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Author: Jennifer Estep | Website
Published Works & Book Reviews
Widow's Web
The seventh book in the hugely popular Elemental Assassin series by New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author Jennifer Estep—Gin Blanco is back and ready for action. My name is Gin, and I kill people. It’s something I've been doing for years as the assassin called Spider, but now, it’s turned into a necessity on my part just to survive all the lowlifes in Ashland who are gunning for me. The underworld is still in turmoil, and I seem to be on everyone’s hit list these days. To add to Gin’s problems, her lover Owen’s ex is in town. Salina is back in Ashland to reclaim an old family legacy—and she thinks that Owen is hers for the taking. Also in the mix is Phillip Kincaid, a casino owner and all-around shady character who has a mysterious connection to both Owen and Salina. Salina might seem like a sweet Southern belle, but there’s more to her than meets the eye. Her water elemental magic makes her a dangerous enemy—and someone who can go toe-to-toe with Gin’s Ice and Stone power. But Gin is determined to get to the bottom of Salina’s deadly scheme, even though it just might cost her everything…including Owen.
Dark Frost
I've seen so many freaky things since I started attending Mythos Academy last fall. I know I'm supposed to be a fearless warrior, but most of the time, I feel like I'm just waiting for the next Bad, Bad Thing to happen. Like someone trying to kill me--again. Everyone at Mythos Academy knows me as Gwen Frost, the Gypsy girl who uses her psychometry magic to find lost objects--and who just may be dating Logan Quinn, the hottest guy in school. But I'm also the girl the Reapers of Chaos want dead in the worst way. The Reapers are the baddest of the bad, the people who murdered my mom. So why do they have it in for me? It turns out my mom hid a powerful artifact called the Helheim Dagger before she died. Now, the Reapers will do anything to get it back. They think I know where the dagger is hidden, but this is one thing I can't use my magic to find. All I do know is that the Reapers are coming for me--and I'm in for the fight of my life. "A great start to a new young adult paranormal series." –Night Owl Reviews
Reviewer: ELF
Review: May 22, 2012
Genre(s): YA / Teen, Paranormal / Supernatural, Fantasy, Mythology
“Dark Frost” by Jennifer Estep is the next in the mesmerizing Mythos Academy series, a group of young adult paranormal books that follow Gwen Frost, the seventeen year old Gypsy who has the gift of psychometry (the ability to read past events by touching an object). She and her friends are continuing to train against the threat of the Reapers of Chaos who are trying to regain the Helheim dagger so that they
Thread of Death
Gin Blanco, aka the assassin the Spider, might have finally killed her nemesis, Mab Monroe, but that doesn’t mean that it’s smooth sailing. Gin goes to Mab’s funeral to say her goodbyes and runs into some of Ashland’s most notorious underworld power players, including Jonah McAllister and Phillip Kincaid. McAllister wants her dead, and Kincaid has his own murky motives when it comes to the Spider, and Gin once again finds herself fighting for her life. Only this time, she might wind up in the cemetery right next to Mab….
Reviewer: ELF
Review: Jan 24, 2012
Genre(s): Paranormal Romance, Urban Fantasy
“Thread of Death” is a novella by Jennifer Estep set just after the end of “Spider’s Revenge”, detailing the events that unfold after the climactic battle between the assassin known as the ‘Spider’ and the evil Elemental Mab. There are plenty of spoilers if one has not read the previous books in the series but this gives a glimpse of the life that Gin Blanco lives. She has fought long and hard to hone her s
By a Thread
The sixth book in the USA TODAY bestselling Elemental Assassin urban fantasy series featuring Gin Blanco, who by day owns a Tennessee BBQ joint, and by night is a tough female assassin known as the Spider. I never thought I'd need a vacation from being an assassin.. My name is Gin Blanco, and I'm the assassin the Spider. All the Ashland's lowlifes are gunning for me and trying to make a name for themselves by taking out the Spider. So I think it's a good idea to get out of Ashland for a while until things cool down. So I'm headed south to a swanky beach town, along with my baby sister, Bria, for a weekend of fun in the sun. But when an old friend of Bria's is threatened by a powerful vampire with deadly elemental magic, it looks like I'll have to dig my silverstone knives out of my suitcase after all. But this time, not even my own Ice and Stone power may be enough to save me from coming home in a pine box.
