The Savior (The Black Dagger Brotherhood #17) by J.R.Ward

The Savior by J.R. Ward

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Savior progressed slowly following Dr. Sarah Watkins, a biomedical research scientist. However, when it came to the ex-brother Murhder, I could not get enough! I couldn't put the book down. His name is stereotypical of the Old World warriors like Wrath, Tohrment, Vicious, Rhage, you get the point.

Murhder loses his mind after being tortured in a Symphath colony and is no longer accepted as a member of the Brotherhood. It is a long story but Xhex used to be his lover. He is the only one who has ever been kicked out of the Black Dagger Brotherhood. We learn later that he was grossly misunderstood and wrongly judged. He spent 20 years in isolation because of it. From reading the book I didn't get the impression he was crazy only the sense of anger and mistrust from the BDB towards him, which I didn't think was right. They weren't very nice to him especially Tohr and V. The only one who believed Murhder should come back and fight as a brother again was John Matthew who Murhder incidentally thought was Darius. I guess they always had a close relationship. I am so happy that everything turned out for both of them.

Back to the story...
Murhder is on a mission to save a female vampire and locate and return her son who was taken away from her. Meanwhile, her son Natelum is being tested in a human lab. He is also on the verge of transitioning to an adult vampire and will die if he doesn't get the proper treatment from a chosen.

Dr. Sarah Watkins is appalled over the secrets and torture treatments being done in the biomedical firm. After her fiancee dies unexpectedly, she sneaks into the facility and is determined to take the young boy away from there. She is the first to rescue him before Murhder John and Xhex unexpectedly arrive to save the day.

Sarah just gets swept away down a rabbit hole.

When one thing leads to another, doing the right thing means that Murhder has to wipe Sarah's memories of everything she knows about the Vampire world, even if it means losing her. As an independent male and free from the rules of the BDB, he asserts himself on occasion but I am still not convinced he is crazy cause he doesn't act it. He seems like he has his shit together when it comes to Sarah Watkins. I guess she brings out the good in him *shrugs

Her acceptance of the existence of vampires makes her job easier and she quickly assumes her role as a doctor and works with Manny, Ehlena and Dr. Jane to help them find a cure for a blood anomaly. When John Matthew is bitten by a dark shadow thing, her research prompts her to test out a new theory that might help save him from dying. Murhder volunteers to try it first. It works!

Nate has successfully transitioned but his role is not defined fully so he is swept under the rug until further notice :p

I am extremely satisfied with reading about my favourite vampires in The Savior.

View all my reviews

Dead Meat: Day 1 by Nick Clausen- The end of the world one day at a time

Dead Meat: Day 1 by Nick Clausen

Kindle Edition, 1st, 140 pages
Expected publication: October 8th 2019

Goodreads summary:

In this new apocalyptic zombie series from the author of They Come at Night and Human Flesh, we follow events day for day as the world slowly but surely descends into mayhem as the zombies take over. Don't miss the thrilling ride!
For fans of The Walking Dead, The Orphans Book and World War Z.
How it all began
Three teenagers find themselves trapped in a stuffy, warm basement. The old lady who used to own the house is now dead. She's also standing right on the other side of the basement door, scraping and moaning, trying to get in. Patiently. Tirelessly.
How did they end up here? Just a few hours ago, all three of them were sitting in Thomas' car, sweating and listening to music, not a care in the world. They were almost done with the paper route when they came to the old lady's house. And that's when everything turned to chaos.

***I was provided with a free copy by the author in exchange for a review.

Dead Meat is about three children who get stuck in the basement of a house that is overrun by zombies. The prospect of survival is very grim for Thomas, Dan and Jennie but if there is any hope to stay alive, they need to make sure all of the zombies are dead. 

When Thomas, Dan and his sister Jennie arrive at the end of their paper route, the furthest thing on their minds was getting eaten by zombies. The weather was hot that day and they were all thirsty but are themselves trapped in a basement hiding from a family of Zombies inside the old dilapidated farmhouse. I don't think they were very brave or smart enough to know how to kill zombies because they were scared. Jennie thought she scraped herself on some glass but she was scratched by the zombie's long nails. They knew she was infected when they realized her symptoms were getting worse. She had a burning fever and it was inevitable she would die and turn. It didn't take long either.

