Moonlight To Twilight Blog

And the winners are...

2011-04-02T09:48:00.003-04:00

Patti (the book addict) and Sweet Vernal Zephyr!

Congrats ladies!!

You've won my pants on fire book giveaway contest.

I have emailed each of you about winning the book giveaways. Thanks to everyone who left a comment.

**sorry it too so long posting the results, I've been without my computer for a few days as my internet connection was going haywire and it took my server a while to fix the problem.**

Pants on fire book giveaway- EROTIC

2011-03-24T11:27:00.006-04:00

I'm spring cleaning my book shelves and it's time to give some books away! I've got TWO giveaways open to anyone in the U.S. who leaves me their email address along with which giveaway they wish to win. If you want both or either that's fine too. I will do a separate drawing for each giveaway.

Book giveaway #1 (steamy love, mild bondage and erotic sex including gay romance)

Book giveaway #2 (multiple partners, pants on fire hot erotic sex including gay sex and a sibling on sibling romance "Torn")

Giveaway contest ends Monday, March 28th. I will email the winner next week and ship off the books as soon as I am given a mailing address. If I don't get a mailing address in 48 hours, I will pick another winner.

Good luck and PLEASE share this giveaway on your blog, Twitter, Facebook etc.

Thanks and happy reading!!

FREE BOOKS for fellow blogger...

2011-03-18T06:57:00.008-04:00

Hello fellow bloggers!!

As I've mentioned, I will soon be closing my blog. I have several books that need reviewing for the month of April for Kensington Publishing Corp., their Brava Trade Paperback branch.

I am looking to give away several ARC books to a fellow U.S. blogger who is interested in reviewing these books on their blog and/or becoming a new reviewer for Kensington Publishing in my place.

That means I will forward them your blog site and your email so they can contact you for your address and start sending ARC books directly TO YOU!

So are you looking for some FREE books?? Want to review some steamy romance from Brava?? The books range from paranormal romance to contemporary romance to historical romance. Lots of variety with new and well known authors.

The books I have up for review are...

-Starfire: The Demonslayers series by Kate Douglas (author of the Wolf Tales series), (Paranormal romance)

-The Bargain by Mary Jo Putney (historical romance)

-Deadworld by J.N. Duncan (urban fantasy)

-Portrait of Desire by Cassie Edwards (historical romance)

-Too Sinful to Deny by Erica Ridley (Gothic romance)

-Seaborne by Katherine Irons (paranormal romance- Atlantis underworld)

-A Sense of Sin by Elizabeth Essex (Georgian Era historical)

So are there any U.S. book bloggers out there who are interested in these FREE ARC's?? If you want the books but don't want to be a reviewer for Kensington Publishing that is OK too, but they'd really like to have a new blogger to take my place.

Leave me a comment if you're interested. If several people want the books I will simply draw a name. Remember this is for a blogger within the U.S. only.

Thanks!

**PLEASE PASS THIS ON TO OTHER BLOGGERS!**

Thanks again and happy reading!

I've decided to close my blog...

2011-03-11T07:43:00.007-05:00

After much thought and consideration I have decided to close my Moonlight to Twilight Blog. While I have enjoyed blogging it has taken too much time from my "real life" and it's time for a change. I have cut back on reading to only a few books a month instead of nearly 10 a week, so there isn't much for me to write about on a book blog.

I will be keeping my GoodReads and LibraryThing accounts (see my sidebars) so when I do read a book I will post my reviews on those outlets.
I want to thank all my followers for stopping by and leaving comments- as any blogger knows that is what makes blogging so wonderful, sharing thoughts with others on the things we love like good books, hunky men photos and more.
I've got a few more review obligations this spring, then I will be closing the blog for good and probably disappearing from the blog world for a while as I try to readjust to life away from blogging.

Until then, I will be around as time permits.
I wish all my fellow bloggers and followers nothing but the very, very best life has to offer you!

*hugs*

Elizabeth Jules Mason AKA "MsMoonlight"

FREE eBooks!!!!!!

2011-03-10T19:30:00.006-05:00

PROMOTION: Read an eBook Week! FREE (03/06/2011 – 03/12/2011)

Title: The Highest Stakes

Digital List Price: $15.99

Category: Fiction

Print ISBN: 9781402236426
PDF ISBN: 9781402236433
EPUB ISBN: 9781402249877

Historical fiction featuring the exciting origins of horse racing in England and the American colonies.

· Published in time for the Kentucky Derby

· A strong romantic element makes the story accessible and emotional

· Horses are a topic of almost universal appeal and horseracing is a sport enjoyed by millions—the origins of the sport are little known and dramatic

Rights

· World

Available at –

Sourcebooks: http://www.sourcebooks.com/store/ebook-specials.html

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Highest-Stakes-ebook/dp/B003CTEFIY/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1299604509&sr=8-2

BN: http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Highest-Stakes/Emery-Lee/e/9781402249877/?itm=1&USRI=highest+stakes

Kobo: http://kobobooks.com/ebook/Highest-Stakes-Hes-Racing-To/book-bDX0dcOhok6qkIc7BI9LoQ/page1.html

BooksonBoard: http://www.booksonboard.com/index.php?BODY=viewbook&BOOK=677658

Apple:

US: http://itunes.apple.com/gb/book/highest-stakes/id365823105?ls=1

CA: http://itunes.apple.com/ca/book/highest-stakes/id365823105?ls=1

AU: http://itunes.apple.com/au/book/highest-stakes/id365823105?ls=1

FR: http://itunes.apple.com/fr/book/highest-stakes/id365823105?ls=1

DE: http://itunes.apple.com/de/book/highest-stakes/id365823105?ls=1

UK: http://itunes.apple.com/gb/book/highest-stakes/id365823105?ls=1

Sony: http://ebookstore.sony.com/ebook/emery-lee/highest-stakes/_/R-400000000000000208754

BooksAMillion: http://www.booksamillion.com/product/Q3151174?id=4952831930797

Google: http://books.google.com/ebooks?id=Yuq8m7NK2qQC&dq=highest+stakes&as_brr=5

Title: The Immigrants

Digital List Price: $15.99

Category: Fiction

Print ISBN: 9781402237911
PDF ISBN: 9781402237966
EPUB ISBN: 9781402247026

“A most wonderful book,” the Los Angeles Times.

“Emotional, exciting and entertaining” the Philadelphia Inquirer

· A major New York Times bestseller, with over 2.5 million copies in print

· The Immigrants was widely acclaimed and was turned into a movie

· A big repackage for widely known, brand-name author Howard Fast

Rights

· US, CA, MX

Available at –

Sourcebooks: http://www.sourcebooks.com/store/ebook-specials.html

BooksonBoard: http://www.booksonboard.com/index.php?BODY=viewbook&BOOK=150775

Apple:

US: http://itunes.apple.com/us/book/immigrants/id365971934?ls=1

CA: http://itunes.apple.com/ca/book/immigrants/id365971934?ls=1

Sony: http://ebookstore.sony.com/ebook/howard-fast/immigrants/_/R-400000000000000313981

BooksAMillion: http://www.booksamillion.com/product/Q6141122?id=4952831930797

**Please note that AMAZON/KINDLE is currently uploading their link to this title, so it might not be listed as free right away. We apologize for the inconvenience!**

Title: The Wild Sight

Digital List Price: $6.99

Category: Romance

Print ISBN: 9781402213946
PDF ISBN: 9781402220906
EPUB ISBN: 9781402236778

Romantic suspense with a paranormal element, set in the mystical Irish countryside.

· Romantic suspense is the #2 romance subgenre

· The Ireland location is very popular

Rights

· World

Available at –

Sourcebooks: http://www.sourcebooks.com/store/ebook-specials.html

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Wild-Sight-ebook/dp/B001P5CM32/ref=pd_sim_kinc_1?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2

BN: http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Wild-Sight/Loucinda-McGary/e/9781402236778/?itm=1&USRI=wild+sight

Kobo: http://kobobooks.com/ebook/Wild-Sight-An-Irish-Tale/book-qfw2CDroTkmBd8rgCa81jQ/page1.html

BooksonBoard: http://www.booksonboard.com/index.php?BODY=viewbook&BOOK=332387

Apple:

US: http://itunes.apple.com/us/book/wild-sight/id371518361?ls=1

CA: http://itunes.apple.com/ca/book/wild-sight/id371518361?ls=1

AU: http://itunes.apple.com/au/book/wild-sight/id371518361?ls=1

FR: http://itunes.apple.com/fr/book/wild-sight/id371518361?ls=1

DE: http://itunes.apple.com/de/book/wild-sight/id371518361?ls=1

UK: http://itunes.apple.com/gb/book/wild-sight/id371518361?ls=1

Sony: http://ebookstore.sony.com/ebook/loucinda-mcgary/wild-sight/_/R-400000000000000098761

BooksAMillion: http://www.booksamillion.com/product/Q3498541?id=4952831930797

Google: http://books.google.com/ebooks?id=am0N2DAgFPMC&dq=wild+sight&as_brr=5

Title: The Best Little Stories from the Civil War

Digital List Price: $18.99

Category: History

Print ISBN: 9781402239106
PDF ISBN: 9781402239168
EPUB ISBN: 9781402247101

A collection of more than 100 true stories from the men and women of the blue and gray, this truly unique approach will capture the attention of history enthusiasts and civil war buffs alike.

· Now revised and updated, featuring new packaging

· First edition sold over 16,500 units

· Civil War is a strong category on the history shelf and human interest angle is a unique hook for the category

· PR opportunities centered around major battles

Rights

· World

Available at –

Sourcebooks: http://www.sourcebooks.com/store/ebook-specials.html

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Best-Little-Stories-Civil-ebook/dp/B004DCB2SA/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&qid=1299604610&sr=8-9

Kobo: http://kobobooks.com/ebook/Best-Little-Stories-From-The/book-0srVfaaGeEy6iP5DiXBaBg/page1.html

BooksonBoard: http://www.booksonboard.com/index.php?BODY=viewbook&BOOK=669730

Apple:

US: http://itunes.apple.com/us/book/best-little-stories-from-civil/id424888529?ls=1

CA: http://itunes.apple.com/ca/book/best-little-stories-from-civil/id424888529?ls=1

AU: http://itunes.apple.com/au/book/best-little-stories-from-civil/id424888529?ls=1

FR: http://itunes.apple.com/fr/book/best-little-stories-from-civil/id424888529?ls=1

DE: http://itunes.apple.com/de/book/best-little-stories-from-civil/id424888529?ls=1

UK: http://itunes.apple.com/gb/book/best-little-stories-from-civil/id424888529?ls=1

Sony: http://ebookstore.sony.com/ebook/c-brian-kelly/best-little-stories-from-the-civil-war/_/R-400000000000000313471

BooksAMillion: http://www.booksamillion.com/product/Q1191042?id=4952831930797

"Highland Heat" by Mary Wine

2011-03-07T13:08:00.007-05:00

Title: Highland Heat
Author: Mary Wine
Series: Highland series #3
Genre: Historical Scottish Romance
Published: March 2011-Sourcebooks
Pages: 348

Synopsis(Barnes & Noble): The rugged Scottish Highlands bred warrior men and women who fought for country, keep, and kin, and loved as passionately as they lived.

Laird Quinton Cameron and an ostracized laird's daughter with nothing to lose work together to outwit an enemy to king and country, as the sparks of their mutual attraction burst into flames...

Sourcebooks Synopsis: As brave as she is impulsive, Deirdre Chattan’s tendency to follow her heart and not her head has finally caught up with her. Deirdre Chattan is a marked woman, but when she has a chance to prove herself not only to her father, but also to her country, she takes that risk to aid the Queen save her son—the future king of Scotland…

Determined to do what’s right, rugged Highlander Quinton Cameron also wants to aid the Queen, but when he sees her courageous new attendant, getting Deirdre in is his bed is the only thing on his mind. Feisty but loyal, Deirdre stops at nothing to tell Quinton what’s on her mind—even when she does find herself in his bed… With both their lives and their hearts at stake, Deidre and Quinton will learn that what their bold hearts can accomplish alone is nothing compared to what they can accomplish together.

**ARC from Sourcebooks for review**

Once more author Mary Wine delivers a fun, sexy romantic Scottish Highland romance. This is the story of Deidre Chattan and Highland Laird Quinton Cameron. Deidre is a fallen woman. In a previous novel we meet Deidre. She was young, passionate and in love with the wrong man. After mistakenly giving her heart and body to a worthless scoundrel, Deidre has shamed her family.

In Highland Heat, we find Deidre living at a convent with her sister. Because of her ruined reputation and lack of a dowry Deidre has no hope of securing a good marriage. This Deidre is a bit older and wiser...she's harder and less trusting than she was in the previous novels. But she isn't less passionate. She has a strong passionate nature and Quinton Cameron likes it very much.

These two can't help the chemistry between them, and neither Deidre's past nor Quinton's is going to keep them apart. While intrigue, evil plotting and circumstances all get in the way Deidre and Quinton continue to find their way back to each other.

While this book can be read as a stand alone, I personally would recommend reading the entire series in order simply because you see the growth of the characters and get a fuller better picture of where they were and how they got to where they are now in the story. Besides its a great historical romance series set in the Scottish Highlands- what's not to love about that?!

**Cover Love: I do love the kilt, but even more I love the rugged unshaven jaw and muscled body. Great cover!

Kudos to author Mary Wine!! Another great Highland romance!

March Menage Month - it's back!

2011-03-01T07:55:00.003-05:00

Yes...it's THAT time of year again!! March Menage Month is back in all is multiple sex partner glory!

For anyone who doesn't know what March Menage Month is, its really simple. Read as many books containing at least one "menage" sex scene as you can in the month of March! You can use my March Menage Month button if you like or simply link back to this page. For every March Menage book you read and review PLEASE put a link in the comments on this post so I we can share what menage books we read!

Books I've read from previous years that I recommend are:

-Samantha Kane books "Love Under Siege", "At Loves Command" and "The Courage to Love".
-Maya Banks "Colters' Woman" and "Be With Me"
-Lora Leigh "Wicked Pleasure", "Submission/Seduction"
-Claire Thompson's "Polar Reaction" (m/m/m)
-Jourdan Lane's "Soul Mates: Bound by Blood" (m/m/m paranormal)
The "Sins of Summer" book has several short erotic stories by various authors with a menage theme - good fun hot read!

*you can read my reviews of these books by finding them in my tag cloud-left sidebar*

Happy March Menage Month!!!!

"Everyone Loves a Hero" by Marie Force

2011-02-28T07:13:00.010-05:00

Title: "Everyone Loves a Hero...and that's the problem"
Author: Marie Force
Published: 2011 *ARC Review for Sourcebooks*
Genre: Romance

Synopsis: In this sexy contemporary romance release by author Marie Force, a pilot averts a plane crash and becomes a reluctant national hero. But how can he convince the love of his life-a beautiful art student who works at the airport kiosk-of his faithfulness when women fall all over him wherever he goes?
Cole Langston hadn't planned on becoming a national hero. What else was he supposed to do when his co -pilot suffered a heart attack mid-flight, let the man die and the plane crash during a blizzard? Now every time he's recognized, women throw themselves at him, but none of them seem genuine...
Airport kiosk cashier Olivia Robison is stunned when the "Snow Angel" comes to her aid with an unruly customer, and is speechless when a month later Cole comes back to the airport looking for her. Their attraction is hot and heavy, but so are the women watching Cole's every move! Olivia has never felt so connected and true to herself with anyone like she has with Cole... Can this new couple survive the scrutiny of the public eye?

*mild spoilers*

In a word: unrealistic

Unfortunately I didn't care for this romance. It was the most unrealistic romance I have ever read. The "hero" Cole was beyond perfect - there isn't a man on earth who could compare to him. He was a combination of Gandhi, Mother Teresa and skilled porn star. When he wasn't defending defenseless women, he was landing planes in blizzards while doing CPR on the heart attack victim captain (thus saving hundreds of lives) and in his spare time he flies terminally ill children and their family's around the globe for life saving treatments. Had there been a water scene I have no doubt Cole would have walked on water so perfect was he.

Cole is supposed to be a womanizer- that's what the author *tells* us, but what she shows us is that Cole is the victim of his own phenomenal good looks and Mother Teresa personality. He can't help it women throw themselves at his feet, he's just the most perfect male walking the earth.

Poor Olivia...until Cole comes along she's got a miserable existence. She is a 27 year old virgin slugging her way through college (still) and working a no-where part time job while living with her parents (still). Cole comes into her life and suddenly the clouds part and the sun shines down upon her making her life perfection - after all, Cole is Mr. Perfect so he must have a girlfriend with a perfect life to match his.

After spending less than 12 minutes together these two are madly "I wanna have your baby" in love with each other. Cole sweeps her off her feet by flying her around the nation and at their very first stop a gay man sees Olivia painting and offers her THOUSANDS of dollars for the painting. He then runs off to find his gay partner and together these gay men simply MUST have Olivia do an art showing at their art gallery. Little ol' Olivia is an instant hit and makes bundles of money in 24 hours. Mr. Perfect then convinces Olivia to give up her miserable life and become the artist she was meant to be.

Olivia wants to pay him back by having his baby. I kid you not, here is the exchange...[Olivia has just gotten her period, she had hoped she was pregnant- after only being together three times in a few weeks]

[page 289]
"I know. I did, too." Surprised by just how disappointed he was, he sat on the bathroom floor with her for a long time, but her sobs didn't let up. "Honey, you're breaking my heart. We'll have a baby. We can try as soon as you want to. Who cares about the logistics? We'll figure it out."
"I wanted to do this for you. You've done so much for me. This was something I could do for you." [end]

The sex?? Mr. Perfect is a magician in bed. The first time he touches virgin Olivia with ONE FINGER she explodes into multiple orgasms - this occurs before foreplay even! He's amazing! He's just unbelievable and totally unrealistic for a character. I was not buying what this book was selling at all. Everything was wrapped in a pretty red bow with golden paper. There was no depth of character, no grit, no angst, no...nothing. Just sugar sweet (toothache sweet) perfection. Cole said and did everything perfectly. He is a saint walking the earth...too good even for the angels in the heavens.

If you are looking for a sweet perfect romance with a completely flawless hero this is the book for you.

Rating: 0

Unfortunately, I just didn't like it. I don't like perfect characters because they are totally unrealistic. Had these characters had real flaws I could have liked their romance, but the stereo-typing and even the dialogue just drove me nuts, I am sorry to say.

The Princess and the Penis- free read

2011-02-09T07:39:00.006-05:00

If you go to the bottom of my blog you can read "The Princess and the Penis" by RJ Silver. A cute erotic twist on the classic fairytale "The Princess and the Pea".

My thanks to KB over at Babbling About Books for the heads up on this entertaining story yesterday.

Awful book covers and/or titles...

2011-02-08T08:28:00.004-05:00

A bit of WTF in book covers and/or titles...

Satan Burger= shit on a plate?? Is that what that is? *shudder*

Apparently violence and sex were hot ticket items for men in the 60's and 70's.

"The Best Dad is a Good Lover"...?? Tell me that is NOT what it sounds like!

I'm not sure if I should laugh or cry that these were all actually published!

I hate her. Really I do.

2011-02-07T07:44:00.019-05:00

It doesn't happen often but it does happen. I pick up a book and just HATE, yes H-A-T-E, HATE the heroine of the story! I want her dead, killed off in the first chapter! I get so angry when this happens because usually I can see the potential of the plot and even like the secondary characters so much I want to continue the story, but I HATE the heroine so much I just can't read another freaking word of the book!

It's so damn frustrating! Two YA books top my list of my most hated ever heroines, heroines so awful and vile that I could not finish the book (and I made SEVERAL attempts with these books over YEARS). It boggles my mind that these books were ever made into a series, but they were. I don't know how people read them and tolerated these main characters.

The characters are "Elena" from L.J. Smith's "The Vampire Diaries" books (thankfully the show is NOTHING like these books) and "Zoey" from PC Cast & Kristin Cast's "A House of Night" series. These two heroines are my most despised characters ever in a book. What do I hate about them? Let me count the ways.

First they are both self righteous. I have zero tolerance for self righteous people. Secondly, they both make fun of everyone who isn't exactly like them (name calling and stereotyping people the moment they meet them). Third, they live on a high horse and look down on everyone around them. They have a deep seated belief they are Creation's gift to the world. Fourth, they never see anything wrong with themselves, yet they can't see beyond the faults they alone see in others. They spend a great deal of time pointing out the faults of others and labeling people. I hate that. And fifth, they feel entitled to a special position- as if they are beyond all other humans.

There is nothing remotely engaging, likable or redeeming about them. They are cold, nasty bitches. As I read their stories I wanted every horrible catastrophe imaginable to man to befall them in the hopes that it would change them and make them more tolerable to read. Unfortunately that never happened.

