Dear Reader,
Have you ever wanted to know what it's like to be immortal? To journey through the night stalking vampires that prey on humans? To have unlimited wealth, unlimited power? That is my existence, and it's dark and dangerous. I play hero to thousands, but am known to none. And I love every minute of it.
Or so I thought until one night when I woke up handcuffed to my worst nightmare: a conservative woman in a button-down shirt. Or in Amanda's case, one buttoned all the way up to her chin. She's smart, sexy, witty, and wants nothing to do with the paranormal -- in other words, me.
My attraction to Amanda Devereaux goes against everything I stand for. Not to mention the last time I fell in love it cost me not only my human life, but also my very soul. Yet every time I look at her, I find myself wanting to try again. Wanting to believe that love and loyalty do exist.
Even more disturbing, I find myself wondering is there's any way a woman like Amanda can love a man whose battle scars run deep, and whose heart was damaged by a betrayal so savage that he's not sure it will ever beat again.
- Kyrian of Thrace
Monday, June 21, 2010
"Night Pleasures: A Dark Hunter novel" by Sherrilyn Kenyon
Friday, May 28, 2010
"The Book of Tomorrow" by Cecelia Ahern
Tamara Goodwin has always got everything she's ever wanted. Born into a family of wealth, she grew up in a mansion with it's own private beach, a wardrobe of designer clothes, and a large four poster bed complete with a luxurious bathroom en suite. She's always lived in the here and now, never giving a second thought to tomorrow.
But then suddenly her dad is gone and life for Tamara and her mother changes forever. Left with a mountain of dept, they have no choice but to sell everything they own and move to the country to live with Tamara's Uncle and Aunt. Nestled next to Kilsaney Castle, their gate house is a world away from Tamara's childhood. With her mother shut away with grief, and her Aunt busy tending to her, Tamara is lonely and bored and longs to return to Dublin.
When a traveling library passes through Kilsaney Demesne, Tamara is intrigued. She needs a distraction. Her eyes rest on a mysterious large leather bound tome locked with a gold clasp and padlock. With some help, Tamara finally manages to open the book. What she discovers within it's pages takes her breath away and shakes her world to it's core...
Monday, May 10, 2010
"Fantasy Lover" by Sherrilyn Kenyon
Dear Reader,
Being trapped in a bedroom with a woman is a grand thing. Being trapped in hundreds of bedrooms over two thousand years isn't. And being cursed into a book as a love-slave for eternity can ruin even a Spartan warrior's day.
As a love-slave, I knew everything about a woman. How to touch them, how to savor them, and most of all, how to pleasure them. But when I was summoned to fulfill Grace Alexander's fantasies, I found the first woman in history who saw me as a man with a tormented past. She alone bothered to take me out of the bedroom and into the world. She taught me to love again.
But I was not born to know love. I was cursed to walk eternity alone. As a general, I had long ago accepted my sentence. Yet now I have found Grace -- the one thing my wounded heart cannot survive without. Sure, love can heal all wounds, but can it break a two-thousand-year-old curse?
-Julian of Macedon
Thursday, May 6, 2010
"Pretty in Ink: A Tattoo Shop Mystery" by Karen E. Olson
Book Description:
Brett Kavanaugh is a tattoo artist and owner of one of Vegas's hottest tattoo shops, The Painted Lady. And in her spare time, she does some sleuthing -- because nothing needles her more than murder.
After Brett and company ink Sin City's newest drag queen stars, they're invited to opening night at the Strip's glamorous Nylons and Tattoos show. An evening of glitter and dancing ends in disaster when a stranger with a queen of hearts tattoo fells Britney Brassieres with a wayward champagne cork.
Even though Britney recovers, she mysteriously dies soon after, and then another drag queen is found poisoned. Someone's targeting Vegas's fabulous femmes. And sharp-as-a-needle Brett must crack the case before the show's over for good.
Review:
"Pretty in Ink" is the second installment in Karen E. Olson's Tattoo Shop Mystery series, the first novel being "The Missing Ink". Brett Kavanaugh is a full-time tattooist with a knack for getting involved in solving mysteries,
I won't lie, I was first drawn to this series mostly because the main character is a tattoo artist. And I love tattoos, I think they're beautiful. I have to say, I'm still glad I picked up this series. The dialogue is funny, the characters interactions are believable, and the mysteries always leave you guessing.
