April New Releases

Here we go again-- April's upcoming titles. Again, leave a comment if you know of any more that I have not listed (I'm sure there are plenty!). Dates found on B&N.com and Amazon.com, subject to change (I don't control that). Enjoy! *NOTE: Some of the dates have changed since I did this post. If I have the wrong date still, I'm sorry, I must have either missed it or I wasn't sure which date was correct at the time. Either way, by clicking on the title, it will take you to the page on Amazon, and if you wish to order it, you can go from there. *

April:

~Confessions of a Little Black Gown by Elizabeth Boyle (1st)

~ Texas Hold Him by Lisa Cooke (1st) *Actually, Amazon says it is available now...*

~Night World #3 by L.J. Smith (7th)

~Eternal Moon by Rebecca York (7th)

~The Mage by Jean Johnson (7th)

~The Seduction of a Duke by Donna MacMeans (7th)

~Curse the Dawn by Karen Chance (7th) *New Author for me*

~The Perfect Poision by Amanda Quick (21st) *I haven't read any of her books yet, but it sounds interesting..*

~Highland Scandal by Julia London (21st)

~Fragile Eternity by Melissa Marr (21st)

~Highland Fling by Jane Justine (27th) (Looks like a Reprint, but I've never read it, sounds good, and the new cover on Amazon looks amazing!)

~Lover Avenged by J.R. Ward (28th) *REHV!!!*

~At Last Comes Love by Mary Bologh (28th)

~Burning Wild by Christine Feehan (28th) (YES!)

~The Madness of Lord Ian MacKenzie by Jennifer Ashley (28th) (DOUBLE YES!)

~Always a Scoundrel by Suzanne Enoch (28th)

~A Scotsman in Love by Karen Ranney (28th)

~The Virgin's Secret by Victoria Alexander (28th)

~To Beguile a Beast by Elizabeth Hoyt (28th)

~Eternal Craving by Nina Bangs (28th)

~The Awakening by Kelley Armstrong (28th)

~A Rogue's Game by Renne Bernard (29th)

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What I've Been Reading This Week

Hello again. Wow, two posts in one day-- that's a bit odd for me! Of course, don't get too use to it-- I assure you, I highly doubt it will happen again, and if it does, it will be once in a blue moon. It's been a while since I've done a 'weekly' list of what I've read (February was the last one), and I decided it's time I start it up again. This past week (from Sunday till today) was a bit slow for me, as far as completing books, but I just had so much to do. I'm hoping that next week I will be able to put a good dent in my April total, since I will be gone for three days, and I plan on using as much of that free time as possible to read. We'll see... On to what I read: Monday: The Cat The fifth book in Johnson's "Sons of Destiny" series was amazing, absolutely amazing. I mean, I loved all the other books (still need to get a copy of The Flame and The Storm, along with The Mage ) but I think that this one was my favorite. Trevan was a perfect hero, not only was he sexy and possessive, but he first showed us his tender, gentleman side. They didn't have sex until almost the very end of the book, and while that would normally annoy me in other books, it didn't bother me at all in this one. The story was still interesting, and funny, and romantic, and because he waited, it proved his love not only to Amara, but also to the readers. Some other readers have called The Cat one of their least favorite books in this series, but I have to disagree. I can't wait to see what else Jean is going to send our way-- she's definitely one of the top writers in the industry, at least in my opinion. 5/5 STARS Summary (B&N): Amara is wary of mages––they chased her out of her homeland. Yet there is something about the mage Trevan of Nightfall that Amara can’t resist. But can he be trusted with her most fiercely guarded secret? Courting such a pretty yet prickly outlander won’t be easy, but Trevan is determined to try. She may be fierce, proud, and from a different culture, but after all, he is the Cat, and none but the most fascinating and challenging of women could satisfy him… Wednesday: Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass Not a romance novel, my usual genre, nor is it a fantasy, so you're probably asking 'Why did you read it?'. Well, besides the fact that I've said I would try to read novels from other genres more often, it was also one of the books I choose to put in my LibraryThing 999 Challenge. It wasn't a bad book, and while I know it had a great point to it, I have to say the writing was a bit, well, bland at times. But then, I've usually said that about most books written before the 1900's, so it's not a big surprise to me. It's just my personal tastes. But, for the most part, I enjoyed reading about Douglass's struggle through slavery, and then his freedom, and it was a nice reminder of all that the African-Americans have been forced to go through. 3/5 STARS Summary (B&N): This dramatic autobiography of the early life of an American slave was first published in 1845, when its young author had just achieved his freedom. Douglass' eloquence gives a clear indication of the powerful principles that led him to become the first great African-American leader in the United States.

Friday: Moving Violations One of the first books I've read in E-book form (yes, ever!) and I enjoyed it. Of course, the fact that it was a Lora Leigh probably didn't hurt! I love her books, especially her Breeds', she always manages to capture the right amount of romance, steamy erotic scenes, characters, and a good plot line to make the perfect book. And they are always such good books, that you can sit down and finish them in one sitting (like I did with this one. Of course, since it was on the computer, I did regret it a bit after because of the killer neck/headache I got afterwards, but it was worth it!). Really, what more can I say? I mean, it's a Lora Leigh novel-- enough said! 4/5 STARS Summary (B&N): Deceit and treachery mix with treason in a small Tennessee town. When Becca returns to Jericho as the new deputy, she wasn't expecting that the man she's loved for ten years would welcome her with a night of passion and lust. Nor did she expect that he was actually her new boss, the newly appointed sheriff. Now Becca and Jackson must find their way amid a growing desire and a love deeper than they imagined, as well as a danger that could destroy more than just their lives. It could destroy a nation.