I know so many people said they couldn't stand "Bella" from the "Twilight" books by Stephenie Meyer. While Bella's desire to give up her life annoyed me, I didn't dislike her. I actually understood her- that is to say her character was never happy nor fit in with mere humans. Bella was made to become a vampire. She finally fit in and felt normal and complete once she was turned. It was her destiny to become a vampire, so I could understand her desire for that to happen (and her obsession with Edward) even if I didn't personally like it. I get no such understanding of the heroines in the Vampire Diaries series or the House of Night series. These heroines just seem to like being hateful, judgemental and full of themselves. There's no reason for it other than they are just nasty mean bitches. And that is where the authors lose me. I can't justify the bad behavior long enough to tolerate them and finish the books.

There is a "hero" in Catherine Coulter's "Warrior Song" who brutally rapes a young woman in front of witnesses to make a point about his power and getting his way. This rapist later goes on to become a hero and get his own book story. There is NOTHING redeemable about this guy to me. He could never redeem himself after that brutal rape as far as I was concerned, so his book was unreadable to me. While "Elena" and "Zoey" are not rapists, they are nasty characters who never redeem themselves nor do they even try. These type of characters never work for me and that is why these are my most hated heroines.

Questions: Have you ever read a book and simply hated the heroine or hero? Have they left a bad taste in your mouth that tainted the entire book? Have any of you read these books and liked these heroines?

"The Vision" by Heather Graham

2011-02-04T06:52:00.008-05:00

Title: The Vision
Author: Heather Graham
Published: 2005 MIRA
Genre: Mystery/Crime/Romance
Pages: 405

Synopsis: The gift of sight comes at a dangerous price.
When Deep Down Salvage begins the hunt for the Josephine Marie, it seems like any other dive…until Genevieve Wallace sees the vision of a dead woman in the water, her vacant eyes boring into Genevieve's very soul.
Terrified and confused by what she saw, Genevieve is haunted by the memory, but no one—including her diving partner Thor Thompson—believes her. When a dead woman washes up on shore, everyone assumes this is Genevieve's "vision," but Genevieve knows the truth: the dead woman is not the ghost she saw but another victim of the same brutal killer.
Sensing that the threat of death is coming closer, she and Thor are forced to acknowledge that some things can't be explained, but simply are. Somehow they have to link a violent past with a present-day mystery or risk losing themselves in an abyss of terror.

In a few words: good mystery

It's been a long while since I picked up a Heather Graham book. Not because I grew tired of the author, but because so many new authors have captured my attention in the last few years. But feeling a bit nostalgic recently I ransacked my TBR pile and pulled out "The Vision" by Heather Graham then curled up on the sofa with my comforter and a hot cup of tea while the snow and sleet did their damage outside. What I really enjoy about Graham's mystery/crime/romance books are the numerous potential "who done its" the author puts in the story. I can never seem to pin-point the villain until the last moment. I like that.

This story took sunken treasure, ghostly apparitions, a romance and a serial killer and wrapped them all up in beautiful Key West Florida. The heroine is Genevieve "Gen" Wallace an experienced diver on a team searching for a sunken ship. During a dive Gen sees a dead body or a ghost, she's not sure which but reports it as a dead body. The rest of the dive team see nothing and the police dive teams come up empty. Gen is teased by her friends the other divers and thought to be crazy by Thor Thompson, one of the men leading the dive exposition. Thor contemplates tossing Gen off the team because he doubts her ability to keep a clear head, but Gen's reputation gives her another chance - that and the fact that Thor thinks she's great eye candy.

Soon Gen is haunted by more ghostly visions, dreams of pirate corpses and pranks by her buddies. Then a real dead body washes up on shore and everyone stops teasing Gen. Things get stranger, people go missing and more bodies show up while a romance begins to bloom between Gen and Thor. When friends go missing the dive crew begin to panic and wonder if one of them is a serial killer. Everyone is a suspect and no one wants to be alone.

I enjoyed this book for the most part. The only draw back I have is one I find common with Graham's books. The author adores Florida and often fills her books with pages after pages of local details that aren't necessary and sometimes just boring. I find I am skimming a great deal at the beginning of her books because they read like a tourist guide to Florida's hotspots. I like Florida, but when I read a mystery novel I don't want a tourist guide. There is such a thing as too much detail. A red marker would have gone a long way in the first few chapters of this book.

That said, it was an enjoyable mystery/crime/romance read. I kept turning the pages wondering "who done it" right up to the climax and I was shocked- I thought that character was "one of the good guys". The romance wasn't the main focus of the book, but it was there with a few steamy (if vague) love scenes. Thor and Gen didn't like each other at all when they first met- water and oil. But they drifted together and the chemistry was there all along, so it worked.
To wrap it up, kudos to Graham for delivering on the mystery and romance under the sun of Key West, Florida.

Rating: 3.5/5

Buy it:
Amazon.com

Barnes & Noble

WTF: The Mini Penis Tattoo

2011-02-02T19:21:00.004-05:00

I love stupid people, I really do. They make my day and give me so much to laugh about. Today I was reading on several media and car sources about what a 39 year old German man did to win a car.

The contest was for a brand new Mini Cooper. The way to win it was to do something crazy and idiotic. The most idiotic stunt would win the Mini Cooper.

Andreas Muller came up with the bright idea of having the word "Mini" tattooed on his schlong while on the air at a radio studio. The judges decided Muller's stun won hands down. To get the car, he'd have to get the ink on his dong.

So during a live radio broadcast Muller sat spread eagle with a tattoo artist between his legs and a female radio host by his side watching the inking of Muller's penis as Muller himself howled out in pain several times during the broadcast. Now that's entertainment folks!

When all the inking was done, here's what Muller had to say...

"Once I'm sitting in the car, it won't matter anymore. Then the pain will be gone and it'll be alright," he said.

Sources:

http://austriantimes.at/image/20503/news/Around_the_World/2011-01-24/29979/My_mini_sex_drive_

http://www.mizozo.com/weird/01/2011/25/andreas-muller-man-gets-mini-tattooed-on-his-penis....html

Favorites

2011-02-02T13:49:00.008-05:00

Today I am sharing some of my very favorite authors as well as television shows (both current shows and past shows). I hadn't planned on it, but for some reason my mind was scanning all the authors I'd read over the years and which ones stick with me no matter how many decades go by.

That of course caused me to feel rather nostalgic today, so I thought I'd take a trip down Memory Lane with some of my favorites from long ago as well as current favorites. I hate that some of these shows from the past got canceled way before their time. I am one of Those People, who write ranting letters to networks in a feeble attempt to keep a beloved show on the air. I don't know if it's because I am an optimist or just a big mouth who demands to be heard. Either way, I feel better after I send off my rant. So here are my lists. Please share some of your favorites and tell me if any of my favorites are/were yours too!

Favorite Authors

(in no particular order)

Nora Roberts

Linda Howard

Jeaniene Frost

Patricia Briggs

Evangeline Anderson

Beth Kery

Karen Marie Moning

Lora Leigh

Kendra Leigh Castle

Charlaine Harris

Lisa Kleypas

Jaci Burton

Cheryl Brooks

Maya Banks

Connie Mason

Claire Thompson

Norah Hess

Kathleen E. Woodiwiss

Judith McNaught

Virginia Henley

Christina Dodd

LaVyrle Spencer

Tami Hoag

Kresley Cole

JR Ward

Jude Deveraux

Heather Graham/Shannon Drake

Johanna Lindsay

Favorite YA Authors

(in no particular order)

Cassandra Clare

Jennifer Echols

Simone Elkeles

Stephenie Meyer

Julie Kagawa

Laurie Halse Anderson

Carrie Jones

Alex Flinn

Favorite Television Shows

(current & past)

Justified

Sons of Anarchy

The Vampire Diaries

Roswell

Jericho

Castle

Moonlight

Melrose Place (original)

Beverly Hills 90210 (original)

Dawson's Creek

The Bachelor/Bachelorette

Project Runway

America's Next Top Model

Supernatural

Who are your favorite authors?

What are you favorite shows from the past or right now?

Fuckin' Perfect...

2011-02-01T17:21:00.011-05:00

An excuse to repost my pics of Ian Somerhalder playing "Damon Salvatore"...

My thanks to Marta over at Vampire Wire for the heads up on this awesome new video set to clips of "Damon" from Vampire Diaries (he's just so damn delectable!- he's "fuckin' perfect" as the song goes...

This character just captivates me... he's the ultra wounded bad-boy who acts first and thinks later - which mostly causes him more pain, which causes him to strike out (a vicious cycle for this character). I want Damon to have a happy ending...I just don't know if it will ever happen for him. Either way, he's got a fan in me!

My Balls...

2011-01-28T21:28:00.002-05:00

"Shadowfever" by Karen Marie Moning

2011-01-22T11:28:00.010-05:00

**NO SPOILERS - one excerpt

Title: Shadowfever
Author: Karen Marie Moning
Series: Fever series #5
Published: 2011
Genre: Fantasy Fiction
Pages: 594

Synopsis: MacKayla Lane was just a child when she and her sister, Alina, were given up for adoption and banished from Ireland forever.
Twenty years later, Alina is dead and Mac has returned to the country that expelled them to hunt her sister’s murderer. But after discovering that she descends from a bloodline both gifted and cursed, Mac is plunged into a secret history: an ancient conflict between humans and immortals who have lived concealed among us for thousands of years.
What follows is a shocking chain of events with devastating consequences, and now Mac struggles to cope with grief while continuing her mission to acquire and control the Sinsar Dubh—a book of dark, forbidden magic scribed by the mythical Unseelie King, containing the power to create and destroy worlds.
In an epic battle between humans and Fae, the hunter becomes the hunted when the Sinsar Dubh turns on Mac and begins mowing a deadly path through those she loves.
Who can she turn to? Who can she trust? Who is the woman haunting her dreams? More important, who is Mac herself and what is the destiny she glimpses in the black and crimson designs of an ancient tarot card?
From the luxury of the Lord Master’s penthouse to the sordid depths of an Unseelie nightclub, from the erotic bed of her lover to the terrifying bed of the Unseelie King, Mac’s journey will force her to face the truth of her exile, and to make a choice that will either save the world . . . or destroy it.

In a word: PHENOMENAL!!!!!!

Oh my!! Where to start! I adored this book from the first page to the very last. The action, suspense, twists and turns are phenomenal! This books takes the reader up and down, around and back again so much it leaves your head spinning and your heart begging for more.

I was worried that this fantastic fantasy series might not deliver in the end and leave me disappointed, but I worried for naught. Master story teller Karen Marie Moning has delivered a superb fantasy fiction series and book five exceeds beyond my wildest hopes.

I don't want to give anything away, so I am not going to mention what actually occurs or doesn't occur in this book. I will only say that NOTHING is as it seems and MacKayla learns that lesson very well.

What I particularly adore about this series is the AMAZING growth of the heroine. In the first book she is young, naive and self absorbed with her looks and some very shallow things. As the series progresses that disappears and an amazing kickass heroine is born from the rubble. She is strong, determined to do good and help people, passionate, driven and compelling. To put it simply, she's everything a heroine should be.

I was cheering at most parts of this book, and near to tears at others. All the questions are answered and all but one situation is concluded. The hanging storyline is left for the NEW (squee!!), yes NEW storyline set in the same Fever world. I can't begin to express my joy at that little tidbit found at the end of the book!

One of my favorite passages in the book...

Excerpt (page 341-342)
"I was coming," I said irritably. Fingers handcuffed around my wrist Barrons dragged me toward the stairs.
"What part of 'directly' didn't you understand?"
"Same part of 'play well with others' you never understood, O cantankerous one," I muttered.
He laughed, surprising me. I never know what's going to make him laugh. At the oddest moments, he seems to find humor in his own bad temper.
"I'd be a lot less cantankerous if you admitted you want to fuck me and we got down to it."
Lust ripped through me. Barrons said 'fuck' and I was ready.
"That's all it would take to put you in good humor?"
"It'd go a long way."
"Are we having a conversation, Barrons? Where you actually express feelings?"
"If you want to call a hard dick feelings, Ms. Lane." [end]

I totally loved that exchange and many more like it! A fantastic series that I HIGHLY recommend to anyone who enjoys fantasy fiction and hot sexual chemistry between the heroine and her hero. This series and book delivers on ALL accounts.

If you haven't read this series GET IT NOW!!

5++++++ stars!!!!!

To buy it:

Barnes & Noble or Amazon.com

Questions & Poll for you to answer

2011-01-14T18:38:00.010-05:00

I've got some questions, so all you lurkers quit lurking about in the shadows and tell me what you think.
****I've posted a few polls in my right side bar, so please take a moment and vote- thanks!

Now for the questions part. I'd REALLY *elbow to the ribs* (ya I'm talkin' to you) want to hear answers to these questions.

What if the fantasy fiction world become our reality?

1) How would we cope with real vampires, werewolves, fairies (the winged kind) and witches casting spells and charms?

2) Of all the fantasy books you've read, which book would you most like to become reality and why?

3) What heroine in a fantasy fiction book would YOU want to be if a fantasy book suddenly become reality and you were living out the adventures of the book?

To answer my own questions... 1) I'd freak, 2) Harry Potter books because I'd love for school to be that way and I always wanted to own a magic wand, 3) I don't know. I'd want to be some great kick ass heroine but they get hurt a lot and I'm a wimp so I just don't know.

OK, your turn to answer. Let's hear it and please don't forget to vote in my polls!

Thanks!

***sorry the poll response color is so dark, it won't allow me to change the color *sigh*

My 2011 Reading Challenges...

2011-01-03T07:39:00.006-05:00

I am joining only two reading challenges to start off the year, I might add more later. And of course, here on the Moonlight to Twilight Blog every March becomes the "March Menage Month" where I read as many menage books as I can within the month of March. So stay tuned for that one! *grin*

The first challenge I am joining is Naida's Romance Reading Challenge - I love joining this challenge each year. You read at least 5 romance books and share your reviews on her Mr.Linky challenge post. Go HERE for more details.

The next reading challenge I am joining is a "new to me" challenge. It's the "2011 Support Your Local Library Reading Challenge". The goal is to read between 12 - 100 books borrowed from your local library in the year 2011. For more details go HERE.

My progress in these challenges will be listed in my right sidebar of my blog.

What challenges have you joined for 2011??

Happy New Year 2011!

2011-01-01T00:30:00.002-05:00

2010 Reading Challenges...

2010-12-29T10:22:00.013-05:00

In January of 2010 I joined four reading challenges for the year and was still involved in a previous reading challenge that ran from 2009 into 2010. So I had a total of 5 reading challenges I participated in. And I then had my own annual "March Menage Month" reading challenge.

So this these are the challenges I joined and how well or not so well I did at them in 2010!

The Sookie Stackhouse Challenge 2009-2010
(re-read the Sookie Stackhouse Southern Vampire series by Charlaine Harris along with any new books that come out during the challenge)
-Dead Until Dark
-Living Dead in Dallas
-Clud Dead
-Dead to the World
-Dead as a Doornail
-Dead in the Family
*completed in the time frame given*

The M/M Romance Challenge 2010
(read 5 m/m romances in 2010)
-How the West was Done - Adam Carpenter
-Polar Reaction - Claire Thompson
-Soul Mates: Bound by Blood - Jourdan Lane
-Nut Cream - Jade Buchanan
-Changing Perspective - Marilu Mann
*completed challenge*

The Romance Reading Challenge 2010
(read 5 romances in 2010)
-Morning Glory - LaVyrle Spencer
-The Fulfillment - LaVyrle Spencer
-The Making of a Gentleman - Shana Galen
-Highland Hellcat - Mary Wine
-Dragon Lord - Connie Mason
*completed challenge*

Re-read Challenge 2010
(re-read one book a month)
-White Lies - Linda Howard
-Come Lie With Me - Linda Howard
-Colters' Woman - Maya Banks
-Dead Until Dark - Charlaine Harris
-The Fulfillment - LaVyrle Spencer
-Bluebird Winter - Linda Howard
-Harry Potter & the Sorcerer's Stone- JK Rowling
-The Vikings Woman - Heather Graham
-Soul Deep - Lora Leigh
-Dreamfever - Karen Marie Moning
-Separate Beds - LaVyrle Spencer
-Twilight - Stephenie Meyer

The 2010 Romance Reading Challenge
(read 20 romance books)
-Scandal in Spring - Lida Kleypas
-Megan's Mark - Lora Leigh
-The Fulfillment - LaVyrle Spencer
-First Drop of Crimson - Jeaniene Frost
-The Making of a Gentleman - Shana Galen
-Highland Hellcate - Mary Wine
-Backstage Pass - Olivia Cunning
-Seduce me at Sunrise - Lisa Kleypas
-Dragon Lord - Connie Mason
**totally failed on this one**

Now for my own reading challenge. As followers of my blog already know, each March on the Moonlight to Twilight Blog becomes "MARCH MENAGE MONTH". My reading lists all include books with menage a troi sex scenes in them- aside from reading challenges that I have to read each month.

My 2010 March Menage Month Reads
(read as many menage books as you can in a month)
-Colters' Woman - Maya Banks (re-read)
-Tri-Omega Mates - Stormy Glenn
-Polar Reaction - Claire Thompson
-Wolf Tales - Kate Douglas
-Brazen - Maya Banks
-Alphas' Mate - Leah Brooke
-Soul Mates: Bound by Blood - Jourdan Lane
-Stranded - Eve Vaughn
*completed*

The 2010 year found me diving deeply into YA books and Urban Fantasy. While these books often contain some romance, I don't usually consider them A Romance Book which is the major reason I failed the last romance reading challenge. My reading time was consumed with UF and YA with a few romances and erotic reads tossed in along the way. It's interesting because in 2009 I read mostly romance and paranormal romance. Makes me wonder just what 2011 has in store for me!

What I Read in 2010...

2010-12-26T16:56:00.010-05:00

What I read in 2010...

Favorite series

-Mercy Thompson series by Patricia Briggs

-Grave series by Jeaniene Frost
-Fever series by Karen Marie Moning
-Iron series by Julie Kagawa (YA)
-Pixie series by Carrie Jones (YA)

M/M reads...

-How the West was Done - Adam Carpentier (hot 'n dirty)
-Soul Mates by Jourdan Lane (favorite M/M read of the year)
-Polar Reaction by Claire Thompson (VERY close 2nd for favorite m/m of the year)
-Nut Cream by Jade Buchanan
-Changing Perspective by Mari Lu Mann

Favorite "new to me" authors...

-Lissa Matthews
-Julie Kagawa
-Jeaniene Frost
-Patricia Briggs
-Olivia Cunning

Favorite YA reads...

-Going too Far by Jennifer Echols
-The Iron King & The Iron Daughter by Julie Kagawa
-Jekel Loves Hyde by Beth Fantaskey
-Twisted by Laurie Halse Anderson (SUPERB)
-Beastly by Alex Finn (LOVED IT)
-Hail Caesar by Thu Huong Ha (great read!)

Still loving...

