New book release!
3 weeks ago
Thursday, July 2, 2009
TITLE: One Scream Away
AUTHOR: Kate Brady
COPYRIGHT: 2009
TYPE: Suspense/Romance
PAGES; 464
SERIES: Yes strangely enough this is.
REASON FOR READING: Reading Romance sent me the Arc.
Summary : {From Goodreads}
Killer Chevy Bankes is a master of disguise, and just paroled, he's coming after the woman who sent him to jail, the beautiful antiques expert Beth Denison. A set of antique dolls brings Beth into his sight, and inspire Chevy's disturbing crimes as he draws closer to Beth and her young daughter. Chevy sends the dolls to Beth one-by-one and she soon realizes that these antiques carry the same marks as his victims, signaling that the final piece in his collection will be for her.
Neil Sheridan gave up his FBI shield five years ago, but his best friend Rick, a cop, pulls him in as a consultant on a case involving a serial killer who is eerily similar to a murderer Neil encountered in the past. The investigation leads Neil to Beth's doorstep, and he is certain she isn't telling him the truth. Neil is the only one who can get through Beth's defenses and, as they grow closer, discover the secrets that Beth is hiding about her fateful night with Chevy.
THOUGHTS/OPINION:
First off I'm not a HUGE suspense/thriller romance reader. I like them every once in a while and when I feel like it a good one really hits the spot. This one didn't work for me. A lot of it was the characters. I know a lot of people will find the contradiction refreshing but I didn't. I felt that the heroine was SUPER weak one moment and than TOO tough the next. I understand that she had been through a lot of horrible crap and nightmares ect. are par for course but one moment she is ready to blow his head off, while the next she is shaking so bad simply being reminded of his name...
Another thing I didn't care for was how fast the hero came in and took over the heroine's life and she was fine with it.
Now that was all the bad things let me talk about the parts I liked:
I enjoyed the villain/bad guy he was well rounded or as rounded as a psycho killer can be. I was actually able to understand his breakdown and why he did what he did. That was very interesting.
All in all I thought the plot with the suspense was handled well, the background story of how the characters came together was also well done and the dolls used was wonderful.
While I didn't care for this book I feel that others might enjoy it based on the plot and tactics used. Even though this book didn't work for me I would pick up another by this author
Are you keeping it or passing it on? Passing on it.
SCORE:4 out of 10
*******
100+ Book Challenge
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
TITLE: Left Behind
AUTHOR: Tim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins
COPYRIGHT: 2000
TYPE: Christian
PAGES; 352
SERIES: Yes
REASON FOR READING: My mom’s been trying to get me to read this series forever!
Summary : {From Goodreads}
Piloting his 747, Rayford Steele is musing about his wife Irene's irritating religiosity and contemplating the charms of his "drop-dead gorgeous" flight attendant, Hattie. First Irene was into Amway, then Tupperware, and now it's the Rapture of the Saints--the scary last story in the Bible in which Christians are swept to heaven and unbelievers are left behind to endure the Antichrist's Tribulation. Steele believes he'll put the plane on autopilot and go visit Hattie. But Hattie's in a panic: some of the passengers have disappeared! The Rapture has happened, abruptly driverless cars are crashing all over, and the slick, sinister Romanian Nicolae Carpathia plans to use the UN to establish one world government and religion. Resembling "a young Robert Redford" and silver-tongued in nine languages, Carpathia is named People's "Sexiest Man Alive." (This reviewer, a former People writer, finds this plot twist plausible.) Meanwhile, Steele teams up with Buck Williams, a buck-the-system newshound, to form the Tribulation Force, an underground of left-behind penitents battling the Antichrist.
THOUGHTS/OPINION:
I thought this is a good book talking about the end of times. Most people tend to forget that this is fiction which means two people set down and wrote it. However, they based it off of facts in the Bible the book of Revelation. So with that in mind this is a Christian book and while it seems unbelievable to some to me it is what I would envision happening. And personally makes me hope I go in rapture so that I’m not sticking around to watch this happen to the world.
The book starts off with a pilot who is thinking of cheating on his wife only before he can he realizes people are missing from his plane. As they get closer to home they realize that millions of people around the world are missing. They just disappeared in the blink of an eye. All the children are gone as well which frightens those left behind.
Hence the title. Anyway this book sets up the series of what will occur on Earth before the Lord returns. I think it had some pros and cons. I do believe if you are curious as to what the whole rapture thing is about then I suggest checking out your bible then reading this book
Are you keeping it or passing it on? Keeping it going to see if I want the rest.
SCORE: 8 out of 10
*******
100+ Book Challenge
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
TITLE: The Fairy Godmother
AUTHOR: Mercedes Lackey
COPYRIGHT: 2004
TYPE: Fantasy Romance
PAGES; 496
SERIES: 1st in the series
1. The Fairy Godmother
REASON FOR READING: Apparently I am on a fairytale kick
Summary : {From Goodreads}
In the land of Five Hundred Kingdoms, if you can't carry out your legendary role, life is no fairy tale…
Elena Klovis was supposed to be her kingdom's Cinderella—until an accident of fate left her with a completely inappropriate prince! Determined not to remain with her stepfamily, Elena set out to get a new job—and ended up becoming the Fairy Godmother for the land.
