Boundary Lines (Boundary Magic #2) by Melissa F. Olson

Boundary Lines (Boundary Magic #2) 

This is an urban fantasy novel (Rated NC-17)

♥♥♥♥

(Four Boundary Hearts)

Book Summary

Fitting into the Old World isn’t going very well for Boulder boundary witch Allison “Lex” Luther: she may have earned a place in a vampire’s service, but now it seems as if every supernatural creature in town has found a reason to hate her. And when Lex and her partner are assigned to investigate the suspicious disappearance of two vampires during the night of the full moon, they find themselves with more questions than answers.

Was it murder…or mutiny?

The crusade for answers will lead Lex all over the Colorado Old World, from a prison cell for a broken werewolf to a haunted Denver brothel. And when Lex determines the responsible party, the hunt is just beginning: something has been awakened in Boulder, something as old and powerful as it is terrifying. Only the woman with death in her blood can stop what’s coming.

BUY LINK

My Review

I was disappointed with the first installment of this series, but this installment was much better. There was still some predictability. In fact, I knew who “done” it right away. However, the story was good enough I soldiered on.

I have to say, even though my loyalty is to Quinn and Lex, a small part of me crushes on Simon.

This story has a good message about overcoming old prejudices. It’s a solid story that answers some questions and leaving us with new ones. Which is a mark of any good series.

I have to say, with the story giving us information that takes place in the author’s other series, Scarlett Barnard, I miss that series and wonder if we will get more.

Overall, solid installment and I can’t wait for more.

Audio Review à Kate Rudd does a good job with narration.

My book boyfriend Quinn

View all my reviews

*Disclaimer - I am not the owner of this picture. I found it on the web for causal fun use on my blog for which I receive no compensation. If this picture belongs to you (you are the copyright owner) please let me know and I will remove it.

Boundary Crossed (Boundary Magic #1) by Melissa F. Olson

Boundary Crossed (Boundary Magic #1) by Melissa F. Olson

This is an adult urban fantasy novel (Rated PG-13)

♥♥♥1/2

(Three and half Witchy Hearts)

Book Summary

After her twin sister’s brutal murder, former US Army Sergeant Allison “Lex” Luther vowed to protect her niece, Charlie. So when two vampires try to kidnap the baby, it quickly turns into a fight to the death—Lex’s death, that is.

She wakes up to two shocking discoveries: she has miraculously survived the fight, and baby Charlie is a “null,” gifted with the ability to weaken supernatural forces...and a target for creatures who want to control that power. Determined to guarantee her niece’s safety, Lex makes a deal with the local vampires. She sets out with the mysterious—and undead—“fixer” Quinn to track down whoever’s responsible for the kidnapping, sharpening her newfound magic skills along the way. But the closer she gets to the truth, the more dangerous her powers become.

Boundary Crossed is a dark, thrilling journey into a world where the line between living and dead isn’t nearly as solid as it appears...

My Review

First let me say that the initial setup of the story/series is pretty strong. The backstory is interesting enough to draw you in. The author doesn’t dump everything out at you all at once. She gives you information along the way in such a fashion to keep you reading. Great Job there.

The romance is an undercurrent of the story to the point of almost non-existent. But that is to be expected in an urban fantasy novel. However, by the end, you can’t help but wonder where the two will go. There is almost a feeling of a love triangle, but trust me, it’s not there and I’m so glad for it.

MILD SPOILERS

Lex’s brother in law John is a total douchebag in my opinion. He’s interested in Lex and they have a minor fling (like sex and stuff) like right after or during her last year of high school. He admits he has feelings for her and she admits hers. However, she’s determined to enlist and does. While she’s away, he starts dating her twin sister. And I don’t care that they are fraternal twins. It’s her sister and worse her twin. John and her sister end up getting married and having a kid. If that’s not bad enough, her twin dies in the other series (Dead Spots). It’s almost a year after her death and John tells Lex she needs to move on and not think so much about her dead twin. AND that he’s moved on, he’s seeing someone. Total douche. I don’t like him at all, not that he’s not entitled to move on, but it’s the way it comes across in the story that bothers me.

