Tuesday Into & Teaser: Storm Front

First Paragraph - First Chapter - Tuesday Intro is hosted by Bibliophile By the Sea. So for this book meme, I just have to post the first paragraph of the first chapter of either a book I am currently reading or about to start.

I'm going to be focusing on my current read Storm Front by Jim Butcher, which is the first book in The Dresden Files series.

"I heard the mailman approach my office door, half an hour earlier than usual. He didn't sound right. His footsteps fell more heavily, jauntily, and he whistled. A new guy. He whistled his way to my office door, then fell silent for a moment. Then he laughed.

Then he knocked.

I winced. My mail comes through the mail slot unless it's registered. I get a really limited selection of registered mail, and it's never good news. I got up out of my office chair and opened the door."

Teaser Tuesdays is hosted by Miz B of Should Be Reading. So for this book meme, I have to randomly turn to a page (or two) and choose a sentence to post here to tease you all with. I'm combining the two book memes and using the same book for both.

My teasers:

"Paranoid? Probably. But just because you're paranoid doesn't mean that there isn't an invisible demon about to eat your face." ~ pg8

"No wonder she had recovered from her terror enough to come back up the stairs and fire my gun at the demon." ~ pg 169

Storm Front: View on Amazon || View on Goodreads

What do you think? Would you keep reading?

Review: Moon Called by Patricia Briggs

Mercedes "Mercy" Thompson is a talented Volkswagen mechanic living in the Tri-Cities area of Washington. She also happens to be a walker, a magical being with the power to shift into a coyote at will. Mercy's next-door neighbor is a werewolf. Her former boss is a gremlin. And she's fixing a bus for a vampire. This is the world of Mercy Thompson, one that looks a lot like ours but is populated by those things that go bump in the night. And Mercy's connection to those things is about to get her into some serious hot water...

Reading Format: Kindle eBook
Year Read: 2014
Star Rating: 5 stars

This book was so much fun! Mercy is a fantastic character. She isn't the stereotypical female which I love: she's strong, knows what she wants, doesn't take shit from anyone, she is a mechanic, and she is a purple belt in karate. All this does mean that she sometimes gets herself in to a spot of bother.

Mercy is a shape shifter, with Native American roots, and she shifts in to a coyote. I really liked that the author chose something different other than the usual vampire and werewolf supernaturals. Don't get me wrong, I love both, but it makes for a refreshing change to have something different as the main character. There are both vampires and werewolves featured heavily in the book though with some really interesting characters. Oh and there are Fae and Witches in it too.

So a lone, newly made teenage werewolf turns up at Mercy's garage looking for work. One day, she finds him being held at gun point and coerced to go with another newbie werewolf and a human. Mercy shifts and intervenes, killing the werewolf in the process. The Alpha of the local pack comes to help clear up the mess and takes the new werewolf in. But then things go a bit tits up. Adam, the Alpha of the pack, is attacked in his own home and left to die and his daughter is kidnapped. Mercy saves Adam and then the hunt is on to discover what happened, who has taken his daughter and to get her back.

So when I read most Urban Fantasy books, I'm wondering when the obligatory romance will start. However with this book, there was nothing until the last chapter, maybe even just the last 5 pages, which was a blessing in my opinion. I have got nothing against romance in books as long as it is not the main focus. Women do not need to be in a relationship to be complete. That's one of the reasons I like Mercy!

The front cover put me off reading the book for a while. I really can't work out who the cover is trying to attract. I think the readership of this series is predominantly female because Mercy is a strong female character but then why the scantily clad Mercy on the front cover?!? To encourage men to read the series? Who knows what the publishers think!

I will definitely be reading the rest of the series. I've added them all to my ever growing wishlist!

Moon Called: View on Amazon || View on Goodreads

Related Posts:
Moon Called First Lines & Teasers

Tuesday Intro and Teasers: Moon Called

First Paragraph - First Chapter - Tuesday Intro is hosted by Bibliophile By the Sea.

I'm going to be focusing on my current read Moon Called by Patricia Briggs which is the first book in the Mercy Thompson series. I've heard so many good things about this series so I couldn't wait to get started with it.

"I didn't realize he was a werewolf at first. My nose isn't at its best when surrounded by axle grease and burnt oil - and it's not like there are a lot of stray werewolves running around. So when someone made a polite noise near my feet to get my attention I thought he was a customer.

I was burrowed under the engine compartment of a Jetta, settling a rebuilt transmission into its new home. One of the drawbacks in running a one-woman garage was that I had to stop and start every time the phone rang or a customer stopped by. It made me grumpy - which isn't a good way to deal with customers. My faithful office boy and tool rustler had gone off to college, and I hadn't replaced him yet - it's hard to find someone who will do all the jobs I don't want to."

In addition to the Tuesday Intro, I have decided to take part in Teaser Tuesdays, which is hosted by Miz B of Should Be Reading. I'm going to combine the two book memes and use the same book for both to make things a bit easier for myself.

My teasers from pg 214:

"The pack is coming," I told Samuel, as we cruised slowly by Warren's house for a look-see.

"I don't know how much you remember from while you were changing, but Warren called for help."

Moon Called: View on Amazon || View on Goodreads

What do you think? Would you keep reading?

I did keep reading and I'm about 65% done with it and I am thoroughly enjoying it. Watch out for the review once I'm done!