Frost Burned by Patricia Briggs

Frost Burned (Mercy Thompson book 7)

by Patricia Briggs

Book Blurb:
Mercy Thompson's life has undergone a seismic change. Becoming the mate of Adam Hauptman - the charismatic Alpha of the local werewolf pack - has made her a stepmother to his daughter Jesse, a relationship that brings moments of blissful normalcy to Mercy's life. But on the edges of humanity, a minor mishap on an ordinary day can turn into so much more. After an accident in bumper-to-bumper traffic, Mercy and Jesse can't reach Adam - or anyone else in the pack for that matter. They've all been abducted. Through their mating bond, all Mercy knows is that Adam is angry and in pain. Outclassed and on her own, Mercy may be forced to seek assistance from the most unlikely of allies: the vampire seethe.

I just love this Mercy Thompson series. A whole bunch of my favourite books recently came out in paperback and Frost Burned was one of them. I had to endure months and months of avoiding spoilers and book reviews while Frost Burned was only available in a hardcover issue or a really expensive ebook. Frost Burned was worth the wait!

The Mercy Thompson series are not stand alone books. Patricia Briggs provides great little reminders in each story so that the reader can quickly recollect where the last book left off but if you would pick up a book in the middle of the series, you'd not enjoy and understand the detailed and fabulous backstory. 

One of the reasons I totally love this urban fantasy series is the continuity of the married couple, Mercy and Adam. I just love a book collection where the protagonists are strong, happily married and each book is a new adventure. This particular couple is top notch amazing because of the wolf pack mentality that is so ingrained into each book. Whether good or bad,a wolf pack is a wolf pack and the story doesn't deviate away from the characteristics of a pack of wolves. (Just to quickly mention that Mercy is not a wolf shifter but rather a coyote shifter) Patricia Briggs stays true to form and doesn't bend her own rules just to make the story flow in a different direction. 

Mercy once again is the hero of the Frost Burned. She does so by being smart although no one is more surprised by Mercy's brilliance than Mercy. That is another trait that is so enduring about her. She has no idea how incredibly special she is. I could not possibly adore her any more than I already do. 

As always, a fabulous cast of secondary characters adds to action packed and mystical world that Particia Briggs has created. 

Teasers: baby question car crash, ghostly encounters, mating bond communication, silver puke

River Marked by Patricia Briggs

River Marked (book 6)

By Patricia Briggs

Book Blurb:
Car mechanic Mercy Thompson has always known there was something different about her, and not just the way she can make a VW engine sit up and beg. Mercy is a shapeshifter, a talent she inherited from her long-gone father. She’s never known any others of her kind. Until now.

An evil is stirring in the depths of the Columbia River—one that her father’s people may.

Well as you can see by my last 5 book reviews, I've been buried in the Mercy Thompson series. I also must add, I've been loving this urban fantasy continuation story dearly. So let me tell you how hard it was to decide whether to even purchase River Marked or not. You see, I like all my books to match on my shelf. Every Mercy Thompson book I had got was paperback. River Marked is currently available in either hardcover or Kindle BUT there is the kicker. On Amazon the hardcover of River Marked is $16.43 and the Kindle copy of River Marked is $15.65 and the paperback is not coming out until next year. So what is a girl to do??? Yep I was frustrated. $15.65 is way above what I allow myself to spend on Kindle books. Reading on Kindle is my favourite way of reading books. I dislike holding hardcovers. So I decided I need my Mercy and Adam fix and went against my rules and paid $15.65 for a Kindle copy but I was and still am pretty grumpy about it!

I know none of the above is the author's fault but it is still a thorn in my side. I suppose the publishing world is laughing in my face because I went ahead and bought the Kindle version. 

River Marked is exactly what I was craving for since I started to read the series. A book solely dedicated to Mercy and Adam. River Marked started right off with their "surprise" wedding and dove right into their honeymoon. I loved it! I am super excited that the next books in the series are the continuation of Mercy and Adam as a married couple. I just think the series will get better and better. 

River Marked is different from the other books aside from Mercy and Adam being married. The cast is absent from this book since the duration of River Marked they are on their honeymoon. Now camping is not my personal favourite place to have a honeymoon but clearly a perfect spot for Adam and Mercy. 

