tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-59068294254072639912024-02-19T09:53:02.872-05:00The Raving ReaderLaura (The Romance Reviews)http://www.blogger.com/profile/17731613064207918108noreply@blogger.comBlogger186125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5906829425407263991.post-46092561539712208392016-09-05T08:47:00.000-04:002016-09-24T08:50:13.672-04:00Cover Reveal: Threesome Bonds by Sienna Matthews<p style="text-align: left;">It gives us great pleasure to bring you the Cover Reveal for <strong>THREESOME BONDS</strong> by <strong>Sienna Matthews</strong>!</p><p style="text-align: left;">Threesome Bonds delivers <strong>hot, sizzling and sensual romance</strong>...the long-awaited, much-anticipated, reader-requested sequel to Sienna Matthews' Threesome series. Check it out now!</p><img class=" size-full wp-image-29 aligncenter" src="https://bookunleashedblog.files.wordpress.com/2016/08/sm_threesome_threesomebonds_400x600.jpg" alt="Threesome Bonds Cover" width="400" height="600" /><h3>About Threesome Bonds</h3><strong><em>The long-awaited, much-anticipated, reader-requested sequel to Threesome Interlude and Threesome Play is here!</em></strong><p style="text-align: left;">What happens after Lynne Morrison's passionate elevator interlude with hunky twins Mark and Ash Thompson? Well, they realize it isn't enough so they had to try out the bedroom and the kitchen table and the wall…er, you get the picture. When Lynne finds herself unexpectedly pregnant, she faces a serious dilemma: she doesn't know who the father is! When the truth is out, will it derail her growing relationship with Mark?</p><p style="text-align: left;">Meanwhile, her best friend Cara Wilson, aka Hot Blonde, isn't feeling so hot. In a relationship with lovers Kyle Lockwood and Max Brannigan, she comes home early one day and stumbles upon Kyle secretly proposing to Max. Her world shatters. Amidst her heartbreak, she decides to take the biggest gamble of her life, even if it means losing the thing Kyle cherishes the most…</p><p style="text-align: left;"><strong>Product Warnings</strong></p><p style="text-align: left;">This book contains explicit sexual situations, graphic language, male/male sexual acts, anal sex and ménage a trois (m/f/m and m/m/f).</p><p style="text-align: left;"><strong>Note</strong></p><p style="text-align: left;">This book can be read as a standalone. Enough backstory has been provided to help new readers understand the characters' situations. However, if new readers would like to read how the characters met, the previous books, Threesome Interlude and Threesome Play, are now discounted at $0.99 for a limited time only.</p><p style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B01KTU6OZA/primepress-20" target="_blank">Pre-order your copy of Threesome Bonds today at Amazon.com.</a></p> <h3>Other books by Sienna Matthews</h3><p style="text-align: left;">Grab these equally tantalizing books in the Threesome series by Sienna Matthews. <strong>Available now</strong> <strong>with new covers</strong>!</p><table style="border: none; background-color: #ffffff;"><tbody><tr><td style="margin: 0 auto; width: 30%; border: none; border-bottom: 1px solid #888888; vertical-align: top;"><img src="https://bookunleashedblog.files.wordpress.com/2016/08/sm_threesome_threesomeinterlude_400x600.jpg" alt="Threesome Interlude Cover" width="200" height="300" /></td><td style="margin: 0; width: 70%; border: none; border-bottom: 1px solid #888888; vertical-align: top;"><h4>Threesome Interlude</h4><p class="text-align:left;">It's no hardship being stranded with two gorgeous guys...</p><p class="text-align:left;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B007N67R82/primepress-20" target="_blank"><span style="color: #ff0000;"><em>Limited time offer: $0.99 special promotion price!</em></span> <br>Buy now at Amazon.com</a></p></td></tr><tr><td style="margin: 0 auto; width: 30%; border: none; vertical-align: top;"><img src="https://bookunleashedblog.files.wordpress.com/2016/08/sm_threesome_threesomeplay_400x600.jpg" alt="Threesome Play Cover" width="200" height="300" /></td><td style="margin: 0; width: 70%; border: none; vertical-align: top;"><h4>Threesome Play</h4><p class="text-align:left;">When opportunity comes, grab it. Or them.</p><p class="text-align:left;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00957KYNC/primepress-20" target="_blank"><span style="color: #ff0000;"><em>Limited time offer: $0.99 special promotion price!</em></span> <br>Buy now at Amazon.com</a></p></td></tr></tbody></table><h3>About Sienna Matthews</h3><p class="p1">Sienna Matthews writes deliciously erotic romance. She goes wherever the muse calls. Check out her stories which are no holds barred sinful and seductive and where anything can happen. Visit her blog at <a href="http://siennamatthews.wordpress.com/" target="_blank"><span class="s1">http://siennamatthews.wordpress.com/</span></a><span class="s2">.</span> She welcomes readers' feedback on her books. Write to her at SiennaMMatthews @ gmail.com.</p><p class="p1">Visit t<span class="s1">he Official Sienna Matthews Website: <a href="http://siennamatthews.wordpress.com/" target="_blank"><span class="s2">http://siennamatthews.wordpress.com/</span></a></span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">Connect with Sienna Matthews on Social Media: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Sienna-Matthews-167617836760346/" target="_blank">Facebook</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/SiennaMatthews" target="_blank">Twitter</a></span></p><hr /><p style="text-align: center;">In partnership with</p><a href="http://www.bookunleashed.com" target="_blank"><img class=" aligncenter" src="https://bookunleashedblog.files.wordpress.com/2016/09/bu_button_1_tour.jpg" alt="Book Unleashed" width="280" height="280" /></a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13117097417875041547noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5906829425407263991.post-77997332438732545872016-06-06T00:58:00.000-04:002016-09-24T08:45:12.911-04:00Sexy Pic<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi36k5-pXE5kH5Rzv6K6Z3FuDdS3KBp_j-pJ0xWWAu55BxH4xhVdwLPh9OJ5P85zKr_r573DdUxfmXhsplqqeKCsdOHnQQomwHi9r7zoO8EDMVJs-lsgYHl4hZCpGQvoReG1sZxLHlEM-4/s1600-h/couple.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi36k5-pXE5kH5Rzv6K6Z3FuDdS3KBp_j-pJ0xWWAu55BxH4xhVdwLPh9OJ5P85zKr_r573DdUxfmXhsplqqeKCsdOHnQQomwHi9r7zoO8EDMVJs-lsgYHl4hZCpGQvoReG1sZxLHlEM-4/s320/couple.jpg" /></a> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Photo courtesy of <a href="http://s898.photobucket.com/home/cuivadecor">cuivadecor</a> from Photobucket </div>
Silver @ TRRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15149316120653757784noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5906829425407263991.post-75978413727245398472016-05-23T00:57:00.000-04:002016-09-24T08:42:04.893-04:00Sexy Pic<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmcBgvxlC9u4Y6wYYK7uZPGRPCrFOvic-ogeSiHRK9N1XPFueBr6sY1eIckO77ce9MVfWIJk-WEYWv4iXpTW4K5Gv7FySMUxkPBhidCua_KrkgelrPsI_xvFRftUO-HkCYT4ALbgN0rnM/s1600-h/couple-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmcBgvxlC9u4Y6wYYK7uZPGRPCrFOvic-ogeSiHRK9N1XPFueBr6sY1eIckO77ce9MVfWIJk-WEYWv4iXpTW4K5Gv7FySMUxkPBhidCua_KrkgelrPsI_xvFRftUO-HkCYT4ALbgN0rnM/s320/couple-2.jpg" /></a> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Photo courtesy of <a href="http://s591.photobucket.com/home/chivita_2009_831">chivita_2009_831</a> from Photobucket </div>
Silver @ TRRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15149316120653757784noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5906829425407263991.post-72869919937524630342016-05-09T08:30:00.000-04:002016-09-24T08:41:03.519-04:00REVIEW: Afternoon Delight by Desiree Holt<div>
ISBN 978-1-906590-60-4</div>
<div>
June 2008</div>
<div>
Total E-Bound<br />
<br />
(Probably not in circulation anymore)</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
"Definitely an Afternoon Delight!"</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Savannah Claymore and Lori Avondale are friends and condo mates. One sunny afternoon, they were enjoying orange mimosas and sunbathing in the nude on their patio and bemoaning the lack of men in their lives, when their hunky neighbor, Deke Rogers, dropped in to join in the fun.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
And what fun they had. This being an erotic romance, the sex scenes are hot, hot, HOT! The sexual tension ran high, with lots of anticipation and naughty couplings. The main characters were upfront and honest in their desire for one another, and there was no pretense that the time spent was going to be something other than an afternoon delight or that the story was something more than a sexual fling.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Until the evening, when Deke's friend Slade joined them for a nice foursome. Then, they split off into couples with the promise of deeper feelings developing between them. Now, I'm all for romance, but in this story, I would have been happy if they'd left it at that--a fling.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Readers who have objection to reading female-female physical interaction may have a little problem with this story.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Rating: 4 stars</div>
Silver @ TRRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15149316120653757784noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5906829425407263991.post-90424063188440200842016-05-02T08:30:00.000-04:002016-09-24T08:36:54.418-04:00Sexy PicEnjoy!
