Review ~ Magic Strikes by Ilona Andrews

  

TITLE: Magic Strikes
AUTHOR: Ilona Andrews
COPYRIGHT: 2009
TYPE: Urban Fantasy
PAGES; 310
SERIES: oh yeah and you can read my fan girl review below!
1. Magic Bites (will post a review as a re-read later)
2. Magic Burns
3. Magic Strikes

REASON FOR READING: Because I am a rabid fan of the Kate Daniel’s series and have been patiently awaiting this 3rd release.

SUMMARY: {From goodreads}
When magic strikes and Atlanta goes to pieces, it’s a job for Kate Daniels… Drafted to work for the Order of Knights of Merciful Aid, mercenary Kate Daniels has more paranormal problems these days than she knows what to do with. And in Atlanta, where magic comes and goes like the tide, that’s saying a lot.
But when Kate’s werewolf friend Derek is discovered nearly dead, she must confront her greatest challenge yet. As her investigation leads her to the Midnight Games – an invitation-only, no-hold-barred, ultimate preternatural fighting tournament- she and Curran, the Beast Lord, uncover a dark plot that may forever alter the face of Atlanta’s shapeshifting community…

THOUGHTS/OPINION:
Okay as the summary stated this book takes place in modern Atlanta Georgia where magic comes and goes. When it comes through the city all technology is lost and the people are crippled. When the magic leaves technology returns leaving people wondering when the next magic wave will hit. Many of the characters have horses or donkeys for the time the magic is down. Kate carries a sword with her at all times (AKA saber) b/c guns and weapons of that type don’t work when the magic is up. Kate has a suburb cast of secondary character ranging from pack members to a fellow knight who is a shifter. Add in a little girl she rescued in the last book feeling responsible for, and finally the Beast Lord who believes Kate is his. When you have a back up cast like that and a non stop action plot you get a wonderfully developed story that has you laughing out laugh in delight, gasping in horror, and sitting on the edge of your seat wondering how it will end.

Things I enjoyed:
-I absolutely loved the plot and sub-plots that are weaved in throughout the story. Not many authors can keep me in suspense and laughing at the same time. Here’s a classic example (pg. 25): Kate has just rescued her friend Derek a werewolf who claims he doesn’t need help as he is leaving he stops and comes back to Kate. In a breath he halted by my side. “I lied I need your help.”
“Who are we killing?”
That is classic Kate when it comes to those she cares about.

-There are a ton of things I found wonderful about this book but the cutest thing and the one that made me laugh so hard was the tigress Dali. She is legally blind and was banned from driving (which she does drag racing) she was currently under house arrest for doing it. When she shifts from woman to beast she gets short term memory loss and cross eyed. Kate being concerned asked her old partner and shape shifter Jim if she was dangerous (this is the conversation that followed)
Jim: “No she gags on raw meat and blood.”
Kate“What?”
Jim: “She won’t bite or scratch or she’ll vomit. She’s a vegetarian.”
Kate: Oh boy. “But when she’s in beast form…”
Jim: He shook his head. “She eats grass. Don’t ask.”
See it doesn’t get any better than that. Trust me you will love this scene.

-The fighting and action scene in this book are wonderful and believable. I could totally see someone doing them and as I read each scene it was written so well I could actually picture the fight in my head.

-As I said these authors have a wonderful way of sucking you in so deeply to their story that you find you don’t want to leave their world. I can’t stand that I have to wait for the next installment. I have so many questions that I am dying to get answers too but will have to wait. WHAAAAAAAAA

Things I didn’t care for:-There isn’t much I didn’t care for in this book. The only thing was the Hindu legends and myths that are incorporated. They are little difficult to understand and grasp especially if this is the first time, like me, having heard them. Although fascinating I found I had to read and re-read it over a couple of times to understand the significance.

-I didn’t like how much Kate keeping trying to convince herself that she would just be another notch in the bedpost for Curran. She just wouldn’t except that he might actually want her for more than just sex and that got annoying after reading the other shifters opinions. I seriously doubt her shifter friends would lie to her about something so important.

-Even though this is a personal thing I really didn’t appreciate Derek getting hurt. I know a lot of girls love Curran and I do too. I think he and Kate are made for each other. However, Derek is my favorite character in these books and I was sorry to see him suffer. But than again that is a personal preference.

Are you keeping it or passing it on? KEEPING IT will defiantly be re-reading this series in the immediate future.

SCORE: 9 out of 10

Anything Else: .You do need to read the previous books in order to understand the complex relationships of the characters and the growth of Kate through the series.

Okay the book releases tomorrow in stores go forth and buy!!!

Review ~ Death Masks by Jim Butcher

TITLE: Death Masks
AUTHOR: Jim Butcher
COPYRIGHT: 2003
TYPE: Urban Fantasy
PAGES; 378
SERIES: oh yeah
1. Storm Front
2. Fool Moon
3. Grave Peril
4. Summer Knight
5. Death Mask
6. Blood Rite
7. Dead Beat
8. Proven Guilty
9. White Night
10. Small Favor
11. Welcome to the Jungle

REASON FOR READING: Well I’m working my way through the books. Love me some Harry.

SUMMARY: {From goodreads}
Harry Dresden is not having a good day. A vampire named Ortega is hunting the beleaguered wizard, intending to challenge him to a duel that, Ortega claims, will end the war between the vampires and the wizards. Harry has almost no hope of winning the duel, but soon he is preoccupied by another problem: Father Vincent, a priest, needs Harry's help in finding the Shroud of Turin, stolen by a trio of thieves. Harry traces two of the thieves to his hometown, Chicago, but when he finds them, he learns that he isn't the only one after them. A group of terrifying demons wants the shroud, and its leader is interested in Harry's soul, too. Harry must call on all of his friends, including three brave knights, his police-officer friend, and even his half-vampire ex-girlfriend, Susan. Butcher maintains a breakneck pace in Harry's exciting fifth adventure. This imaginative series continues to surprise and delight with its inventiveness and sympathetic hero.

