Dr susan

Kicking It is an anthology which means to review it fairly, I should write a review for each short story....nine shorts, nine reviews? Not gonna happen. I do not wear heels, stiletto or otherwise, but even I love the look of a good boot.I did not read Henry's Red Isn't Really My Color because I have lost all patience with her Black Wings series.All of the other stories are entertaining. Caine's Forked Tongues brings back Holly and Andrew, a poignant witch couple with a twist. Holly and Andrew also have a story in Strange Brew and Hex Appeal. Hunter's The Devil's Left Boot gives the witchy Everhart twins a story of their own, and an opportunity for forgiveness. Neill's High Stakes allows Lindsey to have a story, and has the most hysterical discussion of 'grape sanctity'. Thurman's Snakeskin gives a look at Trixa and her boys before the books, and is a classic Trickster story. Price's Ruby Red is set in the Grave Witch world with characters that could easily have their own books, but these two may have bad news for Alex.

Paige

The basis for this anthology is kick-ass heroines. I actually was planning to buy this but won it from Goodreads (go me!). I am a fan of several of the authors so how could this go wrong?Most of the stories were fantastic and hit the mark; one or two, not so much. Forked Tongues by Rachel Caine— I’m a Rachel Caine fan. She was one of the reasons this anthology was on my list.Ms. Caine’s contribution is another Holly & Andy story. To be honest, Holly and Andy are just ok for me. The first story, in my opinion, was the best. This story only showcased Holly’s lack of kick-ass-ness. Had the anthology been about characters that kick-ass then this would have fit because Andy (and his old timey smarts and brand of justice) kicked ass. Holly did a good job of being the damsel in distress. I’m not faulting the story; it is enjoyable. I also know that Ms. Caine has several kick-ass heroines in her repertoire. I am just questioning why this particular story is in this anthology. Stolen Goods by Shannon Butcher—Having heard of Mrs Butcher but not being a paranormal romance fan, this was my introduction to her writing. I was impressed with her detailed descriptions of characters. The story was enjoyable but seemed a hyperbole. This kick-ass heroine (Simone), who is hired because she is THE best thief, is completely ADD when on the job. She is easily distracted by thoughts of other men when her mind should be on the job. Maybe it is because I’m not a romance-junkie, but if you’re a bad-ass and the best in your field, you should be completely focused on the job rather than daydreaming about your past.The Girl with No Name by Chris Marie Green—Another new author for me and another enjoyable story. A girl, who has no idea who she is, wakes up in New Orleans and attempts to determine her identity. This seems like it could be part of a series but I was unable to find a series with this character. Definitely has potential. The Devil’s Left Boot by Faith Hunter—I have to admit that I’ve

Marta Cox

Well this is a fabulous opportunity to sample the collected talents of some of the best authors of urban fantasy around today. This little gem contains short stories by best selling authors that are a delight to read. These tales whilst by nature short pack a punch. Each one is filled with madness and mayhem done in a kick ass style by heroines who take girl power to the extreme! A collection of supernatural stories with the women large and in charge!From witches to demons, from Gods to shoe obsessed vampires this book is chock full of delights. A great way to catch up with some of the established authors published works but also a chance to sample new ones. Most of the authors included are not new to me but I found it an excellent way to try work by one or two that had so far eluded my Kindle. I think what delighted me most was being able to read about characters that usually take a back role in some of the popular series .If you think the dark is scary then you really need these feisty females on your side! One thing is certain though if you read this you will be thoroughly entertained.

Ina

High Stakes 4 starsThis was such a cute short story. I love Lindsey almost as much as Luc, so I was excited when I found out about this novella, although I might have enjoyed it a little bit more if it was written from Luc's POV (we don't really know that much about Luc's personal life and I would really like to find out more about him).I liked insight into Lindsey's past, even though I wouldn't be angry if it was just a little bit longer and offered us more details. I was glad to see Lindsey cares about her relatives even after all these years. The plot twist was (in my opinion) very predictable, but overall didn't ruin the story for me. Because let's be honest, we didn't read this book for the mystery, we read it because of naked Luc.

