Romantic Harbor

Waiting on Wednesday -4

2010-02-17T10:14:00.000-08:00

No Mercy by Sherrilyn Kenyon

Dev Peltier thought he knew it all. But one night when not just a Dark-Hunter, but an official member of the Dogs of War sashays into his bar, he realizes that he might have met his match.

Sam was one the fiercest Amazon warrior in her tribe. But when an act of brutal betrayal made her a Dark-Hunter, she's been pissed ever since.

Life fast, fight hard and enjoy the night. That's her credo. But as old enemies and new move into New Orleans, she realizes that Dev just might be the only hope she and mankind have to save the world.

I'm so excited about this book! Dev has always been one of my favorite were characters, I can't wait to read his story. The release date for No Mercy is April 4.

Waiting on Wednesdays was created by: Breaking The Spine

Teaser Tuesday -3

2010-02-16T19:53:00.000-08:00

My Teaser for this week is form Street Game by Christine Feehan. Here it is: :)

"The newspapers had reported that Dr. Peter Whitney, the brains behind the GhostWalker experiments, had been murdered, yet she'd had contact with him after that time. She had a high security clearance and had continued to help analyze information."

Rules:
1) Grab your current read
2) Open to a random page
3) Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
4) BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
5) Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Teaser Tuesday's are brought to us by: Should Be Reading

Friday Night Bites by Chloe Neill

2010-02-15T19:16:00.000-08:00

Synopsis:

You'd think headlines like that would have provoked the fine citizens of the Windy City to take up arms against us bloodsucking fiends. Instead, ten months later, we're enjoying a celebrity status reserved for the Hollywood elite—fending off paparazzi only slightly less dangerous than cross and stake-wielding slayers. Don't get me wrong, Joe Public isn't exactly thrilled to be living side-by-side with the undead, but at least they haven't stormed the castle yet.

You'd think headlines like that would have provoked the fine citizens of the Windy City to take up arms against us bloodsucking fiends. Instead, ten months later, we're enjoying a celebrity status reserved for the Hollywood elite—fending off paparazzi only slightly less dangerous than cross and stake-wielding slayers. Don't get me wrong, Joe Public isn't exactly thrilled to be living side-by-side with the undead, but at least they haven't stormed the castle yet.

But all that will change once they learn about the Raves—mass feeding parties where vampires round up humans like cattle and drink themselves silly. Most civilized vampires frown on this behavior, putting mere mortals at ease with their policy of asking a person's consent before taking a big gulp of the red stuff. However, that doesn't make good copy for a first time reporter looking to impress his high society family.

So now my "master," the centuries old, yet gorgeously well-preserved Ethan Sullivan, wants me to reconnect with my own upper class family and act as liaison between humans and vampires—and keep the more unsavory aspects of our existence out of the media. But someone doesn't want people and vamps to play nicey-nice—someone with an ancient grudge.

Review:

Friday Night Bites was a very enjoyable and wonderfully detailed book. I loved that I could almost see the story playing out in my head, as if the characters and world we real lol. The only issue I had was that I felt that the pace of the fist half of the book could have been faster.

It was so interesting to see how Merit evolved from the beginning of the first book, Some Girls Bite, thru the second. Going from Grad student to vampire to Sentinel of the house couldn't have been easy. I really appreciated that Neill didn't make it seem like a walk in the park, which I thought made Merit easier to relate too. Merit really struggles with her new life and new responsibilities throughout Some Girls Bites and continues learning how to deal in book two. Merit seems to be fighting a whirlwind of emotions in Friday Night Bites. She is forced to return to a family she doesn't consider herself to be apart of, trying to remain somewhat human, and above all doing everything that she can to ignore her feeling for her master, Ethan. Except disdain.

Merit and Ethan's relationship runs very hot and cold one minute they can barley tolerate being in the same room, almost to the point of convincing the reader that perhaps they really do loath one another, and then the next scene it's hot an steamy. There were many times in the book where I became more than a little frustrated with Merit for deluding herself that she doesn't care for Ethan while at the same time shes alienating everyone that cares for her to make Ethan happy. It'll be very interesting to see how their "relationship" will play out in the third book Twice Bitten.

Neill's writing style does a great job of keeping me turning the page. The world that she has created as well as her portrayal of vampires is a wonderfully new and creative outlook and I can't wait to read book three as her series of the Chicagoland Vampires continues.

Cover: 3.5

Plot: 4

Characters: 3.8

Writing: 4.5

Overall: 4

Escape With Romance Blog Blitz!!

2009-11-07T10:27:00.000-08:00

Ravenous Romance and Home Shopping Network

Join Forces to Bring You

ESCAPE WITH ROMANCE

Leave a comment for a chance to win one of four books we’ll be giving away!

Voyage to a distant land where fantasy and passion ignite. The Escape with Romance Exclusive 6-Book Collection is a fascinating compilation of stories filled with infatuation, excitement and of course, love. These tales will evoke the internal fires that burn deep within us all. Choose from the 3 collections; the romantically nostalgic Historical genre, the futuristic and supernatural of the Paranormal genre, or the modern-day heroines of the Contemporary genre. Plus, if you can't decide choose the Sampler, which includes 2 books from every genre, so you can get a little bit of it all. Suddenly, reading just got a lot more interesting.

More information on ESCAPE WITH ROMANCE here: http://electronics.hsn.com/escape-with-romance-exclusive-6-book-collection_p-5700283_xp.aspx?cm_mmc=rss*Browse*2*NA

Ravenous Romance Web Site: http://www.ravenousromance.com

Escape with Romance Exclusive 6-Book Collection Features:

Historical Genre:

"Land of Falling Stars" by Keta Diablo; 192 pages
"Force My Hand" by Em Brown; 192 pages
"Kiss of Scandal" by Isabel Roman; 192 pages
"The Mercenary Bride" by Jamaica Layne; 192 pages
"Dark Desires of the Druids #1" by Isabel Roman; 192 pages
"The American Heiress" by Roxanne Dent; 191 pages

Contemporary Genre:

"Ripping the Bodice" by Inara LaVey; 192 pages
"Nashville Heat" by Bethany Michaels; 192 pages
"Hot on Her Heels" by Monica Newcomb; 192 pages
"The Lady's Choice" by Trudy Doyle; 191 pages
"Once an Obsession" by Bella French; 192 pages
"Vital Signs" by Jamica Lane; 192 pages

Paranormal Genre:

"The Wolfpact" by Jo Atkinson; 191 pages
"Stilettos, Inc." by Lexi Ryan; 192 pages
"Twilights Edge" by Jo Atkinson; 208 pages
"Love in Space" by Lisa Lane; 192 pages
"Haunted Seduction" by Morgan James; 192 pages
"Loving Daylight" by Malia Sutton; 192 pages

Sampler:

"Land of Falling Stars" by Keta Diablo; 192 pages
"Kiss of Scandal" by Isabel Roman; 192 pages
"Stilettos, Inc." by Lexi Ryan; 192 pages
"Twilights Edge" by Jo Atkinson; 208 pages
"Ripping the Bodice" by Inara Lavey; 191 pages
"Nashville Heat" by Bethany Michaels; 192 pages

Reader reviews from the Home Shopping Network Site:

“I found these books to be well written and recommend them to anyone who loves romance.” Joan, Kentucky

“These books kept me up at night! I bought the Paranormal series and I loved them.” Karen, New York

“Some of the best romance books I've ever read! Every one is a page-turner.” Nightchick, California

“Historicals are my favorite genre. When a friend who frequents HSN told me about this, I had to order them.” Christinereader, New Jersey

* * *

Force My Hand by Em Brown

Independent and always in command, Miss Darcy Sherwood holds her own among the cads and rakes that frequent the dubious gaming hall where she works. When she has the opportunity to exact revenge upon the man who wronged her sister, she intends to provide the arrogant Baron Broadmoor the biggest set-down of his life…by requiring him to be her suitor.