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgATZTv0HT6JreBK49dpzI9BgeyF-WlmYBRGRmBIrqKFePmBoTcb433sHP6E4NkFK5t93YJyMT84FjzLiygUJy4hBWBSXRjMPxzbLQjlYKr4u6kSusE6piA1-KUjYDUM3ZOCja6lxXfulc/s1600-h/sexy11111111111.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgATZTv0HT6JreBK49dpzI9BgeyF-WlmYBRGRmBIrqKFePmBoTcb433sHP6E4NkFK5t93YJyMT84FjzLiygUJy4hBWBSXRjMPxzbLQjlYKr4u6kSusE6piA1-KUjYDUM3ZOCja6lxXfulc/s320/sexy11111111111.jpg" /></a> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Photo courtesy of <a href="http://s746.photobucket.com/home/p4kl3k">p4kl3k</a> from Photobucket </div>
Silver @ TRRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15149316120653757784noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5906829425407263991.post-15126491847400930192016-04-25T10:00:00.000-04:002016-09-24T08:35:43.913-04:00REVIEW: A Delicious Taboo by Jennifer Cole<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51bjueFASjL._SY346_.jpg" />
</div>
<div>
<br />
ISBN 978-1-59632-713-9</div>
<div>
May 2008, Loose Id</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Melanie Drake worked as a bartender in Taboo Delights nightclub, where she met and lusted after a quartet of gay men, couples Calen Maxwell and Van Dansk, and Jake Welland and Philip Weston. Unbeknownst to her, the two couples each believed her to be the perfect "third" they wanted to invite into their bed. However, since they couldn't decide whom Melanie wanted more, they decided to ask her.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Believing herself to be ordinary, a plain Jane, Melanie couldn't believe it when the men propositioned her and thought they were being cruel to tease her. So, she rejected them. However, the men couldn't be dissuaded as easily as that. They put their heads together and devised a plan to seduce the delectable Melanie.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
More yummy men, the merrier and the better. Or so I used to think. I never realized how hard it must be to keep track of so many body parts, and where said body part was. This is a novella, which may explain why things moved at a fast pace, but more sexual tension between the characters would have been good. More is always good, in this case, more story and more non-sexual interaction between the characters would have rounded out the passionate interludes of the quintet. Especially with four men on the scene, this story would've benefitted from a longer length. It's also hard to sympathize with the heroine because not much emotional depth and exploration occurred. That said, if you're looking for a quick, hot read on a quiet afternoon, you wouldn't miss with the four gorgeous, sexy men in this novella.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Rating: 3 stars --> someone will comment: "you're so generous, Silver. I've also read this book, and if I were doing the grading, I'd give it a 2, at least. Let me say I'm a fan of erotic romances and I've been reading LI books since way back, but with this book, I think their quality has deteriorated. There's only the bare bones of a story, strung together by the sex scenes. I'm not sure if it's because this is a novella. Personally, I like lengthier stories for the meat of the story."</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
--> also, can 5 bodies fit into a king-sized bed? even if they can, nobody can move or if he did, he's sure to fall off!</div>
Silver @ TRRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15149316120653757784noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5906829425407263991.post-21662713596966927262016-04-18T08:00:00.000-04:002016-09-24T05:34:51.737-04:00Review: Best Friends Forever by Kate Douglas<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://d2arxad8u2l0g7.cloudfront.net/books/1327898840l/8315691.jpg" /> </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman";"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman";"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">Book 6 of the Star Quest series</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman";">Heroine and Ted have been friends for a long time, owing to the interaction of their parents. Though they were of different species, Heroine being a half-lion, half-human, while Ted is a full human, they were inseparable…until a hurtful act in their teens drove them apart. Years later, when they met again, their feelings and their past came back to haunt them, and they would need to get over them to fight a common enemy.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman";">I believe the author has done a wonderful job depicting their relationship and the growing feelings between them, turning them from best friends to "enemies" and later, to lovers. Each couldn't help the attraction to the other, yet they were both afraid of rejection (due to what has happened in the past). I like how the author didn't explain away the past hurtful situation as a misunderstanding, but portrayed it in an honest way, showing that the characters are human, flawed, and prone to do thoughtless acts. And in that manner, gaining the sympathy of the readers, because we can relate to them.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman";">I finished the book in one sitting, because of the compelling writing, and I can't help but root for Heroine and Ted to get their happy ending. Kudos to Kate Douglas, and I'll be looking for her other works.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman";">Rating: 4 stars</span></span></div>
Shanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05053858537537188916noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5906829425407263991.post-22073128829421853282016-04-11T09:00:00.000-04:002016-09-24T05:36:12.904-04:00I'm Back!After a long hiatus, I'm back! And reading with a vengeance. Though writing reviews is still a problem. LOL<br />
<br />
I'm determined to be more active this time around, reading and reviewing and joining tours. Hope you go with me on this book journey!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13117097417875041547noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5906829425407263991.post-27505470511051143202010-07-25T08:36:00.000-04:002010-07-25T08:36:27.415-04:00Sexy Sunday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;">Here's a hot pic for you to enjoy!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDSUcxd0rHYtZ27bfmIXu4y_Rkn9dMxYcN6W7aOtgoJnmPeFEsRMLy-FPe2ZMWiQG82e5mFeI2GSeUCdOuxrnmRDdcXx5bmEfp1KTZdNoQG73iHny91zeYaswMqby62fjBTbTtun9nMiY/s1600-h/guyGirl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDSUcxd0rHYtZ27bfmIXu4y_Rkn9dMxYcN6W7aOtgoJnmPeFEsRMLy-FPe2ZMWiQG82e5mFeI2GSeUCdOuxrnmRDdcXx5bmEfp1KTZdNoQG73iHny91zeYaswMqby62fjBTbTtun9nMiY/s320/guyGirl.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Photo courtesy of Sam3nm from Photobucket</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"></div>Silver @ TRRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15149316120653757784noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5906829425407263991.post-6229023901505459252010-07-09T05:00:00.000-04:002010-07-09T05:00:00.330-04:00REVIEW: Summers at Castle Auburn by Sharon Shinn<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1rtcVkeypQ8v9Cn6AHLWu-B3j9TXv2-5ZV-qEtGVCuOb1wrG4QhKIi7Xnv_4dv9lF8gNXZuiePMmXPwTr1Xz7qEbBcEB_71ZapFaJ36yXtg04r57zGoOXW9-mI6C4iWyj9ZiHReBs418/s1600/Castle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1rtcVkeypQ8v9Cn6AHLWu-B3j9TXv2-5ZV-qEtGVCuOb1wrG4QhKIi7Xnv_4dv9lF8gNXZuiePMmXPwTr1Xz7qEbBcEB_71ZapFaJ36yXtg04r57zGoOXW9-mI6C4iWyj9ZiHReBs418/s320/Castle.jpg" tt="true" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">ISBN 0-441-00928-X</span></div><div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Genre: Fantasy</span></div><div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">(c) 2001, Ace Book, Berkley Publishing Group</span></div><div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><a href="http://sharonshinn.net/">Sharon Shinn's website</a></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Rating: 2 stars</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Buy Link: <a href="http://www.bookdepository.co.uk/book/9780441009282/?a_aid=TheRavingReaders">Book Depository</a></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #990000; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><strong>"Good story but with flaws"</strong></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Corie is the illegitimate child of a dead nobleman with the daughter of a village witch/wise woman. When she was six, her uncle Jaxon came at the behest of her dead father and bargained with her grandmother for her to live her summers at Castle Auburn with her half-sister Elisandra. Corie lives for her summers at Castle Auburn, but as she grows older, she realizes deeper and darker things are afoot at the castle.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Sharon Shinn writes a wonderful story that both entrances you and makes you stop and think at the same time. In this book, she touches on the subjects of slavery and abuse, but more than that, it's about growing up and seeing the world through different eyes, learning that the world isn't quite the way you thought it was. It's about coming into your own principles and beliefs and acting according to what you know is right, even if it is against the way of the world. It's about Corie and her growth from a young girl into a woman.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I have said before that Sharon Shinn is very good at characterization and character development, and it is true again here, especially in the person of Corie, whom I like very much as a heroine. At 14, she was charming and engaging, despite being forthright and liable to say anything she thinks. She could wrap Bryan (or any man) around her finger if she so wants.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">She was infatuated with Bryan (as did many girls), blinded by his handsome features. Still, she possessed a fierce loyalty to her sister, to whom Bryan was betrothed, in that even as she enjoyed Bryan's attention, she was aware he was her sister's and didn't think of fighting with her over him, and later on, her intense need to save Elisandra.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">As Corie grew older and the veil of innocence was taken away, she became aware of Bryan's true nature--that he was handsome, yes, but he was cruel and selfish and may not make the realm a good king nor her sister a good husband. Her moral compass was also being challenged with regard to the aliora, fairy-like creatures who became the humans' slaves when captured.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Possible spoilers below, so be warned.