Mr. & Mrs. Fitzwilliam Darcy: Two Shall Become One by Sharon Lathan

So, remember when I was raving about a book, but couldn't talk about it? Well, here's the review. :)


MY THOUGHTS ON MR. & MRS FITZWILLIAM DARCY

Ever since I agreed to begin reviewing for publishers, I’ve been hoping for that “dream” book. The one you read that makes you sigh a little inside as you put it down because you don’t want it to end. I was lucky enough to find that book with Mr. & Mrs. Fitzwilliam Darcy by Sharon Lathan.

Mr. & Mrs. Fitzwilliam Darcy is the continuing story of Lizzy Bennet and Fitzwilliam Darcy. It says in a note from the author that she watched the 2005 movie version of Pride and Prejudice starring Keira Knightley and Matthew MacFadyen and was inspired to continue their story. And this book is that story.

Using certain quotes and moments from the movie in the book gives it a more…intimate setting than something coming straight from the book. In my head all throughout the book, I was picturing Matthew MacFadyen as Darcy and Keira Knightley as Lizzy. I’m not usually one for having actors in my head, but because I loved the movie, I don’t mind.

I admit to having a hard time NOT having a fan-girl moment while writing this review. I’ve been a fan of Pride and Prejudice ever since I saw this movie in the theater when it first came out. Obviously I’d heard of Jane Austen and her books. I knew what P&P was all about, but had never watched any of the movies or read the book.

I remember seeing a snippet of the promo for this movie and thinking “I HAVE to see this!” I sat in the theater with my eyes glued to the screen. The passion and chemistry between these two characters was just downright awe-inspiring. I loved Mr. Darcy’s taciturn, but sweet personality and the way his love for Lizzy made him seem all the more human. I loved how Lizzy wasn’t afraid to stand her ground, even when it meant losing (for the moment), the love of her life.

I took one of my BFF’s to see this movie and to this day, it’s one of our favorites. I’ve also seen the A&E version with Colin Firth and Jennifer Ehle and finally read the book last year, but in my heart, the 2005 version of this movie will always be Lizzy & Darcy’s story.

That being said, I admit to a certain amount of trepidation going into this story. I’d just finished reading Pemberley Manor, and though I liked it, it had also traumatized me a bit. I was hoping that this story would follow more along the lines of the story I saw in my head as to how the Darcy’s life would be together after P&P was over.

And I was not disappointed. From the moment the story starts, it’s like a continuation of the movie. I love the fact that it starts from Darcy’s POV and you can just see the love shining from him as he looks at his beloved wife.

Maybe it’s naughty of me, but I admit to wishing someone would delve a bit more into the passion so evident between the two. Ms. Lathan does that well. It’s obvious the two of them have sex, but it’s not fully modernized to the point where you have every single mention of body parts and tab-a-into-slot-b like 99% of the romances out there. This book isn’t chaste by any means, but it’s also much closer to what I would expect. I know, that doesn’t make sense, but I’m doing my best here.

Ms. Lathan gives a richness to the story and details that you could almost expect Ms. Austen to have had them waiting just for this story. As I was reading, I could see what was happening in my head. The sights, sounds and emotions were so clearly detailed that I didn’t want this story to end.

And that’s what’s so great! She’s doing a full series on the life of Lizzy and Darcy. This is just book 1! *happy dance*

I can’t remember the last time I fell in love with a book like this. I can’t wait to share this with you and I’m hoping I’ll be lucky enough to speak to the author and maybe even give away a copy or two of this book. If you love Pride and Prejudice (especially the 2005 version of the movie), then I cannot stress to you enough how much you should go find a copy of this book. It’s awesome!


Rating: A-


*Edited to add* I wrote this review the minute I'd finished the book and was still on the "good book high". I just recently reread the book and while I still love it and think it's amazing, the one thing I could've done without is the syrupy names they call each other. THAT got annoying very quickly.

And...Sharon is coming to the blog! She'll be one of my special guests. And...I get to give away a copy of the book. Unfortunately, I'm limited to the US and Canada for the giveaway, but still! So, come back in a day or two and I'll have the interview with her on here. *happy dance*

Kiss of a Demon King by Kresley Cole

One of these days I'm going to have to pick this woman's brains. I have no idea how she gets away with 99% of her stories, but man, this book was awesome!


Back Blurb: With one kiss, he knew she'd be his queen...

From New York Times bestselling author Kresley Cole comes this spellbinding story of a demon king fighting to reclaim his crown and the wicked sorceress who dares to use his most secret desires to thwart him.

His obsession: the enchantress who surrenders her body, but not her heart.
After Sabine, the Queen of Illusions, lures and traps Rydstrom Woede in her lair, the ruthless warrior fights to resist her seduction.But his fierce demon nature lusts for her delicate body and won’t be denied. Even as Rydstrom plots to escape, he still intends to claim Sabine as his own—on his terms.

Her downfall: the battle-scarred demon who vows to keep her at all costs.

When Rydstrom breaks free, her abducts Sabine, turning the tables. Now she’s the one struggling to resist his delicious torment. With each relentless encounter, Sabine hungers more for her merciless adversary.

They were never supposed to want each other this much…

If they can defeat the sinister enemy that stands between them, will Sabine make the ultimate sacrifice to save her demon? Or will the proud king lay down his crown and arms to keep his sorceress?


I think the thing I appreciate so much about her books is the strength, not only of the heroes, but of the heroines as well. I hate books where you get strong Alpha males, but the women they're mated to are weaklings or whiners.

In this book, yeah, not so much. Sabine is a tough, tough chick. I like how Ms. Cole gets you thinking one thing and then throws things out of left field that totally change the scene. This book takes place at the exact same time as Dark Desires After Dusk, but instead of Cade's story, it's all about Rydstrom and his bride.

Oh, the fun! Sabine has known for centuries that Rydstrom is her mate, but due to some...not so good things, has never had the opportunity to have anything to do with him. There's a prophecy (of course) and all that other good stuff.

Anyhoodles, watching the give-and-take between these two characters was a blast to watch. You want to talk about antagonistic, this book has it. The sexual tension is IMMEDIATELY apparent and stays that way through the rest of the book. Le sigh.

It's hard to go into a lot of detail, because so much of it would end up being more a spoiler than anything.

I will say this. Rydstrom is strong and dominant and totally not what I expected. Sabine is crazy, but in a very fun way. The sexual tension runs rampant. The usual secondary characters are few and far between. Can I just say how much I love Nix? I know she drives some people insane, but I love her. She cracks me up!

And that's all I'm going to say about this book. If you've enjoyed her other Immortal After Dark series, I think you'll REALLY enjoy this book. It's fun and sexy, which is just the kind of book I like to read.


Rating: A

Poison Study and Magic Study by Maria V. Snyder

Back Blurb for Poison Study-


Murder, mayhem and magic...

Locked in a coffin-like darkness, there is nothing to distract me from my memories of killing Reyad. He deserved to die--but according to the law, so do I. Here in Ixia, the punishment for murder is death. And now I wait for the hangman's noose.

But the same law that condemns me may also save me. Ixia's food taster--chosen to ensure tha the Commander's food is not poisoned--has died. And by law, the next prisoner who is scheduled to be executed--me--must be offered the position.


I remember when these books first came out a couple of years ago. I cannot tell you how many times I picked them up, read the back blurb, only to put them down again. It wasn't until recently, when those evil women over at the Book Smugglers talked about them, that I decided to pick them up.

When they first came out, they were shelved under Sci-Fi/Fantasy, but now they're being reissued as young adult, but I found them in the romance section. It'd be nice if book sellers would figure out EXACTLY where to shelve books. *sigh*

My thoughts on Poison Study...