Friday (Again!): Perfect I can't believe how much I ended up loving this book! I'd put it off for almost a year, and there were a few points in the book where it dragged a bit too much for my tastes, but over all, I was very impressed-- Perfect was almost, well, perfect! Sweet, romantic, witty, and yes, a bit over dramatic at times, but it was still a lovely read! I'd love to go back and find a few more of McNaught's books, such as Paradise, which features a couple (Matt and Meredith, I believe) that appeared in this one. It was a long book, much longer than most romances I read, but I didn't mind it too much-- the length was definitely needed for their love to come about, and Zach to be proven innocent. 4.5/5 STARS. Summary (B&N): A rootless foster child, Julie Mathison had blossomed under the love showered upon her by her adoptive family. Now a lovely and vivacious young woman, she was a respected teacher in her small Texas town, and she passionately lived her ideals. Julie was determined to give back all the kindness she'd received; nothing and no one would ever shatter the perfect life she had fashioned. Zachary Benedict was an actor/director whose Academy Award-winning career had been shattered when he was wrongly convicted of murdering his wife. After the tall, ruggedly handsome Zack escaped from a Texas prison, he abducted Julie and forced her to drive him to his Colorado mountain hideout. She was outraged, cautious, and unable to ignore the instincts that whispered of his innocence. He was cynical, wary, and increasingly attracted to her. Passion was about to capture them both in its fierce embrace...but the journey to trust, true commitment, and proving Zack's innocence was just beginning....

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What did I Receive?

Nothing. Nada. Big fat zero...*SIGH*.

Oh well. It's not like I expected a big load of books on my doorstep every week, but would it have been so crazy to hope for just one tiny little package sometime this week? Alas, it was not meant to be. Maybe next week I'll be a bit luckier..

.

..If not, then I guess that means I'll just have to make do with the 140 books in my TBR pile right now. It's not like I have no books to read, but there's something extremely satisfying in getting free books (or even new books you've ordered online) shipped to you.

I hope that the rest of you have had better luck this week. And whether or not you received any books this past week, I hope you enjoyed reading the ones you've got! :D

Just as a little side note, I'm almost done with Perfect by Judith McNaught. It's a good book, and I've enjoyed it, but it's really quite long (almost 700 pages!) and though I love long books, the one thing I hate is when they ruin my finished book total for the month. I just don't have the time lately to sit down and finish a 700 page book in one day, so my book in a day (or a day in a half) rule is ruined when I pick up a book of this length. But it's worth it though, don't get me wrong!

I'm also working on a YA vampire novel, Vampire Diaries Return: Nightfall by L.J.Smith, and I'm loving it too (also a longer book, almost 600 pages, so between the two, I haven't finished a book in almost three days, which for me is horrible, but whatever).

And finally, I decided this morning to finally start reading the e-books that a good friend of mine on RomanceNovel's Forum sent me last year (sorry that it's taken so long to get to!). I've got most of Lora Leigh's delicious erotic novels on my computer, and today I'm going to start with Moving Violations. So far, so good. Not as great as her Breeds' series, but it's not bad, and very, very steamy! Just what I needed, this week has been a bit bland... Not anymore though!

Okay, I'm going to go and finish Perfect, and try to motivate myself to clean the house (Family friends are coming over tonight, so I've got to bump up my weekly big cleaning from Sunday to today. Argh). Yeah, well, we'll see how that turns out, won't we? Lol.

Enjoy your Friday ladies! I was going to try and find you a picture of a hunky man to make the day better, but I couldn't find any really good ones, so I gave up-- maybe next week.

But if you would really like to see some sexy men, head on over to Ms. Moonlight's blog, where besides having great posts almost every single day, she loves to spread the happiness through pics of really hot naked guys. Enjoy!

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REVIEW: "Kitty and the Dead Man's Hand"

Thanks again to LibraryThing Early Reviewer's Program. And thanks to Hachette Group for giving this book to LT to begin with. :)

Title: Kitty and the Dead Man's Hand

Author: Carrie Vaughn

Series: The Kitty Norville Series, Book 5

Publisher: Grand Central Publishing (Hachette Book Group)

Pages: 320

Summary (B&N):

Already the alpha pair of Denver's werewolf pack, Kitty and Ben now plan to tie the knot human-style by eloping to Vegas. Kitty is looking forward to sipping fru-fru drinks by the pool and doing her popular radio show on live TV, but her hotel is stocked with werewolf-hating bounty hunters. Elsewhere on the Strip an old-school magician might be wielding the real thing; the vampire community is harboring a dark secret; and the irresistible star of a suspicious animal act is determined to seduce Kitty. Sin City has never been so wild, and this werewolf has never had to fight harder to save not only her wedding, but her very life.

My Thoughts: Although I haven't yet read the first four books in this series, I'm pretty sure that Carrie Vaughn's work has managed to catch my attention-- in a good way, of course. A light, quick read, Kitty and the Dead Man's Hand is a great option for anyone who likes a bit of adventure and humor in their romance novels. And even though it's technically a paranormal, the para-theme isn't too strong, and I'm sure that even those readers who are not usually drawn to the genre would enjoy the series.

Vaughn has a way of writing what should be a very complex story line in a simple way-- that is, not to say that her work is simple, as in 'boring/slow', but it's not extremely difficult to follow. Like I said, I jumped into the series more than half way through, and I wasn't lost, although after finishing the book, I knew I wanted to go back and read the first books simply for the enjoyment, not necessarily because I needed to in order to move on to the newest book.