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">S</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">P</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">O</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">L</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">E</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">R</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I've always liked a Sharon Shinn story and this is no exception. However, I have some complaints:</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">1. Maybe because I'm a romance reader, I wish there were more romantic moments (more development of the romance) between Corie and her future husband (not telling who, so as not to spoil your reading pleasure). Corie's thoughts regarding her feelings for him also came across as...not strong enough. (Actually, I'm tempted to write, "What feelings?", but there were hints, like not wanting to read news about him dancing with another girl, etc.)</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I'm not convinced she loved him because her reaction to him was rather bland. She even wanted him to marry her sister (to save her), even after he told her that he didn't love her sister that way. So, I'm a bit disappointed here. However, that said, I realize this is a fantasy novel and I'm content with what I can get. The consolation is that the guy is more forthcoming and we really see that he likes her through his actions (though how she couldn't see this is a mystery, and instead she was always attributing it to something else) and his declaration of love toward the end more than makes up for Corie's lackluster emotions.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">(I want to quote some of his lines but they're very revealing as to who he is, so...sorry. Read the book if you want to know.)</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">2. I think Jaxon's "romance" with Rowena, the Queen of Alora, is more exciting. However, so much about them happened in the background. I wish we could've seen more about what had happened between them before that shocking entrance into Castle Auburn, proclaiming that they had married along the way. I'm very interested to know how their bargain was struck and if there were feelings on Rowena's side for him, or if she was doing it merely for her people.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">3. Elisandra's actions at the end. This is the only point that truly disturbed me. I know why she did what she did, and I empathize with her situation and I really believe she only did it as a last resort to a very difficult situation. I now know why she is portrayed as so cool and calm all the time, because only a person of such..."cold-bloodedness", I should say, could have done what she did.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Despite the justification, I'm not sure I agree with her method. Granted, Bryan is an evil man and his eventually being king and her husband would spell doom for the realm and for her. He is very cruel, as shown in his callous disregard for his illegitimate child and the way he punished Andrew. Perhaps Elisandra is merely delivering her own brand of justice. Perhaps she agonized over her decision before finally being resigned to the fact that there's no other way. However, I just...don't...quite...agree with the method of his downfall. As I was reading, I thought this book could also be classified as YA, but when I came to this part, I think not. Or perhaps, it can be read but with parental guidance.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Perhaps this was balanced in Corie's and her future husband's "condemnation" of Elisandra's actions later on, but the fact that Elisandra got away with it, that she wasn't punished but moreover was "rewarded" with possession of Jaxon Halsing's estate plus the love of a good man, well, that may send the wrong impression to a young mind.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">So, much as I love this story, I couldn't give it the rating I wanted. Since I believed that the third point is a very important one, I have to give the story a rating of 2.</span></div>Silver @ TRRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15149316120653757784noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5906829425407263991.post-69995841058524871902010-07-06T05:00:00.000-04:002010-07-06T05:00:02.431-04:00Random Thoughts: My Experience with the World Cup<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">For the first time ever, I watched the World Cup quarter finals featuring Germany vs Argentina last weekend. I thought it would be boring, watching some guys kick a ball around a huge green field for 90 minutes with the scores almost always in the one digit.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"><br />
Boy, was I wrong.<br />
<br />
My friends and I went for dinner at this German restaurant and had deep fried pork knuckles and varied sausages. Yum, yum, yum! I also had a lager, which one of my girlfriends extolled, so I tried it. Tastes great, not bitter at all, which is just right for my palette.<br />
<br />
Oh yes, back to the game. So, the restaurant has this big screen which featured the game and everyone was there rooting for his team. Most were rooting for Germany (kinda obvious, isn't it, since we were in a German restaurant), so the shouts and hollers when Germany scored was tremendous. I had as much fun watching the game as watching the people in their varied reactions.<br />
<br />
Did I mention the eye candy, both on-screen and off? Drool. Okay, I think I lied. I had <em>more</em> fun watching the man candies than the game.<br />
<br />
Oh, and I rooted for Germany, who won. *grin* Beginner's luck. *wink*<br />
<br />
I also took away a little souvenir. It was important to mentioned I had beer, because two hours after I'd consumed it, I got rashes all over my back and down my right thigh! So itchy. Should've remembered my allergic reaction to alcohol. :( I'm getting better now, but I still itch. *sigh* When will I ever learn?</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13117097417875041547noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5906829425407263991.post-74167307209309304482010-06-30T05:00:00.001-04:002010-06-30T05:00:03.803-04:00New Releases - July 2010<span style="color: black;"><br />
</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">More books that caught our eyes! Seriously, when are we going to have enough time to read them all?</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="color: #990000;">But maybe you can help us!</span> Stay tuned for contest details!</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-WBNRUKC56eNNK3cUb33ihNTsmPACk8VOhTlX1eWqT35Xa7gRzL0IY2IV1gx0V03WA7DR0hsR3SyEmxhvp4fabaUDcI9T_teHcUNxEvokwyBaO7UTQCYnSSjhndTVymf-5TjVDfalk0g/s1600/anunforgettablelady.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-WBNRUKC56eNNK3cUb33ihNTsmPACk8VOhTlX1eWqT35Xa7gRzL0IY2IV1gx0V03WA7DR0hsR3SyEmxhvp4fabaUDcI9T_teHcUNxEvokwyBaO7UTQCYnSSjhndTVymf-5TjVDfalk0g/s200/anunforgettablelady.jpg" width="123" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2HRve9CMQtj0ICxjIRCSr4hruGiw5auDNHW3XcUGhJ0u4slh6i2QN1kw58ekP-ImeOh-NtEBF2NMRT1m4xuH7LQkfxI6vh128pJdISAWKL0chJ2dZIUU8l-S7ehqNQYhJRp8MA3zGiko/s1600/bondsofjustice.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2HRve9CMQtj0ICxjIRCSr4hruGiw5auDNHW3XcUGhJ0u4slh6i2QN1kw58ekP-ImeOh-NtEBF2NMRT1m4xuH7LQkfxI6vh128pJdISAWKL0chJ2dZIUU8l-S7ehqNQYhJRp8MA3zGiko/s200/bondsofjustice.jpg" width="124" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuWxvkZgjgW6US_ai1ENfkqofBlNRiIT5ydtKQaMuyTgI95FZ7rvNh9pvmYJuTsAFTFOWN15VRylgK1Rjm2j9Qdk8BZnaqt0WdrupasTkUFPWlWJEcx4iyVThXiIeygNgEbLFwFoqm5AY/s1600/daringaduke.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuWxvkZgjgW6US_ai1ENfkqofBlNRiIT5ydtKQaMuyTgI95FZ7rvNh9pvmYJuTsAFTFOWN15VRylgK1Rjm2j9Qdk8BZnaqt0WdrupasTkUFPWlWJEcx4iyVThXiIeygNgEbLFwFoqm5AY/s200/daringaduke.jpg" width="124" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikuVEP0ldOWN6JA0JUPENuYnIEfHH4IFOskBtvoo-Fwtf0qUutp8RhKZ-c-syO7WaQsoXh8oftw9Uq7VxqrGgzTxYYqP_Cym5e1ntC4WsH0dmS_ldQ1aauAFWZB7-safYNdsIgIhB41d8/s1600/demonblood.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikuVEP0ldOWN6JA0JUPENuYnIEfHH4IFOskBtvoo-Fwtf0qUutp8RhKZ-c-syO7WaQsoXh8oftw9Uq7VxqrGgzTxYYqP_Cym5e1ntC4WsH0dmS_ldQ1aauAFWZB7-safYNdsIgIhB41d8/s200/demonblood.jpg" width="124" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY-DB61qArB36Xg4ZxaL2CUMCvKLgW1zFTyRefRD8knuXFpOQNBAstJNfWM4z1n2RIUPezq8efS_TH0j4IdICDXmcE_D6NqFDrAoQlN-wjK3HHE5iUhCrOD7FFIA1bFYuTF0mh0AlFGaM/s1600/Inotherworlds.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY-DB61qArB36Xg4ZxaL2CUMCvKLgW1zFTyRefRD8knuXFpOQNBAstJNfWM4z1n2RIUPezq8efS_TH0j4IdICDXmcE_D6NqFDrAoQlN-wjK3HHE5iUhCrOD7FFIA1bFYuTF0mh0AlFGaM/s200/Inotherworlds.jpg" width="124" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMQbS5B3bMX9Y4D6F5T7Bem6Gf0c40l6QgwtqrtxwniLlAfUnnXhmsa3S3Qj2PolS83os6yOLNCtcfYnPvRPNLhib_GXqQJSzsWTRzXHuslMrVvdrM_-uFpgpsDXyCmpe2W_4TUyEXP74/s1600/ladyisabellasscandalous+marriage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMQbS5B3bMX9Y4D6F5T7Bem6Gf0c40l6QgwtqrtxwniLlAfUnnXhmsa3S3Qj2PolS83os6yOLNCtcfYnPvRPNLhib_GXqQJSzsWTRzXHuslMrVvdrM_-uFpgpsDXyCmpe2W_4TUyEXP74/s200/ladyisabellasscandalous+marriage.jpg" width="124" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhvWW8qN70rsfmWRZyxdrGTk0mm2t4QVPskBvj1RuZKQn1zSUqpaExsGtsfHUjaQtVixCZNjdtaKsGlkjRYyB5YntftRUAWtwGSKmp2DuQ4Ju9L61RiWsICF8YvFN2wpUkbT2-4PFs83c/s1600/Love+Lessons+at+Midnight.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhvWW8qN70rsfmWRZyxdrGTk0mm2t4QVPskBvj1RuZKQn1zSUqpaExsGtsfHUjaQtVixCZNjdtaKsGlkjRYyB5YntftRUAWtwGSKmp2DuQ4Ju9L61RiWsICF8YvFN2wpUkbT2-4PFs83c/s200/Love+Lessons+at+Midnight.jpg" width="123" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid60UuokyNay7exSBJw7ffBk29GLN3hMK7scWSXJ7pk9NQMTzGOtyNzWo3mQhX8I_Hwm7SVtURJYdc-DdiIkQ_XU0SKivZ2ZOCnoz8V0bsq56EKfnIa7muBtcVJWsVN-uT81xOLuKhTBI/s1600/mists+of+time.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid60UuokyNay7exSBJw7ffBk29GLN3hMK7scWSXJ7pk9NQMTzGOtyNzWo3mQhX8I_Hwm7SVtURJYdc-DdiIkQ_XU0SKivZ2ZOCnoz8V0bsq56EKfnIa7muBtcVJWsVN-uT81xOLuKhTBI/s200/mists+of+time.jpg" width="124" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwIBhWeaStMvCeHmskzspbdBjKQ8KGZxLXMswu_EWKZB3gGqhfoyu3FQM3Moba9rACGn2l4eOFmjv6lb6Bl7BjJZlLZ2sfighfgnPcmkGpm_laYDW7Wgofm2pDMherjcLr4rRQpnEiNtA/s1600/Night+Myst.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwIBhWeaStMvCeHmskzspbdBjKQ8KGZxLXMswu_EWKZB3gGqhfoyu3FQM3Moba9rACGn2l4eOFmjv6lb6Bl7BjJZlLZ2sfighfgnPcmkGpm_laYDW7Wgofm2pDMherjcLr4rRQpnEiNtA/s200/Night+Myst.jpg" width="123" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGovNMYrLiQPN3aOxGs9B0LFgQpkI9zBxzxGdeEtvEj51sn2O-OZRHAL7FlIE99NbSaxWOsYUE8sgX5OBLefupFOsxW4cltCBl8Er7Qj71bPNAN9ymLV9mW5zq_mZudVImB3MqpasWf00/s1600/redhot+fury.