But when the Baron begins to play his role too well, can Darcy resist falling for the man she’s supposed to hate above all others?

Radcliff Barrington, Baron Broadmoor, has no intention of quietly submitting to Miss Sherwood – even if she does hold the deed that could ruin his family. He intends to turn the tables on Miss Sherwood. She must surrender the deed or surrender herself…

Passions flare to erotic heights as Darcy and Radcliff struggle to see who will submit to whom. And all bets are off as to who will win…

Dear Readers,

I'm thrilled to be able to share this story with you. I had a lot of fun writing it and hope you have fun reading it. My inspiration for Force My Hand was the lighthearted Regency era stories of Georgette Heyer (though the hero in my story is a little darker along the lines of a Bronte). If you're not a fan of historicals I hope you might give Force My Hand a try anyway. There's plenty of tension and steamy sex scenes for the adventurous, modern woman. And feel free to leave comments at my website,

Happy reading, Em Brown,

http://www.em-brown.com

* * *

Land of Falling Stars by Keta Diablo

“If you haven’t read Keta Diablo you haven’t lived!”—Crave More Romance

Diablo has penned a beautiful, haunting love story full of passion, deception, and danger that will leave you breathless and longing for more!—Night Owl Romance

About Land of Falling Stars:

Penniless, her parents and brother dead, Sophia Whitfield struggles to save her beloved childhood home during the Civil War. Another bluecoat staggers down the hill, but before Sophia allows him to rob and pilfer like the others, she shoots him. How was she to know it was Gavin, the dark knight of her youth, carrying secrets too horrific to imagine and a passion that ignites her deepest desires?

Greetings friends,

I can’t tell you how honored I am that Land of Falling Stars was selected to participate in ESCAPE WITH ROMANCE through the Home Shopping Network. Here’s wishing each and every one of you a blessed Holiday season. May all your dreams for 2010 come true.

Namaste, Keta Diablo

http://ketadiablo.blogspot.com

Love in Space by Lisa Lane

"Lisa Lane delivers a wonderfully intriguing, suspenseful and highly erotic romance novel that will keep you on the edge of your seat and wanting more even after the novel ends." –Talk About My Favorite Authors (5 stars)

"Ms. Lane embraced all that we love about sci-fi fantasy and heated it up to super-nova proportions. My question for Ms. Lane is, is this a long-term mission? If so, I'm applying for a boarding pass." –Whipped Cream Erotic Romance Reviews (4.5 "cherries" and Best Book of the Week pick)

About Love in Space:

Captain Nora Bradley has full intentions of keeping her relationship with former classmate, and now First Officer, Robert Smith, purely professional when she hires him. Things begin to change, however, after bodiless invaders seduce the crew in their dreams, the entire ship becomes infected with a space flu that leads to orgiastic frenzy, and encounters with new alien races challenge all they know about sexual identity and social ideals.

As the crew endures, Nora can't help but profess her feelings for Robert… but can their love endure a mix-up with shape-shifters, the unexpected takeover of their ship, and intergalactic war?

Greetings! I’m so glad you could stop by. My most sincere thanks to those who have taken the time—blog hosts, peers, and readers alike—to support so graciously Love in Space and its fellow HSN releases. Love in Space is a sweet, highly romantic sci-fi space adventure, one I feel honored and privileged to be able to share with all of you. I am an avid fan of pulp science fiction, as well as the episodic space adventure (i.e. Star Trek and Red Dwarf), and it is with great pleasure that I come today to share my tiny contribution to these genres with all of you.

Lisa Lane

http://www.cerebralwriter.com/index.html

* * *

Ripping the Bodice by Inara LaVey

"This pleasing story bears some resemblance to Northanger Abbey, with the heroine’s love of bodice rippers paralleling Austen’s heroine’s love of gothic literature."-- Romantic Times

"If you're looking for a big dose of fun to go along with your romance, look no farther than Inara Lavey's Ripping the Bodice. This story positively sparkles with wit and humor...Along with that humor, Ms. Lavey has given us an absolutely addictive cast of characters who are colorful and well-developed and almost larger than life."--Bookwenches.com

About Ripping the Bodice:

Got sex and romance on the brain? So does Cassandra Devon. She also has hard-boiled
private eyes, dashing pirates, jet-setting super spies and other sexy rogues entertaining her in her surprisingly explicit subconscious. All these erotic daydreams make it hard to stay focused on Cassandra's current dilemma: namely, rebuffing the advances of Connor, a wild Irish rascal who wants to play the starring role in her fantasies. Cassandra is only interested in getting together with Raphael, the tall, dark and handsome man of her dreams. May the best romance hero win!

Hi, all! Ripping the Bodice was originally written as a screenplay back when my best friend and I thought we could make our own movie. Years later, I have three video tapes of footage and my book to show for it! I was (and still am) absolutely delighted to have Ripping the Bodice as part of Ravenous Romance's HSN ESCAPE TO ROMANCE collection. Watching Holly and the HSN hostess/product demonstrator holding up my book during one of the promotional spots is a definite high point for my year! I hope you enjoy all of the books in the collections, as well as the rest of Ravenous Romance's extensive and diverse collection of spicy romances for sale on the website!

Please come visit me at my website and blog at www.danafredsti.com.

Happy reading! Inara LaVey

* * *

Nashville Heat by Bethany Michaels

"The heroine of this superb story leaps off the page with intelligence, drive and a full range of emotions. Michaels has a wonderful ear for dialogue, a knack for writing her heroine into slyly clever predicaments and an equally apparent talent for writing some of the most arousing sex scenes you'll ever read." Romantic Times (4 1/2 stars)

"Ms. Michaels' talent as a writer amazed me and had me so enthralled, I could not put this book down. If I could give this novel a higher rating than 5 cups, I would; it will just blow you away! The romance is hot, the sex is sizzling, and the overall storyline is a must-read, cannot-miss story for everyone!" Coffee Time Romance (5-cup review)

About Nashville Heat:

When Sydney Stratton moved to Nashville to follow her dream of making it big in the country music business, she never counted on meeting Dex Wilder, Music City's bad boy country star, let alone hooking up with him!

But just as lust begins to turn into something deeper and Sydney gets to know the man behind the tabloids, revealing photos and a devastating secret surface, threatening any future Sydney and Dex might have together.

