Sunday, September 25, 2011

Reading Recap: Week of September 18th

While waiting until I can post the reviews that I have completed, I decided to do a bit of a "week in review" kind of post for the books that I did finish, whether or not they will ever get an actual review from me. Here is what I read this last week (from Sunday to Saturday):

This week I finished 5 books, all of them full length novels.

Love is Blind by Lynsay Sands was an enjoyable enough read, and I thoroughly liked the premise for it. Clarissa is blind as a bat--or nearly so, and when her stepmother takes her spectacles away from her, she is doomed to a world of blurs and plenty of embarrassing (and sometimes fatal) mishaps. But when Adrian begins to fall for her anyway, showering her with sweet and romantic surprises, Clarissa begins to fret as to whether her stepmother may be right: one look at her in her glasses and Adrian will quickly push her aside. So she only wears them in private, not letting her new husband see her in them. Little does she know that meanwhile Adrian is dealing with some insecurity issues of his own. A ragged scar from his time serving in battle ten years ago still plagues him, especially after a few bad experiences with people's reaction to it (women in particular). After marrying Clarrisa, he doesn't run out to buy her a new set of spectacles for fear that once she sees his beastly face she will never desire him--and worse yet, never love him. As the story goes on, various mishaps and issues come up, including a bit of a mystery concerning who is trying to murder Clarissa. But in the end, they both find out, the hard way of course, that they love each other dearly, despite their flaws.
3.5 Stars---There were a few flaws in the book, mainly around characters and such, that lead me to give it this above average rating. However, I still enjoyed it at the time, it was a storyline that was, at times, unique and held my attention, and I plan on reading more of Sands books in the future.



My next book was an anthology I had in my TBR pile for far too long, though I'm not sure why: Snowy Night with a Stranger. With the exception of Jane Feather, I have read (and very much enjoyed) previous works from the authors in this book. After reading Feather's story, I'm also putting more of her books on my list, as it was pretty good (though not my favorite out of this particular collection). It is a toss up between Jeffries and London; both of their stories, though obviously shorter than their own novels, did not feel particularly rushed and I was able to see many of their writing qualities shine through, even with the shortage on pages in which to do so.
4 Stars---All three stories were lively and charming, with a good (if brief) dash of heat hot enough to melt some of the snow that was blocking everyone in!  Given the chance for a "do over", I would gladly buy this anthology for the pure enjoyment of reading any of these stories, though together they mesh nicely despite the fact that they are not connected in any way to one another as far as stories or characters.

My next escape from reality came in the form of my ARC (thanks to NOR) of The Last Breath by Rachel Caine. I won't say much about this particular book, as you'll have to read my full review. However, I will tell you this: Easily my favorite book in this series, and one of my favorites for this year! 5 Stars--read my review HERE!







Next was my second ARC from NOR---The Next Always by Nora Roberts. A little teaser into my thoughts on the book: AMAZING! Nora Roberts at her best, showing the world that even after 30 years of publishing books she can still entertain her readers, still make them feel like they are reading something new from her for the first time. Another contender for on of my favorites for the year! I can't wait for the next two books in this trilogy, though I doubt I'll be as lucky to get ARCs of them as well. 5 Stars--read my review HERE!




My last book was The Dangerous Book for Demon Slayers by Angie Fox. This was a fun read, a chick lit kind of paranormal romance that I don't often read; but I always keep a couple on hand to break up some of the more series (or at least intense) novels I read. This is the second book I've read by Fox, and I know that I'll be looking for more of her work in the future. 4 Stars----A quick, witty read, but one that still had an intriguing storyline and a good deal of steamy lovin'!






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What books did you read this past week? Share them with us, both the good and the bad!


Enjoy!




Until Next Time,
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Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Contest at Seductive Musings!

Head on over to Seductve Musings to enter a great contest to win all three books in Leigh Michael's newest series! The covers alone on these books are goregous, and I'm sure that the stories themselves will be just as lovely!
Entry rules are fairly straight forward (leave comments, be a follower, etc). Contest ends September 24th at 11:59 pm EST, so hurry up and enter!


Enjoy!



Until Next Time,
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Monday, September 19, 2011

Sneak Peak at Upcoming Reviews

I've got a nice amount of books lined up for review! Some have been, I'm ashamed to say, sitting in said pile for far too long during my absence from the blogging world.

But it is my goal to get back into the swing of things, and I hope to have at least two reviews completed and up before the end of this month. More, is, of course, preferable, but this is my minimum.

At the top of my list to tackle are two ARCs: Last Breath by Rachel Caine (Morganville Vampires #11) and The Next Always by Nora Roberts (#1 in the Inn Boonsoro trilogy).


Both of these books came to me via NOR.

I'm very honored, and excited, to have my hands on an ARC of Nora Robert's latest book--she's a legend, and was one of the first authors that I was introduced to when I was younger. In fact, I received a copy of her Born In Trilogy when I was about 12 or so from my aunt when she was going through some of things-- I fell in love with that book, and Roberts' writing then and now, years later, that hasn't changed one bit. I still have that book, and I just reread it for the tenth time not more than a few months ago.