Melissa

Kicking It! is really a wonderful collection of stories. The best part about collections is that it takes you back to some of your favorites and introduces you to new friends. The stories included in this collection are:"Forked Tongues" by Rachel Caine"Stolen Goods" by Shannon K. Butcher"The Girl with No Name" by Chris Marie Green"The Devil's Left Boot" by Faith Hunter"High Stakes" by Chloe Neill"The Parlor" by Lucienne Driver"Red Isn't Really My Color" by Christina Henry"Snakeskin" by Rob Thurman"Ruby Red" by Kalayna PriceWhether you are continuing the saga or just meeting the characters for the first time, you will definitely enjoy these stories. From the opening story starting with a burning cross on the lawn to the very last word, hang on because these boots are made for kicking butt. There was not a single story that didn't grab ahold and keep the pages turning!

Suzanne (Under the Covers Book blog)

This was a good novella, especially if you like your books action packed and full of kick ass heroines with a leather fetish, luckily I lap that stuff up. I was also pleasantly surprised when I enjoyed nearly all of the stories in this anthology, some I did like more than others, but generally I now have a few more series to add to my reading lists. Forked Tongues Rachel Caine This anthology kicks off with a bang with Rachel Caine's Forked Tongues, although I haven't really read any Rachel Caine before, this short story has definitely prompted me into trying out one of her series. It gave you a quick shot of demon hunting and witches as well as a little romance between the characters. I am definitely going to have to find out what series this is from and full in the gaps! Stolen Goods by Shannon K Butcher A short but action packed novella involving a magical pair of red boots and hammer being put to use in nefarious ways. This short story is a really intriguing start to a series (or maybe a prequel to a pre-existing one? I am not sure) that has left me wanting to a lot more about the main characters; the beautiful and deadly Simone and craftsman Marcus and to see what is going to happen next in the battle against the bad guys. The Girl with No Name by Chris Marie Green You wake up in an unfamiliar bed with no recollection of where you are and how you got there...yes this may seem like a normal Saturday morning, but for the heroine of this tale, not only does she not know where she is, she doesn't know who she is. We hop along on her ride to discover her identity and why the bad guys with the glowing red eyes seems to be following her. This was an entertaining story with plenty of action and a bit of mystery; however, it definitely wasn't my favourite story in this anthology. The Devil's Left Boot by Faith Hunter Faith Hunter brings gives us a story set in her Jane Yellowrock universe about twin witches Cia and Liz who are reluctantly helping their high school nemesi

Elizabeth

*My rating is based on Linds and Luc's story. HIGH STAKES (Chicagoland Vampires #8.5) by Chloe Neill I have been waiting for this since I read Some Girls Bite about 3 or 4 years ago? A part of me is angry because it was only one short-story and it's not like they get much time in the actual books, but I'm also glad it was short because dragging Lindsay's issues with commitment for longer would have been overkill. At the same time, in a full-lenght novel Neill could have explored Lindsay's background further (something I loved about the story!), and maybe even Luc's, whom we know almost nothing about. Anyhow, this is what we got and I MOTHERFUCKING LOVED IT! BEWARE! The following show the fangirl mode I entered before, while and after reading this (I'm still jumpy, but some stories just mess with you like that): (view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)]

Sarah

The great thing about anthologies is that they often give you a chance to try out a whole bunch of new authors. Kicking It has some big name authors from the urban fantasy genre so although I was most excited to read Chloe Neill and Kalayna Price's stories it was great to get to try some other new-to-me series too.I'll talk briefly about each story below but my overall opinion of this book is good. With any anthology there will always be some stories that you enjoy more than others but this collection definitely contains more hits than misses and even the ones I didn't love were well written, I just believe I'd have enjoyed them more if I was already familiar with the series they belong to. Forked Tongues by Rachel Caine: In Forked Tongues Holly & Andy are facing off against a demon who is riling up the general public against witches. It's already led to one murder and and Holly is the demon's latest target so they need to work fast if they want their lives to get back to normal. This is the second short story that I've read about this couple and I'm really enjoying getting to know them both, I love that Holly is a resurrection witch and that Andy is someone she brought back from the dead but I really must read their first story so I can find out how they first met. I actually think it's a shame Rachel Caine hasn't written a full length book about these two because they're such interesting characters. Stolen Goods by Shannon K Butcher: I believe Stolen Goods is a stand alone story but it would make a great start to a series so I'd definitely read more if the author decided to expand on it. It's an action packed story starring a thief and a master craftsman who is an expert at making weapons. He has something she wants but she'll only get to keep it if she helps him pull of the heist to end all heists. The Girl With No Name by Chris Marie Green: The Girl With No Name features a character from Chris Marie Green's Vampire Babylon series and is about someone who h