Reviewer: ELF
Review: Feb 21, 2012
Genre(s): Paranormal Romance, Urban Fantasy
Gin Blanco is back in “By A Thread”, Jennifer Estep’s next contribution to her exciting Elemental Assassin series. The challenges never seem to stop coming as Gin attempts to return to her life as proprietor of the eatery, the Pork Pit, following her successful elimination of the evil Mab Monroe. She finally acquiesces to foster brother Finnegan (Finn) Lane’s persuasion and plans a vacation with him, her si
A Karma Girl Christmas
It's Christmas time in Bigtime, New York, but society reporter Carmen Cole isn't in the mood to celebrate since her husband, Sam, has to go on a business trip and might not make it home for the holiday. But Carmen has plenty to keep her busy, since she moonlights as Karma Girl, a member of the Fearless Five superhero team.
On Christmas Eve, Carmen, as Karma Girl, is assigned to guard toys, clothes, food, and more that are intended for needy children and their families. But an ubervillain also has his eye on the toys and plans to steal and then sell them to the highest bidder. Carmen will have to use all her empathic powers just to stay alive, not to mention make sure Christmas is a happy one for all the kids who are counting on her. It's all in a night's work for a superhero ...
Note: This is a 14,000-word story that takes place after the events of Jinx, the third book in the Bigtime series. It can also be read as a stand-alone story.
Reviewer: ELF
Review: Nov 1, 2011
Genre(s): Paranormal Romance, Superpowers
"A Karma Girl Christmas" is a novella by Jennifer Estep set in the town of Bigtime and featuring the Fearless Five (the superheroes that protect the town) as well as the evil ubervillains that constantly try to wreak havoc. It's Christmas time and Karma Girl has been chosen to guard the toys for the Oodles o' Stuff store's annual Christmas charity drive since she is the newbie member of the Fearless Five.
Entangled
Ghosts, vampires, demons, and more! Entangled includes ten suspense-filled paranormal short stories from authors Cynthia Eden, Jennifer Estep, Edie Ramer, Lori Brighton, Michelle Diener, Misty Evans, Nancy Haddock, Liz Kreger, Dale Mayer, and Michelle Miles, plus a Seven Deadly Sins novella by Allison Brennan. Stacia Kane contributed the foreword. Formatting and cover art were also donated to the project by Lori Devoti and Laura Morrigan. All proceeds go to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.
Reviewer: ELF
Review: Oct 18, 2011
Genre(s): Urban Fantasy, Anthologies
"Entangled" is an anthology that features eleven paranormal tales by a group of extremely talented authors who have united to produce a fascinating volume that will benefit breast cancer research. Some of the stories contribute to established series such as Jennifer Estep's Mythos Academy which is featured in "Halloween Frost" as Gwen succumbs to peer pressure and goes on a unforgettable night of trick-or-tr
Kiss of Frost
Logan Quinn was trying to kill me. My Spartan classmate relentlessly pursued me, swinging his sword at me over and over again, the shining silver blade inching closer to my throat every time. A smile tugged up his lips, and his ice-blue eyes practially glowed with the thrill of battle… I’m Gwen Frost, a second-year warrior-in-training at Mythos Academy, and I have no idea how I’m going to survive the rest of the semester. One day, I’m getting schooled in swordplay by the guy who broke my heart—the drop-dead gorgeous Logan who slays me every time. Then, an invisible archer in the Library of Antiquities decides to use me for target practice. And now, I find out that someone at the academy is really a Reaper bad guy who wants me dead. I’m afraid if I don’t learn how to live by the sword—with Logan’s help—I just might die by the sword…
Reviewer: ELF
Review: Nov 22, 2011
Genre(s): YA / Teen, Paranormal / Supernatural, Fantasy, Mythology
Kiss of Frost by Jennifer Estep continues her young adult series "Mythos Academy" as it follows the adventures of Gwen Frost, gypsy teenager with the gift of psychometry (the ability to gain information about an object's history through the sense of touch). A series of attempts upon her life leads Gwen to think that a Reaper is out to kill her and she assumes that it has something to do with Jasmine's family
Karma Girl
Investigative reporter Carmen Cole gets the surprise of her life on her wedding day when she discovers that her fiance and best friend are sleeping together – and that the two of them are her town's resident superhero and ubervillain. Shocked and hurt, Carmen reveals their secret identities and then decides to devote her life to unmasking every superhero and ubervillain who crosses her path.