Greetings! When I moved to Nashville three years ago, I discovered that it is a city of contrasts. It has a load of old-fashioned Southern charm in the form of honky-talks and Civil War battlefields, yet supports a thriving art and music scene with a metropolitan sophistication. It's down-home friendly, yet diverse in its population. It's a tourist destination, yet a place where people immediately feel at home. I've tried to share some of the places and things that make Nashville such a unique city in Nashville Heat and hope ya'll will be coming to Nashville in 2010 when we host RWA's national convention!

Bethany Michaels
www.bethanymichaels.com

* * *

Dark Desires of the Druids (Murder and Magick) by Isabel Roman

The characters in this book have very strong wills and it was difficult for them to acknowledge the desire for each other's help in the time of need....I am looking forward to reading the next book in this series.- Literary Nymphs

About Dark Desires of the Druids I: Murder and Magick:

Raven Drake wants the freedom to explore all that is restricted to a Victorian lady. Malcolm, Lord Preston, desires her from the moment he sees her, and doesn't allow society's rules to stand in his way. Their tryst is a welcome distraction from witch hunters and political maneuverings. But can it overcome the weight of another man's ring on her finger?

About Kiss of Scandal:

Countess Katria Markova finds her perfectly ordered life, irrevocably altered when a dear friend is murdered. Count Nikolai Orlov will do anything to clear his brother's name, except put Katria in harm's way. From the snowy streets of St. Petersburg to the River Neva's icy depths, they search for the answers to clear Nikolai. But in their search, will they lose each other?

Being a part of the Home Shopping Network's Escape with Romance has been absolutely wonderful! I'm so happy and thankful to have this opportunity.

Isabel Roman

* * *

Loving Daylight by Malia Sutton

Dearcritique says:

"...a great, enjoyable read.... Malia writes with a simple style that keeps the story moving fast and the reader interested in what's coming next.” -- Dear Critique

About Loving Daylight:

Vampire Avenir LaFramboise is over one hundred years old, but he still carries a torch for his first love. When he travels back to Mt. Desert Island, Maine, to meet her descendant, he is swept away by the stunning Sienna. But Sienna's family hides a chilling secret, and if Avenir wants to win her heart, he must help her discover the truth...

Greetings Friends,

Being part of The Home Shopping Network's ESCAPE WITH ROMANCE adventure with all the other talented writers at ravenousromance.com, has been the experience of a lifetime for me. I'd like to wish everyone a healthy and prosperous holiday season and all the best in the coming New Year.

Malia Sutton

http://maliasutton.blogspot.com

As mentioned yesterday escape with romance will be GIVING AWAY FOUR BOOKS (of the seven reviewed by the home shopping network) To participate in this great opportunity to receive one all you have to do is leave a comment about the blitz along with your email address. I would like to give a special thanks to Keta for making this blitz possible. Come back tomorrow to here about her book, Land of Falling Stars!!

Wow October really flew by!

2009-11-06T15:08:00.000-08:00

Hey everyone sorry I've been MIA for awhile been dealing with some personal issues regarding the opposite sex, which hasn't really put me in a romantic mood lol. But I'm back now!! An to kick it off tomorrow I'm hosting a blog blitz with Escape with Romance through the Home Shopping Network! They will be giving away four books for those who comment on the blitz tomorrow, so please stop by and check it out, following the blitz (on Sunday) I will be posting a review of Land of Falling Stars by Keta Diablo. :)

Interview with Chloe Neill

2009-10-17T11:59:00.000-07:00

Chloe Neill is the author of the Chicagoland Vampire series. I recently read Some Girls Bite and was very impressed, I can't wait to read Friday Night Bites.

RH: How did you come up with the story Some Girls Bite?

CN: I knew that I wanted to write an urban fantasy series starring a female vampire--which, at the time, seemed like a new concept. I wanted to write about the kind of heroine I might want to be, and I was also really interested in exploring the vampire House structure, and all the rules and regulations that entails.

RH:How many books do you plan to write for this series?

CN: I have about eight planned, and there are four currently under contract.

RH:Do you already have the series planned out?

CN: I have the general arcs for the growth of the characters mapped out. I know where Merit starts, and where I'd like her to begin. Ditto for most of the other secondary characters.

RH:What made you decide to have different houses for the vampires?

CN: Because vampires had been assimilated with humans for so long, I figured they'd have organized themselves into some kind of secret society. I also wanted my vampires to have an allegiance to something--allegiances that could be beneficial or negative, and which would be tested along the way. Houses seemed like a logical way to meld the two ideas.

RH: Will Merit always be the main character? If so, will it always be told from her point of view?

CN: Yes. Merit will always be the main character of the CV novels, although I have considered novellas and short stories featuring other characters.

RH: Are we ever going to find out Merit's first name?

CN: Yes. And that's all I can say about that. :)

RH: Why was it that all the girls who were attacked looked somewhat alike?

CN: Sorry--I can't answer that one. ;)

RH:When vampires commit a crime against humans, like murder, do they just get a slap on the wrist or are more severe measures ever taken?

CN: It depends on the vampire and their relationship with the Greenwich Presidium, the governing counsel for North American and Western European vampires. We learn more about that process in FRIDAY NIGHT BITES.

RH: Why is not drinking, or drinking, from humans considered such a big deal now that vampires no longer have to worry about keeping their existence a secret?

CN: Because some vampires believe that their safety is dependent upon humans not being afraid of them. And vampires figure that humans are less likely to be afraid of beings that are like them. Thus, vampires fear that if all vampires drank, they'd be seen as monsters, and would not be safe from attack (or research...or internment) by humans.

RH: Is every house required to have a sentinel, if not then why have one all of the sudden?

CN:Each House must have a Master; without a Master, there would be no House. But other than that, the Master can decide how to organize his or her House as he or she pleases. Sentinel was an historic position, generally seen not to be necessary during the modern age. Ethan, however, figured that he might as well use Merit's "fame" as a Merit to his advantage...

RH: Which character was the most fun to write about?

CN: Mallory! Her dialogue is so fun to write.

RH: Can anyone be turned into a vampire?

CN: Theoretically, any human can be made a vampire, assuming they can find a vampire willing to convert them (or a House willing to convert and Commend them).

RH: Can anyone be born a vampire?

CN: Sorry--that one's a bit of a spoiler, too. (But it's addressed in FRIDAY NIGHT BITES).

RH: Which male character did you fall in love with?

CN: Oh, definitely not touching that one. :)

RH: About how long did it take you to write the story?

CN: Some Girls Bite, Friday Night Bites and Twice Bitten probably each took about four to six months of writing, although the most intense writing was conducted during the last two months of those periods.

RH: What type of environment do you enjoy most for writing?

CN: On the couch, laptop in my lap, NCIS on television. Or bad scifi movies if it's a weekend, maybe with a little rain outside. Bad weather = better writing.

RH: Did you always want to be a writer?

CN: Not even slightly. I used to hate writing, and wrote my first novel in 2005. Some Girls Bite was my second manuscript.

RH: Do you plan to do any signings in Georgia soon? I'd love to get my book signed. :)

CN: I don't have anything planned at the moment, but feel free to talk to your local bookstores and see if they'd be interested in having me! :)

Thank you Chloe so much for the interview!!