Thomas and Dan had been planning their escape when Jennie reanimated into a zombie. They never killed her only kept her a safe distance from attacking them.

For Thomas and Dan, it was an ordeal to finally be out of that house. Evidently, only 3 zombies were inside: the father, the grandma and a child. Yet Thomas managed to free himself. He also had to rescue Dan. They also realized someone alive was hiding in a car but she didn't have the car keys. She told Thomas they were in her husband's pant pocket. *facepalm*

Thomas and Dan locked themselves inside their car and drank a whole case of warm pop. The car wouldn't start and wouldn't you know it. Only then Thomas remembered the glass that he cut his foot on had zombie blood on it. So now he was also infected and burning with fever. Before he died he desperately wanted Dan and the lady of the other car to get out and get help. There were two zombies smashed against the car so Thomas got the key out of the husbands pocket and killed them before he passed out.

The lady of the car and Dan got away and made it to the hospital only to find out Dan had stuck Thomas's body in the trunk. Ugh. Why?

Realizing it was a bad idea to have taken Thomas' body to the hospital, Dan could have caused a zombie outbreak. So, they high tail it out of there and come to an abandoned area where they could set the damn body and the car on fire. Now that all of the zombies were dead was everything back to normal again? No! Dan remembers Jennie! They never killed her and he just hoped when he got out he secured the basement window ...

to be continued.

Cover art by Peter from pncreate.com

About the Author

Nick Clausen lives in Denmark. He has been writing since the age of 18. He made a promise to type 1,000 words a day until his first book was published and has kept that promise 18 months and 13 manuscripts later. He has written and published +25 books and has lived as a full-time writer since 2017. Has started to translate his books into English in 2019. He prefers horror, suspense and sci-fi. He likes dogs more than cats.

Goodreads | Website

Waiting On Wednesday

It is now official. 

The Treasure of Paragon#3 Manhattan Dragon by Genevieve Jack, will be coming October 22nd, 2019! 
I can't wait. I'm so excited to read this because it's about Rowan. The Dragon's sister!

