I’m reviewing Stacia Kane’s Chasing Magic at Smexybooks

 

Chasing Magic (Downside #5) by Stacia Kane
Urban Fantasy
E book
June 26, 2012

Favorite Quote: “It was goodbye, just in case. It was a memory being made, words going unsaid.“

Magic-wielding Churchwitch and secret addict Chess Putnam knows better than anyone just how high a price people are willing to pay for a chemical rush. But when someone with money to burn and a penchant for black magic starts tampering with Downside’s drug supply, Chess realizes that the unlucky customers are paying with their souls—and taking the innocent with them, as the magic-infused speed compels them to kill in the most gruesome ways possible.
As if the streets weren’t scary enough, the looming war between the two men in her life explodes, taking even more casualties and putting Chess squarely in the middle. Downside could become a literal ghost town if Chess doesn’t find a way to stop both the war and the dark wave of death-magic, and the only way to do that is to use both her addiction and her power to enter the spell and chase the magic all the way back to its malevolent source. Too bad that doing so will probably kill Chess—if the war doesn’t first destroy the man who’s become her reason for living.(Goodreads)

There are some tiny spoilers in here from previous books so if you haven’t read them-you have been warned. Every action requires payment; a valuable lesson that Chess is forced to learn in the fifth installment of Stacia Kane’s dark and addictive urban fantasy series, The Downside. Continuing to be heavily character dominated, we are firmly entrenched into the lives of church witch and addict Chess Putnam, her drug enforcer lover, Terrible, and rival enforcer turned drug lord, Lex. Not long has passed since Sacrificial Magic so Chess is still recovering from her experience and worrying over the ramifications of Lex taking over his father’s drug empire. With Lex becoming more powerful, it places Terrible directly into his crosshairs. Terrible will have to make a choice, and the wrong one could place him six feet under.

 

Read the rest of my review at Smexybooks.

I’m reviewing Sacrificial Magic by Stacia Kane at Smexybooks

 

Sacrificial Magic (Downside Ghosts #4) by Stacia Kane
Urban Fantasy
March 27, 2012
Del Rey

Favorite Quote: “I choose you. “

Chess Putnam once again finds herself caught between two rival crime lords when her drug dealer and boyfriend’s boss demands she use her skills at the scene of a violent murder that speaks of dark magic. Chess is also commanded by her Elder to investigate a haunting at a school that has already caused one debunker to disappear. Trust becomes an issue between her and Terrible when a former flame tries to instigate himself back in her life and her bed. As Chess slips deeper into the dark and twisted world of magic, drugs, and death, she will be forced to make the ultimate sacrifice. A sacrifice that will forever change her and those she loves.

 

 

Read the rest of my review ay Smexybooks.

Well, Since You Asked…The Bottomless Purse

When I asked my hubs the other day to hand me my purse he decided that he would try his hand at comedy (don’t give up the day job sweetie) and amid much moaning and groaning he brought it to me.

Hubs, “ OMG…wth do you have in here?”

Me, “Just stuff.”

Hubs, “What kind of stuff?”

Me, “Just stuff.”

Hubs, “You always say stuff when you don’t want me to know something.”

Me, *rolling eyes*, “ No, Mr. I am paranoid beyond belief, it’s just stuff I need.”

Hubs, “You could bench press this purse. It should be registered as a dangerous weapon. What could be in here that is so important your willing to walk tipped to one side for the rest of your life?”

And that got me thinking. How many people REALLY know what is in their significant others purses?  Purses are an amazing thing. I am reminded of a scene in Stacia Kane’s Downside series where Terrible (you who have read this series know what I speak of) is talking about purses and the power of them. He says that purses are the only thing that truly belongs to woman. It contains their “power” and they would never willing surrender it. 