THOUGHTS/OPINION:
This book takes off where book 4 left us. Maybe a few weeks or months in between this book and the last I think. It starts off with Harry on a TV show that is trying to prove he’s a fraud not a wizard. During that time we learn that Harry is still trying to contact his old girlfriend whom he feels responsible for turning her into a half vampire (all it would take is for her to kill to turn completely) a member from the Red Court offers him a duel (in order to stop the war) and he is asked by a priest to find the shroud (the cloth that Jesus was wrapped in). He is attacked in the parking lot by hired guns and manages to take on all three tasks. And that was just in the first chapter. The action continues throughout the book as all the plots tie seamlessly into one another leaving you on the edge of your seating wondering how bad of a beating he will receive and will he survive it this time.

Things I enjoyed:
-I love that Harry is a character that does what I can see everyday normal people making. Yes some of his decisions leave me speechless but his action and his character always back it up.
-I love that the plot is weaved so well together that you have to know what is going to happen. The twist are just enough to make it real and believable and the characters never sway from their morals or beliefs.
-The secondary characters in this story carried most if not all of the weight. Without them Harry would be just some guy fighting evil for no reason who gets his ass kicked.

Things I didn’t care for:
-As the series progress it feels as if Harry continues to get in deeper and deeper with no end in sight for a HEA. Don’t get me wrong I’m not asking for that but I can’t see how this series is going to end on a good note.
-Why does Harry have to get his butt serious kicked over and over. Just once I want to see him win without too much blood loss, just once.

Are you keeping it or passing it on? It was a library book because the series is so massive I have decided not to purchase the books but borrow them. However, if the series continues to keep getting better I might have to rethink that theory.

SCORE: 8 out of 10

Anything Else: This is a series you will want to read this in order. Even though you can understand it and it can stand alone in order to truly appreciate this book you should read it in order.

Review ~ The Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey

TITLE: The Total Money Makeover
AUTHOR: Dave Ramsey
COPYRIGHT: 2007
TYPE: Financial Planning
PAGES; 272
SERIES: nope

REASON FOR READING: Seriously? Um b/c I wanted to learn how to manage my money better.

SUMMARY: {From goodreads}
The success stories speak for themselves in this book from money maestro Dave Ramsey. Instead of promising the normal dose of quick fixes, Ramsey offers a bold, no-nonsense approach to money matters, providing not only the how-to but also a grounded and uplifting hope for getting out of debt and achieving total financial health.
Ramsey debunks the many myths of money (exposing the dangers of cash advance, rent-to-own, debt consolidation) and attacks the illusions and downright deceptions of the American dream, which encourages nothing but overspending and massive amounts of debt. "Don't even consider keeping up with the Joneses," Ramsey declares in his typically candid style. "They're broke!"
The Total Money Makeover isn't theory. It works every single time. It works because it is simple. It works because it gets to the heart of the money problems: you.

THOUGHTS/OPINION:
Alright this is a book about a man who was a self made millionaire by 26 and lost it all. He had the house, the clothes, the car, and the lifestyle to fit the status until one day he didn’t. In this book Mr. Ramsey shows us stories of his failure and success as well as others success with the program. Its an inspirational way to look at money and find hope when you feel as if there is nothing but sadness.

Things I enjoyed:
-I loved that there are real life people who have stories submitted to this book to show me that even though I thought I had it bad others who had it worse are making it and getting out of debt.
-His advice is common sense and something I should have known all along but yet don’t and didn’t. Wish I had read this in high school.
-He has worksheets to help people after they finish the book. The worksheets are for budgeting and savings. Very good worksheets and very helpful to get back together with your money

Things I didn’t care for:
-There was a lot of the book that didn’t pertain to me. Some examples were the chapters on saving for college and your family.
-As a single woman with no children I found I was skipping some parts that were necessarily important to me at this point in my life which was a little frustrating.

Are you keeping it or passing it on? It was a library book but I made sure to write down the important stuff. And if I were ever to get married again I would more than likely buy the book for my husband and I to sit down and read together.

SCORE: 8 out of 10

Anything Else: You have to read this book with an open mind and know that he is correct a problem that goes against the belief system we have established and that is to charge everything. Some of it is hard to swallow simply b/c I didn’t want to hear that I wouldn’t be able to just charge the new clothes and books I want…

Revenant by Carolyn Haines

Revenant by Carolyn Haines

BOOK DESCRIPTION
When a decades-old mass grave near a notorious Biloxi nightclub is unearthed, reporter Carson Lynch is among the first on the scene.
The remains of five women lie within, each one buried with a bridal veil - and without her ring finger.

Once an award-winning journalist, Carson knows her career is now hanging by a thread. This story has pulled her out of a pit of alcohol and self-loathing, and with justice and redemption in mind she begins to investigate. Days later two more bodies appear, begging the question - is a copycat murderer terrorizing Biloxi, or has a serial killer awoken from a twenty-five-year slumber?

MY THOUGHTS
If you like mysteries then this is a book you might enjoy. It had a nice twist at the end that kept me guessing. Just when I thought I had figured it out I was wrong. The sub plots were just as good not mystery detailed but still good. And it had my one weakness a person whose hit bottom and has to drag their sorry butts back up.

Things I Liked
~ Although rough around the edges I enjoyed the main character Carson. She had a hard life and she was trying to pull it together. Although the only reason was the murder it still didn’t matter at least she tried.
~ As I said above the mystery was pretty good and had an excellent twist. Just when I thought I had it poof something else happened. However, the twist was still believable and I did enjoy it.

Things I Didn’t Like
~ I didn’t appreciate how Carson treated the men in her life. Yes it was understandable she lost a great deal but still she treated them harshly.
~ There was a sub story of her friend Jack that I didn’t think was important enough to tie into the overall story.