Delta

“The Devil’s Left Boot” by Faith Hunter- (a Jane Yellowrock short story) 4 urban fantasy starsThis fun short story is about two of Molly Everhart’s sisters, the twins, Elizabeth and Boadecia (Liz and Cia).

Jonetta

Stolen Goods by Shannon K. Butcher Blacksmith Matthew Brighton wants to hire mercenary Simone Solange to help him retrieve a special hammer the Fractogasts are using to construct a portal. Once complete, the portal will allow more of these destructive creatures entry and it will be the beginning of the end for humanity. Simone is all business with her leathers and magical red boots. Matthew has his own skills as she learns when she accompanies him on the assignment. This story revved up really quickly and the action was pretty exciting. In a few short pages, you got Simone's history and motivation, understanding she wasn't someone to mess with. Matthew's skills are in his craft with leathers and it's clear there's more to this man than Simone first gauged. And, there was just enough time to create a little bit of heat between them. Hopefully, there's more to come with this couple.

Rose Montague

Most anthologies have both good and not so good stories. This one is the exception in that the range is from pretty darn good to fabulous. The other thing I like about this anthology was the length of the stories. They all had some meat on the bones, enough to let the stories develop. I was fortunate to have read a few of these authors before and I am a big fan of Faith Hunter, Rachel Caine, and Kaylayna Price and have read a little from Rob Thurman and Chloe Neil. The four I have not read before were very good as well and I was especially intrigued by the stories from Christina Henry and Chris Marie Green. I will have to buy one of their books. The theme of the magical footwear ties the stories together between two strong selections from Rachael Caine and Kalayna Price, both of which contain characters that seem to me worthy of their own series. I hope to see more of them in the future.

Jen (That's What I'm Talking About)

Note: I am participating in a joint review. I only reviewed the titles written by Christina Henry, Lucienne Diver, and Chloe Neill. For a full review of all the shorts in the anthology, please visit: copy provided by NetGalley/PublisherHigh Stakes by Chloe Neill
Chicagoland Vampires #8.5 (A Luc and Lindsey story)Luc is Captain of the Guard of the Cadogen vampire House and Lindsey is their top guard. Recently, before this short began, something happened between the long-time friends that moved them to "more than friends." While Luc is pushing forward, Linds is reluctant after being his subordinate, friend, and comrade for so many years. Told from the POV of Lindsey, we learn of her sordid past as a young, wild vamp in New York. Now someone from her past is looking to kill her. Overall, this is a touching and entertaining tale. As someone that's never read the series, I had no problems whatsoever following Luc and Lindsey and enjoying their love story. In fact, for a story so short, I felt completely emotionally invested. Knowing the pair has a history helped a lot. It was just enough information to understand and make connections. Rating: B+ (Review by Jen Twimom)The Parlor by Lucienne DiverA Latter-Day Olympians storyThe story revolves around a supernatural PI with gorgon blood. She has limited powers. She is hired to find out if a husband is cheating, but instead ends up in a deadly web. The owner of the club where the husband frequents is a deadly creature of myth. The story is short and straight forward. I enjoyed it, but it was harder to get into the story than the other two. I had enough information to read it as a stand alone, but it was clear I was missing out on background information. The fact that I didn’t even know the main character’s name until halfway through the story was a little frustrating. However, with that said, the mythology that was presented intrigued me, and I certainly am interested in finding out more about this series. I enjoyed the main

Selenity Jade (Coffee Addicts Book Reviews)

I read this specifically for Kalayna Price's entry and stayed for the rest. I liked the entire book, minus one story that disappointed me. The rest were excellent, despite not having read the series they came from!

