll add a star to my review for that one fact alone.

As for the writing elements:

• The plot was wasn't so bad, but as I said before, the execution of it pretty much sucked.
• Pacing was fine in places and drug out in places.
• Prose and dialogue were typical latter-Plum. Sometimes I wonder if Janet Evanovich is still writing these, as those first eight or nine books were executed so much better.
• Character development continues to stagnate. 

There were a few pluses in Explosive Eighteen. I've already mentioned that Stephanie manages to save herself once. She also seems to have a better handle on her own self esteem, and she's getting a bit better at planning and executing when it comes to catching FTA's. Not that she's good at it yet, she still has to screw up at least once with each person, but she's better at figuring out what went wrong and correcting for it. She's also not as hung up on whether or not she's a slut as she once was. That was annoying, I'm glad it's mostly stopped. There was an annoying bit about her being a slut if she slept in the nude (since all of her pajamas were dirty), though.

What I'm leading up to is the part where I figure out a rating, and I'm thinking it's going to be a six of ten. I keep reading the series because I keep thinking that eventually there will have to be a resolution.   I'm keeping the series at a 7, but that's mainly because the first nine or so books are so good.

• Book Rating: Explosive Eighteen: 6 of 10
• Series Rating: 7 of 10

One for the Money, the movie, is due out in theaters in January, here is the trailer:




 

Stephanie Plus Series
One for the Money (1994)
Two for the Dough (1996)
Three to Get Deadly (1997)
Four to Score (1998)
High Five (1999)
Hot Six (2000)
Seven Up (2001)
Hard Eight (2002)
Visions of Sugar Plums (2003) (don't bother)
To the Nines (2003)
Ten Big Ones (2004)
Eleven on Top (2005)
Twelve Sharp (2006)
Plum Lovin' (2007) (don't bother)
Lean Mean Thirteen (2007)
Plum Lucky (January 2008) (don't bother)
Fearless Fourteen (June 2008)
Plum Spooky (January 2009)
Finger Lickin' Fifteen (June 2009)
Sizzling Sixteen (June 2010) 
Smokin' Seventeen (July 2011)
Explosive Eighteen (November 2011)


Diesel Series
1. Wicked Appetite
2. Wicked Business (June 19, 2012)

.

Magic on the Line (Allie Beckstrom Book 7) by Devon Monk

 

Magic on the Line was a disappointment for me. I almost didn't finish it, and considering this series has been a 9 of 10 for me, that's not what I expected when I picked up the book.

Here's the blurb:

Allison Beckstrom has willingly paid the price of pain to use magic, and has obeyed the rules of the Authority, the clandestine organization that makes-and enforces-all magic policy. But when the Authority's new boss, Bartholomew Wray, refuses to believe that the sudden rash of deaths in Portland might be caused by magic, Allie must choose to follow the Authority's rules, or turn against the very people for whom she's risked her life.

To stop the plague of dark magic spreading through the city, all that she values will be on the line: her magic, her memories, her life. Now, as dead magic users rise to feed upon the innocent and the people closest to her begin to fall, Allie is about to run out of options.

What does an author do when she finishes a plot arc and has to figure out where to go next with her series? Apparently, Devon Monk decided to change the landscape completely. Tear the world apart and let the characters survive as best they can. And to bring back plot arcs that I thought were tied up and done with.

And the first three fourths of the book is just set up. Conversations. Philosophizing. Things don't really gel, with action towards some sort of resolution, until somewhere after the 75% mark.

As for the writing elements:

• The plot was actually a bit too convenient for me. And predictable.
• Pacing was horrible. Terrible. I kept putting the book down and doing something else. It was a chore to finish the book, and the only reason I did was because I am invested in these characters and kept hoping it would get better. But it didn't, it kept getting worse.
• Prose and dialogue were fine.
• Character development was mostly stagnant. There is still much about Allie's past we don't know, and I keep hoping we (and Allie) will get the answers, but Magic on the Line only gave us more questions.
• World-building was mostly consistent with previous books.

Magic on the Line gets a 5 of 10 from me. The series rating drops to a 7 of 10.

• Book Rating: Magic on the Line: 5 of 10
• Series Rating: 7 of 10

There is one good thing at this point -- there are only two more books in the series, which means we should get answers next year, as both books are scheduled for release in 2012.

