Book Review: The Devil to Pay

The road to Hell is paved with good intentions and bad tequila. Shannon McKee finds herself at the end of her rope, and she offers her soul to whoever can save her first.

Unfortunately, she sends that request to both agencies. Shannon’s plea is answered immediately by two men who couldn’t be more different from one another. Yet they share a bond and an affection for the stubborn Miss McKee that even they don’t understand.

When Heaven and Hell demand their payment, Shannon has no choice but to submit. No matter who gets her soul, she’s not getting out of this alive.

My lovely friend Maria Zannini sent me a copy of her new book, The Devil To Pay. Thank you! (She didn't ask me to pimp review it.)

This is Maria's first foray into indie publishing and I think she nailed it with a great cover, clean editing and formatting, and her usual amazing storytelling. The Devil to Pay is the first book in her Second Chances series.

At novella length (about 55 pages) there wasn't an overwhelming amount of world-building, just enough to ground the reader in the story, but what there was Maria peppered throughout the narrative and made every word work for its space in the story. Amazing characters but because this is the start of a series we don't learn everything about them.

We're pulled into the story by a situation I think most of us can relate to in this economy and we care about Shannon, worry about how she's going to get out of her predicament. Delicious hero number one walks in. Just when you think maybe Shannon has an answer...well, then it gets complicated :)

The story came to a conclusion, all the questions for THAT plot were dealt with, and the series was nicely set up. Still, I was left a bit disappointed in the ending. I can't completely put my finger on it. Perhaps it is that the romance wasn't resolved. But I have faith in the story and trust Maria. After all, this is the set-up of a series, and oh, there are so many ways things can go!

As a self-published series, I'm crossing fingers the wait won't be long between releases. What are you waiting for? Go pick up your copy of The Devil to Pay today :)

The Devil to Pay

My lovely friend Maria Zannini has a new book out, The Devil To Pay.

The road to Hell is paved with good intentions and bad tequila. Shannon McKee finds herself at the end of her rope, and she offers her soul to whoever can save her first.

Unfortunately, she sends that request to both agencies. Shannon’s plea is answered immediately by two men who couldn’t be more different from one another. Yet they share a bond and an affection for the stubborn Miss McKee that even they don’t understand.

When Heaven and Hell demand their payment, Shannon has no choice but to submit. No matter who gets her soul, she’s not getting out of this alive.

This is Maria's first foray into indie publishing and I'm so excited for her! Isn't that cover stunning?! I can't wait to start reading :) The Devil to Pay is the first book of the Second Chances series. Forget everything you thought you knew about Heaven and Hell. You ain’t seen nothin’ yet.

Congrats Maria!

Happy Release Day

The only place left to hide was in the past.

Fire Elemental Leda and her plainfolk companion, Grey, are running from a man obsessed with creating a creature who can read thoughts. Convinced that Leda can produce this unnatural child, he has threatened to hunt her down to the ends of the earth—and he has kept his word. Their only escape is a one-way trip through the time portal.

With death on their heels, salvation appears in the form of two strangers. Seemingly ordinary people, Tom and Cassandra assure Leda and Grey that they are here to help. They claim they are repaying a debt—Leda and Grey helped them once, 1200 years ago.

The trip through the portal offers no escape, as Leda and Grey discover that evil transcends time. Can their presence in the past stop the eventual apocalypse that forms their future?

My friend Maria Zannini has a new book, Apocalypse Rising, coming out today. It's the long awaited (at least for me *grin*) sequel to Touch of Fire which I reviewed here.

What are you waiting for? Go grab yourself a copy, you can't go wrong with a Maria Zannini read *grin*

Book Review -- True Believers

Something is killing off immortals, one by one.

Taelen Jessit is an alien emissary on a mission sanctioned by the U.S. government to search for ancient gods. His hunt leads him to a dig headed by archaeologist Rachel Cruz. When his military entourage forces Rachel's team out of the cave they were exploring, a flash flood hits the riverbed and threatens to tear them through the ravine.

In the aftermath of the flood, Taelen witnesses the incredible healing of Rachel's broken ankle and believes his gods have blessed her. He is inexplicably drawn to her, and she to him.