But "Breaking with Tradition" was no easy matter. True, she didn't have to sleep in the chimney, but she had to deal with arrogant, stuffed-shirt princes who kept trying to rise above their place in the tale. In fact, one of them was so ornery that Elena could do nothing but change him into a donkey.
Still, her practical nature couldn't let him roam the country, so she brought the donkey—er, the prince!—home to her cottage to teach him some lessons. All the while keeping in mind that breaking with tradition can land everyone into a kettle of fish—sometimes literally!
And so begins a whole new tale…
THOUGHTS/OPINION:
This is a different telling of Cinderella and what could have happened. It tells that all fairytales are really happening but due to the Tradition that is forcing them alone. With the help of wizards and Godmothers (as well as bad) they are happening one way or another. Unless a very cunning Godmother can redirect the Tradition in a way that still satisfies the storyline.
Things I enjoyed:
-Elena was a good strong character she knew enough to take care of herself and she was going to no matter how bad her life had been.
-The fact that Cinderella got a chance to be something other than the same old same old was refreshing. The plot was good and strong and I enjoyed watching how Ms. Lackey made her world work and function.
-I like the twist on the fairy tale stories and I liked the explanation of why there are so many.
-The secondary characters were fantastic! I enjoyed the Brownies and the mirror both added just enough magic to the story to make it really cool but not childish.
Things I didn’t care for:
- I didn’t care for the way the fairies are the ones that played a big role in Alexander’s transformation. If he would have come to the conclusions on his own I would’ve been okay but it just was strange one page he was an ass (for lack of a better term) on the next not.
- Also there was no real reason to have this story turn into a romance. Did it add a little extra yeah but not enough to matter.
-The sex scenes are kind of boring and pointless. We didn’t need to know that about them she could have skipped over the scenes and been just as good. Instead they kind of took away from the story and I ended up skipping them
Are you keeping it or passing it on? Passing on it only b/c it was a library book. I may end up buying it though.
SCORE: 8 out of 10
Anything Else: If you like fairy tales you will really enjoy this book it takes a twist on fairy tales and makes them even more interesting
*******
100+ Book Challenge
Thursday, June 4, 2009
TITLE: Night’s Rose
AUTHOR: Annaliese Evans
COPYRIGHT: 2009
TYPE: Paranormal Romance
PAGES; 384
SERIES: 1st in the series
1. Night’s Rose
REASON FOR READING: I love the story of sleeping beauty and had to see what she did with the fairy tale.
Summary : {From Goodreads}
For nearly one hundred years, Rosemarie Edenberg has worked tirelessly to wipe the dreaded ogre tribe from the earth. Now the tribe has gathered in London to work a spell that will destroy the scourge of their kind, the one they call the Briar Rose.
Two magnetic men will unite to aid Rose--her mysterious fey advisor, Ambrose, and the vampire Lord Shenley, an earl of scandalous reputation and even more scandalous appetites. One will save her, one will betray her, and both will challenge her to face the past that haunts her.
Once upon a time, she was ensnared in the mists of enchantment, cursed to sleep one hundred years. But this beauty wasn't awakened with a kiss and has never known happily ever after. But with the help of her handsome allies, Rose may find it yet.
THOUGHTS/OPINION:
I have always enjoyed the story of sleeping beauty. So when I found out that this was the main fairy tale this book centered around I got really excited and couldn’t wait to read it. It had some really good parts that I enjoyed.
Things I enjoyed:
-I liked that all the characters were fleshed out.
-Watching Rose’s background come out with the legend of sleeping beauty was heartbreaking (b/c of what happened to her) and yet very well played I really enjoyed the twist on the story.
-I liked that Rose was such a strong character. She was able to fight and yet knew that she wasn’t always able to do it alone.
Things I didn’t care for:
- I have to admit I didn’t care for who she picked it seemed to me he tricked her in a way like the other one did (granted the other man in the picture did something horrible that was way worse) still he tricked her.
- I ended up skipping a lot of the battle scenes after awhile they became the same scene
Are you keeping it or passing it on? Passing on it.
SCORE: 5 out of 10
Anything Else: If you like fairy tales you will really enjoy this book
*******
100+ Book Challenge
1st in a series Challenge
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
TITLE: Sea Swept
AUTHOR: Nora Roberts
COPYRIGHT: 1998
TYPE: Romance
PAGES; unsure
SERIES: 1st in the series
1. Sea Swept
REASON FOR READING: Well I’ve never read a Nora book before and this one came HIGHLY suggested so I figured why not
Summary : {From Goodreads}
Sea Swept tells the tale of three brothers--all former juvenile delinquents adopted by Raymond Quinn and his wife, Stella. Cameron, Ethan, and Philip are as different as can be, but they are bound by their love and respect for their adoptive father, who has recently passed away. On his deathbed he asks his sons to look after their most recent brother, 10-year-old Seth, who--if the rumors are to believed--just may be Ray's biological son. Of course, the brothers don't know anything about caring for the young boy, and if social worker Anna Spinelli has anything to say about it, they won't. However, the sparks that fly over the fate of Seth are nothing compared to the romantic sparks that fly between Anna and Cameron
THOUGHTS/OPINION:
For my first Nora book it was pretty good. I enjoyed the setting St. Christopher Bay. The brothers were different all from a horrible background and taken in by wonderful people who gave them a chance to better their lives. The only hiccup was the fact they were all BEAUTIFUL, GIFTED, RICH, Ect… and so forth including the women listed. That got old but I cancelled that out based on their horrible childhoods and made it work. The brothers are living their lives when it falls apart. The man they call Dad just died and left behind a kid just like them. Only this time Seth is left with scandal. The town believes that he is Ray’s son which of course the brother’s don’t believe. This book focuses on the eldest Cam who races boats for a living and his “heroine” Anna who happens to be Seth’s Social Worker.
