My Soul to Take - Rachel Vincent

TITLE: My Soul to Take

AUTHOR: Rachel Vincent

SUMMARY: She doesn''t see dead people, but…

She senses when someone near her is about to die. And when that happens, a force beyond her control compels her to scream bloody murder. Literally.

Kaylee just wants to enjoy having caught the attention of the hottest guy in school. But a normal date is hard to come by when Nash seems to know more about her need to scream than she does. And when classmates start dropping dead for no apparent reason, only Kaylee knows who''ll be next… - From Publisher

REVIEW: Vincent is rapidly becoming one of my favorite authors. I loved this series opening, the whole concept feels unique and different even though it really isn't. Gotta love authors that can take a concept and make it fresh and new.

This book starts off with best friends Emma & Kaylee sneaking into a club. I like that while Kaylee isn't an 'it' girl she also isn't a social leper either. I enjoy that she sneaks into clubs and does thing that your average teen does. I found her character to be one that I easily related to and that made this book highly addictive. Yet despite the normalcy I loved that she had a tortured and battered past. That her life wasn't fully average. I do think that considering her stint in a ward that there would be more damage. I found her softness towards her Aunt & Uncle at certain moments in the book to be off, or perhaps I'm just cold-hearted but I wanted to see more of her rage, hopefully in the second book we get more of it. Anger at her father for allowing it and now swooping in. (Yes I realize there is a prequel to this series but I'd still like some backlash.)

Hottie, Nash Hudson is just that a hottie. I naturally liked him and he did some unexpected things that I enjoyed. My biggest issue with him is that for someone with such a play-boy reputation he didn't really act like it. Again, Vincent could be doing her trade-mark zig when I think she'll zag but I do hope we get more back-history on him. Was he that much of a play-boy and if so are his intentions with Kaylee fully honest or is he hoping for something in return??

I love that Vincent does that. That her writing style isn't predictable and that really, she could totally change things. I love that I have another few books to eat through before I'm caught up, because her writing is such an addiction for me! I cannot wait!

RATING: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Shift - Rachel Vincent

TITLE: Shift

AUTHOR: Rachel Vincent

SUMMARY: Being the first female werecat enforcer isn''t easy. Scars accumulate, but I''m stronger in so many ways.

As for my personal life? It''s complicated. Choices worth making always are. Ever since my brother''s death and my father''s impeachment, it''s all I can do to prevent more blood from spilling. Now our Pride is under attack by a flight of vicious thunderbirds. And making peace with our new enemies may be the only way to get the best of our old foe.

With the body count rising and treachery everywhere, my instincts tell me to look before I leap. But sometimes a leap of faith is the only real option…. - From Publisher

REVIEW: The Pride is under attack from the Thunderbirds, vicious shape-shifters who are avenging the death of one of their cocks. (Yes, the humor and mocking is so easy it's not even worth it.) While we understand their need for vengeance, considering that Faythe and the Pride are planning on attacking Malone for his sole part in the murder of Ethan, the Thunderbirds are after the wrong pack and it's up to Faythe to prove their innocence.

I loved this book, and perhaps because it sets up a lot for the finale installment of this series Alpha coming out in fall. Logically they need some more allies and unknowing Malone has given them just that. I must say, I love that Malone isn't a dumb nemesis. The alpha is smart in how he plays his hand. Attacking but managing to show that he is simply responding to what Sanders, Faythe's father & Alpha is doing. It's refreshing that he's not a dumb foe, makes it more challenging and really sets things up.

Question, am I the only one that hopes Kaci & Jace end up together? I know there isn't even snippets of these two but I feel like they'd be a good fit and oddly this is one of the few triangles where I am not rooting for the 'other' guy. I get Faythe's feelings towards Jace but I have huge love for Marc. He's be strong through out the series and while I think he needs to learn to control his temper I think he brings something out of Faythe that we haven't seen others manage to pull out of her.

Alpha is going to be epic and while I think I know who Faythe will choose Vincent has manage to throw me for loop after loop so who really knows. At this point Faythe could decide neither. What I am sure of is that the final book to this series will be amazing and that I won't get any sleep until I'm finished it.

RATING: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Prey - Rachel Vincent

TITLE: Prey

AUTHOR: Rachel Vincent

SUMMARY: Sometimes playing cat and mouse is no game...

Play? "Right." My Pride is under fire from all sides, my father's authority is in question and my lover is in exile. Which means I haven't laid eyes on Marc's gorgeous face in months. And with a new mother "and" an I-know-everything teenager under my protection, I don't exactly have time to fantasize about ever seeing him again.