It was a fun read, and I finished it in one sitting. The characters were interesting, and I'd like to read more about Kitty's life-- it seems to be full of all kinds of adventures and troubles. Plus, I'd like to read the next book to see what happens with the mysterious Master Vampire that came into play at the end of this book. The only problem I had was with Ben, her mate. For some reason, I didn't really like him in this book... I don't know if my opinion would be different if I had read the series from book 1 on, and been introduced to him, got to know him, and saw how the two of them connected. Maybe. But it seemed like he was kind of distant in the book, and for being Kitty's mate, he almost seemed to take a backseat in the story, more like a sidekick or minor character instead of being the heroine's mate and therefore more like the story's second hero. Or was this just my imagination?

I almost didn't believe their love, but again, I think this could be because I skipped the first few books, where most of their major connecting would have first occurred. Maybe it's because I'm use to books where the romances is more explicit and, well, there? There wasn't one sex scene between Kitty and Ben in the whole book, and that's not what I usually look for in my romance novels. I'm not saying it had to be a full blown erotic novel, but I do wish it would have had something more to it, both for entertainment and to show their love.

Don't get me wrong-- just because I had a problem with the romance in the book, that doesn't mean that I didn't enjoy Kitty and the Dead Man's Hand -- I did. But after finishing it, I saw it more as a really light chic lit type of novel, a charming and quick read on a long day. But nothing really deep or romantic, I'm sorry to say. Again, maybe I would have been happier with the romance element in it if I'd read the series in order, I'm not sure, we'll have to see. I do plan on going back to read the first ones, as soon as I get some spare time.

4/5 STARS! A nice read for anyone, whether you are big on paranormal books or not. Charming, entertaining, and unique, I'd love to read more of Vaughn's work. Especially Kitty's novels. After all, life isn't easy for Kitty, and the troubles she experiences along the way will give you a few chuckles and make you realize that no matter how bad you may think your days has been going, it could be much, much worse!

Until Next Time,

What did I Receive?

It's happened again-- I've been graced with the mailman on my front porch, and no, it wasn't for a boring package or junk mail. And just in time for my birthday, too! ;) Thanks to LT's Early Review Program and the wonderful Ms. Gray, without whom this post would not be possible. :D Here is the (short) list of what I recived this past last week. That is, from March 14 through March 20th; both arrived on Tuesday, just FYI...

Title: Stargazer (autographed!)

Author: Claudia Gray (thanks for sending it to me!)

Series: The Evernight Series, Book 2

Publisher: Harper Teen

Release Date: March 24th, 2009

Summary (B&N):

The vampire in me was closer to the surface . . .

Evernight Academy: an exclusive boarding school for the most beautiful, dangerous students of all—vampires. Bianca, born to two vampires, has always been told her destiny is to become one of them.

But Bianca fell in love with Lucas—a vampire hunter sworn to destroy her kind. They were torn apart when his true identity was revealed, forcing him to flee the school. Although they may be separated, Bianca and Lucas will not give each other up. She will risk anything for the chance to see him again, even if it means coming face-to-face with the vampire hunters of Black Cross—or deceiving the powerful vampires of Evernight. Bianca's secrets will force her to live a life of lies.

Yet Bianca isn't the only one keeping secrets. When Evernight is attacked by an evil force that seems to target her, she discovers the truth she thought she knew is only the beginning. . . .

Note: I've already finished the book, just this morning in fact (and loved it!) and you can expect my review up by next week. I can't wait for the next book in the series, title Hourglass-- I wonder when it will be out...?

Title: Kitty and the Dead Man's Hand

Author: Carrie Vaughn

Series: The Kitty Norville Series, Book 5

Publisher: Grand Central Publishing

Summary (B&N):

Already the alpha pair of Denver's werewolf pack, Kitty and Ben now plan to tie the knot human-style by eloping to Vegas. Kitty is looking forward to sipping fru-fru drinks by the pool and doing her popular radio show on live TV, but her hotel is stocked with werewolf-hating bounty hunters. Elsewhere on the Strip an old-school magician might be wielding the real thing; the vampire community is harboring a dark secret; and the irresistible star of a suspicious animal act is determined to seduce Kitty. Sin City has never been so wild, and this werewolf has never had to fight harder to save not only her wedding, but her very life.

Note: I have also finished this book, and since it was finished first, expect my review up a day or so before Stargazer.

Well, that's it. What about the rest of you? Any good books in your mailbox/front porch?

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REVIEW: "City of Glass"

Title: City of Glass

Author: Cassandra Clare
Series: The Mortal Instruments, Book 3

Pages: 560
Publisher: Simon and Schuster

Summary (B&N):

To save her mother's life, Clary must travel to the City of Glass, the ancestral home of the Shadowhunters — never mind that enter-ing the city without permission is against the Law, and breaking the Law could mean death. To make things worse, she learns that Jace does not want her there, and Simon has been thrown in prison by the Shadowhunters, who are deeply suspicious of a vampire who can withstand sunlight.

As Clary uncovers more about her family's past, she finds an ally in mysterious Shadow-hunter Sebastian. With Valentine mustering the full force of his power to destroy all Shadow-hunters forever, their only chance to defeat him is to fight alongside their eternal enemies. But can Downworlders and Shadowhunters put aside their hatred to work together? While Jace realizes exactly how much he's willing to risk for Clary, can she harness her newfound powers to help save the Glass City — whatever the cost?

Love is a mortal sin and the secrets of the past prove deadly as Clary and Jace face down Valentine in the final installment of the New York Times bestselling trilogy The Mortal Instruments.