While this is part of a series, you don't need to read them in order (there is currently only two books out so far, the third one will be out in Fall of 2010). I, personally, prefer to read a series in order, but like most mysteries, you can read these in any order since (so far) nothing from the previous books are actually relevant. Though, if you're like me, and love knowing about the characters, reading from the beginning is usually helpful.
So, if you like murder, intrigue, some Vegas high-rollers, drag queens, and some killer tattoos, you have to pick this one up. You won't be disappointed.
Friday, April 30, 2010
"First Drop of Crimson" by Jeaniene Frost
Book Description:
The night is not safe for mortals. Denise MacGregor knows all too well what lurks in the shadows -- her best friend is half-vampire Cat Crawfield -- and she has already lost more than the average human could bear. But her family's past is wrapped in secrets and shrouded in darkness -- and a demon shapeshifter has marked Denise as prey. Now her survival depends on an immortal who lusts for a taste of her.
He is Spade, a powerful, mysterious vampire who has walked the earth for centuries and is now duty-bound to protect this endangered, alluring human -- even if it means destroying his own kind. Denise may arouse his deepest hungers, but Spade knows he must fight his urge to have her as they fight they nightmare together...
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
"The Jane Austen Book Club" by Karen Joy Fowler
Book Description:
"Real people are really complicated," says Jocelyn, the founder of the "Central Valley/River City all-Jane-Austen-all-the-time book club." And the members of the newly founded book club certainly prove this to be true. Each has a story to tell, and much like an Austen novel, the intricate plots that are their own lives are slowly revealed. There's Sylvia, Jocelyn's friend of forty years, who is in the midst of a painful divorce. Her daughter, Allegra, beautiful, vivacious, a "creature of extremes" who finds her thrills through skydiving and rock climbing but can't seem to find love. There's Bernadette, the oldest member at sixty-seven, a woman who has married well, several times at that, and even had a brush with fame, but currently looks disheveled and distracted. Prudie is the only member who's currently married. She's a high school French teacher a great believer in organization, and finds comfort in her lists when life feels overwhelming. Grigg is in his early forties, yet his older sisters still feel protective of him, hoping to rescue him from the legacy of his father. And last, there's Jocelyn. Never married, she has a keen interest in the happiness of others and is constantly playing matchmaker. In fact, this could be her underlying motivation for inviting Grigg, the only member of the group who's never before read Austen. Or perhaps she thinks the book club will serve as a distraction for Sylvia. After all, who better to heal one's pain than Jane Austen?
Review:
Where to start, where to start. To be perfectly honest, I really did not like this book. I felt no connection between the characters and myself, the only time I could tell that the story had moved forward was when it was a month later at another book club meeting.
There are six chapters in the novel, each one supposedly about a certain Jane Austen novel and one member of the group. I found though, while the title stated they were at "so-and-so's" house discussing "this book", there was never really any mention of the actual book club meeting.
The novel seemed to be more of a character study, than an actual story. Though, what can you expect from something that is only 250 pages and only focuses on one person for each chapter. I also didn't like who I could never tell who was telling the story. Sometimes it seemed like an outside source, and then sometimes the narrative took on a collective form using "we" and "us".
I was quite disappointed as I had been looking forward to this book for some time. I would have assumed, while being about the characters, there would be more focus on Jane Austen. I almost wonder why the author even chose to associate Jane Austen with the novel since there was barely any reference to Ms. Austen.
I, personally, wouldn't recommend this novel to anyone, especially someone who is a fan of Jane Austen, you'll just be very disappointed. At this point, I can't see myself reading any of Ms. Fowler's novels. I just wasn't left with a good impression with this book.
Sunday, April 18, 2010
"You Slay Me: An Aisling Grey, Guardian novel" by Katie MacAlister
Book Description:
I'm Aisling Grey, and I have the job from Hell....literally. My prior career as a courier began and ended when I traveled to Paris to deliver a six-hundred-year-old golden dragon statue and learned I was a Guardian. That's a Keeper of the Gates to Hell to you mere mortals. This I found out from Drake Vireo, a scrumptiously sexy (in human form at least) real-life dragon. Then he stole my artifact out from under my nose -- and from under the dead body of the person I was supposed to deliver it to.
After tracking Drake down to a local bar, I discovered I'm also a wyvern's mate. And wouldn't you know Drake is a wyvern? He couldn't just be some underling -- he had to be head dragon. But the fact that he's the prime suspect behind the murders in Paris's immortal underworld --murders I must solve in order to clear my suddenly soiled name -- means it will take some convincing to get me to partake of the sensual pleasures he offers. Just because I'm naive, doesn't mean I'm easy.