-Sookie Stackhouse series by Charlaine Harris
-Grave series by Charlaine Harris

DNF's (I just could NOT get into ANY of these books-and I really tried)

-Riker's High by Paul Volponi
-Once a Knight by Christine Dodd
-Dead Witch Walking by Kim Harrison
-On the Edge by Ilona Andrews
-Man of her Dreams by Tami Hoag
-Raised by Wolves by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
-Carter Finally Gets It by Brent Crawford
-Crusade by Nancy Holder & Debbie Viquie

Biggest Disappointments:

-Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater
-Fallen by Lauren Kate
-On the Edge by Ilona Andrews
-Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick
-Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare

Total books read 103 (some of the YA read below were reviewed only on my YA blog "The Cracked Spine):

-Moon Called by Patricia Briggs (UF)
-His Eyes by Renee Carter (YA)
-How the West was Done by Adam Carpentier (MM)
-Halfway to the Grave by Jeaniene Frost (UF)
-Fugitive by Cheryl Brooks (SciFi)
-One Foot in the Grave by Jeaniene Frost (UF)
-Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater (YA) **I really did NOT like this book, it barely rated 2 stars with me)
-Blood Bound by Patricia Briggs (UF)
-White Lies by Linda Howard (romance)-(Re-READ)
-Iron Kissed by Patricia Briggs (UF)
-Scandal in Spring by Lisa Kleypas (Historical Romance)
-Come Lie With Me by Linda Howard (Contemp. Romance) Re-READ
-When a Friend Dies by Marilyn E. Gootman (YA)
-Morning Glory by LaVyrle Spencer (Historical Romance) Re-READ
-The Holding by Claudia Dain (His.Romance)
-100 Things Guys Need to Know by Bill Zimmerman (YA)
-At Grave's End by Jeaniene Frost (UF)
-Cracked Up to Be by Courtney Summers (YA)
-Colter's Woman by Maya Banks (Menage) Re-READ
-Tri-Omega Mates by Stormy Glenn (Menage)
-Polar Reaction by Claire Thompson (MM Menage)
-Wolf Tales by Kate Douglas (MM/MF Menage)
-Brazen by Maya Banks (Menage)
-Soul Mates:Bound by Blood by Jourdan Lane (MM Menage)
-Stranded by Eve Laughn (Menage)
-Teens Take it to Court by Judge T. Jacobs (YA)
-Teen Cyberbullying Investigated by Judge T. Jacobs (YA)
-Destined for an Early Grave by Jeaniene Frost (UF)
-Megan's Mark by Lora Leigh (Romance)
-Rules of Attraction by Simone Elkeles (YA Romance)
-The Fulfillment by LaVyrle Spencer (Historical Romance) Re-READ
-Nut Cream by Jade Buchanan (MM)
-I Heart You, You Haunt Me by Lisa Schroeder (YA Verse)
-Riker's High by Paul Volponi (YA)
-Beastly by Alex Flinn (YA)
-New Blood by Peter McPhee (YA)
-Warrior's Song by Catherine Coulter (Historical Romance)
-Darkfever by Karen Marie Moning (UF)
-Bloodfever by Karen Marie Moning (UF)
-Faefever by Karen Marie Moning (UF)
-Hail Ceasar by Thu Huang Ha (YA)
-Separate Beds by LaVyrle Spencer (Historical Romance)Re-READ
-Sweet Caroline by Lissa Matthews (erotic)
-Once a Knight by Christina Dodd (Hist.Romance)
-Dreamfever by Karen Marie Moning (UF)
-Sin Eater by Evangeline Anderston (Erotic)
-Desire in the Dark by Naime Simone (Erotic)
-Scoring by Mari Carr (Erotic)
-Dead Witch Walking by Kim Harrison (UF)
-Fallen by Lauren Kate (YA)
-Fade to Black by Alex Flinn (YA)
-On the Edge by Ilona Anderson (UF)
-Trick by Ellen Hopkins (YA)
-Twisted by Laurie Halse Anderson (YA)
-Need by Carrie Jones (YA)
-Bone Crossed by Patricia Briggs (UF)
-Hush,Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick
-Chasing Brooklyn by Lisa Schroder (YA)
-Bluebird Winter by Linda Howard (Contemp.Romance)Re-READ
-Captivate by Carrie Jones (YA)
-Man of her Dreams by Tami Hoag (Contemp. Romance)
-Silver Borne by Patricia Briggs (UF)
-First Drop of Crimson by Jeaniene Frost (UF)
-His Voice, His Command by Vonna Harper (Erotic)
-Not Just an Orgy by Sally Painter (Erotic)
-Changing Perspective by Marilu Mann (MM Erotic)
-Jekel Loves Hyde by Beth Fantaskey (YA)
-Harry Potter & the Sorcerers Stone by JK Rowling (YA) Re-READ
-Hero by Cheryl Brooks (SciFi)
-Some Girls Are by Courtney Summers (YA)
-Raised by Wolves by Jennifer Lynn Barnes (YA)
-Carter Finally Gets It by Brent Crawford (YA)
-The Making of a Gentleman by Shana Galen (Historical Romance)
-Highland Hellcat by Mary Wine (Historical Romance)
-Backstage Pass by Olivia Cunning (Erotic Romance)
-Seduce Me at Sunrise by Lisa Kleypas (Historical Romance)
-The Dragon Lord by Connie Mason (Historical Romance)
-Crusade by Nancy Holder & Debbie Viquie (YA)
-The Vikings Woman by Heather Graham (Historical Romance)Re-READ
-I Am Number Four by Pittacus Lore (YA)
-Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare (YA)
-Wildthorn by Jane Eagland (YA)
-Release by Beth Kery (Erotic)
-Twilight by Stephenie Meyer (YA) Re-read
-Going Too Far by Jennifer Echols (YA)
-The Iron King by Julie Kawaga (YA)
-The Iron Daughter by Julie Kawaga (YA)
-Soul Deep by Lora Leigh (Erotic) Re-READ
-Preaching to the Corpse by Roberta Isleib (Mystery)
-Grave Secret by Charlaine Harris (Mystery)
-Entice by Carrie Jones (YA)
-Dreamfever by Karen Marie Moning (UF) Re-READ
-Dead in the Family by Charlaine Harris (Paranormal)
-Sookie Stackhouse series by Charlaine Harris (re-reads)'Dead until Dark', 'Club Dead', 'Dead to the World', 'Definately Dead', 'Dead as a Doornail', 'All Together Dead', 'From Dead to Worse' and 'Dead and Gone'.

"Dreamfever" by Karen Marie Moning (re-read)

2010-12-21T09:34:00.009-05:00

Title: DreamFever
Author: Karen Marie Moning
Series: Fever series Bk#4
Genre: Fantasy Fiction
Published: 2009

Synopsis: MacKayla Lane lies naked on the cold stone floor of a church, at the mercy of the erotic Fae master she once swore to kill. Far from home, unable to control her sexual hungers, MacKayla is now fully under the Lord Master’s spell.
He has stolen her past, but MacKayla will never allow her sister’s murderer to take her future. Yet even the uniquely gifted sidhe-seer is no match for the Lord Master, who has unleashed an insatiable sexual craving that consumes Mac’s every thought—and thrusts her into the seductive realm of two very dangerous men, both of whom she desires but dares not trust.
As the enigmatic Jericho Barrons and the sensual Fae prince V’lane vie for her body and soul, as she rallies the sidhe-seers to fight an impossible battle and the power of the Dark Book weaves its annihilating path through the city, Mac’s greatest enemy delivers a final challenge...

**This is a RE-read for me** First review can be read HERE.

I wanted to re-read this book for three reasons 1) the next book in the series is coming out next month and I wanted to refresh my memory of where things left off and 2) because I needed a final book for the Re-Read 2010 Reading Challenge I had joined and 3) because I FRIGGIN' LOVE THIS SERIES!!

I think this might be the most amazing fantasy world building book since Harry Potter. I just can't get enough of the amazing world and events that author Karen Marie Moning has instilled in this series. It's just amazing. And the characters are fantastic! I know many people boo-hooed the heroine in the first book for being so caught up in her looks and clothes, but that is a MUST for this character to show her growth! In the first book "Mac" (MacKayla Lane) is a young carefree naive girl who goes through life rather easily. Then her sister is murdered and Mac is tossed into a world she didn't even know existed. By the fourth book "Dreamfever" not much of the "old Mac" is left. In her place is an amazing kick-ass heroine who is determined to fight evil at all cost and help the human race regain the world as we've always known it to be. Mac is amazing and I love her. My heart breaks for the suffering she's endured while at the same time she has me laughing out loud at her wit and ability to quickly cope with all life is tossing at her. She's an amazing character who grows by leaps and bounds in this series.

The men in this series are mysterious, dangerous and sexy as can be. Jericho Barrons, the nonhuman super amazing being is the most mysterious of all. He's powerful, the most powerful being Mac or anyone else has seen in the books so far. Mac has no idea just WHAT Jericho Barrons is but she's determined to find out. While Barrons teaches Mac what he believes she needs to know, he struggles with keeping her close and keeping her at a safe distance from himself. The battle between these too is only exceeded by the lustful chemistry they stir up with each other. A fantastic mix!

As each book answers a few more questions, each book also tosses in more questions yet to be answered. But for fans of the book, the main questions we want answered are 1) WHAT is Jericho Barrons and 2) will Mac and Barrons have a future together? Oh and one more, who or what was the 'beast' that Mac killed at the end of "Dreamfever". That one has me completely stumped! (but I don't want to know until I read the final book so PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE absolutely NO spoilers or hints! I won't even read the author's website because I do NOT like hints! I want to be surprised!)

I simply can NOT wait to get my greedy hands on the final book of this series "Shadowfever".

I HIGHLY recommend this series for fans of kick-ass fantasy fiction heroine books! You won't be disappointed!!

"Entice" by Carrie Jones

2010-12-20T07:21:00.005-05:00

Title: Entice
Author: Carrie Jones
Series: Need Series book #3
Published: 2010
Genre: YA Paranormal

Synopsis: Zara and Nick are soul mates, meant to be together forever. But that's not quite how things have worked out. For starters, well, Nick is dead. Supposedly, he's been taken to a mythic place for warriors known as Valhalla, so Zara and her friends might be able to get him back. But it's taking time, and meanwhile a group of evil pixies is devastating Bedford, with more teens going missing every day. An all-out war seems imminent, and the good guys need all the warriors they can find. But how to get to Valhalla? And even if Zara and her friends discover the way, there's that other small problem: Zara's been pixie kissed. When she finds Nick, will he even want to go with her? Especially since she hasn't turned into just any pixie. . . She's Astley's queen.

In a few words: dragged out

I first have to say that I ADORE this series. The characters and plot are excellent. The twists and turns unseen and surprising. That said, this book of the series seemed to drag on about nothing much. I honestly think I could have read the first few chapters and final two chapters and not missed a thing. The middle was completely dispensable, unfortunately. My guess is that this series was supposed to be a three book deal, then someone had the bright idea to drag it out further. I think it was a mistake. This book could have ended here. I am not giving up on the series because I still love the characters and want to know how it all will end, but this book was disappointing on several levels.

Entice starts where 'Captivate' ended. Children are missing, a school bus full of teens has been attacked by evil pixies and the main characters are going to a school dance. That just rubs me all wrong. The town is in chaos, the police can't figure out why so many kids are missing. The FBI is moving in and they aren't any closer to figuring things out either. But that is not heroine Zara's biggest problem. Her problem is she kissed the Pixie King Astley and with that kiss she has turned into the Pixie Queen. She's blue with vicious shark-like teeth in her mouth. She must keep up a glamour so she doesn't scare people away, even her own friends- who are trying to figure out if she can be trusted or not. You see pixies feed off humans- males mostly but any human blood with do in a pinch. Zara's other problem...her were-wolf boyfriend died and was taken up to Valhalla and she is determined to find a way to bring him back- even at the cost of other lives. This didn't sit well with me either.

Zara is so pigheadedly stubborn that she is willing to jeopardize her life and her friends lives in order to just find a clue as to how to get into Valhalla and retrieve Nick her boyfriend. People are injured, people die and still Zara is determined to go after Nick. I get that she loves the guy, it was first love. They were only dating a matter of weeks and now she's willing to risk her life and the lives of everyone around her, to bring back a dead boyfriend. I didn't get that. It would be one thing to martyr herself, but she continually put everyone else at risk. I didn't like that.

My opinion, while I really liked Nick, he died. Let him go. There are other more important things happening in this story. I just never saw Nick as vital to the story. He was great, but the Pixie King Astley is far more interesting and he's in love with Zara. Zara just can't see anything beyond Nick. (Remind anyone of Bella Swan? But Bella was all about protecting people and Zara is all about risking people to get what she wants.) I lost some respect for Zara in this book, I hope to get it back in the next one.

Rating: 3 stars out of 5.

Buy it: AMAZON.COM or BARNES & NOBLE

On the island...come visit me!

2010-12-16T08:28:00.003-05:00

I'm over on DIK today. Stop by and check out my funny town names post.

http://dikladiesrule.blogspot.com/2010/12/who-named-these-places.html

"Grave Secret" by Charlaine Harris

2010-12-12T13:32:00.008-05:00

Title: Grave Secret
Author: Charlaine Harris
Series: Harper Connelly Series Bk#4(final)
Published: 2009
Genre: Mystery/Crime

Synopsis: Lightning-struck sleuth Harper Connelly and her stepbrother Tolliver take a break from looking for the dead to visit the two little girls they both think of as family. But as they travel to Texas, memories of their horrible childhood resurface. Family secrets ensnare them both, as Tolliver learns his father is out of jail and Harper finally discovers what happened to her missing sister Cameron so many years before. And what she finds will change her world forever.

In a word: Riveting

I just LOVE this mystery series. Harper was struck by lightning when she was a teenager. Her stepbrother, Tolliver did CPR and saved her life. After that event, Harper has been able to "read bones". When she walks over a grave, the dead cry out to her telling her who they are and how they died. Harper and her stepbrother Tolliver have made a living off her abilities, travelling all around the country locating dead/missing people for a fee.

When their latest job takes them back to Texas, they decided to spend some time there visiting with their siblings who were adopted by their aunt. Harper's childhood had started off wonderful, with two loving parents. Then her parents fell into heavy drugs, split up and tore the children's world apart. Harper's mother hooked up with Tolliver's father when the kids were teens and they become very close. It was their job to look after the younger children because their parents wouldn't in their doped up states.

But one day, Harper's sister Cameron just disappears and now it's eight years later and Harper still hasn't given up on finding her sister- dead or alive. With Tolliver at her side, they dig into their families ugly past and find things they never dreamed of. Betrayal, deceit, hatred, murder and lies.

This mystery was wonderful and heartbreaking. After reading the first books in the series I knew what finding Cameron meant to Harper and reading as it all unravelled was both heartbreaking and refreshing in that it was over now. Harper could finally find some sort of peace and move on with her life. She needed that and deserved that, so I was happy for her.

While some people were icked out by Harper and Tolliver being together as a couple (this occured in the 3rd book), I loved it. They were perfect for each other. While they were raised as siblings, they were not blood related at all. So there was no 'ick' factor for me. I liked this part of the story because these two were like soul mates, no one else could be better for them than each other are.

A wonderful mystery/crime series with a paranormal twist. I highly recommend this series. These books really should be read in order.

Rating: 4 stars out of 5.

AMAZON.COM

BARNES AND NOBLE

"Preaching to the Corpse" by Roberta Isleib

2010-12-12T13:06:00.008-05:00

Title: Preaching to the Corpse
Author: Roberta Ileib
Series: Advice Column Series Bk#2
Published: 2007
Genre: Mystery

Synopsis: It's Christmas in postcard-perfect Guilford, Connecticut, but the season is anything but peaceful. When a church member dies under suspicious circumstances, the minister starts looking for higher power...
Psychologist/advice columnist Dr. Rebecca Butterman gets a call in the middle of the night from the minister at her church. He's in custody after going to a parishioner's home-and finding her freshly dead. The murdered matron was the leader of a search committee charged with finding a new assistant pastor after the previous one left in a rush. Rebecca learns that the committee was divided- Did someone try to eliminate the competition? Now she's putting her analytical skills to work to track the killer, while resisting the urge to break the seventh commandment with a very married detective and praying she's not the next victim."

In a word: OK

*possible subtle spoilers*

While I enjoyed the mystery part of this book and the setting (Christmas time in New England) I didn't really like the heroine much. The heroine is Dr. Rebecca Butterman, a divorced successful psychologist who writes an advice column. What I didn't like about her, was she was so judgemental of people. She came across as being self righteous and looking down her nose at the people around her. I didn't like that. Also, she was crushing on a married cop whose wife was dying of Lou Gehrig's disease- how freaking low can a person go? Every time she saw him she'd blush like crazy and act all stupid. The guy wasn't showing any interest in her that way, yet she acted like a little school girl around him. Totally irritating.

While I couldn't solve the "who-done-it" mystery part (which is a good thing, I hate figuring it out early in a mystery book), the mystery its self was sort of ... bizarre. I just didn't see why anyone would commit murder just to keep a good preacher in their church. That made no sense to me. I was thinking there was some deep dark secret as to why someone would be murdering people or trying to murder people and the only reason given was the preacher was so good, the nut job didn't want someone else taking over. Total disappointment.

What carried the book for me, was the setting and the numerous 'could-be' killer characters. There were a few people who looked like they might have motive and that carried the mystery along. Unfortunately for this book, the people with the 'might have motive' ended up having far better motives to commit murder than the actual murderer. It was just weird and disappointing.

This was the second book in a series and I did not read the first book. Perhaps I would have liked it better if I had, but this was a stand alone mystery so it should have worked, but it did not.

The best thing about the book: the cover art
Rating: 2 stars out of 5.

All that said, the book is rated highly on AMAZON.COM.

Here's an AMAZON.COM review of this book that I agree with by "MIMI-MIMI"

Jumping Rob (Pattinson) Meme

2010-12-11T12:50:00.008-05:00

I came across the "Jumping Rob Meme" back in Novemeber and knew I wanted to play around with doing my own "Jumping Rob Meme" at some point in the future.

These photos (by other bloggers and tweets on Twitter) gave me a good chuckle and I had to think about what I wanted to do with "Jumping Rob"- if and when I ever figured out how to do it.

After a brief lesson from my teenager in using "GIMP 2", I tried my hand at the Jumping Rob Meme. Below are my holiday theme Jumping Rob Meme efforts, I hope you like them.

First up: Jumping Rob visits Santa Claus...(clearly he's excited-and under dressed)

Next up: Jumping Rob stars in The Nutcracker Ballet (who knew he was so talented?)

That's it for me and Jumping Rob.

Now how about YOU give the Jumping Rob Meme a try? Come on, you know you want to! Create your own Jumping Rob Meme then leave a link here to share it!

Have fun with Jumping Rob!!

You say it's your birthday...

2010-12-08T07:45:00.004-05:00

HAPPY BIRTHDAY
IAN SOMERHALDER!!!!!!

What's up with me...

2010-12-07T12:17:00.010-05:00

Sorry I haven't been around. Life has gotten in the way of my blogging and reading time lately. I only read 5 books in the entire month of November- two of which were re-reads. I think that was one of my worse reading months to date since I began blogging. *sigh* Which by the way just occurs to me, my blogoversary is coming up! Where does the time go?? I began this blog on December 19, 2008! Now it seems like my time is so short I am barely here anymore. I do hope to change that after the holidays are over. As winter sets in, I should be home more and reading more (that's the plan anyway!).

November reads:
-"Going Too Far" by Jennifer Echols (YA) 5 stars
-"The Iron King" by Julie Kagawa (YA) 4.5 stars
-"The Iron Daughter" by Julie Kagawa (YA) 5 stars

Re-read 2010 Challenge
Re-read: "Twilight" by Stephanie Meyer
Re-read: "Soul Deep" by Lori Leigh

I just got back from the library and here's what I've got to read this week.

Title: Preaching to the Corpse
Author: Rebecca Isleib
Published: 2007
Genre: Mystery

Synopsis: It's Christmas in postcard-perfect Guilford, Connecticut, but the season is anything but peaceful. When a church member dies under suspicious circumstances, the minister starts looking for higher power...
Psychologist/advice columnist Dr. Rebecca Butterman gets a call in the middle of the night from the minister at her church. He's in custody after going to a parishioner's home-and finding her freshly dead. The murdered matron was the leader of a search committee charged with finding a new assistant pastor after the previous one left in a rush. Rebecca learns that the committee was divided- Did someone try to eliminate the competition? Now she's putting her analytical skills to work to track the killer, while resisting the urge to break the seventh commandment with a very married detective and praying she's not the next victim."

I picked "Preaching to the Corpse" for three reasons 1) It's a Christmas time story and I haven't yet read a Christmas book this year 2) It's set in Guilford, CT a place I go all the time and 3) I was really, really, REALLY wanting to read a good mystery book. I love mystery and have neglected this area too long now.

The next book I borrowed from the library is...
Title: Sixteen Brides
Author: Stephanie Grace Whitson
Published: 2010
Genre: Historical Frontier Woman

Synopsis: Sixteen Civil War widows living in St. Louis respond to a series of meetings conducted by a land speculator who lures them west by promising "prime homesteads" in a "booming community." Unbeknownst to them, the speculator's true motive is to find an excuse to bring women to the fledging community of Plum Grove, Nebraska, in hopes they will accept marriage proposals shortly after their arrival!
Sparks fly when these unsuspecting widows meet the men who are waiting for them. These women are going to need all the courage and faith they can muster to survive these unwanted circumstances--especially when they begin to discover that none of them is exactly who she appears to be.

I picked this book because it was a new release and because I love 'frontier women' fiction and this one sounded interesting.

The last book I borrowed is a re-read for me. I ADORE, ADORE, ADORE the "Fever" series by Karen Marie Moning and she's got the final book of the series coming out soon (but not soon enough dammit!). Anywho...I really wanted to re-read the last book "Dreamfever" before the next and final book is released.