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGovNMYrLiQPN3aOxGs9B0LFgQpkI9zBxzxGdeEtvEj51sn2O-OZRHAL7FlIE99NbSaxWOsYUE8sgX5OBLefupFOsxW4cltCBl8Er7Qj71bPNAN9ymLV9mW5zq_mZudVImB3MqpasWf00/s200/redhot+fury.jpg" width="124" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWxS7JluXY8u8xRrdzyiW2t6ejpxd1iKDy-LsN-UPik5gj2PGu0tmpYch1jzkVp7eKAxBe3a1imBtqAbL5PGM834DWuWWtEIHLFg8jgnG1LmtgTJ71yli0PB5g8EzdCvnNnJfCe8UZFfU/s1600/Skin+Tight.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWxS7JluXY8u8xRrdzyiW2t6ejpxd1iKDy-LsN-UPik5gj2PGu0tmpYch1jzkVp7eKAxBe3a1imBtqAbL5PGM834DWuWWtEIHLFg8jgnG1LmtgTJ71yli0PB5g8EzdCvnNnJfCe8UZFfU/s200/Skin+Tight.jpg" width="123" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div> <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Silver @ TRRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15149316120653757784noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5906829425407263991.post-28870612252200213492010-06-25T05:00:00.001-04:002010-06-25T05:00:04.336-04:00If You're Hooked...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3U-46UdQxpTczXrjeBEticfj79tpAbmpQTKTUWdEheedNjPG4ZZ4q7lzc3Om4AypO__wKYEdYGG3jLk9-LPsGmSOt3v8AcV51nNs-_o3UU5GVpGG9tmqpTbS-kpqpcg2NS5496O1QRyo/s1600/loverawakened.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3U-46UdQxpTczXrjeBEticfj79tpAbmpQTKTUWdEheedNjPG4ZZ4q7lzc3Om4AypO__wKYEdYGG3jLk9-LPsGmSOt3v8AcV51nNs-_o3UU5GVpGG9tmqpTbS-kpqpcg2NS5496O1QRyo/s200/loverawakened.jpg" width="186" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTib6sd1C2gTwDOmKs-abhmakjvfVdU7C-88XbD3uamClS0flXLroVmiTOMBxSqqBuwHpWb86GS7TwwSWV8JU4jJFMZfXAREap6djs3ge-_ftnKBrif1WY5tY5enUn6iTikl17xjcsjxU/s1600/LoverUnbound.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTib6sd1C2gTwDOmKs-abhmakjvfVdU7C-88XbD3uamClS0flXLroVmiTOMBxSqqBuwHpWb86GS7TwwSWV8JU4jJFMZfXAREap6djs3ge-_ftnKBrif1WY5tY5enUn6iTikl17xjcsjxU/s200/LoverUnbound.jpg" width="186" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">For lovers of the BDB series, I just learned that the 9th book will be titled <em><strong>Lover Unleashed</strong></em>, featuring Manny and V's twin sister Payne. And we'll be seeing more of V!!!! Yay!!!</span>Silver @ TRRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15149316120653757784noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5906829425407263991.post-130175520961603212010-06-22T05:00:00.053-04:002010-06-22T05:00:01.624-04:00REVIEW: Lover Unbound by J.R. Ward<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXznhbzXI055swQlc9gjesaJ5b9SRhLyMwK13fDaYyo55twCryvBagwDQMd7RKtAcQXHe1EbNOJOS7PK_LaTMHzUn1l4Rwm3HAI9fYv5AFZkAU_bjImymhx9-4er2oKtQ7dvXN7SIP5C0/s1600/LoverUnbound.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXznhbzXI055swQlc9gjesaJ5b9SRhLyMwK13fDaYyo55twCryvBagwDQMd7RKtAcQXHe1EbNOJOS7PK_LaTMHzUn1l4Rwm3HAI9fYv5AFZkAU_bjImymhx9-4er2oKtQ7dvXN7SIP5C0/s320/LoverUnbound.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">ISBN 9780451222350</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Series: Black Dagger Brotherhood, Book 5</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Genre: Paranormal Romance</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">(c) October 2007, Signet Book</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.jrward.com/">J.R. Ward's website</a></span></div><div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIDE2IW3x7iDp28zbHZlkykpCR3Gcb5PZrf3cTFxv8IoLQFit7doxJ74k47rqmYYMUvhnzFuoHW15FnnHraYz83SQ6VbCmJaUndjPSyQRVcKL2P915g75HTRND0gRMdqaTLWfK_JANHFI/s1600/Reviewer-Recommended.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIDE2IW3x7iDp28zbHZlkykpCR3Gcb5PZrf3cTFxv8IoLQFit7doxJ74k47rqmYYMUvhnzFuoHW15FnnHraYz83SQ6VbCmJaUndjPSyQRVcKL2P915g75HTRND0gRMdqaTLWfK_JANHFI/s320/Reviewer-Recommended.jpg" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Rating: 5 stars</span></div><div></div><div><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #990000; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><strong>"One of the best books, if not the best, in the BDB series!"</strong></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Vishous, the hard, cold-hearted brother, met his match in Dr. Jane Whitcomb, human surgeon, when he was brought into the hospital for a gunshot wound. His instincts just kept on screaming "mine" whenever he looked at Jane. However, his destiny could not include her, for he was destined to be the Primale of the Chosen, a worthy endeavor that would see him filling the ranks of the Brotherhood for the war against the <em>lessers</em>.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">J.R. Ward pens a moving story of love and sacrifice. There isn't much about the <em>lessers</em> here (yay!), but a lot of romance between V and Jane. Though <em>more</em> would be great. :) As in previous books, some of the pages was also devoted to John Matthew's progress (he's got his transition here!) and laying the foundation for the next book, Phury's story in <em>Lover Enshrined</em>.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I have to admit that I didn't feel anything for V in the first three books and I didn't like him much in <em>Lover Revealed</em>. If you feel the same way, give him a chance! Here, we learned so much more about V--his horrendous childhood in his father's war camp, the negligence of his mother, his horrible background and past that shaped him to be the man that he is. And we see his vulnerability and insecurity where Jane was concerned, and that scene where he made her some hot chocolate at her apartment before leaving her ("he didn't know what to say, but he knew what to do") just about made me cry. In V, we saw how a bonded male cared for his female and it would make every female reader yearned. I know I did.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">And Jane. Jane is just so precious with the way she accepted V and stood on his side. I like her doctor-take-charge attitude and the fact that she has purpose and ambition and how she was able to find a way to reconcile the two with V's life in the end. I like the matter-of-fact way she accepted V's proclivities (BDSM) and how she matched him in every aspect of his life. I did raise an eyebrow at how fast Jane wholeheartedly accepted BDSM, even though she's never experienced it. Considering also that her sex life consisted of two past lovers who were not satisfactory at all in the bedroom. Or elsewhere.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I'm glad Ms Ward put a closure on the possibilities between Butch and V, otherwise people will just keep on wondering, not to mention Butch and Marissa. Since this is fiction, I like my HEA's neat and tidy. :)</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Regarding the ending, I have to admit to feeling a little out-of-sorts, because I thought V wasn't getting the real deal like the other Brothers. But on second thought, it's the best possible ending for V (a vamp who lived long years) and Jane (a human with limited life span), because at least, as my friend said, this way they're together forever. And I think V was okay with it because it meant he would have Jane with him for always, as opposed to not having Jane. And as he said, "it's the new reality" and they're learning to deal with it. It made me think how life doesn't always turn out the way you want it to. Compromises and sacrifices have to be made along the way. What you have to decide though is what are the things that are important to you, that you absolutely cannot live without? Once you have those, the rest are just a bonus. I think V and Jane have learned that.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Like Z and Bella (<em>Lover Awakened</em>), I didn't want to let go of V and Jane when the story ended. I hope (hope hope hope) there would be more stories of V and Jane in the succeeding books. And, as someone once said, when she found herself thinking of the characters long after she has closed the book, she knew it deserved the highest recommendation. I couldn't agree more with this book.</span></div>Silver @ TRRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15149316120653757784noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5906829425407263991.post-8934516526847677282010-06-21T05:00:00.014-04:002010-06-21T05:00:01.272-04:00In the TBR Pile...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">We've got lots of goodies this week, both bought and borrowed from the library!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs60DFdWCMRxWpXCoow0scYNbmLSTi3_qherup_VbyqNZOW-cHEPIg0SZDTIDknykztOkX72brrhOwyuEoSaRy5s2dXGpV_SlJsaIOeKQuIVjbx_DAcYcrHjsK-swTL7R8YUEnr9TqERU/s1600/Anything+for+you.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs60DFdWCMRxWpXCoow0scYNbmLSTi3_qherup_VbyqNZOW-cHEPIg0SZDTIDknykztOkX72brrhOwyuEoSaRy5s2dXGpV_SlJsaIOeKQuIVjbx_DAcYcrHjsK-swTL7R8YUEnr9TqERU/s200/Anything+for+you.jpg" width="186" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3H7ZDLO8PpBI_qHFg84SaK-RUykEHcsQpJjrjxgYeQFypJNEdAbwuMGlJMI_WoEs6FtWCZzsenQmORU3-wEogy8LHhS43Bni1ShGxMi67T0zQHRrRNi9xL-dCDv6Mvbhg8vx8_aOxwi8/s1600/LoverUnbound.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3H7ZDLO8PpBI_qHFg84SaK-RUykEHcsQpJjrjxgYeQFypJNEdAbwuMGlJMI_WoEs6FtWCZzsenQmORU3-wEogy8LHhS43Bni1ShGxMi67T0zQHRrRNi9xL-dCDv6Mvbhg8vx8_aOxwi8/s200/LoverUnbound.jpg" width="186" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9t2-csJ2XJVXrwjFP1OXyhHbAvJ9Q-k5Uj8E95ONKuMr-BJq_UhKcpNrWAgQBtezo1ven3GG542pPneK97k0sJ1hilJ-Zg8qTypKQwBfUOMVBlmv6sudVaOjEnGdci3Rh3wbcgW06WlM/s1600/LoverEnshrined.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9t2-csJ2XJVXrwjFP1OXyhHbAvJ9Q-k5Uj8E95ONKuMr-BJq_UhKcpNrWAgQBtezo1ven3GG542pPneK97k0sJ1hilJ-Zg8qTypKQwBfUOMVBlmv6sudVaOjEnGdci3Rh3wbcgW06WlM/s200/LoverEnshrined.jpg" width="186" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidH_oCI4Buq4E4yDE9A0UKKSXxdGqwI9Aj9WJHk3026SIMr-pGmLB9ZeJx_OcE6qjAfXVrr18NCPF9ryNXfESX-YG98N239P0E1P4CTWvHc736c7Gc_v4qTpSHKsZdT0Q7Cp8v_sLwkjo/s1600/beyond-the-night-150.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidH_oCI4Buq4E4yDE9A0UKKSXxdGqwI9Aj9WJHk3026SIMr-pGmLB9ZeJx_OcE6qjAfXVrr18NCPF9ryNXfESX-YG98N239P0E1P4CTWvHc736c7Gc_v4qTpSHKsZdT0Q7Cp8v_sLwkjo/s200/beyond-the-night-150.jpg" width="124" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUiKWsJnZYkcc8CWTSCD05TmUfr5n_YoCFuG6LVS7UL2cCizBOQ2dx4Bt-cMy559G3Qs_yhqx8bnZLcox_8z2pNjf6phdRz64p_-cgsjGy0ruItPDzY8akbVV6PYhAf0cz3v8X4uCT1kE/s1600/ShatteredSylph.