Just to make their honeymoon even more interesting, the readers learn a lot about Mercy's heritage, her father and some troublesome fae are thrown in for good measure. I love that even though they are on their honeymoon, the author Patricia Briggs still takes time to insert newlywed arguments to make it even more realistic. I love the scene where they had a very common argument that new couples experience and Adam tries to make it up.  I have to insert it because it makes me smile. (they are in their  wolf and coyote forms)

"He dropped a second rabbit at my feet and lay down in front of me, nose on his paws and his ears flattened. Nothing says you're sorry like a dead bunny."
Loc 1126-27

Regarding Mercy's heritage, I am still deciding how I feel about it. It was a lot of information to absorb. The lowdown about her biological father was a bit confusing to me. I think that Patricia Briggs wrote it that way to be confusing. I am still on the fence about it. I did love reading about the new character, Coyote. I loved his personality and his wit. It was not what I was expecting at all. 

The villain this time around was a river monster that gave me the heebie geebies about underwater creatures. If the River Devil was not scary enough, Patricia Briggs threw in the fact that the creature enjoys eating children the most. It was heartbreaking to read about. 

The battle that Mercy fought with the River Devil was heart pounding and I admit to going back and re-reading. I was reading it so fast that I had to go back to absorb it once I knew how it all ended. Poor Mercy sure takes a beating in her books. 

All in all a great book but perhaps not as good as the previous ones. I am super excited that Adam and Mercy are married and I look forward to their many adventures. That was undoubt the best part of River Marked for me was the solidification of them as a couple. 

Teasers - wedding butterflies, not so cute otters, Wal-Mart smackdown, magic fae staff moves on???

Silver Borne by Patricia Briggs

Silver Borne (book 5)

By Patricia Briggs

Book Blurb:
When mechanic and shapeshifter Mercy Thompson attempts to return a powerful Fae book she'd previously borrowed in an act of desperation, she finds the bookstore locked up and closed down. It seems the book contains secret knowledge-and the Fae will do just about anything to keep it out of the wrong hands. And if that doesn't take enough of Mercy's attention, her friend Samuel is struggling with his wolf side-leaving Mercy to cover for him, lest his own father declare Sam's life forfeit. All in all, Mercy has had better days. And if she isn't careful, she might not have many more to live..

The Mercy Thompson series continues strong with Silver Borne. I love that the story revisits a subplot from a previous novel and focuses on the secret fae book that Mercy was given by Phin, the bookstore owner. I had been curious about that fae fairy tale book and Silver Borne did not disappoint. 

I have to admit I really needed Sam's story line to take a turn as he was beginning to become a bit of a bother to read. I wanted him to stop holding Mercy hostage so to speak. His presence and his continuing to live at her trailer just seems to hold her back from moving forward with Adam. Her guilt, her worry and her care for him made her hesitant. I was super pleased to see some advancement in that respect. 

Silver Borne also gave the reader a lot more insight into the pack life. With each book the readers learn more and more. I find it all so interesting. I also love to read as much about the Fae as possible. I find them all so fascinating. Since Silver Borne was a Fae based book, I simply loved it. 

The challenge for Adam's Alpha's spot was awesome to read. I knew that Adam would still come out on top but it didn't prevent me from biting my nails. Once again Mercy was able to steal the spotlight but I was cheering her on with her actions. 

I am feeling a bit sad because I only have one more book to go before the end of the series as it is published to date. I am forever a fan and I will continue to follow each and every Mercy Thompson book published. 


Teaser - Alpha challenge, bye bye trailer, "Snowball", silver garland in the white snow

Bone Crossed by Patricia Briggs

Bone Crossed (Mercy Thompson book 4)

by Patricia Briggs

Book Blurb:
By day, Mercy is a car mechanic in the sprawling Tri-Cities of Eastern Washington. By night, she explores her preternatural side. As a shapeshifter with some unique talents, Mercy has often found herself having to maintain a tenuous harmony between the human and the not so human. This time she may get more than she bargained for.

Marsilia, the local Vampire Queen, has learned that Mercy crossed her by slaying a member of her clan—and she's out for blood. But since Mercy is protected from direct reprisal by the werewolf pack (and her close relationship with its sexy Alpha), it won't be Mercy's blood Marsilia is after.

It'll be her friends'.