Things I enjoyed:
-Anna she was very strong, she knew what she wanted and wouldn’t stop at anything to get it. Plus when Cam was being an ass she decided that yes it would hurt but she didn’t need him to survive. She is a heroine after my own heart and I really enjoyed her whipping Cam into shape.
-The plot was pretty good and watching Seth and the brothers come to terms with their life being flipped around was very sweet. I also liked that Seth and Cam liked each other but at the same time didn’t know how to take each other. It wasn’t like the brothers became a family all at once.
-Seeing how the brothers interact with each other was fantastic. Their fights and arguments were very believable.
Things I didn’t care for:
- Like I stated above the brothers were almost too perfect. They were all handsome, rich, well to do, had a great job, ect. It was a little too much
- I didn’t care for “Ray” making a ghost like appearance I thought that was a little silly. I guess it worked but something about it was off for me.
Are you keeping it or passing it on? Passing on it. While it was cute it just wasn’t a re-read for me.
SCORE: 6 out of 10
Anything Else: I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a fluffy and quick romance read.
*******
100+ Book Challenge
1st in a series Challenge
Saturday, May 16, 2009
TITLE: Riding Wild
AUTHOR: Jaci Burton
COPYRIGHT: 2008
TYPE: Erotic Romance
PAGES; 288
SERIES: 1st in a series
REASON FOR READING: Christine and everyone was talking about the latest release so I thought I should join in and at least read the first one.
Summary : {From Goodreads}
He's a Harley-riding ex-thief working undercover for the government. She's a gun-toting ex-socialite hired to protect a valuable museum exhibit. But in her attempt to stop a heist, she never anticipated having her breath and her heart stolen...
Mac Canfield was the last man Lily West expected to see again, never mind aim her gun at. But here he was, the bad boy who'd broken her heart years ago-still a thief, this time high-jacking a priceless artifact--and it was all she could do to push aside the memories of how it felt to have his perfectly chiseled body next to hers.
Mac was no less shocked to see the beautiful girl-next-door all grown up, threatening to shoot him on the spot. Little did she know she was blowing his cover-and now he had to figure out how to get her out of harm's way without succumbing to his crazy desire to take her on a hot trip down memory lane.
Unfortunately, Lily has no intention of going anywhere with Mac. Which means he has to resort to kidnapping. Unless, of course, she agrees to let him take her for the kind of ride destined to drive them both unbelievably wild
THOUGHTS/OPINION:
Okay don’t hold this against me but to be honest I don’t care that much for erotic romance. Usually I can do okay with it when I am so engrossed with the story/plot that I forget about what I’m reading or the sex makes sense. So bare with me through this review b/c while I LOVED the plot and the sex was HAWT. I could’ve done without five or six of the sex scenes. I didn’t think they helped anything in fact a couple of them were just pointless to me (and only me so don’t flay me alive).
Things I enjoyed:
-I enjoyed that Lily was able to fully enjoy sex without any reservations. She knew what she enjoyed in bed and wasn’t scared to try anything new. In other words she wasn’t your typical I love sex but really I have no idea what I’m doing.
-I liked that Mac really did love Lily and always had but thought he wasn’t good enough for her. Those kind of heroes always make me swoon. He’s a bad boy that knows it and only wanted what he thought was the best for Lily.
-I liked that Mac came to realize that only Lily knows what’s good and what isn’t for Lily not him and that he was going to have to let her experience things on her own without being the over protective alpha that doesn’t budge.
Things I didn’t care for: -Like I said above I could’ve done without some of the sex scenes and ended up skimming through most of them (the superficial ones) once they came together as a couple it was perfect.
-Another thing was introducing us to all the guys. I understand for interaction sake it was important and to let us know who the future books were about this was important but still it just seemed unnecessary.
Are you keeping it or passing it on? Passing on it b/c it was a library book. If I like the next one I might considering buying but I doubt it. I just don’t do long series anymore.
SCORE: 5 out of 10
Anything Else: If you like erotica this is a fantastic book and I would highly recommend it.
*******
100+ Book Challenge
1st in a series challenge
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
TITLE: Silent in the Grave
AUTHOR: Deanna Raybourn
COPYRIGHT: 2007
TYPE: Mystery
PAGES; 512
SERIES: yes first in a series
REASON FOR READING: Everyone kept talking about it and hey I wanted to join in. Renee actually was the first to suggest it.
