Stormwalker
May 4, 2010
Urban Fantasy
Paperback, 330 Pages
Berkley
Reviewed by Tori
Favorite quote: “I swing both ways honey. I’m an equal opportunity mirror.”
Janet Begay is a Stormwalker. She is able to harness and manipulate the power in storms. It is a raw elemental power that often overwhelms her. Mick, her black hair blue eyed lover, is the only one who can ignite her passions while calming the storm within her.
Janet has come to the desert town of Magellan at the request of the police chief to look into the mysterious disappearance of his daughter Amy. Located in this town are vortexes. Vortexes are magical gateways that connect the human world with the mystical world of the Beneath. Janet is also here to look for her mother. A vicious self adsorbed goddess who needs Janet to finalize her plans to reenter the human world. Janet has managed to stay one step ahead of her so far; but the fates have determined that Janet must face her mother and make a choice.
Monsters, shapeshifters, a pervie coyote, and a bi-magical mirror…what more could you ask for?
Janet is an enigma. She is able to harness the power of the storms and bend it to her will. But it leaves her full and she must drain off all that excess power. That brings us to Mick, Janet’s yummy sexy tattooed lover. Mick is able to absorb her excess power with no ill effects. He is also a Firewalker. He is able to harness the power of fire and use it. He insists he loves her and will protect her with his life. Janet is unsure about him though because even though they have been lovers for over five years…she knows nothing about him.
Janet decides to leaves Mick and settles down in Magellan but some people don’t want her there. Sheriff Nash Jones is one of them. Amy’s lover and a prime suspect in her disappearance; Nash uses any and all excuses to haul Janet to jail. Nash is an unbeliever of the supernatural and believes that Janet is nothing more then a con artist looking to score on the police chief’s misery.
Janet’s mother has become more demanding in that Janet join her and has unleashed her minions, Skinwalkers, to deal with anyone who gets in her way. As Janet works through her feelings for Mick and attempts to find out what happened to Amy; she also has to deal with a pervert shapeshifter who MAY want her dead, a bi sexual mirror who is more interested in what’s in her pants then helping her, and the fact that she is the only thing that stands between us and total annihilation.
Stormwalker starts with a BAM and continues on in the same fashion till the end. The protagonists, Janet & Mick, are both strong and passionate with an innate sense of justice. Janet is a kick ass heroine that is trying her best to deal with her magic and her personal life. Mick, her boom chick a wow wow boyfriend, is so much more then what he seems. And HAWT. Did I already say that?
This is a fast paced read filled with suspense, romance, magic and a sense of humor. Janet and Mick have a very sensual erotic relationship and they mesh well together. The supporting characters are deep and intense. Each has a hidden agenda that kept me guessing to the end. The conflict between Janet and Nash is powerful and almost painful to read; but they need each other and it’s funny watching them try and overcome their extreme dislike to work together.
Janet’s mother is a narcissistic villain who has a VERY nasty power which Janet has inherited but remains ignorant of. The only thing I did not like was how easily Janet seems to buckle under authority. Janet’s way to cope is to run away. Watching her was a little embarrassing but Ms. James does a wonderful job of using that flaw and making it a weapon.
I cannot wait to read the next in the series.
Rating: 4.5/5
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Thanks Tori!!
I'm reading very good reviews for this novel and so psyched I've got this one on my way to me :) Janet and Mich sound so good together!!! I feel a PNR read-a-thon coming on LOL Thanks for sharing your thoughts Tori :)
This sounds like it would be an enjoyable read, with a little bit of everything in it!
Awesome review Tori! Allyson James/Jennifer Ashley and I have a very up and down relationship. First I read Mortal Temptation and didn't like it. Then Lord Ian and that is one of my all time favorite books. Pride Mates didn't do it for me. So now Stormwalker. This one sounds really, really good. I will defintely have to check it out. And a bi mirror – I mean really, can you go wrong? :)
Great review! The book sounds interesting and how can you go wrong with a boom chicka wow wow male character ;)
Great review!! This one has been on my TBB list for a while now and I just knew it was going to be a good one – I've never been disappointed in an Allyson James book yet – thanks…
Leontine-I'm positive you'll enjoy
A Buckeye Girl Reads-It has a lot going on in it but its a fab ride.
Mandi-I haven't read her Pride Mates series but you know I read Lord Ian and DIED of love. Can't wait for her next one.
Heather-Every time I read something about Mick I could hear Simon from the Chipmucks singing, "Boom Chica Wow Wow. lol
Cypercliper-Srsly…it's just that good.
Sounds cool, and that is one good quote, now why do I never find good quotes in books
Kick ass heroine. Sound like something I'd really enjoy. Thanks for the review and letting me know this book is out there!
Wow! Great review and it sounds like a killer novel!
Oh awesome review. I am reading this one next and I'm so glad to hear you liked it. I'm really looking forward to it.
Shame on you Tori you know I can't resist a book with quotes like that!
P.S. Nice review you almost make me want to put down my man love and go UF. You got skillz.
Thank you Tori! I quite liked the sound of this when I read the back cover summary. From your review it's not quite what I expected (I'm not a massive fan of kick a*s heroines with immortal mothers :) but..I still like the sound of it and have added it to the TBR list.
Mandi – is the same author that wrote The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie?
Blodeuedd- I stole the fav quote thing from Mandi. She rocks!!
Melissa & Carrie-I hope you enjoy as much as I did.
Fiction Vixen-Thank you! That's a big complement coming from you. :)
Smokinhotbooks-lol It's mirror love baby. I actually though of you when I read that line.
orannia-I know what you mean but she's not an overbearing pita alpha type.
And yes, she wrote The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie.
Oooooo yay! You liked it! And it sounds as good as the cover implies.
Thanks for the great review Tori!
:) VFG
I want this book… I have had it on my WISH LIST since I read the prequel story in Hot for the Holidays back last year. Damn Penguin and Amazon for not having an agreement… I cannot get it on Kindle. GRRRR!
This books sounds amazing! This is another book to add to the mixes here… somewhere. Sounds like one I will really love.
Thanks for the amazing review.
Ever since I saw this cover at FV place – I loved it..
Glad to know it lived up to the blurb..
Must get this month end..
Thanks for your thoughts..
E.H>
great review, I loved the prequel in Too Hot for the Holidays, this definitely looks intersting
I enjoyed your review and included a link to it in my own review post of this book.