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUiKWsJnZYkcc8CWTSCD05TmUfr5n_YoCFuG6LVS7UL2cCizBOQ2dx4Bt-cMy559G3Qs_yhqx8bnZLcox_8z2pNjf6phdRz64p_-cgsjGy0ruItPDzY8akbVV6PYhAf0cz3v8X4uCT1kE/s200/ShatteredSylph.jpg" width="124" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVJirOrYGAMKx7Jd05UHc1bxbMPLTjqidJhSymBWM8q-RR6rG4MAcu1TUZm2_VBgiL_GNSMdXuSCdNMke9I_ELhM-wttX5zkPOgenMCh-6Ux1kTVoWRjpMclcI1_ErR1Le8XgDKmqULLk/s1600/Soulless.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVJirOrYGAMKx7Jd05UHc1bxbMPLTjqidJhSymBWM8q-RR6rG4MAcu1TUZm2_VBgiL_GNSMdXuSCdNMke9I_ELhM-wttX5zkPOgenMCh-6Ux1kTVoWRjpMclcI1_ErR1Le8XgDKmqULLk/s200/Soulless.jpg" width="186" /></a></div><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div>Silver @ TRRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15149316120653757784noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5906829425407263991.post-13557236074559707012010-06-18T05:00:00.009-04:002010-06-18T05:00:04.944-04:00REVIEW: Flyboy by Karen Foley<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgLRVPlEpeFGcyEUv0yKy92Lk6vF2ShtfN0hbQ2MV4egNkGAZts7D9945vU3BahJwCh_tGmNfrgfbqUhP8vYl03iPy7OIfiAaSzv-1Iak3lMmyNYN75d-mvwdb_HMYjEmVn0GXAwCV/s1600/flyboy_large.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgLRVPlEpeFGcyEUv0yKy92Lk6vF2ShtfN0hbQ2MV4egNkGAZts7D9945vU3BahJwCh_tGmNfrgfbqUhP8vYl03iPy7OIfiAaSzv-1Iak3lMmyNYN75d-mvwdb_HMYjEmVn0GXAwCV/s320/flyboy_large.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">ISBN </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">9780373793570</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Genre: Contemporary Romance</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">(c) October 2007, Harlequin Blaze</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.karenefoley.com/index.php">Karen Foley's website</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"></span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Rating: 4 stars</span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Available at Book Depository (<a href="http://www.bookdepository.co.uk/book/9780373793570/?a_aid=TheRavingReaders">print</a>).</span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><strong>"Hot and sexy! Love your hero in uniform? This is the book for you!"</strong></span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Sedona Stewart was flabbergasted when she learned through a quirk of fate that sexual prowess is the basis of promotion at her company. For that, she has to join an exclusive men's sex club. No wonder she hadn't been promoted in the five years she's worked there, despite overtimes and being careful not to mix business with pleasure on out-of-town trips.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I have to admit. The back summary cover intrigued me enough to pick up this book and I wasn't disappointed. True, not much titillating club goings-on can be found here, but I was pleasantly surprised to find that the heroine was a highly principled individual who wouldn't think of being promoted through such sordid means. But lest I give you the impression that she's a starched and stiff goody-goody, let me assure you that she's not. Moreover, though she was rightfully scared, she was able to pluck up the guts to help the FBI bring down the club. I have to admire Sedona for going after the guy she's been hankering for all along--luscious hunk Lieutenant Commander Angel Torres, the pilot assigned to test fly the jets.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Okay, I don't quite like the name Angel for the hero, but that's a personal bias. From his first appearance, Angel left me in no doubt that he's a man (though I still don't like the name by the end of the story). I love his fits of jealousy (not the last one, though), and he does have issues of trust, due to not knowing the heroine as much as he should and being blinded by his own feelings of betrayal and hurt. But he's a pilot! The last points makes him very irresistible (what is it about men in uniforms?), not to mention I like my heroes with flaws and vulnerabilities. Oh and must care for the heroine and forsake all other women since meeting her, of course.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">There's a suspense part that's interwoven into the storyline and I have to say it's nicely done without overshadowing the romance. Although the part where the villain's identity was revealed was awkward and not realistic at all. The way he acted in that last scene, insisting on talking to Sedona and all, jarred me out of a nice suspension of disbelief that I've been maintaining. It's almost as if he wants to be found out, which is kinda weird, because a villain's greatest thrill is to create the most havoc while achieving what he wants and getting away with it.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">That said, these are merely minor flaws/irritants and didn't hamper my enjoyment of the story.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Available at Book Depository (<a href="http://www.bookdepository.co.uk/book/9780373793570/?a_aid=TheRavingReaders">print</a>).</span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13117097417875041547noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5906829425407263991.post-18667725518403949912010-06-17T05:00:00.038-04:002010-06-17T05:00:06.136-04:00REVIEW: Lover Revealed by J.R. Ward<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjazTmgxS9W4OeY-CyITEsUcki2BAmcTPVXAIuwKce8RTUNr0NMO2ntfAuZUwbbhG9eLx2bS06ulpuA28nkKBEJMfViFlIE-rPXnTybHIEcorA8gxGdRVwFTYvt6xte7NgrRH0Uvt78/s1600/loverrevealed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjazTmgxS9W4OeY-CyITEsUcki2BAmcTPVXAIuwKce8RTUNr0NMO2ntfAuZUwbbhG9eLx2bS06ulpuA28nkKBEJMfViFlIE-rPXnTybHIEcorA8gxGdRVwFTYvt6xte7NgrRH0Uvt78/s320/loverrevealed.jpg" /></a></div><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">ISBN </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">9780749938222</span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Series: Black Dagger Brotherhood, Book 4</span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Genre: Paranormal Romance</span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">(c) May 2007, Little Brown Book Group</span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">J.R. Ward's website</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Rating: 4 stars</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Available in Book Depository (<a href="http://www.bookdepository.co.uk/book/9780749938222/?a_aid=TheRavingReaders">print</a>).</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #990000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><strong>"Another daring and original installment in the Brotherhood series!"</strong></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Butch O'Neal was a human who'd fallen in with the Brotherhood, owing to a vision that Vishous had of him early on in the series. Though he ate and lived with the brothers, he stayed on the sidelines when the brothers were fighting, because he was human and fragile. This chafed at him. So, when he had the opportunity, he risked his life to save a civilian vampire. As a result, he was captured by the <em>lessers</em> and worked over by the Omega and something changed within him.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">One good thing about it though is that the misunderstandings between him and Marissa over the previous books were cleared up, but love is only the beginning of their problems.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">J.R. Ward continues to surprise me with her in-depth character portrayal and her courage to write stories that push the traditional boundaries. I like how the war between the Brotherhood and the Lessening Society is escalating, and how the events in the previous books contribute to the atmosphere in the next. She introduced a new romantic element that was hinted at, though never fully expressed, which is maybe a sign that she's testing the waters and also a foreshadowing of the kind of relationship she may want to tackle later on. That said, this book can stand alone, as the main characters' past is explained or a short background given.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">In the last two books, Butch came across as a parasite, the way he lived off the Brothers, even to using branded stuff. I never did find out why Butch took to it like fish to water, after the not-exactly-poor-but-not-rich-either life that he had. Maybe because Marissa's clothes are all branded stuff? Anyway, it's heartening to see he also had this same realization in this book and that he wanted to work for his keep. I guess he wanted a sense of worth, as he looked how his life had been and ached for a fresh start. I came to like Butch in this story. He's such a romantic, something I wouldn't have expected. He goes all sappy over Marissa. LOL</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Actually, I like his devotion to Marissa, his fierce possessiveness and protection over her, his courage, his willing to risk all for the chance to be with her for longer than a human lifetime. He is enough to make a woman melt. Most of all, I like his loyalty to the Brothers. Despite all the flaws that he sees in himself, he is, as Marissa said, "a male of worth".</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Marissa is different from the previous heroine. She is beautiful and born to wealth and privilege, a part of vampire aristocracy, yet lonely and in a way, an outcast from her own people. Her experiences over the years with men had made her insecure about herself and her own sexuality. I find her reactions to Butch's lovemaking heartbreaking. I can also understand her fear that Butch would be hurt in a fight with the <em>lessers</em> and be taken from her, leaving her alone once again and without a mate, without someone who loves her for what she is. But the insecurities and the fear, when displayed over and over and over again became a touch irritating. I felt that she's clipping Butch's wings, making him less of a man and that she should grow up and be less selfish. That is not to say she doesn't have good qualities. She cares about her own people, especially the abused and those less fortunate than herself. Marissa is a flawed character that most of us can identify with (who among us don't suffer from occasional insecurities, especially where our bodies are concerned, and want our loved ones to be safe?) and she probably arouses negative feelings in us because we see parts of us in her. She did grow over the course of the book though, so we also have hope. :) She acquitted herself marvelously toward the end, especially the girl power she displayed in the council.