My Thoughts:

From book one, I've been hooked. Completely and totally hooked. Really, from page one, I was hooked-- I'm not even joking. Cassandra Clare's fantasy world captivated me from the very beginning, and that hold hasn't lessened in the two books since. Like I've said before-- it has everything in it: romance, action, suspense, wit, et cetera. And the characters vary too-- from werewolves to faeries, vampires to humans, demons to angels. With a cast list like that, how can you not find something in the book that interests you? Uh huh, that's what I thought!
Clare has a way of constantly twisting the story plot, keeping the readers on their toes, without confusing us. Not always an easy thing to do, but Clare does it wonderfully! Just when you think that you know where the story is going, which side a particular character is on, Clare throws you a curve ball that sets you back (almost) to square one. Its one of the reasons why the books are so engaging--- the reader has to think about it, and try to keep up, unless of course they'd rather just enjoy the ride until the end when everything is resolved. I prefer trying to figure things out as the book goes, but with Clare's novels, it is sometimes a bit of a challenge. All the more reasons to enjoy it!
**SLIGHT SPOILER ALERT FOLLOWS**
Of course, the one thing I knew from book one, no matter how many curve balls she threw our way, was that Jace and Clary are not siblings. There, I said it. If it comes as a surprise to any readers out there, then I'm sorry for 'spoiling' that, but I think most readers have known all along, and strongly believed it in our hearts, that the two of them could never be siblings-- they belong together, they connect in a way couldn't be because of 'shared' blood. Plus, there were too many little clues and twists along the way that always made me realize that Jace wasn't really Johnathan. But I'm not going to go into too many details about this, one, because it's long and complicated if you haven't read all the books yet, and second, because I don't want to spoil anything else! Just trust me, and after you read COG, you too will probably think back to all the little things from the previous books that helped to point it out.
Besides the amazing story, I loved City of Glass because of the wit and sarcasm that I have come to expect and adore in the series, especially from Jace. It's so much a part of not only the characters, but the story, and it makes what would otherwise be a very dark and rich book (in a good way!) into one that has it's moments of lightness. I laughed at more than a few quotes in the book, in all of the books, actually, and some of them are where you least expect it. As much as I love a good strong fantasy book, heavy in plot and development, I want to have a few laughs along the way, too, and City of Glass delivers on both accounts.
Clary is a very strong character, and I enjoyed following her story through the series. Sometimes I find the heroine in books to be weak or annoying, but Clary was perfect-- as were most of the other interesting characters we are introduced to. From the flamboyant Magnus Bane (a gay warlock that falls for Alec) to the timid-turned-strong Simon, I enjoyed learning more about them all. They all added their own thing to the books, like layers on a cake-- without the one beneath it, the next one wouldn't be possible. I would love to hear more about them, especially some of the minor characters.... Its one of the reasons why it is so hard to see a good series end!
But what an end it was! I wasn't at all disappointed, and I doubt that you will be either. It was everything I expected, not only the action scenes, but seeing Jace and Clary finally fall for each other. Jace, for all his tough, bad-ass shell, proves again and again that he has a tender side in City of Glass. No wonder I love him so much! Seriously, why can't more men/boys in the real world have personalities and characteristics like those of the heroes from our favorite books?!
5/5 STARS! A dazzling ending to a brilliant series, City of Glass is everything the fans could possibly want, and more. The only disappointment will be at the end-- when the story is over, and there's no more to look forward to. (However, Clare does have a new series, a sort of prequel to this one, with different Shadowhunters from the 1800's or so, planned. Sadly, the first one won't be out until next year at the earliest.) A perfect example of fantasy and romance, humor and action, City of Glass (and the other two books) belong on any die-hard fantasy/romance fan's shelf, no matter the age. I would highly recommend Clare's work-- possibly even above Twilight---which is a very high compliment to give, if you know me and my love of Meyer's books... :D
Until Next Time,

What did I Receive?

Only one book, this time, but I'm okay with that-- more than okay, actually. Not only do I appreciate the publisher for sending me the book, and I am extremely thankful and lucky to have received a book, any book, little loan the one I did, but, if you can't tell by my long rambles, it wasn't just a random book, it was one that I've been DYING to read for a looong time! I know I sound giddy, but trust me, it's completely necessary when you see what book it is... Lets just say that the little 'happy dance' I described in my last What did I Receive post was NOTHING compared to the one I did today. Talk about a good way to end a Friday! Just one more thing, and then I'll get to the good details of the post. Promise! :) Besides the book in question, the other reason I am so happy is because it wasn't a book I was expecting at all! Usually I get an email saying 'Would you review...' but this time, it was a total surprise. I'd hoped, for months, of getting my hands on a copy, but I never dreamed.... :D Okay, enough, I know! (Deep breath). Giddy feeling controlled. Moving on...

Title: City of Glass (ARC)

Author: Cassandra Clare

Series: The Mortal Instruments, Book 3

Release Date: March 24th, 2009

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing

Summary (B&N):

To save her mother's life, Clary must travel to the City of Glass, the ancestral home of the Shadowhunters -- never mind that enter-ing the city without permission is against the Law, and breaking the Law could mean death. To make things worse, she learns that Jace does not want her there, and Simon has been thrown in prison by the Shadowhunters, who are deeply suspicious of a vampire who can withstand sunlight.

As Clary uncovers more about her family's past, she finds an ally in mysterious Shadow-hunter Sebastian. With Valentine mustering the full force of his power to destroy all Shadow-hunters forever, their only chance to defeat him is to fight alongside their eternal enemies. But can Downworlders and Shadowhunters put aside their hatred to work together? While Jace realizes exactly how much he's willing to risk for Clary, can she harness her newfound powers to help save the Glass City -- whatever the cost?

Love is a mortal sin and the secrets of the past prove deadly as Clary and Jace face down Valentine in the final installment of the New York Times bestselling trilogy The Mortal Instruments.