A series of successful unmaskings lands Carmen a job at The Expose, one of the biggest newspapers in Bigtime, New York, a city that's full of superheroes and ubervillains. Carmen is in her element – until she gets kidnapped by the Terrible Triad, Bigtime’s most dangerous ubervillain team.
The Triad orders Carmen to uncover the secret identity of Striker, the leader of the Fearless Five, Bigtime's most popular superhero team – or else they’ll drop her in a vat of radioactive goo. With that threat hanging over her, Carmen sets out to unmask Striker, but what she doesn’t count on is falling for the sexy superhero. But with the Terrible Triad lurking around, this is one story that just might be the death of her ...
First Frost
I am Gwen Frost, and I have a Gypsy gift. It’s called psychometry – that's a fancy way of saying that I see images in my head and get flashes of other people’s memories off almost everything I touch, even guys.
My gift makes me kind of nosy. Okay, okay, maybe a lot nosy--to the point of obsession sometimes. I want to know everything about everyone around me. But even I don't want to know the secrets my friend Paige is hiding or the terrible loss that will send me to a new school – Mythos Academy, where the teachers aren't preparing us for the SATs, but to battle Reapers of Chaos. Now I have no friends and no idea how my gift fits in with all these warrior whiz kids. The only thing I do know is that my life is never, ever going to be the same. . .
Spider's Revenge
Old habits die hard for assassins.
And I plan on murdering someone before the night is through.
Killing used to be my regular gig, after all. Gin Blanco, aka the Spider, assassin-for-hire. And I was very, very good at it. Now, I’m ready to make the one hit that truly matters: Mab Monroe, the dangerous Fire elemental who murdered my family when I was thirteen. Oh, I don’t think the mission will be easy, but turns out it’s a bit more problematic than expected. The bitch knows I’m coming for her. So now I’m up against the army of lethal bounty hunters Mab hired to track me down. She also put a price on my baby sister’s head. Keeping Bria safe is my first priority. Taking Mab out is a close second. Good thing I’ve got my powerful Ice and Stone magic—and my irresistible lover, Owen Grayson—to watch my back. This battle has been years in the making, and there’s a good chance I won’t survive. But if I’m going down, then Mab’s coming with me . . . no matter what I have to do to make that happen.
Reviewer: ELF
Review: Sep 20, 2011
Genre(s): Paranormal Romance, Urban Fantasy
Jennifer Estep continues her fascinating saga of Gin Blanco, former assassin, in the action-packed Spider's Revenge. Gin is one of the Elementals in town, unusual in the fact that she has two different powers to access, that of Ice and of Stone. She continues to utilize the skills that she honed for use as an assassin even though she is ostensibly retired and supposedly concentrating on continuing to provid
Touch of Frost
My name is Gwen Frost, and I go to Mythos Academy -- a school of myths, magic and warrior whiz kids, where even the lowliest geek knows how to chop off somebody's head with a sword and Logan Quinn, the hottest Spartan guy in school, also happens to be the deadliest. But lately, things have been weird, even for Mythos. First, mean girl Jasmine Ashton was murdered in the Library of Antiquities. Then, someone stole the Bowl of Tears, a magical artifact that can be used to bring about the second Chaos War. You know, death, destruction and lots of other bad, bad things. Freaky stuff like this goes on all the time at Mythos, but I'm determined to find out who killed Jasmine and why – especially since I should have been the one who died …
Reviewer: ELF
Review: Jul 19, 2011
Genre(s): YA / Teen, Romance, Fantasy, Mythology
Jennifer Estep starts a new series with Touch of Frost, a young adult paranormal tale that centers around Gwen Frost and her adventures at Mythos Academy. Gwen possesses the talent of psychometry (touch magic), a power that allows her to see images or feel what the person who touched the object did. Gwen considers herself a Gypsy and believes that her power is only something to use in order to help earn mon
Tangled Threads
I’d rather face a dozen lethal assassins any night than deal with something as tricky, convoluted, and fragile as my feelings.