What Taelen doesn't know is that Rachel is Nephilim—a descendant of the gods his people worship—masquerading as a human to find the god-killer and destroy it. Rachel needs help to bring down the tech that is manipulating the Earth's magnetosphere and frying her people alive. She's given Taelen her heart, but can she trust him with her secret?

My friend Maria Zannini latest release is True Believers,and while I'm likely bias, she didn't give this to me as a review copy -- bought it with Mark's hard earned money, LOL.  Maria called this her red-headed step-child :snort: how could I not read it?

True Believers is a strong traditional sci-fi mixed with a unique romance based in our near future. Aliens have lived on earth for years masquerading as humans. So not a lot of world building needed yet what was needed for the alien culture, etc. was neatly woven into the story becoming a facet of the plot more than actual world building or back story. Kudos!

This was a thrilling, fast-paced read that engrossed me from the first page.  An epic tale blending sci-fi technology, military and political one-upmanship, aliens, and romance.  I re-read it to write this review and I'm still not sure how Zannini pulled it all off but she did!  She even had me cheering on the aliens to grind the humans to dust. 

Zannini's characters are strong -- not a doormat among them, male or female -- motivations and fears are clear.  Even the computers were fully developed characters (hope you plan to bring Bubba back Maria!).  Rachel and Taelen have a wonderful chemistry.  Their romance has the usual conflicts:  meddling family, demanding job, secrets that threatened their budding romance, extra appendages...  ;)  In the end, they overcome the obstacles, grow, learn to trust each other, becoming partners -- equals.

A must read for sci-fi, fantasy, and/or romance fans.  You can't go wrong with a Maria Zannini book, of course, I'm bias.

True Believers

My friend Maria Zannini has a new book out today, True Believers.

Something is killing off immortals, one by one.

Taelen Jessit is an alien emissary on a mission sanctioned by the U.S. government to search for ancient gods. His hunt leads him to a dig headed by archaeologist Rachel Cruz. When his military entourage forces Rachel's team out of the cave they were exploring, a flash flood hits the riverbed and threatens to tear them through the ravine.

In the aftermath of the flood, Taelen witnesses the incredible healing of Rachel's broken ankle and believes his gods have blessed her. He is inexplicably drawn to her, and she to him.

What Taelen doesn't know is that Rachel is Nephilim—a descendant of the gods his people worship—masquerading as a human to find the god-killer and destroy it. Rachel needs help to bring down the tech that is manipulating the Earth's magnetosphere and frying her people alive. She's given Taelen her heart, but can she trust him with her secret?

Can't wait to get my hands on it *g*

Book Review -- Touch of Fire

Back during LB & LI I won Touch of Fire from Maria Zannini. Genre is Romance (man-woman) with a sub-genre of fantasy. (Published April 2009 by Samhain Publishing -- 264 pages)

Between mage and man lies fire.

Leda has been ordered by the House of Ilia to use her fae gifts to find an alchemist's bible, no matter what the cost. In a world where technology has been replaced by Elemental magic, this book is more dangerous than any spell or potion.

A ragged scrap of parchment is Leda's only clue and it leads her to the last man known to have had the book -- a savagely handsome ex-soldier turned scavenger. Greyhawke Tams. He'll serve her needs nicely, in both her quest, and her bed.

The last thing Grey remembers is a bar brawl leaving him flat on his face. When he awakes, his situation hasn't improved. He's been bound in service to a contemptuous little fire mage with luscious curves and a deceptively innocent face. Grey's not fooled -- he's hated the Elementals ever since he lost his younger brother to their brutal rites of passage.

But something about Leda tangles his brain faster than any woman he's ever known. And soon it becomes clear she needs more than his 'services.' A barbarous overlord wants that book and he's willing to shatter Leda -- body and spirit -- to get it.

She needs his protection. Whether she wants it or not.

This book is Zannini's debut novel and she hit it out of the park. Even Mark, my non book reading hubby, liked it!

The world is unique and fully developed. I loved the references to the pre-apocalyptic world. Zannini wove a fascinating plot full of suspense and I was pulled into the story from the first sentence.

Leda is both sardonic and feisty. Her eventual partner, Greyhawk Tams is equally strong minded. One of the joys of the book is watching their relationship develop. The tension between these two characters is simply captivating.

This book ends with a hook that demands a sequel and Zannini can't write it fast enough. (No pressure or anything Maria, LOL)