Title: Dreamfever
Author: Karen Marie Moning
Series: Fever series (bk#4)
Genre: Fantasy/Paranormal Fiction (with romance)

Synopsis: They may have stolen my past, but I’ll never let them take my future.
When the walls between Man and Fae come crashing down, freeing the insatiable, immortal Unseelie from their icy prison, MacKayla Lane is caught in a deadly trap. Captured by the Fae Lord Master, she is left with no memory of who or what she is: the only sidhe-seer alive who can track the Sinsar Dubh, a book of arcane black magic that holds the key to controlling both worlds.
Clawing her way back from oblivion is only the first step Mac must take down a perilous path, from the battle-filled streets of Dublin to the treacherous politics of an ancient, secret sect, through the tangled lies of men who claim to be her allies into the illusory world of the Fae themselves, where nothing is as it seems—and Mac is forced to face a soul-shattering truth.
Who do you trust when you can’t even trust yourself?

So that's it for my library books this week.
Have you read any of these books? What have you borrowed from the library recently?

"Soul Deep" by Lora Leigh

2010-11-26T10:46:00.018-05:00

Title: Soul Deep
Author: Lora Leigh
Series: Bk#1 Coyote Breed series
Published: ebook-2004/print-2007
Pages: 190

Synopsis: Book 1 in the Coyote Breeds series.
Mother Nature has a way of making the most unlikely couples 'fit'. And what could be more unlikely than a sassy, independent President's daughter who doesn't know when to keep her mouth shut and a loner Coyote Breed with a hunger for a cute rosebud mouth that he's determined to still. The vote for Breed Law is coming down the pike.
Kiowa's job is to watch Amanda, the President's daughter look, but not touch. Just make sure the Goof Troop, the Secret Service detail assigned to protect her, do their job until the law is passed. But when they don't and the bad guys move in to take her out, Kiowa reluctantly slips in to the rescue, snatching her away to safety. But she isn't going to come easy and it takes more than smooth talking to make her see his point of view.
For a man who's had nothing, Amanda Marion is food for the hunger that has tortured him, the reality to every dream Kiowa never dared believe in. What he feels for her is more than heat, more than love. She breathes life into his hardened heart, melting the icy chill that has protected him all his life, and touches a part of him that he thought had died his soul. And now he'll kill anyone who tries to take her away from him. But the one person he can't fight is Amanda, and when she wants to leave...

In a word: HOT!!!

**I re-read this book for the Re-read 2010 Book Challenge**

This still remains my favorite book of Lora Leigh's "Breed series". It's HOT, fast paced and focuses on the romance more than the politics of the breed vs humans in society. Kiowa is watching Amanda without her knowing it. He's also falling in love with the woman he was sent to protect. As he watches her, he sees the woman she is, caring, loving, funny, smart, sassy and sexy as hell. He knows she's the Presidents daughter and as such would have nothing to do with him. He's the result of a science experiment mixing human and coyote DNA to create a super soldier. Fearless, cunning, aggressive and strong.

On Halloween night as Kiowa is watching from a distance as Amanda is handing out candy to children something goes wrong. Suddenly Amanda is not there and he's sure he heard a woman's scream. Jumping to action, Kiowa finds several hooded men in the process of abducting Amanda- who is out cold. He ruthlessly kills them all, then kidnaps Amanda himself in order to protect her.

When Amanda wakes up and starts to scream the best way Kiowa can think of shutting her up is to kiss her. When their lips meet, fire erupts. Kiowa has special glands along his tongue that swell when he kisses his mate and kick start his mate into 'heat'. Neither one of these two have any idea this happens, but they do know they are both burning up with sexual desire. Amanda is scared to death, she is kissing this stranger and wants nothing more than to have sex with him and she doesn't even know his name. Kiowa is stunned. He's kissed many women but none of them have had this sort of startling effect on him or his body.

Kiowa makes a phone call to the Breeds base to tell them what is going on. They sent a couple to help get Kiowa and Amanda to safety fast. From there it is a race not only to protect Amanda, but also to control their burning desire. Amanda is in full blown heat and she's in horrible pain because she hasn't had sex with Kiowa. And he's in just as much pain as his body is demanding he mate with her. Halfway to base they can wait no longer. The car pulls over, the couple sent to retrieve Kiowa and Amanda get out of the car to give the heated couple privacy.

Once they've mated Amanda's pain disappears for a while giving her time to relax. Kiowa gets a pretty good idea what is going on, as he's heard stories about other Breeds and this mating call. What Kiowa didn't know (nor Amanda) was that once he'd found his mate, she would trigger his penis to 'knot' during sex just like coyotes do. During sex, Kiowa's penis swells and locks in Amanda's womb assaulting them both with orgasm after orgasm for several long moments. Amanda is still clueless and stunned that she's just had sex with a complete stranger who has a knotting penis, liked it and wants to do it again- soon!

Excerpt (sex scene against the side of their Jeep) page 81 & 82:

"Not yet," he snarled then.
"Now." She was shaking, the added pain pushing her higher.
He spanked her again. His hard calloused hand landed with enough strength to make her burn. She twisted, tightening her pussy, feeling her juices flowing with the added stimulus.
"Damn you," he gritted out then. "You're killing me, Manda. Leave me some control, dammit."
Why? She had none left.
She tightened again, whimpering in pleasure as his strokes increased, his hands gripping her ass as he began to pound inside her. Hard. Heavy.
Burning, exquisite lightning erupted inside her womb, sending her senses spinning as ecstasy washed over with orgasm so deep, so hard she could only cry brokenly in response.
Then she screamed.
"No. Kiowa, no..."
But there was no stopping it. The swelling had already begun, stretching her, prolonging her orgasm, locking him deep inside her as his hips jerked and his throttled shout signaled his own release.
His semen spurted inside her, and she could feel it. Felt the head of his cock locked at the mouth of her womb as each hard pulse of seed jetted inside her body. Her release built again, exploded, echoed and vibrated inside her as his teeth sank into her flesh again, holding her in place, refusing to allow her to fight the hold he now had on her.

This was a great HOT erotic paranormal book and entire series.

Rating: 5 stars

Buy it: Barnes & Noble or Amazon.com

Happy Thanksgiving!

2010-11-24T16:50:00.002-05:00

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!!

Don't eat too much...gobble, gobble...

Review: 'The Iron Fey' series by Julie Kagawa

2010-11-23T06:43:00.022-05:00

Two book reviews in one post today because I read these books back to back and they are from one series.

Title: The Iron King
Author: Julie Kagawa
Series: The Iron Fey Bk#1
Genre: YA Fantasy
Pages: 363
Published: 2010

Synopsis: "Meghan Chase has a secret destiny—one she could never have imagined…
Something has always felt slightly off in Meghan's life, ever since her father disappeared before her eyes when she was six. She has never quite fit in at school…or at home.
When a dark stranger begins watching her from afar, and her prankster best friend becomes strangely protective of her, Meghan senses that everything she's known is about to change.
But she could never have guessed the truth—that she is the daughter of a mythical faery king and is a pawn in a deadly war. Now Meghan will learn just how far she'll go to save someone she cares about, to stop a mysterious evil no faery creature dare face…and to find love with a young prince who might rather see her dead than let her touch his icy heart."

In a word: enchanting

This story hooked me from the very beginning. Meghan is an outcast at school who fantasizes about the most popular boy in school noticing her. When he does notice her, its not at all how Meghan had dreamed. Instead it becomes the most humiliating day of her life. Robbie is Meghan's faithful best friend. He is always there for her and always seems to know exactly what Meghan needs. One day, Meghan's world turns upside down when her little brother has been replaced with an evil changeling. Robbie offers Meghan a choice, he can make her forget everything- including her little brother, so that she accepts the changeling or she can learn the whole truth of her heritage and begin a deadly journey into Faeryland to search for her brother.

She has to go find her brother and she doesn't want to forget. Rob is torn between wanting to keep her safe and wanting her to know the real Rob- who happens to be Robin Goodfellow from "A Midsummer Night's Dream" or AKA "Puck". The fey in this story are brought to life by the stories humans make up. As long as the story is retold or the characters remember in anyway by humans, the fey live on, and are immortal. If humans forget the stories or characters, the fey die.

Robbie leads Meghan into Faeryland and the adventure begins. It's nonstop and full of amazing creatures and places. Meghan's father is the Summer Faery King, Oberon (Seeling King). He did not plan on Meghan ever entering Faeryland. He had ordered Robbie to keep watch over Meghan and keep her ignorant of her true heritage for her own safety. The Winter Queen (Unseeling Queen) would like nothing more than to get her hands on Oberon's daughter and use Meghan as a pawn.

As Meghan searches for her brother, she meets and befriends an assortment of fey beings. One being is the Winter Queen's youngest son, Ash. Ash is beyond gorgeous. He's breathtaking beautiful and has a heart of pure ice. He'd just as soon kill you as speak with you. But Meghan manages to catch his eye- after he first tries to hunter her down to kill her. At first she's terrified of him- then he asks her to dance and his absolute beauty awes her. It is forbidden in the Faeryland for the Summer court beings to mix with the Winter court beings. A romance between the two sides ends with the couple being forever banished from Faeryland if they do not renounce their love and take an oath never to see each other again. Fey oaths can never be broken.

While Meghan doesn't really grasp all that this law entails, Ash does. He knows being with Meghan would cost him everything - even his own life because a fey couldn't live forever in the human world. These two have chemistry from their first dance, but Ash has no intentions of letting anything happen. Meghan on the other hand, can't seem to help herself. She is drawn to Ash like a moth to light. She sees inside him...beyond his icy exterior. Even Ash's own family doesn't know or see him as clearly as Meghan does.

But Meghan didn't come to Faeryland for romance, she's on a mission to get her younger brother and bring him home. She travels all over Faeryland, having near death encounters with assorted beings all whom would love to eat her (apparently humans are very tasty to the fey). As she travels she begins to learn more about herself and her fey powers that she didn't know even existed. Her journey eventually brings her face to face with the powerful Iron King and only she can defeat him because he is iron and iron is poison to the fey people. Meghan being half human has no problem with iron. But the Iron King is very powerful and has been busy building an army so that he can take over both the Summer and Winter Courts of Faeryland. He wants to rule it all and he wants Meghan at his side as his Iron Queen. He offers her everything, power, the freedom of her brother and family, even immortality its self if she will only become his queen.

For the girl who was the social outcast at school, made fun of, the poor pig-farmers daughter who never had anything, this is an amazing offer. She could have it all, be on top for the first time in her life. She'd have power and with that power the ability to never been an outcast or social misfit again. No one would dare laugh at her, or play cruel jokes on her again. She'd be feared and adored for eternity. Meghan has a choice to make. She must consider her old life and all she had with the possibility of all the Iron King offers her for her future as the Queen of all Faeryland.

Great fun fantasy fiction!
Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5

Buy it: Barnes & Noble or Amazon.com

Title: The Iron Daughter
Author: Julie Kagawa
Series: The Iron Fey Bk#2
Genre: YA Fantasy
Pages: 359
Published: 2010

Synopsis: "Half Summer faery princess, half human, Meghan has never fit in anywhere. Deserted by the Winter prince she thought loved her, she is prisoner to the Winter faery queen. As war looms between Summer and Winter, Meghan knows that the real danger comes from the Iron fey—ironbound faeries that only she and her absent prince have seen. But no one believes her.
Worse, Meghan's own fey powers have been cut off. She's stuck in Faery with only her wits for help. Trusting anyone would be foolish. Trusting a seeming traitor could be deadly. But even as she grows a backbone of iron, Meghan can't help but hear the whispers of longing in her all-too-human heart."

In a word: Fantastic!

The story takes up right where 'The Iron King' left off. Meghan had given her word to Ash that after her younger brother was rescued she would go with Ash to the Winter Court where he would turn her over to his Queen to do with as she pleased. Ash is torn between his duty to the Winter Queen and his feelings for Meghan. He can't have both. He must decide which he wants more, his entire centuries old fey life at the Winter Court or Meghan Chase the half human fey girl who has captured his heart. But there is a love triangle going on here. Faithful devoted friend Robbie is in love with Meghan too and he's not going to give up Meghan without a fight. Meghan might be forced to chose between the two men she loves most in the world. Will she chose the icy prince who pushes her away and threatens to kill her at every opportunity or her best friend whose kisses she can't deny make her want more? If she choses Ash, he loses everything in his world and is forsaken. If she choses Robbie she can have it all, both a human world existance and the ability to live with and among the Summer fey whenever she wants. She gives up nothing with Rob.

Divided hearts are not the only problem in this story, the Iron King's army is still growing and the stubborn Summer King and Winter Queen refuse to listen to reason. They don't believe there is an Iron kingdom. They do not see the threat to their very existance even when Ash and Meghan warn them. And, there is a traitor in the Winter Court. The Winter Queen believes Meghan has used Ash and made him the traitor. She's wrong and it just might cost her the Winter kingdom.

The adventure in this book is even better than the first because we meet back up with many old friends from the first book, as well as the romance heats up, the adventure is riveting and nonstop, more mysteries from the first book are solved and some old enemies become friends.

Another great book by author Julie Kagawa! I can't wait to read the next book "The Iron Queen" which is scheduled to be released in early 2011.

Rating: 5 stars!!

To buy it: Barnes & Noble or Amazon.com

A song & a HOT movie...

2010-11-21T09:28:00.025-05:00

**warning: this post includes nudity**

This weekend I watched a steamy hot romance indie film from 2005 called "Lie With Me" (a movie fellow blogger Barbara mentioned long ago). Anyway, I just fell in love with the music that opened and closed the film.

The song is "Saviour" by Canadian musician Annelise Noronha.

Lyrics:

It didn't have to be him
It could've been anybody
You didn't have to begin
To dismantle me

You could save me if you wanted to
And if you asked me I would do the same for you
I could grieve the loss inside of you
I would save you if you want me to

All the time we spent was lying
All the things you said denying
And when you look into my eyes
All you see is second prize

You could save me if you wanted to
And if you asked me I would do the same for you
I could grieve the loss inside of you
I would save you if you want me to

Video with song "Saviour" by Annelise Noronha

My problem is I can't find anyone selling this song online so I can buy it. Can anyone help me out here?? Where can I buy this song??

Now about the movie "Lie With Me" - ...HOT HOT HOT!! Oh my! This movie is NOT for those who don't want graphic sex scenes.

I had two reasons for renting this movie, 1) fellow blogger Barbara mentioned watching it long ago and 2) it starred Eric Balfour (*sigh*).

Those were two perfectly good reasons for me renting this movie. Now, I had NO idea it was so sexually graphic. It's listed as "steamy romance" on Netflix so I knew it would be hot, but didn't know it would graphically show David (played by Eric Balfour) getting a blowjob (yes you see his complete very erect package). Nor did I know I'd see "David" going down on his girlfriend and very graphically bringing her to orgasm with his tongue. Then a surprise anal sex scene driven by an outburst of emotion from David. My jaw was on the floor watching most of this movie! LOL

For a visual of Eric's goods from the movie go: HERE (X-rated movie scene photos)

**warning nudity below**

Anywho... it was a bit weird only because Lila (the female lead) was hard to relate to for me and her actions to situations were completely the opposite of what my own reactions would have been. So she was difficult for me to actually like for most of the movie. But by the end, I understood her better and liked her and how it ended. David played by Eric Balfour I liked from the get go (what's not to like?!).

He stirred emotions in me, during the scenes where his father played a role. David cares for his elderly Dad so tenderly and you can see the love and respect between the two men, one older and one young yet both on the same page.

The story is about Lila, a young woman who likes and needs sex. She knows nothing about love, feeling love, giving love or even wanting love in her life. She just wants sex- often. David, has a girlfriend that he's not emotionally attached to when he meets Lila. But he soon gets rid of her to pursue Lila.

These two are instantly drawn to each other, but Lila's lack of emotional need bothers David. He wants more than sex with Lila and that terrifies her because she doesn't believe she is capable of an emotional attachment with anyone.

Their sex is hot and passionate. David's emotions play out very clearly, while Lila's lack of emotions was frustrating to watch because you really want these two to stay together. They drive each other crazy and apart, but can't help but be pulled back together again.

This movie delivers HOT graphic sex, nudity and in the end, a happily ever after for this passionate couple.

Movie Review: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

2010-11-20T16:04:00.014-05:00

Like many others, I went to see "Harry Potter & the Deathly Hallows" on opening day. I have mixed feelings on the movie. Even though the movie is done in two parts, it still felt extremely rushed to me. And while I am glad the movie is in two parts to keep more of the book content in it, I also wish the two parts weren't being release so far apart from each other. It would have been nice if they had released them in the same month, so that people could watch them one right after the other.

Also, for anyone who hasn't read the books, I think they might find it nearly impossible to really follow along with the journey in this movie. It's incredibly dark, as it rightly should be. I think many children who haven't read the book will be disappointed. My daughter's friend and her mother went. They have seen all the movies but never read the books and absolutely hated this Harry Potter movie. I told them they really should have read the books to appreciate all the details in the movie and to better understand how this is all unfolding. They walked away disappointed and bad mouthing the movie which I don't think was justified at all.

The movie was good, the effects great in bringing the book to life. The problem (I think) is for all those people out there who never bothered to read the books and instead just watched the movies. You're not going to get as much out of this movie installment without knowing the details.

***movie spoilers below***

Least favorite parts
1)I didn't like the naked Harry and Hermione scenes used to make Ron doubt his friends and not destroy the necklace. I didn't feel that was necessary at all. A few parents of young children at the movie didn't like it either, if their grumbling and gasps were any indicator.
2)I was sorry not see more of the Dursley's one last time. I know time was short, but they played a huge part in Harry's life and I wish they had gotten a bit more time in this one.
3)How the elves looked. Dobby didn't look like Dobby to me. Something was different and until I rewatch the second Harry Potter movie I won't be sure exactly what it was, but he didn't look right to me in the close up shots. From a distance he looked like his old self, but up close he seemed different- I think it was his skin or something.

Favorite parts
1)My most favorite part was when Harry could see Hermione was upset about Ron and without a word, turned up the music on the radio and took her in his arms to dance with her. That was so sweet. You know Harry isn't into dancing, but he saw his dear faithful friend hurting and wanted to cheer her up and it worked- for a bit anyway. That was a touching scene for me.
2)I loved Ron knowing he had really ticked off Hermione and his feeble attempts and making things right again. But not knowing for sure how to go about it, all the while deflecting deadly glares from a very ticked off Hermione. Very cute.
3)The STRONG showing of faithful friendship against all odds and probable death between Harry, Hermione and Ron and all the others like Luna, George, Fred etc. Beautifully portrayed and tear worthy.
4)Loved the animated scene telling the story of the "Deathly Hallows". That really did a great job of showing what the Deathly Hallows was all about.
5)Loved that the movie, as dark as it was, included humor and some real laugh out loud moments. The word play and actions between Harry, Hermione and Ron were fantastic.

Difficult scenes
1)The death of Dobby.
2)Hermione being tortured - the guys listening to her horrible screams and not being able to get to her.
3)The loss/death of Harry's beloved owl Hedwig.

Overall a wonderful portrayal of the final book in the Harry Potter series. I look forward to seeing part 2 and how it all wraps up on the big screen.

Have you seen it yet? What did you think? What where your favorite and least favorite parts? Any part difficult to watch?

Coming Soon: New Werewolf movie 'Red Riding Hood'

2010-11-20T02:52:00.012-05:00

Movie: Red Riding Hood

Opening date: March 2011

Director: Catherine Hardwicke (Twilight)

Starring: Amanda Seyfried (Dear John, Letters to Juliet, Mean Girls), Gary Oldman (Harry Potter movies), Shiloh Fernandez (from TV series "Jericho" & "CSI: NY" & "Gossip Girl"), Julie Christie, Max Irons

Genre: Fantasy

Website: Red Riding Hood (http://red-riding-hood.the-movie-trailer.com/)

Doesn't this look good??!!

"Going Too Far" by Jennifer Echols

2010-11-16T05:47:00.022-05:00

Title: Going Too Far
Author: Jennifer Echols
Published: 2009
Pages: 245pgs - 19 Chapters
Genre: YA Contemporary

Synopsis: HOW FAR WOULD YOU GO?
All Meg has ever wanted is to get away. Away from high school. Away from her backwater town. Away from her parents who seem determined to keep her imprisoned in their dead-end lives. But one crazy evening involving a dare and forbidden railroad tracks, she goes way too far...and almost doesn't make it back.
John made a choice to stay. To enforce the rules. To serve and protect. He has nothing but contempt for what he sees as childish rebellion, and he wants to teach Meg a lesson she won't soon forget. But Meg pushes him to the limit by questioning everything he learned at the police academy. And when he pushes back, demanding to know why she won't be tied down, they will drive each other to the edge -- and over....

In a word: Great!

From the first page I was drawn into this story. I wanted to know more about Meg and Officer After who arrests Meg and her friends for being drunk and trespassing on the forbidden railroad track bridge. A bridge that some teens were killed on several years earlier. A bridge Officer After is determined to keep the local teens off of.