Robin

"High Stakes" by Chloe Neill is the only story I read in this anthology.It’s a normal day at Cadogan House for Lindsey and Luc until Lindsey receives a message from her Grand Niece. Someone has threatened her. That person wants Lindsey to go back to New York City, the place where she was turned into a vampire in the 1920s. Lindsey cannot figure out who is behind the threats. Everyone from her past is dead. But taking no chances, she leaves Cadogan House and Luc behind to confront her enemy.This is a very short story and part of Chloe Neill’s Chicagoland Vampire series. Luc and Lindsey are two of my favorite characters in the series, but this story really doesn’t do them justice. It’s short and predictable…a good way to pass the time. My rating: 3.5 Stars.

Melindeeloo

I am an anthology nut so I liked Kicking It. This has nine kickin' stories involving footwear of some significance from a fair number of my favorite UF authors, most set in the worlds of their series. I admit that I was a bit biased toward those connected shorts - probably because I brought a fair bit of knowledge of those worlds/characters with me into those stories and could focus on the action. A quick rundown...Forked Tongues - Rachel Caine - I believe this is Caine's third story starring resurrection witch, Holly, and Andy, a resurrected witch from Old West times kept alive by their love. I really like this pair but I brought their history with me from the previous stories, so I really enjoyed seeing them work together to deal with a boot wearing nemesis.Stolen Goods - Shannon K Butcher - not connected to her Sentinel Wars, A thief with magical boots and an artisan mage who coerces her help to try to steal a magical artifact being used by unearthly villains they both have reason to hate. I enjoyed this story and I wouldn't mind seeing more of the pair.The Girl With No Name - Chris Marie Green - I think it might tie into one of Green's series but I haven't read anything by her before. The hook for this was interesting but as a whole the story was more on the side of ok.The Devil's Left Boot - Faith Hunter - a Jane Yellowrock connected story but starring the sisters of Jane's witch friend Molly - The sisters are hired to find the missing mother of their high school 'mean girl' nemesis. I liked this, although there is just a brief cameo for Jane.High Stakes - Cloe Neill - Chicago Vampires story with Luc and Lindsey in the spotlight. This was pretty short, I liked that it gives a bit of Lindsey's history, but I was expecting a bit more of them together though. Lucienne Diver - The Parlor - this is apparently hooked into Diver's Olympian series which I haven't read. I liked the mythic tie-in. Red Isn't Really My Color - Christina Henry - from her Black Wings series,

Darcy

This review is only bases on the stories by the following storiesShannon K. Butcher - I normally really like this author, but this story didn't do it for me. I felt like I was missing something like the back story. I ended up not finishing it.Faith Hunter - I love the world of Jane Yellowrock, so was happy to see this story was set in it, but was surprised it held more of the Everhart sisters. I knew there were bad feelings between the sister/witches and Jane due to what happened. I liked that through this 2 of the sisters were able to work through their issues. I loved how the sisters work together and even sort of got back at the mean girl from their past.Chloe Neill - Luc and Lindsay make me smile, so when I realized this story was centered around them I was happy. I liked how it started, but hated how Lindsay pushed Luc away when she needed him most. I found Lindsay's past and her connection to her family to be interesting, but hated how the past came back to threaten her. I was glad that Luc didn't listen to Lindsay and was there to rescue her, but even better was when they got back home and Uncle Luc was thanked.Kalayna Price - This one was just ok for me. I did like learning more about the officers that investigate Alex.

Komal

High Stakes: Chloe Neill has hinted at a Luc & Lindsey story for quite some time now, and with this little novella, she delievers a short and sweet little foray into their lives. These two have so much history and passion and watching them interact with one another with such gentleness and love was amazing. I've loved Lindsey from the start but in this story, I fell in love with Luc. The mystery was also quite intriguing as it dwelled into Lindsey's past. Overall, if you're a fan of the CLV world, this little novella is worth the read.