I really enjoyed this book. It's told in first-person by Yelena, the heroine. When the book first opens, she's on death row (or this world's version of it anyway) and she's dealing with the idea of being put to death. She knows that killing Reyad, the son of a general was a dumb idea, but at the time of his murder, she'd been pushed too far and it was self-defense. Unfortunately, due to the laws of her country, it doesn't matter and she'd to die.

And then everything gets turned upside down. The Commander's food-taster has died and since she's the next one to die, she is offered the position. Not being an idiot, she says yes. Of course, because she could ingest poison at any time and die anyway, she still might die quickly.

From that point forward, the book gets a bit insane. Valek, her trainer, is an interesting character. He's so cold and formal when the book first opens. He's a hard character to read and it's interesting to watch the give and take between him and Yelena.

This book has quite a bit of adventure to it. I finished it at 1:30 this morning and promptly picked up Magic Study (if that tells you anything).

I greatly enjoyed the world that Ms. Snyder has created. Its rich detail and many differences gives it a freshness that I haven't seen in a long time. Can't recommend this series enough.


My Rating: B+



Back Blurb for Magic Study--


A lesson in loyalty--a master class in intrigue


So far, I've managed to survive. You would think after being kidnapped as a child, imprisoned in my teens and released to become a poison taster, I would have endured enough. But no. The discovery of my magic abilities--powers forbidden in Ixia--has resulted in an execution order. My only chance is to flee to Sitia, my long-lost birthplace.

But Sitia is unfamiliar. I'm treated like an enemy--even by my own brother. Plus I can't control my powers. I want to learn about my magic, but there isn't any time. A rogue magician has emerged and I'm targeted as his next victim.

Will my magical abilities save me...or be my downfall?


Whoo-boy. Let me just tell you that I was up until 5 this morning reading this book. As soon as I was done reading Poison Study, I automatically picked this one up.

After everything that happened at the end of Poison Study, Yelena's life gets totally turned on its head. With an execution order hanging over her head, she goes with her mentor to Sitia to return some children that were taken and to find out if she can find her natural family.

I really feel for Yelena. Her life has never been easy and watching her struggle to fit in with her real family is almost heartbreaking. She so desperately wants it all to be real, but is afraid that things will fall apart...again.

Dealing with a mother, father and brother that she can't remember is interesting to say the least. Her brother is...a jerk. I didn't like him at all until the very, very end of the book. It takes forever, but he finally redeems himself.

Valek and the others are back in this book as well. What I like about this series is, even though it can be downright dark and depressing, Ms. Snyder uses a great deal of humor to break up the moments of darkness. It's quite entertaining to watch her put certain people in their place.

This book also deals with her burgeoning magic. The one complaint I have about this whole series (and it's not even that big of a complaint) is that Yelena tends to not think before she does something pretty major. I can understand why she has a hard time trusting people to help her, but there are times when she's just on the edge of being TSTL. Thank goodness she doesn't step over that line, but she does get pretty close.

These books are hard to review in the sense that I can't go into a lot of detail without risk of dropping spoilers, but I will say that these books are so much fun to read! Action, adventure, romance, magic, sword-fights...I kind of feel like I'm describing The Princess Bride (anyone know what I reference when I say that?). I really can't recommend them enough. Now, I just have go find a copy of Fire Study. :)


My Rating: A-

Shadow Kiss by Richelle Mead

What if following her heart means Rose could lose her best friend forever?

Rose Hathaway knows it is forbidden to love another guardian. Her best friend, Lissa--the last Dragomir princess--must always come first. Unfortunately, when it comes to gorgeous Dimitri Belikov, some rules are meant to be broken...

But since making her first Strigoi kills, Rose hasn't been feeling right. Something dark has begun to grown in her mind, and ghostly shadows warn of a terrible evil drawing nearer to the Academy's iron gates. And now that Lissa and Rose's sworn enemy, Victor Dashkov, is on trial for his freedom, tensions in the Moroi world are higher than ever.

Lying to Lissa about Dimitri is one thing, but suddenly there's way more than friendship at stake. The immortal undead are on the prowl, and they want vengeance for the lives Rose has stolen. In a heart-stopping battle to rival her worst nightmares, Rose will have to choose between life, love and the two people who matter most...but will her choice mean that only one can survive?


Ah, finally, the book that made me want to read this series. The ladies over at Book Smugglers reviewed it and it was intriguing enough that I went out and bought the first three the day after. When they reviewed, they dropped a spoiler that's a pretty big one. I will be discussing that down at the bottom, but will denote it so that if you don't want to know, you can skip over. :)

Wow...that was my first impression after reading this book. That and wiping away the tears that were pouring down my cheeks. Phew!

At the beginning of the book, Rose is dealing with the fallout of the previous book. Killing her first Strigoi and dealing with that takes up a lot of her time. Emotionally, she hadn't been ready for it, but honestly? Who is ever ready to kill anyone?

Her relationship with Christian takes a turn when she finds herself spending more time with him in an interesting turn of events. Because they were both there at the conclusion of Frostbite, they understand each other a lot better and there is a sense of cameraderie there that wasn't before.

Dealing with Dimitri also takes an interesting turn in this book. All throughout the series, there has been the underlying currents between them. There's a seven year age difference between them (she's 17 and he's 24), but that doesn't even make me uncomfortable because it is fought against hard-core by both of them. They know that their attraction to each other is forbidden, not just because of the age difference, but also because of their duties as Guardians (or guardians-in-training for Rose).

This book is definitely the darkest of the three. There are some crazy things going on and poor Rose. She finds out more about the relationship she has with Lissa. She also finds out why these crazy things are happening to her. It's a really fascinating twist and I won't spoil it for you, but let me just say I was pretty shocked when it was revealed. It explains a great deal and is one of those awesome moments of storytelling that just makes a person shake their head.

And there's Rose's relationship with Adrian. Adrian is a character that is introduced rather abruptly into the series, but he plays a pivotal roll in this book, revealing quite a bit about not only the Moroi, but also about Rose. It's fascinating to delve into this world; it truly is.

Now, for the spoiler revealed by The Book Smugglers. Trust me, it's a biggie, so I'm going to do it in white. If you want to know, highlight, if not, go on down to the end and my rating. :)

BEGIN SPOILERS

As the Book Smugglers revealed, something pretty major happens at the end of this book that even after reading the spoiler smacked me upside the head. However, I have a few things I want to discuss here. They state that Dimitri is turned into a Strigoi, but I'm not so sure and here's why. The last we see of Dimitri, he is being attacked by the Strigoi and one of them has bitten his neck. We see this fully from Rose's POV, so because it's rushed and she's in the midst of the fighting, it's assumed that he has turned. However, we're never shown. Instead, she speaks to Mason's ghost who basically tells her that Dimitri has been turned.

And that's my biggest quibble (and it's not even really a quibble). Even though Mason is dead and is revealing himself to Rose in ghost form, it is a known fact that he was seriously in love with her and that's also the main reason as to why he died. I personally think that he tells her that Dimitri was turned because he doesn't want them to end up together. Yes, I know he's dead, but come on! This is a YA paranormal romance, for pity's sake! Sheesh!

However, I did like the foreshadowing with the psychic. That was an interesting twist and it gave Rose & Dimitri a reason to push forward with their relationship. I felt the sex was handled well and I'm glad he was her first. *ahem* And I like the fact that she's willing to kill him if, in fact, he has turned Strigoi. Talk about an interesting twist.