Meg is a rebellious teen. She dyes her hair blue, drinks, smokes pot and likes to have sex. She gets good grades, good enough for college and can't wait to get out of the small town she was raised in. She doesn't get along with her parents, but often feels bad for hurting her mother with her actions. But not bad enough to stop her bad behavior.

One night when she is high and more than a bit drunk, Meg and her current sex partner Eric go up on the railroad bridge along with some friends. Just when things are starting to get hot between Meg and Eric, Officer After shows up to arrest them all. As each one of her friends gets cuffed and stuffed in patrol cars, Meg begins to panic. She can't stand being tied down (she hyperventilates and faints).
But Officer After hears the warning her friends give him about Meg flipping out if you try to tied her down, so instead he merely puts her in the back of his cruiser and locks the doors. This too makes Meg panic, but she manages to hold on to her panic until they reach the police station by running her mouth and cracking sarcastic remarks at Officer After.

One by one, her drunk accomplices are picked up from the police station by ticked off parents. All but Meg. Her family has washed their hands of her. She has pushed them too far this time. They leave her in jail. When Officer After attempts to lock Meg in a jail cell for the night, she faints. The woman police dispatcher, takes pity on Meg and offers to drive her home. Once home, Meg's father rips into her and demands to know why she bothered coming home at all. Meg knows she's pushed her parents too far this time, so she bites her tongue and goes to work in the family diner without saying a word to rock the boat further. She focuses on the big picture: finish high school, get the hell out of town.

Three of the four teens are forced to do "ride alongs" with police, ambulance or fire departments. The fourth teen, Eric has an attorney for a father who gets him out of any trouble he gets into. Meg finds out she is to ride along with Officer After every night for a week during her spring break. She's not happy about it, and uses her sarcasm to let Officer After know it every chance she gets. She questions him, pokes and prods him pushing him to his own limits. Officer After pushes right back at Meg, forcing her to look at her life and what she's doing to herself.

Once she's no longer getting drunk or high and recalls that Officer After had gone to school with her and wasn't that much older than her she begins to see him in a new way. She notices he's a hunky hot guy with a rock-her-world body that never quits. And Officer After has been caught several times checking out Meg's assets. The two are clearly attracted to each other. Officer After tries to keep things professional between them, but makes it perfectly clear he wants more. Meg wants sex with Officer After, but no strings attached. She doesn't do relationships- its just another form of being tied down.

They both come to a decision. When the week is up and there is no official tie between them, they are going to pursue the burning chemistry between them. Officer After wants a relationship, Meg wants hot sex and then to get out of town. Officer After wants to convince Meg that this small town isn't bad, and a good life can be had there. Meg wants to convince Officer After that there is more to life than that small town. She wants him to leave and never look back.

When she leads Officer After back to the train track bridge she gets a very surprising reaction from him. The question is, who will get their way (will they stay or will they leave?) and can these two opposites work things out?

There's more to this story that I did not want to give away. It's a quick read, full of interesting events and twists that drive the story forward. I read this in one sitting, just a few hours and loved every page. Having been a rebellious teen with blue hair (during my punk 80's phase) I related to Meg and liked her a lot. Officer After was just sexy hot and sigh worthy.

Rating: 5 stars out of 5 stars.

To buy it: Barnes & Noble or Amazon.com

10 Things...

2010-11-13T09:51:00.020-05:00

Hi all! I have a few things to share today, after my MIA of several days. I am taking a page from fellow blogger Kati over at Katidom who sometimes does a "10 Things" blog post to share assorted items in her life. Thanks for the idea Kati!!

1)I've been working crazy hours lately, so my blogging time has really been chopped to near nothing. I am sorry for not visiting all your wonderful blogs, and believe me I feel the loss. I think I'm going through withdrawals or something! It sucks! I have been reading many blogs on GoogleReader as time permits- though not much time to leave comments. But life has been crazy lately. Anywho, I haven't forgotten any of you, and miss you all very much. (((hugs)))

2) I did manage to complete a new YA book this week- actually just last night. It was a VERY fast read and a good one. The book is "Going Too Far" by Jennifer Echols. She's the town's 17 year old 'bad girl' with blue hair and he's the rookie cop determined to save her. That's all I'm saying till I write my review! I couldn't put it down and will be posting a review soon.

3) I did spend one day submerging myself in Jane Austen and loving every moment of it. I had a Jane Austen moviefest. I watched "Sense & Sensibility" (Hugh Grant/Alan Rickman version- my personal favorite), "Mansfield Park"(2007), "Northanger Abbey" and "Pride & Prejudice" (K.Knightley version). I loved it! Thought the version of Mansfield Park was my least favorite (2007 with blond Fanny). My favorite Mansfield Park is the 1999 version with Jonny Lee Miller, I can watch this version over and over and not get tired of it. Just wonderful!

4) I had to re-read a book for the 2010 Re-read Challenge and found myself once again picking up "Twilight" by Stephenie Meyer. Since I've already read and re-read this book on this blog over the years, I won't review it yet again. I just have to say, the first three books of this series have become "comfort reads" for me. I think each time I re-read Twilight I discover a bit more about the peculiar character/nature of Bella. What really stood out in this reading, was that truly Bella would never ever have been happy remaining a mere human.
Even if she hadn't met Edward, Bella just never fit in and was unhappy with her lot in life. Without Edward she probably would have ended up totally miserable or making Jacob totally miserable had they 'hooked up'. That begs the question, if Edward and Bella never got together to produce their hybrid monster child (*shudder*), would Jacob have ever "imprinted" on anyone? Hmm...
I am not sure why I enjoy coming back to this series so often. Bella often drives me crazy and I always end up feeling bad for Jacob who (in my opinion) just gets used by Bella and gets his heart trampled on way too many times. Oh how I wish Meyers would have never written "Breaking Dawn" and instead jumped off with a new series giving Jacob his own storyline and true love (not a monster baby). *sniff, sniff*

*dries tears and moves on*

5) Have you seen the 7 year old rapping Ke$ha tunes?

6) My TV crack addiction: Vampire Diaries. I am loving it, but I am upset that hot, sexy werewolf Mason Lockwood got killed off so damn soon! He was wonderful eye candy and really, really needed to stick around for the entire season in my opinion. I am adoring Caroline as a vamp. She's great and her character is really coming into her own now. In the first season, this character annoyed me mostly and I was bored with her screen time. Now I look forward to it. After last Thursday's episode, I found myself feeling sorry for evil, crazy bitch vampire Katherine. I know she's a ruthless killer, selfish and destructive, but her past history made me feel bad for her. I can't help but wonder where the show will take her character and Elena. Should be very interesting, though not nearly as interesting as where I HOPE the storyline takes Elena and Damon. If they fail to deliver this smoldering couple hooking up, it will destroy the entire Vamp Diaries series (in my opinion). This long drawn out lead up, really needs to deliver on the goods and make it as hot as the build up has become. Just saying...(as my daughter so often says).

7) My other addiction: Sons of Anarchy. I liked season one, I ADORED season two. This season... bored to damn tears. What happened? This season doesn't even have the same...flavor of the past seasons. It's like they tossed out Kurt Sutter and put someone else at the helm. Kurt! Kurt!! What the hell are you doing? Big disappointment on this one... I just hope somehow it is redeemed before the season final- but I'm not holding my breath. I feel like I'm watching a train wreck this season.

8) Books I can't wait for...
-The next book in the Karen Marie Moning "Fever" series "Shadowfever" to come out in December. I love this fantasy fiction series and just couldn't put the previous books down! This woman knows how to do cliffhangers!
-The next book "Entice" in the YA fairy series by Carrie Jones to come out. This is a superb fantasy YA romance series! And what a cliffhanger!! If you haven't tried this series yet you are truly missing out! I HIGHLY RECOMMEND it!

9) Movies I can't wait for...
-I can't wait to see "Beastly", inspired by the book "Beastly" by Alex Flinn.
-I can't wait to see "I Am Number Four", inspired by the book "I Am Number Four" by Pittacuse Lore.
(same male actor, Alex Pettyfer stars in both films as the lead)

10)And finally, I can't wait to have more reading and blogging time!!

So what are you all up to? What are you reading? What are you watching? What have I been missing?!

MIA...

2010-11-09T10:42:00.005-05:00

Sorry I've been MIA lately. I am just working so many hours that I have not had any time to read or blog lately. It's been crazy!

For fans of the CW's "Vampire Diaries" have you heard that in December the CW is going to be showing 2 hours of Vampire Diaries every night? *big grin*

For more on the details go to TVFANATIC.COM.

Hopefully I will be back to my regular blogging soon.

My October Reads...

2010-10-31T12:15:00.004-04:00

Books I read this month:

-"Backstage Pass" by Olivia Cunning (erotic) **ARC**

-"Seduce Me at Sunrise" by Lisa Kleypas (historical romance)

-"The Dragon Lord" by Connie Mason (historical romance)

-"Crusade" by Nancy Holder/Debbie Viquie (YA Paranormal)

-"The Vikings Woman" by Heather Graham (Historical Romance) **re-read challenge**

-"I Am Number Four" by Pittacus Lore (YA Sci-fi)

-"Clockwork Angel" by Cassandra Clare (YA Steampunk)

-"Wildthorn" by Jane Eagland (YA Historical Gay)

My favorites were "Backstage Pass", "The Dragon Lord", "I Am Number Four" and "Wildthorn". These rated 4 stars or better. For my reviews of any of these books see my tag cloud (left sidebar).

What were your favorite books you read this month??

"Wildthorn" by Jane Eagland

2010-10-30T18:39:00.011-04:00

Title: Wildthorn
Author: Jane Eagland
Published: 2009
Genre: YA Historical

Synopsis: They strip her naked, of everything—undo her whalebone corset, hook by hook. Locked away in Wildthorn Hall—a madhouse—they take her identity. She is now called Lucy Childs. She has no one; she has nothing. But, she is still seventeen—still Louisa Cosgrove, isn't she? Who has done this unthinkable deed? Louisa must free herself, in more ways than one, and muster up the courage to be her true self, all the while solving her own twisted mystery and falling into an unconventional love . . .
Originally published in the UK, this well-paced, provocative romance pushes on boundaries—both literal and figurative—and, do beware: it will bind you, too.

In a word: Engrossing

I did not know anything about this story when I borrowed it from the library. I liked the cover and the story of young girl locked up in an asylum sounded intriguing to me. To review this book I am going to have to give away something- there is no other way for me to give my review. First I want to say, this was an EXCELLENT book and because I want to share how it touched me, I need to give something away that some might or might not already be known about the story. (I didn't know it)
***If you haven't read the book, have no idea what it's about and don't want to know anything more, don't read my review. If you have no plans to read this, please read the review anyway...it might change your mind.

Let me start by asking you a question. Have you ever really considered what it must have been like years ago when men dominated everything? When men decided a woman's fate? Decided how she would live her life, whom she would see, talk to... whom she would marry? A time when women had very little to no choices at all. That would all be hard enough for a heterosexual woman to endure...being given in marriage to man she didn't love or even like. Now imagine for a moment would sort of hell it would be like if you were a lesbian. No hope of ever truly being with someone you cared about and loved. Not only would men forbid it, but even other women and society at large would forbid it- in many places this still occurs. But to get back to the book review, I personally hadn't given it much thought. Not being a lesbian, I haven't ever thought about them in history. I've thought about women in general and their plight, but never specifically a lesbian woman in historical times... until I read this book.

As I've already said, I had no idea what this book was about except for a young girl being institutionalized in an asylum for "mad people". As I read each chapter I asked myself more questions and began to put myself in the place of women throughout history whom have suffered injustices merely because they were women and dependent on men in their lives for their very lives. It made me angry.

This book begins by flipping back and forth between what is currently happening to Louisa and her history leading up to being locked in an asylum. At first I was annoyed by this set up, but soon found it was the best way to tell the story.

Louisa is not lady-like much to her mother's displeasure. Louisa prefers playing marbles to playing with dolls. As she gets older she still prefers the company of her doctor father discussing illnesses to visiting other ladies with her mother. Her brother Thomas is jealous of her because she's smart and the apple of their father's eye.

Over and over again, Louisa seems to put off other girls and young ladies because Louisa isn't like them. She just can't seem to relate to them at all. She's not interested in boys or getting married. She doesn't care about proper manners or keeping her clothing neat and tidy. She has her heart on becoming a doctor like her father. She loves investigating things, experimenting and learning. She wants to help people, not invite them over for tea. This causes a rifted between her and her mother. These two women just don't understand each other and Louisa being young finds herself very frustrated by her place in life and societies expectations of her. She's very unhappy most of the time...her happiest times are with her father and studying.

When her father dies rather suddenly, the family is torn apart. Her brother is away at school and her mother falls into a depression. Louisa is heartbroken she's lost her beloved father, the only one who understood her and supported her. At the same time Louisa is shocked to discover she's got a crush on a girl. She is appalled by the thought, but the feelings are real and won't go away. The object of her crush is soon to get married and if that isn't bad enough she's also related to the girl. Incest girl love- Louisa is stunned but can't deny it.

With the blow of losing her father, quickly followed by the blow of knowing the girl she loves is marrying someone else Louisa is beside herself in confusion and frustration. Without her father, she nearly loses hope of ever becoming a doctor. But she never the less tries to engage her brother to help her, only Tom is still jealous and bitter towards her. He will not be swayed. Instead he and others in the family plot against her.

Hence, Louisa finds herself institutionalized and the real hell of her life begins. She is stripped of her clothing, dignity and dreams. No one will believe a word she says. They think she is truly nuts and her rants are lies. Louisa's frustration at not being believe cause her outbursts that do nothing to get anyone to believe she is sane and has been unfairly locked up. Louisa is poorly treated and abused at the institute. She loses weight, her hair is a tangled mess, she stops washing herself and begins to think the institute is succeeding in driving her insane. Until one of the institutes attendants, Eliza, befriends her. She is the only kind person Louisa has any contact with and even that contact is very limited. Eliza's job is strict and if she steps over the line and shows favoritism to Louisa she will find herself out of work. Louisa takes pity on another inmate. A girl whom everyone thinks is crazy, but Louisa believes her story. She doesn't think the girl is insane at all. She inspires Louisa not to just escape, but to also be a hero and rescue the girl from the unfairness of her imprisonment.

Louisa focuses on escape. If she can't get anyone to listen to her, she must escape the hell she is in. She has no idea where to go or what she'll do once she escapes but she knows if she stays she will end up dead. The institute is that terrible. I won't give any of this away...its daring and full of hold your breath moments.

Later, after Louisa is free the truth of her imprisonment is revealed and I was fuming mad for her. The injustice of it. Mostly the power given to men at that time was enraging, but also that the people with lots of money could basically do as they liked. If you weren't a man or didn't have money you were doomed to live at the whims of those who were men or had money. Sad.

What is also revealed is that Louisa finds love with someone who loves her back. Another woman. A woman who understands Louisa, supports her and dares to love her back. While they grapple with their feelings they try to figure out how they can be together in the world they live in. Lesbians living and loving together is just not done in their time period. But Louisa won't give up the love she's found. She is determined more than ever to find a way to have it all. She wants to be a doctor and she wants her female love with her. Her tenacious spirit and will to live her life her way drive her forward as she embraces who she is. She never gives up and it pays off in the end.

Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5.

I really enjoyed this thought provoking and touching story. This is my first "lesbian" story, though I've read some bi-sexual girl love stories before. This was certainly my first YA historical lesbian story and it was very well done. The plight of women in history, specifically lesbians, was front and center on every page. Something some women today might take for granted. Never, ever take for granted the rights we have today. Too many women have suffered- are still suffering today to take it for granted.

I HIGHLY RECOMMEND READING THIS BOOK.

To buy it: Amazon.com or Barnes & Noble

Halloween tunes 'n vids...

2010-10-29T07:10:00.005-04:00

It's not Halloween time for me without some White Zombie's "Boogie Man"!!

Scary Halloween babies...

And my Halloween FAVORITE..."The Life & Death of a Pumpkin" - a must see!

Happy Halloween Everyone!

"Clockwork Angel" by Cassandra Clare

2010-10-28T15:28:00.005-04:00

Title: Clockwork Angel
Author: Cassandra Clare
Series: Infernal Devices Series Bk#1
Published: 2010
Genre: YA Steampunk/Fantasy

Synopsis: "Magic is dangerous—but love is more dangerous still.
When sixteen-year-old Tessa Gray crosses the ocean to find her brother, her destination is England, the time is the reign of Queen Victoria, and something terrifying is waiting for her in London's Downworld, where vampires, warlocks and other supernatural folk stalk the gaslit streets. Only the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the world of demons, keep order amidst the chaos.
Kidnapped by the mysterious Dark Sisters, members of a secret organization called The Pandemonium Club, Tessa soon learns that she herself is a Downworlder with a rare ability: the power to transform, at will, into another person. What’s more, the Magister, the shadowy figure who runs the Club, will stop at nothing to claim Tessa's power for his own.
Friendless and hunted, Tessa takes refuge with the Shadowhunters of the London Institute, who swear to find her brother if she will use her power to help them. She soon finds herself fascinated by—and torn between—two best friends: James, whose fragile beauty hides a deadly secret, and blue-eyed Will, whose caustic wit and volatile moods keep everyone in his life at arm's length . . . everyone, that is, but Tessa. As their search draws them deep into the heart of an arcane plot that threatens to destroy the Shadowhunters, Tessa realizes that she may need to choose between saving her brother and helping her new friends save the world. . . . and that love may be the most dangerous magic of all."

In a word: BLAH!

Don't go throwing rotten tomatoes I can't help it! I just did not like this book and I am just as shocked about that as the rest of you probably are considering all the high ratings and raves this book has been getting. Unfortunately for me, it was a complete dud. I adored author Cassandra Clare's 'Immortal Instrument Series' and was looking forward to this series because it is the prequel to that series. But nothing about this book aside from the Shadowhunters reflected all the things I had fallen in love with about the Immortal Instruments series.

My major issue with this book: the characters. The heroine Tessa bored me beyond tears and I nearly hoped she'd somehow end up dead by the end of the book. No such luck. The "hero" Will was unlikable and completely put me off. The supporting cast was just as dreadful. Henry, the leader of the Institute was a bumbling idiot who nearly gets everyone killed and continually is a laughingstock fool. His depressing wife Charlotte thinks she's running things but the only impression I got from the book was that everything around her was running HER and she was doing a rotten job. Few people seemed to like either Henry or Charlotte except for the servants. Then there was Jem (James) another Shadowhunter whom did spark some interest in me, but he's a sort of doomed situation (I won't give the spoiler) so I don't want to invest much care into him as I don't see the point. The "bad guys" are numerous and none too interesting. Bad sister warlocks, vampires, demons and "the Magister" (I won't give that away).

Needless to say I had to force myself to finish reading this book and the only reason I forced myself was because I thought it would redeem it's self by the end- it didn't. It didn't even leave me wanting to find out what happens to any of them in the next books. I simply don't care about these characters or the storyline. Another peeve...I figured much of the story out LONG before it was revealed. Not many surprises for me- another disappointment.

What I did discover reading this... I don't like steampunk apparently. All those gadgets and gidgets, copper spools, metal gears, iron works, screws...BORING. Just didn't do a thing for me. And the crazy-ass necklace...what the hell was that? It never did say. I guess that was supposed to be some big 'what if' cliffhanger but again it was a yawnfest for me.

I'd like to say the writing was superb as it was in the 'Immortal Instruments Series' but I can't. I was rolling my eyes at the dialog and repeat phrases. I think I read "like a kicked puppy" nearly every other chapter! Someone LOOKED like "a kicked puppy" or they were treated like "a kicked puppy" or they felt like "a kicked puppy"- over and over and over again there was "a kicked puppy" throughout the book. I was ready to throw the book at the wall it was in there so many times!

I won't go on (though I could). I think my point is clear that this book did not work for me at all. I am glad I borrowed this from the library and didn't purchase it. One more thing, halfway through the book the pages were upside down for a partial chapter/several pages- anyone else have that problem? Annoying.

Rating: 1 star out of 5 stars.

**Note: Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble both have very high ratings for this book, so I am in the minority on this one.**

Oh those naughty pumpkins!

2010-10-25T22:55:00.008-04:00

What creative (depraved) people there are out there!

**photos from Photobucket, Flickr & Google Images**

"I Am Number Four" by Pittacus Lore

2010-10-24T17:08:00.013-04:00

Title: I Am Number Four

Author: Pittacus Lore
Series: Lorien Legacies Bk#1
Published: 2010
Genre: Sci-Fi (YA)

Synopsis: Nine of us came here. We look like you. We talk like you. We live among you. But we are not you. We can do things you dream of doing. We have powers you dream of having. We are stronger and faster than anything you have ever seen. We are the superheroes you worship in movies and comic books—but we are real.
Our plan was to grow, and train, and become strong, and become one, and fight them. But they found us and started hunting us first. Now all of us are running. Spending our lives in shadows, in places where no one would look, blending in. we have lived among you without you knowing.
But they know.
They caught Number One in Malaysia.
Number Two in England.
And Number Three in Kenya.
They killed them all.
I am Number Four.
I am next.