But here I am. Gin Blanco, the semi-retired assassin known as the Spider. Hovering outside sexy businessman Owen Grayson’s front door like a nervous teenage girl. One thing I like about Owen: he doesn’t shy away from my past—or my present. And right now I have a bull’s-eye on my forehead. Cold-blooded Fire elemental Mab Monroe has hired one of the smartest assassins in the business to trap me. Elektra LaFleur is skilled and efficient, with deadly electrical elemental magic as potent as my own Ice and Stone powers. Which means there’s a fifty-fifty chance one of us won’t survive this battle. I intend to kill LaFleur—or die trying—because Mab wants the assassin to take out my baby sister, Detective Bria Coolidge, too. The only problem is, Bria has no idea I’m her long-lost sibling . . . or that I’m the murderer she’s been chasing through Ashland for weeks. And what Bria doesn’t know just might get us both dead. . . .
Reviewer: ELF
Review: Apr 19, 2011
Genre(s): Paranormal Romance, Urban Fantasy
Tangled Threads by Jennifer Estep is another enthralling look at former assassin Gin Blanco who has declared war on Mab Monroe, Fire elemental, and is taunting her by leaving a Spider rune whenever she kills another of Mab’s henchmen. A new player has entered into the mix, another deadly assassin, Elektra LaFleur, whose calling card is an orchid and who may be as lethal as Gin herself. LaFle
Venom
What kind of assassin works pro bono?
It’s hard to be a badass assassin when a giant is beating the crap out of you. Luckily, I never let pride get in the way of my work. My current mission is personal: annihilate Mab Monroe, the Fire elemental who murdered my family. Which means protecting my identity, even if I have to conceal my powerful Stone and Ice magic when I need it most. To the public, I’m Gin Blanco, owner of Ashland’s best barbecue joint. To my friends, I’m the Spider, retired assassin. I still do favors on the side. Like ridding a vampire friend of her oversized stalker—Mab’s right-hand goon who almost got me dead with his massive fists. At least irresistible Owen Grayson is on my side. The man knows too much about me, but I’ll take my chances. Then there’s Detective Bria Coolidge, one of Ashland’s finest. Until recently, I thought my baby sister was dead. She probably thinks the same about me. Little does she know, I’m a cold-blooded killer . . . who is about to save her life.
Reviewer: ELF
Review: Sep 14, 2010
Genre(s): Paranormal Romance, Urban Fantasy
Gin Bianco tried to retire from her former profession as an assassin but has learned that some changes are hard to make permanent. She had unintentionally ensnared the vampire madam Roslyn Phillips in her previous machinations to eliminate the evil dwarf Tobias Dawson. Jennifer Estep’s Venom details the fallout from the incidental killing of Jake McAllister, son of Mab Monroe’s top law
Web of Lies
Curiosity is definitely going to get me dead one of these days. Probably real soon.
I'm Gin Blanco.
You might know me as the Spider, the most feared assassin in the South. I’m retired now, but trouble still has a way of finding me. Like the other day when two punks tried to rob my popular barbecue joint, the Pork Pit. Then there was the barrage of gunfire on the restaurant. Only, for once, those kill shots weren’t aimed at me. They were meant for Violet Fox. Ever since I agreed to help Violet and her grandfather protect their property from an evil coalmining tycoon, I’m beginning to wonder if I’m really retired. So is Detective Donovan Caine. The only honest cop in Ashland is having a real hard time reconciling his attraction to me with his Boy Scout mentality. And I can barely keep my hands off his sexy body. What can I say? I’m a Stone elemental with a little Ice magic thrown in, but my heart isn’t made of solid rock. Luckily, Gin Blanco always gets her man . . . dead or alive.