Rating ~ B

Additional Info
~ Published: 2007
~ Price: $6.99
~Favorite Author Book: This is the only one I’ve read
~ Author Website: http://www.carolynhaines.com/

Act Like a Lady by Steve Harvey

This was an interesting book that a lady from work wanted me to read. (I think its b/c I am ready to start dating again or something) Anywho, Steve Harvey doesn't mess around when it comes to ladies and men. He lays it all out on a table letting a woman know that men do not think like us. What we think love is and how we show it is not what a man will do. In fact according to Harvey there are only 3 ways a man shows us love.
I won't go into specifics and I won't say this is the end all to be all but it was an okay quick read. I enjoyed seeing a guys perspective of relationship and it was brutally honest even when it wasn't necessary. Mr. Harvey must be doing something right with so many people listening to his pod cast and radio shows that discuss the same topics he's put in this book.
I would give it a B
I liked it but like I said I won't base everything I've learned over the years off of it.

Review ~ Tangled Webs by Anne Bishop

TITLE: Tangled Webs
AUTHOR: Anne Bishop
COPYRIGHT: 2009
TYPE: Fantasy
PAGES; 448
SERIES: oh yeah
1. Daughter of the Blood
2. Heir to the Shadow
3. Queen of the Darkness
4. The Invisible Ring
5. Dreams Made Flesh (read 2 of the 4 in this anthology)
6. Tangled Web
7. The Shadow Queen

REASON FOR READING: I fell in love with the trilogy and had to read everything that has to do with the characters I’ve grown to love

SUMMARY: {From goodreads}
The invitation is signed "Jaenelle Angelline," and it summons her family to an entertainment she had specially prepared. Surreal SaDiablo, former courtesan and assassin, arrives first. But when she enters the house, Surreal finds herself trapped in a living nightmare created by the tangled webs of Black Widow witches...and if she uses Craft to defend herself, she risks being sealed in the house forever.

But Jaenelle did not send the invitation. And now Jaenelle and her family must rescue Surreal and the others inside without becoming trapped themselves-and then discover who has created such a place, and why...

THOUGHTS/OPINION:
I really enjoyed this book. I loved being able to visit the world again and seeing my favorite characters going through yet another adventure.

Things I enjoyed:
I loved see Surreal in an environment where she wasn’t the strongest and showed some weakness it was a nice change for her. And I have to admit even though I would have pissed my pants if I was in that house I totally thought the house was cool and very interesting.
I’m so glad the villain got what he deserved and he did deserve it considering what he did to Teresa b/c that was mean and I hated him for it. But I love that she personally got her revenge on him. Classic

Things I didn’t care for:
There wasn’t much I didn’t enjoy. The book was spot on for what I wanted in the Black Jewels world and what I needed at the time. I got a fix without it hurting the previous books.

Are you keeping it or passing it on? Sadly enough folks this was a library book but it is going on the To Be Bought pile as soon as it comes out in paperback.

SCORE: 9 out of 10

Anything Else: .You do not have to read the series to understand this book. HOWEVER, in order to fully appreciate the richness of the world Ms. Bishop has created you really should start at the beginning.

Review ~ The Shadow Queen by Anne Bishop

TITLE: The Shadow Queen
AUTHOR: Anne Bishop
COPYRIGHT: 2009
TYPE: Fantasy
PAGES; 448
SERIES: oh yeah
1. Daughter of the Blood
2. Heir to the Shadow
3. Queen of Darkness
4. The Invisible Ring (need to read)
5. Tangled Web (currently Reading)
6. Dreams Made Flesh (read 2 of the 4 in this anthology)
7. The Shadow Queen

REASON FOR READING: I fell in love with the trilogy and had to read everything that has to do with the characters I’ve grown to love

SUMMARY: {From goodreads}
Dena Nehele is a land decimated by its past. Once it was ruled by corrupt Queens who were wiped out when the land was cleansed of tainted Blood. Now, only one hundred Warlord Princes stand—without a leader and without hope.

Theran Grayhaven is the last of his line, desperate to find the key that reveals a treasure great enough to restore Dena Nehele. But first he needs to find a Queen who remembers the Blood’s code of honor and lives by the Old Ways. The woman chosen to rule Dena Nehele, Lady Cassidy, is not beautiful and believes she is not strong. But she may be the only one able to convince bitter men to serve once again

THOUGHTS/OPINION:
I really enjoyed this book. I enjoyed catching up with J and D. I loved seeing S & L and learning where they were at in life. Aymless has a review posted that I tend to agree with. While I enjoyed reading and catching up with old friends their story tended to interfere with the new story revolving around Gray and Cassie. Whom I totally adore and what to know more about, I felt their story was rushed at the end and could have been a totally separate book from the others.

Things I enjoyed:
Like I stated above it was really nice getting to see where the old friends where in life and seeing little flashbacks here and there of their lives previous to the trilogy. However, I would have liked either a book about them or a separate book. Or I would have even enjoyed another short story book like Dreams Made Flesh to catch up.
I liked seeing Cassidy and Gray interact and felt there wasn’t enough of that interaction. I loved watching Gray struggle with his past to be the man that Cassidy needed in order to heal herself and I felt that in a way that was missing b/c we kept going back to D & J’s relationship.
I did however, like how all the men from Sadi and Lucivar as well as the other warlord princes interacting with Cassie. Showing her how she should be treated as a Queen but never letting her get to big of a head. However, knowing Cassidy that wouldn’t have been a problem she was damaged not in the same way as Gray but still hurt bad enough that she needed healing too.

Things I didn’t care for:
I did not, under any circumstance did I, enjoy Theran he was a complete and total ass through out the whole damn book. Is seriously kept hoping Lucivar would kill him. My God what a horrible person and try as I might I just couldn’t like him. He didn’t do anything that made me want to like him and if it wouldn’t have broken up her court I would have continued to wish him dead till the end. Hell even at the end I don’t feel as if he changed all that much. If there’s another book I hope it involves his death and his replacement. BLECH

Are you keeping it or passing it on? Sadly enough folks this was a library book but it is going on the To Be Bought pile as soon as it comes out in paperback.

SCORE: 8 out of 10 simple due to Theran

Anything Else: .You do not have to read the series to understand this book. HOWEVER, in order to fully appreciate the richness of the world Ms. Bishop has created you really should start at the beginning.