*In a word: FUN!

I don't read very much Sci-fi, but I am very happy I decided to read this one. Number Four, who adapts the name "John Smith" for the first book is in hiding for his life. He was taken from his own planet- very much like earth, when he was a young child. Nine children from the planet Lorien were saved years ago when their planet was invaded by violent aliens (the Mogadorians - pale horrid beings who wear black trench coats, hats and sunglasses on earth). Lorien aliens have been to earth before, they educated the first humans and helped them with languages and building things like the pyramids.

There are two types of beings on planet Lorien. The Garde- those who have 'legacies' or super powers. And then there is the Cepan, or keepers. While the Garde are the protectors, the Cepan are the rulers. Every Garde child is given and adult Cepan to teach them and help them with their powers as they mature and get those powers.

John Smith is a Garde and he's just now coming into his legacies with the help of Henri, his Cepan who travels with him and cares for him as a father would. Henri saved John from the war on Lorien and he's protected and educated him on earth for years while they both wait for John's powers to come. They do not know what powers John will inherit, nor do they know how many he will eventually end up with. But Henri has the knowledge of their planet and the ability to help John develop his powers to their full abilities.

A charm was placed on the Nine children who escaped Lorien, the charm makes it impossible for them to be killed 'out of order'. Each child has a number, and if the Mogadorians attempt to kill them out of order, they themselves will die. As each Lorien child is killed, the living Lorien children receive a burning ring around their ankle letting them know the Mogadorians are getting closer. When Number One, Number Two and finally Number Three are dead and John has three burned rings around his ankle, he knows he's next. That the Mogadorians have now focused all their attention on finding and killing him. Henri and John take off to relocated in a small Ohio town called Paradise.
It's here in Paradise that John makes his first friend and gets his first girl friend. While death looms overhead and some of Paradise's high school students aren't thrilled with John's arrival, John himself has never been happier. He is overjoyed to have a real friend for the first time and wants to tell Sam the truth, but knows doing so not only jeopardizes himself and Henri, it could also put Sam's life in danger if the Mogadorians get a hold of him. John also feels guilty about keeping such a huge secret from his girlfriend Sarah. But knows he must keep his secrets for every one's well being.

When Henri feels it's time to go, John refuses. Henri warns John that the Mogadorians are getting too close and they need to leave but John stands his ground and refuses to give up his best friend and girl friend so soon. He wants more time at being normal, more time to enjoy these relationships. Henri has no choice but to stay, he can't force John to go as John has come into some of his Legacies and Henri has no such powers.

They stay...the Mogadorians come. They fight...

The battle is amazing. You'll need tissues. The ending is of course a bit of a cliffhanger, but it's a good one that sets you up for the next book which I can't wait to read.

*Author quirk: Author Pittacus Lore has placed himself in the novel as the "greatest of them all" leader of the Loriens. [page 84]*

Rating: 4 stars out of 5 stars.

Buy it here: Barnes & Noble or Amazon.com

The Movie...

"I Am Number Four" will be released in movie theaters February 2011

John Smith is played by Alex Pettyfer (who is also starring in "Beastly" to be released in early 2011- another one I can't wait to see).

**photos of Alex Pettyfer "John Smith" and the trench coat wearing Mogadorian from the movie found on Google Imagaes*

Keep his balls clean!

2010-10-20T06:53:00.002-04:00

LMAO! I love this commercial- it's freakin' brilliant. *snort*

"The Viking's Woman" by Heather Graham

2010-10-18T06:36:00.005-04:00

Title: The Vikings Woman
Author: Heather Graham
Published: 1990
Series: Bk#2 Viking Triology
Genre: Historical Romance

Synpopis: Her wild spirit made him crave her...
Her firebrand—hair blazed as glorious as a sunrise. Her long limbs promised the sweet mysteries of the night. Rhiannon, King Alfred’s favorite niece, was enraged when her uncle sealed an alliance of war by pledging her to Eric, the towering golden-haired prince whose blue eyes penetrated her with a glacial stare. But the more she fought the marriage . . . the man . . . the more she became inflamed by the fire that lay beneath his Viking ice.

His passion pierced her heart...
His broad shoulders as hard as the steel of his sword, Eric bowed to no man. The only battle he feared losing was with Rhiannon. For she had reached into the savage recesses of his heart. No campaign on the field, no treason from within, would he fight as fiercely–or with such desire . . . as the war he waged to possess what was his.

Oh dear... I read, or I should say, re-read this book for the 2010 Re-read Challenge because it was on my keeper shelf from the 1990's. But clearly my tastes have changed because this book that I once really loved just didn't hit the spot for me this second time around.

My problem was the heroine. She was TOO stubborn and very hurtful to the hero from beginning to near the very end. It took too long for her to realize she didn't hate him and even longer before she'd actually stopped using her misplaced pride to shun and hurt him.

The heroine, "Rhiannon" (I stumbled over this name all through the book and ended up calling her Rea-lol), sees Viking ships coming and calls all her people to arms. Unknown to her, her king invited the Viking/Irishman to their shores to help fight the Danes. So clearly the heroine and hero (Eric the blond hunky Viking) do not start off on a good foot. After a bloody fight with many people dying, Rhiannon gets away to find her king-who is also her cousin. The king is furious with Rhiannon for not welcoming the Viking. Someone has betrayed the king, Eric and Rhiannon by wanting to start a war.

To keep the peace and sooth Viking Eric's temper, the king offers Rhiannon to Eric in marriage and along with her comes all her lands -something Eric desires greatly as he is a second son and has no land of his own. The problem is Rhiannon is in love with someone else and absolutely hates Vikings. Too bad for her, because the King needs Eric and Eric wants the land. So they are married.

Rhiannon continually finds herself in situations that make her look like she is betraying someone- be it the king or her new husband. This annoyed me. She was bordering the "too stupid to live" line on a few occasions.

While the passion was hot and Eric was all things a Viking hero should be, the heroine just fell short time and time again for me. I just never liked her and thought often that Eric could do much better- heck even the serving women seemed like better options for Eric then Rhiannon. But of course, they fell madly in love with each other and had their happily ever after.

Rating: 2.5/3 stars our of 5 stars

Buy it: Barnes & Noble or Amazon.com

**Re-read 2010 Challenge**

"Release" by Beth Kery

2010-10-12T19:28:00.009-04:00

Title: Release
Author: Beth Kery
Published: 2010
Genre: Erotic Romance

Synopsis: Genny loved her husband Max, but he lacked the sexual charge that was instead ignited by his business partner, Sean. Ruggedly handsome, Sean had a heart-stopping smile that made Genny weak. The more time they spent together, the stronger the attraction between them became. Then her husband offered to share her with Sean for one intoxicating night...
That night in the company penthouse, Max and Sean showed Genny the heights of ecstasy. But it was Sean who touched her very spirit, and one-onone, they were red hot. But as Genny learns, there's a price to pay for such impulsive pleasure. What began as a night of forbidden desire spirals into a whirlpool of murder, sensual submission, secrets, and a scorching passion that threatens to consume everyone it touches.

In a word: OOOWWEEEEE!! (that's a word right?)

What a great erotic read!! One of my FAVORITE settings for romance is a couple snowed in together. What else is there to do but jump each others bones?! Sean has been in love with Genny for years. Genny was his boss's wife. One New Year's Eve Sean, Genny and her husband have a threesome that means something very different to each of the participants. For Sean it's a fantasy night he relives over and over in his mind. For Genny it stirs up confusion and guilt. For Max, Genny's husband it was all part of his plan.

After Genny's husband is murdered, she can't look at Sean. She ignores him completely and shuts him out of her life. Sean is crushed. He wants to be there for her and love her, but Genny will have none of it. Sean doesn't know why he's being rejected, he's worried it was his dominance in bed that is scaring Genny away. But Genny has another reason for pushing Sean away, a reason that no matter how much she might want him, she can't just put the issue out of her mind and move on. Murder can't be ignored or forgotten.

When Genny's house burns down, she seeks shelter in her penthouse- the place the threesome took place years ago. Little does Genny know that Sean is also at the penthouse. When a snowstorm hits these two are stuck together- much to Sean's delight. He plans on winning Genny over for keeps this time- all he needs is a little time alone with her to work things out and show her how great they are together.

There's alot going on with these two ...the ghost of Max (figurative, not literal) is between them, the threesome they shared is an issue, someone seems to be after Genny, Sean fears for Genny, Genny fears for Sean, the police are eye-balling both of them for the murder of Max and then there is the SMOKIN' HOT, PANTIES ON FIRE SEX!

If you like it HOT with some light bondage and spankings you won't want to miss out on this one!

Rating: 4 stars out of 5.

To buy this book:
Amazon.com
Barnes & Noble

**I won this book from blogger Lea over at the Closetreader blog- thanks Lea!!**

"The Dragon Lord" by Connie Mason

2010-10-12T06:50:00.007-04:00

Title: The Dragon Lord
Author: Connie Mason
Published: 2001
Genre: Historical Romance

Synopsis: The Dragon: Renowned for his prowess on the battlefield and in the bedroom, the Dragon Lord had no desire to wed an heiress he had never before seen. But a landless knight had few opportunities to win a barony, and a faithful subject had no choice but to obey his king. Yet how to select a wife from the three women offered to him? He had no taste for the grieving widow or the sharp tongued shrew, so the meek virgin it must be.
Confronted by their new Lord and master, the women of Ayrdale prepared to accept their destiny. But the high-spirited Rose knew she was no thornless blossom just waiting to be plucked. Her gentle twin longed for the cloistered life, whereas Rose had never been known as a shrinking violet and was more than capable of standing up to a dragon. A clever deception would allow her sister to enter the nunnery while an unexpected bride awaited her unsuspecting husband for the most unforgettable deflowering off all.

In a word: Scrumptious!

First page peek:

London, October 1214
"Harder, Dragon. Oh, God, yes. Don't stop."
Poised atop the dark-haired beauty, Dominic Dragon of Pendragon pumped vigorously between his mistress's plump white thighs. Raising himself up on his elbows, he watched her face as she moaned and tossed her head in wild abandon.

I very much enjoyed this historical romance. I liked Dominic (the Dragon Lord) and Rose exceedingly. Dominic was sexy and lusty. Rose was strong and yet vulnerable. Rose was everything that Dominic thought he didn't want in a woman, yet learned he could never live without. Rose didn't want to like Dominic, let alone love him but she couldn't deny the passion he stirred in her body. These two fight and deny what's happening between them with their minds, while their bodies refuse to deny the obvious. They were made for each other.

Dominic plans to marry his lusty mistress who meets all his sexual needs and doesn't make unnecessary demands on him. His King has other plans. When some of the border barons begin talking of going against their King, the King sends his trusted knight the Dragon to the border to marry and hold down that area.

Dominic isn't happy with the kings plans for him, but he wants to own land and gain the title of Baron. Reluctantly he leaves his mistresses bed and journey's to Ayrdale which he promptly renames Dragonwyck. He is presented with a widowed mother and her twin daughters - his three choices of wife. The grieving widow holds no interest for him. The daughters are both beautiful; one is meek the other a spit-fire. He decides he doesn't need the aggravation of a thorny wife, so he decides to take the meek sister as his wife. Rose (the thorny one) won't let her meek sister be taken by the Dragon, so she substitutes herself and marries Dominic. Before Dominic figures out he's been bamboozled, Rose's mother and sister are off to the convent where Dominic can't hurt them.

It doesn't take Dominic long to figure out he married the wrong sister or that he isn't upset about it. Rose holds his attention quite nicely and he's determined to draw out all her passion in bed. Rose tries to resist Dominic but her body turns to flame each and every time he touches her. She can't deny the lust her husband stirs in her and Dominic is thrilled with her bodies reactions to his touch.

Besides the bitter and shunned ex-mistress, there is greedy Scottish Uncle and his wicked step-son who prey on the couple and the King who ordered Rose's fathers execution. Kidnapping, spying, lust, hot sensual sex, deception and intrigue fill the pages of this historical romance. I loved it!

Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5.

**This book is no longer available new from Amazon.com or Barnes & Noble. I bought it used off Ebay**

"Crusade" by Nancy Holder & Debbie Viguie

2010-10-11T15:38:00.009-04:00

Title: Crusade
Authors: Nancy Holder & Debbie Viguie
Series: crusade series bk#1
Published: 2010
Genre: YA

Synopsis: The ultimate battle. The ultimate love.
For the past two years, Jenn has lived and trained at Spain’s Sacred Heart Academy Against the Cursed Ones. She is among the few who have pledged to defend humanity or die trying. But the vampires are gaining power, and the battle has only just begun.
Forced to return home after death takes a member of her family, Jenn discovers that San Francisco is now a vampire strong-hold. As a lone hunter apart from her team, Jenn is isolated—and at risk. She craves the company of her fighting partner, Antonio: his protection, his reassurance, his touch. But a relationship with Antonio comes with its own dangers, and the more they share of themselves, the more Jenn stands to lose.
Then Jenn is betrayed by one who was once bound to protect her, causing her to doubt all she had held as true. To survive, Jenn must find the courage to trust herself—and her heart.

This was a complete DNF for me for two MAJOR reasons.

1)Head Hopping. I HATE head hopping and this book hopped between no less than eight different characters from paragraph to paragraph. Had each chapter been told by a different character I could have accepted it, but that is not how the book was written. You were in each characters head ALL THE TIME so you had to nearly take notes to keep track of who was feeling or thinking what at any particular moment in the story. I wanted to throw the book against a wall more times than I can count.

2)Back peddling. The book starts off with a huge life and death battle where you know no one or what is happening, only that the characters are in a terrible life and death situation. Now admittedly some people like their books to start off with an action packed scene. I don't. I abhor it. I need to ease into a story at least get to know one character a little bit. Between the head hopping and war scene of page one I was lost and scrambling to get a hold on what the hell was happening and to whom.

Jenn is in love with a vampire...Antonio. Antonio was preparing to enter the priesthood when he was turned into a vampire. For some strange reason holy water, rosaries etc do not effect him at all. He is very devoted to the Virgin Mary and protecting Jenn. Jenn wants more from Antonio then just friendship, but since Antonio is at odds with his desire to protect her and his bloodlust to kill her he does the whole yo-yo thing keeping her close then pushing her away. (Remind anyone of sparkly Edward???)

Besides vampire Antonio, the other team members are witches casting spells and werewolves needing to be locked up during full moons, everyone bickering among themselves and determined to kill all the "Cursed Ones" (AKA vampires who have come out of the closest and are taking over the world one country at a time). A priest leads this motley crew on their destiny to rid the world of cursed ones. The priest and Antonio have a close bond.

Because I am so disappointed (this book was on my TBR list for months I was so excited about it), I am going to be very harsh here. I just hated it; from cover to cover I hated this book. The plot and synopsis had SO MUCH potential, but the writing was dreadful and just completely fell apart for me. This book is my biggest disappointment all year. I had very high hopes after reading the synopsis, but the book failed me completely.

Rating: DNF

The book has very good ratings on Amazon and Barnes & Noble so obviously others truly enjoyed it. I don't see how, but they did.

To purchase: Amazon.com
Barnes & Noble

Halloween costumes for men...

2010-10-09T18:59:00.006-04:00

The Giant Vagina & Cock costumes

To buy this go HERE.

The BJ Vampire Costume

To buy this go HERE.

Sagging Balls Costume

To purchase click HERE.

The above costumes are all from Costumeshopper.com

What am I missing???

2010-10-07T07:25:00.007-04:00

I need a series! I am going through serious urban fantasy withdrawal while I wait (very impatiently) for the next installments of my favorite urban fantasy series. Authors I have uber love for are Karen Marie Moning, Patricia Briggs, Jeaniene Frost and Charlaine Harris.

I have tried a few famous authors that many bloggers adore like Kim Harrison and Ilona Andrews but I just can't get into their books. They were all DNF's for me.

What I am asking for today is for all of you to give me suggestions on series I might like based on the authors I've mentioned. I love fantasy fiction that is set in contemporary times and I don't like time travel for the most part (though Karen Marie Moning does it superbly).

I know many other author names out there that I have not read yet like Shiloh Walker, Sherrilyn Kenyon and Jennifer Estep to name a few. Do you think I'd like these authors? What series (if they have more than one) should I start with?

What other urban fantasy authors out there are MUST, MUST READS for you??

Help me fall in uber love with another urban fantasy fiction series!! Please!!

"Seduce Me At Sunrise" by Lisa Kleypas

2010-10-05T05:57:00.008-04:00

Title: "Seduce Me At Sunrise"
Author: Lisa Kleypas
Series: The Hathaways Bk#2
Published: 2008
Genre: Historical Fiction

Synopsis: Kev Merripen has longed for the beautiful, well-bred Winnifred Hathaway ever since her family rescued him from the brink of death when he was just a boy. But this handsome Gypsy is a man of mysterious origins—and he fears that the darkness of his past could crush delicate, luminous Win. So Kev refuses to submit to temptation…and before long Win is torn from him by a devastating twist of fate.
Then, Win returns to England…only to find that Kev has hardened into a man who will deny love at all costs. Meantime, an attractive, seductive suitor has set his sights on Win. It’s now or never for Kev to make his move. But first, he must confront a dangerous secret about his destiny—or risk losing the only woman he has lived for…

In a word: satisifying

Handsome gypsy Kev Merripen finds refuge and salvation when the Hathaway family takes him in when he's still a boy. Kev had been terribly abused and used, knowing only the worse humanity has to offer- until Winnifred Hathaway reaches into his black heart and captures it.

Winnifred has always had a special place in her heart for Kev. She didn't let his stubborn, rude and cold shell stop her from winning his heart and teaching him to love. While Kev would die for her, he will not openly love her. He feels dirty and not worthy of the perfect Win whom he adores beyond all reason. Win loves Kev for who he is and doesn't care what he did before coming to live with the Hathaway family. The trouble is she has to convince Kev of that.

Then Win gets terribly sick and becomes an invalid. Even when she survives the initial illness, she is still very weak and unable to get her life back. When she decides to leave home for a treatment she's heard about Kev nearly loses his mind. He wants her home, where he can look after her. But Win wants more. She doesn't want to live her life as an invalid. So against Kev's will, Win leaves for two years.

When she returns healthy, she finds Kev is another man. He's harder, angry and no one seems able to reach him. No one but Win...

While I liked Kev a great deal, I wasn't a big fan of Winnifreds. But the biggest problem I had with this book is it was SLLLLLLLLLOOOOOOWWWWWWWWWW. The book spent a lot of time on back story, then finally got to what was current only to quickly wrap things up with a nearly complete out of left field ending that had no lead up to it at all. I didn't like that. It felt to me like the book was originally longer, but got edited down so much that it lost too much. That said, Kev was still great, and the book did contain some cute humorous moments that I enjoyed.

So in the end, it was just 'satisifying' for its hero and humor, but not something I would reread or highly recommend to Lisa Kleypas fans.

2.5-3 stars out of 5

Buy this book here:
Amazon.com
Barnes & Noble

"Backstage Pass: Sinners on Tour" by Olivia Cunning

2010-10-04T06:50:00.012-04:00

Title: Backstage Pass: Sinners on Tour
Author: Olivia Cunning
Series: Sinners on Tour Bk#1
Published: October 2010
Genre: Erotic Romance
**ARC from Sourcebooks**

Synposis: Five stunning guys, one hot woman, and a feverish romance...
For him, life is all music and no play...
When Brian Sinclair, lead songwriter and guitarist of the hottest metal band on the scene, loses his creative spark, it will take nights of downright sinful passion to release his pent-up genius...
She's the one to call the tune...
When sexy psychologist Myrna Evans goes on tour with the Sinners, every boy in the band tries to seduce her. But Brian is the only one she wants to get her hands on...
Then the two lovers' wildly shocking behavior sparks the whole band to new heights of glory...and sin...

In a word: HOT!

The best thing about this book is the men in the band. These men are SMOKIN' HOT, I really couldn't pick who was my favorite (though I am leaning toward Sed the lead singer with the broken heart). While this story focuses mostly on guitarist Brian (AKA the Romance Retard), it also lets you get to know all the guys in the band and what their quirks are.

Brian "Master Sinclair" is the bands hopeless romantic. He's looking for the "real thing" in every woman he hooks up with and when she turns out to be a bimbo he's crushed. He goes on drinking binges each time a woman disappoints him and that is how human sexuality college professor Myrna Evans meets him. Brian's in a funk and needs a muse to inspire him- and that's just what he gets.

