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... 
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... 
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... 
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... ![Terrible Fever Symptoms [Updated for Sacrificial Magic]](http://vampirebookclub.net/wp-content/uploads/et_temp/terriblefever-sm-300x135-11126_200x135.jpg)
Before the release of the third Downside Ghosts novel, we determined the symptoms of Terrible Fever. We were waiting on the third book, City of Ghosts, wondering if we’d get more of the surprising hero. And, oh man, did we.
But now that readers are so in love with Terrible the fever only gets worse. As such, we’re here to help you diagnose your Terrible Fever, now with more symptoms.
Not only... 
Sacrificial Magic (Downside Ghosts #4)
Stacia Kane
Published: Mar. 27, 2012 (DelRey)
Purchase at: Book Depository or Amazon
Rating (out of 5): 5 stars
Note: This review contains no spoilers for Sacrificial Magic, but assumes you have read the three prior novels. If that is not the case, please check out my review of the first novel Unholy Ghosts.
Chess needed to grow for the Downside Ghosts series to...
Sorry for the lack of post yesterday. I have a few reviews to get done for y’all, but I’m recovering from a concussion. (No, I don’t have a cool story. I fainted. It’s boring and, yet, still totally scary. I’m fine. But it limited my computer time and creativity.) I’m officially on the mend, and expect to have all sorts of reviews, features and giveaways right around the... 
We know you’re still ogling the new contests, but we have more suggested escapes from bloggers we love. If you missed out on this week’s earlier posts, you can check out Part 1 and Part 2, respectively. Author features will start showing up next week. Prepare yourselves!
SUGGESTED ESCAPES FROM OUR FAVORITE BOOK BLOGGERS (PART 3)
Name: Kristin C.
Blog: My Bookish Ways
What’s your ultimate... 
Well, damn. To say you guys liked the YA love interest poll would be a complete understatement (you can vote here). Heated debates over Russian God Dimitri from Vampire Academy and our snarky boy Jace from The Mortal Instruments laced the comments. Also, you really loved hating on Team Edward. As a matter of fact, to the commenter Emelia who left quite possibly my favorite comment ever, email me. I will... 
