Urban Fantasy discussion

With the holidays quickly approaching, I'm going to do the voting process for December and January's groups reads a little earlier than we have in past months. We'll take the first 14 book title nominations and I'll split them up in to two groups of seven in the Polls. The winner from each group will be our Group Read for December and then January.

The rules for submitting a book title:
1) One submission per UF member (regardless of whether we are nominating for more than one month at a time).
2) Please submit the title, author, and a brief description of the book.
3) UF titles are preferred, but Supernatural, Sci-Fi, PNR, and Fantasy are acceptable too.
4) It must be the first book in a series or a stand-alone title.
NOTE = If the title is in a series, but can be read without previous knowledge of the earlier books, feel free to submit it.
5) If we have already read and discussed the first book in the series as a group, the second title can be submitted, etc.

You can view our Group Read History here.

We'll go to a total of 14 nominations or an end date of Monday, November 16th - whichever comes first.

Please start nominating titles... and newcomers, please don't be shy - we would love to hear from you!

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DECEMBER:
1. Would-Be Witch by Kimberly Frost
2. Tempting Danger by Eileen Wilks
3. Blood Magic by Jennifer Lyon
4. Being Familiar With a Witch by Sapphire Phelan
5. Covet by J.R. Ward
6. Night Child by Jes Battis
7. Eyes Of Crow by Jeri Smith-Ready

JANUARY:
8. Nightlife by Rob Thurman
9. Storm Front by Jim Butcher
10. Some Girls Bite by Chloe Neill
11. The Scent of Shadows The First Sign of the Zodiac by Vicki Pettersson
12. Soulless by Gail Carriger
13. Dead To Me by Anton Strout
14. Magic to the Bone by Devon Monk

Would-Be Witch by Kimberly Frost



The family magic seems to have skipped over Tammy Jo Trask. All she gets are a few untimely visits from long-dead, smart-mouthed family ghost Edie. But when her locket—an heirloom that happens to hold Edie’s soul—is stolen in the midst of a town-wide crime spree, it’s time for Tammy to find her inner witch.

After a few experiences with her dysfunctional magic, Tammy turns to the only person in small-town Duval, Texas, who can help: the very rich and highly magical Bryn Lyons. He might have all the answers—and a 007 savoir faire to boot—but the locket isn’t the only heirloom passed down in Tammy’s family. She also inherited a warning: stay away from Lyons.

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Tempting Danger by Eileen Wilks

National bestselling author Eileen Wilks draws readers into a bold new world where the magical and mundane co-exist in an uneasy alliance--and a cop balanced on her own knife-edged struggle is their only hope against a cold-blooded killer.

Lily Yu is a San Diego police detective investigating a series of grisly murders that appear to be the work of a werewolf. To hunt down the killer, she must infiltrate the clans. Only one man can help her - a werewolf named Rule Turner, a prince of the lupi, whose charismatic presence disturbs Lily. Rule has his own reasons for helping the investigation - reasons he doesn't want to share with Lily. Logic and horror demand she keep her distance, but the attraction between them is immediate and devastating - and beyond human reason. Now in a race to fend off evil, Lily finds herself in uncharted territory, tested as never before, and, at her back, a man she's not sure she can trust...


I searched the previous group reads and didn't see this so I thought I would nominate :D

Blood Magic (Wing Slayer Hunters, Book 1)
by Jennifer Lyon


Thought this one would be good for December as someone could nominate Book 2 for January as comes out middle of November.....
Synopsis
THE HUNTER AND THE HUNTED

In the days when powerful witches used their magic to shield humanity from demons, their allies and guardians were a group of men gifted with preternatural abilities of their own–the witch guardians. But when a band of witches traded their humanity for demonic power, the ancient bond was broken, and the guardians became the hunters.

Darcy MacAlister knows nothing of demons or magic. But this beautiful young woman is about to discover the truth about her past . . . and her future. For she is a witch–not just any witch, but the key to breaking the curse that has plagued witches and the men who hunt them. For if a hunter kills an innocent witch by mistake, the price is no less than a piece of his soul.