Myrna has been a fan of the band for years. When she chance meets them in a hotel lounge she can't believe her luck. Unfortunately, Brian is rip roaring drunk. After he's escorted to the men's room to vomit, Brian stumbles his way into Myrna's need for diversion in her life and the two of them go up in flames.

Every one of the other band members hits on Myrna and try to share in Brian's newest lover, some get a bit further than others, but none without Brian's consent.

The issues: Like I mentioned before, Brian is called the "Romance Retard" because he falls for every woman he meets. He is looking for "the one" in all the wrong places. When he starts his relationship with Myrna, he's decided she's "the one" and he falls head over heels in love with her- much to the bands distress. Oh they like Myrna, but they worry for Brian.
Myrna's issue is she's carrying enough baggage for the entire band. She has a crazy ex-husband who was abusive to her and she has sworn off relationships. She wants a good time and nothing more.

So while Brian tries to win Myrna's closely guarded heart, Myrna throws herself into sexual bliss with Brian- the stud who has had more women than anyone can count in more ways than even Human Sexuality Professor Myrna Evans thought.

This book is not for the squeamish. If vomiting, licking asses, sucking scrotum's, sex in public bathrooms and fingers, tongues and buttplugs up asses aren't your thing then stay away from this book. But if you like your erotic romance HOT with nothing held back, this one will be a page turner for you.

Excerpt:

"Please," he begged. "Suck me. God. Please."
She lowered her head further, tonguing the crease of skin between his balls and her ultimate goal. When her tongue danced over the puckered flesh of his anus, he squirmed, panting as she tested the limits of his self-control. After a moment, he relaxed and she pressed the tip of her tongue inside him. He twitched.

[page32]

Excerpt:

She drew back and bobbed her head up and down rapidly as she sucked. Her lips bumped over the sensitive rim faster and faster. One hand held the base of his cock firmly so she could concentrate on her technique, the other continued to massage his balls gently. His groans of pleasure encouraged her to suck harder, move faster.
Come, Brian. Come on. Give me what I want.She knew he was holding back on her, selfishly trying to prolong his pleasure. She didn't mind. She loved the challenge. She wriggled her tongue against the underside of his cock as she sucked him deep. When he was buried deep in her throat again, she hummed and dipped the tip of a finger into his ass.
"Fuck, woman!" He grabbed her hair as his hips bucked off the mattress and he bathed the back of her throat with his juices."

[page 32-33]
See?! And that was just the beginning of the book!

I will definitely read the rest of this series because I am hooked on the guys in this band and want to know each of their stories.

4 stars out of 5

Buy it here: Barnes & Noble
Amazon.com

WTF!! Why the hell didn't I think of this??

2010-10-02T20:01:00.007-04:00

I haven't done a WTF post in ages, but when I saw the book "Bad Barbie" I had to share it. I also totally slapped myself in the head because I totally COULDHAVE/SHOULDHAVE thought of this one first. *snort*

Title: Bad Barbie
Author/photographer: Christine Faulkner
Published: March 2010
Description: "Bad Barbie, published to accompany a show of David Levinthal s photographs of the same name, reproduces 25 black and white images the artist made in his early experiments shooting toys. Arranged in a loose narrative sequence the photographs depict the commercially ubiquitous dolls, Barbie, her boyfriend Ken, and G.I. Joe, in a series of poses and tableaux of sexual liaison and activity. The young artist was responding to a contemporary atmosphere of new sexual license enjoyed by youthful America following the liberal-leaning social upheavals of the 1960s. With eleven pages of text featuring an introductory note by Richard Prince and a racy narrative fiction by John McWhinnie."

Naughty, naughty Ken and GI Joe turning sweet Barbie into BAD BARBIE! *snicker*

I gotta feeling...tonights gonna be a good good night!

2010-10-01T09:33:00.007-04:00

It's Friday and that means Supernatural's on tonight!

I love this show and I love this song. I think they go together in perfect harmony for a Friday! Have a great weekend everyone!

Author Christopher Pike's world of shit...

2010-09-30T14:09:00.014-04:00

Author Christopher Pike has been writing novels for decades and has a large fan following, but that hasn't stopped him from falling into the cluster-fuck of lazy writing. He either thinks his readers are all idiots or uncaring if they are fed lies and blatant misleading 'facts'.
The book causing the cluster-fuck chaos on Amazon right now is "The Secret of Ka", a YA book about a girl and a flying carpet in Turkey.

A few reader's praised Pike's novel, some even called it "brilliant", but not "Caligirl 08". Caligirl is one smart cookie and she wasn't swallowing the falsehoods Pike was selling. She called him out on all the errors in the book. Basic errors that a quick GOOGLE search would have fixed in no time. Here's part of what "Caligirl 08" had to say about the errors she found in Pike's book...

"Okay, page 1. Istanbul is NOT THE CAPITAL OT TURKEY (Ankara is!)

Page 2. TURKEY IS NOT AN ARABIC COUNTRY! Turks are not Arabs the same way Japanese people aren't Chinese! It's two completely different cultures and ethnic identities!

STILL ON PAGE 2. it is not a crime in Turkey to say the word "Hell." Turkish people do not wear TURBANS.

Page 3. TURKEY IS NOT PALESTINE. There are no bloody wars being fought outside of the Hilton every night!

Page 4. The vast majority of Turkey's population DOES NOT HAVE CURLY HAIR. They have straight hair.

Page 13. "Grandfather" in Turkish is DEDE not PAPI. Mira is NOT a Turkish name.

Page 14. THERE ARE NO DESERTS IN ISTANBUL It is completely 100% impossible to take a taxicab in Istanbul(in any direction) and arrive at a desert! It simply DOES NOT EXIST.

Page 17. There is no such thing as male/female segregation while eating lunch in Turkey. Both genders eat together, the same thing applies at a work cafeteria, there is no such thing as separate cafeterias for males and females.

Page 23. Spielo is not a Turkish name (I have not seen one Turkish name in this book so far except Amesh's last name Demir.)

Page 24. TURKISH WOMEN DO NOT WEAR VEILS. Some people (old ladies) might wear headscarves but nobody wears a VEIL. It would be completely frowned upon.

Okay, I'm not doing the whole book, it's too annoying. Christopher Pike (and his alternate ego "Michael Brite", who is representing himself very poorly below in my comments section) should be ashamed of themselves. This is the most ignorant garbage about Turkish culture I have had the displeasure to read. It really bothers me that people are reading this thing and probably trusting Pike and believing all the cultural inaccuracies he put in the book."

Oh and the mention of "Michael Brite"?? That would be the author himself, Christopher Pike making up a false name on Amazon to defend the book with and slap back on upset reviewers. Apparently he couldn't man-up and say "Hey you're right! Sorry I disappointed you, I'll try better next time."
THAT would have been a better way to handle the situation (and I ain't talking Jersey Shore!).

There is a rip-roaring world of shit flying on Amazon right now and there aren't enough magic flying carpets to get out of it with!

Bravo to "Caligirl 08" for correcting and pointing out that false and misleading tripe Pike put in his book and shame on you Pike for not manning up and for making up "Michael Brite" as an "editor" defending your mistakes.

And it's not just readers/reviewers taking issue with Pike. The editorial director for Behler Publications, Lynn Price calls him an idiot. She also comments on what came to my mind, WHY didn't editing catch all these errors? How does a publishing house like Harcourt let this happen?

My suggestion to Pike...own up to your mistakes, apologize and take your lumps. To do any less is to lose more respect from your readers.

Uber Vampire Love...

2010-09-30T07:17:00.015-04:00

A new look at True Blood's Vampire Eric, or in actuality the actor who plays hunky vampire Eric.

First up, an aww moment at seeing little 7 year old Alexander Skarsgard long, long before he had fangs...(though I do believe he's already got that "I'm hungry for blood" look in his eyes!)

Isn't he cute?!

Now a very grown up DRUNK Alexander Skarsgard...

LOL!

Now for my obsession...(*cue 80's song "Obsession")

Yes...yes I know many of you are totally sick with my obsession for "Damon" on Vampire Diaries, but you can all kiss my wide ass because I ain't given him up!
I have UBER, yes UBER love for Damon and I don't care that he's ten years younger than I am. *cougar roar*

I have just declared ALL Thursdays as Uber Love for Damon Days - I expect all of you to follow along and show your Uber Damon love.

(Warning: Stefan fans will be staked - its all about the Damon love)

The video is simply beautiful, one of my favorites for Damon & Elena...

Happy Thursday!!

"Highland Hellcat" by Mary Wine

2010-09-29T07:47:00.007-04:00

Title: Highland Hellcat
Author: Mary Wine
Series: Book #2 Highlander series
Genre: Historical Scottish Romance
Published: October 2010
*ARC book from Sourcebooks*

Synopsis: He wants a wife he can control...

Connor Lindsey is a Highland laird, but his clan's loyalty is hard won and he takes nothing for granted. He'll do whatever it takes to find a virtuous wife, even if he has to kidnap her...

She has a spirit that can't be tamed...

Brina Chattan has always defied convention. She sees no reason to be docile now that she's been captured by a powerful laird and taken to his storm-tossed castle in the Highlands, far from her home.
When a rival laird's interference nearly tears them apart, Connor discovers that a woman with a wild streak suits him much better than he'd ever imagined...

In a word: DELIGHTFUL!

I really enjoyed this Scottish historical romance. Brina and Connor were likable characters and their romance was sweet, sexy and full of sexual tension as the sexual chemistry heated up between them.

Brina was raised knowing she was destined to become a nun. She was not prepared to be a wife. But when her sister destroys the marriage match created for her to Connor, Connor seeks to make Brina his wife instead. He kidnaps her and whisks her away to his Highland castle where they learn to know each other and fall in love.

But love and lust are not enough for Brina to give up what she believes is her rightful place as a nun in the Church. Her word is her honor. Her father trusts her to do right. She wants to honor her father by doing his will- her becoming a nun. Yet she's torn because Connor has her, and wants her for his wife - she can't deny she wants him also. These two have great chemistry together and their love scenes...smokin'!

She has to make a choice between the father she loves and the man she loves. In the end, the question is can they all have what they want?

If you've never read Mary Wine's books and love Scottish Highland romances this is a MUST READ. You won't be disappointed.

*This is book #2 in her Highlander series, but it reads PERFECTLY as a stand alone romance.

4.5 stars out of 5

I HATE WHEN THAT HAPPENS!

2010-09-27T20:29:00.011-04:00

It was raining today, as it will be raining again tomorrow. Because I have children, I don't have an umbrella. Or rather I have an umbrella somewhere, but its never where it's supposed to be.

Today I take two steps outside and a HUGE water drop slaps me on the forehead, proceeds to run down my face washing off a path of coverup I just applied. I HATE WHEN THAT HAPPENS! I said that out loud as I trudged on, stepping into what looked like a tiny puddle which then proceeded to soak my right foot up to my ankle. I HATE WHEN THAT HAPPENS! OK, so this time I didn't say that, instead I spewed a string of profanity that made the devil cringe.

I called my bff to whine about my ordeal and she knew just what to say "OH I HATE WHEN THAT HAPPENS!!"- she always knows just what to say! We then came up with a few other things that fall under the category of "I HATE WHEN THAT HAPPENS!". By the end of the day, the list had grown as more women contributed to the category.

We began writing them down in no particular order:

- when you step into a mud puddle and destroy your shoes
- when a huge drop of water wrecks your hair and make up in one shot
- when you laugh so hard you pee a little

- when you cry so much you vomit
- when you sneeze so hard you dislodge your tampon
- when you have no idea food is stuck between your front teeth and no one tells you
- when you see your boyfriend kissing another woman
- when your ex finds someone younger, thinner and more successful than you a week after you break up
- when you wake up with a HUGE zit in the middle of your forehead
- when you fart in public and everyone knows it was you (this coming from my bff's boss who taught his children "pull my finger" to torment his exwife)
- when you wear white pants and mother nature decides to come early that month
- when you use the ladies room and get your skirt stuck in your pantyhose
- when you have toilet paper stuck to your shoe (I walked all over a NYC restaurant doing this until a lovely woman stepped on the other end and freed me! *blush*)
- when your dog won't stop sniffing every one's crotch
- when your dog won't stop humping everyone
- when you have a nose booger and don't know it
- when you diet for three months and no one notices a difference
- when the elastic in your pants lets loose and you're wearing a skirt
- when you snap off a heel the first time you wear a new pair of shoes
- when you write down an appointment on the wrong calendar date and fail to show up
- when you shop for 'your size' and it doesn't come close to fitting
- when your mother visits and finds your vibrator on your bedside table
- when your child uses your dildo as a magic wand because you forgot to put it in the drawer they can't reach
- when you open your car door and slam into someone walking by
- when you trip and fall on the ground for no apparent reason
- when you sit in the old rickety backyard party chair and it collapses under the weight as forty guest turn to see you lolling about on the ground on top of the demolished chair
- when you go out on a first date and you're so nervous you drop food in your lap or dump your drink on your date
- when you go to the movies and get a popcorn kernel stuck in your throat, coughing so much no one can hear the movie and there isn't a damn thing you can do about it
- when you step in dog crap
- when a bird craps on your head
- when you use a public restroom and there's NO MORE TOILET PAPER
- when you are in such a rush you put on two different shoes and don't notice till you're on the subway to work

OK everyone...now it's your turn to add to the "I HATE WHEN THAT HAPPENS!" list. Let's here it! Which ones can you relate to and what did we forget to mention?

WORST book titles and covers...ever

2010-09-25T21:50:00.008-04:00

These vintage book titles and covers will make you cringe... hard to pick the worst one, but that's what I want you to do. Tell me which one has the worst title and which one has the worst cover art.

OK, this one made me lol...

Is this anything like tossing your cookies??

Ouch!

??? Alien flower/octopus attacking a green girl???

...I think we all get the gist of this one!

Yikes!

WORST case of crabs EVER!

I hope she got up and kicked him in the balls.

A funnel??? I don't want to know!

Seriously?? People paid for crap like this?

**passing bleach around to clean your eyes**

OK, now that your eyes are cleaned...what's the worst title and what's the worst cover?
For me, I'm going with "Tossing her Salad" as the worst title and the green girl/flower alien attack as the worst cover.

Male Body Language: The Head Tilt

2010-09-23T07:59:00.014-04:00

The male head tilt. It's cute in men and dogs- ever notice that?
It's such a quick and simple gesture, yet it always makes my heart flutter when I see a cute male do it. I wonder, 'Does he know he's done the head tilt?', did he do it on purpose or does it just come naturally and unnoticed to him?

Why am I making an entire post about the male head tilt? Because I see it so often on the Vampire Diaries show and tonight is Thursday- another episode of VampDi to owww and ahhh over.

Just why do men tilt their heads?

For a variety of reasons I imagine, but mostly because they are contemplating something that caught them off guard. Men aren't usually like women who have very expressive faces in any given situation. A contemplating man might look 'broody' (another good one), but when you catch him off guard and he's least expecting it you get the head tilt.

For example the first time he meets a woman who catches his interest when he wasn't expecting it. He's checking her out, sizing up just what it is about her that's caught his eye. Why does she stand out above other women? He's clueless, he just knows at this point that she's the focus of all his attention.

A great example of the "First Meet Male Head Tilt" was displayed in Vampire Diaries the first time Damon lays eyes on Elena.

But even after a "first meet" a guy who is struggling and always amazed by a particular woman will continue to display the head tilt as the woman continues to capture their interest and intrigue them. I wonder if they even know they do it?

When is the male head tilt NOT CUTE?
When the male is a ticked off vampire ready to suck your blood and you're not willing to comply.

Or when you've just woken up to find your vampire boyfriend's brother (who is also a vampire) has kidnapped you across state lines and is trying to tell you that YOU are the one being dramatic and being kidnapped can be fun if you relax and enjoy it.

OK, so it's still a little bit cute when it's Ian Somerhalder playing naughty vampire Damon Salvatore. *grin*

**more male body language posts to follow*

So far, so good...

2010-09-17T19:59:00.006-04:00

Favorite books I've read so far this year...(see my tag cloud for my reviews)

Historical Romance:
-The Making of a Gentleman by Shana Galen

Urban Fantasy:
-Halfway to the Grave by Jeaniene Frost
-Iron Kissed by Patricia Briggs
-Dreamfever by Karen Marie Moning

Erotic Romance:
-Sweet Caroline by Lissa Matthews

M/M Romance:
-Polar Reaction by Claire Thompson
-SoulMates: Bound by Blood by Jourdan Lane
-Changing Perspective by Marilu Mann

Young Adult Paranormal:
-Jekel Loves Hyde by Beth Fantaskey
-Need by Carrie Jones
-Captivate by Carrie Jones
-Beastly by Alex Finn

Young Adult Fiction:
-Twisted by Laurie Halse Anderson
-Hail Caesar by Thu-Huang Ha

Ebook short erotic stories:
-Not Just An Orgy by Sally Painter
-Sin Eater by Evangeline Anderson

Favorite Series:
-Mercy Thompson series by Patricia Briggs
-Sookie Stackhouse series by Charlaine Harris
-Fever series by Karen Marie Moning
-Night Huntress series by Jeaniene Frost

What are some of YOUR favorite books and series you've read so far this year??

Lookie, lookie what I found...

2010-09-15T06:00:00.017-04:00

More stuff around the web...this time not related to books. Do you ever check out Blogger's "blogs of note" feature? I find some really amazing blogs this way.

Remember being a kid and fixating on something so strongly that NOTHING was going to deter you from your goal? There is a blog post that will tickle your funny bone about a childhood memory of wanting to go to a birthday party on the same day you've been sedated for dental surgery. You're gonna laugh out loud at this one... go HERE. <-- a must read, I'm tellin' ya!

Here's a blog that is simply as cute as cute can be! If you haven't checked out "Mila's Daydreams" yet, you're missing out!

Here's a neat blog focused on skulls! Check it out HERE.

This blog is really cool in that creative 'I-never-would-have-thought-of-that' way. It's all about creative and different ways of setting your table to wow your guests! Check it out HERE.

Check out this cute technology!! It's PICO!!

Pico is a projector, video camera and camera all in one. His "face" are the working parts!

For more about PICO, go HERE.

More cuteness of the furry variety...

Have you come across something cute or interesting on the web lately? Any new blogs you'd like to share? I'd love to check them out.

What's going on?

2010-09-14T06:09:00.012-04:00

Today's post is a heads up to what's happening around the book reading blogosphere...

First up, a new reading challenge!

Donna over at BITES is having an October horror book reading challenge. For more on that, visit her website: HERE.

Blogger VampFanGirl is giving away a copy of "Lucifer's Daughter" by Eve Langlais on her blog Lovin' Me Some Romance. To enter go HERE.

Blogger Anna is having THREE seperate book giveaways on her blog "Anna's Book Blog". To enter go HERE.

Bitten by Paranormal Romance is having 8 separate book giveaways to followers of the blog. To enter go HERE.

Barnes & Noble updates about fall book releases...

"Bestselling mystery author Janet Evanovich is launching Wicked Appetite the first book in a new series based around the character Diesel from her "Stephanie Plum" series and Richard Castle will have Naked Heat, a second mystery in his series that's the basis for last year's successful television show. Graphic novels will see two new titles from bestselling authors Diana Gabaldon with Exile: An Outlander Graphic Novel and Paulo Coelho with Alchemist: A Graphic Novel.

Romance will see growth in the paranormal arena with major titles from Christine Feehan with Dark Peril and Sherilyn Kenyon with No Mercy. Debbie Macomber will have a special holiday title, Call Me Mrs. Miracle."

For more on that and to read the full article go HERE.

What did I miss? What's happening on your blog?

Back in black...

2010-09-13T08:42:00.003-04:00

I'mmmmmmmmmm back and my blog is in black!

What do you think of the new look? Any suggestions? I know the banner is off- still working on that and trying to decide if its staying or going.

How are you all doing? I've been lurking a bit in GoogleReader but haven't posted much of anything in weeks. Hope everyone is well, I've missed you all! ((hugs))

Vampire Diaries: Oh, how I love thee...

2010-09-12T12:13:00.012-04:00

I am so freaking addicted to Vampire Diaries!

I watched the first season about 4 times over the summer and the final episode more than a dozen times. Last Thursday night was the new season premiere...

...which I have of course (like the VampDi addict I am) watched several times. The focus of my addiction is Damon. *sigh* While his actions are often DESPICABLE...and to some he's the unforgivable hero or is that anti-hero? To me, he's the epitome of the ultra wounded hero- to the nth degree.

If you haven't watched season one, stop reading now or I will totally ruin the discovery of this character for you.