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Another thing I like is Butch's and V's relationship--best friends, beloved brothers (though there seems to be something more on V's end). V really touched me, the way he yearned to have something like what Butch has with Marissa. And he's all agony over his loss of vision, too, and the way he glowed all over, not just his hand. He seems to have a terrible past, and I'm really looking forward to read <em>Lover Unbound</em>.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I also like the portrayal here that love isn't all sweet and chocolates and a bed of roses. No, in its real and truest form, love is messy, it hurts, it makes you do crazy, irrational things, yet it also brings warmth, it makes you strong and it also brings out the nobility of the human/vampire spirit (makes you want to protect the people you love even at great cost to yourself). In the end, when you look back at the ups and downs, the joys and the tears, you're gonna say, "It's all worth it."</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">One thing I wished the author would tackle is the relationship between the <em>shellans</em>. I mean, we see how the Brothers relate to each other, how they trust and depend on one another, but it would be nice to see the women, brought to live with the Brotherhood because of their <em>hellrens</em>, interact and be the support network to each other (just like the Brothers are for each other) while their men are out fighting. Or be involved in some project together that would benefit the race. Else, what do they do when their men are away keeping the race safe?</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">Available in Book Depository (<a href="http://www.bookdepository.co.uk/book/9780749938222/?a_aid=TheRavingReaders">print</a>).</span></div>Silver @ TRRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15149316120653757784noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5906829425407263991.post-74097937230943597722010-06-16T05:00:00.003-04:002010-06-16T05:00:00.438-04:00REVIEW: Love is in the Heir by Kathryn Caskie<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_6Ca9YwC_g7TM1b4nlm3QhMEC77WyUEL5sM_yHEQpy_2qvGcSoD_TBDN5qdGzfP3CJ-2y5Ivol_lbwFapqa3Ug2M4JUMLqLBUizvOjWRg3S_HJE3EbpfAHxxhd8x2qvlqjJE9nYAl/s1600/LoveIsIntheHeir.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_6Ca9YwC_g7TM1b4nlm3QhMEC77WyUEL5sM_yHEQpy_2qvGcSoD_TBDN5qdGzfP3CJ-2y5Ivol_lbwFapqa3Ug2M4JUMLqLBUizvOjWRg3S_HJE3EbpfAHxxhd8x2qvlqjJE9nYAl/s320/LoveIsIntheHeir.jpg" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">ISBN </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">9780446616102</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Genre: Historical Romance</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">(c) July 2006</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.kathryncaskie.com/">Kathryn Caskie's website</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"></span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Rating: 4 stars</span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Available in Book Depository (</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.bookdepository.co.uk/book/9780446616102/?a_aid=TheRavingReaders">print</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">).</span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>"Laugh-out-loud funny"</b></span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The Earl of Devonsfield is in need of an heir, and his nearest relations are twins Garnet and Griffin St. Albans. Because the order of birth wasn't determined, the earl didn't know which brother to name heir. He therefore came upon a brilliant plan, which is that the brother who was the first to marry a lady of quality would be named heir. However, they have to keep this a secret, else the earldom may be in danger of being reverted to the Crown and the earl didn't want this to happen.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">What ensued was a comedy of errors as Garnet (the rakish brother) posed as Griffin some of the times to help the latter win the lady of his heart.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">There were some laugh-out loud moments in this story, ensuing from the two brothers' different personalities. I daresay I've read only a few heroes like Griffin--someone who is gentle and kind and thoughtful and most importantly, </span><em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">isn't a rake</span></em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">. Any romance reader can tell you that historical romances, especially in the Regency era, abound with rakish heroes.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Interestingly, our heroine Hannah Chillton is one very sharp lady, as she is able to differentiate between the two brothers, though she didn't know it at the time. She has too much pride as well and didn't like being humiliated. (Well, who does?) But suffice it to say, she learned a very important lesson about pride and love.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The story took on expected twists and turns, but the execution and writing made the story a delight to read. Also, if you're the uber-romantic and like to have most of the secondary characters with their own love matches, this is the book for you. As for me, I can't abide it. I mean, what are the chances? The exact mechanics of the brothers' courtship were also not explained clearly at the start, which caused for confusion on my part as to the need for the ruse. For once, I'd also like to see a hero who does not end up a viscount or an earl or a duke, not because he gave up the position, but because, well, that's just how the die rolls.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Available in Book Depository (</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.bookdepository.co.uk/book/9780446616102/?a_aid=TheRavingReaders">print</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">).</span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13117097417875041547noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5906829425407263991.post-60371784286025907112010-06-15T05:00:00.000-04:002010-06-15T05:00:06.606-04:00REVIEW: The Initiation of Isabella by Jenna Ives<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOi1_4Vtf-LzOOxJFlQUkoJ719uOlUjFdqwZmpKoUJTVQ5AoTNxJVQsVktbaKIQGp7Erue_Z_9elh4hZuY9GH16APQU7XyhB2e0Fx1ERZW5yOAF-aFyE41cNOhTzmyPXqc23v983mP/s1600/Initiation.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOi1_4Vtf-LzOOxJFlQUkoJ719uOlUjFdqwZmpKoUJTVQ5AoTNxJVQsVktbaKIQGp7Erue_Z_9elh4hZuY9GH16APQU7XyhB2e0Fx1ERZW5yOAF-aFyE41cNOhTzmyPXqc23v983mP/s320/Initiation.jpg" /></a></div><br />
ISBN 978-1-60504-761-4</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Series: Binding Ties anthology</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Genre: Erotic Romance, BDSM</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">(c) September 2009, Samhain Publishing</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.jennaives.com/">Jenna Ives' website</a><br />
<br />
Rating: 4 stars<br />
<br />
Available in Samhain Publishing (<a href="http://samhainpublishing.com/romance/the-initiation-of-isabella">ebook</a>), Fictionwise (<a href="http://www.fictionwise.com/ebooks/b95031/?si=0">ebook</a>).<br />
<br />
<div style="color: #990000;"><b>"Delightful and sinfully erotic"</b></div><br />
Jenna Ives weaves a delightful, sinfully erotic story of light bondage and sensuous punishment with enough romance to make you sigh in bliss and wishful thinking.<br />
<br />
As part of her initiation into the Sigma Iomega Nu sorority, Isabella Tallin was to wait for someone to pick her up on the corner of Main and Elm streets at eight in the evening. As luck would have it, owner of Fantasies Fulfilled Logan Summers mistook her for his client, and though Isabella tried to clarify things, enough coincidences and misunderstandings abound that Isabella thought Logan was supposed to bring her to where her initiation rites was to be held while Logan thought she was his client. Needless to say, decadent activities ensued.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
First off, I like Isabella. She's fun and adventurous and smart. Though she's attracted to Logan, she wasn't blinded by this and she tried to make sure (as far as she was able, even to dropping a name) that the man picking her up was part of her initiation. Only when she was sure did she drive off with him.<br />
<br />
Although, I do have to stretch my suspension of disbelief a bit, because I have to say that in this day and age, one really cannot be too careful. What if Logan wasn't who he was? Well, he wasn't her initiation, that was for sure, but what if he was an evil man? I think, though initiation rites are shrouded in mystery and rely heavily on the "no questions" rule, the identity of the man or person who's going to bring you to the place should be made known. That said, his identity should be verified against his driver's license or something before she drives off with him. That is what I would do, paranoid person that I am. Of course, if Isabella did that, the story would've stopped right there, because the game would've been up. Logan would've known Isabella wasn't his client, and we wouldn't have this delicious story. (Or maybe we still would, if Logan looked her up later.)<br />
<br />
The story mainly detailed the four fantasy scenarios that Logan's client had contracted his company for, and which he dished out to Isabella. For Isabella, who had a boring life, boring boyfriend and who didn't even know if she wanted to study law like her mother, she was at first horrified when she found out she'd blundered, then as Logan started to caress and arouse her (and she could do nothing to escape it because she was blindfolded and bound and gagged as per the client's request), she decided she wanted what he was giving her, aided by the fact that she was attracted to him. She wanted adventure and excitement, even if just for this night.<br />
<br />
Logan is a true romantic. Though he owned the company, this is the first time he participated because he believed sex should be more than just two bodies coming together. Where else have you read of a hero who has that mindset? But because he was intrigued and wanted to know what kind of woman would request for four fantasies in one night, he decided to be the main man for this contract. (Apparently, the application was done online or whatever, because he didn't get to see the woman who contracted his services.) And as he performed each scenario, somehow, he was also bonding with her, not just physically, but emotionally.<br />
<br />
