Hmm, how many of us with animals have had this particular experience? 
(We have one particular cat who likes to chew on books. We are quickly breaking her of that habit.)
I haven’t been doing a whole lot of reading lately. I’ve been fighting off the Killer Death Flu, and this one includes bouts of extreme vertigo. Reading isn’t exactly easy when the words on the page are doing cartwheels, y’know?
Books I’ve read quasi-recently, however… 
Marked by P.C. and Kristen Cast
I hadn’t expected to like this book, honestly. I’ve never been that fond of the majority of YA, but I grew up reading lots of preachy self-righteous crap marketed to kids. Thank gods they seem to be finally steering away from that.
Without going into a full-out review, I zoomed through this book in one sitting and then went after the others (which my husband had read, and we had to make a trip back to the bookstore in order to get them That Very Day). I love that she never goes the route you expect. The first book read as a typical YA high school story, only with vampires and the paranormal, until close to the end. That intrigued me enough to keep reading — and let me tell you, the twists and turns will have you on one wild ride. I love it when an author can manage to completely, totally surprise me — and yet keep it believable and realistic. 
One Foot in the Grave by Jeaniene Frost
I read the first book in this series last year and complained quite a bit about it. While an excellent urban fantasy debut, it was marketed and promoted as a “paranormal romance”, and the ending? Is so totally not a HEA.
However!
Bones (the hero) is back in book two, and the romance? Hawt. Hawt. Hawt. I was very dubious picking this book up after the disappointment of the first — once bitten, twice shy, and all that — but I am very glad I did. This manages to be both a touching romance and a paranormal thriller with a kick-ass heroine who doesn’t take names.
Magic Lost, Trouble Found by Lisa Shearin
I picked this up on a whim after seeing it in the bookstore. While it’s marketed as a light fantasy novel, it’s really not that light of a story. The plot is actually incredibly dark, yet there are humorous moments to keep it from becoming overwhelming — rather like Anne Bishop’s Black Jewels books. I really don’t know why they chose to market it as they did.
I gobbled this and its sequel down in a matter of days. For me and books, that’s pretty quick. The characters are all very vibrant and real, even the villains, which is all too unusual. I adore Raine, and both the potential romantic partners (who also must aid in her quest, or Big Bad is going to happen) are fascinating in their own way. If you like high fantasy with an urban fantasy feel, I’d definitely give this a shot. 
Those are my recent favorites. What’s yours?
July 9th, 2008 at 1:31 pm
ooh I picked up magic lost on a recent ebook binge!
think the cast’s book would be ok for my 11yo?
sorry for the horrific typing…feeding baby with one hand, typing with the other.
July 9th, 2008 at 1:49 pm
Hmm… there’s a scene towards the beginning of the first book where the heroine walks in on a conflict between a girlfriend and the guy that’s trying to break up with her. She’s, err, trying to give him a blow-job to convince him that he wants her.
It’s not explicit — you find worse in Piers Anthony’s Xanth or Mercedes Lackey’s Valdemar — but I figured I’d mention it JIC. Might be one you want to read first just to check. I wouldn’t worry about it, but I’m much more lax than most when it comes to sex in books.
July 9th, 2008 at 2:24 pm
I’m so glad you enjoyed my books!
Lisa
July 9th, 2008 at 7:14 pm
I loved Marked! Then again, I really enjoy reading YA just because it’s a whole different experience from most of my own work.
July 10th, 2008 at 2:01 pm
Who labeled Jeaniene Frost as paranormal romance?! She is such an awesome Urban Fantasy novelist and there is no way she should be considered in the PR genre. You’re right, there isn’t a HEA in the first novel, and the second one ends with a lot of problems on the horizon (although they are going to be fun problems).
I love this series!
July 10th, 2008 at 2:42 pm
Jackie, I am shelved and marketed as paranormal romance. Who did it? My publisher :). Publishers have to pick one or the other for shelving reasons, and with all the romance in my books - plus the HEA I’ve promised readers at the series’ conclusion - my publisher felt paranormal romance best fit the bill. I consider my series to be blend of paranormal romance *and* urban fantasy, or urban fantasy romance, which is what a Romance Junkies reviewer aptly called them. Since I promise a HEA for the series and my books deal heavily with the relationship between Cat and Bones, I feel very comfortable shelved in romance. But yes, with a storyline spreading over multiple books, and a lot of external plots/conflicts in addition to my hero and heroine’s relationship, my books skirt the urban fantasy genre, too. Personally, I’m fine with either label. I love both genres, so I take both as a compliment.
With a heroine who doesn’t fit into either world she’s a part of (the human or the vampire one), I do find it amusingly ironic that my books don’t fit neatly under one genre label, however :).
Novelty Girls, glad you liked the book!
July 12th, 2008 at 9:33 pm
I super like the covers of all of those. I may need to check those out. I don’t read…well I’ve never read urban fantasy. I might have to pick up 1 or 2 and see if it strikes my fancy.