Feast of Fools by Rachel Caine

TITLE: Feast of Fools
AUTHOR: Rachel Caine
COPYRIGHT: 2008
TYPE: young adult
PAGES; 242

SERIES: oh yeah
1. Glass Houses
2. The Dead Girl’s Dance
3. Midnight Ally
4. Feast of Fools
5. Lord of Misrule
6. Carpe Corpus (out in June)
7. Fade Out (no release date)

REASON FOR READING: I’ve loved the series from the start and wanted to see where it would go.

SUMMARY: {From goodreads}
In the town of Morganville, vampires and humans live in relative peace. Student Claire Danvers has never been convinced, though especially with the arrival of Mr. Bishop, an ancient, old-school vampire who cares nothing about harmony. What he wants from the town’s living and its dead is unthinkably sinister. It’s only at a formal ball, attended by vampires and their human dates, that Claire realizes the human dates, that Claire realizes the elaborately evil trap he’s set for Morganville.

THOUGHTS/OPINION:
This book started off slow for me even though it left off as a cliff hanger on the last book. I have to admit though I am starting to grow tired of YA books b/c of the main character. I just have a hard time dealing with the whining and complaining, not listening to anyone thought process. However, I also realize that they are teenagers and that’s what teenagers do LOL so it’s a catch 22

Things I enjoyed:
The book picked up by a third of the way through I was hooked once again. Rachel Caine has a way of sucking you into her world and leaving you there breathless. Claire has matured a little she still had her whoa is me moments but they weren’t nearly as long or as bad as before.
I enjoyed her and Shane getting closer and Shane holding back. He is a young man with a girl that would easily follow through but he is being a mature young man and holding off. He even knows his limits and doesn’t push it.
Claire figuring out the feast and the game was wonderful and I loved discovering what Amelia would do with Bishop in town. And can I just say wow on the cliff hanger? OMG lovely now I want the next one like right now.

Things I didn’t care for:
I didn’t care for the scenes where Claire was upset and jealous about the feast I understood why she would feel this way but I still wasn’t happy about it. I didn’t like that Shane had to go to the party but once I understood what was happening it made more sense.

Are you keeping it or passing it on? Keeping. Now that we are in the series fully I have a feeling I would read all the short books at once making a really long re-reading session.

SCORE: 8 out of 10

Anything Else: .This is a series you have to read from the beginning. Otherwise you are just lost.
***********
100+ Book Challenge
23/100

Review ~ Cain and Abel by Michelle Perry

TITLE: Cain and Abel
AUTHOR: Michelle Perry
COPYRIGHT: 2005
TYPE: mystery/suspense
PAGES; 326
SERIES: no

REASON FOR READING: I had read one of her books before and loved it. Just wanted to see what this one was about.

SUMMARY: {From goodreads}
Brutally battered wife Jessica Ramsey fakes her death and flees to Tennessee to make a new life for herself and her young son. But five years later a chance encounter with his twin brother reveals her new identity. And nobody fools Cole Ramsey twice

THOUGHTS/OPINION:
While the suspense was good and the overall plot was okay it felt as if the suspense was the only thing holding the book together. Would Cole get her or not?

Things I enjoyed:
I did enjoy seeing a woman who had been in an abusive relationship get out of it and survive. And not just one our main character Jessica but Alex and Cole (twins) had a mom in the same type of relationship.
I was glad that Alex wasn’t like his father and the cycle of abuse didn’t continue

Things I didn’t care for:I didn’t like the ending. It was a little off for me like she was maybe going to do another book with these same people involved or something. It just didn’t flow right for me.

Are you keeping it or passing it on? passing

SCORE: 5 out of 10

Anything Else: .This isn’t one of her better books but I still enjoyed it enough to have to know what would happen.

Annie's Song by Catherine Anderson

TITLE: Annie’s Song
AUTHOR: Catherine Anderson
COPYRIGHT: 1996
TYPE: historical romance
PAGES; 410
SERIES: no

REASON FOR READING: Everyone kept talking about how wonderful this book was so I had to read it!

SUMMARY: {From goodreads}
Annie Trimble lives in a solitary world that no one enters or understands. As delicate and beautiful as the tender blossoms of the Oregon spring, she is shunned by a town that misinterprets her affliction. But cruelty cannot destroy the love Annie holds in her heart.

Alex Montgomery is horrified to learn his wild younger brother forced himself on a helpless "idiot girl." Tormented by guilt, Alex agrees to marry her and raise the babe she carries as his own. But he never dreams he will grow to cherish his lovely, mute, misjudged Annie--her childlike innocence, her womanly charms and the wondrous way she views her world. And he becomes determined to break through the wall of silence surrounding her--to heal...and to healed by Annie's sweet song of love.

THOUGHTS/OPINION:
This was a fantastic heart warming story. I enjoyed reading about Annie and how she grew under the love of Alex. And I really enjoyed watching Alex grow as a person who came to love Annie for herself.

Things I enjoyed:
Alex and Annie’s story I loved watching Alex grow to understand that she wasn’t stupid or dumb but really she was deaf. Once he realized that it all began to make sense. And his love grew as he understood her world and what it had to be like for her. Their love was so endearing I loved watching it grow and shape to become something wonderful.
I loved that Alex took Annie on even though he didn’t want and of course he had bad intentions at the beginning but the important part is he fought for her and did everything he could to make her life happy.

My favorite part was him explaining that Annie wasn’t going to lay an egg when she had the baby. That was freaking funny as all get out.

Things I didn’t care for:
There wasn’t much I didn’t care for. I didn’t like that Douglas got away clean and easy after what he did to Annie. I really didn’t like her parents but they fit with the story. The only other thing I didn’t care for was Alex pushing Annie to be physical with him. I understand the thought behind it but no one had ever explained to Annie what physical meant and add to it she had been raped so she was really confused and yet he kept pushing.

Are you keeping it or passing it on? Keeping

SCORE: 8 out of 10

Anything Else: This is an excellent book very heart warming and I enjoyed it.