Chapter 1: Manhattan Dragon

She was supposed to be dead. Rowan felt remarkably spry for a corpse. But then she’d died multiple times since coming to America over three hundred years ago. New identities were necessary for an immortal. Every so often Rowan would shed her proverbial skin and start over with a new last name, a new address, a new life. It was easier to do in New York. The city that never slept rarely slowed down to notice one mysterious woman with unfinished business or the fate of one of her identities. She wasn’t a thief, but Rowan had come to steal. A dragon was born with a certain set of instincts. Keen observation was one of them. A natural affinity for anything rare and valuable was another. For example, Rowan had spotted the teardrop-shaped blue diamond around Camilla Stevenson’s neck from across a crowded gallery—an example of her keen observation skills. Understanding that the stone was, in fact, the six-carat Raindrop of Heaven, sold at auction recently for $1.2 million? That was her talent for recognizing the rare and valuable. She didn’t need the money. Rowan was rich. Very rich. It wasn’t cash luring her up the path to the white brick mansion in the Hamptons, an enchanted lockpick weighing down her pocket. It had more to do with her history as an exiled princess of Paragon than any financial motive. She’d witnessed her brother’s murder at the hands of her uncle before she was cast into this world, and Rowan had no patience for corruption. What the wealthy Gerald Stevenson and his wife Camilla had done made them the exact type of elitist scum that drove Rowan to distraction. She’d steal the diamond not for its value but for revenge. For a human, playing Robin Hood in the Hamptons would be a ticket to the slammer. The place was crawling with security, and there was only one gated drive in and out of the property. Humans, though, couldn’t make themselves invisible. Nor could they fly. Besides, there was no better alibi than being dead. The night hummed a familiar tune. Crickets chirped, insectile lovers calling to each other from the grasses; the waves brushed the beach in a soft caress behind her; and a warm spring breeze off the Atlantic rustled the branches of the hawthorn trees that grew along the main drive. “Thank you, Harriet,” she murmured as she slid the enchanted lockpick into the lock of the french doors at the back of the Stevensons’ home. It was a sophisticated lock. Stevenson was a real estate developer and was no dummy when it came to home security. But security systems had their limitations. For example, most weren’t able to record an invisible intruder or detect a lockpick charmed with ancient English Traveller magic. The door parted like the lips of an eager lover, and she slipped into the dark interior. No alarm. No dog. That was fortunate. A few lights were on, but she knew no one was home. Gerald and Camilla were hosting one of the biggest political fund-raising events in the city that evening. How could they effectively rezone and gentrify every part of Manhattan if they didn’t consistently line the pockets of their political allies? Fucking assholes. The gem practically sang to her from the master bedroom on the second floor. It was time to save the jewel from the Stevensons’ filthy hands. She trailed down the hall, allowing her invisibility to fade to conserve energy. Invisibility and flight took their toll; she’d need that energy for the journey home. The hardwood creaked beneath her feet. Rowan paused outside the bedroom. A delicious scent she’d never smelled before met her nose, sandalwood and dark spice. She breathed deeply and felt her eyes roll back in her head at the intoxicating fragrance. What the hell was that? A fine shiver traveled through her body, straight to her core. Whatever it was, she wanted to roll in it. She made a mental note to find out where Gerald Stevenson bought his cologne. It couldn’t be Camilla’s. It was too masculine. Too heady. It took effort to pull herself together, but she managed to slip into the master bedroom and refocus on the task at hand. The Raindrop of Heaven wasn’t going to steal itself. The room was a white-walled wonder with decor that belonged in the Museum of Modern Art. At its center, a bed the size of a barge was flanked by two twisted wire sculptures worth more than most people’s yearly salary. No doubt they were paid for in cash. People like the Stevensons loved to use art as a way to launder their wealth and evade the taxman. All the more reason they were overdue for some bad luck. And she planned to deliver it. Once she oriented herself, she found the door Harriet had described in her vision and had to smile at the Traveller’s accuracy. The best decision she’d ever made was to save her dear friend from tuberculosis in 1904 with the gift of her tooth. She’d never regretted using dragon magic to bind herself to the powerful Traveller whose psychic gifts and practical magic rivaled any witch’s. Harriet’s friendship had proved priceless over the years, and her magical abilities had come in useful on more than one occasion. The Stevensons’ giant walk-in closet was built of cedar and had a convenient keypad on the jewelry drawer that served as a safe. Rowan held the lockpick against the keypad and watched the keys glow purple, one at a time. The magic revealed which numbers to push and in what order, and she enthusiastically followed its suggestions. The drawer popped open with a hiss. The Raindrop of Heaven winked up at her from a bed of blue velvet. She caressed the cool facets of the diamond before plucking it from its cushion along with two matching earrings. She shoved the lot in the zippered pouch around her waist, pure satisfaction curling the corners of her lips. Take that, you corrupt piece of shit. Rowan’s nostrils flared. The delicious smell from the hall was back, even stronger than before. Cloves and sandalwood. Her inner dragon stirred and licked its lips. She whirled to find a man standing in the bedroom behind her, staring at her through the open door to the walk-in closet. A bear of a man, big, rough, and all male. He scratched the stubble on his jaw, amaretto-colored like his hair, and scanned her with eyes the gray of stormy seas. His arms crossed over the chest of his sport coat, and his head cocked to the side. She cursed under her breath. She’d been so distracted by the smell, she’d forgotten to make herself invisible again. Too late now. He’d seen her. The real her. Thankfully, he was alone. She could handle one man. It wouldn’t be pretty, but she could handle him. Their eyes met. In a voice edged in grit, he asked, “Who the fuck are you?”

OR
you can read a sample of the first 4 chapters at the link below
  https://www.genevievejack.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Manhattan-Dragon-Print.pdf

Countdown to Halloween: It Readalong

It

Written by: Stephen King
Narrated by: Steven Weber 👍
Length: 44 hrs and 55 mins 
Categories: Literature & Fiction, Horror

Welcome to Derry, Maine. It’s a small city, a place as hauntingly familiar as your own hometown. Only in Derry the haunting is real.
They were seven teenagers when they first stumbled upon the horror. Now they are grown-up men and women who have gone out into the big world to gain success and happiness. But the promise they made twenty-eight years ago calls them reunite in the same place where, as teenagers, they battled an evil creature that preyed on the city’s children. Now, children are being murdered again and their repressed memories of that terrifying summer return as they prepare to once again battle the monster lurking in Derry’s sewers.