Some Girls Bite by Chloe Neill

2009-10-13T17:20:00.000-07:00

Synopsis:

Sure, the life of a graduate student wasn’t exactly glamorous, but it was Merit’s. She was doing fine until a rogue vampire attacked her. But he only got a sip before he was scared away by another bloodsucker—and this one decided the best way to save her life was to make her the walking undead.

Turns out her savior was the master vampire of Cadogan House. Now she’s traded sweating over her thesis for learning to fit in at a Hyde Park mansion full of vamps loyal to Ethan “Lord o’ the Manor” Sullivan. Of course, as a tall, green-eyed, four-hundred- year-old vampire, he has centuries’ worth of charm, but unfortunately he expects her gratitude— and servitude. But an inconvenient sunlight allergy and Ethan’s attitude are the least of her concerns. Someone’s still out to get her. Her initiation into Chicago’s nightlife may be the first skirmish in a war—and there will be blood.

Review:

Some Girls Bite is a great blend of suspense, action, emotion, and sci-fi. In the beginning humans have just found out about the existence of vampires, and to some level are informed about their society. The structure of the vampire world was a completely new take that really made the story more interesting to read. The house system reminded me of a sorority or fraternity, you have to take oaths to get in and once you're in the other members become your family. What really surprised me about the house system is that each house is run by a master "Liege", and he/she is the only one who is allowed to turn humans into vampires. The rest of the world was, ironically, realistic. For the exceptions of a few minor things, like the actual time that the vampires came out, the story sucked me in. I could see the world Neill was creating playing out in my head.

The characters in this book blew me away! I loved Merit she's an independent-stubborn- I won't take any crap from anyone-girl. Even though her world has been completely turned upside down she doesn't fall apart, she decides to deal with it...but on her terms. The only issue I had with Merit was that she had trouble letting go of the past, I understand that her life didn't go how she planned but I felt that after the initiation she was somewhat OK with it. An that she just kept bring up that this wasn't what she choose to make some sort of point in her book. As far as Ethan is concerned I'm a little conflicted. I kept altering between loving him and wanting to break a large object over his head. He seems incapable of loosening up, and I felt that he expected Merit to adjust to her new life with no problem. He didn't seem to show much sympathy to her situation, he mostly came off as arrogant and had a "holier than thou" attitude. The other characters of the book were just, if not more, as exciting to read about than the main characters.

My two favorite characters had to be Jeff and Morgan. Jeff was an adorable little horn-dog, he's the character that you can't help but smile when you see his name cross the page. Morgan, on the other hand, seems to be everything Ethan refuses to be. He's loyal, humble, and somewhat stable. My favorite part of the book was when he and Merit are facing off, it was so clever and perfectly played I couldn't help but laugh at how Morgan "diffused" the situation. Unfortunately, I think he's the character that is forever the friend and nothing more.

The story was told from Merit's point of view, which I surprisingly enjoyed. Normally I don't care for first person stories, I feel like I'm being jipped of the other characters point of views. But Neill more than made up for that with great dialogue: witty and sarcastic with a great balance of humor. There was nothing that was drawn out or felt unnecessary in Some Girls Bite, the author never veered away from the story. I love Neill's writing style and I can't wait for book two, Friday Night Bites.

Cover: 3.5

Plot: 4.5

Characters: 4.5

Writing: 4

Overall: 4.1

My Review of Hanging Corner Storage in Maple

2009-10-10T17:11:00.001-07:00

Originally submitted at CSN Stores

This stylish space saving corner unit helps organize all of your clutter. The unit can be attached to the wall in any corner of the house. A modern way to store and display your favorite belongings!

Features:

Maple finish
Attach to ...

Beautiful and efficient

By Danni from Atlanta, GA on 10/10/2009

Pros: Quality Construction, Supports Weight, Displays Books Well, Very easy to assemble

Cons: Poor weight distribution

Best Uses: Displaying Books, Decoration, Shelving & Storage

Describe Yourself: Budget Shopper

Primary use: Personal

This is a wonderful bookshelf for my dorm, I needed something that could go in the corner but not take up floor space and this is exactly what I needed. It was very easy to put together but when I was carrying it to my room, since there is poor weight distribution, I was worried it might break. The wood is beautiful and not heavy. Overall it is a wonderful shelf and I was very satisfied.

(legalese)

Your Life Is a Book 2009

2009-09-30T11:26:00.000-07:00

Saw this posted at the romantic scholar's blog. I thought it was a cute idea so I decided to do it as well. Anyone who's interested feel free to give it a try. :)

Using only books you have read this year (2009), cleverly answer these questions. Try not to repeat a book title. It's a lot harder than you think!

Describe Yourself: Dark Slayer
How do you feel: Dead Until Dark
Describe where you currently live: Hidden Currents
If you could go anywhere, where would you go: Lair of the Lion
Your favorite form of transportation: Anchor and Storm
Your best friend is: In Over Her Head
You and your friends are: Companions of the Night
What's the weather like: Shiver
Favorite time of day: Burning Wild
What is life to you: Dark Curse
Your fear: Tycoon's Pregnant Mistress
What is the best advice you have to give: Some Girls Bite
Thought for the Day: Daddy by Surprise
How I would like to die: Murder Game
My soul's present condition: Rapture

Your Life Is a Book was created by: Words For Teens

Waiting on Wednesday -3

2009-09-23T10:30:00.000-07:00

Vamps in Chicago!

You'd think headlines like that would have provoked the fine citizens of the Windy City to take up arms against us bloodsucking fiends. Instead, ten months later, we're enjoying a celebrity status reserved for the Hollywood elite—fending off paparazzi only slightly less dangerous than cross and stake-wielding slayers. Don't get me wrong, Joe Public isn't exactly thrilled to be living side-by-side with the undead, but at least they haven't stormed the castle yet.

But all that will change once they learn about the Raves—mass feeding parties where vampires round up humans like cattle and drink themselves silly. Most civilized vampires frown on this behavior, putting mere mortals at ease with their policy of asking a person's consent before taking a big gulp of the red stuff. However, that doesn't make good copy for a first time reporter looking to impress his high society family.

So now my "master," the centuries old, yet gorgeously well-preserved Ethan Sullivan, wants me to reconnect with my own upper class family and act as liaison between humans and vampires—and keep the more unsavory aspects of our existence out of the media. But someone doesn't want people and vamps to play nicey-nice—someone with an ancient grudge.

I'm currently reading the first book in this series, so I decided to look this one up as well. It sounds like it picks up where Some Girls Bite left off, I'm not usually one to stop reading halfway through the series (especially when the books are about the same character) so I can't wait to see what happens in book two!

Waiting on Wednesdays was created by: Breaking The Spine

Daddy by Surprise by Debra Salonen

2009-09-22T22:04:00.000-07:00

Synopsis:

Kat Petroski has a weakness for swoo. That indescribable charm guys from the wilder side have. Not that falling for it has worked out for her, since she-s a twice-divorced mother of two. So she-s got an early-warning swoo alert. Then Jack Treadwell walks into her life.

Between his motorcycle and his adventure-seeking attitude, Jack has all the trappings she can-t resist and should. Still, is that the real Jack? Something tells her he may be more dentist than biker. But is he father material? Because swoo aside, Kat-s a mom first. And the man who wins her heart must first win over her boys.