Willow Bend by Ally Blue

TITLE: Willow Bend
AUTHOR: Ally Blue
COPYRIGHT: 2002
TYPE: M/M romance
PAGES; 216 ebook
SERIES: no

REASON FOR READING: Ally was kind enough to give a free copy away on Wave’s site and I managed to snatch it up.

SUMMARY: {From Goodreads}
Can two men from different worlds cut the ties binding them to heartaches past and present, and make a life together? For Paul Gordon, the little town of Willow Bend, South Carolina is the perfect place to start over. A place where he can move on after his lover's death, alone and anonymous. Cory Saunders is just trying to survive. Between working two jobs and caring for his ailing mother, it's all he can do to keep his head above water. When Paul and Cory meet, their mutual attraction is undeniable. When the intense physical attraction starts to blossom into something deeper, neither wants to admit to what's happening. Cory doesn't have time for a relationship, and Paul isn't sure he's ready for one. But sometimes, what you thought you couldn't have turns out to be exactly what you need.

THOUGHTS/OPINION:
This book is what I classify as a fluff read. Its something that is quick and easy, leaves you satisfied. Like I said it was a quick read nothing complicated in it. The only parts that were off involved death and seeing how I’m not a guy but a girl I know I would have reacted differently to the situation.

Things I enjoyed:
I enjoyed Cory and Paul they are both believable characters. I felt Paul’s pain at losing a loved one and I felt Cory’s pain of being an only child and the guilt that comes with that when your parent is sick. I understood why Cory did what he did and why he worked as hard as he did to take care of his mom. I also understood why Paul felt the need to get away after what happened to him back home. The romance was quick and hot. A little quicker than I would have liked but then again it fit the characters.

Things I didn’t care for:
Although the relationship was felt solid at times at other times I felt like it was rushed. Then again I am a very logical person and have never told anyone I love them within a span of a month. Also it felt like Cory was a little young for the relationship they were trying to build. And I thought moving in together after only 6 months was really rushing things. Than again like I said this was a fluff read and although I wouldn’t in real life do these things I can’t say it didn’t work for these two. I think it only felt this way b/c I know in real life it wouldn’t work but I found with the writing that it did? IDK make of that what you will.

Was the author new to you and would you read something by this author again? Yes she was new and yes I plan to read more of her writing

Are you keeping it or passing it on? Keeping

Review ~ Queen of the Darkness by Anne Bishop

TITLE: Queen of the Darkness
AUTHOR: Anne Bishop
COPYRIGHT: 2000
TYPE: Fantasy
PAGES; 448
SERIES: yes

1. Daughter of the Blood
2. Heir to the Shadow

REASON FOR READING: Read the first 2 had to know how it ends

SUMMARY: {From http://www.sfsite.com/04b/qd79.htm }
The series is set in a world of interlinked Realms ruled by the Blood, a race of witches and warlocks whose power is channelled through magical Jewels (the darker the Jewel, the greater the power). Over time, much of the Blood has become corrupt, and the delicate mesh of tradition and loyalty meant to maintain stability among these powerful and often violent people has become fatally distorted. Into this period of decline is born a Blood female, Jaenelle. Jaenelle is not simply a witch, but Witch: the embodiment of all the Realms' dreams of power, the Queen of the Darkness who will lead the Blood back to the purity of the old ways.
But there are those who fear the coming of Witch, and Jaenelle has many enemies, at whose hands she has suffered rape and worse, in an attempt to rob her of her birthright. Despite these terrible trials, she has survived to come fully into her power. She now rules as Queen of Ebon Askavi, protector of the Shadow Realm of Khaleer, protected in turn by her loyal Court of human and non-human Blood and by her loving adopted family, to whose devotion she owes both her life and her sanity. Her world can't be complete, though, until she's joined by her promised Consort: Daemon, the great love of her life, who for eight years has been lost to madness in the mistaken belief that it was he who raped her.
Now Daemon, understanding the truth at last, has broken free of the insanity that claimed him. He and Jaenelle are reunited, and slowly, hesitantly, their love is fulfilled. But one of Jaenelle's enemies still hunts her: Dorothea, a powerful and sadistic Queen determined to rule all the Realms. Reluctantly, Jaenelle realizes she must fight -- not just against Dorothea, but against the corruption that has infected so much of the Blood, and threatens the stability of all the Realms. There is only one way to do it: she must unleash the full power of Witch. She knows that in the storm that follows, all the Blood in the world will die -- unless she makes a much greater sacrifice.

THOUGHTS/OPINION:
Wow just wow. This book was fantastic I actually learned something from a fantasy book. The most important thing I think a lot of us forget. It takes time to heal. And wow oh wow does this book take that to far extreme. This is a powerful ending to a fantastic trilogy and I am so happy that I finally got to it. I really, really enjoyed this series. And I’ll be the first to admit when I read this book I started crying. It was so upsetting towards the end and yet I felt uplifted. This is going to be a very hard review for me to write.

Things I enjoyed:
Where to begin I enjoyed pretty much everything about this book. I enjoyed watching all the characters struggle to come into their own. I enjoyed watching the growth of the characters and I have to admit I was shocked at what each character had to go through in order to achieve their growth. There were parts in here that made me cringe and parts that made me cry. There were only a few parts in this book that made me snigger or laugh but there were enough to break up the darkness of the book. You have to keep in mind this is a dark series and it has a lot of things going on that are hard to read. This book is about action and how every action has a consequence. Sometimes the action has to be taken no matter what the consequence is going to be and this book proves that. It went above and beyond my expectations for an ending. While there were some romantic elements it didn’t feel as if the book suffered to make the readers happy in fact it kept its darkness all the way through the end.

Things I didn’t care for:
The only thing I didn’t care for where certain parts that were skipped over. Like L getting a wife and a child where was that story and how did it happen? And I would have loved to see more of D and J hooking up. I did find out that Ms. Bishop put out other book that supposedly has these stories in it so you know I will be checking that out.