Summary : {From Goodreads}
These ominous words, slashed from the pages of a book of Psalms, are the last threat that the darling of London society, Sir Edward Grey, receives from his killer. Before he can show them to Nicholas Brisbane, the private inquiry agent he has retained for his protection, Sir Edward collapses and dies at his London home, in the presence of his wife, Julia, and a roomful of dinner guests.
Prepared to accept that Edward's death was due to a long-standing physical infirmity, Julia is outraged when Brisbane visits and suggests that Sir Edward has been murdered. It is a reaction she comes to regret when she discovers the damning paper for herself, and realizes the truth.
Determined to bring her husband's murderer to justice, Julia engages the enigmatic Brisbane to help her investigate Edward's demise. Dismissing his warnings that the investigation will be difficult, if not impossible, Julia presses forward, following a trail of clues that lead her to even more unpleasant truths, and ever closer to a killer who waits expectantly for her arrival.
THOUGHTS/OPINION:
This book takes place in Victoria England which was a selling point for me. Anything during that time period is interesting. Add in that its not your typical romance and I was hooked. The book is 1st person POV of Lady Julia Grey and it starts off immediately with her husbands death. A death she assumes is from natural causes b/c after all Edward had a bad heart. During her year of mourning she comes to believe that he might have been murdered. At first this book started off really slow for me. And there were a few times I was tempted to put it down. However, as the mystery became deeper and deeper I found I couldn’t put it down.
Things I enjoyed:
-While the book was slow we did learn a lot about Julia Grey and I enjoyed that. Watching her grow into the woman she always was but didn’t realize was an interesting sub-plot
- I liked the mystery behind Nicolas Brisbane he was a fascinating character that I enjoyed learning about. I had hoped that Nicolas and Julia might end up together but alas this is a mystery not a romance so that didn’t happen.
-The mystery itself wasn’t too complicated until the end when extra pieces that fit together were thrown in. Usually I don’t like this but it worked really good for this plot.
Things I didn’t care for:
-Like I stated before this book moves really slow so unless there is something there that holds you interest you have a long way to go before the mystery is solved. Sometimes that got a bit old and I found myself skimming parts.
-The March family was really odd while some of it made sense some of them made me want to pull my hair out.
Are you keeping it or passing it on? This is a library book. If I read the second and enjoy it I might consider buying the series. But for now it would be a pass
SCORE: 7 out of 10
Anything Else: This is a good first book and sets up the characters well
******
100+ Book Challenge
1st in a series Challenge
10 / 12 books. 83% done!
Monday, April 27, 2009
TITLE: The Forest of Hands and Teeth
AUTHOR: Carrie Ryan
COPYRIGHT: 2009
TYPE: Young Adult/Fantasy
PAGES; 310
SERIES: 1st in a new series
REASON FOR READING: Katiebabs talked me into it with her review
Summary : {From Goodreads}
In Mary's world there are simple truths. The Sisterhood always knows best. The Guardians will protect and serve. The Unconsecrated will never relent. And you must always mind the fence that surrounds the village; the fence that protects the village from the Forest of Hands and Teeth. But, slowly, Mary’s truths are failing her. She’s learning things she never wanted to know about the Sisterhood and its secrets, and the Guardians and their power, and about the Unconsecrated and their relentlessness. When the fence is breached and her world is thrown into chaos, she must choose between her village and her future—between the one she loves and the one who loves her. And she must face the truth about the Forest of Hands and Teeth. Could there be life outside a world surrounded in so much death?
THOUGHTS/OPINION:
At first this book was hard to get into. I couldn’t understand or sympathize with the main character. She grew up her whole life afraid of everything outside her fence. Her father was turned and now her mother was crazy with the loss. She resented the fact she had to watch her mother to prevent her from going to the fence after her father. And the worse thing that could happen did. Now Mary has to survive and learn what is really out there for her and if there was more to life then fear.
Things I enjoyed:
-Like I said at first I didn’t care for Mary I thought she was selfish and immature however, as the book continued Mary grew into a person that I could relate to a little bit. Yes she still had her selfish moments but she also had moments of understanding and realization. These are what helped her grow
-I liked seeing what the world was truly like and how one group controlled another by keeping the past from the people. It had an underlining mission to it that I thoroughly enjoyed and related too as well.
-The ending was wonderful and left just enough questions for the second book.
Things I didn’t care for:
-Again I didn’t care for the selfish moments that Mary had all the way up until a major life turning event. She was so single focused on those issues and hang-ups she couldn’t ever appreciate what she had until she lost it. It was rather depressing but still it made her into the person she needed to be by the end.
Are you keeping it or passing it on? Passing on it b/c it was a library book. After the next one comes out and if I like it I will probably buy both.
SCORE: 8 out of 10
Anything Else: This was an interesting story line different that I normally read but I was glad I gave it a try
******
100+ Book Challenge
First Book Challenge
9 / 12 books. 75% done!
