Home of the Alpha Showdown, and one-stop shop for urban fantasy, paranormal romance and fantasy news and reviews.
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 place. There are returning favorites... 
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 from... 
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 who will... ![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://photo.goodreads.com/books/1325726061l/12763775.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. Moore... 
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’ past in... 
In an effort to help you keep that to-read list updated, I’ve compiled the hot urban fantasy and paranormal romance releases for June 2012. All dates are U.S. and tentative. I’ve included genre classification with each book: UF is urban fantasy, PNR is paranormal romance, F is fantasy and YA is young adult. JUNE 1 Blackout by Mira Grant (Newsflesh #3) F UF Blue-Blooded Vamp by Jaye Wells (Sabina Kane #5)... 
Round 8 of the Alpha Showdown 2012 puts a human in the ring, but if anyone can hold their own amid the weird stuff it’s Terrible. Drug enforcer Terrible knows a thing or two about magic and ghosts — it goes with the territory of being a part of Stacia Kane’s Downside Ghosts world — while Kate Daniels has plenty of experience with supernatural types of all flavors as the heroine of Ilona Andrews’ series of...
Thanks to everyone who provided feedback and suggestions on yesterday’s captcha-related post. I am going to look into utilizing additional spam filters before considering bringing back captcha. Also, did you know Alpha Showdown 2012 starts on Monday? It does. And it will be epic. Have you started placing your bets? Excerpt from Karen Mahoney I enjoyed The Iron Witch and The Wood Queen by Karen Mahoney,... 