Review:

This book started off interesting enough, I liked the characters and storyline. Yet I never felt the love between Jack and Kat, in fact up until the last two chapters of the book they continued to refer to each other as strangers. Neither one viewed the other as "the dream", living up to their expectations. I also had hoped that Kat's sons would have had a bigger role in the story, yet Jack can't stand children? Though the author did a wonderful job showing how much Kat loved her boys it seemed that she was continuously shipping them off to her friends houses.

I love reading stories where both the hero and heroine have shared a past life together, but I didn't like that I didn't know this was going to happen and the author did not announce it at all. I went from reading about how the heroine went to sleep to turning the page reading about a completely different character. It really confused me.

I liked that at the end of the book all the characters worked out all the issues that were holding them back. Jack surprised me the most, I honestly didn't see him coming around the way he did. I really felt that Kat let her ex's walk all over her for no reason, but was glad that at the end she finally stood up for herself. I think this book is for anyone who knows what it's like to grow up in a somewhat dysfunctional family.

Cover: 4

Plot: 3

Characters: 3

Writing: 3.5

Overall: 3.4

Interview with Christine Feehan

2009-09-18T15:15:00.000-07:00

Christine Feehan is New York Times #1 bestselling author. She is most well known for her Carpathian novels, Dark Slayer is #20 in the series. I was so grateful for the interview!

RH: First of would you please give a summery of Dark Slayer?

A rumor has persisted in the vampire world of a dark slayer—a woman—who travels with a wolf pack and who destroys any vampire who crosses her path. Mysterious, elusive and seemingly impossible to kill, she is the one hunter who strikes terror into the hearts of the undead.

She is Ivory Malinov. Her only brethren, the wolves. Long ago betrayed by her people, abandoned by her family, and cast out by everyone she held dear, Ivory has lived a century without companionship or love. She has sustained her sanity by the habit of the hunt and the custom of the feeding. Until the night she picks up the scent of a man, her unexpected salvation. Her lifemate. The curse of all Carpathian women.

He is Razvan. Branded a criminal, detested and feared, he is a dragonseeker borne of one of the greatest Carpathian lineages, only to be raised as its most despised—and captive—enemy. Fleeing from his lifetime of imprisonment, Razvan now seeks the dawn to end his terrible existence. Instead he has found his deliverance in the Dark Slayer.

In spirit, in flesh and blood, in love, and in war, Ivory and Razvan are made for each other. For as long as they dare to live.

RH: What inspired you to write the Dark series?
CF: The death of my oldest son. I always told him stories of the Carpathians and decided to write them, expanding the theme after his accident. I needed something to bring me back to life because I definitely felt as if I’d lost all the color in my world.

RH: The Carpathian world has expanded so much over the years, and so have the characters. Who, character wise, has touched you the most?
CF: Darius always has a special place in my heart. He was willing to give up everything for his lifemate, to give up what he was and grow old and die with her rather than risk her. Razvan and Ivory from Dark Slayer are my most beloved and magical to me with their courage and unswerving loyalty to one another.

RH: So far it has always been a female psychic who is lifemate to a male Carpathian, can your readers ever look forward to a reverse?
CF: Well it certainly can happen. A female could turn a psychic male, but she can’t bind him to her. Only the male can do that, so it would be interesting!

RH: As the Carpathian world becomes more complex, will you write more about the werewolves and shape shifters?
CH: I had planned to bring in werewolves from the beginning, in fact I almost started with werewolves, but the Carpathians became stronger in my mind. I have no idea if I’ll fully develop that storyline or not. I’ve written a lot of these books and keeping them fresh and exciting is a challenge.

RH: Do you already have the series planned out? Or do some of the turns it takes surprise you?
CF: The threads of the Carpathian culture and society are planned out, along with their troubles as a whole. The individual storylines are always a surprise—and a welcome one. I like the adventure of writing and following the twists and turns just as I would when reading a book.

RH: I've noticed that ever since Dark Celebration the Dark books have been released as hardbacks, is this a permanent change?
CF: Yes, the Dark books will be released in hardcover and the mass market will follow.

RH: About how long does it take you to complete a book? Is it difficult to focus on only writing one? Or do you work on several at once?
CF: I would never write more than one book at a time, but I do have other stories that try to push their way into my mind and I have to be totally disciplined and not allow that. I’ve been writing for many years now and have learned to make the pushy, strong characters wait their turn. I prefer four months to write a book, but have a three month schedule at this time which is tight for me.

RH: What do you consider the best writing atmosphere?
CF: My office, sitting in a recliner with my laptop and my four Maltese all sprawled out around me.

RH: What do you feel has been your greatest accomplishment?
CF: Hands down, my children.

RH: What's a question you wish people would ask but never do?
CF: In all honesty, I’ve been asked a lot of questions. My favorite question is what I’m reading, because I love to read all kinds of books and like anyone else, love to share my favorite authors or stories with others. In this case, I’m reading C.L. Wilson’s Queen of Song and Souls which will be out in October.

Here's the link to my review of Dark Slayer: -Review

Dark Slayer by Chirstine Feehan

2009-09-17T21:48:00.000-07:00

Synopsis:

A rumor has persisted in the vampire world of a dark slayer—a woman—who travels with a wolf pack and who destroys any vampire who crosses her path. Mysterious, elusive and seemingly impossible to kill, she is the one hunter who strikes terror into the hearts of the undead.

She is Ivory Malinov. Her only brethren, the wolves. Long ago betrayed by her people, abandoned by her family, and cast out by everyone she held dear, Ivory has lived a century without companionship or love. She has sustained her sanity by the habit of the hunt and the custom of the feeding. Until the night she picks up the scent of a man, her unexpected salvation. Her lifemate. The curse of all Carpathian women.

He is Razvan. Branded a criminal, detested and feared, he is a dragonseeker borne of one of the greatest Carpathian lineages, only to be raised as its most despised—and captive—enemy. Fleeing from his lifetime of imprisonment, Razvan now seeks the dawn to end his terrible existence. Instead he has found his deliverance in the Dark Slayer.

In spirit, in flesh and blood, in love, and in war, Ivory and Razvan are made for each other. For as long as they dare to live.

Review:

Dark Slayer is defiantly unique from the rest of the dark series, it was very action packed. I loved the descriptive battle scenes against the vampires, so detailed that I could see the action playing out in my head. I was so shocked that Ivory was the same women that the De la Cruz brothers helped raise, and believed dead. Ivory was a change from the normal Feehan heroine's. To sum it up she was a complete bad ass. I was fascinated that any person could survive being hacked to pieces yet live to tell the tale. She's a strong no-nonsense warrior, and has more than earned the respect of her people. Of course the average Carpathian male can't comprehend that any women can rival them....in anything, especially battle. So they left her no choice but to put them in their place, lol I have to say that was my favorite scene.

Razvan, long believed to be a traitor to his people, has been tortured for centuries by Xavier. Yet has never given in to the curse of the men in his species to turn vampire. He, also, was a change to Feehan hero's, he was not arrogant or macho to the extreme. He was calm an actually looked to Ivory for how to defeat the vampire (that's never happened before in the Dark series). Ivory and Razvan fit together wonderfully because the understood what the other had gone through, better than anyone else could have. An I don't think that understanding came only because they were lifemates, it went deeper than that. I guess that saying "the strongest bonds are forged in the fires of Hell" is true. The only issue I had with their relationship was that they seemed to trust each other way to soon, perhaps because they had too? I really admired how they always had each others backs.

