4th Annual OctobeRec Fest ~ A Month of Recommendations! #OctobeRecFest

Welcome to my Fourth Annual OctobeRec Fest. 

FOURTH, y'all! I can't believe I've been doing this for four years now. Anyway, I started this as a nod to Oktoberfest and I'm once again spending a month dedicated to reading the many, many books on my ereaders and bookshelves thanks to you, my blogging friends. (and a few beers will probably be added into the mix! ;) This year, I'm switching it up just a tad. I'll be reading books from series that I started thanks to y'all and in doing so, I'm showing my digital and physical shelves love as well as moving towards finishing up those series! 

Here are a few of the books I'm hoping to get to this month. I'm sure you'll recognize your recommendations but I'll try to make sure to call you out in my reviews. ;)



Thank you all so much for sharing book love! And hopefully I can get a few of you interested in some new books to try. 

Review ~ Rises the Night ~ Colleen Gleason #TakeControlTBR #ShelfLove

Rises the Night by Colleen Gleason
Gardella Vampire Hunters #2
Release Date: June 5, 2007
Genre: Adult, Paranormal Romance
Source: Purchased on Kindle
Rating: 4.5 Bookworms
Challenges: #ShelfLove, #TakeControl, #TravelingtotheTerminus
Goodreads

Synopsis
The saga of Victoria Gardella continues as the glorious nineteenth-century city of Rome gives rise to a new threat from the immortal undead...

Lady Victoria Gardella Grantworth de Lacy has been a vampire slayer for just over a year, balancing her life as a peer of Soceity with the dangerous role that takes her out on moonlit streets, stake in hand. She has learned brutal and heartbreaking lessons about the sacrifices that must be made in order to save humanity from the evil that secretly preys upon it, but she has not wavered in her vow to fight on.

Now, in Italy, a powerful vampire is amassing the power to control the souls of the dead. As Victoria races across Europe to stop what could be the most deadly army the Gardellas have ever faced, her unlikely companion is Sebastian Vioget--a man as tempting as he is untrustworthy.

But when Victoria discovers she has been betrayed by one of her most trusted allies, the truth will challenge all her powers as a Venator...and as a woman.

I was an instant fan of this series following the stellar first installment. Vampire hunters in Regency-era England? Yes, please. Rises the Night picks up almost a year after the end of book 1 - that heartbreaking ending. Rises the Night is every bit as exciting and fascinating, with intrigue, a new evil on the rise, and questionable loyalties.

This installment finds Victoria investigating and attempting to locate a new threat to humanity. No one has heard from Max in almost a year so Victoria relies on aid from Sebastian despite not knowing for certain if he's trustworthy.

There is danger almost at every turn - the introduction of new characters for whom it was thrilling to try to determine their allegiance, and the simmering sexual tension between Victoria and Sebastian hit the boiling point. There were also more than a few surprises, some of which left me bereft. Actually, I'm still feeling that way and am quite certain that I'll continue this series soon as I'm more that eager to know what is lying in wait for our heroine next.

As long as I'm rambling, I appreciated the change in locale for this installment. Rome and Venice allowed Victoria even more freedom as a woman and I also liked the description of the cities. Victoria also learns more about the Venators, which provided a little more history about the venerable group of hunters she's a part of. I also liked the lore used regarding this newest evil.

Overall, I'm simply enthralled. I'm anxious to learn, experience, immerse myself even more in this series!

Favorites of 2016 ~ New-to-Me Authors

I decided it'd be fun to bring 2016 to a close by listing some of favorites from the year. I hope you enjoy reading about some of my favorites and I'd be happy to hear about any of your favorites!

*~*New-to-Me Authors*~*

• Vi Keeland - I listened to two from Keeland and am eager for more. Her stories have it all - complex characters, compelling story, and all the feels!
• Sarina Bowen - I continue to collect Bowen's books after the greatness that was her combined effort with Elle Kennedy, Him.
• Jandy Nelson - I was so impressed with I'll Give You the Sun...the complexity of the story and characters and the brilliant delivery, I'm excited to read more from her.
• Colleen Gleason - meeting Victoria Gardella from Gleason's Gardella Vampire Hunters series was a highlight for me in 2016!
• Darynda Jones - I know! Better late than never! Charlie and Reyes and Cookie and Bob...need I say more?
• Scarlett Cole - She delivered a riveting story and managed to incorporate Dante...loved it!
• Heidi Cullinan - She writes M/M beautifully and realistically. I've procured quite a collection of hers so be on the lookout for reviews in 2017.
• Joanna Bourne - I listened to Bourne's The Spymaster's Lady and then proceeded to add more of her to my library. She delivered a wonderful story with fantastic characters.
• Amy Harmon - A Different Blue dazzled me early in 2016 with it's complexity and characters I came to love. 
• Tiffany Reisz - Again, I know! I can't believe I put off reading Reisz for so long but I'll be reading her more and more...

#OctobeRecFest Review ~ The Rest Falls Away ~ Colleen Gleason

The Rest Falls Away by Colleen Gleason
Release Date: January 2, 2007
Genre: Adult, Historical Paranormal Romance
Rating: 5 Bookworms
Challenges: #ShelfLove
Recommended by: Lorna @Rabid Reads
Goodreads

Synopsis
Beneath the glitter of dazzling nineteenth century London Society lurks a bloodthirsty evil...

Vampires have always lived among them, quietly attacking unsuspecting debutantes and dandified lords as well as hackney drivers and Bond Street milliners. If not for the vampire slayers of the Gardella family, these immortal creatures would have long ago taken control of the world.

In every generation, a Gardella is called to accept the family legacy, and this time, Victoria Gardella Grantworth is chosen, on the eve of her debut, to carry the stake. But as she moves between the crush of ballrooms and dangerous moonlit streets, Victoria's heart is torn between London's most eligible bachelor, the Marquess of Rockley, and her dark, dangerous duty.

And when she comes face-to-face with the most powerful vampire in history, Victoria must ultimately make a choice between duty and love.

Prepare yourselves for a gushing review. I picked up The Rest Falls Away because I was in the mood for vampires and Lorna had recommended this one. It wasn't exactly what I had in mind when I decided vampires but it absolutely hit the sweet spot!

Gleason delivered a well-crafted introduction to the Gardella world in Regency England. Her conveyance of the life of a daughter's duty, life among the ton, etc., was very well done. Her creation of a vampire mythos and a class of people dedicated to eradicating the world of the evil of vampires was fascinating. The characters, both primary and secondary, were robust and compelling and Gleason didn't shy away from making any of them possibly unsavory, morally questionable, and the like. I found each of the characters to be interesting in their own way and they all added something integral to the story.

I'd be lying if I said I didn't draw comparisons between Victoria and Buffy. *wink* That this vampire slayer lives in the 1800's only added to my enchantment. Max and Aunt Eustacia, the Marquess, Sebastian, even Verbena, all made for a colorful cast that I'm completely invested in.

The ending...GAH! That was gut-wrenching but then I was also torn in my feelings - which I suppose make it all the more gut-wrenching. But it also made it very difficult to turn off my kindle and move on to my next read considering I have the boxset and book #2 was sitting there staring at me.

Honestly, I could go on and on about all the reasons The Rest Falls Away tripped my trigger. Bottom line though: It did. In a big way. I can't wait to continue. Thanks, Lorna!