I can't explain how happy I am-- I've been hooked on Clare's Mortal Instrument Series from book one, City of Bones, and I've been waiting for this one for almost a year! Thank you, Simon & Schuster, for making this post (and the review to come by Monday/Tuesday at the latest) possible! I am forever grateful, just for this one particular book! :) As soon as I finish up Wild Card by Lora Leigh (almost done, loving it!) I'm going to dig right in to City of Glass. Like I said, expect a review up by Sunday, at the earliest, Tuesday at the latest. Tell me, how many of you have read this series? If you haven't, I suggest you run, not walk, out to grab the first two! They may be technically aimed towards the teen audience, but any adult will enjoy these books too-- vampires, werewolves, demons, mystery, suspense, romance, action, witty conversations and amazing characters. Can you honestly say that one (or all) of those themes do not attract you to read it? I didn't think so! Here is the series in order. Note, the links take you to an excerpt for that book: City of Bones City of Ashes City of Glass Also, be sure to visit the website for the series, The Mortal Instruments, where you will find tons of fun things to read and look at while you await the next book. And while you're at it, check out SimonSaysTEEN for more books like this, or BehindThePulse for downloadable content, screen savers, countdown widgets and much, much more! Until Next Time, Image by Cool Text: Logo and Button Generator - Create Your Own

Review: "Passion Unleashed"

Title: Passion Unleashed

Author: Larissa Ione

Series: The Demonica Series, Book 3

Publisher: Grand Central Publishing (Part of Hachette Group)

Pages: 480

Summary (B&N):

Forbidden Temptations…
Serena Kelley is an archaeologist and treasure hunter—and a woman with a secret. Since she was seven, she’s been the keeper of a powerful charm that grants her health and immortality . . . as long as she stays a virgin. But Serena isn’t all that innocent. And when a dangerously handsome stranger brings her to the brink of ecstasy, she wonders if she’s finally met the one man she cannot resist.

Fatal Desires…
Wraith is a Seminus demon with a death wish. But when an old enemy poisons him, he must find Serena and persuade her to give him the only known antidote in the universe—her charm. Yet, as she begins to surrender to his seductions, and Wraith senses the cure is within his grasp, he realizes a horrible truth: he’s falling for the woman whose life he must take in order to save his own.

When I first opened Pleasure Unbound (Book 1) last year, I instantly fell in love with Ione's fantasy world, her writing, and her characters-- especially E. Face it, when you start such a spectacular series like this, it's hard not to fall for the first hero you are introduced to. He'll stick in your mind for the rest of the series, towards the top of your list, even as you are introduced to more sexy alpha males. And even as much as I loved Shade's book, (review here), E's story was still fresh in my mind, too. I thought it would stay that way forever...

...And then I started Wraith's book, Passion Unleashed, and E, poor E, was the last guy on my mind! :D

I love the bad guy appeal on a hero as much as the next person, but when we were first introduced to Wraith in book one, he was just a 'so-so' character. I think it was because we knew very little about him, and he seemed to (on the surface) not give a sh** about anyone else. But after reading even a few pages of his story, I was hooked-- I needed more Wraith. Wraith became my favorite of all the brothers, hands down. Not only because of his story, which was AMAZING, but also because of him, and the drastic change he makes in Passion Unleashed.
Besides my complete obsession with Wraith, I also enjoyed this book because of the story line-- Ione keeps us on the edge of the seat until the very end. Will they be able to find a way to keep Wraith (and the other two brothers) alive before it's too late? Will they be able to stop the demons from taking over?
Larissa Ione may not have as many books out as some of the other paranormal authors in the business, but the fan base that some authors accomplish after twenty years of books, I'm convinced that Ione can accomplish with only her Demonica series! Like all of her previous Demonica books, Passion Unleashed has everything-- touching romance, witty conversations, captivating story lines, full-blown paranormal themes (demons and vampires and werewolves, oh my!), and, of course, amazingly steamy love scenes. And be prepared for more than a few surprises along the way..... A new character comes into the story, and he'll play a big part in future books, I'm sure. ;) Really, what more do you need? Add in Wraith's captivating personality and you have a picture perfect book. :)
I keep pressing 'delete' while writing this review, but no matter how long I stare at the computer and try to rewrite it, I'll never be able to do Passion Unleashed the justice it deserves. I can't even beginning to explain all the little things that made me love this book like I did, it's simply too hard! All I can say is if you've been waiting for Wraith's story from book one, you won't be disappointed! Wraith's story is hot hot hot, but it's still got a solid romance between the hero and heroine, it's not just pure lust driven sex 24/7. After all, for Wraith to change his ways like he does, you know that she's got to mean a lot to him!
5/5 STARS! Amazing, passionate... there are not enough good words in the world to describe it! But I will say this: if you thought that the Demonica series would end with Wraith, you're wrong. Like I said, a new hero comes into the story line in this book, and according to her website, she has another 2 books planned, though they won't be available until next year! ARRGH! There is no way I can survive the wait. Whatever will I do? Why, re-read Wraith's delicious story, of course!
Until Next Time,

Review: "Trouble in High Heels"

Title: Trouble in High Heels

Author: Leanne Banks

Publisher: Grand Central Publishing (Part of Hachette Group)

Pages: 288

Summary:

Heiress Lori Granger looks like a million bucks — and is famous for giving much of her fabulous fortune away. But her generosity has outstripped her checkbook, and not even her glamorous image and come-hither eyes can save her now. Certainly not with Jackson James in the picture...

Hired by her dad's estate to control her spending, this CPA with linebacker shoulders and gray flannel suits invades her space, insults her dog and refuses to loosen his grip on her trust fund. Worse, he seems immune to her charms — unless she's close enough to kiss. Not a man to cross the line with a client, even when the attraction is hotter than a pair of Lori's highest slingbacks, Jackson agrees to help her find a husband to fulfill a condition of her father's will. Yet sharing her dreams with him makes Lori wonder: Could this infuriating Mr. Straight be the one to make them all come true?