There was so much more to the story then what was between the two main characters. Several characters from the previous books had important roles in the story. Especially Gregori. Not gonna lie he's never made a huge impression on me, his "women should tend the home an have babies and that's it. Period." philosophy really irritates me. Yet, this book upped my opinion of him...slightly lol. He actually opened up a little and became more than a macho robot. The dialogue between the characters was so much fun to read, ranging from sarcasm, to witty, to emotional.

Ivory's wolves were another first in the series, what a great idea! I never considered that animals could be changed, Feehan continues to surprise me. It all came together an proved to be all I had expected. Yet, as far as romance goes I felt Dark Slayer was lacking. Apart from the few "steamy" scenes I feel that any romance that may have been there was overshadowed by all the action, and Razvan and Ivory's need to destroy Xavier.

Overall, Dark Slayer is a great read, but not for the faint heart. While some of the books in this series can be read as somewhat of a stand alone, I don't recommend it for this one. I suggest that any reader at least read Dark Celebration, Dark Possession, and Dark Curse to avoid being confused lol. I can't wait until the next book comes out! Feehan continues to introduce more characters, so hopefully the series won't be ending any time soon. :)

Cover: 4.5

Plot: 5

Characters: 4

Writing: 4

Overall: 4.4

Waiting On Wednesday -2

2009-09-16T06:37:00.000-07:00

I've seen this book on several different blogger wish list's, so I decided to check it out. The author, Mary Wine, has a beautiful website and her books sound amazing. I could not find a description for this book to post, but there is an excerpt at marywine.com for anyone who's interested. Apparently this book is the second in the series, so I'm going to have to get the first before I can read this one lol. I have plenty of time, though, since In the Warrior's Bed does not come out until Jan. 26, 2010. :)

Waiting on Wednesday was created by: Breaking The Spine

Contest Winners!!!!

2009-09-14T10:15:00.001-07:00

So my first contest just ended, thanks to all of you who entered. I used random.org to calculate the winners. Here they are!!

First place:

Marie

Second place:

Eli

Third place:

Etriv

The winner who comes in first place will have the choice of which two books he/she would like. Second place gets to pick from the remaining two. Third gets the final book. Congrats to the winners!!

More Awards To Go Around!!

2009-09-09T21:54:00.001-07:00

More exciting awards to pass around!

I received the Zombie Chicken Award from StephanieD at Misfit Salon. Thank you girl!

"The blogger who receives this award believes in the Tao of the zombie chicken-- excellence, grace, and persistence in all situations, even in the midst of a zombie apocalypse. These amazing bloggers regularly produce content so remarkable that their readers would brave a raving pack of zombie chickens just to be able to read their inspiring words. As a recipient of this world-renowned award, you now have the task of passing it on to at least 5 other worthy bloggers. Do not risk the wrath of the zombie chickens by choosing unwisely or not choosing at all." I bestow it upon:

Bookalicious
Novel Addiction
Scrounger's Online Library
Shooting Stars
Sticky Pages

I received the Lemonade Award from Jen at Sapphire Romance Realm. Thank you! :)

Here are the rules:The Lemonade Award is a feel good award which shows great attitude or gratitude. Here are the rules:~Put the Lemonade Award logo on your blog or post.~Nominate at least 10 blogs that show great attitude or gratitude.~Link your nominees within your post.~Let the nominees know they have received this award by commenting on their blog.~Share the love and link to the person from whom you received the award.

Here are my nominees:

Tina's Book Reviews
Writing Roller Coasters
Michelle McLean's Writer Ramblings
Princess Scatterhart
The Tainted Poet
Starlight Blog
Shalonda's Blog
Outlandish Dreaming
Sweetsue
Tales of Whimsy

Teaser Tuesday -2

2009-09-08T13:00:00.000-07:00

My Teaser for this week is from Dark Slayer by Christine Feehan. Here it is :) :

"He grinned at her, an evil, malicious smile. 'You have become arrogant, Slayer. And careless. You had no idea the trap was for you and not your precious wolves. You have no choice but to give me what I want, or you die this night.' "

Rules:
1) Grab your current read
2) Open to a random page
3) Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
4) BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
5) Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Teaser Tuesday's are brought to us by: Should Be Reading

Decatur Book Festival

2009-09-05T20:38:00.000-07:00

Today was absolutely amazing!! I went to the Decatur Book Festival, I got to meet several wonderful authors. This was a first for me, in that I've never had my books signed by authors before or have ever had the chance to speak with them.

The morning started off early, some might argue a little too early (*cough*me*cough*) lol. It was so worth it, though, because we got the chance to eat breakfast with some really cool authors!

Vania, owner of Reverie Book Reviews, got a reservation for breakfast this morning and invited several bloggers and authors.

(From left to right)

Aimee Friedman author of Seachange

David Levithan author of Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist

Diana Peterfreund author of Rampant (who was nice enough to sign some bookmarks for me so I'll be adding those into my 50 follower contest) :)

On the left is Vania and on the right is Jennifer Jabaley author of Lipstick Apology. I have to admit, having never really sat down and talked to any authors before, I was a little intimidated, but everyone was so nice and down-to-earth. An Jen was so sweet, I'm so glad I got to meet her.

I am a HUGE fan of True Blood, and I'm on the second book in the Sookie Stackhouse series. I was so excited that Charlaine Harris was there today. I couldn't believe how many people showed up to get their books signed! She was such a nice lady, dispite the number of people who showed up, she didn't rush through signings. She actually took the time to speak with us, as well as personalized our books. :)

I also got my copy of Shiver signed by Maggie Stiefvater. This is the first YA book I've read since Breaking Dawn, and I'm about half way through. I can't wait to finish it an post my review, I really like Maggie's spin on werewolves. It's a new look at what they are like, and what causes them to shift.

Romance Award

2009-09-03T10:24:00.001-07:00

Sapphire Romance Realm created this beautiful award, here's what she said:

I have been wanting to start up some new blog awards to give out to blogs that I love to visit and that are big romance supporters. So this one is for those outstanding blogs that keep me coming back day after day and that avidly and passionately support Romance Novels and are not afraid to show it!!!

There are no rules for this one I only ask that you would to post where the award originated and who gave it to you when you post it to your own blogs.

I was nominated for this award by The Eclectic Reader I was so touched that she thought of me! It's nice to receive an award that focuses on content specifically. There are so many wonderful romance blogs out there, so I decided to pick three nominees here they are:

Erotic Horizon

Phoebe at Noble Romance Authors

Smexy Books- paranormal romance and urban fantasy reviews

YAY!!

2009-09-01T10:27:00.000-07:00

I'm so psyched, I just got my copy of Dark Slayer! It's soo pretty lol. I hope to post my review of it by Saturday. I was fortunate enough to get an interview with the author, Christine Feehan, that will be posted up with the review. Happy reading everyone!