END SPOILERS


And as for the end, well, since I hid the spoilers, I can't go into a lot of details, but I will say that it is one of the most dramatic endings I think I've ever read. Rose's last words to Lissa just about broke my heart, but it was well worth it, because I think it sets up book 4 quite well. *sigh*

So, all in all, I really, really enjoyed this book and have to thank the Book Smugglers for writing such a stellar review. These books rank right up there with the House of Night series by PC & Kristin Cast and for me, that is high praise indeed.


My Rating: A

Mr. Cavendish, I Presume by Julia Quinn

Amelia Willoughby has been engaged to the Duke of Wyndham for as long as she can remember. Literally. A mere six months old when the contracts were signed, she has spent the rest of her life waiting. And waiting. And waiting...for Thomas Cavendish, the oh-so-lofty duke, to finally get around to marrying her. But as she watches him from afar, she has a sneaking suspicion that he never thinks about her at all...

It's true. He doesn't. Thomas rather likes having a fiancee-all the better to keep the husband-hunters at bay-and he does intend to marry her...eventually. But just when he begins to realize that his bride might be something more than convenient, Thomas's world is rocked by the arrival of his long-lost cousin, who may or may not be the true Duke of Wyndham. And if Thomas is not the duke, then he's not engaged to Amelia. Which is the cruelest joke of all, because this arrogant and illustrious duke has made the mistake of falling in love...with his fiancee!


Ah, Julia Quinn. You know, I actually became acquainted with her writing with The Lost Duke of Wyndham, the first book in this duology. And that's when I fell in love with this wonderful, fantastic writer.

MC, IP, actually takes place at the exact same time as TLDoW, but told from the POV of Thomas and Amelia. And amazingly enough, it didn't confuse me in the least! How's that for amazing writing?! Usually, in circumstances like this, it's either very confused or makes no sense. Here's to Ms. Quinn's talents that that didn't happen at all.

At the beginning of the story, Thomas arrives at a country dance that his grandmother browbeat him into attending. He goes because he feels he has no choice and is expected to dance with his fiancee just like he does at every dance they both attend.

Amelia, on the other hand, is fed up with being the long-standing fiancee of a man who barely even acknowledges her existence, let alone the fact that they are to get married. Everything changes the night of the dance. Instead of saying yes like she usually does when he asks her to dance, she says no. One step towards independence! Yay!

Thomas is shocked by this completely unexpected turn of events and finally realizes that the woman he's been engaged to since he was seven years old, actually has a backbone. There's the obligatory a-ha moment (as there is in every romance), where he notices that she's a woman. And it's about time.

Things progress, she leaves and then everything changes.

As we found out in TLDoW, Thomas's future becomes unclear when his cousin Jack is found and forced into the family fold. Thomas's whole life has been dedicated to being the Duke of Wyndham, and in fact, that is what he bases his identity on. The idea of losing everything he holds dear and himself is almost more than he can bear...at first.

It is so fascinating to watch how Thomas and Amelia's romance progresses. They become friends first, which is something I really appreciate. There's no groping (well, a little bit) and it's quite entertaining to watch Amelia rip him a new one, especially when he deserves it.

It's also interesting to watch the romance between Jack and Grace grow via other perspectives.

Knowing what happens to Thomas, makes it especially interesting to see how he handles it all. In some aspects, he's almost a martyr, because he makes a really stupid decision when it comes to Amelia that could have ruined the entire story. Thankfully, he redeems himself, but it was still a head-banging moment for me.

And it's been said by numerous people that JQ is the queen of phenomenal dialogue. I'd like to share just a bit with you, to showcase this woman's talent. This is as they are on their way to Ireland. Thomas has come across Amelia on the boat and after apologizing about previous foot-in-mouth syndrome, they proceed to have this really amazing conversation. I'm dropping you right in the midst of it, but whatever. :~D


"We could have been friends," she heard herself say.

"Could?"

"Would," she corrected, and she was smiling. It seemed the most amazing thing. How was it possible she had anything to smile about? "I think we would have been friends, if not for...If all this..."

"If everything were different?"

"Yes. No. Not everything. Just...some things." She began to feel lighter. Happier. And she had not the slightest clue why. "Maybe if we'd met in London."

"And we hadn't been betrothed?"

She nodded. "And you hadn't been a duke."

His brows rose.

"Dukes are very intimidating," she explained. "It would have been so much easier if you hadn't been one."

"And your mother had not been engaged to my uncle," he added.

"If we'd just met."

"No history between us."

"None."

His brows rose and he smiled. "If I'd seen you across a crowded room?"

"No, no, nothing like that." She shook her head. He was not getting this at all. She wasn't talking about romance. She couldn't bear to even think of it. But friendship...that was something else entirely. "Something far more ordinary," she said. "If you'd just sat next to me on a bench."

"Like this one?"

"Perhaps in a park."

"Or a garden," he murmured.

"You would sit down next to me-"


I won't tell you the rest of that, because it's pretty important to the story & I don't want to spoil it. Just wanted to showcase why this woman amazes me with every book she writes.

And I've got to say, there are few authors who can make me laugh out loud and then sigh with either sadness or bliss right after the other, like this writer can. :)

So, all in all, I can't recommend this book enough. And even if you haven't read TLDoW, you won't be lost. I haven't read that since it first came out and I wasn't remotely confused. Another wonderful story, by an amazing writer.


My Rating: A

Untamed by PC & Kristin Cast

Life sucks when your friends are pissed at you. Just ask Zoey Redbird--she's become an expert on suckiness. In one week she has gone from having three boyfriends to having none, and from having a close group of friends who trusted and supported her to being an outcast. Speaking of friends, of the two Zoey has left, one is undead and one is unMarked. And Neferet has declared war on humans, which Zoey knows in her heart is wrong. But will anyone listen to her? Zoey's adventures at vampyre school take a wild and dangerous turn as loyalties are tested, shocking true intentions come to light, and an ancient evil is awakened...


I have been waiting ever so impatiently for this book since the end of Chosen. The events at the end of that book are the main issues Zoey has to deal with in this one. Whoo-boy, her life is one giant piece of messed up.

At the end of Chosen, some major secrets were unveiled and major drama ensued. Zoey found herself losing everyone she held dear due to decisions she had made. The hardest part was dealing with the loss of Erik...and Heath.

Now, it's only a few weeks later, and Zoey is still trying to deal with the aftermath of those events. She knows what she did is right, but it is hard to convince herself when everything is going to pot. What should she do?

Thankfully, Aphrodite is there to lend a hand and to have a major vision that catapults Zoey back into her job as one of the most powerful fledglings in vampyre history. She knows that she needs to figure out a way to overthrow Neferet and get her out of the school, but with her friends hating her, she's stuck.

Wow...that's all I can say about this book. It's not as heartbreaking as Betrayed or as frustrating as Chosen, but it is deep in its own way. The Cast's have created a world that is multi-layered and fascinating. Watching Zoey struggle to overcome her figuritive and literal demons is a wonderful journey.

This book is dark and it is creepy, but it's also just about a young woman who has awful choices to make and who has to deal with the repercussions of those decisions. You forget that she's only 17. That she's still just a kid. She deals with things with a maturity that belies her young years and makes you hope for her future.

And the end? Wow! I cannot wait to read Hunted. I don't know if it's the last book in the series, but I can't wait to see how they wrap up the insanity that they've created.


My Rating: A very solid A

Show No Mercy by Cindy Gerard

Only two things can compel journalist Jenna McMillan back to Beunos Aires after terrorists held her captive there just months before: a rare interview with a shadowy billionaire and the memory of the dark and dangerous man who saved her...

Bad guys, bombs, and bullets are Gabriel Jones's way of life. But he'll never forget the brash redhead he rescued not so long ago...or the passionate kiss they shared before he sent her packing.