I have decided to read Stephen King's huge novel It for the Countdown to Halloween and the Fraterfest Readathon this fall. I wanted to do something to honour October/Fall/Halloween so if anyone wants to read it together with me, you are welcome to share your thoughts on your blog. I've done one before.
Feel free to use the handy blog button also to link up to this Read-a-long.
I am stepping out of my comfort zone that is why the more support the better, since...

• I don't think Stephen King's books are that terror-full, for the most part, 
• It is gigantic 
• I've seen both the It movies in preparation for this read-a-long 

Regardless here is a rough schedule to which I'll be following.

Start: October 1st

Stop 1:  October 8th at 345 pages – end of chapter 6

Stop 2: October 15th at 738 pages  – end of chapter 11

Stop 3: October 22nd at 1063 pages – end of chapter 18

End: October 31st at 1392 pages

I'll be listening to the audiobook as well because I think the narrator Steven Weber does an excellent job. So there's that.

My Thoughts:

The six Derry kids who make up the Losers Club, have been summoned back to Derry 27 years later and they all know what that means. Pennywise is back. Now they are all grown up, they have to fulfill the oath they made years ago in blood. Having no clue what will happen to them, without hesitation, except on the part of their significant other, who they leave behind and sometimes it is for the better.
I'm thinking about Beverly. She is now in a relationship with a violent drunken SOB who physically beats her and is mean and controlling like that.
It is typical for Stephen King to write stories that involve real serious issues such as domestic violence, abuse and ALL THOSE MISSING CHILDREN!
It's hard for me to read about stuff like that, and quite frankly it turns me off.
I also have an aversion to cigarettes since I quit. I dislike reading about it in a book. Anyway, smoking and domestic violence are two things I'd rather not read about.

Part 1: Chapter 1. Pennywise murders Georgie Denbrough in the street near his home.

¶ In the fall of 1957, Georgie Denbrough goes outside to play in the rain following a paper boat that his brother Bill made him. The town is flooded in rain that year and Georgie's boat was swept away. He quickly ran after it but it looked like it was going to end up in the sewer down the drain pipe. As was expected, his boat fell down the sewer drain hole on the side of the road. I felt sorry for him. However, when Georgie approached the drain hole he saw that somebody was in there.

It was a clown. Georgie was not scared because the clown spoke and he promised to give his boat back. The clown had it in his hands. The clown wanted Georgie to come and see and float. Inside the sewer.

Everything down here—floats. It, Part 1, Chapter 1 

Georgie reached for his boat and the clown grabbed his arm and pulled him in tearing off his arm. Georgie died that day but his brother didn't want to believe it. Bill Denbrough wanted to kill the sonofabitch who took his brother. There were other disappearances that year.

That clown they fought within the sewer so many years ago, is a distant memory, which they had put out from their minds and had never thought about until now. IT makes them remember how terrifying it was. I don't blame them, however, none of Stephen King's books that I have read so far, are scary IMO. His writings feel too archaic like he's stuck in the mid-1900s and lacks lustre.

Quote-Tastic - Favourite IT Film Quote

Quote-Tastic is a meme held on Mondays by Herding Casts & Burning Soup. Join us every Monday and share a favourite quote that's grabbed you for one reason or another.

I'd like to start off this year's countdown to Halloween event by sharing My favourite It quote. from the new film based on Stephen King's 1986 horror novel. Watch the clip on Youtube

"I told you bill, I fucking told you, I don't want to die, it's your fault, you punch me in the face, you made me walk through shitty water, you brought me to a fucking crackhead house! and now, I'm gonna have to kill this fucking clown"

He picks up a baseball bat

"Welcome to the Losers Club, asshole!"