Jaymie

I've come to enjoy these types of anthologies for a couple of reasons. I love seeing how writers with sometimes wildly different writing styles and worldviews deal with a common theme. The new paths their thoughts take you down is a journey you don't want to miss. The other great thing is being able to explore new authors and some of their favorite characters through the short story window provided in this context. The common theme, as you may have guessed from the title, is footwear...with a preternatural hitch. Who could resist the adventures of these action taking women in their stopmy boots, stilettos, dancing shoes, and otherwise enchanting (or enchanted as the case may be) footgear. In this varied collection, the editors Faith Hunter and Kalayna Price, did a wonderful job of arranging the stories into a sequence that makes it very readable cover to cover. If you are a fan of any one of the authors, preternatural fiction/mystery in general, or even just like a good yarn about shoes with issues you will thoroughly enjoy this compilation. I heartily recommend checking it out.

Torzilla

Lots of awesome stories to read! Individual reviews and ratings below. Overall, I loved this anthology and I wish that most of the stories were longer. Still, I have no complaints about brevity affecting quality, which is a first with an anthology for me.Rachel Caine, "Forked Tongues" -- 4/5Caine was one of the first authors I read pre-blogging. While I found the Weather Warden series to be awesome, later books did have a tendency to get a bit repetitive (so I couldn't really binge on the latter half of the series). I wasn't sure what to expect when reading this piece. Interesting take on witches, that's for sure. Would I foam at the mouth to read more about this couple? No, but I would enjoy learning more about them in future stories. I'm sure that after learning more about them, I probably would foam at the mouth to read even more, heh.Shannon K Butcher, "Stolen Goods" -- 3/5 This was an engaging read, but for some reason, I can't remember what the heck happened (it's been about a week or two since I read this one). Still, I would check out Butcher's series when I finally make a dent in my TBR. Chris Marie Green, "The Girl with No Name" -- DNFWriting style wasn't for me. Faith Hunter, "The Devil's Left Boot" -- 5/5First reason I bought this anthology. I'm biased. Have been a rabid fan of the JY series since Skinwalker first came out. Anything Jane-related is pretty much guaranteed to be kick ass, and this novella was no exception. I particularly enjoyed viewing Jane from another character's POV. We see her in such an intimate way--what with the series in her POV and all--so, she doesn't seem as brusque. But witnessing her from the eyes of another character who does not interact with our favorite heroine very often allowed me to learn about Jane all that much more. Chloe Neill, "High Stakes" -- 4.5/5Ever have an author on your TBR who you've been meaning to read, but just never had the chance to check out? Then you get excited because you find out he/she is in the

Chrissy

I bought this for the Alex Craft short story after finishing my reread of that series in preparation for the final book. But the other short stories in here look interesting too, so I'm definitely planning to read more and will update this review once I do.Forked Tongues (Rachel Caine) - 4 starsThis story isn't connected to any of the author's series, but there are two short stories about these characters that come before this one: Death Warmed Over in Strange Brew and Holly's Balm in Hex Appeal. I haven't read the previous stories, but I definitely might seek them out in the future. I really liked resurrection witch Holly and her resurrected gunslinger boyfriend from Wild West times, and the concept for this world was really cool. I kind of wish there were full-length novels about these characters.Stolen Goods (Shannon K. Butcher) - 3 starsI liked both of the main characters well enough and the plot and pacing were good, too. The only thing that kept this from being more than 3 stars was the villains. I'm not generally a fan of stories with villainous alien creatures from another dimension who are the bad guys entirely because of what they are and not because of who they are. I like my villains to have complex personalities and individuality too, which these didn't. I have no idea if this story is connected to any of the author's series, but even if it was I wouldn't be interested in reading more.The Girl With No Name (Chris Marie Green) - DNF/no ratingA girl wakes up with no idea where - or who - she is. That's all I know about this story because I didn't care to keep reading and find out more. Memory loss is generally speaking one of my least favorite tropes. There are exceptions where it works for me, when it's a series I already enjoy and the series also features one memory loss story/arc among a lot of other things going on. But a character I don't know or care about yet, who has no memory of who she is... a character I know exactly as little about as she reme