Axel Locke, gorgeous leader of the Wing Slayer Hunters, has sworn never to shed the blood of the earth witches who have resisted the temptation of demonic power. But when his sister is cursed by a demon witch, he discovers that Darcy MacAlister may hold the cure–if she can master her newfound powers in time. When the chase begins and Axel and Darcy come face-to-face, this hunter must weigh his soul against his honor–and against his heart.

Being Familiar With a Witch by Sapphire Phelan


Ms. Phelan does a very thorough job with her story, establishing a credible background for her characters and providing a wonderful world for them to inhabit. She sets her scenes carefully and paints a lush picture, very visual and true to her storyline. While we are meant to feel Charun’s impatience and frustration with the time delay in finally meeting his mate, we are also witness to the full scope of Ms. Phelan’s talents when she describes that initial encounter. Charun is a very unusual individual, and Ms. Phelan certainly has fun with his character and that of his witch, Tina. Since Charun started as a succubus, his behavior and the “sprit” of the book are as sexual as one would expect with such beings included, perhaps this book should come with a warning label as parts can be quite steamy. The sex is not all gratuitous even though it is fairly graphic and quite plentiful for a short novel. Luckily, Being Familiar With a Witch does have a detailed plotline, one that it manages to stay faithful to ‘til the very end. It is this steadfastness that makes the book an enjoyable read, and one definitely I can recommend to anyone with an adventurous spirit.

Being Familiar with a Witch was a wild ride from start to finish. It kept me ensnared from the moment I started to read it. I cannot believe how it ends, it will keep you in shock and wondering just what is going to happen next.

Sapphire Phelan is a wonderful author and I'm looking forward to finding more by her soon. I just know that you enjoy Being Familiar with a Witch as much as I did.



Tina doesn't know she's a witch. It will take Charun, her demon Familiar, to convince her to make love with him and let loose her witch powers.

For if she doesn't, then with the demon army about to bring Armageddon to the Mortal Realm on Halloween, she won't stand a chance in Hell.

For December: Covet- Author: J.R. Ward.

COVET
by J.R. Ward
October 2009

Redemption isn’t a word Jim Heron knows much about—his specialty, both personally and professionally, is revenge, and to him, sin is all relative. But everything changes when he becomes a fallen angel and is charged with saving the souls of seven people from the seven deadly sins. His weapon: the power of love. His enemy: the darkest of evil. And failure is not an option.

Vincent Di Pietro has surrendered himself to his business—until fate intervenes in the form of a tough-talking, Harley-riding, self-professed savior, and a woman who will make him question his destiny. With an ancient evil ready to claim him, Vin has to work with a fallen angel not only to win his beloved over…but to redeem his very soul.

Night Child by Jes Battis



FIRST IN A NEW SERIES. Enter the night world of the OSI... OCCULT SPECIAL INVESTIGATOR Tess Corday, Occult Special Investigator for Vancouveras Mystical Crime Lab, is used to seeing dead vampires. But thereas nothing ordinary about this case. Not the lab results on the cause of death. Not the teenage girl living at the address found in the vampas pocket, who may well be in thrall to a demon. And certainly not Lucian Agrado, the necromancer who is liaison to the vampire community. Agrado is supposed to be part of the solution, but Tess suspects he might be part of the problem. Soon she finds herself in the middle of a paranormal conspiracy that will change her life foreveraand possibly end it.

Darcy, please review the rules for submitting titles... they must either be first in the series or stand-alones. Thanks.

Sorry Theresa!! I took it off.

Darcy, would you like to suggest a different book? Perhaps the first in that series? :)

Because apparently I can't read (LOL) I will go with this one. Eyes of Crow by Jeri Smith-Ready.

I'll nominate Nightlife by Rob Thurman, because I've heard good things about it and it's been on my tbr list forever.