Now, forced together by a bombing at the National Congress, Jenna and Gabe confront the urgent longings that simmer between them. But this surprise meeting is no coincidence. A ruthless enemy stalks them with deadly precision. The question is...if they make it out alive, will Gabe turn his back on Jenna...again?

I first fell in love with Cindy Gerard all the way back when she introduced her Bodyguard series (To The Edge, To the Limit, To The Brink, Over The Line, Under the Wire and Into The Dark). She created a series about hard-core Alpha Males and the strong heroines they fell in love with.

We were first introduced to Gabe and Jenna in Into The Dark. They were the ones who helped Amy & Dallas take down Amy's grandfather and save the day.

Now, in Show No Mercy, it's about a year after those events. Jenna is at her parents ranch in Wyoming licking her wounds. Because of events in ITD, she's feeling very cowardly and wants to hide away from the world. After talking with her father and realizing what she's doing, she gets some backbone, contacts her boss and goes back to Buenos Aires to interview Emilio Maxim, a mysterious billionaire.

Gabe is also there, protecting Emilio Maxim. In front of the Congress, their cavalcade is attacked and a car bomb goes off. Gabe, seeing Jenna there, saves her life, but is knocked big-time out of commision. They are taken away and Gabe is taken care of.

At the end of ITD, Jenna and Gabe had shared a super hot kiss that neither one of them can forget. Jenna wants things to progress, but due to things in the past, Gabe is extremely reticent about having it go any further. One night of passion changes most of that, but not all.

In this book, we are introduced again to the major players for this series as well as some old friends. There's chases, gun fights, running for your life and some super hot chemistry between the two main characters.

Here is what I love most about Ms. Gerard's books. The sex is always hot, but is never done in a way that makes you roll your eyes. The characters don't stop in the middle of an action sequence, make calf eyes at each other and jump each other's bone while bullets fly overhead. When the sex arrives, it is done in a way that makes sense and is super hot in the meantime.

Do I recommend this book? Oh, yeah. And you don't even have to read any of the books before hand. This is the beginning of her Black Ops series and it's a good one. The little blurb at the back for #2? Can't wait to read it.


My Rating: A-

When Twilight Burns by Colleen Gleason

Ruining Victoria's homecoming, a vampire stalks the streets of Lond--during the daylight. Not only is Victoria unable to detect the vampire with her heightened senses but she's being framed as the prime suspect behind the killings.

Meanwhile, her heart is still divided between the enigmatic Sebastian Vioget and her fellow slayer Max Pesaro. The battle is made even more difficult by the legacy of a vampire's touch--a vampire who left in Victoria's veins boiling blood that forces her to fight evil on two fronts: against the new breed of undead threatening Londong and against the darkness in herself.


Who-boy. After having Colleen here on my blog, interviewing her and all that stuff, I couldn't wait to get my hands on this book! For some reason, the copy she mailed to me never arrived. When I went to the signing on Friday and saw it sitting there, I just couldn't help myself. :)

I would say that WTB is the darkest yet of the Gardella series. Sure, at the end of Rises the Night, something REALLY bad happens, but in this book, Victoria's biggest enemy might just be herself.

After the events at the end of The Bleeding Dusk, questions were raised on if Victoria herself might be a vampire as well. Confused and alone (or so she feels), Victoria pushes herself in her training and focuses on obliterating the vampires in her neck of the woods. She's also horribly confused about her feelings for Sebastian...and for Max.

All throughout the series, even in the first one when Victoria was married and then widowed, there's been this overwhelming tension building between the three of them. Sebastian has already had a taste of her (so to speak), but he's also done some pretty despicable things to her as well. He's had his reasons, but the things he did were not all happy & light. Max, on the other hand, started out being a complete jerk to her, but there was always an underlying HMMM to it all that made me think there was something just under the surface. Might be why I'm a total Max girl. :)

Anyway, in this book, Colleen basically leaves no question as to who Victoria ends up with. I will not spoil it for those of you who haven't read it (MAX), but I personally think it's the right choice.

This book is full of action and adventure. Trust gained, trust broken, secrets revealed, secrets made...etc, etc. etc. Oh, just go read it, will you!


Rating: A

Lord of Scoundrels by Loretta Chase

First off, I cannot believe I've never blogged about this book before. How is that even possible? It's one of my all-time favorites & all that good stuff. *headdesk* Oh well, it doesn't hurt to do it now. :)


Back Blurb-They call him many names, but Angelic isn't one of them...

Sebastian Ballister, the notorious Marquess of Dain, is big, bad, and dangerous to know. No respectable woman would have anything to do with the "Bane and Blight of the Ballisters"--and he wants nothing to do with respectable women. He's determined to continue doing what he does best--sin and sin again--and that's going swimmingly, thank you...until the day a shop door opens and she walks in.

She's too intelligent to fall for the worst man in the world...

Jessica Trent is a determined young woman, and she's going to drag her imbecile brother off the road of ruin, no matter what it takes. If saving him--and with him, her family and future--means taking on the devil himself, she won't back down. The trouble is, the devil in question is so shockingly irresistible, and the person who needs the most saving is--herself!


Aw, how I love this book. There are so many things about it that just make me sigh.

We are first introduced to Sebastian (or Dain as he is usually called) on the day of his birth and the subsequent events that make him into the man he becomes. Poor Dain hasn't had the easiest of lives. Not that he is the easiest person to be around, but he has his reasons.

As a grown man he has made a name for himself as the most debauched man & though he loves women, he will not have sex with anyone but whores (with good reason, in his mind). He's never really been tempted by a good woman until one day.

While shopping, he meets one of his comrades. Bertie isn't one Dain would call a friend; more a hanger's on. Bertie introduces him to his sister and that's when everything goes to hell in a hand basket.

Instant attraction, misunderstandings and ingrained beliefs seem to be the biggest parts of this story.

You've got a tough, strong Alpha-type hero who deep inside is very unsure of himself. You have a heroine who is just this side of being a bluestocking, but is sexy enough to get away with it. Their relationship definitely has it's ups and downs, but that's what makes it so much fun.

There are sweet and tender moments. Moments where you want to smack Dain upside the head. Moments where you're not sure if the relationship will survive.

And best of all? You have a relationship that's beautiful when it all comes down to it.

I cannot recommend this book enough. It's on a lot of romance readers top romance books of all time with good reason. It's a great historical romance, without the horrible purple prose. It's sweet, it's funny and it's well worth the money.


My Rating: A

Hostage to Pleasure

I'm not going to bother with a back blurb. For one thing, it is WAY too early in the morning and for another, I'm just not! :~P


Hostage to Pleasure is one of the most anticipated books of 2008 (for me anyway). I first fell in love with Nalini's writing when Slave to Sensation first came out. I fell in love with the Changeling/Psy world. I fell in love with the tough Alpha males and the strong heroines. I'm happy to say that HtP was not a disappointment! Yay!

Dorian was introduced all the way back in StS right after his little sister was killed by a psychotic Psy. Full of rage and frustration, he turned to his duties as a Sentinel to help keep him human. And though he was born fully a panther, he's latent. He is not able to switch to his animal self and has trained himself to be super strong, fast, and lethal.

As Darkriver's sniper, he was sent to watch over Ashaya in Mine to Possess. She was trying to save a few children who'd been taken by the Psy. This is totally outside of what the Psy are supposed to do and he's intrigued by her.

In HtP, Ashaya knows her time is limited. She fakes her death and is able to escape. She finds herself in Darkriver territory and is saved by Dorian. See, Ashaya has a problem...a big one and it turns out that Dorian is the only one who can help save her.