Then our long-awaited reunion is ruined by a vicious ambush by strays. Now our group is under attack, Marc is missing and I will need every bit of skill and smarts to keep my family from being torn apart. Forever. - From Publisher

REVIEW: And the plot thickens. Just when you thought it was safe and time for the Pride to get their political ducks in a row after Malone's heavy handed politics more trouble is brewing in the 'free zone' and this time it's out for Marc.

It seems that with this book Vincent decided to let all the proverbial crap hit the fan. It was an endless storm and it seems like Faythe and her Pride are getting attacked on every side. We've got the power hungry Malone vying for the Alpha's spot and hoping to turn everyone against him and his Pride.

With Marc being kidnapped, leaving too much of his blood in his home to look like he survived the attack Faythe is on the verge of collapse. But, with Marc's disappearance we do get to see her step up and plot the demise of those that hurt him. With her hunt for him just discovers some more secrets that while she knows are connected to Malone's plot against them she can't scrounge up any hard evidence. To make things more dire in her world Malone attacks and leaves Faythe in a tail-spin of agony.

And just when I thought she was done with making stupid mistakes she makes another one, one I'm not sure will bode well for anyone. While I could kind of see it coming I was still (seems to be a trend with this series) shocked after it. Especially with the fallout of.

This book doesn't let up for one moment and I couldn't believe everything that was packed into this one. I love Vincent's style of writing and how she weaves so much together and it all ends up cohesive and balanced.

RATING: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Pride - Rachel Vincent

TITLE: Pride

AUTHOR: Rachel Vincent

SUMMARY: I'm on trial for my life. Falsely accused of infecting my human ex-boyfriend--and killing him to cover up the crime. Infecting a human is one of three capital offenses recognized by the Pride--along with murder and disclosure of our existence to a human.

I'm two for three. A goner.

Now we've discovered a rogue stray terrorizing the mountainside, hunting a wild teenage tabbycat. It's up to us to find and stop him before a human discovers us. With my lover Marc's help, I "think" I can protect the vulnerable girl from both the ambitious rogue and the scheming of the territorial council.

"If" I survive my own trial... - From Publisher

REVIEW: When reading Rogue and the fallout from Faythe and her college years I never would've guessed that there as going to be a trial. I don't know why I just figured they'd try to cover it up. So having Faythe fight for her life against a corrupt council was just a bit shocking, but in the best way.

The story starts off with Marc & Faythe still apart due to the previous book and Faythe unwilling to marry. I have to admit that I loved that and loved that things weren't patched as we got into this book. I like that Marc got his 'balls back' and that it forced Faythe to make a choice. I like that things between these two aren't smoothed over and you know that they aren't the happy couple working together to knock back the common foe. Yes, they will fight together for the Pride and because while not together none of us readers think for a moment that Marc doesn't love Faythe or unwilling to do anything to save her. I just like that we don't have a 'happy' couple shoved down our throats. I like when authors do this with a series, sometimes if things are all 'yay' I find myself bored.

While the tension between Marc & Faythe was delicious nothing compared to the events of the trial. So many unexpected issues arose and none of them I predicted. And while I was reading I was constantly thinking, no way will that happen. They'll find a way around it, not gonna happen but it did! The unexpected did happen and while I was thrown, I loved it. This whole book kept me on my toes. I was throwing guesses left and right about how they could fix it and none of my ideas worked.

Love when a book and series can keep you guessing and wondering how things will be fixed. I feel like this is the book where Faythe realizes everything that her actions have caused. It's a slap in her face but it was needed. I don't think she fully understood the concessions her father was making, what it was doing to the Pride.

This book broke my heart, in the best ways and once again Vincent managed to keep the series going strong with new obstacles and some of the same ones.

RATING: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Rogue - Rachel Vincent

TITLE: Rogue

AUTHOR: Rachel Vincent

SUMMARY: I know that better than most. Since rejoining the Pride, I've made big decisions and even bigger mistakes: the kind paid for with innocent lives. As the first and only female enforcer, I have plenty to prove to my father, the Pride and myself. And with murdered toms turning up in our territory, I'm working harder than ever, though I always find the energy for a little after-hours recreation with Marc, my partner both on and off duty.