"In New York, there's a troll under the Brooklyn Bridge, a boggle in Central Park, and a beautiful vampire in a penthouse on the Upper East Side. Of course, most humans are oblivious to this, but Cal Leandros is only half-human. His father's dark lineage is the stuff of nightmares-and he and his entire otherworldly race are after Cal.

He and his half-brother Niko have managed to stay a step ahead for three years, but now Cal's dad has found them again. And Cal is about to learn why they want him, why they've always wanted him: He is the key to unleashing their hell on earth. The fate of the human world will be decided in the fight of Cal's life... "

Storm Front - Jim Butcher

Some Girls Bite by Chloe Neill. Merit is turned into a vampire against her will. Ethan is the vampire that changed her. Merit struggles with her attraction towards Ethan as well as her animosity for changing her.

The Scent of Shadows The First Sign of the Zodiac by Vicki Pettersson

The book's heroine, Joanna Archer, has spent the years following a brutal attack learning martial arts and trolling Sin City, Nev., for trouble. On the eve of her 25th birthday, she finds it in the form of a peculiar date who looks like a gaunt banker one moment and like hell spawn the next. Joanna fights her way out of his grasp, but her close encounter is only the beginning. Before long, she finds herself caught up in a world where a superhuman few—the Light—fight evil from the Shadow realm, a world in which she's recognized as the "Kairos," a prophesied warrior made up of both Shadow and Light who's destined to help Light prevail. Pettersson centers her story around the signs of the Zodiac, putting an imaginative spin on a familiar setup.

I'm gong to nominate Soulless by Gail Carriger.

Summary from Amazon.com:
Alexia Tarabotti is laboring under a great many social tribulations. First, she has no soul. Second, she's a spinster whose father is both Italian and dead. Third, she was rudely attacked by a vampire, breaking all standards of social etiquette.

Where to go from there? From bad to worse apparently, for Alexia accidentally kills the vampire -- and then the appalling Lord Maccon (loud, messy, gorgeous, and werewolf) is sent by Queen Victoria to investigate.

With unexpected vampires appearing and expected vampires disappearing, everyone seems to believe Alexia responsible. Can she figure out what is actually happening to London's high society? Will her soulless ability to negate supernatural powers prove useful or just plain embarrassing? Finally, who is the real enemy, and do they have treacle tart?

I suggest by Anton Strout. It sounds like a great urban fantasy read.

"A new urban fantasy featuring a man working on the right side of law-with talents that come from left field.

Psychometry-the power to touch an object and divine information about its history-has meant a life of petty crime for Simon Canderous, but now he's gone over to the good side. At New York's underfunded and (mostly) secret Department of Extraordinary Affairs, he's learning about red tape, office politics, and the basics of paranormal investigation. But it's not the paperwork that has him breathless.

After Simon spills his coffee on (okay, through) the ghost of a beautiful woman-who doesn't know she's dead-he and his mentor plan to find her killers. But Simon's not prepared for the nefarious plot that unfolds before him, involving politically correct cultists, a large wooden fish, a homicidal bookcase, and the forces of Darkness, which kind of have a crush on him."

How about Devon Monk, MAGIC TO THE BONE.

From Publishers Weekly
Starred Review. In this clever and compulsively readable debut, set in a magical analog of Portland, Ore., Allie Beckstrom is a Hound, able to trace a spell back to its caster. When a young boy is injured by a spell, Allie tracks it back to her estranged father, Daniel, a ruthless businessman who protests his innocence. Then someone magically disguised as Allie kills Daniel. Allie and sexy corporate operative Zayvion race against time to find the answers. Magic is common in this alternate universe, but using it always incurs a physical or mental cost, rendering it a commodity to be bought and sold, used and abused. Allie's internal and external struggles are brilliantly and tightly written, creating a multifaceted character who will surprise, amuse, amaze and absorb readers. (Nov.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Her 3rd in the series was just released this month.

Happy reading all!

NOMINATIONS ARE CLOSED... POLLS WILL BE UP SOON.