HtP is a book full of twists and turns. Every time I thought I had something figured out, something new would pop up. I was going to go to bed at 11 (due to the horrific hour I was supposed to get up), but found myself going to bed at 12:45 because I could NOT PUT THIS BOOK DOWN! Nalini is evil! Her books are so good, you can't stop reading them! Argh!

This book seemed more action-packed than others. The two of them were in constant (or almost constant) peril throughout the entire book. And when they finally make love? One of the most sensual, sexy love scenes I've ever read. Nalini seriously needs to write a book on how to write the ulitmate love scene.

HtP is a phenomenal story. Caressed by Ice is still my favorite of the Changeling/Psy series, but HtP is a very close second. Excellent story and Nalini just keeps adding more to the world she's created. How cool is that?!?


My Rating: A

Gale Force by Rachel Caine

Weather Warden Joanne Baldwin is taking a vacation from her duties when her idyll is interrupted by her worst nightmare: a reporter from a legitimate newspaper. The last thing Joanne needs is someone exposing the supernatural world she inhabits.



The sun chases the clouds away when her Djinn lover, David, asks Joanne to marry him. She's thrilled to answer yes, but there are certain parties--some human, some otherwise--who will be less enthusiastic.



Joanne's premarital bliss ends when a freakish devastating earthquake hits Florida--and this time, she won't be able to ask David and his kind for assistance. The cause of the quake is unlike anything Joanne has ever encountered, and it is fueled by a power even the Djinn cannot perceive...

Gale Force is book 7 in Rachel Caine's Weather Warden series. For all of the fans who have followed this series faithfully, book 7 is a wild ride!

Poor Joanne. After all of the scrapes & insanity she's lived (and died) thru, you'd think that she'd be able to do something as simple as planning a wedding. Ha! Not when "evil" forces are out to get her, her man and anyone else that gets in their way.

This time around, it's personal and poor Joanne is stuck right smack dab in the middle of it all. When her beloved Djinn, David, finally proposes, Jo is thrilled. Sure, the idea of marrying an immortal magical being never really crossed her mind, but they're in love. Marriage is the next logical step. Right?

On the day she goes shopping for a wedding dress, a freak earthquake strikes the store where she is. Something extremely strange is afoot and Jo tries to figure out what has happened. Turns out, there are some crazy things happening and again, she finds herself to be the intended target.

I've got to be honest. If Rachel wasn't such an awesome writer, the ludicrousness of the whole thing would have sent me running back to B & N. However, Ms. Caine makes the insanity work. There are twists, turns, crazy loopholes and other things going on in this book that'll make you sure your head is spinning. But boy is it a fun ride!

As per usual, I love Joanne. She's one of those great heroines that just make you follow along in her wake. She's lived thru some crazy things and this book is no exception. I have to say tho, that the betrayal she faces in this book is a major doozy, but what a lead up into book 8! :)

If you're a fan of the Warden series, than I 100% recommend this book. This series is not what I would consider stand alones. It's best to start from book 1 (Ill Wind) and move forward. The stories are all fast-paced fun rides and I thoroughly enjoy them.

My Rating: A

The Bleeding Dusk by Colleen Gleason

Oh, nuts to it. I've already read it. I'm skimming as I go. *sigh*


As Rome prepares for its Carnival, the new leader of the city's vampire hunters--Lady Victoria Gardella Grantsworth de Lacy--must prove herself as never before. For, in order to gain access to the secrets of a legendary alchemist, Rome's vampires have allie themselves with creatures as evil and bloodthirsty as they are.

Reluctantly, Victoria must turn to the enigmatic Sebastian Vioget for help, just as Maximilian Pesaro arrives to help his fellow slayers--no matter what the sacrifice. Desire puts her at the mercy of Sebastian, while loyalty binds her to Max, but can she trust either man? Especially when a seductive vampire begins luring her into the shadows...


Four months have passed since the end of Rises The Night. Victoria is again trying to get past her grief and move on. Max has been given an option, but he's not sure if he's going to take it. I'm not sure where Sebastian is at this point. Things are all a bit discombobulated, but they slowly, but surely get their lives all back in order.

Something fishy is going on in Rome and Victoria, as the new Gardella, wants to solve the mystery as quickly as possible. It's going to be a race against time as she tries to find the key before the vampires do.

She finds herself working with Max in her efforts to find this key. Max is struggling with a major decision that will change his life forever. He's more than willing to help her out, but his mind isn't exactly on his duties to help her. The choice is major, major, major and it's a major theme throughout the entire novel. It seems that the story is nothing but choices and ramifications.

Sebastian is back. The attraction is still there. Major flirtations and other things...again. Mistakes are made. See, it's all about the choices.

In fact, here's just a tiny snippet of conversation between Victoria & Max. You'll see why I say this seems to be the major theme.

"The right decision isn't always easy or evident. You'll find yourself making more and more of those choices as time goes on."

Isn't that the truth?

At times throught TBD, it's extremely obvious how young Victoria is. 21 and she's had more heartache than most people do in a lifetime. In TBD though, she seems to be whining a bit more. Temper tantrums, etc. However, it's not annoying, because if you've read the last two books, it's easy to see why she is the way she is. If you were 21 and had so much riding on your choices and decisions, wouldn't you go a little batty?

Ramifications from choices Max made back in RTN seem to be haunting him in this book. There are a few things he can't seem to get away from, including his ex-fiance. Oh, the humor that brings to the table. Max is nothing but determined to forget he was ever engaged to her, while she seems to go out of her way to smack him over the head with it. Fun!

The search for the key remains the big thing throughout the book. If it's found...well, that's not good. The characters are led on a merry chase.

The end of the book? Totally shocked me. Is she? Isn't she? What exactly transpired? Say what? Those were just some of my thoughts whilst reading that. And now, the next book comes out on Tuesday! I can hardly wait.

So, for my last thoughts. Who will Victoria choose? Will she choose either or remain alone? Did what I think end up being what actually happens? Cryptic much? LOL! Sorry.

Excellent story, beautifully rendered location, scary moments, funny moments. Sexy as always. Nice twist on the typical vampire slayer stories. Can't wait!


My Rating: A

Rises The Night by Colleen Gleason

Oops! I didn't get a chance to do this when I thought I would. Shame on me! :)


Victoria Gardella has been a vampire slayer for just over a year, balancing her life as a peer of Society with the dangerous role that takes her out on moonlit streets, stake in hand.

As Victoria races across Europe to stop what could be the most deadly army the Gardellas have ever faced, she is accompanied by the unlikely Sebastian Vioget, a man as tempting as he is untrustworthy. But when Victoria discovers that she has been betrayed by one of her most trusted allies, the truth will challenge all her powers as a Venator – and as a woman.



The best way to describe this book is action-packed. Where The Rest Falls Away was the introductory book to this series, RTN is the craziness. :) It seems that Victoria's life has gone from heartbreak to heartbreak throughout this entire series. I know it's to show her growth as a person, but whoa.

When RTN first starts, it's not long after the end of TRFA. Victoria is struggling with grief and What if's. She blames herself for the circumstances and decides to step back from her Venatoring to concentrate on healing. Thankfully, this happens behind the scenes and the book jumps forward.

The book is mostly based in Italy & Colleen really makes you feel like you're there. It's dark, it's dirty, it's gritty and there's a lot going on behind the scenes that Victoria slowly, but surely finds out. She also finds Max.

This book is really, really hard to talk about without giving a lot away. Suffice it to say that there will be the biggest betrayal Victoria has ever had to face at the end of this book. It will bring about great events, but her hurt and anger will be something I don't know if she'll ever get over.

Rises the Night has all the intrigue, sexiness, and say what moments a girl like me could ask for. Seductions, betrayals, revelations...it's all here.