I continue to love this book series. I am immensely enjoying the Mercy Thompson Novels. Every speck of  free time I have I am picking up my current Mercy read and sneaking in a chapter wherever I can. As I wait for a meeting to start while at work, I have my book open and I ignore my colleagues in the conference room.  At my kids sports practice if you look over at me chances are you'll see my eyes are glued to the pages.  

Bones Crossed was simply excellent. It had everything I enjoy in a story. Mild angst, romance, mystery, pulling at my heart strings, cheering for the good guys, wincing at the bad guys and a move forward with the main plot. A perfect package.

My favourite part of the book is Mercy's movement within the werewolf pack. Without giving spoilers, let me just say, "YES!" As Bone Crossed is book 4, I feel I have been patient and once again, I am so happy that I read these stories back to back instead of waiting for new publications between books.

My only complaint about Bone Crossed (and the series as a whole) is the heat level. I'd love to read Adam and Mercy's intimate scenes to be more adult. Not erotica but their love scenes are very underwhelming. I wonder if Mercy and Adam had more scenes together I wouldn't miss it as much as I do. I wish they were together more. 

Mercy is such an excellent heroine. As she continues to learn more about what her special powers are and with her limitless dedication to her friends, each story becomes more and more involved. (and the reader more addicted)

A new vampire villain James Blackwood was introduced. He was nasty but some how charismatic. He wasn't written with the same cruelty that the Queen Vampire Marsilia was, yet there's this underlying viscous impression  that is deeply menacing about him. His story line added more information about the vampire abilities and it was such a great read.

There was also a new child character, Chad, that was brought into the story. He is deaf with no special powers yet Patrica Briggs writes him with such care that I would be interested in reading a spin off series of him when he is more mature. I believe big things would come from Chad as his young life has been changed forever with this story. I want to know what happens to him.  

I can't wait to read the next book, Silver Borne. 

Teasers: Pack magic, ASL, blood bonds, little yellow car

Iron Kissed by Patricia Briggs

Iron Kissed (Mercy Thompson book 3)

By Patricia Briggs

Book Blurb:
When her former boss and mentor is arrested for murder and left to rot behind bars by his own kind, it's up to shapeshifting car mechanic Mercy Thompson to clear his name, whether he wants her to or not. And she'll have to choose between the two werewolves in her life-whether she wants to or not.

Iron Kissed was AWESOME. So, so good! Iron Kissed advanced the series forward. We learned more about the Fae, we understand Samuel's feelings toward Mercy and we are proud of what Mercy had to overcome in Iron Kissed. The entire book was based around Mercy's loyalty and what she is willing to do and how far she willing to go for her friends. 

Iron Kissed was more of a puzzle and murder mystery and the villain wasn't clearly defined until near the end of the book. Mercy acted like a private investigator and the villain wasn't really interested in Mercy until she got to close to the truth. An excellent read and a plot that commanded my attention. I didn't want to put Iron Kissed down for one second. 

Because it is a continuous series I don't want to provide any spoilers but I am truly excited about the advancement of all the various pack members. Even the secondary characters were more interesting in Iron Kissed. 

Iron Kissed ended on a really high note and I forced myself to stop to type my thoughts before moving forward but I really want to pick up Bone Crossed right now. *stares at cover* As much as I loved Blood Bound I think I loved Iron Kissed more. 

Teasers - Sam's epiphany, fae artifacts, brave Mercy, Zee's real form is shared.

Teaser Tuesday Bone Crossed by Patricia Briggs

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Bone Crossed 

by Patricia Briggs

He parked us out in the middle of the west nowhere in the parking lot. Paranoia has odd manifestations. It gave me panic attacks and made him park where he could manage a quick getaway. Shared paranoia- could a happily-ever-after be far for us?

page 77

I LOVE this series!

Blood Bound by Patricia Briggs

Blood Bound (Mercy Thompson book 2) 
By Patricia Briggs

Book Blurb:
Mechanic Mercy Thompson has friends in low places-and in dark ones. And now she owes one of them a favor. Since she can shapeshift at will, she agrees to act as some extra muscle when her vampire friend Stefan goes to deliver a message to another of his kind.

But this new vampire is hardly ordinary-and neither is the demon inside of him.

This series just got even better with Blood Bound. I really liked Moon Called book 1 but Blood Bound completely solidified my admiration for this series. What an action packed enjoyable read. 