1. Magic to the Bone
2. Magic in the Blood
3. Magic in the Shadows
4. Magic on the Storm 
5. Magic at the Gate (Nov 2, 2010)
6. Magic on the Hunt (April, 2011)
7. Magic on the Line (November 2011)
8 Magic Without Mercy (April 2012)
9. Unnamed, final book of series (November 2012)

.

Review: Smokin' Seventeen (Stephanie Plum series) by Janet Evanovich

.

I've rated the last couple of books in the Stephanie Plum series down in the six and seven range, which is a shame since books one through nine in the series were rated up in the nines and tens. Some of those first books had me laughing so hard I almost peed myself.

There are a few laugh out loud moments in Smokin' Seventeen, but it doesn't really compare to the earlier books that way, as none of them had me rushing for the bathroom while laughing... but there is a plot in this book that is not totally ludicrous. And there is plenty of Ranger and plenty of Morelli. I had this whole theory about the insertion of a third guy that was totally wrong, but that's okay. It was a good story, so much better than the last half dozen or so offerings in this series.

Here's the blurb:

Where there’s smoke there’s fire, and no one knows this better than New Jersey bounty hunter Stephanie Plum.

Dead bodies are showing up in shallow graves on the empty construction lot of Vincent Plum Bail Bonds. No one is sure who the killer is, or why the victims have been offed, but what is clear is that Stephanie’s name is on the killer’s list.

Short on time to find evidence proving the killer’s identity, Stephanie faces further complications when her family and friends decide that it’s time for her to choose between her longtime off-again-on-again boyfriend, Trenton cop Joe Morelli, and the bad boy in her life, security expert Ranger. Stephanie’s mom is encouraging Stephanie to dump them both and choose a former high school football star who’s just returned to town. Stephanie’s sidekick, Lula, is encouraging Stephanie to have a red-hot boudoir “bake-off.” And Grandma Bella, Morelli’s old-world grandmother, is encouraging Stephanie to move to a new state when she puts “the eye” on Stephanie.

With a cold-blooded killer after her, a handful of hot men, and a capture list that includes a dancing bear and a senior citizen vampire, Stephanie’s life looks like it’s about to go up in smoke.

Unfortunately, I guessed who the killer was early on in the book, but I wasn't terribly annoyed that Stephanie didn't figure it out. As readers we have a smaller pool of people to choose from than Stephanie does, so it was okay that I knew and she didn't.

I'm going to use spoiler text to discuss where the series might be going... Janet Evanovich seems to be trying to wind Stephanie up to some sort of decision in the whole Morelli versus Ranger thing. It almost sounds like Stephanie was saying a few times in this book that if Ranger were really an option, she'd choose Ranger. But we know that since he has made it clear he's not relationship material in the past, he's not actually an option other than fun time in the sack. Morelli isn't as much on my nerves as he used to be - he's not trying to change who she is anymore, and he's more accepting of her choices. She and Morelli seemed to be having a conversation towards the end that would be the first stepping stone towards them becoming exclusive again, and if that happens then no more fun sex with Ranger. The books with Morelli supposedly don't sell as well, so is JE really going to put the two of them back together? And just who does Stephanie think is going to go on a trip with her? Odds are it's neither of the guys at all, based on previous cliffhangers. (Select the spoiler text to view it.)

We only have five months to wait for Explosive Eighteen. I originally thought perhaps there was a specific reason the books needed to be almost back to back, but after reading Smokin' Seventeen I'm betting the marketing department decided they should shift the yearly schedule to the fall.

As for the writing elements:

• There is an actual plot, and a few subplots, that aren't totally rediculous.
• Pacing was well done.
• Prose and dialog were fine.
• There was also some character development this time around, with Stephanie learning from a few past mistakes, and realizing she is a better bounty hunter now than she was a year ago.

 All in all, Smokin' Seventeen was an enjoyable read. I was pleasantly surprised.