Was the author new to you and would you read something by this author again? Nope I’ve read her before

Are you keeping it or passing it on? Keeping

Anything Else: You can’t read this one without reading the others.

Review ~ Heir to the Shadow by Anne Bishop

TITLE: Heir to the Shadow
AUTHOR: Anne Bishop
COPYRIGHT: 1999
TYPE: Fantasy
PAGES; 496
SERIES: Yes this is the 2nd in the trilogy
My review: Daughter of the Blood

REASON FOR READING: Loved the first one couldn’t pass on the 2nd

SUMMARY: {From Goodreads}
In Heir to the Shadows, Jaenelle's vampiric, adoptive father, Saetan, and her foster-family of demons shelter her. To restore her memory and emotional balance, they move to Kaeleer, where Jaenelle befriends the kindred--animals with magical and communicative powers--and gathers a circle of young Queens. She also heals Lucivar, Daemon's half-brother, who offers a brother's love and a warrior's fealty. As she recovers strength and memory, Jaenelle resolves to restore Daemon and cleanse Terreille.
Bishop subverts readers' expectations; the "darkest" powers reside in virtuous characters, demons and vampires are kindly, and Jaenelle's adolescence is more comically normal than horrific. Her vibrant characters and descriptions will keep readers hooked, anxiously awaiting what promises to be a riveting conclusion.

THOUGHTS/OPINION:
This book was just as dark as the first and had a little more story line that was easier to follow. We know that Daemon has gone mad and thinks that he’s the one that rapped Jaenelle. We learn that this isn’t true. Everyone is treating Jaenelle with kid gloves b/c of the rape and she knows something happened but can’t remember which equals that she can’t remember Daemon either so he goes on lost in the Twisted Kingdom (madness) for a couple of years.

Also it takes Jaenelle about 2 years to come back herself from the Twisted Kingdom during which she fixes the part of her that is broken. Also in this book we learn that Lucivar is alive and eventually comes to serve the woman he has always thought of as Queen.

We also learn that a lot of Jaenelle’s friends that she made as a child are very powerful witches and warlords which will come in handy at the end. Without giving too much away for a second book I thought this was just as good as the first if not better. It answer a lot of questions. Gives a better look at our characters and shows us where the story is heading. Everything a good 2nd book should do.

Things I enjoyed:
I really enjoy watching Jaenelle come into her own. She was violated as a child and survived and Ms. Bishop showed it wasn’t easy, it isn’t easy and she is still trying to cope with what was done. She still gets angry enough to destroy, she still hurts, she still has nightmares but most importantly she isn’t giving up on herself or her powers. Jaenelle is becoming the woman we all want her to be in this book and I think that it shows a nice balance between her pain and her love for those around her.
I also love how Ms. Bishop made sure to give Jaenelle a nice group of friends and support system that a lot of people don’t normally receive. Because of this Jaenelle is able to move on and learn how to cope with all the horrible things that are happening around her.
Another thing I enjoy is the fact that Ms. Bishop has made Jaenelle this unlimited power but hasn’t made her power hungry and the reason she isn’t is b/c of all the horrors she witnessed as a child. This is good. Usually this would be unbelievable b/c as they say absolute power corrupts absolutely but this time I can believe it didn’t.
Things I didn’t care for:
There are very few things I didn’t care for in this book. One of those is the world building that I have grown to love. Ms. Bishop has made such a complex world that its hard to keep up with all the different creatures and people. In this book alone we are introduced to the court that Jaenelle will pick and that’s 12 people/creatures with names and different cultures. Then add to it you are being introduced to more and more and more its just hard to focus on the story and the rich world all at once.Would I recommend this book? Yes I would highly recommend the first and of course if you read that then you will discover this is a must read as well.
Was the author new to you and would you read something by this author again? Not new will read again see review at top
Are you keeping it or passing it on? Keeping


Anything else? Before reading this book you really have to read the first.

Review ~ Daughter of the Blood by Anne Bishop

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

Anything else? Remember my warnings!!!

Review ~ The Englor Affair by JL Langley

The Englor Affair by J L Langley

BOOK DESCRIPTION: From Goodreads:
In hiding who he was, Payton found himself-and the man he would grow to love.
After his brother is kidnapped, Prince Payton Townsend masquerades as an Admiral-s assistant in order to track the culprits through the tangled mysteries of the planet Englor. He finds way more than he bargained for in the form of Marine Colonel Simon Hollister.
Simon is no ordinary soldier. He-s heir to Englor and his life is mapped out for him: throne, bride, and eventually an heir. He never expected a dalliance with Payton to blossom into love, or that the organization that taught him to lead would threaten that love-and their lives.
Danger and intrigue abound as they learn more about their shared enemy, and about each other. What they learn could help them rise above to an enduring love-or pull them apart.

MY THOUGHTS
Things I Liked:
Pay and Si’s relationship. It started off with Si wanting to protect Pay and not realizing that he was fully capable of it himself. But when Si realizes this it was almost too late. I love the playful banter they have back and forth and how Si fell in love with Pay. It was cute to see him agree to a marriage but in secret to be happy about it. I love that Pay held his own with Si and didn’t stop doing what he does best playing with computers and taking charge in that area.
I also enjoyed the ending even though it had the dreaded Miscommunication they were still able to realize their love for each other and work through it. Unlike a lot of romance books that solely focus on drawing it out as long as possible this wrapped it up quickly and even had them both saying they were sorry instead of one party taking sole responsibility.

WARNING SPOILER!

I love that Payton feeling that he was wronged and unloved left without a major scene. He proved his point, he left a note and did what he thought was best. That is rare in real life and even rarer was Si going after him. So sweet and touching.

SPOILER OVER!!!

I enjoyed finding more out about both planets and how their societies worked. I really enjoyed learning what the differences were and I am dying for another!

Things I Didn’t Like:
Can I just say the jock strap scene and the whole sex scene in general with that particular device I could have lived without ever reading. No it wasn’t hot to me and no it wasn’t a turn on and yet I felt like it was a train wreck I couldn’t stop reading. LOL call me old fashion but if a guy did that to me I would gag from disgust LOL

Rating
8 out of 10

Additional Info
Make sure to read My Fair Captain first I really think this helps with the understanding of this book and the relationships already established. Not to mention this book pretty much takes off where the last one ended.