By the time you get to the end of this book, I think you'll be either totally in the Max or totally in the Sebastian camp as to who Victoria should go for. I'm a total Max girl, but that's just because I love his dark, up front, to the point nature. He doesn't fawn over Victoria and he tells her like he sees it. Sebastian, on the other hand, has way too many secrets and too many things that could be more detrimental than good when it comes to Victoria. Sure, he's a total hottie and I believe he cares for her, but there's something a bit self-serving when it comes to him IMHO. :)

So, if you like TRFA and want to know more, I definitely recommend this book. The end will make you cry (it did me), but it's a powerful scene. I'm rereading The Bleeding Dusk now. Here's hoping I'll finish it tonight so I can review it before the winner is chosen. :)



My Rating: A-

Cry Wolf by Patricia Briggs

If I'm being completely honest (and I usually am) I'm just too stinkin' lazy to go find the back blurb for this story. There, I'm bad. :-P

Cry Wolf is another fascinating look into the world of Mercy Thompson. However, Cry Wolf is not about Mercy. It is the continuing story of Charles, the Marrok’s son & Enforcer and Anna, Charles’ mate told in the time after Moon Called and during Blood Bound.

Their story actually started in the anthology On The Prowl. They met, their wolves decided they were mates, and that was it. Or was it? See, Anna is an Omega wolf. I’ve always thought that the Omega was basically the very bottom of the wolf hierarchy. They’re usually the ones who are picked on and basically treated like crap. In Ms. Briggs’ world though, she’s decided that Omegas are something completely different.

Before Charles met Anna and set her free, her life was a living hell. She had been changed without any warning (or want to) and then had been used as the wolves’ sexual plaything at the behest of her Alpha. To say that she’s not exactly thrilled to be Charles’ mate is kind of an understatement.

At the start of Cry Wolf, Charles has taken Anna back home with him to the Marrok’s territory. He had been injured severely at the end of Alpha & Omega and is recovering from his wounds. Their arrival is fraught with tensions because it’s right when Doc’s funeral (doctor in Moon Called) starts. Most of the people in town blame Bran for Doc’s death, even though Doc needed to die because he couldn’t control his wolf.

Anna is able to use her powers as Omega to calm a particular person down, Samuel sticks up for his father and the story moves on.

Once everything calms down after the funeral, Bran asks Charles to go check out a rogue werewolf who has been killing humans in the woods. It’s in the middle of the mountains & Bran manipulates it so that Anna goes too. Charles is not happy with that turn of events, but he knows they have to solidify their mating bond and the best way to do that is to be alone together.

Cry Wolf is definitely an adventure romance. 99% of the story follows the events after they leave for the mountains. There are some really crazy twists and turns in this story. It’s watching Charles and Anna get comfortable with their bond. It’s about past history. It also reveals A LOT about Bran.

Because the Mercy Thompson books are all told from her POV, you get to know the other characters as she knows them. Cry Wolf is told in 3rd person POV and you get to see different aspects of the story from multiple POVs.

An interesting love story, growth of a great world and fascinating characters. I totally *heart* Patricia Briggs.

Rating: A

Sam's Creed by Sarah McCarty

Back Blurb-

Every Texan woman knows the men of Hell's Eight offer wild, no-strings-attached pleasure. Well, almost every woman...


Known for making up his own rules of right and wrong, Texas Ranger Sam "Wildcard" MacGregor takes what he wants when he wants it, especially when it comes to women. But seduction is the last thing on his mind the moment he stumbles across an Hispanic beauty crouching in fear beside a burned-out wagon. And it doesn't take long before he realizes the woman the townsfold call "cursed" is hiding secrets too dangerous to face alone.

Isabella may look feminine and unassuming, but she's hell in a bodice with gunslinging skills to match any man's. But though she knows not to give Sam her heart as readily as she offers him her lush body, Isabella is certain she sees in Sam what he can barely glimpse in himself---a virtuous man dropped deep into a hard country bent on beraking him. A man who, under it all craves a passionate woman willing to risk everything...


Ms. McCarty has done it again. Sam's Creed is the 2nd book in her Hell's Eight series through the Spice Books Imprint. Sam MacGregor made a play for Desi in Caine's Reckoning but was shot down. He wasn't serious about it, but I knew at that moment that this would be a fascinating hero.

And he was. Tall, sexy, uber-masculine and just waiting for a strong woman to take him to task. Enter Isabella. The moment when they meet is fraught with tension, but also a great deal of humor. As per usual, Sam's thinking with his little brain when he first meets her, but he can't help also being intrigued by her.

Isabella was a hoot! Funny and wanting this man who saved her life. She wants him to be her first with a passion that just...well, it's just beautiful. She's tenacious and won't leave him be. She's not a native English speaker and her massacre of the English language has some very funny moments. :)

Once they finally get down to the dirty deed though, it's a sensual romp that is just yummy. Sam wants her first time to be sweet and gentle, but Bella's not taking that. She wants it hot and raunchy because she senses that's what he really wants. The tug of war between the two of them is what makes this book so fascinating.

What I love about Ms. McCarty's writing is that though her books are erotica, there is also a real plot to the story. There's never what I call gratuitous sex. It helps push the story along, but isn't the driving force behind it. I think that's why I like her writing so much.

And again, just like in Caine's Reckoning, the ultimate love scene once they've come to really love each other? Goose bump inducing.

I can't recommend these books enough. And they're in trade-size paperback, so they aren't an e-book. I'm not a big fan of ebooks, so this makes me extra happy.

And can I just say that the woman knows how to write a love scene? I'm amazed the book wasn't smoking. :D


My Rating: A-


I loved both books the same, but for totally different reasons. *sigh*

Caine's Reckoning by Sarah McCarty

Back Blurb-

The Hell's Eight is the only family he's ever needed, until he meets the only woman he's ever wanted...

Caine Allen is a hardened Texas Ranger, definitely not the marrying kind. But when he rescues a kidnapped woman and returns her to town, the preacher calls in a favor. One Caine's honor won't let him refuse.

From the moment he bed Desi, Caine knows turmoil will follow. Desi might have the face of a temptress, but she also has a will of iron and while she needs his protection, she's determine that no man will control her again. They establish an uneasy bond, but it isn't enough for Caine. He wants all Desi has to offer. he wants her screams, her moans, her demands...everything. Yet there's still a bounty on Desi's head, and keeping her sexually satisfied is proving easier than keeping her alive.


I just finished reading this book about ten minutes ago and since then I've been trying to figure out how to put my feelings down so that everyone can read them. I first came across this book on Lisabea's blog...I think. She was raving about it and it got me intrigued, but I didn't do anything about it until today. I'm totally kicking myself that it's taken me this long to buy the book and read it, because it was good. It really, really was.

This book is based in 19th century Texas, but it reads more like a modern novel. The characters speak in slang that's more prevalent now, but for some reason this didn't bother me. Usually stuff like that drives me up the wall, but in this story, setting isn't the driving force, it's the characters.

Caine is a member of the Hell's Eight, a notorious band of Texas Rangers who have a reputation of shooting first and talking later. He's strong, determined, and has no interest in women other than having one flat on her back and being between her thighs. However, this does not mean that he is a jerk and he believes women should be cherished. His family was killed when he was quite young and after swearing vengeance, he's now a man who does what he needs to do to get his job done.

Desi, on the other hand, started out life as a pampered rich girl whose life was thrown completely upside down when her father decided it'd be great for the family to move out West. Though they were rich, gold was out there and they could always be richer. Instead, he ended up getting most of the family killed, leaving Desi and her sister to be brutally gang-raped and tortured by a group of Comancheros. Desi ended up getting away from them and being put under the "protection" of a gambler and sicko.