There was one part where Lex is told about a party for her father. Immediately, I knew who Lex would end up going with even initially he’s going alone (yeah, right). And things don’t change until later in the story. I also knew what would happen to Charlie. And all the attempts to get Charlie, I can’t believe they didn’t anticipate and have protection for her. I thought that whole part was an epic fail

END OF SPOILER

I did figure out the who done it pretty early. I can’t believe that Lex didn’t figure it out.
The way the book ends, you can see that things have the potential of being an outstanding read. I sure hope so. Only, I want more of the Dead Spots series (whatever that series is called) and it looks like this author has moved on to this series. I’m sort of sad.

Audio Review

Kate Rudd does a good job. Her separation of voices was pretty easy to follow.

My book boyfriend Quinn.

View all my reviews

*Disclaimer - I am not the owner of this picture. I found it on the web for causal fun use on my blog for which I receive no compensation. If this picture belongs to you (you are the copyright owner) please let me know and I will remove it.

Hunter's Trail (Scarlett Bernard #3) by Melissa F. Olson

Hunter's Trail (Scarlett Bernard #3) by Melissa F. Olson

 

This is an adult urban fantasy novel (Rated PG-13)

 

 ♥♥♥♥

 (Four Null Hearts)
 

 

Book Summary

 

Actions have consequences—a lesson Scarlett Bernard is learning the hard way. As a “null,” Scarlett has always been able to negate the powers of the supernatural beings that surround her. But now her reckless decision to permanently change Eli from a werewolf to a human has left the Los Angeles werewolf pack in shambles, and upset the balance of power among the city’s supernatural factions. To make matters worse, Scarlett’s employers discover that a newly changed werewolf is running amok in the city. To catch the rogue werewolf, Scarlett will need help from both Eli and Detective Jesse Cruz of the LAPD…a situation that will force her to finally choose between them.

However, Scarlett and her friends aren’t the only ones on the hunt—someone else is chasing the wolf. Someone with no reservations about collateral damage. Now Scarlett and her allies must stop both the rogue wolf and the deadly hunter before the full moon rises and all hell breaks loose.

Filled with the same suspense and wit readers loved in Dead Spots and Trail of Dead, this may be Scarlett Bernard’s most harrowing adventure yet…

  

 

My Review

  

This book certainly held my attention, but I can’t say I was blown away by it either. Maybe it was because I was annoyed that Eli was in the story very little. That’s urban fantasy for you. Romance isn’t the key to the story only a side plot.

However, Jesse just really got on my nerves and I was tired of hearing about how beautiful he was throughout the story. I’m sure I’m in the minority, but I just didn’t feel he was the right guy for Scarlett even though I liked him well enough. The two of them together reminded me also of the Elemental Assassin series by Jennifer Estep in the beginning with Gin’s first cop boyfriend. The cop boyfriends want to like the girl but can’t ever get passed who or what they are or do. Anyway, I think Scarlett swooning over Jesse the majority of the book just got to me.

In the end, I did predict several things, but thankfully I was pleasantly surprised to be wrong about some. I don’t always like to be right. And I thought certain twist would happen in the end that didn’t.

All in all, it was a good read and made even better in the end.

Audio Review

Amy McFadden did a decent job with narration and accents. My only thing was she didn’t have enough differences in her voice for the wide cast, that when some characters were speaking, I wasn’t sure who was until the dialogue tag.

My book boyfriend Eli.

View all my reviews

*Disclaimer - I am not the owner of this picture. I found it on the web for causal fun use on my blog for which I receive no compensation. If this picture belongs to you (you are the copyright owner) please let me know and I will remove it.