When I picked up Trouble in High Heels, I had no idea what I was in for! Luckily, I found it pleasantly charming, though I was a bit surprised (see previous 'disclaimers' about how I do not really like chick lit/contemps) at first. But soon I was chuckling and smirking as I read the witty banter and story between Lori and Jackson.

Much like Jackson soon finds out after meeting Lori, she's not like your stereotypical 'blonde' heiress, spending daddy's money left and right on silly and frivolous things. No, Lori was much different. She had a backbone, she wasn't an airhead like he originally feared, and she hides a secret from her past that she's afraid will make her look weak if it ever came out...

Jackson, on the other hand, was a surprise as well. His past was anything but perfect, and he worked hard to get where he is today. And although being a CPA isn't usually the job I want my dream man to have (I'd much rather have one in some type of secret military service or hunting demons for a living, but hey, that's just me!), if the guy was built like Jackson, along with his personality, I could easily change my mind. (Damn, who would have known that a life of crunching numbers would lead to shoulders like that?! )

And though she played a minor part in this story, appearing only through letters written to Lori, Sunny Collins (Lori's now deceased mother) offers some wicked, humorous, and very true advice, sure to entertain the reader just as much as the rest of the story!

Trouble in High Heels is a quick, fast-paced read, sure to brighten any reader's day. With just the right amount of witty humor, smart comments, romance, and even a few fairly steamy scenes, you'll find it hard to put the book down or get bored!

Here was one of the quotes from the book that I liked:

"Dogs are generally more devoted than men are. "

~The wicked and wise Sunny Collins

4/5 STARS! Warm, charming, and brisk, Trouble in High Heels is a great weekend read, perfect for the beach or any other place you choose. Sit down, put your feet up, and enjoy this enganging contemporary!

Thanks again to Hachette for making this review possible! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Tomorrow or Tuesday (at the latest) be prepared for my next review--and it's big, delicious, and amazing. Well, the book more than my words. ;) Care to guess what book it will be?

Until Next Time,

Review: "Seducing a Scottish Bride"

Title: Seducing a Scottish Bride Author: Sue-Ellen Welfonder Publisher: Hachette Book Group

Pages: 400

Summary (from B&N.com): Gelis MacKenzie is one of the most desirable heiresses in all the Western Highlands. She is the youngest and much adored daughter of the indomitable Black Stag of Kintail, Duncan MacKenzie, who was the hero of Welfonder's novel DEVIL IN A KILT. Unfortunately, Gelis has been branded unmarriageable, but not for lack of masculine interest. No matter how lofty the ancestry, how deep the purse, or how mighty the sword arm, nary a one of her suitors is good enough for her father. Although he loves Gelis fiercely and knows he must someday see her settled and wed, Duncan isn't quite ready to let her go.

But now Duncan has received an offer for Gelis's hand in marriage that he is honor-bound to accept-and it comes from the worst possible quarter. The suitor, Ronan MacRuari of Castle Dare, is the last man Duncan MacKenzie would wish for a son-in-law. Known as the Raven, Ronan is the scion of a dark clan that has been marked by a deadly curse.

Ronan and Gelis are instantly attracted to one another, but they are immediately estranged. Ronan's last two wives have died abruptly and he doesn't want to see his vivacious newly-wed Gelis suffer the same fate, so he distances himself from her as much as possible. In the meantime, Ronan searches for the Raven Stone, a fabled treasure that he believes holds the power of the curse over his clan. But Gelis has fallen in love with her new husband, and she's determined to help him. Though Ronan doesn't know it,Gelis also has the gift of second-sight, and she has seen a future in which she is destined to help redeem her cursed husband.

For months, I've seen posts and widgets about this particular book all over the web-- it seemed like everyone had it on their list of books they were waiting for. The cover caught my eye, and then the title, and by the time I got to the blurb/summary, I thought "This sounds like a good book-- I'll have to add it to my list as well!". Unfortunately, after all the hype, the months of waiting for it to come out, when my copy finally arrived a few weeks ago (Thanks to Hachette Book Group!), I never would have known that I would soon find myself a bit disappointed. I'd like to start out by saying that Seducing a Scottish Bride was not a terrible book, nor does it rate a 'Never Read This Book' tag, but, for me at least, it fell a bit short of expectations. That being said, I'll move on to trying to explain why this book was only mediocre. The story started out a bit slow--- not always a bad thing, I've seen plenty of books start that way and then pick up considerably, and by the end of the book, I have very few complaints about how it all started. But in this case, I didn't feel like the story ever reached the peak speed until it was too late, and the end was in sight, barely three or four chapters away. I feel ashamed to admit this, but there were many times in the book when I would merely glance at the page, skimming it, before flipping it. It just couldn't hold my attention, and I would sometimes end up flipping through 10 pages at a time before I'd stop and actually read it, word for word. It wasn't the writing itself, so I can't blame the author, but the interaction between characters and the plot line were not very concrete. Usually, if you skip that many pages in a book, you become lost. I didn't, or at least, not that I know of. I still kept up with the basic story. Again, I can't stress this enough-- this is all just my opinion, and I have to be honest! Please, don't try to take it as rude or insulting, I would never want it to sound like that. A story about feuding Scotland clans should be really interesting, right up my alley... right? So then why did this one fail to pull me in to the story? I honestly can't say... Nothing really stands out about it, good or bad. There were no red flags along the way that screamed "I hate this because.." but there were also no flags that said "Stop-- I loved it, go back and reread it!". I read the book, I finished it, and I can't say that I regretted it, but...I don't think it will be reread anytime soon either. Would I recommend it? Possibly. Depends on the particular reader, and it wouldn't be my first choice as recommendation, but it's definitely not on my 'never read this' list either. The easiest way to describe it is average. That makes it sound horrible, but I don't' know of any other way to say it. The romance between the two didn't seem to be there for most of the story-- again, not a bad thing, I've seen it happen before, but when it finally showed up, I kept thinking 'Where did it come from?'. Usually you can see the love evolving and building, but I can't really say that I saw it in this one. (Maybe I somehow missed it while flipping through the pages, but I don't think I could have skipped something that important...) It was like one moment they hated each other, didn't want to be married, and the next thing you know, they are living happily ever after. I just would have liked a bit more in between those two! Not just physically love, but all the little things that add up as well; conversations, glances, fleeting caresses, etc. 3/5 stars! It could have been better, but for what it was, Seducing a Scottish Bride wasn't half bad. It had it's moments where I got into the story, and there were a few tender 'awe' moments between the H/Hr, but over all it was lacking...something. I can't put my finger on what that 'something' is, I'm sorry, but I do know that it was missing. If you enjoy historical romances, put this one on your list anyway-- it was a fairly quick read, and some readers may fall in love with it from page one. I, however, only fell for it momentarily, and then it switched to 'I liked it'. Who knows-- I may change my mind later on, and I have her other books in my want to read list... maybe this book just wasn't the one for me, but one of her older ones could change my opinion. We'll have to see... Until Next Time, Image by Cool Text: Logo and Button Generator - Create Your Own