The BDSM part is light and so, this story is suited to beginning readers in this genre. There is a bit of a menage at the end, but this story is mainly about Logan and Isabella.<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Available in Samhain Publishing (</span><a href="http://samhainpublishing.com/romance/the-initiation-of-isabella" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">ebook</a><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">), Fictionwise (<a href="http://www.fictionwise.com/ebooks/b95031/?si=0">ebook</a>).</span></div>Silver @ TRRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15149316120653757784noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5906829425407263991.post-71424220014989987682010-06-14T05:00:00.021-04:002010-06-14T05:00:01.516-04:00DNF: Three Historicals<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">My favorite genre, yet even I couldn't stand some of the books.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEJydk0BjjHeUNDxE6lurc7luICoCUwq0GaTJLmHk5aoeXaSeFH8CEdgNcwJkRXq6XTD84-0ESEqBHwleN_WxAPsjF7G_SQ8iTni6TvoB9e-yAV8JXejOmB1AqooYHjFJK7umwupNS/s1600/darkangel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEJydk0BjjHeUNDxE6lurc7luICoCUwq0GaTJLmHk5aoeXaSeFH8CEdgNcwJkRXq6XTD84-0ESEqBHwleN_WxAPsjF7G_SQ8iTni6TvoB9e-yAV8JXejOmB1AqooYHjFJK7umwupNS/s320/darkangel.jpg" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">First of all, I love Mary Balogh. I devoured her Bedwyn series even the off-shoot "Simply" series. I've also read Irresistible, one of her older works where the hero fell in love with his friend's widow. I thought it was good. However, try as I might, I couldn't get into </span><em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Dark Angel</span></em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">, another older work which was reprinted together with <i>Lord Carew's Bride</i>. I thought the story, especially the beginning, dragged, maybe due to overdescription of settings and the heroine, Jennifer Winwood, didn't catch my imagination at all.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqkAWfhiV9kqXnrZVX_nVwVE7OxixoYJ3FwPByjKGJ-uIfQYgh15KxiDs4hrhGF6clcMY_N0va7beYvNR4dKHnO_FcmkjGk2o9h2Ri9I7y5_nK4oJV_VHNF-dCvY1FCIVaKu3zotIy/s1600/dukeofwyndham.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqkAWfhiV9kqXnrZVX_nVwVE7OxixoYJ3FwPByjKGJ-uIfQYgh15KxiDs4hrhGF6clcMY_N0va7beYvNR4dKHnO_FcmkjGk2o9h2Ri9I7y5_nK4oJV_VHNF-dCvY1FCIVaKu3zotIy/s320/dukeofwyndham.jpg" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Julia Quinn is a favorite of mine for her humor and ability to make me laugh out loud. Unfortunately, I don't know what happened with this book, which seems to be missing the trademark Julia Quinn humor that I greatly suspect it's not written by her at all! Gasp! Or maybe I was used to her ballroom-gracing heroines that I had a hard time accepting Grace Eversleigh, companion to the grandmother of the duke.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Jack, the hero, didn't endear himself to me at all. I admit to being more intrigued with Thomas (the displaced duke) and his romance with Amelia (the woman betrothed to the duke). And so, my complaint: Why does the hero always have to end up the duke (or marquis or earl)? Couldn't he have remained a mere mister, since that is what he and the heroine wanted anyway?</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I also have this nasty habit of reading the ending, so I saw that after Jack became the duke, the dowager duchess was sent to live in a far corner of the estate, because of her formidable and unreasonable temper. Thomas, though he didn't have much affection for his grandmother, still went to visit her sometimes. (I sincerely think he should have been the duke.) Whereas Jack even told Grace she didn't have to visit the dowager duchess anymore, though she did once a month. I think it's safe to say that Jack didn't even visit his grandmother at all. Which led me to the question: Why? Why did he dislike her so? If not for her, he wouldn't have been the duke. Maybe that was the reason? Or maybe there's something that concerns his father? For as I had said, I didn't read the middle part of the book, so maybe that's where the juicy meat is hiding. But like the other books, didn't care to read to find out.</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigeOEG6apTjt2twDTI67zOsL-OInWry_o5I4YOG7lmKsSRcBfKT1TnlQGH0dXkCwulYsZz7PPpt5cgMWRjmY4yq288cLnepsLIbQqxH0cIAtQv5jt2fiHD4VLeUKEPsIcbXmytRKSf/s1600/HowtoEngageanEarl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigeOEG6apTjt2twDTI67zOsL-OInWry_o5I4YOG7lmKsSRcBfKT1TnlQGH0dXkCwulYsZz7PPpt5cgMWRjmY4yq288cLnepsLIbQqxH0cIAtQv5jt2fiHD4VLeUKEPsIcbXmytRKSf/s320/HowtoEngageanEarl.jpg" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Kathryn Caskie is a new-to-me author. I liked </span><em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Love Is In the Heir</span></em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">. I thought it has humor and an original hero. However, </span><em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">How to Engage an Earl</span></em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> didn't engage me at all. After reaching the part where Anne Royle got betrothed to the earl (fairly early in the book), I realized I didn't care enough about Anne or the hero to read further. Anne seemed to be one of the daughters from the secret union of the Prince Regent and a Catholic woman, and they were searching for some document to prove (or disprove) it, but I'm not so sure exactly what and I didn't care to find out.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">It's really sad when a book makes me apathetic this way. Must be the weather or my lousy choice in books that I picked up three DNF's in a period of one week.</span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13117097417875041547noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5906829425407263991.post-14826162775188234282010-06-11T05:00:00.024-04:002010-06-11T05:00:04.235-04:00REVIEW: Crystal Genie by Opal Carew<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiye2KSAqpdI4oI5JLDQb5LZ6hL-Yj3S3du5rQdlinNhVqHaKMAsk18AoirdcbXiLVU_AfXYr2a2EhW_60_99l7I5UZBApZmnl8xjJ-smVqbGHLLR2jjPYO0vqfFneAkkNLgILSgxfI/s1600/CrystalGenie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiye2KSAqpdI4oI5JLDQb5LZ6hL-Yj3S3du5rQdlinNhVqHaKMAsk18AoirdcbXiLVU_AfXYr2a2EhW_60_99l7I5UZBApZmnl8xjJ-smVqbGHLLR2jjPYO0vqfFneAkkNLgILSgxfI/s320/CrystalGenie.jpg" /></a></div><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">ISBN 978-1-60310-479-1</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Genre: Erotic Romance</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">(c) June 2010, Red Sage Publishing</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.opalcarew.com/">Opal Carew's website</a></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Rating: 4 stars</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Available in Red Sage Publishing (<a href="http://www.eredsage.com/store/CrystalGenie_OpalCarew.html">ebook</a>)</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #990000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><strong>"A lovely and original retelling of the story of the magic lamp!"</strong></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Celeste discovered a genie in the crystal quartz stone that she bought, but not just any genie, but a gorgeous hunk of a man. Zurvan, the genie, was trapped in the stone for 30 centuries by another djinn, a woman, who wanted Zurvan's love and when she couldn't get it, punished him by imprisoning him in the stone and forcing him to grant each master (the one who called him out of the stone) three wishes...</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Sound familiar? <em>Crystal Genie</em> has its basis on Aladdin's story, but that's as far as it goes. Opal Carew wrote a highly original short story that would leave you hot and bothered and make you think about what love truly is.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">And no, the extremely hot and wonderful sex wasn't part of the wishes. It was freely given by Zurvan who ached for Celeste, having gone without a woman for three thousand years. And in the process, they discovered something wonderful about each other, something that I couldn't say because it would be a spoiler. All I can say is that love makes everything worth it, whatever the outcome, and </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">the end came with a twist that would make you smile, although it did raise up a question in my mind because it was a bit inconsistent with some of the other facts. (You can email me at silverwinters1(@)gmail(.)com if you want to know what it is or to discuss the story in detail, with spoilers. LOL)</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Available in Red Sage Publishing (<a href="http://www.eredsage.com/store/CrystalGenie_OpalCarew.html">ebook</a>)</span></div>Silver @ TRRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15149316120653757784noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5906829425407263991.post-67304458434614165722010-06-10T05:00:00.011-04:002010-06-10T05:00:00.516-04:00Blogger Problem<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">We're suddenly having problems with our original template, as in the titles don't show up. We checked using Google Chrome, Firefox and Internet Explorer, so it's not a browser problem. Since we're not techies, we really don't know where the problem is. In the end, we decided to just change the template, which is what you see right now.</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13117097417875041547noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5906829425407263991.post-87617924558149176432010-06-09T05:00:00.011-04:002010-06-09T11:15:17.195-04:00REVIEW: Sex by the Numbers by Marie Donovan<div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8-IJBc8U0dnK58I2TSyddm9TumxKuWuO_uBCooQJvTEiPeqpsX-3VyB4-T2yUBZGJz-Yh3_dnsioKYFstP8WdlxG_857C2UzrgnCdjaRZUB1SKMVS3dVqc82RfC54YdV5zhgga4Uq/s1600/Bythenumbers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8-IJBc8U0dnK58I2TSyddm9TumxKuWuO_uBCooQJvTEiPeqpsX-3VyB4-T2yUBZGJz-Yh3_dnsioKYFstP8WdlxG_857C2UzrgnCdjaRZUB1SKMVS3dVqc82RfC54YdV5zhgga4Uq/s320/Bythenumbers.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">ISBN 9780373794072</span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Genre: Contemporary Romance</span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">(c) June 2008, Harlequin Blaze</span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.mariedonovan.com/">Marie Donovan's website</a></span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRbRdm_CNl983hchtdB2Ioj_wrytm83JSRKca5GUeBjtgMQM1LysfkCNEaqMg1s_AMK6CDrAENDBWNk8pLd4kAfohFgE8vVZJEAOTHvMFO4JZV0P4maDAx0oVzzRJOyptagE4gEFMg/s1600/Reviewer-Recommended.