Review: What an awesome new series!!  Highly recommended!
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 07 26, 2012
Book Info: Genre: Urban Fantasy Reading Level: AdultDisclosure: I received a free copy of this book to review on conjunction with a blog tour that is upcoming. I then forgot I had it and, because it looked really good, picked it for myself on Amazon when I noticed it was free. I am happy to provide, as always, an honest review.Synopsis: Kelly McGinnis has spent her adult life trying to do the right thing, but as a newly down-sized mother of twins and the wife of a man living with Muscular Sclerosis, she also knows that trying isn't always enough.While interrupting a scene of police brutality, Kelly unwittingly releases a real, live demon. After she manages to kill the creature through gut instinct and blind luck, she is approached to join a secret group of demon hunters who reveal an underworld of monsters and magic. Kelly's mill-town upbringing proves an unexpected asset and the pay more than covers her husband's treatments, but the work begins to undermine her sense of right and wrong as she struggles to maintain her `normal' life.When she encounters Umber, a compelling incubus with an unexpectedly human story, Kelly learns that the truth is far stranger and more terrifying than she imagined.My Thoughts: First, thanks to Annabelle Cadiz for contacting be about taking part in the blog tour for this book. Watch for a guest post from the author, Bill Blais, on my blog.I really enjoyed this book. It reminded me of the Kate Connor - Demon Hunter series by Julie Kenner. I really enjoy that Kelly is just a basic soccer mom - a bit overweight, a lot frazzled - and not some preternaturally powerful, butt-kicking Barbie doll like so many of these urban fantasy heroines. The main thing that bothered me is how big a deal they made out of her being short - she's 5'4", which is not much below average, and certainly not so short she'd have trouble getting her cup of coffee from a Starbucks counter! I'm only 5'3", and while there are many things I have to stretch for, I really do not recall Starbucks counters being so tall I couldn't reach them. Also, comparing herself to a 10-year-old is ridiculous - I was no more than 4'8" when I was 10; I hit my growth spurt and reached 5'2" by the time I was 11. Obviously Blais must be quite tall to think 5'4" is really that short!At any rate, I think fans of urban fantasy, especially those who would enjoy a realistic woman for a change, will really like this book, book one in the Kelly and Umber series (although Umber doesn't show up until way at the end). Book two - called Hell Hath no Fury - is also currently available and I'll definitely be picking that one up as soon as I can, because after reading the first three chapters (included at the end of this ebook as an excerpt), I'm very curious about what happens next. Check this book out, and also check out the separate guest post by Bill Blais on my blog, Now is Gone, a link to which can be found on my profile by clicking my name.