What did I receive?

And the books just keep on coming!

Well, sort of. True, it may only be temporary, and it's no where near as often nor as many books as other bloggers and readers, but still--- a free book is a free book!

I only received one book this time, another one from Hachette Publishing Group:

Title: Passion Unleashed

Author: Larissa Ione

Series: The Demonica Series, Book 3

Summary (B&N):

Forbidden Temptations…

Serena Kelley is an archaeologist and treasure hunter—and a woman with a secret. Since she was seven, she’s been the keeper of a powerful charm that grants her health and immortality . . . as long as she stays a virgin. But Serena isn’t all that innocent. And when a dangerously handsome stranger brings her to the brink of ecstasy, she wonders if she’s finally met the one man she cannot resist.

Fatal Desires…

Wraith is a Seminus demon with a death wish. But when an old enemy poisons him, he must find Serena and persuade her to give him the only known antidote in the universe—her charm. Yet, as she begins to surrender to his seductions, and Wraith senses the cure is within his grasp, he realizes a horrible truth: he’s falling for the woman whose life he must take in order to save his own.

As I'm sure you probably already know, I love this series. I was very happy to find it on my doorstep this afternoon-- seriously, what better package to come home to, especially on a Friday. (Gives a whole new meaning to TGIF!) I wasn't expecting it, and I was actually going to request a copy through this month's LT Early Reviewer's Program, but since I got one through Renee (the amazing PR woman from Hachette that originally agreed to send me all these books) instead, I'm going to unrequest it and give someone else a chance. I'll be starting this one tomorrow, or maybe even later tonight if I can't hold out.

*SIGH* There goes my March Reading list plan! Hey, I was able to stick to it for the first 5 books or so. That's got to count for something, Right? I'm off to enjoy my current romance novel--- The Seduction of an Unknown Lady by Samantha James. Mmm.... Very yummy so far! ;-) Until Next Time, Image by Cool Text: Logo and Button Generator - Create Your Own

Larissa Ione Contest!

Just thought I'd leave a heads up for all of you: If you are a Larissa Ione fan (Of even if you haven't read her books yet), head on over to her blog where she has an AMAZING contest going on. There are tons of ways to enter, all easy and fun, and the prizes range from signed books and a demon duckie (interesting! Lol Sounds cute though) to a $50 gift card to Amazon.com (or your favorite bookstore, I believe). Great haul, right? Head on over for more details and to enter. Good luck, girls! Until Next Time, ~TBQ~

HUNTED-- Only a Week Left!

If you, like me, have been a huge fan of the mother-daughter duo's acclaimed teen fiction series, The House of Night, then you probably know what next Tuesday is. That's right-- HUNTED! It all began with Marked, almost 2 years ago, and has quickly progressed to the fifth installment, Hunted, which is released to bookstores near you next Tuesday, March 10th. I can't wait. Seriously, I've been drawn in from the beginning. True, I have a long list of vampire romances (especially teen series) that I love, but this is definitely in the top 10! Zoey's voice adds a distinct vibe to the story, adding to it. They are all very quick, fast paced reads, and even if you are over the 'teen' age, I would definitely recommend them. I now have two questions for you, readers:

1. If you are already a fan, and you are awaiting Hunted just like I am, what are your thoughts on the book? What do you think will happen next (Don't give out too big of spoilers though!). Leave a comment about the book and series, and see if others agree with you!

And my second Question:

If you HAVEN'T read them yet, what are you waiting for? At least try one, where's the harm in that, right? A bit over 250 pages or so, drop in the bucket compared to some of the romance (or other) novels you might read.

And if you don't find that they hold your attention, that's fine. Everyone has their own likes and dislikes, and I respect that. But if you do end up loving them, which I think you will, then the worse that will happen is you'll suddenly find yourself rushing out to buy the others.

Check out the website Here! Look around, enjoy the various extras and, of course, all the information on the books.

Click here to go and read the first chapter of Hunted (I dare you to say no. Who doesn't love reading snippets of upcoming books?). Now I've got you hooked, don't I? And as if that wasn't a good enough reason to prepare for Hunted, check out this exclusive video trailer below. Come on-- can you honestly tell me that you DON'T want to read a book that looks like that?! :D Enjoy! Until Next Time, ~TBQ~

March New Releases

I was going to post a huge list of all the books coming out this year, but instead I decided to post book coming out this month. And then later this month, I'll do another post about April New Releases, and so on and so fourth until the end of the year. Pretty self explanitory-- here is a list of books that are coming out this month that I am anxious to read. If you know of a book coming out that I do not have listed here, simply leave a comment (title, author, and release date, if you know it) and I'll add it to the list as soon as possible. Hopefully my list will have many of the same books you've been waiting for too!

