Home of the Alpha Showdown, and one-stop shop for urban fantasy, paranormal romance and fantasy news and reviews.
I love a good binge read, though I don’t get to do it as often as I did before I started reviewing. But there’s a problem with reading like that—if not enough people buy the series when it first comes out, there won’t be enough books to binge. So when you find a series you love, don’t wait to buy all the books, check them out from the library, and tell everyone you’ve ever met how much you love it. A... 
We’re doing things slightly differently this year. This is the first year where we have associate reviewers at VBC. As such, it didn’t feel quite right to only include my top 10. So, you’ll find my 10 picks for the absolute best books of 2012 and below that a top 5 list from Jo and Candace, respectively. Plus, of course, we have your winner for the reader’s choice best book. (See the Best Of lists from... ![Auction: Signed sets from Stacey Jay and Cassie Alexander [Books Fighting Cancer]](http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1334629255l/13539457.jpg)
There’s something therapeutic about reading about people with awful jobs. Or at least ones far harder than your own. Both the heroines in Stacey Jay and Cassie Alexander’s series have jobs harder than yours. And probably grosser. Both series are engaging, dark urban fantasy. And both get big VBC stamps of approval. The highest bidder takes home signed books from both authors. Highest bidder will take... 
Blood on the Bayou (Annabelle Lee #2) Stacey Jay Published: March 27, 2012 (Pocket) Purchase at: Book Depository, B&N or Amazon Rating (out of 5): 4 stars Stacey Jay gives us a stronger, more determined Annabelle Lee in her stellar followup to Dead on the Delta. She’s still deeply flawed, but she’s trying to make changes. She wants to drink less and care more — only working with her ex Hitch on an... 
Dead on the Delta (Annabelle Lee #1) Stacey Jay Published: May 31, 2011 (Pocket) Purchase at: Book Depository, B&N or Amazon Rating (out of 5): 4 stars Dead on the Delta features a vivid world, one where people try to ignore how dark things have become. It’s a place where fairies are real — they’ve mutated and want to feed on humans. When bitten by a fairy most people go insane, a handful die immediately...
