Steele City Blues

I received this book from Netgalley for an honest review. Nina and Frankie, Blood Ops no longer functioning, work to save the witches from Leila and free Dr. O from prison.Paranormals are outed. Powerful help arrives to quell the army Leila is trying to build. Fast paced, magic and action filled.

I have read the first two books in the Hell's Belle series, and I was excited when I accidentally stumbled across the third one on NetGalley. In this book, Leila is still holding Dr. O, and it is up to Nina and Frankie to rescue him. Adding to the mix, and to the problems, is a member of Nina's family she thought was long gone, and she doesn't know if he's an ally or an enemy. Nina will call in favors to help her rescue Dr. O, and even use her enemies if that's what it takes because she will do whatever it takes to get him back, even if it takes dying. I was drawn in quite quickly to the story, and even though it has been awhile, it didn't take long to remember everything that had happened before. That being said, if you are new to the series, I would start at the beginning to get the full benefit of nuances, of which there are many. As in the previous books, this book was well-written, the plot interesting, and the characters fun. Even after I finished the story and realized there were some glossed-over problems in the plot (i.e. they really didn't think through the first break-in at the prison), I still really enjoyed this story; it was just so fun and action-packed! If you like a fast-paced, well-written urban fantasy with many paranormal creatures, look no further. This is a thrill-ride adventure. Highly recommend!

Thanks to NetGalley and Karen Greco for the e-book which I voluntarily reviewed. This exact review posted on both Amazon and Goodreads.

Absolutely loved Steel City Blues and couldn't put it down, even for sleep. Definitely a 5 star book with numerous paranormal characters and unexpected actions! Looking for book 4 , hopefully out very soon!!

This book was just bursting with action, mayhem, betrayal, and a teeny bit of romance. I would not recommend reading this book if you haven't read the ones previous. You'll be a little lost because this definitely continues right where we left off.

So - we are exactly where we left everything last time. Dr. O is in prison. Nina's mom is still evil and on the loose. Max is still a broody berserker. And Nina and Frankie still have some seriously unresolved sexual tension. To top all of this off, Nina's mysterious and powerful grandfather turns up on her doorstep with ideas of training her as a witch. Everything sort of meanders its way to a few final battles here. I was worried about halfway through about things getting wrapped up in a decent way, but have no fear!

We get Nina's mother issues worked through, even though that looked a little touch and go for a while. The way we go about getting that resolution was a little less than optimal, but, hey, that's Blood Ops for you. Dr. O and the prison storyline also gets tidied up nicely. We meet some new characters in the form of border crossing werewolves. We also, sadly, get some bureaucratic nonsense from a new lead for Blood Ops. Who knew things could get more crappy than having your leader arrested? All of this bundles together in a messy and gritty look at Nina's insane life. I really hope she follows through on that vacation.

Steele City Blues, Book 3 in the Hell's Belle Series,  Karen Greco 
 
Review from Jeannie Zelos book reviews

Genre:  Sci Fi & Fantasy, General Fiction (Adult)

I’ve read books one and two in this series/trilogy (I’m unsure which it is) and loved them so its on to book three to see what’s going to befall Nina and co next.  
We pick up where book two left off. Although there have been a couple of novellas between, I haven’t read them and they don’t feel necessary to read to follow the story ( though might be fun to see what else is going on!).

Leila can’t be allowed to continue her actions, she’s destruction in person form and a complete nutter power freak. She's creating what seems to be a supernatural army. Who needs her running the world?
Who can stop her though? Blood Ops doesn’t exist now, Max seems to have thrown in with Mary Jane and  the Gov but they don't have the skills and knowledge to fight supernaturals. Bertrand the demon is untrustworthy, he seems to be on their side but who knows, he’s totally unpredictable and what’s best for him only is what drives him. He’ll help so longs as he benefits, and when it doesn’t he’ll swap sides easily and seamlessly. Dr O can't help, he's in Steele city, the prison for those of a supernatural bent, and the team miss him and his advice and magical talents.
With Babe gone and Dr O locked up its really down to just Frankie, Nina and friends to save the day..and the world. Tough times eh?

Its a fun read once more, full of humour and snark, puzzles to unravel, sides to take and wondering just where Nina is going next, what's going to happen and how.
I love the core group of friends, Frankie, Nina, Matty and Darcie, and Caspar...a great group, very diverse, and at times it seems like herding cats trying to get them to agree. Max is kind of in the group but not, he's very allied to Mary Jane, and TBH I was disappointed in some of his actions and decisions. He’s very pro helping people, saving lives and yet seems to have no issues with Mary Jane’s announcements about what she’ll do if Nina and co don’t succeed in stopping Leila very quickly...it just didn’t feel right to me him being OK with that.
There’s a new player to the game too, someone who may – or may not – be a help and who comes from a very unexpected place.

There some great humour too tucked in with the drama, and its the kind of quirky snark that pervades Kim Harrison’s Hollows series and made that such a must read for me. I do like some fun in among my dark and dramatic, the end of the world is nigh...but there’s time for a coffee first sort of stuff!
Nina seems to have curbed her anger a little in this book, it was beginning to grate on me that she had a shoot first policy, so for me that’s a real improvement. After all there are only so many times you can get away with it!  
I said Max was a bity of a disappointment, but that’s made up for by Frankie – I Love that guy, he’s so perfect, humorous when the situation needs it, but ready to defend Nina to the death. I love the thought of him in the 70’s in gold lame and roller skates!! He and Nina are getting closer, its clear he wants her and she’s attracted but will she ever take that final step?

Its fun and games, drama and deception, snark and sensuality and another hit read for me.
I’m not sure if this is a trilogy or a series, can’t find out from author site or anywhere on net. It ends...kind of..so it could be a wrap, but there’s so much left open that I think there’s room for more books, and am hoping they are coming.

Stars: Five, a fabulous read once more, packed with magic and mayhem and fantastic characters.

ARC supplied for review purposes by Netgalley and Publishers

This book is one that you have to read the first of the series so you don't get lost. I have read the rest of the series and still had problems in the beginning. Once I got caught up, I could not put it down. And everyone needs a Frankie in their life. If you have not read this series try it.

LOVED it! Cant WAIT to see where this goes! The worldbuilding is wonderful!

This has turned into a very fun series for me, and this book pushes the gas pedal on the action, the danger and all the characters. A lot of surprises and twists, characters are well flushed out and likeable. We start out where we left off in the last book, but with Dr. O kidnapped, and witches and werewolves going missing. Nina, Frankie and the gang know where they are, but now they have to find a way to rescue and break in to Steele City.

I’m not giving any more away, but this book wraps up the arcs satisfactory even though it leaves the series open for more – but it could even end here and it would be okay (and I hope not). There is a touch of romance in this, but it’s not overwhelming the story, it just enhances what’s already here. There isn’t much to dislike – it’s what urban fantasies should be.
5 Stars