I've determined what I really like about the characters that Patricia Briggs created is that she doesn't waver and change the foundation of what she originally developed. When the werewolf character Warren was gravely injured, he was challenged by a pack mate for his place in the wolf hierarchy. Of course I completely disliked the other wolf from making that stake but that is truly the wolf mentality. I respected the author for keeping up with the pack frame of mind and sticking with it.  Same with the vampire seethe. The vampires are not a nice sexy group but rather a cruel assembly. With the exception of one character Stefan, they continue to be pitiless and not adjust even if the story line would be easier to write if they all of a sudden decided to take on more of a human justice approach. 

The sorcerer turned vampire villain was perfectly despicable and hauntingly spooky. The scene at Mercy's trailer made me sweat. He was cruel and the way Patricia Briggs wrote his destruction and murders made the reader's imagination bloom and the body shudder. I LOVED that particular writing talent in an author. Instead of saying exactly what the villain did, she leaves it more to the readers intelligence. My favourite style!

The love triangle of Adam, Mercy and Sam continues but it's not the center of the story. Sam may have been Mercy's past but Adam is her future and I find myself just wishing Sam would go back to Montana. I like him fine and perhaps there are camps of fans that would rather the Mercy/Sam team, but honestly I am all about Adam and I have a book crush on him. 

The ending was climatic and even though Blood Bound does not end with a cliff hanger, I cannot wait  to start book 3. These books are not really stand alones and are to be read in the series. The heat level at this point has only consisted of kissing. 

Teasers - garage workout, ghostly encounters, vampire love words, and Mercy about Adam "let the warmth of his body sink into my soul"

Moon Called by Patricia Briggs

Moon Called (Mercy Thompson book 1) 
by Patricia Briggs

Book Blurb:
Werewolves can be dangerous if you get in their way, but they'll leave you alone if you are careful. They are very good at hiding their natures from the human population, but I'm not human. I know them when I meet them, and they know me, too.

Mercy Thompson's sexy next-door neighbor is a werewolf.

She's tinkering with a VW bus at her mechanic shop that happens to belong to a vampire.

But then, Mercy Thompson is not exactly normal herself ... and her connection to the world of things that go bump in the night is about to get her into a whole lot of trouble.

Moon Called is book 1 in the Mercy Thompson series by Patricia Briggs. This series was highly recommended by my commenters and I have to tell you, my commenters have great taste!

I wanted an engaging story about a kick ass woman in a great series. It didn't take me long to adore Mercy Thompson. I love how the author Patricia Briggs writes Mercy. You see Mercy is a kick ass lady but what makes her remarkable is that she's smart and she's completely aware of her physical limitations. She also knows how to act in the right situations even if she hates to do it. That is just plain brilliant and knowing how to properly read people er I mean, werewolves/fae/vampires. 

This limitation awareness is what sets Mercy aside from other kick ass heroines I have read in the past. She knows when she needs to be submissive with the werewolves and she knows her strength when it comes to aggression. She doesn't pretend to be something she's not. Who doesn't love a heroine that can kill a werewolf in a fight by accident and then go home and make homemade cookies. Can you tell I adore Mercy? 

Mercy is part Native American and an ancient "walker" species (she is not ancient) who can effortlessly shift into a coyote. She is one of a kind and hasn't met others like her. She is rare but with Mercy, it's not just her "walker" status that makes her a rare woman. She is surrounded by supernatural beings like gremlins, vampires, fae and werewolves and she seems to have somehow befriended many species that do not normally associate to one another. She is a self-employed garage owner/mechanic who fixes European vehicles .

There is a great mystery and an abduction in Moon Called that needs solving and a rescue. All the investigating and planning is an excellent plot device  as it allows for an effective introduction to the important characters and gives the reader a perfect insight to the pack life.  

Moon Called is a wonderful beginner book to a series that I just know I'm going to love. With each book centered around Mercy and her activities, I just can't wait to start book 2, Blood Bound. There was an excellent introduction to many character and beings and a great mystery to get the readers involved. The only thing I didn't care for is the obviously love triangle budding between Mercy, Adam and Sam. I just wanted her to get with Adam and have the series take off like a "Cat & Bones" couple but alas, I guess I will have to endure because that is the way it looks like it will all play out...I think it does anyhow??

Teasers - Alpha yummy, power of silver, graffiti backyard car, moon song