The 2017 remake on Netflix is way better than the original version of 1990 IMO. The main reason is because of the actor who plays Richie Tozier aka Finn Wolfhard. I purchased the book with the intention to read it prior to Halloween. Even though I've been wanting to read it for the last two years. It's still a daunting task because of a lengthy 1157 pages! I mean who does that?

Unearthed Blog Tour by Cecy Robson & Giveaway

Today marks the release of Unearthed the first novel in Cecy Robson's new Death Seeker Urban Fantasy series featuring fae, the death, and other supernatural creatures. Come check out the book, enter to win a fun giveaway and order your copy of Unearthed!

Release Date: September 24, 2019 

Goodreads Synopsis:

Fae was once a flourishing paradise. Until Death turned greedy and destroyed it, targeting the creatures who inhabited it. Those who survived escaped to Earth’s realm, but Death wasn’t far behind . . . Olivia Finn is just another pixie trying to blend in among humans and hide from the death hounds who devoured her family. Clinging to the talisman that keeps her veiled from those who hunt her, she believes she is safe. . .. Until Death finds her and discovers she’s immune to its grip. Now that Olivia’s power is unearthed, she is sought by Fae who see her as their savior and stalked by dark entities compelled to destroy her. Can she trust the King of the Dead who has sworn to train and protect her? Or should she obey her instincts that warn he desires more? Olivia can no longer hide from Death. To survive, she must seek it.

I received an E-ARC via Caffeinated PR in exchange for a review.

When it comes to office drama Unearthed fits the bill with secret magical beings and a fae pixie named Olivia, who becomes the target of the Cù-Sìth.

The Cù-Sìth are Celtic demon dogs who destroyed the homeland of the Fae, and after killing Olivia's entire family, the survivors were forced to hide on Earth.

Only now, " hiding from death is no longer an option"...

Olivia's special ability makes her immune to Death hence Cathasach, the packs Alpha is attracted to her and becomes her predator. Still, she'll need to grow some heavy balls and become stronger to keep her people safe if she is going to fight with death. So, Ryker Scott volunteers to teach her how to use her powers which will destroy every form of Death and become a hero.

Ryker is a handsome and sexy criminal defence lawyer but he is also the Grim Reaper aka Ankou. Therefore, his need to feast on souls generally consist of his clients. Genius. There is a slight hint of romance between Ryker and Olivia and moments of humour to lighten the mood. Even though I had to read the book twice, I appreciated it more the second time.

Unearthed Quotes:

• “It's all rainbows and pixie dust up in this bitch.”- Unearthed, Cecy Robson 

• “Someone alive can't be with someone who's dead.”- Unearthed, Cecy Robson 

• “I just royally pissed off a guy who carries a scythe and knows how to use it. And I could give a fairy's flat ass. Life can be hard. Suck it, Death.”- Unearthed, Cecy Robson 

Amazon | B&N | iTunes | Kobo 

Excerpt from Unearthed

…in the Glen a nightclub where the Fae like to gather Lights flash and magical mist pours across the dance floor, allowing privacy to those desperate for touch. Fae aren't plentiful, and neither are establishments for us to gather. That’s what makes the Glen fun. It doesn’t just bring my kind together, it frees us. No glamour, no pretending. We discuss magic and the old realm, curse Death for destroying it and celebrate our survival. With a shimmy and a shake, lavender and silver wings sprout from Dahlia’s back. She stretches, relishing the feel of simply being herself. She winks at me, her glimmering lavender eyes and lips radiant. A drunk mountain troll stumbles between us. She releases my hand, allowing him through before clasping my hand and guiding us through the gyrating swarm of bodies. “Let’s have a drink, darling.” I squeeze her hand. Fae are affectionate beings. In the human world, we cage our need to caress, embrace, and make love. It’s a way to keep our identities secret and another way to prevent Death from finding us. Bill’s broken glamour was a result of a stolen kiss. It revealed his form to a human and worst of all damaged his talisman. Our talismans remain the only way to hide from those who hurt us. Without them, it’s a death warrant with our executioners often seconds from being collected. A banshee sprints away from the bar and through the swarm of Fae. With all the grace of a swan, she leaps into the air and straddles the male who entered behind us. “David!” she screeches. “Sorry,” she adds when we groan and cover our ears. “David” loses his tiny accountant persona, morphing into a giant cyclops with a long blond Mohawk. He laughs, catching the banshee when her legs break free of his widening waist. She screeches. Again. The thought of that voice in the throes of passion makes me cringe. “David is going to need serious earplugs to get through the night,” I mutter. Dahlia giggles, her laughter like wind chimes in the soft breeze. “Perhaps. But it will be worth it, darling,” she sings. ©Unearthed, Cecy Robson, LLC September 2019