I loved the introduction to Desi. Caine and his friends are after her and they hear a woman scream. Expecting to find the women who were taken raped and beaten, he sees Desi stripped down to her underthings fending off the would-be rapists attack. He's impressed and it's only when things start to go bad that he acts.

Caine's Reckoning is a story about the give and take, push and pull, dominant game between two very strong-willed individuals. Desi has been scarred emotionally and physically by all that has transpired in her young life (she's 20) and she's not sure of this man who married her to get her out of the clutches of the man who made her life a living hell.

Caine just wants nookie (to start with), but once he realizes what happened to her in the past, he goes about seducing her.

The sex is hot. Caine isn't about to let her past cloud the passion the two of them have and he does everything in his power to seduce her. He's gentle and loving and wow...it's amazing. Can I just say though that during the ultimate love scene where everything culminates, I was almost in tears. It wasn't because it was sad so much as it showed how much trust the two of them now had towards each other. It was almost heartbreaking, if that makes sense.

The story is not an easy one to read. It's brutal and horrible and makes you sick, but it's also heart-warming and a beautiful love story between these two lost souls who have found each other. I will totally be looking for the rest of the series. Each man who is a part of Hell's Eight is broken in some way and boy I can't wait to read about the women who fix them.



My Rating: A- There were some weird typos and things that didn't mesh. That's why it's not an A+

The Lost Duke of Wyndham by Julia Quinn

The Back Blurb-WILL THE REAL DUKE OF WYNDHAM PLEASE STAND UP?



Jack Audley has been a highwayman. A soldier. And he has always been a rogue. What he is not, and never wanted to be, is a peer of the realm, responsible for an ancient heritage and the livelihood of hundreds. But when he is recognized as the long-lost son of the House of Wyndham, his carefree life is over. And if his birth proves to be legitimate, then he will find himself with the one title he never wanted: Duke of Wyndham.



Grace Eversleigh has spent the last five years toiling as the companion to the dowager Duchess of Wyndham. It is a thankless job, with very little break from the routine...until Jack Audley lands in her life, all rakish smiles and debonair charm. He is not a man who takes no for an answer, and when she is in his arms, she's not a woman who wants to say no. But if he is the true duek, then he is the one man she can never have...





I have never read a Julia Quinn. Pick yourself up off the floor please. :) I know it's surprising, but it's true. I've heard wonderful things about her, especially her Bridgerton series, but as I've said, I'm just recently getting back into historicals after a long hiatus.



I decided to pick up this book when I was at B&N yesterday. I thought the blurb sounded interesting & I'm nothing if not adventurous, so I bought it. Boy am I glad I did!



TLDoW was a wonderful book! It looks like it's a new series & was wonderfully entertaining. I found myself laughing out loud quite often. At one point I got the snorts, which (I'm thinking) is a good thing.



The story starts out when Grace and the Dowager Duchess are coming back from a party. They are set upon by highwaymen. Things gets all haywire, identities are revealed & insanity begins. This is a very cut&dry version of what happens.



I love mistaken identity stories & at first, this book seems like a classic case of that. Jack has no interest whatsoever in finding out if he is the Duke or not. He's happy with the life he leads & he doesn't want anything to change.



Unfortunately, he has absolutely no control over anything that happens. His life is now in the hands of the Dowager Duchess, who is a complete & total psychopath.



It's hard for me to explain exactly why I loved this book so much. There were very few things about it that bothered me, which is amazing in & of itself. The humor, the people, the sheer insanity of the whole story captured my fancy from the beginning & I did not put the book down until it was finished. I think the better way to say that is I couldn't put it down!



What I loved:





Grace-Her life changed drastically 5 years ago when her parents were killed. She has been the Dowager's constant companion ever since & her life has not been easy. Instead of whining & feeling sorry for herself (or being a martyr), she does her job with a sense of humor and an ability to ignore the Dowager that I envy. She is intelligent, funny and not a bluestocking! Yay!

Jack-He is perfect! Funny, sarcastic, handsome and just all around entertaining. There are moments in this book that totally had me laughing out loud. He has his faults, but he's the kind of hero, especially in historicals, that I adore. I wish more heroes were written like him.


I'm not going to write excerpts of dialogue or any of that, though this one tiny little piece cracked me up! The Dowager is reading the newspaper and finds out there's been a fire at a neighboring estate...The dog perished. Oh my, that is a shame. Why that hit my funny bone, I don't know.


Page 137-138 had some very funny dialogue between the Dowager & Grace (who is thinking about Jack)


Pages 321-323...the joys of English swearing. Truly one of the funniest things I've read in a long time. :) Your opinion is always welcome! :)


Anyway, this book was just wonderful. Funny, sweet, heartwarming...I'm sure I could think of more adjectives, but you get the idea. Julia Quinn is now an autobuy author. In fact *wincing* I went and bought the entire Bridgerton series. I'm on The Duke And I right now, but already the trademark Quinn writing is there. :)


My Rating: A...definitely

Blue-Eyed Devil by Lisa Kleypas

Back Blurb-MEET THE BLUE-EYED DEVIL

His name is Hardy Cates. He's a self-made millionaire who comes from the wrong side of the tracks. He's made enemies in the rough-and-tumble ride to the top of Houston's oil industry. He's got hot blood in his veins. And vengeance on his mind.

MEET THE HEIRESS

She's Haven Travis. Despite her family's money, she refuses to set out on the path they've chosen for her. But when Haven marries a man her family disapproves of, her life is set on a new and dangerous course. Two years later, Haven comes home, determined to guard her heart. And Hardy Cates, a family enemy, is the last person she needs darkening her door or setting her soul on fire.

WATCH THE SPARKS FLY...



Where to begin? I just read Sugar Daddy, the "prequel" to this book. Both stand alone, but this book. Well, it touched me in a way I haven't been touched in a long time. Okay, that sounded bad, but you know what I mean.

The story starts out in the past. Haven is dating Nick, her first boyfriend and they're serious. It's Gage's wedding day and she's worried because Nick will be asking her father if he can marry her. She's also intrigued by this dark-haired, blue-eyed man she sees from across the room.

Anywho, mistaken identities insue, she gets married and the abuse begins. I have to state right up front that I usually don't like abuse stories; not because of the abuse, but because of the way it's usually handled. The story always goes one of two ways; the heroine will be a martyr and boohoo through the whole book without doing anything to end the abuse or she'll be the exact opposite & becoming the avenging angel.

I'm not saying that I think abuse is ridiculous...not by any means. I've had many friends who've suffered all types of abuse. I even suffered from abuse, by my peers all throughout school. However, there's nothing like being abused by the person you love, whom you marry thinking you'll spend the rest of your life with them forever and be happy all the time. Only to have them do a complete 180 after the marriage license is signed and you're stuck.

In this case, Haven is stuck. She's suffered from issues all her life; her self-esteem is in tatters and she's never felt loved by anyone. When Nick comes along, she's thrilled to have someone who loves her. This is the start of a downhill struggle that just gets worse and worse.

The final straw that sends her away gave me shivers. It's brutal and horrible and will make you want to kill him. Makes me mad thinking about it all over again. She's beat up pretty bad and has to swallow her pride to call Gage to come get her.

I like the way Ms. Kleypas handles the abuse. It's blunt and to the point and never sugar-coated. It is what it is. I also like how Haven handles herself. She doesn't get all Woe is me and stuff. She files for divorce, gets herself into therapy and tries to heal herself.

And when Hardy comes back into her life? Whooo...sparks fly. Nick was the first guy she'd ever slept with and she's got some hard-core intimacy issues, but she desperately wants to jump Hardy's bones. I can't say that I blame her.