But not all my mistakes are behind me. We're beginning to suspect that the dead are connected to a rash of missing human women and that they can all be laid at my feet--two or four, take your pick. And one horrible indiscretion may yet cost me more than I can bear.... - From Publisher

REVIEW: Hello amazing sequel that tears things apart and made me full of happy!

In this sequel Vincent deserves lots and lots of cookies and shiny things. For those that have been following me for awhile know I like broken characters and when it comes to any sort of romance I like conflict and choices, hard choices and a path that is full of traps and pain. Vincent delivered all of that in this sequel. The character of Faythe goes through lots and I loved watching the little growth we got to see with this book. Yes, she's flawed but that's how I like my butt-kicking females, flawed. Yet, despite those flaws I didn't find Faythe a character that rubbed me the wrong way. She brings good ideas to the table and while she doesn't always have it figured out she's stubborn enough to not let the issue die until it's remedied.

With the second book of the Shifters series we got some fallout from Faythe's past. I feel like the first book really set us up for this storyline but it wasn't predictable where I found myself bored. There's always a web of complication to keeps things from going stale and the repercussions are heady and often leaves Faythe stumbling about trying to fix things. However, the girl could definitely use a class in explaining and learn to sometimes just suck it up and offer another solution. Of course, then she would've be her and we wouldn't get to the see the perfectly paced changes in her character.

I don't want to dive too much into the plot but I will say that this book sets up the rest of the series (which I've now fully read), which is explosive and amazing. I am so glad I picked this series up, I'm in love and addicted and now cannot wait for the final book of the series to be released this fall.

If you haven't already, go snag this series, you'll love.

RATING: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Stray - Rachel Vincent

TITLE: Stray

AUTHOR: Rachel Vincent

SUMMARY: I look like an all-American grad student. But I am a werecat, a shape-shifter, and I live in two worlds.

Despite reservations from my family and my Pride, I escaped the pressure to continue my species and carved out a normal life for myself. Until the night a Stray attacked.

I'd been warned about Strays--werecats without a Pride--constantly on the lookout for someone like me: attractive, female and fertile. I fought him off, but then learned two of my fellow tabbies had disappeared.

This brush with danger was all my Pride needed to summon me back...for my own protection. Yeah, right. But I'm no meek kitty. I'll take on whatever--and whoever--I have to in order to find my friends. Watch out, Strays--'cause I got claws, and I'm not afraid to use them.... - From Publisher

REVIEW: I've seen this book on various friends shelf over at Shelfari but for some reason never wanted to pick it up. I don't know my full reason for. I remember being worried that it was going to be a bit over the top. Female shape-shifter a bit ditzy, perhaps I should blame it on the summary, which I don't think does the book justice and makes it sounds bad. Or it could be that I'd read a review and combined with the summary I cringed and continued on, who knows what goes on in my crazy mind. Whatever had stopped me from initially picking up this book is obviously evil because I loved this book, in fact, I chewed through this book in a night and it was awesome!

The story kicks off with a good jump kick in regards to plot. I loved how we were tossed into our leads world, we got information but there was so much left up in the air. Kudos for authors not laying down the full 411 within the first 20 pages. There's gotta be some intrigue and mystery in regards to characters past that keep a reader engage. It's a tricky balance to keep us in the loop but at the same time not showing the full hand.

Generally I enjoyed the character of Faythe, there were a few times that I felt like she flipped and flopped a bit too much. However, I notice that often with the first book in a series the female leads aren't fully established and I'm always willing to give a little for what I consider to be missteps. All in all I enjoyed her, I liked how stubborn she was and how that often ended up getting her into trouble. The romance in the book was well written I only hope that as I read this series Vincent stays clear of the guy that Faythe ends up with doesn't become boring and mooshy. I loved all the tension in this book, the push & pull. (For those that have read my reviews know that I love tension and am always okay if the decision isn't made within the first book of the series. I love the tug-of-war.)

The biggest argh moment I had with this one was some of the heavier content, not that it was included in the book just that I'd like there to be more repercussion for them. I believe Briggs (author of the Mercy Thompson series) has been the only author that has really followed through with any sort of assault issues. I'm okay if an author treads there but I want it to be written properly and I felt like some of the characters bounced back too quickly. With that said I suppose one could argue that being a were gives a different take on it, but since I'm not a Were I hope in the second book we get a bit more of the consequences from this book.

All in all I loved this opening book and I've already got the rest of the series in my possession and I'm eagerly awaiting to read them. The series is sorta reminding me of Mercy Thompson series & Kitty Norville series, both of which I love.

RATING: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