I thought about that for a long time. I would die if I lost my purse. It has so much of me in it. Not just things I need but things I have done. Growing up, my mother’s purse was the subject of my fascination for years. I would do ANYTHING to put my grubby little hands in there and excavate it for it’s mysterious treasures. Un known  boxes and tubes that just begged to be opened, bottles of alluring scents, handfuls of loose change that went straight into my piggy bank. Sometimes if I was REALLY lucky I would unearth the ever elusive tic tacs. :) 

So I decided to break the age long mystery and show the world what is in MY purse. Don’t be scared.

Shall we take a tour?

I have shipping labels, mail from 3 weeks ago, Dryel stain cleaner, a rhinestone tiara (sometimes I feel the need to be princessy), camera, shampoo/conditioner sample, a 3 yr old birthday party invite, a granola bar (not sure how old), cough drops, straw(‘cause I always get screwed in the drive thrus when I order drinks),a calendar I don’t use, a clean pr of underwear (my mom always saws to carry a clean pr just in case. In case of what? I have no idea), socks(same rule applies here to), e reader, umbrella, Blackberry, wallet, compact, headband, hand lotion, hand santiizer, 3 lip plumpers, lip gloss, lip stick(Smashbox Nude :)),a crayon, a pen, spf 70 face lotion, a lighter.

Next week, elusive men’s wallet.

 

So tell me…what’s in your purse?

Weekend Wrap Up

This has been an wild week with new releases, fashion faux pas, and cell phone intrigue.

City of Ghosts by Stacia Kane  was released Tuesday and I D.E.V.O.U.R.E.D. it. In about 2 hrs. Srsly.I ignored my family to finish this book. If you haven't read this series-run, don't walk to your local bookstore and purchase it. Of course, Eternal Kiss Of Darkness by Jeaniene Frost was also released Tuesday and it is a solid 2nd behind City Of Ghosts.There is ceiling sex in this book folks. Frost is the author of the highly popular Night Huntress series featuring Bones and Cat. 

I'm sure you all read about how I finally broke down and bought a smartphone-my first crackberry. What should have been a simple transaction turned into a 2 week fiasco that literally took me to the edge of madness. Apparently, even though Sprint and Nextel are the same company they are 2 separate entities. Meaning that a Sprint phone may or may not work where you live and same rule applies for a Nextel. This is something I learned the hard way. I also learned that Sprint Customer Service doesn't tell you this unless hot pilers are applied to sensitive places. I won't bore you with a long whiny story. Sufficed to say after 10 days, 8 phone calls, 4 chats, and 2 1.5 hr trips to a corporate Sprint store I finally received a Blackberry that I can tweet from 

                                     the bathroom.

Amazon Kindle has come out with the Kindle DX. I do not own a Kindle and have never ever had the urge to own one. But after seeing this I may have to change my mind.

9.7" diagonal E-ink screen,no glare in sunlight screen,slim and lightweight, free 3G wireless w/ no contract or fees, web browsing, holds up to 3500 books, twitter and facebook access, built in PDF reader,longer battery life,read to me text, and auto rotating screen.

Bloggers can make a change. After some bloggers were offended by MAC nail polish named Juarez offensive, the company decided to donate the proceeds from the sale of this polish to the people of Juarez. One blogger, the Frisky, stated it was tasteless-

   "Why’s it tasteless? Juarez is an impoverished Mexican factory town notorious for the number of women    between the ages of 12 and 22 who have been raped and murdered with little or no response from police."

A press release outlined specifics about the promised charity efforts: All profits from the collection worldwide will go to a "newly created initiative to raise awareness and provide on-the-ground support to the women and girls in Juarez." MAC and Rodarte apologize again in the release for unintentionally causing so much upset. 

Who got 4 magazine covers in one month?           

Not who...but what. Variations of the same Miu Miu dress was on the August covers of W, British Vogue, British Elle and Swedish Elle. A fashion hat trick with a spare. 

My New Book Review Is At Smexy Books-City Of Ghosts by Stacia Kane

Today's review is on Stacia Kane's City of Ghosts. #3 in the Downside.