I've also got All You Desire by Kirsten Miller (Eternal Ones, Book 2); NightShade by Andrea Cremer; Wolfsbane by Andrea Cremer (A Nightshade Novel); Matched by Ally Condie; and an ARC of Crossed by Ally Condie.

All of these books were sent to me by their respective publishers.
Thank you very much!



There are also a few more that will be up later on, both print and E-books that I have requested from NOR. As I do not yet have them, I cannot say when their reviews are to be expected.

And when I've finished all of these reviews, I have plans for a few others... while searching through the available books on NOR yesterday, I began a nice list of books, mostly all E-books, that I will be requesting once I've sent in my reviews for the books I've currently got. Some of them are ones that I am very anxious to read, and was thrilled to see available, even months after they debuted on the site. A lot of Ellora's Caves books will be reviewed within the next few months by me if I request, and get, many of the books on my list.


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What about everyone else? What books have you been lucky enough to receive for review lately? Or, what books of your own are you going to be reviewing in the near future? I'm always one the look out for more books to add to my wish list, so let me know what you are reviewing!





Enjoy!

 Until Next Time,
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Friday, September 16, 2011

Have You Ever Read...

...Emma Holly's Fitz Clare Chronicles (Kissing Midnight, Breaking Midnight and Saving Midnight)?




As I am waiting to put together some actual reviews and other fun posts, I thought I'd try to begin a bit of a discussion post instead, to see just what books you guys have read, especially in my absence.

I've had Kissing Midnight and Breaking Midnight in my pile for quiet some time now (actually, BM was in the box of books I won a long, long time ago from Anna--ty again, by the way!), but for the life of me I cannot figure out why I kept pushing them further down in my TBR pile. There must have been some flaw... right?

Wrong. I searched and searched while I devoured both books in the span of two days, but I found no flaw, no reason why I cast them aside. All I can say is that I am terribly sorry that I did!

The books are amazing, the storyline enough to keep the reader on edge and Holly's idea of vampires different enough to make them stand apart from many of the others flooding the market lately. The characters are vivid, their love and pain bright enough to cut through the fictional words that bind them to the paper and make the reader feel it, too.

And the romance... Oh God, the romance! It's spicy hot all the time, yet sweet at all the right times! Holly has a way with description, with setting the scene. It's vivid enough to send the reader over into the realm of pleasure, erotic as some of the most explicit books out there, yet even in the midst of all this intense passion, it is never just sex. It is always something more, something loving, something lasting and deep and stronger than just the physical bond of joining their two bodies together.

That, my friends, is the mark of a true romance writer. When the passion can burn so bright that it burns the pages it was written on, sends the reader into convulsions, and yet is never downgraded to simple lust and crude f*cking. A true writer for this genre knows how to weave the hero and heroine's love and commitment into every sentence of the love scenes--even when using graphic, rough, or seemingly crude words or descriptions. This manages to not only solidify the feeling of true love between the characters, but also brings all the heat and spice to the table that any reader could possible want or need.

~~~~


What do you think about this? Regardless of whether or not you've read these particular books, or even this author in general, do you know the writing that I am talking about? The feelings that such writing arouses? Do you agree with what I've said, or am I rambling so much that no one can even understand me? :D Let me know, either way!



Oh, and if you haven't read Emma Holly before, especially this series, may I just say: "What are you waiting for?!" It is a series that I highly recommend to any fan of this genre, and even to those that are unsure about it. It's potent, and highly addictive, so be warned: if you pick up one of them, be prepared to have the rest of the series in your possession too, for once you are done with one of them, the need to read the next one will hit you hard! I know this from exprience, as I have yet to get my hands on a copy of the rest of this series, or her related series, the Upyr books. As soon as I do though.... well, let us just say that they will not be unread books in my hands for long!



Enjoy!


Until Next Time,

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Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Prepare for... The Return of The Queen!

The Book Queen, that is.

Yes, after almost a year without posting anything on my beloved blog, I am preparing for my return to, if not full time blogging, at least part time. So far I don't have much ready to post--no new reviews right away, no contests, but I will at least post about interesting books that are set to be released, as well as other random posts every now and then.

I'm sorry that it's been so long--at first I was delayed due to classes. This past year was tough for me as I was nearing the completion of my Associates Degree. Now that that is past, I'm taking a short break from college, though not by choice.... I've had some health problems come up within the last 8 months or so, and that has also made it next to impossible to continue the blog as it affected by eye sight.

I hope to have a post or two up before the end of the week, and perhaps a review up within the next two weeks (Can anyone say "Nora Roberts"?). :D


Just know that I am not dead, nor am I abandoning my palace to let it crumble into a forgotten heap. I am here, and I will return!.... Very soon.....


Until Then!

Enjoy,


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