~ Published: 2008

~ Price: $5.50 in ebook

http://samhainpublishing.com/romance/the-englor-affair

~Favorite Author Book
My Fair Captain (Nate is just perfect)

~ Author Website

http://www.jllangley.com/jllangley/Home.html

Review ~ The Other Queen by Philippa Gregory

TITLE: The Other Queen
AUTHOR: Philippa Gregory
COPYRIGHT: 2008
TYPE: historical fiction
PAGES: 438 (in ebook format)
SERIES: Not that I’m aware of

REASON FOR READING: This was a free Sony book when I rec’d my e-reader and I have always enjoyed her works

SUMMARY: [from Goodreads ]
Two women competing for a man's heart. Two queens fighting to the death for dominance. The untold story of Mary, Queen of Scots. This dazzling novel from the #1 New York Times bestselling author Philippa Gregory presents a new and unique view of one of history's most intriguing, romantic, and maddening heroines. Biographers often neglect the captive years of Mary, Queen of Scots, who trusted Queen Elizabeth's promise of sanctuary when she fled from rebels in Scotland and then found herself imprisoned as the "guest" of George Talbot, Earl of Shrewsbury, and his indomitable wife, Bess of Hardwick.
The newly married couple welcome the doomed queen into their home, certain that serving as her hosts and jailers will bring them an advantage in the cutthroat world of the Elizabethan court. To their horror, they find that the task will bankrupt them, and as their home becomes the epicenter of intrigue and rebellion against Elizabeth, their loyalty to each other and to their sovereign comes into question. If Mary succeeds in seducing the earl into her own web of treachery and treason, or if the great spymaster William Cecil links them to the growing conspiracy to free Mary from her illegal imprisonment, they will all face the
headsman.

THOUGHTS/OPINION:
Um yeah this one just didn’t hold a candle to her previous works. The book was too long, it repeated too much and just didn’t do anything for me. Its about Mary Queen of Scots and I believe it was meant to make the readers feel for Mary and her unfair treatment. However, all it did for me was make me roll my eyes and think that Mary deserved everything she got.

Things I enjoyed:
There wasn’t much. I did enjoy see Queen Elizabeth from different perspectives and I realize that she probably wasn’t as liked as many believe. I do believe that she was a fantastic leader and I honestly think she was an excellent queen but after reading this I can see how others might not view it the same.
I also enjoyed watching the conflict between the two Queens and seeing how Mary thought that Elizabeth moved to slow while the whole time Elizabeth knew if she waited long enough Mary would tangle herself into some foiled plot after another.

Things I didn’t care for:
Pretty much most of it. I didn’t care to be told over and over how the Earl’s wife was one of the only women in the land who owned property, how she brought herself up from being poor to an Earl’s wife, then repeat that every time we got her perspective. I didn’t care for Queen Mary’s thoughts she was repeating everything as well, she also came across as a spoiled little brat who threw spats b/c she could. She didn’t care about anyone but herself which means to me she must have been a horrible leader. And honestly I just didn’t care for any of the characters in this book. Not a single one of them struck a cord with me.

Would I recommend this book? No

Was the author new to you and would you read something by this author again? Nope the author wasn't new to me. Unless the book is free I will probably pass on it.

Are you keeping it or passing it on? If I could delete it I would

Anything else? I think a lot of her works are fantastic and would highly recommend them but not this one.

Review ~ Death of a Pirate King by Josh Lanyon

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

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.

Review ~ Dead Sexy by Kimberly Raye

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

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.

Review ~ Like a thief in the Night by Bettie Sharp

TITLE: Like a Thief in the Night
AUTHOR: Bettie Sharpe
COPYRIGHT: 2008
TYPE: Erotica
PAGES: 99 (in ebook format)
SERIES: Not that I’m aware of

REASON FOR READING: I’ve had this sitting on my computer for awhile I thought it was a good time to break out with it.

SUMMARY: [from Goodreads ]
Death comes like a thief in the night. For reclusive thief Sevastien Aniketos, death comes in the form of slinky assassin Arden Black. But Aniketos has a surprise for his would-be assassin—he is immortal. And he is about to turn the tables on the pragmatic femme fatale. Arden finds more than she bargained for when she sneaks through the window of Aniketos’s glass penthouse to take his life. The immortal thief is no victim; he’s a clever strategist who has set his sights on capturing the lethal lady and making her his own. Trapped with a man she cannot kill, Arden slowly succumbs to Aniketos’s scheme of seduction, ceding her secrets, her loyalty, and eventually her heart. But when Arden’s wicked past catches up with her, Aniketos is faced with a choice. An endless life without Arden, or a paltry mortal lifespan with the woman he is increasingly sure he cannot live without

THOUGHTS/OPINION:
All and all I enjoyed this book. It had some great things going for it. Word to the wise though this is a strong book, lots of crude language, lots of violence and violent sex. It all fits with the story but some might be turned off by that.

Things I enjoyed:
I really like the mythology back ground on why Sevastien was the way he was. It was a very interesting background I think it flowed well. I liked that the “heroine” was strong, independent and never faltered from that. A lot of the times authors will have this “strong” heroine who is strong until she faces one thing then she collapses and becomes the damsel in distress waiting for the hero to save her. This was not the case. I also enjoyed the story and discovering the company that Arden works for and how they work.

Things I didn’t care for:
The violent sex. Yes I understand that it fit the characters. Yes I understand why it was used. However, I personally just didn’t care for it. I don’t feel comfortable reading scenes where the “hero” strangles the “heroine” to help her get off. And yes before you ask she did want it, doesn’t mean I enjoyed reading about it.

Would I recommend this book? Yes

Was the author new to you and would you read something by this author again? I have read this author before when she did Ember and I highly recommend it as well.