Chess Putnum is walking a fine line-one wrong move could leave her for dead. Bodies are showing up throughout the Downside.Chess is ordered by her Elders in the Church to team up with the elite, powerful Black Squad to solve this case.She is placed under a binding spell that will cause her death if she speaks of the investagation but  Bump, Chess's drug dealer and Downside's crime boss, gets wind of the investagation and wants to know everything she knows.
Everywhere there are clues but no one is talking. As Chess fights killer wraiths, First Elders, and a lot of nasty magic; she is also trying to cope with some personal issues. And the only man Chess can trust to help her through it all has every reason to want her dead.

In Stacia Kane's 3rd installment of the Downside series, City Of Ghosts, we are once again submerged in to Chess's dark and dangerous world of drugs, magic, and death. Chess has burned many bridges in her life time but the heartache from her betrayel of Terrible is killing her. For the first time she actually cares about someone but he will have nothing to do with her. As Chess tries to survive her feelings, the Downside is being
plagued by grisy deaths. Chess is ordered by the Elders to work with Lauren-a member of the infamous Black Squad. Chess's instints tell her that the whole deal is wrong but once she is bound by a death binding she has no choice but to keep her mouth shut or forfeit her life.


Read the rest of my review at Smexy Books.

He's here!!!! He's here!!!! Terrible is here!!!

No, not terrible as in YUCK, but Terrible as in Stacia Kane's 3rd installment into her explosive dark and edgy "gotta have" book from her Downside series has finally arrived!!
City of Ghosts by Stacia Kane.

SQUEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Oh my preciouzzzz.


I have been waiting on this book for months. I bought it as an ebook so when I saw the email come in heralding it's arrival,  I was like-Get The Hell Outta my Way I Gotta Go Read!!
If you have not read the series then you are missing out. This series has been touted as, "Crack for book readers."
The first 2 were phenomenal. Unholy Ghost-#1 and Unholy Magic-#2.
See my review of Unholy Ghosts here.
The 3rd one is being touted as the BEST so far in th series. 

Terrible is my new book boyfriend. I have searched the internet to find a pic of him but nothing I see can describe him. Plus, I'm Cap't Mc Sucky when it comes to internet searches.
He's a bad, bad boy.  A drug pusher's enforcer. Large and in charge. Tattoos, chains, tight jeans, tall, quiet and menacing with large broad shoulders and square heavy jaw. *sigh* 
Did I mention he is bad? He is NOT who you want to bring home to meet the 'rents.  
Here are the top 5 reasons I love Terrible.
1. He's dangerous
2. He is big and built.
3. His tattoos are rumored to be in lick able places.
4. He's quiet 
5. He would die for those he loves




So enjoy kiddies! I am heading to the secret reading room with my bacon maple donuts, the e reader, and headphones. I'll be back later. 


Here is a list of songs from Stacia Kane's website that reflect City Of Ghosts and the Downside. You enjoy, dig?

Music Playlist at MixPod.com

My New Book Review Is At Smexy Books-Stacia Kane's Unholy Magic

My new book review is on Stacia Kane's Unholy Magic -#2 in the Downside series.

If you read no other Urban Fantasy this year...you must read this series. Dark and edgy, the Downside series takes you through a futuristic world of drugs, crime, and supernaturals that will leave you stay with you long after the last page is read.


..In the 2nd book of Stacia Kane's Downside series-Unholy Magic-Ches Putnam is back and sinking further in her drug induced world.

After being poisoned by a psychic con man, she is contracted to debunk a famous actor's claims of haunting. 

As an agent of the church her job is to expose those who seek to profit off spiritual activities.

Sh has also been "asked" to investigate the gruesome murders of several hookers belonging to her dealer.

As Chess settles herself deeper into the haunting and murders, she finds a remote connection that could spell disaster for her and all those involved.

Go read my 5 star review at Smexybooks.