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Rhine Maiden #2
It Never Rhines but It Pours
Rhine maiden, Piper Cavanaugh, is on the job as a Guardian hit-man, but can she execute an innocent witch? When she discovers her target has been framed, Piper has to find the true killer or risk losing her job – and her life. As she sorts through a dwindling number of suspects, Piper tries to keep her trigger-happy vampire friend in line, fix a back-fired spell, deal with some unwanted house guests, and still find time to mother her two toddlers. With every use of her power of command bringing her closer to immortality, Piper soon realizes, it never “rhines” but it pours!
- GenresFantasyParanormal
253 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 1, 2011
3 people are currently reading
22 people want to read
About the author
Erin Evans
19 books15 followersErin Evans is a stay-at-home mom of seven (yep!), wonderful, little children. When she's not chasing after her offspring, changing diapers, teaching school, cooking gruel, chauffeuring minions about, or potty training, she is writing, playing drums at her church or crashed out dead asleep.
BOOKS:
- In her first series, "The Rhine Maiden" (Books 1-5), Erin based her siren-voiced character, Piper Cavanaugh, on her own life, but decided to have pity on Piper and only gave her two kids... to start off with.
- The Pernicious Princess series is a delightfully wicked take on twisted fairy tales. Book 3 is coming 2015.
- Food for Love, a foodie inspired romantic comedy with an urban fantasy twist.
REVIEWS:
The Rhine Maiden - ABNA 2012 Quarterfinalist
Food for Love - ABNA 2013 Quarterfinalist
- "... a very satisfying read ... fun and imaginative -- and romantic, of course ... this book is highly entertaining" - Publishers Weekly (ABNA 2013 Manuscript Review)
- "The humor and verve the protagonist exhibits are refreshing and delightful to read." - ABNA Expert Reviewer (Partial Manuscript Review)
- "The story unfolds rapidly, and Cordelia's voice is strong, individualistic and rich with self deprecating humor." - ABNA Expert Reviewer (Partial Manuscript Review)
FAVORITE BOOKS
In urban fantasy, Erin enjoys Charlaine Harris, Patricia Briggs, and Kim Harrison. All time favorite authors would be a tie between Robin Hobb and Jasper Fforde. Best series would be Jim Butcher's Codex Alera.
BOOKS:
- In her first series, "The Rhine Maiden" (Books 1-5), Erin based her siren-voiced character, Piper Cavanaugh, on her own life, but decided to have pity on Piper and only gave her two kids... to start off with.
- The Pernicious Princess series is a delightfully wicked take on twisted fairy tales. Book 3 is coming 2015.
- Food for Love, a foodie inspired romantic comedy with an urban fantasy twist.
REVIEWS:
The Rhine Maiden - ABNA 2012 Quarterfinalist
Food for Love - ABNA 2013 Quarterfinalist
- "... a very satisfying read ... fun and imaginative -- and romantic, of course ... this book is highly entertaining" - Publishers Weekly (ABNA 2013 Manuscript Review)
- "The humor and verve the protagonist exhibits are refreshing and delightful to read." - ABNA Expert Reviewer (Partial Manuscript Review)
- "The story unfolds rapidly, and Cordelia's voice is strong, individualistic and rich with self deprecating humor." - ABNA Expert Reviewer (Partial Manuscript Review)
FAVORITE BOOKS
In urban fantasy, Erin enjoys Charlaine Harris, Patricia Briggs, and Kim Harrison. All time favorite authors would be a tie between Robin Hobb and Jasper Fforde. Best series would be Jim Butcher's Codex Alera.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
March 16, 2012
To be fair, this book has its moments. There were quite a few laugh-out-loud moments, and the characters are certainly interesting enough to keep me reading. Unfortunately, those were not enough to save this book from being a drag.
Piper Cavanaugh returns in the second book of the Rhine series, along with her sister Sarah and best friend Cecily. This time, she has to hunt down the person responsible for the ritualistic murder of two teenagers. It's either that, or put her family and the whole of humanity at risk, so she didn't have much choice, regardless of how unwilling she is to take someone's life. Oh, to top it all off, she is also a mother, a daughter, a wife and a victim to a sadistic mother-in-law...
The premise sounds fun enough, and it is, at times. What went wrong was repetition. Boisterous children? Check. More snide remarks from mother-in-law? Check. Frantic juggling of her duties? Check, check, check. It seemed to me that nothing much is worth paying attention to, because everything is a huge mess. While I understand that the writer might want to make things more exciting, cramming everything together is hardly a good idea.
It might have helped if the humour is fresh. That was the case in the first book. Unfortunately, by the time one reaches the middle of this second installment, things have gotten real stale. Piper's obsession with her weight? I stopped caring after the twentieth time she complained. Her loud and hyperactive kids? It's a wonder no one has strangled them yet, because all we got to see is how annoying they are and little attention is paid to how they too, can be adorable. Trouble with the mother-in-law? Boringgggg...
By the time I had gotten a few chapters into the book, I have reached a point where I could hardly care less about the fate of the characters. In fact, the ones I care most about is Pravus, the supposed villain of the book.
