Shady Lady: A Corine Solomon Novel [Mass Market Paperback]

Ann Aguirre (Author)

Book Description

Release date: April 5, 2011

I'd spent my whole life settling, trying not to attract attention, and generally doing whatever it took to keep other people happy. I didn't want to do that again. Not when I was finally comfortable in my own skin. Sure, there were certain challenges, like a drug lord who wanted me dead, and the fact that I owed a demon a debt that he could call due at any moment. But everybody's got problems, right?

Whenever Corine Solomon touches an object, she immediately knows its history. But her own future concerns her more and more. Now back in Mexico, she's running her pawnshop and trying to get a handle on her strange new powers, for she might need them. And soon.

Then former ally Kel Ferguson walks through her door. Heavily muscled and tattooed, Kel looks like a convict but calls himself a holy warrior. This time, he carries a warning for Corine: the Montoya cartel is coming for her--but they don't just pack automatic weapons. The Montoyas use warlocks, shamans, voodoo priests--anything to terminate trouble. And Corine has become enemy number one...

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Violent revenge threatens a demon-touched amateur witch in the solid third Corine Solomon adventure (after 2010's Hell Fire). Corine is ready to return to her normal life as a pawnshop owner, but when Kel Ferguson, Hand of God, arrives just in time to save her from touching an item hexed to kill her, she discovers that a drug cartel boss is out for her blood. Corine, Kel, and Corine's teen ward, Shannon, dodge enemies from Mexico City to Laredo, Tex.—with an even more dangerous side trip to Peru—while striking bargains with red witches, a rival cartel, demons, and their own consciences. Corine's inner turmoil over using dark powers to survive is compelling, as is her attraction to the strong and appealing Kel (even though he's love interest #3). Aguirre has a gift for creating strong characters who keep her readers coming back for more. (Apr.)
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Review

I can't wait to see what [Ann Aguirre] comes up with next."
---NYT Bestselling author Patricia Briggs

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Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Roc; First Edition edition (April 5, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0451463250
• ISBN-13: 978-0451463258
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.2 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #428,389 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

USA Today bestselling author Ann Aguirre has been a clown, a clerk, a savior of stray kittens, and a voice actress, not necessarily in that order. She grew up in a yellow house across from a cornfield, but now she lives in a terracotta adobe house with her husband and children. In this guise, she writes SF, UF, and YA.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars The Corine Solomon books have all been superb supernatural rides & SHADY LADY is the best yet. April 5, 2011

By Abigail TOP 1000 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:Mass Market Paperback

I've come to expect great things from Ann Aguirre. I don't just read her books, I step into the skin of her characters, breath the same air, taste the same food, feel the same rush of adrenaline and chill of fear. The Corine Solomon books in particular, have all been superb supernatural rides, and SHADY LADY is the best yet.

What a surprise Kel was in this book. When we first met him in BLUE DIABLO, he was this crazy, zealous warrior. Barely human. An enemy. A tenuous alliance was formed between him and Corine, but he was still terrifying at best, and homicidal most times. And yet, Ann changed him in a very gradual, subtle way throughout SHADY LADY. Or maybe she just changed my perception, because by the end of the book, I'd basically called the race for Corine's heart and the two other guys from the previous book weren't even close. I loved how my expectations were completely turned upside down and yet I never once felt cheated.

But even though I may have declared a winner, that doesn't mean that Corine (or Ann has). I had some issues with Corine's indecisiveness in the previous books, and she's no more resolute this time when it comes to the men in her life. In SHADY LADY, she mentally commits to each one before waffling on to the next in the space of only a few chapters. Talk about whiplash. Yes there are circumstances that prompt each decision, but I would have expected her to maybe take a little time to think things through before moving on to the next guy. But that's my only complaint in this otherwise excellent urban fantasy.

There is so much good stuff packed into this book. Surprising character transformations, rich worldbuilding, gorgeous writing, killer action scenes and hot romance (the chapters in the jungle reminded me of a classic Linda Howard romance). Everything adds up here. Urban Fantasy fans will want to get drunk on this series, and the good news is that we have at least two more Corine Solomon books to look forward to. DEVIL'S PUNCH will be out in April 2012, followed by BLOODY MARIA in April 2013. So belly up to the bar if you haven't already. This is a series that just keeps getting better.

Sexual Content:
Kissing. A brief, mildly graphic sex scene. References to rape. Attempted rape.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Exciting urban fantasy! April 6, 2011

By Pamela VINE™ VOICE

Format:Mass Market Paperback

Shady Lady is the third book in Ann Aguirre's Corine Solomon urban fantasy series, and I'm pleased to report that Aguirre just keeps on delivering the goods. Despite a slow and somewhat jerky start, by the mid-point of the book I was completely hooked, and the end left me drooling for more.

The beginning reminded me of how the first book in the series, Blue Diablo started out pretty slow and meandering, and while Shady Lady doesn't exactly meander, it does take a while to really pick up. Big Exciting Things happen at the beginning, when we find out that Montoya, the drug dealer Corine pissed off in the first book, is gunning for her, and Kel, the slightly creepy Hand of God, shows up saying that he's on a mission from God... er, has been assigned to protect Corine. They, along with Shannon, Corine's roommate and the gifted girl she rescued from her old hometown in Hell Fire, set off to find out how to break a hex that was meant to kill Corine.

The more I think about it, the more Shady Lady feels like two novels mashed into one. I'm not saying that's a bad thing, but it does lead to a slightly disjointed feel overall. The first half involves Corine and Kel running around, dodging snipers and trekking through jungles. The second half involves Corine turning into a seriously tough lady in Texas, trying to take out Montoya and stay on the good side of Montoya's rival and her new, er, patron, Escobar. In terms of how the story flows, story one segues into story two pretty well, but it did take a while for me to really feel like the ball was rolling.

Once again, characterization is the strongest point in this series. Corine continually grows as a character, learning things about herself that scare her. I really appreciate that Aguirre doesn't allow Corine to become a static character. Everything that happens to her affects the way she sees the world and sees herself. When she faces a nasty choice-should she work with a rival drug lord to get rid of the one who's trying to kill her?-she doesn't make any decisions lightly, and even at the end, she's not sure that she's doing the right thing or going down the right path. She does what she has to do to survive, but that decision will come with a lot of soul searching.

Shannon is a fantastic addition to the story, a troubled young woman finally coming into her own. Kel in particular impressed me. It's been a while since I read Blue Diablo and so I only vaguely remembered him. I absolutely love his slowly-revealed back story, and I'm definitely hoping we see more of him in future installments. Both of Corine's past love interests, Jesse and Chance, make appearances in Shady Lady, but I have to confess that I wasn't particularly pleased to see either of them. I like them well enough as characters, but I loved seeing Corine thriving on her own in Mexico City. I really hope she doesn't fall back into her old habit of codependency.

Oh, and Butch the psychic Chihuahua? Gets better and better with each book. I was a little wary of the idea at first, but when Butch showed off a new talent late in Shady Lady, I simultaneously cracked up and bought into it without reservation. He's turning out to be a pretty awesome character.

The book doesn't necessarily end on a cliffhanger, but something happens that made me yell, "OH NO!" when I got to it. I enjoyed Shady Lady very much, and I'm seriously chomping at the bit for the next book in the series.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Thumbs up April 6, 2011

By Denise

Format:Mass Market Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

I really appreciate the author's writing style. The characters are well rounded with layers,several points of interest and complexity. The plot has texture and nuiances with hints of intrigue to come. Corine is fun she is smart, tough, vulnerable and loyal. She isn't a superhero but a person who steps up as crisis reach her and makes difficult choices. She is finding her strength as she is facing some pretty scary advesaries. Her struggles are not neat with easy solutions for every move their are consequences some are happy some devastating. I think Ann gave enough hints about Chance's origins and I am anxious to see if I am right. After three books I'm more vested and intrigued by the characters. Great read start with 1st in series and I also recommend Jax series!