**Note: Dates Subject To Change, I can't control that. All dates found on B&N.com and Amazon.com

March:

~Maverick by Lora Leigh (3rd)

~Moonlight by Rachel Hawthorne (3rd)

~Angels' Blood by Nalini Singh (3rd)

~Darkness Revealed by Alexander Ivy (3rd)

~Highland Rebel by Tess Mallory (3rd)

~Hunted by P.C. and Kristin Cast (10th)

~Max by James Patterson (16th)

~Some Like it Wicked by Teresa Medeiros (18th) *reprint*

~City of Glass by Cassandra Clare (24th)

~Stargazer by Claudia Gray (24th)

~Deadly Desire by Keri Arthur (24th)

~Highland Scoundrel by Monica McCarty (24th)

~Immortal Danger by Cynthia Eden (31st)

~Some Like it Wild by Teresa Medeiros (31st) *reprint*

~Secret Life of a Vampire by Kerrelyn Sparks (31st)

~Sins of a Wicked Duke by Sophie Jordan (31st)

~Her Notorious Viscount by Jenna Petterson (31st)

~Kiss of Darkness by Jennifer St. Giles (31st)

~The Lady and the Libertine by Bonnie Vanak (31st)

Until Next Time,

~TBQ~

REVIEW: "Kill for Me"

Title: Kill for Me

Author: Karen Rose

Rating: 4.5 stars

Summary (from B&N.com):

Five teenage girls have been murdered. One survived, and only she can reveal the secrets of a disturbing ring of people who kidnap and sell teenage girls on the black market. But those responsible for the crimes will do whatever it takes to maintain her silence.

Susannah Vartanian and Luke Papadopoulos have both sworn to stop the murderers for their own reasons. Susannah, the sister of the hero in SCREAM FOR ME, suffers from a mysterious past that is connected to the sinister black market. Luke is an investigative agent and a computer expert who refuses to let another child predator get away.

Susannah and Luke are instantly attracted to each other, but their troubled pasts prevent them from immediately acting upon their feelings. The case will lead them to the shady realm of Internet chat rooms, where anyone can mask their identity. As Susannah and Luke draw closer to the criminals, they discover a chain of deception so intricate they don't know who to trust. Susannah and Luke find comfort in one another's arms, but the killers are ruthless and determined, and will take extreme measures to insure their anonymity and keep their business intact.

One of the last books I received from Hachette Groups, Kill for Me turned out to be a surprisingly good book. I'm not usually one for contemps (we've went over this many times before) and even though this one intertwined suspense and mystery with the contemporary romance, I was a bit hesitant, I will admit. But as soon as I opened the book, started on page one, I was hooked. Just that easily, and I was pulled into the book, completely at Rose's mercy, waiting to see what would happen next...

I loved this book! Seriously, I now have to go back and read the previous two books, not only so I can get the whole story line and character stories, but simply because her work is that addicting. Even though it is technically part of a trilogy, Kill for Me can easily be read as a stand alone, if you have to, and you will not be lost, I promise! Ms. Rose deftly twists the story so often, that even when you have no clue what will happen next, what road the story will take, you still are not lost. There's simply not enough time in between for you to even think about becoming lost! ( Now, that ramble may not make much sense, I know, but if you only read the book, maybe it will...? )

It's not just a romance novel, and it's not just a suspense thriller, either. It's a wonderful, almost perfect, combination of the two. It combines the best of both into one book, almost flawlessly, and I think it would make both readers happy-- the ones that want more romance than mystery, and the ones that want more action than love.

What romance is in here is very well written, and believable. Yes, it's mostly just sexual tension building up until the very end, but that's what makes it so believable---both Luke and Susannah had some unforgettable pasts, which still haunt both of them today, and if they had simply been jumping each other every other page from chapter one onwards, I would have hated the book because ITS NOT BELIEVABLE. They had much to overcome, earning each other's trust, love, and, eventually, the rights to each other's body. The thing they have had to see, to suffer through, it's not something that constant (premature) sex with the person who could/will become your life partner at the end of the dilemma will fix. I'm glad that the author had them wait, and instead focused on the little things about their relationships, slipped in between the pages of action and murder. In some regards, the romance took a back seat for most of the book, but this didn't bother me because I felt like both sides got their chance in the driver's seat and took the wheel nicely.

Besides the spicy romance going on, it was also interesting to try and put the pieces together while the characters did. A very complex, well written and well thought out, piece of 'Who Did It?' with multiple twists along the way, Kill for Me provides the reader with a fast-paced thriller that captivates and, well, thrills! I had chills a few times, and I hope that nothing like this ever comes to my town. But that's something that this book proves-- sometimes the people in your very town, the ones that everyone trusts and likes, have the biggest and most terrifying secrets to hide...

4.5 STARS! I can't stop singing my praises for this novel. It kept my on the edge of my seat the whole way through, and just when I'd think that I had everything figured out, Ms. Rose would trick me again! And yet, the best thing about this book was that even though the plot was very thick and serious, Rose still managed to integrate little jokes and witty conversation into the conversations between the characters. And I really enjoyed all of the characters-- from Luke and Susannah, to Daniel and his wife (Though I want to know more about these two, one of the many reasons I'm going to pick up the two previous books), and lets not forget, Luke's charming mother and family. Between all those good things, you'll feel like you are right inside the book while reading Kill for Me! Get ready for a mystifying read!

Until Next Time,

TBQ