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRbRdm_CNl983hchtdB2Ioj_wrytm83JSRKca5GUeBjtgMQM1LysfkCNEaqMg1s_AMK6CDrAENDBWNk8pLd4kAfohFgE8vVZJEAOTHvMFO4JZV0P4maDAx0oVzzRJOyptagE4gEFMg/s320/Reviewer-Recommended.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Rating: 5 stars</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Available in Book Depository (<a href="http://www.bookdepository.co.uk/book/9780373794072/?a_aid=TheRavingReaders">print</a>).</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #990000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><strong>"Very romantic and a joy to read!"</strong></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I'm currently on a Harlequin Blaze craze, so here's my next one.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Former stripper turned accountant, Keeley Davis was hired to conduct a fraud examination at a friend's company, but in order not to sound the alarm to the culprit, who might know her, she sexed up her image in her position as the personal secretary to Dane Weiss, who was hired for the same purpose. From the start, when Dane first saw her in her frumpy attire, the two had the hots for each other and working closely as they did only made sure they could do nothing but give in to their attraction.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">This book is a joy to read, being well-written, and Ms. Donovan's voice is engaging and fun and sexy, with humor appearing in several places in the book. The same can be described for her characters and their attitudes toward sex and life. No sexually repressed/falsely modest heroine here. Hey, it's a Blaze after all, and moreover, Keeley was a former stripper.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Oh, regarding that Blaze comment. It's been my impression that Blaze stories are hot, well, way hotter than a Presents or Superromance, for example. But I guess I've made the mistake of thinking the story's not so much romantic as sexy. Well, this book is both romantic <em>and</em> sexy.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Back to Keeley, she wormed her way into my heart and you can really feel her chemistry with Dane. Their relationship is how I imagined a true love relationship is like--lovers taking joy in each other's presence.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Dane is also one sweet and romantic hero. Many times during the story, I find myself wishing I was in Keeley's shoes! The things he said...wow, guaranteed to make a woman feel cherished and wanted. How could you not love a guy who said something like this to you: "You've haunted my dreams since we met, and I wake up to find reality even better."</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I also love her cast of supporting characters, notably Lacey and Dane's mom. Lacey, Keeley's sister, is down-to-earth and sensible. I especially like the scene wherein she talked some sense into Keeley. However, I like Dane's mom even better. Though she only had two lines in the entire story and appeared only toward the ending, I love her warmth and ready acceptance of the girls. Wish I have a mother-in-law like that!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Harlequin category romances had always been a hit or miss with me. Blaze romances are more often than not, misses than hits. So I'm very happy to have discovered three Blaze authors whose romances--the characters, the plot, the sexiness, oh I should say the entire package--resonate with me. You all know about my Sarah Mayberry craze and now there's Marie Donovan. There's also Karen Foley, whose story, Flyboy, I also enjoyed a lot (review coming). I don't have auto-buy authors, but these three certainly made it to my "authors whose backlist I have to glom while waiting for new releases". LOL</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Available in Book Depository (<a href="http://www.bookdepository.co.uk/book/9780373794072/?a_aid=TheRavingReaders">print</a>).</span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13117097417875041547noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5906829425407263991.post-2101095952372514032010-06-08T05:00:00.021-04:002010-07-27T22:55:40.916-04:00REVIEW: My Lady's Pleasure by Alice Gaines<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSzKfY2NEQLdkOBWia2TBeS5DTctdUoAorFJENoXUaXeFoxe29ZUsAFVfHtE1Y8A_QWHm_bwJtOzQkSUAwhUib6gnwekuko0pohBcNhshJ9LtNFFLfhFA5MaW3Xahf27j2ji3lyAFn/s1600/MyLadysPleasure.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSzKfY2NEQLdkOBWia2TBeS5DTctdUoAorFJENoXUaXeFoxe29ZUsAFVfHtE1Y8A_QWHm_bwJtOzQkSUAwhUib6gnwekuko0pohBcNhshJ9LtNFFLfhFA5MaW3Xahf27j2ji3lyAFn/s320/MyLadysPleasure.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">ISBN </span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">978-1-60310-469-2</span></div><div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Series: Three Kinds of Wicked anthology</span></div><div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Genre: Erotic Romance, Historical Romance, Menage a Trois</span></div><div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">(c) May 2010, Red Sage Publishing</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Rating: 4 stars</span></div><div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"></span></div><div><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Available in Red Sage Publishing (<a href="http://www.eredsage.com/store/MyLadysPleasure_AliceGaines.html">ebook</a>).</span></div><div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"></span></div><div><br />
<span style="color: #990000; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><b>"Hot, sweet and very romantic. Perfect love story to curl up with on a rainy day."</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"></span></div><div><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">When Viking invaders overran Castle Randmead, Lady Josalyn had no choice but to surrender, not if she wanted to save what remained of her people. She didn't want to be attracted to the Viking leader Ulric, but he affected her in ways she thought only her ideal English prince would. To secure the holdings and the people's approval, Ulric sought to marry Josalyn, but he knew from the moment he set eyes on her, he's also attracted to her and wanted her in his bed.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">But Josalyn was shy, a virgin and from her actions, showed that she wasn't particularly predisposed toward Ulric. Hence, when a traveling bard Trey offered his services with potions that would help Ulric win his bride in exchange for the pleasure of joining their marriage bed, Ulric couldn't refuse...</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">This story is part of the <i>Three Kinds of Wicked</i> anthology, where Trey, as part of his punishment, had to travel through time uniting lovers before he could be reunited with his own love, Sage. Though we see things from Trey's point of view only at the end, that part was written so well that I really feel for him, the hope that must sustain him in order to have the energy to go on making love matches for other people while his own love languished elsewhere. And though he gets to particpate in menages with the couples in all the stories in the anthology, I feel he is not happy and that he'd rather be with his love. (Yay! I just received the conclusion of this anthology, which is Trey's story in my inbox! Thanks to Red Sage for the review copy, and of course, to Carole who forwarded it to me.)</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Josalyn is a true lady of the castle and we can see this in her relationship with her people and the way they looked up to her. No wonder Ulric sought to win her, but being a straightforward Viking, he didn't know how to woo her with romance. Yet, I feel she's a good match for Ulric, because when Trey tried to court her with romantic gestures, her reactions were very pragmatic, very like Ulric. Though she may think she wants romance, what she really wants is Ulric himself.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">For all his brash ways, Ulric is rather sweet, especially when he displays his uncertainty with regards to his wife. He's also the perfect husband in that he sought to give his wife whatever she wants, to make her happy. So, when he thought she wants romance, he gave her Trey and his courtly ways. Now, who wouldn't want a hero like that? Two men to give you all the attention you need. Yum. The climactic scene toward the end was rather heartwrenching at the start for him, but it left him in no doubt who his wife really wants.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Alice Gaines writes a hot yet sweet historical romance about two people who fell in love and were right for each other, but needed to take a detour that would open their eyes to what they really want.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Available in Red Sage Publishing (<a href="http://www.eredsage.com/store/MyLadysPleasure_AliceGaines.html">ebook</a>).</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><em>Note: This review copy is provided courtesy of the publisher.</em></span></div>Silver @ TRRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15149316120653757784noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5906829425407263991.post-27361169721169469242010-06-07T05:00:00.000-04:002010-06-07T05:00:02.807-04:00In the Blogosphere<div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Don't know what to read for the summer? </span><a href="http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/la-ca-summer-books-20100606-56,0,3747041.story?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Here are some suggestions</span></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Now that even big publishers are going for ebooks, I'm thinking of acquiring a Kindle or maybe an iPad for ebook reading. Haven't quite made up my mind yet, but one question that I've been considering: What if I love an ebook so much I just need a print copy? Can I print from my Kindle or iPad? </span><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/07/technology/07printer.html?hpw"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">HP comes up with a printer that answers my needs</span></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Writers who want to </span><a href="http://childrenspublishing.blogspot.com/2010/06/best-articles-this-week-for-writers.html"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">improve their craft may want to check this out</span></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">.</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> </span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13117097417875041547noreply@blogger.com0