• Book Rating: Smokin' Seventeen: 9 of 10
• Series Rating: 7 of 10

One for the Money (1994)
Two for the Dough (1996)
Three to Get Deadly (1997)
Four to Score (1998)
High Five (1999)
Hot Six (2000)
Seven Up (2001)
Hard Eight (2002)
Visions of Sugar Plums (2003) (don't bother)
To the Nines (2003)
Ten Big Ones (2004)
Eleven on Top (2005)
Twelve Sharp (2006)
Plum Lovin' (2007) (don't bother)
Lean Mean Thirteen (2007)
Plum Lucky (January 2008) (don't bother)
Fearless Fourteen (June 2008)
Plum Spooky (January 2009)
Finger Lickin' Fifteen (June 2009)
Sizzling Sixteen (June 2010) 
Smokin' Seventeen (July 2011)
Explosive Eighteen (November 2011)
.

Silver Zombie (Delilah Street Bk 4) by Carole Nelson Davis

 

Silver Zombie is the fourth Delilah Street book. The first book introduced us to a Delilah who was a reporter at her local TV station, reporting on paranormal news items. She moved to Vegas before the first book really got going, and became a paranormal investigator. As we begin the fourth book we learn that everything that has happened in the first three books happened in about two months' time. It felt like at least a year. A lot has happened since she moved to Vegas.

In Silver Zombie Delilah and Ric are headed back to Kansas to learn a little bit about why Delilah has some of her... hang-ups. We see many of the people from earlier books - Delilah, Ric, and Quicksilver, of course. Also Ric's foster mother Helena Troy Burnside, and of course Snow/Christophe has to make an appearance. Cameo's are made by Hector Nightwine, Shez, Grizelle, and Sansouci at the beginning of the book - but they aren't part of any plot in this book and we really could have done without the filler, in my opinion. If the scenes at the beginning of the book were a set up for the next book then they should have been at the end, and could have been a lot less wordy. Too many things happen in the beginning of the book that aren't necessary to the plot of this book... and that made the first half of the book a task instead of an enjoyable read.

Here's the blurb:

Zombies and Witches and Vamps . . . Oh, My!

What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas—at least that’s Delilah Street’s hope. With Sin City’s vampire and werewolf mobs wanting to cash in her chips once and for all, she’s retreating with her partner Ric Montoya and half-wolfhound Quicksilver to her Kansas birthplace. Unfortunately, when it comes to finding trouble, there’s no place like home. . . .

It doesn’t take long before Delilah realizes she’s not in Vegas anymore. Zombie cowboys and spectral cattle drives are kicking up dust, the local weather girls are total witches who forecast perfect storms, and some Hollywood fanatic is recasting zombies as the greatest stars of the silver screen. And speaking of silver, Delilah’s special affinity for the all-purpose monster-repellent leads her posse straight down a silver brick road—and into a notso- fun house of mirrors—putting her face-to-face with her dicey past and a mystery woman named Lilith, who’s a real dead ringer for Delilah. The key word being dead.

My biggest problem with this story? Pacing. And there were very serious pacing issues. The story rambles and starts and stops and reminisces and doesn't do much of anything for more than half of the book. Once the story gets started it gets better, and the final 20% of the book doesn't lack for action at all. But the first half of the book could have used some serious help.

As for the rest of the writing elements -- the action oriented plot was most excellent once the author actually delved into it. It's really too bad we didn't know more about the main plot until the last ten or fifteen percent of the book - it could have added a lot of interest earlier on. We do know more about the personal-to-Delilah part of the plot earlier, and it's rough, but it explains a good bit about her history. Not enough, but still a decent amount.

The prose and dialogue were mostly okay - this author tends to ramble and be a bit too flowery and retrospective and introspective for me. And considering I usually like those things... right. I liked the story once I reached the end, but the telling of the story occasionally hurt my eyes. Character developmeng is well done, and world building is stellar. I'll also say that the author's use of symbolism is a large part of what makes this series as interesting as it is.

• Book Rating: Silver Zombie:7 of 10
• Series Rating:7 of 10

I went back and forth with myself on these ratings. I started out with a six of ten for both book and series, but talked myself up to a seven of ten. The various plots, the characters, the symbolism, the worldbuilding - those things deserve a nine... but the storytelling and the pacing issues scream for a four or five.  Averaged together I came up with a seven.

Delilah Street: Paranormal Investigator series:

1. Dancing with Werewolves
2. Brimstone Kiss
3. Vampire Sunrise
4. Silver Zombie
5. Virtual Virgin (2011)

.