Other than being a murder suspect, conjuring up a demon in the form of a shaggy Newfoundland, and fending off the advances of a horny dragon, I'm having a wonderful time in Paris.
Wish you were here....
Review:
Well, what to say about "You Slay Me"? First, I must point out that I read this on a recommendation of a friend. While I have no issues with the Paranormal Romance genre, I actually read that type if stuff quite frequently, I have to say that a novel about DRAGONS is not something I would normally pick up off the shelf. That being said, I LOVED IT!
"You Slay Me" tells the story about your average girl, who just got a job for her uncle with his courier business. Her first assignment is delivering a dragon statue to a woman in Paris. Aisling Grey, our heroine, does not speak a word of French and upon arriving at the house of Mme. Deauxville, finds her dead body suspended from the ceiling in a representation of one of the Three Demon Deaths. Oh yes, Aisling is also quite versed in demon lore, it's one of her hobbies. Coincidence? I think not. After finding the body, not only does Aisling become suspect numero uno with the police, she also gets pulled into the immortal underworld of Paris where she finds out she is a Guardian, a wyvern's mate, and (eventually) a demon lord. She has to deal with this news, try to clear her name, and try to keep her primal urges in check around the very sexy Drake Vireo.
First, just a quick lesson for anyone reading this that doesn't know the difference between Paranormal Romance and Urban Fantasy: there isn't really any. The only difference I've ever been able to decipher is that Paranormal Romance just has a slight more emphasis on the romantic element of the story...and slightly steamy-er love scenes. I have read many Urban Fantasies that have had love interests as the main plot point over anything else while some Paranormal Romances that have focused more on the outside plot than the actual romance. Weird, I know. But hey, I don't write the books, I just read them. Now, back to my review!
While the plot followed a generic path, I liked it all the same. I was able to lose myself in the story and keep on reading for hours. The fact that it was about dragons didn't even seem as cheesy as I thought it would be.
Aisling is a hilarious character. She's strong, but at the same time, not the brightest bulb you've ever met. Though, to be fair, if I was suddenly thrust into a world that I only thought existed in books and movies, I'd probably be a bit slow on the uptake as well. That being said, I still loved her to death. My favourite character interaction would have to be between Aisling and Jim, the demon in the form of a shaggy Newfoundland. (By the way, a Newfoundland is a dog, it's not referring to the province). Jim is so sarcastic and condescending to the poor girl, though he seems to be doing it out of genuine like for her. As their relationship evolves, we can tell that Aisling actually feels some love for her dog shaped demon, even though she doesn't show it and more often than not, threatens to have him neutered.
Katie MacAlister seems to have a great way with words. Her writing is very, laugh-out-loud funny. And from talking to the friend that recommended the novel to me, all of her novels are very witty. I definitely look forward to reading more of her novels.
"You Slay Me" is the first in a series, the "Aisling Grey, Guardian" novels. Based on the first one, I plan on reading the rest of the novel and hope that they are all as good as this one.
I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good laugh. And believe me, the dragon plot line is not as cheesy as it sounds. I was pleasantly surprised.
Monday, March 29, 2010
"Death's Daughter: A Calliope Reaper-Jones Novel" by Amber Benson
Book Description:
For the last few years I'd been in a state of bliss -- living under a self-imposed Forgetting Charm, because I so did not want to go into the family business. What I wanted was a glamorous career in New York City and the opportunity for a normal life -- buying designer shoes on sale, dating guys from craigslist, Web surfing organic dim sum for my boss. And then my father's Executive Assistant, a faun named Jarvis, showed up to tell me that my dad had been kidnapped.
Good-bye, Forgetting Charm. Hello, (unwanted) responsibility. Not only am I expected to step into the CEO slot on the company Board, but I have to "prove my worth" by competing against the Devil's protege -- who's so hot in more ways than one. The contest involves finding three (why is it always three?) objects of power. In Hell.
One of them is this adorable puppy -- who happens to be a hellhound.
The others are turning out to be not much fun. All this so I can take
(unwanted) charge of Death, Inc.My name is Calliope Reaper-Jones, and I'm Death's daughter.
Friday, March 26, 2010
"A Lady of High Regard" by Tracie Peterson
Book Description:
Born into affluence, Mia Stanley is a winsome socialite with a knack for matchmaking. She's also a writer for Godey's Lady's Book magazine, much to the dismay of her family -- and their society friends. A proper young lady of social standing isn't meant to labor in such a way, but Mia's always had a way with words...