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
TITLE: Lament: The Faerie Queen’s Deception
AUTHOR: Maggie Stiefvater
COPYRIGHT: 2008
TYPE: Young Adult/Fantasy
PAGES; 326
SERIES: 1st in a new series
REASON FOR READING: The girls over at Book Smugglers Talked me into it. Although I can’t recall what they thought I just had to read it after their review.
Summary : {From Goodreads}
Sixteen-year-old Deirdre Monaghan is a painfully shy but prodigiously gifted musician. She's about to find out she's also a cloverhand—one who can see faeries. When a mysterious boy enters her ordinary suburban life, seemingly out of nowhere, Deirdre finds herself infatuated. Trouble is, the enigmatic and conflicted Luke turns out to be a gallowglass—a soulless faerie assassin – and Deirdre is meant to be his next mark. Deirdre has to decide if Luke's feelings towards her are real, or only a way to lure her deeper into the world of Faerie.
Luke isn't her only problem. A sinister faerie named Aodhan is also stalking Deirdre. Long-time enemies with a common goal, Luke and Aodhan carry the same assignment from the Faerie Queen. Namely, kill Deirdre before her music captures the attention of the Fae and threatens the Queen's sovereignty. Caught in the crossfire with Deirdre is her best friend James whose devotion has been teetering precariously on the line between friendship and love for months – a feeling that Dee doesn't quite reciprocate. It's Luke she can't stop thinking about: Luke, who was supposed to kill her immediately but hasn't. Luke, who cannot refuse the Queen's orders without paying an unimaginable price. Deirdre ultimately must confront the Faerie Queen before she loses everyone she loves.
THOUGHTS/OPINION:
This starts off with a young girl trying to find her place. She gets stage freight bad enough she throws up before every performance but her mother still makes her play. This time however, she runs into Luke the boy from her dreams. At first she can’t believe its real but after he continues to show up along with some other, too beautiful to be real, people she begins to wonder about them. Add to it her grandmother’s warning, attacks, and of course the general weirdness that happens around her and Deirdre begins to wonder if she loosing her mind or if there is something more out there. Turns out there is someone out there that views her as a threat.
Now Deirdre has to stay one step ahead of the queen to prevent her death and those she cares about. This was a wonderful fantasy book that kept my attention through the whole thing.
Things I enjoyed:
-At first I didn’t like Deirdre. This is the problem I have with teenage books I think they are all too young, whinny, and have the its all about me complex. Which Deirdre did except she grew in the book and started to come into her own. Her issues with Luke were annoying but they even started to shape and form. So after a while I finally started to sympathize with her and that’s a HUGE feat for the author to do.
-I loved Dee best friend he was awesome! He played the bagpipe he never doubted her when she told him about the weirdness in her life. He was very supportive of her and he was in love with her. OMG I was so rooting for him.
-I like the twist she did on with the Faire world, the myths and world building the author did was very good.
Things I didn’t care for:
-Like I said at first Dee got on my nerves and I wasn’t happy with her personality but she grew and that was impressive.
-I didn’t care for the songs. Its just me but I just couldn’t get into them and I ended up skimming them but this was just a minor thing.
Are you keeping it or passing it on? Passing on it b/c it was a library book. After the next one comes out and if I like it I will probably buy both.
SCORE: 8 out of 10
Anything Else: This was an interesting look at the Faire world and I highly recommend it.
******
100+ Book Challenge
1st in a series
8 / 12 books. 67% done!
Friday, April 3, 2009
TITLE: A Rush of Wings
AUTHOR: Adrian Phoenix
COPYRIGHT: 2008
TYPE: Urban Fantasy
PAGES; 416
SERIES: First in the series
REASON FOR READING: Anna and others have talked about this book and with the 2nd one out I thought it might be time to see what it is all about
Summary : {From Goodreads}
HIS NAME IS DANTE.
Dark. Talented. Beautiful. Star of the rock band Inferno. Rumored owner of the hot New Orleans nightspot Club Hell. Born of the Blood, then broken by an evil beyond imagination.
HIS PAST IS A MYSTERY.
F.B.I. Special Agent Heather Wallace has been tracking a sadistic serial murderer known as the Cross Country Killer, and the trail has led her to New Orleans, Club Hell, and Dante. But the dangerously attractive musician not only resists her investigation, he claims to be "nightkind": in other words, a vampire. Digging into his past for answers reveals little. A juvenile record a mile long. No social security number. No known birth date. In and out of foster homes for most of his life before being taken in by a man named Lucien DeNoir, who appears to guard mysteries of his own.
HIS FUTURE IS CHAOS.
What Heather does know about Dante is that something links him to the killer -- and she's pretty sure that link makes him the CCK's next target. Heather must unravel the truth about this sensual, complicated, vulnerable young man -- who, she begins to believe, may indeed be a vampire -- in order to finally bring a killer to justice. But Dante's past holds a shocking, dangerous secret, and once it is revealed not even Heather will be able to protect him from his destiny....