In My Mailbox -5

2009-08-30T14:34:00.000-07:00

Whew crazy week lol...mostly cause I'm a procrastinator and waited till the last minute to get all my schoolwork done. I did get three new books this week, despite my crazy schedule! Here they are:

Ecstasy by Jacquelyn Frank

Synopsis:

Among the Shadow dwellers, Trace holds power that some as willing to kill for. Without a stranger's aid, one rival would surely have succeeded, but Trace's brush with death is less surprising to him than his reaction to the beautiful, fragile human who heals him. By rights, Trace should hardly even register Ashla's existence within the realms of Shadow scape, but instead he is drawn to everything about her - her innocence, her courage, and her lush, sensual heat.After a terrifying car crash, Ashla Townsend wakes up to find that the bustling New York she knew is now eerie and desolate. Just when she's convinced she's alone, Ashla is confronted by a dark warrior who draws her deeper into a world she never knew existed. The bond between Ashla and Trace is a mystery to both, but searching for answers will mean confronting long-hidden secrets, and uncovering a threat that could destroy everything Trace holds precious.

Rapture by Jacquelyn Frank

Synopsis:

Magnus is a man of contradictions - a spiritual leader in a warrior's body. To him, laws are for enforcing and visions must be followed - even if that means freeing a beautiful slave and making her his reluctant handmaiden. Betrayed once before, Magnus can barely bring himself to trust another woman. Yet Daenaira's fiery innocence is drawing them both into a reckless inferno of desire. Daenaira grew up hearing tales of a fearsome priest who seemed more myth than reality. But Magnus is very real - every inch of him - and so is the treachery surrounding them. Beneath Sanctuary's calm surface, an enemy is scheming to unleash havoc on the Shadowdwellers, unless Magnus trusts in a union ordained by fate, and sealed by unending bliss.

Pleasure by Jacquelyn Frank

Synopsis:

Discipline. Penance. Order. A Sanctuary priest's life revolves around such things. But when Sagan is taken captive and thrust into the Alaskan wilderness, he encounters a woman who challenges his faith and his self-control. Valera is a natural born witch who almost lost herself to the lure of dark magic. By rights, Sagan should shun her, but convention will count for nothing in the face of a passion that could change the world of the Shadowdwellers forever...As Chancellor of the Shadowdwellers, Malaya's first duty is to her people. Her bodyguard, Guin, knows this only too well. For tradition's sake, Malaya must marry, and the thought of this lush, vibrant, woman in a loveless union is impossible for him to bear. Guin loves Malaya - not as a subject loves his queen but as a man craves a woman. And even if he cannot keep her, he'll show her everything she stands to lose...

I love the titles! In My Mailbox was created by The Story Siren.

Awards

2009-08-26T12:57:00.000-07:00

I'm so touched, I have recently been nominated for two awards! The Kreativ Award from pirate penguin and Beautiful Bingo Award from Patti at Book Addict. Thank you both so much!

The rules are simple: pick seven favorite things, then nominate seven favorite blogs.

1. Lol reading of course :)
2. Belly button rings
3. Country music
4. Babies (they're soo cute!)
5. Cruise's
6. Eric from True Blood *sigh*
7. Barnes and Nobles

Awesome Blogs:

1. Author Kelly Moran's Blog
2. Ashley's Library
3. Dark Diva Reviews
4. DIK (Desert Island Keepers)
5. Heather's Reading Romance
6. Pink-Princess Book Reviews
7. Poisoned Rationality

This "B-I-N-G-O" BEAUTIFUL BLOG AWARD means that this blog is...

B: Beautiful- Romance Rookie

I: Informative- A Journey of Books

N: Neighborly- Romance Book Wyrm

G: Gorgeous- Sapphire Romance Relm

O: Outstanding- Presenting Lenore

The Tycoon's Secret Affair by Maya Banks

2009-08-23T19:41:00.000-07:00

Synopsis:

She hadn't known she'd slept with the boss. But the next morning Jewel Henley learned the exotic stranger who'd swept her off her feet was her new employer, Piers Anetakis. And before she could explain, Jewel found herself without a job…and pregnant.After five months Piers had finally tracked down his one-night lover. Determined to explain the mistakes that had been made, he was confronted with an undeniable truth. Jewel was carrying his child. His Greek honor demanded they marry. Yet was there more between them than lust…and was it enough to make their marriage of convenience last?

Review:

I enjoyed this book, it was a nice ending to a good mini-series. I really enjoy Maya Banks writing style. She always makes sure her readers get both characters point of view.

However, it's not a novel that made a huge impression. There was nothing that grabbed me and sucked me in. I was disappointed, because I felt that there was so much potential for the story that just didn't happen.

The characters were well written, and the dialogue was satisfying. What bothered me was you never really find out much about Jewel's past. An her friend, Kirk, just seemed to come out of the woodwork then disappeared just as quickly. When it came to Piers, though, Banks was more forthcoming with his past. It felt like I was just getting to know him...then BAM! The end. I was like, "that's it?!" "NO!!" it was such a shame because it felt like it ended right after the climax, with no real conclusion.

Overall, it's a worth while read if you have started the series. It's light and fairly easy going, so if your in the mood for a traditional romance novel this is the book you might want to try. MATURE CONTENT BE ADVISED

Cover: 4.5

Plot: 3.5

Characters: 3.8

Writing: 4

Overall: 3.9

In My Mailbox -4

2009-08-23T09:08:00.000-07:00

Looking at my posts I realized that I haven't done a In My Mailbox in a while. I promise I'm not slacking off, lol, just have been a little overwhelmed with moving into a new place and getting my classes settled. :) I did get two new books this week which I'm very excited about! I hope to be able to finish them this week, but who knows what will happen with my rapidly accumulating homework.

Anchor and Storm by Kate Poole

Synopsis:

Edgar Armstrong, Earl of Callander, had not given much thought to marrying and producing an heir...until he meets Emily Sinclair. When their easy companionship grows into love, they learn that Edgar's progressively debilitating disease could be passed on to his children. As their joy turns to despair Edgar finds a solution. If he can't get her with child he knows just the man who can. But will Emily agree to his plan?

Angus MacNeill, Lord Callander's groom, thinks Emily married Edgar for his title, his money and the security he can give her. And when Edgar approaches him with a very unusual request Angus questions his master's motives. Still, it doesn't stop him from accepting Callander's terms -- it's the only way he can be with Emily, even if only until she conceives.

Deeply in love with Edgar, Emily will do anything he asks of her. But she never suspected he'd ask something like this! Despite Edgar's reassurances she worries that his plan could destroy their marriage rather than strengthen it. And when she makes her choice, Emily wonders if there's room enough for two men in her heart -- and in her bed.

In Over Her Head by Judi Fennell

Synopsis:

When Erica Peck, one terrified-of-the-ocean marina owner, finds herself at the bottom of the sea conversing with a Mer man named Reel, she thinks she's died and gone to her own version of Hell. When the Oceanic Council demands she and Reel retrieve a lost cache of diamonds from the resident sea monster in return for their lives, she knows she's died and gone to Hell.

When they escape the monster and end up on a deserted island, she amends her opinion - she's died and gone to Heaven.

But when Reel sacrifices himself to allow her to return to her world, she realizes that, Heaven or Hell, with Reel, she's In Over Her Head.