Hardy...see, I didn't like him all that much even at the beginning of Sugar Daddy. I understood him, but I didn't like him. However, he fully redeemed himself in Blue-Eyed Devil. He understands there's something more going on with this woman he's gaga over and he treats her in a way that just made me melt. If I could find a man like him...*sigh*

And because Haven has intimacy issues, the sex keeps getting interrupted, but when it finally happens??? *fanning self* It's hot, sexy, tender, beautiful and almost made me cry. :)


All in all, this book was fantastic. It's one of my top reads of 2008 so far. If you like a story with an emotional rollercoaster of a ride, but also a sweet, tender romance, then this is the book for you. It'll make you feel so good by the time it's over. I can't recommend it enough.



My Rating: A+

Dark Desires After Dusk by Kresley Cole

I am ssssssssoooooooooooo glad I finally broke down & bought this series. Awesome! :)


Back Blurb-A seductive beauty he can never have, yet can't resist...

Cade of the rage demons will stop at nothing to atone for the one wrong that will haunt him forever. But once he secures the key to his redemption, the halfling Holly Ashwin, Cade finds that the woman he thought he could use for his own ends and then forget haunts him as much as his past.
A tormented warrior she should fear, but can't deny...

Raised as a human, Holly Ashwin never knew that some frightening legends are real until she encounters a brutal demon who inexplicably guards her like a treasure. Thrust into a sensual new world of myth and power, with him as her protector, she begins to crave the demon’s wicked touch.

Surrender to dark desires...

Yet just when he earns Holly’s trust, will Cade be forced to betray the only woman who can sate his wildest needs—and claim his heart?


Wowzers...that's what I've got to say about this book. Scorching hot and...well, that's all I can say. LOL!


Truthfully, Cadeon's had my attention since he first showed up way back when. He came across as so tormented and messed up. My favorite kind of heroes. *sigh*

Cade has become obsessed with a mortal woman named Holly. She's got a hard-core case of OCD, which he finds fascinating. He knows she's his destined mate, but because she's human he cannot have her. That inability has been dragging him down for months.

When the story is first introduced, Holly is kidnapped by some crazy vampires who believe she is the Vessel, a being who will give birth to a child of either great evil or great good. She's able to get away after being struck by lightning. Major powers show up, bad guys are destroyed and the story starts with Cade finding her in the aftermath. Turns out she's a Valkyrie. Now, I'm not giving you any details that the backblurb doesn't hint at, so don't get made at me for telling you this. Trust me when I say that it's a very small piece in a very large puzzle.

Cade, knowing she's his destined mate, but being concerned with helping his brother get back his crown, has a difficult choice to make. Does he take her as his mate or does he give her to Omort in trade for a sword that can kill his brother's enemy? Choices, choices, choices. :)

Cade is tortured, sexier than sexy and totally gaga for his woman. He doesn't hold back that he's totally into her, which throws her in a tizzy. See, Holly has always known there's something "wrong" with her and has suppressed herself to the point where she's got a hard-core case of OCD. Everything has to be in its place, otherwise she starts to come unhinged.

This book is a non-stop action-packed crazy adventure. It's also hotter than all of the rest of her books combined. The scene on the hood of the car? I think my panties ignited. LOL!

Holly has her issues & works throughout the book to overcome them. It's very entertaining to watch her deny Cade's need for sex and the way she handles him is very, very enjoyable.

The sex is imaginative and scorching, the growth of their relationship is very cool and the way the end happens? Le sigh.

All in all, I really enjoyed this book. Cadeon is now on my list of hottest heroes ever.


My Rating: A

Sugar Daddy by Lisa Kleypas

Yes, I know, I'm a bit behind in the game. Go figure. :) This book was one of those "Do I really want to buy this one?" kind of books. Kristie J raved about it & it's sequel Blue-Eyed Devil, but I guess I was afraid to try it. Sometimes when authors genre-jump, they don't do so good in the new genre they're trying to write in. I should have known Ms. Kleypas would be the exception to the rule.


Here's the back blurb for Sugar Daddy-SHE'S FROM THE WRONG SIDE OF THE TRACKS...

Liberty Jones has dreams and determination that will take her far away from Welcome, Texas--if she can keep her wild heart from ruling her mind. Hardy Cates sees Liberty as completely off-limits. His own ambitions are bigger than Welcome, and Liberty is a complication he doesn't need. But something magical and potent draws them to each other, in a dangerous attraction that is stronger than either of them.

HE'S THE ONE MAN SHE CAN'T HAVE

When Hardy leaves town to pursue his plans, Liberty finds herself alone with a young sister to raise. Soon Liberty is under the spell of a billionaire tycoon--a Sugar Daddy some might say. But the relationship goes deeper than people thing, and Liberty begins to discover secrets about her own family's past.

WILL THEY FIND THEIR HEARTS' DESIRES---OR WILL HEARTBREAK TEAR THEM APART?

Two men. One woman. A choice that can make her or break her. A woman you'll root for every step of the way. A love story you'll never forget.


I always seem to start my reviews this way. I never know exactly where to start. Go figure.

First of all, this book is written in 1st person POV. I can take or leave 1st person. Ms. Kleypas does it well.

Secondly, I almost felt like I was reading a journal. Anyone else feel that way? There aren't any dates or anything like that, but it's almost like the narrator of the story (Liberty) is telling us her story. It's kind of a weird way to write a romance, but that didn't bother me. In fact, I enjoyed the way this story was written.

I found the back blurb to be rather misleading. Neither of the men Liberty finds herself attracted to in this story make much of an appearance. I think this story is more a coming of age, trying to figure out who I am kind of story. Yes, there's romance and some hot sexin' going on, but not as much as I expected.

When I first read the back blurb I thought "Ew." when it came to the Sugar Daddy comment. The thought of that totally grosses me out. Maybe that's why I had a hard time buying the book. Anywho, turns out that's not exactly what happens. I won't say anymore than that. :)

I really liked Liberty. She's a tough kid whose life doesn't go as she expected it. She grows up poor, in a trailer park. Basically white trash (as she states it). However, she doesn't spend the book bemoaning her fate and "why meing," which is a HUGE pet peeve for me in most books like this. She sucks it up and does what she has to do. When her mother dies, she raises her little sister on her own. In her mind, this isn't a bad thing, because she feels more like her sister's mom than her sister. She basically raised her anyway, so it's more like she's now allowed to take full responsibility for her.

She makes mistakes and has typical issues of a young girl with a tough life. But she NEVER WHINES! Yes, there are a couple of times when she cries, but boy, does she have a good reason to cry.

She's the kind of character I really enjoy. She's feisty and funny and hard-working and...why can't there be more heroines like this?

As the back blurb says, she's got it bad for Hardy Cates. Can I just say how much I hate that name? Is it just me? Anyway, he's the white knight, her hero, etc. when she's a young teen and she hero worships/loves him. He is her "dream."

Near the end of the book when she gets to the "Sugar Daddy" point of the book I had kind of an "ick" feeling. It's because there's a chance that something could be really, really wrong with her being interested in a certain person. Thankfully, it didn't end up being what I expected, but it threw me there for a minute. (Kristie J, do you know what I'm talking about? If so, how did you deal with that particular part?).

As for the choice Liberty has to make? She definitely made the right one. *sigh* Very swoonworthy & sexy choice. Will I tell you which one she chooses? What, am I smoking crack? LOL! Nope, you've got to read the book yourself to see what I mean.

All in all, I really enjoyed this book. It was fast-paced, fascinating, sad, warm-fuzzy inducing and just plain awesome! It is a romance, but I would again term it as more of a growing up/coming of age type book than a true romance. I 100% recommend it.



My Rating: A