THOUGHTS/OPINION:
Alright this book starts off with a bang. We have FBI Agent Heather Wallace looking at yet another body this time in New Orleans and she is more than certain it’s the same killer she has been tracking for the last 3 years. The CCK (Cross County Killer). She is also confident that it has something to do with Club Hell. After all the body was found out in the back yard with a new symbol and a new message. So off Heather goes to investigate. But you see Club Hell brings up old memories for Heather. Her sister used to sing in places like this, use to dress like these people and ended up killing herself. Not to mention on top of bad memories, chasing a killer and a club that caters to the undead (which she doesn’t believe in) she finds Dante very intriguing.
Things I enjoyed:
-I enjoyed learning about Dante’s past. It was hard to swallow at times and it was not pretty but learning about what made him who he was fascinated me through out the whole book. I really wanted to get to know Dante better.
-Heather herself was very interesting. She wasn’t the typical I’m so tough I don’t need anyone to help me. I’m so bad ass until I get into a fight. She was very focused on her job. Was good at what she does and knew her limitations and that’s the kind of heroine I grow to respect and want the best for them.
-The plot twist was anything Grand but I enjoyed watching it unfold. The author had a way of writing that sucked me in and wouldn’t let me go. Every time I knew something was coming, it did, but in a way I hadn’t expected.
Things I didn’t care for:
-This is rare but there wasn’t a lot I didn’t care for. I thought the plot was tight enough that if you would’ve cut anything out you would’ve missed a lot. I thought most if not all the characters were needed to keep things moving. The only one I had reservations about and could’ve done without was Wallace’s boss. He really didn’t play that major of a roll other than getting Dante’s past to Heather.
Are you keeping it or passing it on? Sadly enough this was a library book. But I think it might just get added on to the TBB pile.
SCORE: 8 out of 10
Anything Else: I haven’t read anything else by this author but plan to pick the 2nd one up in this series ASAP
Go and Check out the website for further questions http://www.adrianphoenix.com/
Also as a bonus: ~If you like this author you might like these authors: Jeri Smith-Ready, Justine Musk, Marjorie M Liu, Jenna Black, and Barb & JC Hendee
************
100+ Book Challenge
First in a Series
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Miss Wonderful by Loretta Chase
BOOK DESCRIPTION
Alistair Carsington really, really wishes he didn’t love women quite so much. To escape his worst impulses, he sets out for a place far from civilization: Derbyshire--in winter!--where he hopes to kill two birds with one stone: avoid all temptation, and repay the friend who saved his life on the fields of Waterloo. But this noble aim drops him straight into opposition with Miss Mirabel Oldridge, a woman every bit as intelligent, obstinate, and devious as he—and maddeningly irresistible.
Mirabel Oldridge already has her hands full keeping her brilliant and aggravatingly eccentric father out of trouble. The last thing she needs is a stunningly attractive, oversensitive and overbright aristocrat reminding her she has a heart--not to mention a body he claims is so unstylishly clothed that undressing her is practically a civic duty.
Could the situation be any worse? And why does something that seems so wrong feel so very wonderful?
MY THOUGHTS
Although it is a Loretta Chase book and I love her writing I just couldn’t get into it. This is the first one of 3 and while most have raved about Lord Perfect I haven’t heard anything fantastic about this book. That should have been my first clue. Though well written I still found myself dreading that I choose that book to read this week.
Things I Liked
~ I did enjoy the sub-story of Alistair and what happened to him while he was fighting. And I did enjoy him as a character. He was something different and just when I thought I had him figured out it turned out I didn’t.
~ Mirabel was a likable romance heroine. She was strong willed, and strong minded, she had ran her own estate for years but at the same time realized that she would have appreciated some help. She was stubborn and that was annoying but all and all she was enjoyable.
Things I Didn’t Like
~ The overall story. The plot was slow to begin with and it all revolved around a cannel through Mirabel’s land that she doesn’t want there. So she matches wits with Alistair. And that’s about it there is no other plot. A total of 300 plus pages of them arguing why the cannel should or shouldn’t go through her land.
~ While there were other sub plots it still revolved around this and towards the end it was a huge abrupt change from I will not allow it through my land to Oh I love you I will do whatever it takes to keep you including a cannel. Seriously?
Rating ~ C
Additional Info
~ Published: 2004
~ Price: $6.99
~Favorite Author Book: Lord of Scoundrel
~ Author Website: http://www.lorettachase.com/
100+ books
| |
20 / 100 (20.0%) |
1st in a series
| |
6 / 12 (50.0%) |
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
TITLE: Pleasure Unbound
AUTHOR: Larrisa Ione
COPYRIGHT: 2008
TYPE: paranormal romance
PAGES; 389
SERIES: yes (this is the first of 3 so far)
REASON FOR READING: Everyone, and I mean everyone, has talked about how good this book is and I had to see for myself.
SUMMARY: {From goodreads}
In a place where ecstasy can cost you your life... She's a demon-slayer who hungers for sensual pleasure-but fears it will always be denied her. Until Tayla Mancuso lands in a hospital run by demons in disguise, and the head doctor, Eidolon, makes her body burn with unslakable desire. But to prove her ultimate loyalty to her peers, she must betray the surgeon who saved her life. Two lovers will dare to risk all.Eidolon cannot resist this fiery, dangerous woman who fills him with both rage and passion. Not only is she his avowed enemy, but she could very well be the hunter who has been preying upon his people. Torn between his need for the truth and his quest to find his perfect mate before a horrific transformation claims him forever, Eidolon will dare the unthinkable-and let Tayla possess him, body and soul...