Reviewer: ELF
Review: Jul 4, 2010
Genre(s): Paranormal Romance, Urban Fantasy
Web of Lies by Jennifer Estep is her second Elemental Assassin book and features Gin Blanco, BBQ pit proprietress. Gin retired from her previous profession as the infamous assassin known as Spider after her trainer and mentor was brutally murdered while Gin was on assignment. Semi-content to enjoy the home and restaurant bequeathed to her, a botched attempted robbery jolts Gin out of her complacence when she
Spider's Bite
My name is Gin, and I kill people.
They call me the Spider. I'm the most feared assassin in the South — when I'm not busy at the Pork Pit cooking up the best barbecue in Ashland. As a Stone elemental, I can hear everything from the whispers of the gravel beneath my feet to the vibrations of the soaring Appalachian Mountains above me. My Ice magic also comes in handy for making the occasional knife. But I don't use my powers on the job unless I absolutely have to. Call it professional pride. Now that a ruthless Air elemental has double-crossed me and killed my handler, I'm out for revenge. And I'll exterminate anyone who gets in my way — good or bad. I may look hot, but I'm still one of the bad guys. Which is why I'm in trouble, since irresistibly rugged Detective Donovan Caine has agreed to help me. The last thing this coldhearted killer needs when I'm battling a magic more powerful than my own is a sexy distraction...especially when Donovan wants me dead just as much as the enemy.
Reviewer: ELF
Review: Jul 1, 2010
Genre(s): Paranormal Romance, Urban Fantasy
Jennifer Estep’s Elemental Assassin series features Gin Blanco, an assassin known as the Spider. Spider’s Bite starts with her confessing her profession in a therapy session that is fulfilling to Gin only because it allows her to complete her mission. A ruthless efficient assassin with a penchant for knives, Gin is unusual because she has affinities for the elements of both Stone and Ice although
Jinx
Sparks are going to fly in this new superhero romance from the author of Karma Girl and Hot Mama.
Bella would feel better about being born into a family of superheroes if her own superpower was something she could control-or at least use. But static electricity? That's less a power than a jinx. Then she stumbles on two things no supergirl should be without: an uber-villain and a dashing-if shady-stranger named Debonair. Bella's about to learn just how well love and danger mix.
Reviewer: Kyraninse
Review: Jul 3, 2008
Genre(s): Paranormal Romance, Superpowers
This was a laugh-out-loud book that had me frantically flipping through the pages to see what would happen next. I thoroughly enjoyed the unconventional Bella and the plot - it's refreshing to see an alternative to the power hungry, all-powerful character who easily dominates the world. It was also an interesting plot line that I think hasn't been adequately explored in fiction before: what do the family memb
Hot Mama
By day, Fiona Fine is a successful couture designer, catering to the high society players of Bigtime, New York. By night, she's Fiera, a member of the heroic Fearless Five who can create and manipulate fire with her bare hands. Fiona's personal life, though, isn't so hot. She still misses her fiance, who was killed by ubervillains a year ago. Still, men admire Fiona's smoking assets, and she decides to get back in the dating game-especially after she meets Johnny Bulluci. But this notorious playboy has plenty of secrets to go along with his sexy smile. And, with two new ubervillains in town who are intent on raising hell, Fiona's love life might just crash and burn. Biography Jennifer Estep is an award-winning journalist for a daily newspaper.
Reviewer: Danni
Review: Nov 29, 2007
Genre(s): Paranormal Romance, Superpowers
This is book two in the Bigtime series. In this book we meet up with couture designer Fiona Fine who moonlights as Fiera, one of the Fearless Five, who can create and manipulate fire with her bare hands. Fiona's still mourning the loss of her fianc‚ Travis Teaque aka Tornado. But Johnny Bulluci maybe able to help ease some of the loneliness when they began a heated liaison, even though he is the brother of on
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