Are you keeping it or passing it on? Keeping

Anything else? I think this is a fantastic author that we should keep an eye out for.

Review ~ Shades of Dark by Linnea Sinclair

TITLE: Shades of Dark
AUTHOR: Linnea Sinclair
COPYRIGHT: 2008
TYPE: sci/fi romance
PAGES: 392 (in ebook format)
SERIES: Yes 2nd one in the series first was Gabriel Ghost

REASON FOR READING: I loved GG and couldn’t wait to see where Ms. Sinclair took the main characters

SUMMARY: [from Goodreads ]
Before her court-martial, Captain Chasidah “Chaz” Bergren was the pride of the Sixth Fleet. Now she’s a fugitive from the “justice” of a corrupt Empire. Along with her lover, the former monk, mercenary, and telepath Gabriel Ross Sullivan, Chaz hoped to leave the past light-years behind—until the news of her brother Thad’s arrest and upcoming execution for treason. It’s a ploy by Sully’s cousin Hayden Burke to force them out of hiding and it works. With a killer targeting human females and a renegade gen lab breeding jukor war machines, Chaz and Sully already had their hands full of treachery, betrayal—not to mention each other. Throw in Chaz’s Imperial ex-husband, Admiral Philip Guthrie, and a Kyi-Ragkiril mentor out to seduce Sully and not just loyalties but lives are at stake. For when Sully makes a fateful choice changing their relationship forever, Chaz must also choose—between what duty demands and what her heart tells her she must do.

THOUGHTS/OPINION:

Alright this book has action, romance, hawt menz, suspense, and of course a dozen or so plots that all come together at the end. (I mention this b/c I was really worried as we got close to the end on how she was going to wrap this up)
This book is the second in a series however, I don’t believe you need to read the first in order to understand what is going on but it would help. Reading the first would help to understand how the characters work together and even got together. This is a fairly complicated book in the sense of all the different subplots and different storylines going on.

Things I enjoyed: I really liked being able to see Sully and Chaz’s relationship as it grew. There were times when I worried they wouldn’t make it and other times when I knew they would struggle through it. The relationship that Ms. Sinclair has set up is priceless. She shows how hard it is to work in a relationship and a relationship is just that work. She doesn’t make it easy on these two and for that their relationship really grows. Ms. Sinclair had me laughing, crying, shaking in anger, and really hoping that these two would end up together. She is a powerful writer when it comes to this aspect.

Also her world building is to die for. I could perfectly see what a Kyi killer was. She gives just enough description to make you understand what the weapon or for that matter the ship should look like. But not so much description you can’t add in your own thoughts.

Things I didn’t care for: Ms. Sinclair was really bad about having us in Chaz’s head but then making sure that Chaz told us everything we might not have remembered from reading the first. It was annoying b/c I know when I am thinking of Kyi in my head I am not giving a full on description of what I know about them. Then turning around and explaining “to myself” how I know this information. I just felt like everytime she did this I was pulled out of the book.

Would I recommend this book? Yes I would highly recommend both this one and the first

Was the author new to you and would you read something by this author again? Nope the author wasn't new to me. I have read a couple of this author’s works and enjoyed everyone.

Are you keeping it or passing it on? Keeping

Anything else? I think if you are going to read this you should also look into reading GG you won’t regret either choice.

King of the Unblessed by Michelle Pillow

TITLE: King of the Unblessed
AUTHOR: Michelle Pillow
COPYRIGHT: 2006
TYPE: Fantasy/Romance
PAGES; 268
SERIES: Yes

REASON FOR READING: This was my re-read for the month!

Summary : {From Goodreads}
Immortality has a way of changing fate. Merrick, dark elfin King of Valdis, had once been heir to all that was good-happiness and pleasure his domain. Now, trapped as the ruler of mischief, king of necessary evil, he stands on a precipice of choice. On one side, his estranged brother, now ruler of what should have been Merrick's and, on the other, King Lucien of the Damned. Both would sway him. Damnation is winning. Lady Juliana of Bellemare is from a human family, protected by the blessed, coveted by the damned. Betrothed to an old friend of her father's, Juliana is resigned to living out her days close to her childhood home, longing for an adventure, never dreaming she'd get what she wished for. When her fiancée is murdered and the children of Bellemare are stolen, Juliana is sent on a quest in a strange realm where appearances are deceiving. Merrick brings more adventure and passion than any woman could want. Can she withstand the temptations of the unblessed king? The spell she weaves over him is more than he can resist and, desperate to be the one to rule her, Merrick offers her a choice; either come with him until he tires of her.or die.

THOUGHTS/OPINION: in 2008
I liked this book a lot the reason it doesn't get five stars is simply the price I can't afford to buy it and the series it is creating. That being said I loved the story line. Merrick is the King of the Unblessed and becomes interested in a mortal woman. So interested he brings her into the Otherworld on an adventure that she craves. However Lucian King of the Damned is playing his own game with Merrick and Ean the King of the Blessed. Throw in some faries hot mortal men. Sexy Unblessed Men some graphic sex and a not too shabby story and well you get Chapter 1 in the Realm of the Immortals Series. The next is about Hugh one of the brothers of Julianna (The girl the Unblessed King wants) and his story of the Tania the Queen of the Faries. Can't wait to see how that one goes. I also want to see who she pairs the other two brothers with as well as the ever evolving story of Mia and Lucian. (Such a good side story too!) I gave it 4 out of 5 stars in 2008

THOUGHTS/OPINION: in 2009
Okay I really, really like this book. This is definitely a keeper!! I enjoyed reading it so much I re-read it in a day. Now granted there aren't a lot of pages but still! And this time I really enjoyed learning more about the characters. I saw more of the game playing and how it was working in Merrick's favor. I really enjoyed watching Juilianna come to the realization that Merrick wasn't all that evil and that he did care for her. I wanted to shake them both off and on for being so dense but then I wanted to cry when they realized their mistakes. Very GOOD!!!

Are you keeping it or passing it on? Keeping it!!! Still

SCORE: 8 out of 10


RE -READ Challenge