THOUGHTS/OPINION:
Finally I was able to sit down and enjoy this book. And yes it is as good as everyone before me said it was. And yes I regret that I waited so long to read it.
The plot moved along at a good pace. I didn’t feel there was any one spot that I was yanked out of the story. I did enjoy the little twist and turns and I like how it ended. Left me begging/panting for more LOL!
Things I enjoyed:
Without giving too much away I have to say I enjoyed the overall plot and that in itself is something wonderful. Because this is a plot that she going to use through the next two books so getting me hooked on it was a sure thing I would buy the others.
I have to say I am usually a hero driven girl but this time I actually enjoyed the tough as nails heroine. I really felt she was believable the things she did, the situation she handled and the reactions she gave for each situation fit her character and I liked it. This is very rare for me seeing how I don’t usually like the heroine at all.
I enjoyed the brothers. They weren’t perfect by any means but they weren’t so unbelievably bad that I couldn’t sympathize with them. I really can’t wait to read their stories.
Things I didn’t care for:
You know strangely enough nothing is sticking out in my mind that I didn’t care for. Usually I don’t like the whole doctor story b/c I work in a hospital and they usually get it wrong or they amp up the drama. But this time I was sucked in from the beginning and hung on through out the whole thing.
Are you keeping it or passing it on? Keeping
SCORE: 10 out of 10
Anything Else: Um yeah I’ve already bought the other two in this series via pre-order it was that good. Can’t wait!
Monday, February 23, 2009
Marked by Passion by Kate Perry
Back Blurb from book!
Rules for the (very) reluctant guardian of the scroll !) Don’t lose the above artifice you’ve inherited from your ancestors – no matter how much it starts messing up your life. 2) Do Learn how to control its powers (And yes, that means putting up with uber-complicated guardian lessons from your father’s meddling ghost.) 3. Don’t trust anyone. Especially Rhys, the mysterious bad boy who’s always one step ahead of you… and as irresistible as sin. 4. Do anything to keep the scroll from landing in the wrong hands. Even if that brings on a a heartbreaking betrayal, an evil you never saw coming, and a choice you may not live to regret.
MY THOUGHTS
This book was okay for a first in a series. I did enjoy the scroll aspect and the guardian being seeped in Chinese history. It was a little predictable and I could tell what the heartbreaking betrayal was going to be half way through the book. However, if you don’t mind first person POV and a tough gal as the main heroine this is the book for you!
Things I Liked
~ I like Rhys even though he appeared to be perfect he was very mysterious and actually kept my attention throughout the book.
~ I enjoyed the ghost aspect. Usually I don’t care for them but this was done well. A father that wants to make sure this possession and responsibility was taken care of even after death.
Things I Didn’t Like
~ The main heroine. She was too pig headed and proud. She wouldn’t learn anything about the scroll. I get that something bad happened the first time she had it and her father blamed her but seriously get over it. You know it has A LOT of power but yet you don’t want to learn anything about it?
~ It was told in first person POV just not something I enjoy reading.
Rating B
Additional Info
~ Published 2009
~ Price $6.99
~Favorite Author Book this is the first book I’ve read by this author
~ Author Website http://www.kateperry.com/
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
TITLE: Daughter of the Blood
AUTHOR: Anne Bishop
COPYRIGHT: 1998
TYPE: Fantasy
PAGES: 416
SERIES: Yes the first in a trilogy
REASON FOR READING: Everyone rants or raves about this book and I thought *shrug* why not join in.
SUMMARY: [from Goodreads ]
Anne Bishop's debut novel, Daughter of the Blood, is like black coffee--strong, dark, and hard on delicate stomachs. Within the Blood (a race of magic-users), women rule and men serve, but tradition has been corrupted so that women enslave men, who seek to destroy their oppressors. Female children are violated before they can reach maturity; men are tortured and forced to satisfy witches' sexual appetites.
Bishop's child heroine, Jaenelle, is destined to rule the Blood, if she can reach adulthood. Her power is hidden; her family believes her mad. Saetan, High Lord of Hell and most powerful of the Blood males, becomes Jaenelle's surrogate father and teacher. He cannot protect her outside Hell, where he rules. She refuses to leave Terreille, risking herself to protect or heal other victims of violence. Can Daemon, Saetan's estranged son, keep her safe from the machinations of the evil High Priestess? Or will he lose his battle to control his destructive urges and endanger her?
THOUGHTS/OPINION:
Okay at first this book confused the hell out of me literally. I couldn't figure out what was going on. Why this was so important and how the hell one 7 year old could mean so much to so many people. After a while I finally caught on to this complex world the Ms. Bishop has created. Warning: this is not a book to read in spurts you need to have time to sit down and fully enjoy her imagination and story line.
Warning 2: this is not a story to read before bed your dreams will be very dark.Warning 3: LOTS and LOTS of violence in this story that will either turn you off or if you stick with it help you understand this violent world and why things are the way they are.
