Home of the Alpha Showdown, and one-stop shop for urban fantasy, paranormal romance and fantasy news and reviews.
![Round 4: Jane Yellowrock vs. Terrible [Alpha Showdown 2013]](http://vampirebookclub.net/wp-content/uploads/et_temp/VBC-HomeofAlphaShowdown-216x300-28337_200x200.jpg)
It’s officially time for Alpha Showdown 2013! You made your nominations and we have 16 of the most badass, alpha characters from urban fantasy and paranormal romance novels locked into the bracket. Only one will be named champion and today’s first bout is sure to end in a knockout.
Round four is sure to be full of dirty fighting. How will enforcer Terrible take on Jane’s Beast? Who will come... 
The VBC team has made no secret of our love for Terrible from Stacia Kane’s Downside Ghosts series. Tough guy with heart? So there. It was hard to let anyone else write about the guy who gives us a case of Terrible Fever, but if we took all the book boyfriends Character Love Letters would be a bit boring. We’ve entrusted Jennifer from The Book Nympho to do our man justice. You approve,... 
I’ve had a higher-than-usual number of book recommendation requests on the VBC Facebook page and via Twitter of late. While I can, of course, just point you to the recommendations section, I decided to take a look at the most popular reviews here at VBC. Consider this post your quick access to the books reviews VBC readers found helpful.
TOP 10 MOST POPULAR
VBC REVIEWS
Dead Reckoning by Charlaine... 
Every year, I compile the standard year-end best books list—read 2012′s best reads list—and it’s a hard task narrowing things down. What’s harder though is picking the ten heroes from novels published this year to make my annual swoon-worthy list. Last year Eve Silver’s Lokan took top honors and the year before Stacia Kane’s Terrible was causing fevers all over the... 
We skipped Book Bits last week because it was Thanksgiving here in the States. I hope others had a lovely holiday. Mine involved more shopping than was probably necessary (though we skipped shopping late on Thanksgiving or early-morning Black Friday madness), seeing Daniel Craig in all his Bond-y goodness in IMAX, eating more than I should have and having a Downton Abbey binge with my mom. It was a good... 
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... 
Chasing Magic (Downside Ghosts #5)
Stacia Kane
Published: June 26, 2012 (DelRey)
Purchase at: Book Depository or Amazon
Review by: Chelsea
Rating (out of 5): 4.5 stars
Note: This review assumes you have read earlier novels in the Downside Ghosts series. If not, please see our review of the first book in the series, Unholy Ghosts.
Chess Putnam has always struggled with feeling unworthy. Having someone... 
It’s Independence Day in the United States. Typically, this is celebrated by eating foods cooked on a grill and enjoying fireworks. (And probably also complaining about how hot and/or sticky it is outside and trying to find the bug spray in your purse.) But this is Vampire Book Club. I can’t show you pretty explosions in the sky. I can however, recommend five heroes from books released in 2012... ![Auction: Urban Fantasy Set 2 featuring Jess Haines, Barbara Ashford, E.S. Moore, Linda Poitevin, Devon Monk, Stacia Kane & Alma Katsu [Books Fighting Cancer]](http://vampirebookclub.net/wp-content/uploads/et_temp/12763775-200x200.jpg)
Funny, sexy and gripping urban fantasy and fantasy novels fill this auction lot. You will have amazing reading for some time if you get to bring this one home. There are eight books in this pack and a bit of swag, too.
Highest bidder will take home:
Signed copy of Stalking the Others by Jess Haines – releases July 3!
Signed copies of both To Walk the Night and Tainted Night, Tainted Blood by E.S.... 
Finding Magic (Downside Ghosts novella)
Stacia Kane
Published: June 4, 2012 (DelRey)
Purchase at: Amazon
Rating (out of 5): 5 stars
One of the reasons I recommend Stacia Kane’s Downside Ghosts books so often is the remarkable character development. Heroine Chess has hard edges, deep-seated issues and a big problem with seeing herself as valuable. While Kane provided more insight into Chess’... 