Vampires have the option of 'flicking a switch' that turns off their humanity so they don't have to feel bad about killing people and being vampires. While Stephan chooses to embrace his humanity and feel things, Damon can't seem to take the pain of his humanity so he turns it off and allows the evil unfeeling vampire take reign over him. That is what he's done for 145 years...until he meets Elena (his brother Stephan's girlfriend). Elena offers him true friendship and breaks through Damon's walls and makes Damon feel again. At first he hates it, rejects it and never trusts it, but Elena captures his interest in a way no one for over 100 years has been able to do.

He opens himself up to trust her and gets hurt, so he lashes out in anger but he comes back for more and allows himself to feel again. It's new to him after 100 years of not feeling anything for a human. He's unsure, untrusting but undeniably drawn to her.

At first he was playing a game, trying to see if he could steal his brother's girlfriend. But very soon, Damon realizes he doesn't want to play a game, he wants Elena and he wants her to genuinely want and love him. He knows he could have compelled her (vampire glamour) when they were on a road trip to Georgia in season one, but he confesses he didn't want to. He wanted it to "be real". Damon has fallen for Elena completely and it's driving him crazy because Elena is in love with his brother. Damon has no idea how to handle feelings - it's been too long for him since he's felt anything for anyone.
.
At the end of season one, Damon goes to Elena's house and ends up confessing some things about himself that surprise him and then he kisses whom he thinks is Elena- but in fact it is vampire Katherine who looks exactly like Elena. That kiss scene was wonderful because it showed Damon being real and opening up to "Elena" showing his feelings- something he never ever does. The bitch of it was it wasn't really Elena and in the first episode of season 2 all the players figure that out. Which again is just so touching because Damon is CRUSHED it wasn't Elena he shared that kiss with.

Damon admits to not being able to forget their shared moment to Elena before they figure out he didn't really kiss Elena. When he does grasp that it was Katherine he kissed, he is so hurt - you could see it. He had dared to open himself up to share something with "Elena" only to find out it was a trick and done to dupe him and make him look foolish. He's angry, hurt and devastated by the entire event.

After brooding and confronting vampire Katherine whom he has pined for over 100 years she confesses to him that she never loved him, she always loved his brother and he's wasted a century because she doesn't love or want him at all.

Now here he is again getting hurt when he finds out the vampire/woman he loved for a century never loved him. In flash backs we see that Damon's father wasn't too fond of Damon either. Seems like Damon has NEVER been loved and brother Stephan has all the love from people that Damon craves. Is that not a wounded hero?!

At the end of season 2's first episode a very wounded and drunk Damon tries again with the real Elena this time. He nearly forces himself on her for a kiss he believes will show her how much she cares about him. Elena pushes him away and tells him she's in love with Stephan and will always want Stephan (nearly the exact words he had just heard hours earlier from Katherine). Damon "flips the switch" and turns off his humanity and in an instant becomes a killer and snaps Elena's brother's neck killing him dead then walking away as Elena screams in horror.

Not to worry, Elena's brother Jeremy isn't dead because he was wearing the 'protection against supernatural evil' ring created by a powerful witch long ago. So while Jeremy did die, he doesn't stay dead long and wakes up fully human and back to normal- much to Elena's relief.

Stephan thinks Damon knew Jeremy was wearing the ring and didn't want to really kill Jeremy but rather strike out at Elena for rejecting him. Elena is convinced Damon did NOT know about the ring and truly wanted to kill her brother to hurt her. She has now declared her pure hatred of Damon.

Damon goes home to drink some more and grabs his chrystal glass smashing it into the fireplace, proving again that he is still feeling the sting of Elena's rejection AND his stupid actions (which Elena predicted earlier). When Damon is hurt he lashes out and sometimes he later actually admits he was wrong and is sorry for what he's done.

Now the twist is...that Damon really isn't the "bad" brother in the long run. Damon manages most of the time to drink human blood without killing a person and keeps control of himself- unless he is ticked off. He usually has a clear head, his problem is that he is too quick to react instead of thinking things through.
Here's a great little video of Damon...

Stephan drinks animal blood because he becomes a monster when he has human blood. Stephan has NO control when he feeds from humans and he can not be trusted. While the show on the surfaces shows Stephan as the stronger of the brothers, the fact is that Damon is the stronger one in control, not Stephan. Damon CAN and does drink human blood without killing all the time, but Damon has a diabolic side when he "flips the switch" at will. Stephan can't control himself on human blood. He can't 'flip the switch' it always stays set to killer vampire when he drinks human blood. He will lie, steal and kill while drinking human blood. He fights it, but for him he has no control so his only option is to drink the blood of animals. Damon CAN control the "flip switch". Damon decides when he will allow his humanity to guide him and when he won't. Stephan doesn't have that control unless he's feeding from animal blood. This makes Damon the stronger of the two brothers.

And I believe (not having read the books passed about the 5th chapter of book 1) that Stephan will eventually cave in to the monster in him and Damon (because of his love for Elena) will gain more control and become Elena's hero. At least that is what I hope!

So what do you think? Any Vampire Diary fans out there want to share their thoughts on the show (not the books because I haven't read them)? Are you a Damon or Stephan fan? Are you loving the story lines?

I can't wait...

2010-09-06T14:43:00.003-04:00

After trying several times to read the Vampire Diary books, I was not expecting much from the television show inspired by the books. But I was so wrong. This show has become a MUST WATCH show for me, one of my very favorite things on television. And I just can't wait for this Thursday night...season 2!!!

If you haven't given the show a try yet, please rent or buy the DVD's from season 1 and be prepared to get addicted - especially once bad vampire Damon (Ian Somerhalder) begins to show his humanity and cracks in his bad boy exterior because his vampire brother's girl friend Elena brings out the good inside Damon. The good Damon thought was gone forever.

"The Making of a Gentleman" by Shana Galen

2010-09-06T12:20:00.007-04:00

Title: "The Making of a Gentleman"
Author: Shana Galen
Published: October 2010
Genre: Historical Romance
Pages: 364

Synopsis: Twelve years in a French prison have left the once dashing Armand Harcourt, Comte de Valere a hollow shell of his former self. Though safely back on English soil, Armand remains locked in a prison of his mind, unable to interact with the glittering social world that was his rightful place. When his family hires the beautiful and determined Felicity Bennett to teach Armand, he is shaken by the onslaught of desire Felicity awakens in him. As Felicity slowly helps reclaim Armand, their passion begins to blossom into a transcendent love capable of healing the scars of both their pasts.

In a word: WONDERFUL!

This is the ultimate in a wounded hero! I don't find many historical romance books with true walking wounded heroes in them, but this one is superb! The hero Armand, was imprisoned as a young boy for 12 long years. He was in isolation, no human touch, no human interaction and no human speech. When he is found and rescued from prison by his older brother Julien, Armand is nearly an animal. He can't tolerate human touch, can't speak and has lost most of his understanding of language. Having not spoken or been spoken to in twelve years his mouth can't form the words of speech and his mind struggles to recall what words mean.

(He reminded me a bit of a cross between Tarzan and the Beast from 'Beauty and the Beast'. He was wild and untamed when he was first rescued, it took a beautiful and gentle woman to calm him and reach him when all others failed. And his looks and intensity brought to mind Ian Somerhalder -'Damon' on Vampire Diaries- for me).

When all the families attempts at reaching him fail, they decide to hire a tutor. They hire Miss Felicity Bennett, a woman who has just recently lost her father and who is desperate to get out of a betrothal her dying father signed her into with a devious swindler.

The moment Armand sees her, he's drawn to her. She connects with him on a level he hasn't connected with another human being most of his life. These two are wonderful together! Felicity is an innocent woman and Armand, while he's a full grown man, is as innocent as she is- even if his body knows what it wants Armand hasn't figured it all out yet.

While Felicity reaches out to Armand and begins teaching him to speak, social manners and how to accept human touch, Armand is teaching Felicity what it is to love and be loved.

This is a DELIGHTFUL historical romance! I HIGHLY recommend it to historical romance fans.
An easy 5 stars out of 5 stars! Loved it!

**I received this ARC from Sourcebooks**

*This book is part of the following reading challenges (found in my right side bar):

**Romance Reading Challenge 2010**
**2010 Royal Reviewers Romance Reading Challenge**

I'm back in the island!

2010-09-03T09:23:00.003-04:00

It's my second day over on Desert Island Keepers and today I am talking about how my reading tastes have evolved over the years.

Stop on by and share your reading journey with me!

I'm on the Island!!

2010-09-02T07:54:00.004-04:00

Hi everyone! *waving like mad*

Yes it's me, the phantom blogger. Just letting you all know I am blogging over on the Island today so if you'd like to stop by and say hello I'd love to hear from you!

Spam shit and stuff...

2010-08-15T12:56:00.004-04:00

Where have I been??

No where actually. I am still in a sort of reading slump, though I am rereading the entire Harry Potter series and enjoying it. I may or may not review them on this blog.

Since I am not read as much as usual, I am watching more movies (thanks Netflix). I am currently making my way through the 3rd season of "Robin Hood" starring the very sexy Richard Armitage. While I think his character is better (more broody bad boy), I don't like the new feel to this season as much as season's 1 & 2.

I watched "The Lightening Thief" and enjoyed it, though I haven't read the books (my daughter read them and really liked them years ago). After I finish rereading Harry Potter I might give this series a try.

Blog Closing...

If my reading slump doesn't end by mid-September I will be closing down my blog. Besides the reading slump, all the SPAM SHIT is really pissing me off and taking a good part of the "Joy-Of-Blogging" away from me. Since GOOGLE seems incapable of coming up with a good way of stopping SPAM (how about a filter option Google? Once someone SPAMS a blog, you simply click "filter" and that person is no longer allowed to comment on a blog?? They are effectively blocked forever! Is that so hard to do??), I don't see any other options right now. I will not delete the blog, but all comments will be closed.

I have several reading obligations that I fully intend to meet in September. After that... I am not sure if I will continue blogging. I'll post more on this in the weeks to come. For now, after this week I might be closing the comment area of my blog- because of the SPAM shit. My email is always open to my blogging buddies ((((((hugs)))))).

The Reading Slump...it pisses me off!

2010-08-06T11:49:00.004-04:00

I am in a reading slump. I only read one book this week, "Some Girls Are" by Courtney Summers. For my review of this book check out my YA blog "The Cracked Spine". I tried to read "Raised by Wolves" by Jennifer Lynn Barnes and "Carter Finally Gets It" by Brent Crawford (both YA books) but I simply could not get into them.

I don't think its the books, but rather me and my reading slump. I don't know if its because I am burned out on YA books at the moment, or if its this horrid heat of summer or just me- probably all of those things combined. I just can't get into reading and it sucks!

While these YA books are currently DNF's for me, I am keeping them on my TBR list and will try to get back to them in several months.

My problem right now is I really don't know what I am in the mood to read. Do I want something spicy like an erotic book or do I want a historical romance or do I want more paranormal stuff? I just don't know. I have become a wishy-washy Charlie Brown of reading lately and I don't like it. Actually, it's pissing me off.

I've watched a few movies "Dear John" (OK), "Remember Me" (starring Rob Pattenson)-another OK movie with an ending I didn't see coming because I don't read spoilers. Then I tried again to like "True Blood" the show inspired by my favorite paranormal series of all time "Sookie Stackhouse Southern Vampire Series".

I watched "True Blood" season one over a year ago and didn't like it. I was bored (since I am not reading at the moment) and thought I'd give season 2 of "True Blood" another shot because its so popular with people.

I hated this season even more. They are just SO FAR off from the books and in my opinion plain old STUPID that I can't stand the show. I do like "Eric", but even his character is NOT portrayed the way the character in the books is. The only character I like in the HBO "True Blood" version is Lafayette and his character is DEAD AND GONE in the first book of the Sookie series. In my opinion, the only character on True Blood worth watching is Lafayette - the rest are just plain disappointing or annoying. I just don't see what the appeal is of this show- especially after watching the sheer (in my opinion) stupidity of season two. Demon possessed zombie-like horny people detroying the ENTIRE town?? Seriously?? WTF is all I've got to say about that.

July 2010 reading...

2010-08-02T14:20:00.008-04:00

July was not a good reading month for me as far as quantity goes- I only read 8 books. And unfortunately I had two duds, some OK/good reads and thankfully a few really good books that I completely enjoyed.

My July reading list...

- "Man of Her Dreams" - Tami Hoag (0 stars/DNF)
- "Silver Borne" - Patricia Briggs (4.5 stars)
- "First Drop of Crimson"- Jeaniene Frost (3.5 stars)
- "His Voice, His Command"- Vonna Harper *ebook (1 star)
- "Not Just an Orgy"- Sally Painter *ebook (5 stars)
- "Changing Perspective"- Marilu Mann *m/m ebook (5 stars)
- "Jekel Loves Hyde"- Beth Fantaskey (YA review on my YA blog "The Cracked Spine")
- "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" - JK Rowling *re-read* (5 stars)

I don't know why but summer seems to always toss me into a reading funk unless I have just discovered a "new to me" author or series to dive into. Maybe it's the heat or having the kids home on school break or perhaps more time outdoors. Whatever it is, I don't like it. I miss reading 20+ books a month and hope to get my reading groove back very soon.

Anyone else reading less lately??

I did manage to complete my M/M Reading 2010 Challenge this month and I've kept up with the Re-Read 2010 Challenge (see right sidebar), so that's something to be happy about!

"Hero" by Cheryl Brooks

2010-08-02T09:25:00.005-04:00

Title: "Hero"
Author: Cheryl Brooks
Series: Cat Star Chronicles
Genre: Sci-Fi Romance

Synopsis: Raised on earth, Micayla is the last living Zetithian female. Typical of her species, she's aloof and uninterested in men—until she meets Trag, the Zetithian pilot for an intergalactic arms dealer and the sexiest, most irksome man she's ever met. Trag has sworn he'll never marry, unless he can find a Zetithian woman. Considering the odds, it's a safe bet, until he encounters Micayla. Fighting the enemies who are determined to wipe out the Zetithian race may be easier than convincing these hardheaded lovers that they were made for each other…

*ARC of "Hero" from Sourcebooks,Inc*

Author Cheryl Brooks continues her fun and sexy Sci-Fi romance series with "Hero" the story of "Trag" (whom we met previously) and "Micayla" the first female Zetithian of the series. From previous books readers are told that Zetithian males have to work hard to get a Zetithian female to respond to them. The problem for Trag and Micayla is that they are clueless! These poor Zetitians have no idea how Zetithian males and females relate to each other. They stumble along like two virgin teenagers trying to figure out how to have sex for the first time.

Besides being clueless about the mating habits of their own species, these two have issues of their own. Micayla is very lost in that she doesn't know her own place in the universe because she knows nothing about her own species and has only one memory of her childhood and that is the day her family was murdered. She was raised on earth but never fit in completely. She tried dating but never felt desire for anyone. She didn't know what was wrong with her -and as a result seemed cold and unresponsive to the men who tried to get her attention.

Trag too is lost in a sort of limbo state. He has had a huge crush on his brother's wife for a long time. He doesn't have a home and even if he wanted to settle down somewhere he doesn't know where that would be because his own planet of Zetith was destroyed many years ago. Trag is depressed when the story begins and comes across as a bit sulky. Things get worse when he meets Micayla.

When these two Zetithian's first meet it doesn't go well, to put it mildly. Micayla hisses at Trag- who is used to females of numerous species fawning over him- and she has the urge to sink her fangs into Trag. Trag is shocked and floored that a female would hiss at him! They don't like each other and stumble along cluelessly as they figure out the mating habits of their species. But they have a bigger problem. Micayla has been set up for a murder she did not commit. She's become an outlaw and is being hunted. Trag, as all Zetithians, is also being hunted by Nedwuts- the species that destroyed his planet.

These two manage to fall in love while fighting for their lives and freedom on several different planets. Trag who starts off depressed and sulkly turns out to be a hero and a love smitten man who finds 'home' is where ever Micayla is. And Micayla finally gets a hold of her Zetithian female characteristics and realizes that life without Trag isn't a life she wants. For the first time, Micayla wants a man in her life forever and that man is Trag.

Fans of this series will be happy to know that characters from previous books play a much larger part in this installment than in others. The Zetithian's and their mates come together to help Trag and Micayla out of trouble and help them understand what they are. Also, there is a wonderful surprise at the end of this book that I didn't see coming at all. Kudos to author Cheryl Brooks!

"Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" by JK Rowling

2010-07-30T10:31:00.008-04:00

I was feeling nostalgic for some Harry Potter this month, so I decided to re-read the first Harry Potter book for the Re-read 2010 Reading Challenge. This will be the first children's book (outside older YA stuff) I've reviewed on my blog. I've been considering trying to re-read the entire HP series before the next movie comes out, but I've got so many new books to read for the fall I probably won't get around to all the HP books unfortunately. I do still adore this series and the amazing world created by JK Rowling.

Title: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
Author: JK Rowling
Series: Harry Potter book #1
Published: 1997
Genre: Children's/Young Readers

Synopsis: Harry Potter has never played a sport while flying on a broomstick. He's never worn a cloak of invisibility, befriended a giant, or helped hatch a dragon. All Harry knows is a miserable life with the Dursleys, his horrible aunt and uncle, and their abominable son, Dudley. Harry's room is a tiny closet at the foot of the stairs, and he hasn't had a birthday party in eleven years.
But all that is about to change when a mysterious letter arrives by owl messenger: a letter with an invitation to a wonderful place he never dreamed existed. There he finds not only friends, aerial sports, and magic around every corner, but a great destiny that's been waiting for him...if Harry can survive the encounter.

In two words: Brilliant & Charming

What's not to like about this book or series? The magical world meets every day reality is mixed to perfection. Aside from the wonderful characters who are superbly shown to grow and learn in each book, the world creation is like nothing else I've ever read. Author JK Rowling didn't just give you a few glimpses of the magical world, she dove in and gave you all the smallest details so that while reading the books you feel you could step through a brick wall and enter the magic yourself. The world creation is brilliant.

As wonderful as the world creation is, the characters are wonderfully charming. Characters you'd want to know and befriend in real life. From the three main characters of Harry, Ron and Hermione to the entire supporting cast of 'good' wizards. Then the people you are always unsure of, yet mostly dislike: Professor Snape (whom takes delight in tormenting Harry because Snape had issues years ago with Harry's now deceased father- talk about a guy carrying a grudge!). And even the sort of people you love to hate...the Dursley's, Draco Malfoy and of course the evil Voldemort.

This is one book and series that will always bring a smile to my face. I thoroughly enjoyed being a part of the Harry Potter madness as it unfolded from the midnight book releases to the movie premieres. I had to be there for all of it and I am glad I was.

If you or your children haven't yet discovered this amazing series I highly recommend it. The movies barely touch the surface of these books. There is so much more to discover about this series, reading the books is a must.

***Re-Read Challenge 2010***

Washboard boobs?

2010-07-29T13:21:00.002-04:00

I could have gone my whole life without seeing this... but since I had to see it, so do all of you! *evil grin*

Tosh.0

20 Seconds - Six Pack Tits

www.comedycentral.com

Tosh.0 Videos

Daniel Tosh

Web Redemption

I don't even want to know what sort of exercises a woman does to make those muscles!

Blog banners...final three options

2010-07-28T10:48:00.004-04:00

Thanks everyone for sharing your opinions. While most of us love those hunks the general feeling is that my blog is better served with a darker feel or 'moon' theme banner.

So today I have three options and I'd like you all to help me pick which one will be my new blog banner.

So what do you think? Which one is your favorite?

The Kama Sutra of Reading

2010-07-26T11:46:00.001-04:00

I just love this!!

Blog Banners...what do you think?

2010-07-24T14:42:00.011-04:00

I've been playing around with a new "create a blog banner" program and came up with a few new banners for my blog. I don't know how long I will kept them as I like to change banners every several months or so. The photos are from Flickr (I do love that site!) with the exception of "Kyle" (the t-shirt hunk with the bedroom eyes) the model from Model Mayhem that I can NOT find any more information about damn it!
Anywho... I'd like some feed back. Which banner do you like the most?

I will probably play around with some more (I meant to make more "moon" theme banners, but all the hunks of Flickr kept distracting me!), but that's what I've got so far. What do you think? Keet the current moon banner that I've had for a while or change things up for a bit?

Shits and Giggles Book Giveaway WINNER!!

2010-07-22T18:08:00.004-04:00

Thank you to everyone who participated in my "Shits & Giggles Book Giveaway" contest. I totally enjoyed all your responses to the "book covers" - great job everyone!

Now for the winner...

MISSIE!!!!!!!!!

Congrats!! Please email me with a shipping address so I can get these books off to you!

Thanks again everyone!