Things I enjoyed:
there were quite a few things I enjoyed about this book that others didn't. I have heard people complain that Janelle was this Mary Sue heroine that grated on their nerves. While I personally found her refreshing. Living in the time period she did surrounded and violated the way she was she still managed to keep some innocence around her. In her world she managed to keep the happiness and good that they need in a future queen. Had she given in to the darker urges this book would have been done and over with in a couple hundred pages.
As it is she is going to grow into a powerful woman if she can survive.I also enjoyed the men that surrounded her and made her appear to be the Mary Sue type. They loved her, they are and were willing to lay down their lives for her and they understood why her innoncence was so important. They appreciated seeing a being that wasn't corrupt, a person that would fight with honor not fight to gain strength or greed. Because of this she made the King of Hell bow before her.
His sons who have been dealt a fate worse than death fell in love with her goodness and vowed to do whatever it took to keep her alive.
I also enjoyed the fact that Ms. Bishop didn't hold back. She showed us a world so ugly, so repulsive that it almost made me feel dirty to be reading about it and unable to stop it. She made me feel anger and hurt but at the same time I felt that all would be righted if only we could get the proper Queen to power. I felt as if I was one of her subject just wanting her to get to the proper place to help clean up this world.
That's how powerful of a writer Ms. Bishop is.
Things I didn’t care for:
the thing I didn't care for was the same thing I respected in the book. The violence and the way the little girls were treated. I'm sure you can figure out what that is so I won't go into details. It was very hard to get past these parts, it was hard to continue to read without getting angry but I managed. And because I managed and worked through the hard emotions I discovered that the book was richer for it. Could I have done without the violence? yes however, it was needed to show a richer world.
Would I recommend this book? Yes I would highly recommend the first and I will let you know about the rest.
Was the author new to you and would you read something by this author again? I have read this author before but that previous works didn't move me the way this book has.
Are you keeping it or passing it on? Keeping
SCORE: 9 out of 10
Anything else? Remember my warnings!!!
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
TITLE: Dead Sexy
AUTHOR: Kimberly Raye
COPYRIGHT: 2007
TYPE: paranormal romance
AGES: 224
SERIES: Surprisingly yes it’s the first in a vampire series. Although I think the series is part of the Blaze line.
REASON FOR READING: This is one of 2 category romances I had in the TBR and this month's challenge was to read one.
SUMMARY: [from Goodreads ]
She was looking for long-term. She wasn't expecting eternity! Just when Nikki Braxton has given up on finding a normal guy, she meets cowboy Jake McCann.
Tall, dark and delicious, he could be the ideal man if he wasn't a vampire. Well, at least that explains his...uh... hunger for her. Meanwhile, that down-and-dirty sex they're having is giving him the energy he needs to destroy his nemesis and break the vampire curse. Good thing, because being with Nikki makes him long for a normal life that much more.
But then Nikki is abducted. If Jake saves her, he may lose his only shot at becoming human again. Talk about damned if you do.
THOUGHTS/OPINION:
Quick summary Nikki is the good girl next door that doesn’t really know who she is or what she wants. She is split between what her loose and free mother thinks is best for her and what her tight and perfect aunt thinks is best for her. She doesn’t know how to be herself b/c she hasn’t discovered who she is. That is until Jake comes along and shows her that doing what she wants is okay nothing bad will happen.
Jake on the other hand is having a problem all his life he’s been tied down and trapped to one person or another never truly free. All he wants to do is kill his sire so that he can be human again and do whatever he likes not trapped by the hunger of the vampire in him.
Things I enjoyed: I liked both characters a lot. I understood where they were coming from and the final choices they had to make. It was refreshing to see Nikki’s reaction to her behavior the night after a “one night stand with Jake” she freaked out when they told her she was engaged b/c she would never do anything like that. But then got mad that they wouldn’t think she could do anything like that. A typical woman response LOL!! Jake was sexy and macho but still conflicted for good reasons. He was caring and wanted so badly to prove to Nikki that he wasn’t like the rest of the guys in her life that he was different.
Things I didn’t care for:
I didn’t care for the ending it wrapped up to HEA for me. I won’t spoil it here but it really upset me how the villain turned out to be… and how that all seemed to be okay in the end. I also didn’t realize this was a series so it made sense how it ended but still kind of disappointed me.
Would I recommend this book? Yes. All and all it was a quick sweet read.
Was the author new to you and would you read something by this author again? Yes this was the first time I read this author and I might pick up something else by her if I happen to see in the stores. Her writing was nice, neat and sweet and the sex scenes she wrote were HAWT
Are you keeping it or passing it on? Passing I don’t usually hold on to categories
SCORE: B
Anything else? I don’t know if this was the first in the series or not but it was good enough to be a stand alone.
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This post is apart of the TBR 2009 challenge and we are kickstarting with a category romance. Many readers have the choice to read a category or read whatever is in their tbr piles. Please, visit the other readers in this challenge here and thank you for visiting!
TBR Challenge:
| |
1 / 12 (8.3%) |
100+ Books:
| |
5 / 100 (5.0%) |
1st in a series:
| |
1 / 12 (8.3%) |
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