Jessie recs 'Last Kiss Goodnight,' 'Crimson Frost'

A look at some of this week's new releases and a recent e-book release …

Paranormal romance

Last Kiss Goodnight by Gena Showalter

What it's about: Gena Showalter wrote a fantastic series, the Alien Huntress books, that have two of my favorite books in it: Awaken Me Darkly and Savor Me Slowly. This series opened readers' eyes to Aliens, Otherworlders and the organizations that control them all. Last Kiss Goodnight is a part of a new series, called Otherworld Assassin, and overlaps with the Alien Huntress world. Solo is a brute: He's an alien who is Black Ops, and he was captured and imprisoned in a zoo featuring Otherworlders. The zoo owners' daughter is a deaf human, Vika, who is in charge of their "care and feeding." Throw in forbidden romance, dark magic, and a father who will do anything to control everyone, and you have a fantastical tale.

Why you should read it:Last Kiss Goodnight is tame in comparison to Gena's other paranormal romance books. There's a lot of character building and getting to know the two leads before we even catch a hint of steam. Last Kiss Goodnight is also a part of what I call the "New Gena" style of writing: LKG and Alice in Zombieland have biblical phrases throughout and an overall theme of good vs. evil with clearly defined lines. While I wouldn't call her work Christian writing, there are definitely elements of it that weren't in earlier books. Overall, LKG builds a bit more slowly, but, hey, it's Gena Showalter, and if you pick up any of her books, you're in for an unusual and fun ride.

Tidbit: When I asked Gena about Solo and Vika she said, "Last Kiss Goodnight features two characters very dear to my heart. Solo appears to be more beast than man, and is feared by everyone he encounters; the deaf, delicate Vika has managed to cultivate a loving heart despite the horror of her upbringing. They were never meant to be together, but I couldn't help but pair them — and I'm so glad I did!"

YA paranormal romance

Crimson Frost by Jennifer Estep

What it's about: This is the fourth Mythos Academy book by Jennifer Estep and one of my favorite YA books about magic and boarding schools. I definitely recommend reading the first three books: Touch of Frost, Kiss of Frost and Dark Frost, to really understand Gwen's world and troubles. Gwen has been accused of setting the evil Loki free — and the one leading the charge to arrest and punish her? The dad of Logan, the guy she's been crushing on.

Why you should read it: Jennifer Estep has proved that she's a new voice for the YA genre. Her writing and storytelling were good in ToF, but you can really see how it's evolved in Crimson Frost. There's so much more going on in the story than a simple murder mystery. The secondary characters are forces of their own and create a fabulous supporting staff. I also love the addition of myths in the story. While they seemed to be a bit "dumbed down" (I'm not sure if that's for the intended audience?), they flow well in the plot lines.

Tidbit: I asked Jennifer about Crimson Frost, and she said, "One of the things that I enjoy about writing a series is being able to show how the characters grow and change from book to book, especially when it comes to my heroine, Gwen Frost. In this book, Gwen is accused of crimes that she didn't commit, and it was interesting for me to try to convey how all of those accusations and all of that doubt ultimately makes her a stronger person. I hope readers enjoy seeing what new challenges are in store for Gwen and her friends in Crimson Frost. Happy reading, everyone!"

Fresh e-book release

Annabel (Delirium 0.5) by Lauren Oliver

What it's about:Annabel is a sort of prequel to Lauren Oliver's fantastic series, Delirium. Annabel is Lena's mother, who was trapped in a horrid prison while her family was fed the lie of her suicide. In Delirium, Lena's mother is a background presence. We don't get to see her, and her "ghost" is always haunting Lena. In Annabel, we get to see Lena's mother in the past and the present and see how hard she fought her fate.

Why you should read it:Delirium was ridiculously good, and I loved Pandemonium. I've always wanted to know more about Annabel and her fate: Who was the woman behind the haunted memories? In this novella, Lauren showcases her talent for getting into different characters' heads and memories and pulling their story forth. I would recommend reading this even if you haven't read Delirium (though you'll enjoy it that much more if you do!). Annabel's voice is strong, and I can understand how Lena was able to fight … it was in her blood.

Tidbit: When I asked Lauren about writing Annabel, she said, "The great thing about being an author nowadays is the immediacy (and volume!) of the feedback you get from readers — on Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr, Goodreads, whatever. Sometimes, it can be overwhelming, but often, I've drawn inspiration from the opinions, questions, and even the demands of my fans. After Delirium published, a lot of my readers asked me about Lena's mother and whether we would see her again. I knew we would later on in the series, but everyone seemed so captivated by her background and her history, I decided I wanted to make her the star of her own story. That's how Annabel came to be. I was really excited to write from Lena's mom's perspective, both because I got to explore what the world was like as the cure for love was just being mandated and the borders were closing down. Also, I've always been obsessed with the book/movie The Count of Monte Cristo, and I drew my inspiration for The Crypts, where Annabel is imprisoned for over a decade, from the horrible jail in that book."

What I'm reading …

I'm currently reading Shattered Glass by Dani Alexander, an m/m book involving mayhem, magic and an arranged marriage. So far the author has had me laughing hard at the titles and hero Austin's smart mouth. It's a $2.99 e-book, and the romance is hot!

Jessie Potts, also known as Book Taster, adores books in all forms. She is a top 600 reviewer on Amazon and also does reviews for Bitten By Books and AllRomance.com.