About Cecy Robson

CECY ROBSON is an international and multi-award-winning author of over twenty-five character driven novels. A registered nurse of eighteen years, Cecy spends her free time creating magical worlds, heart-stopping romance, and young adult adventure. After receiving two RITA® nominations, the Maggie Award, the Award of Excellence, and a National Reader’s Choice Award nomination, you can still find Cecy laughing, crying, and cheering on her characters as she pens her next story.

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | BookBub | Newsletter

Cecy Robson will give one lucky winner a $50.00 US Amazon Gift Card. a Rafflecopter giveaway

This blog post was made possible by Kimberley Costa@Caffeinated PR

Blood Truth (Black Dagger Legacy, #4)

Blood Truth (Black Dagger Legacy, #4)by J.R. Ward

Hardcover, 432 pages
Published August 13th, 2019 by Simon & Schuster
Borrowed from the Library
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I love this series!
Blood Truth is about how Boone and Helania meet and fall HEA. Helania is not perfect. I thought she was way more fragile than the other females in the Black Dagger Legacy. I mean even though she knows how to handle a gun, her reclusive and anti-social tendencies bothered me. By the end, it appears she had grown up a lot. As a child, before her transition, she struggled with blindness and was bullied for it. Her parents died when she was young as well.

When Helania learns her sister was murdered she distracts herself by making it her priority to find the killer. One night when Helania is at the Pyre's Revyval club, she discovers a female body dead in the basement hung up by a meat hook. This time she calls the Black Dagger Brotherhood. Guess who shows up? Butch and Boone.

Butch O'Neal used to be a detective so it's fun to see him back at it again. He asks Boone to help him with the female murder investigations which might be due to a serial killer in Caldwell New York.

Boone was intended to an arranged marriage with his friend Rochelle. His father was angry that they broke their engagement off but in the wake of the news of his father's death and perhaps blaming himself for it, Boone receives some more bad news in a meeting of the will. His father left everything he owns to Marquist without a mention of his son. You would think he'd be a bit pissed off but he accepts it and if it weren't for the King Wraths orders, that he be allowed a couple of weeks to think about what his next move is, Boone would be homeless.
But Boone feels trapped in a hateful relationship with the family butler so I guess he would be happier to leave.
It understandably makes his home life unbearable.
After the death of his sire, secrets unraveled and rumour is that Altamere and Marquist loved each other. So his butler was rewarded for his service exponentially even though he is a swivelling scoundrel and that is putting it mildly.
The connection to who Rochelle's 'boyfriend' is and who Isobel's friend was is uncovered gracefully so thank you Ms. Ward, but MORE EVIL secrets are hidden underneath individual flesh.
I am more intrigued by Syn.

We also get to see in-depth full coverage of a vampire female in their needing period. Helania experiences intense sexual cravings and suffers extreme pain. She is very susceptible to getting pregnant especially because Boone had been staying with her when it happened. You can imagine they had to stay clear of one another. Anyway, I just thought I'd mention that TMI? *shrugs

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jessica Rowley Pell Bird Blakemore was born in 1969 in Massachusetts. She attended Smith College where she double majored in history and art history, concentrating on medieval period. She received a law degree from Albany Law School. Before becoming a full-time author, she worked in healthcare in Boston and was the Chief of Staff of an academic medical center. Her first book, Leaping Hearts, was published in 2002. She writes contemporary romance novels under the name Jessica Bird. The Romance Writers of America awarded her the RITA Award for Best Short Contemporary Romance in 2007 for her novel From the First. She writes erotic paranormal romance under the pseudonym of J. R. Ward. Under this name, her books include the Black Dagger Brotherhood series, the Bourbon Kings series, the Fallen Angels series, and the Black Dagger Legacy series.