When her writing draws her into the world of downtrodden seamen's wives on Philadelphia's docks, Mia uncovers an alarming scheme that puts her in harm's way. But her heart ends up on the line as well...
Has her determination to always make a match driven away the one man whose esteem she covets?
Review:
It is quite evident throughout "A Lady of High Regard" that Tracie Peterson is one for her research. There is nothing worse than a piece of historical fiction that has historical inaccuracies. The story is well written and I truly felt that I was in mid-nineteenth century Philadelphia.
"A Lady of High Regard" is the first in a series called "Ladies of Liberty", which are all about well-bred, high society young women.
Mia Stanley is the oldest of three daughters and the only one that still remains unmarried. She spends her time writing for a women's magazine and playing match-maker for all of her friends. The story follows her to the dock's of the city where the poor seamen's wives are being taking advantage of by debt collectors for debts left by their absent or deceased husbands. Along the way, Mia discovers that these debts are false and these women are being wrongly taken advantage of. Mia then falls into danger once she confronts the debt collector who has been responsible for these crimes.
Along the way, Mia falls in love and we watch as she deals with this new feeling.
There were some things about this book that I liked and some that I wasn't too fond of.
I quite liked the pace of the novel. It moved along quickly and, while detailed, it didn't bog you down or focus too much on it. It was an easy read that I was able to lose myself in for hours. It was also quite entertaining to know what was really going on while the characters did not and you watched as they became frustrated and jumped to the wrong conclusions before getting all the answers. In that aspect, the characters seemed very real.
That brings me to the stuff that I wasn't a fan of. I really didn't like how none of the characters seemed to have any faults. If they were the ones you were supposed to like, they had only likable qualities. And the ones you weren't supposed to like (which was only one), didn't have any likable qualities. It was hard to find the characters realistic when they never had any faults.
Some aspects of the plot also didn't jive with me very well. One thing that bothered me but I was able to get over was how you knew exactly who Mia would end up falling in love with from the moment he was introduced into the story. And he's introduced very early on in the book too. Overlooking that though, there comes by biggest problem with the plot - and my biggest problem with the book - and that is the ending. The way it ends is that everything is resolved it seems like all the loose ends are being tied up (even though you can tell by the amount of pages left that it definitely isn't over) and then BAM! Something drastic happens. Now, the drastic event is what I was hoping would happen else I would have been very VERY disapointed in the end of the book, but the way it was done it seemed out of sync and very forced. To myself, the end of the book is what makes the book. If they end isn't done well, no matter how well the book it's self was, it's always overshadowed by a not so great ending.
Now, that being said, it was still a great book. Would I read it again? Probably not. Would I read another of Tracie Peterson's novels? I'm still undecided on that matter.
If you are someone who is into historical fiction with a bit of mystery, then I would recommend giving this book a try. Just a word of advice though, if you are a hardcore atheist or hate feeling like you are being preached to, you may want to skip this novel. No where on the book does it state is Christian fiction, but believe me, it is. I'm alright with reading about Christianity and talking about, but there were some points where I felt uncomfortable reading this book just due to how much was actually involved in it. But, if you are someone like myself who can overlook religious beliefs for a good book, then please, check this one out, especially if you need some form of escapism for a few hours.
Question to the readers:
Have you read "A Lady of High Regard" or any of Tracie Peterson's other books? What did you think about them?
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Salutations!
As you can probably tell from the title of my blog, I am a bit of a bookworm and hope that you are one as well. I've started this blog to give my opinions on books I've read and also to challenge myself to branch out from the same type of books that I usually read.
A little bit about myself first:
I've always loved reading, ever since I was taught. It was something that on rainy days, much to the delight of my parents, could keep me occupied for hours on end. During summer break throughout my school year, I used to make weekly trips to the library and kept a list of all the books I read during that two month time frame; something quite easy for a young person who didn't have a job.
Once High School came along though, I started to read less and less due to my busy schedule, but I never lost the passion for the written word.
I currently do not go to school. Instead I work in the hopes that I can soon have the money to put myself through most of post-secondary by myself. Of course, with only ever having work and some amazing friends taking up my time, I've been able to get more into reading again.
In this blog I hope to share my love of books with you. I'm the type of person who usually sticks to the urban fantasy genre, and sometimes taking a jaunt over to the paranormal romance genre. With this blog, I am challenging myself to read book of all genre's, read classics and contemporaries, and to finish every book I start, even if I don't want to finish.
I hope you enjoy my future reviews and keep coming back for more,