Trail of Dead (Scarlett Bernard #2) by Melissa F. Olson

Trail of Dead (Scarlett Bernard #2) by Melissa F. Olson

 

This is an adult Urban Fantasy (Rated R)

 

 ♥♥♥♥

 (Four Pissed Hearts)
 

 

Book Summary

 

As a null, Scarlett Bernard possesses a rare ability to counteract the supernatural by instantly neutralizing spells and magical forces. For years she has used her gift to scrub crime scenes of any magical traces, helping the powerful paranormal communities of Los Angeles stay hidden. But after LAPD detective Jesse Cruz discovered Scarlett’s secret, he made a bargain with her: solve a particularly grisly murder case, and he would stay silent about the city’s unearthly underworld.

Now two dead witches are found a few days before Christmas, and Scarlett is once again strong-armed into assisting the investigation. She soon finds a connection between the murders and her own former mentor, Olivia, a null who mysteriously turned into a vampire and who harbors her own sinister agenda. Now Scarlett must revisit her painful past to find Olivia—unless the blood-drenched present claims her life first.

 

 

My Review 

 

With most paranormal or urban fantasy, somehow the danger directed at the main character somehow puts everyone she cares about at risk and this is what happens here.

Mild spoiler. I really didn’t like how Scarlett treated Eli and didn’t warn him at all about the impending danger. She warns everybody but him just sending him away without warning. Ugh. I was so pissed.

I’m not on the Jesse bandwagon and I’m not sure if I’ll continue with this series if they end up together. And it’s not that Eli liked her and she doesn’t like him. They’re freaking sleeping together for a long time, one night stands, but there is chemistry there.

Jesse doesn’t really appreciate who she is and isn’t interested in the supernatural world other than how it helps his job.

Enough of that. It was still a good book I didn’t regret reading.

Audio Review

Amy McFadden did a good job with narration.

My book boyfriend is Eli, but I’ll give you Jesse. (Yeah, I think I pick him to be too hot, lol)

 

View all my reviews

*Disclaimer - I am not the owner of this picture. I found it on the web for causal fun use on my blog for which I receive no compensation. If this picture belongs to you (you are the copyright owner) please let me know and I will remove it.

Dead Spots (Scarlett Bernard #1) by Melissa F. Olson

Dead Spots (Scarlett Bernard #1) by Melissa F. Olson

 

This is an adult Urban Fantasy novel (Rated R)

 

 ♥♥♥♥

 (Four Null Hearts)

 

 

Book Summary

 

Scarlett Bernard knows about personal space: step within ten feet of her, and any supernatural spells or demonic forces are instantly defused—vampires and werewolves become human again, and witches can’t get out so much as a “hocus pocus.” This special skill makes her a null and very valuable to Los Angeles’s three most powerful magical communities, who utilize her ability to scrub crime scenes clean of all traces of the paranormal to keep humanity, and the LAPD, in the dark.

But one night Scarlett’s late arrival to a grisly murder scene reveals her agenda and ends with LAPD’s Jesse Cruz tracking her down to strike a deal: he’ll keep quiet about the undead underworld if she helps solve the case. Their pact doesn’t sit well with Dash, the city’s chief bloodsucker, who fears his whole vampire empire is at stake. And when clues start to point to Scarlett, it’ll take more than her unique powers to catch the real killer and clear her name.

 

 

My Review 

I love crime/mystery fiction. Mix that with a little paranormal and I’m all over it. This has the usual cast of characters vamps and weres, however they had a somewhat different world building. But also that’s not what the main character is. She’s a null. She cancels out the supernatural making them human in her presence. That makes her a popular girl and dangerous at the same time.

This story is interesting and frankly, I thought I had it figured out who done it and didn't. That’s always a plus in my book. This story didn’t have much by way of romance but more like hints of it. It’s certainly more of a Urban Fantasy than Paranormal Romance. However, I wasn’t at all annoyed by the lack of romance because the author doesn’t create one then only to back away from it.

I look forward to more in this series and recommend.

Audio Review

Amy McFadden was hard to follow at first but I finally acclimated to her narration.

My Book Boyfriend Eli.

 

View all my reviews

*Disclaimer - I am not the owner of this picture. I found it on the web for causal fun use on my blog for which I receive no compensation. If this picture belongs to you (you are the copyright owner) please let me know and I will remove it.