The worse part of the book is all the debate about ethics and morality. We had a glimpse of that in the first book, on abortion. If you think that's bad, here we have an equivalent of a thesis on the concept of killing someone else to save a loved one. Piper's stance made me balk in disbelief and the arguments presented were anything but convincing. The ending left much to be desired too, with the final battle between good and evil poorly drawn out (and repetitive too).
Not quite worth one's time if you have something else better to do, and definitely not a story that I'll put other things off to read. In fact, I'm hesitating whether to go on with the third book.
Piper Cavanaugh returns in the second book of the Rhine series, along with her sister Sarah and best friend Cecily. This time, she has to hunt down the person responsible for the ritualistic murder of two teenagers. It's either that, or put her family and the whole of humanity at risk, so she didn't have much choice, regardless of how unwilling she is to take someone's life. Oh, to top it all off, she is also a mother, a daughter, a wife and a victim to a sadistic mother-in-law...
The premise sounds fun enough, and it is, at times. What went wrong was repetition. Boisterous children? Check. More snide remarks from mother-in-law? Check. Frantic juggling of her duties? Check, check, check. It seemed to me that nothing much is worth paying attention to, because everything is a huge mess. While I understand that the writer might want to make things more exciting, cramming everything together is hardly a good idea.
It might have helped if the humour is fresh. That was the case in the first book. Unfortunately, by the time one reaches the middle of this second installment, things have gotten real stale. Piper's obsession with her weight? I stopped caring after the twentieth time she complained. Her loud and hyperactive kids? It's a wonder no one has strangled them yet, because all we got to see is how annoying they are and little attention is paid to how they too, can be adorable. Trouble with the mother-in-law? Boringgggg...
By the time I had gotten a few chapters into the book, I have reached a point where I could hardly care less about the fate of the characters. In fact, the ones I care most about is Pravus, the supposed villain of the book.
The worse part of the book is all the debate about ethics and morality. We had a glimpse of that in the first book, on abortion. If you think that's bad, here we have an equivalent of a thesis on the concept of killing someone else to save a loved one. Piper's stance made me balk in disbelief and the arguments presented were anything but convincing. The ending left much to be desired too, with the final battle between good and evil poorly drawn out (and repetitive too).
Not quite worth one's time if you have something else better to do, and definitely not a story that I'll put other things off to read. In fact, I'm hesitating whether to go on with the third book.
October 9, 2013
Crossposted at booklikes.
This series, at least the first two books, aren’t bad. Piper is a Rhine maiden descendent, which means she can control people with her voice. She, her sister, and a friend who just happens to be a vampire, are sent to deal with a witch who might have killed a couple of kids.
The parts that win this book are:
1. The friendships between the women.
2. The fact that Piper is not perfect.
3. The plot fits neatly together.
4. Cost of actions is shown. Piper does think, perhaps too much, about the cost of killing.
5. A marriage of equals.
The things that were done too much.
1. The debate about morality. The idea itself is interesting. I don’t mind a debate, but it felt like the same debate over and over again.
2. There was a whole bit about the husband being late to dinner. I’m not really show why that was there. It felt like a bit much.
Still, I found the book enjoyable. It was fun and light. Considering that most women characters in urban fantasy come from a tragic past, are in some confusing romantic triangle or other geometric shape, and never seem to go beyond it, it’s nice to read a different take on it.
This series, at least the first two books, aren’t bad. Piper is a Rhine maiden descendent, which means she can control people with her voice. She, her sister, and a friend who just happens to be a vampire, are sent to deal with a witch who might have killed a couple of kids.
The parts that win this book are:
1. The friendships between the women.
2. The fact that Piper is not perfect.
3. The plot fits neatly together.
4. Cost of actions is shown. Piper does think, perhaps too much, about the cost of killing.
5. A marriage of equals.
The things that were done too much.
1. The debate about morality. The idea itself is interesting. I don’t mind a debate, but it felt like the same debate over and over again.
2. There was a whole bit about the husband being late to dinner. I’m not really show why that was there. It felt like a bit much.
Still, I found the book enjoyable. It was fun and light. Considering that most women characters in urban fantasy come from a tragic past, are in some confusing romantic triangle or other geometric shape, and never seem to go beyond it, it’s nice to read a different take on it.
October 6, 2014
I just loved this book!! it has so much going on all the time and its very hard to put down! i am really finding alot of humor along with the dangers and darker parts. Piper makes me laugh and she is so strong and brave! i wish my convictions were are solid as hers... she makes a great heroine in this story. I really enjoy all the characters and think her mother in law is evil and needs to go away somewhere! lol
i am looking forward to the next book in this series and reading them all! This author is a wonderful story teller.
i am looking forward to the next book in this series and reading them all! This author is a wonderful story teller.
August 7, 2011
the second in the rhine maiden series, and another enjoyable read, especially for 99 cents! can't wait for number 3 to come out--A LITTLE RHINE MUST FALL. this series has little bad language or overt violence, no sex, but rather accurately portrays a modern mom and her kids
December 7, 2011
Very entertaining light reading. I'm working on this 2nd in the Rhine Maiden series. Even better than the first. I highly recommend the book. Only available on Kindle that I know of.
September 15, 2012
I liked this book as much as the first book. It had some dark and scary moments, but it was still fun at the same time.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews