Wednesday 27 May 2015

REVIEW ANTE UP BY AMANDA CARLSON

Today has turned out to be a review day of 
Sin City Novella's by Amanda Carlson
First is Ante Up

Title: Ante Up
Series: Sin City Collector's Novella's
Author: Amanda Carlson 
Release Date: 18th August 2014

BLURB from Goodreads
Diesel Jones is a shifter who has issues with the moon, but he quickly finds that Sofia Cabrera, a clever witch who just moved in to town, is his only hope to reach his goal of becoming a Collector. When they pair up to take down an incubus, she not only saves his life, but wins his heart in the process…


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INITIAL THOUGHTS
I have managed to fall into a bit of a reading slump, I think it's because I have recently read some brilliant books, which I know is a good thing but then I can't decide what to read next. I also think after reading a book I've loved I can be a little over critical and if I am not captured by the plot of my next read quickly enough, I become bored. So I sat down and started thinking about what book series had books left I hadn't read.  I immediately thought of J.A. Belfield but there's no new Holloway Pack due out at this time, then the next series that came to mind was the Jessica McClain series by Amanda Carlson, but the next installment is not due out yet so I finally decided to try reading this title which is also written by Amanda Carlson.

MY REVIEW
I received a free e-copy of this title directly from the author, in exchange for my honest review. At the time of receiving the book I was on one of my Post Apocalyptic/Dystopian reading marathons so never quite got around to reading this one. Well the title sprung to mind when I was searching for a book to read and I found this one and decided I was way overdue reading it.
The cover features a female, holding some casino chips, with a full moon and a lightning striking in the background of the cover too. There is also the Vegas skyline on the cover too, which does attract the eye to the cover. I usually hate endorsements by other authors on the front of book covers but hey, the one on this cover is by Gena Showalter! I also love the byline of "What's Collected in Vegas, stays in Vegas". 
So would the cover make me pick this book up from a book store shelf? I think it would make me want to know more about the book enough to pick it up and read the blurb. The real thing that would grab my attention would be the authors name as I do consider myself to be an Amanda Carlson fan.
The book begins with Louie Fiore, the right hand man of the boss of the SCC (Sin City Collectors) giving Diesel a job to collect a succubi called #Damien and an incubi called Ginger, that are brother and sister. The job is a big deal for Diesel for more than one reason. Firstly the collection is to be carried out during a full moon cycle which since an incident many years ago when he was a child, Damien struggles to stay in control during the full moon cycle. Secondly Diesel hates succubi and incubi, he refers to them as sex demons. The reason he hates them is due to the very same incident that began his problems with the moon. Also Diesel's father was killed in that incident too.
So Diesel has to do this collection and do it well to prove himself worthy of his SCC licence, As a back up he has his brother tag along, as the only person who can keep him calm during his moon episodes. This novella has the plot about the collection and then there's Diesel and Sofia Cabrera, a new witch in town and their attraction for each other. 
As I have said I do consider myself a fan of Amanda Carlson's writing, the pace of the novella or book is just right. There's always plenty going on in Amanda's book. I should say that they are 18+ as they do have some Adult content within them.
The job Diesel is given begins as a simple enough collection with a small twist, but  rapidly turns into a long awaited revenge, and gathering information to prove someone's innocence. The mission ends up involving a group of collectors each with their own unique abilities that are needed for the collection to go up against The Sumerian, a powerful group of succubi/incubi. The characters featured in this novella are Diesel, a shifter, his younger brother Luke also a shifter. Newcomer character, Sofia Cabrera is a master witch. Then there's the two sex demons that are the subjects of  the collection. Ginger Elliot is a mysterious beautiful woman and her brother, Damien Stamos Elliot  is a handsome charmer who is quite high in the order of importance of the dangerous Sumerian's. It ends up with a group of six supernatural's trying to take down The Sumerians and bring in Damien.
There's lots of action, near fatalities, and the odd escapee, so it's a "busy" read with plenty happening all the time. As the six supernaturals pair off, Luke is put with Ginger and it looks like they end up with their own novella in All In the next Sin City Collector's Novella by Amanda Carlson.
So did I enjoy the novella? I did enjoy the book, I loved the interactions between the different characters. The verbal sparring between Neve and newcomer Sofia. The friendship between Jake and Diesel is also shown well.  Would I recommend the novella? Yes, I am really enjoying this novella series. The idea of the SCC is brilliant!
Would I want to read more in this series of novella's? Definitely, I've just bought the Sin City Collectors novella #5 to read about more Luke Jones and Ginger Elliot, and how they manage to track Damien Stamos Elliot.
Would I want to read other titles by Amanda Carlson? I have already read other titles by Amanda and am (im)patiently (lol) awaiting the next book in the Jessica McClain series.



OTHER SIN CITY COLLECTORS NOVELLA'S
by
Amanda Carlson

Title: Aces Wild
Series: Sin City Collectors
Author: Amanda Carlson
Release Date: 29th May 2014

BLURB from Goodreads
Nevada Hamilton has learned a few things since becoming a Sin City Collector, and staying away from vampires is one of them. After botching her first Collection, the vamp getting away after causing as much damage as possible, she hasn’t been assigned to another one since.

But when she receives her next playing card, she’s in for a surprise. Not only is a vampire her next target, but they’ve paired her up to make sure she gets the job done right. Refusing a Collection is not an option, but when she discovers who she’s working with, making the mission as difficult as possible for her new partner becomes her top priority…

Being a hellhound isn’t enough to protect Jake Troubadour from Nevada Hamilton, no matter how thick his skin is. Finding out he has to work with the beautiful dhampir, after not seeing her for three years, is a low blow—but Jake is a professional. He takes his Collections as seriously as he does running his bar. He’ll do whatever it takes to get the job done, but after that, he’s out. No more chances for the girl who wrecked his bike and scarred his soul so long ago. But even with his heart dead set against it, this hellhound quickly finds he’s not immune to love after all.


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Title: All In
Series: Sin City Collectors
Author: Amanda Carlson
Release Date: 17th November 2014

BLURB from Goodreads
Ginger Elliot is a succubus on the run. She’s in danger of being Collected, but her first priority is to find her brother. Even though she operates the biggest spy network in the supernatural world, it may not be enough to free her from the crimes she’s been accused of committing. It doesn’t help that she hasn’t fed in months, and keeping her deteriorating condition from the sexy shifter who’s accompanying her is getting trickier by the hour. 

Luke Jones is on a mission to save the succubus he’s fallen for—not only from her brother—but from herself. The two have been on the incubus’s trail for weeks and finally have him backed into a corner. Luke knows the succubus is in trouble, but he has no idea how to help her. In the end, letting go of his painful past is the only way he can save her.


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