In My Mailbox was created by: .The Story Siren.

Hidden Currents by Christine Feehan

2009-08-19T21:25:00.001-07:00

Synopsis:

From afar, Sheriff Jackson Deveau has always loved Elle Drake, the youngest telepath of seven sisters. After a long time away she’s finally returning home to the small coastal village of Sea Haven. But someone has been following Elle, someone who doesn’t want her to make it back. And when Elle fails to arrive, her disappearance strikes fear in the hearts of everyone who loves her. Now it’s left to Jackson to uncover the mystery of Elle’s vanishing, and rescue her from an unseen danger. But Sea Haven is no longer safe for anyone, and it’ll take the powers of all the Drake sisters and their men to survive the coming storm.

Review:

OK, so I know Hidden Currents has been listed as my "currently reading" book for quiet some time now. I just wanted to take my time and truly savor it. Have you ever got really into a series that when the last book finally comes out you don't want it to end? Well, that's how it was for me. :)

Hidden Currents had to be the most emotionally trying book in the Drake Sisters series. To be completely honest the beginning of this book broke my heart, I don't remember ever crying so much while reading. The trauma that Elle went through for the beginning, an even after her rescue, really made me respect her strong will and courage. The struggles she went through to rebuild her life were so real. There were times when I expected her to just fall apart, but of course like any good romance she had a strong and supportive man to catch her. Jackson and Elle were perfect for one another, there was always so much emotion flowing between them. They needed each other to help heal from their terrifying experiences.

I think this was the first book, with the exception of Lover Beware, where all seven sisters made a repeating appearance. It's always enjoyable to see other characters after their happily-ever-after's. I feel that all the characters contributed to create a feeling of home, love, and family. The book just came together so perfectly, and the plot was very well planned. I love it when authors keep me guessing about whats to come. This is a wonderful story, it does pull at heartstrings, but its a worthwhile journey. MATURE CONTENT BE ADVISED

Cover: 5

Plot: 5

Characters: 4.5

Writing: 4.8

Overall: 4.8

Award Post!

2009-08-13T12:27:00.000-07:00

I am so grateful, I have been nominated for One Lovely Blog award. Thank you Michelle! So I am now going to nominate three more blogs that I think are fantastic. Here are the guidelines:

1. Accept the award, post it on your blog together with the name of the person who has granted the award, and his or her blog link.

2. Pass the award to other blogs that you’ve newly discovered. Remember to contact the bloggers to let them know they have been chosen for this award.

Nominees:

Steph- Steph in the City

Aphrodisia Authors

Maggie- Bean Bag Books

The Tycoons Secret Affair is out!

2009-08-11T12:27:00.000-07:00

I'm so excited The Tycoon's Secret Affair by Maya Banks just came out today! So I'm on my way out the door to get myself a copy. :)

50 Follower Contest!

2009-08-10T18:39:00.000-07:00

I'm so excited about reaching 50 followers that I have decided to host my first ever contest! I have selected four books and there will be three winners. The winner who comes in first place will have the choice of which two books he/she would like. Here are the books I have selected:

Be With Me by Maya banks

Three men. One woman.

Hutch Bishop, Cam Douglas, and Sawyer Pritchard were juvenile delinquents with a reckless and wildly sexy side. But they had more in common than that. They had Regina Fallon, a wealthy but lonely girl from the right side of the tracks who formed an unusual friendship with the boys. She felt protected. She felt needed. She felt loved… for the first time in her life. By all three.

So much closer than just friends.

Today, she’s a police officer, dedicated to her badge, and wary of reigniting her relationship with the hot trio after one night of passion left her confused—and stunned—by what they wanted from her. But when a mysterious attempt is made on her life, Hutch, Cam, and Sawyer jump in to protect her again. Now, Regina and her three lovers are forming an all-new bond. It’s more exciting, more intense, and—as a killer looms in the shadows—more dangerous than ever before.

When Darkness Comes by Alexandra Ivy

It's been a hell of a day for Abby Barlow. In just a few hours, she's survived an explosion, watched her employer die, had a startling dream, and now she finds herself in a seedy Chicago hotel with the sexy, unearthly Dante, a man she both desires and fears. For 341 years, Dante has stood as guardian to The Chalice, a mortal woman chosen to hold back the darkness. A terrible twist of fate has now made Abby that woman. Three hours ago, Dante would have used all his charms to seduce her. Now she is his to protect. And he will do so until his very death. A terrifying plan has been set in motion, one that will plunge Dante and Abby into an epic battle between good and evil - and a desperate race to save their love...

Touch of the Wolf by Susan Krinard

Braden Forster, Earl of Greyburn, promises his fierce grandfather that he won't allow their family werewolves who are "a breed apart from mankind, but living among humanity"to become extinct. In 1860, Forster's grandfather charges him to restore the purity of his clan's blood through shrewd intermarriages. Fifteen years later, Cassidy Holt, the Forster family's distant cousin, travels from the deserts of New Mexico to the earl's secluded estate in the north of England in search of her mother's mysterious past. Unable to transform into a werewolf at will, Cassidy disappoints her new-found familyespecially Forster, who has arranged for her to marry his younger brother. However, despite his well-laid plans for the family, Forster finds he cannot resist Cassidy's impressive beauty and courageous will. Cassidy, too, falls for the earl, whose intense passion brings her to the realization that she is also capable of transformation.

The Bride Hunt by Margo MaGuire

Her life is in the hands of a man she dares not love . . .

Lady Isabel Louvet is a woman of noble birth, wit, courage, and beauty. But though these qualities make her an excellent bride, they cannot save her when, on the night she was meant to choose a groom, wild Scottish brigands storm the walls of her father's castle. As what should be a celebration turns to terror and bloodshed, Isabel is carried away from her family to be offered to a Scottish chieftain as a slave . . . or worse.

But unbeknownst to Isabel, she has a champion, a feared warrior and knight of legend named Anvrai d'Arques. His visage bears the scars of battle, but his heart remains pure in its devotion to country and king—that is, until he sets out to rescue Isabel. Her fierce spirit of survival stirs his passion more than combat ever could, and with her touch his world forever shifts. Now, with the Scottish on their heels and a country on the brink of war, they must go forth in battle together—to save themselves, to protect their countrymen, and to find a love that can set them both forever free.

The contest will end September 11th at midnight. :) I'm also adding signed bookmarks of Rampant, each winner will get one.

1+ for becoming a follower

2+ being a follower (this applies to my first 52 followers)

3+ for posting about this contest or adding a link onto your sidebar

2+ commenting on which book appeals to you the most

Award Giveaway!

2009-08-09T23:20:00.000-07:00

I had a wonderful week, I received two awards: Spread the Love from SusiSunshine and the Heartfelt award by the Tainted Poet!

I don't know what the rules are for Spread the love, so I'm just going to nominate 5 people. Here they are:
Sandy- The Pirate Penguin Reads

Kate- The Neverending Bookshelf

Erotic Horizon

Taschima- The Bloody Bookacholic

Eli- The Tainted Poet

The Heartfelt Award:

Do you reach for a cup of cocoa or tea when your relaxing, seeking comfort, sharing a plate of cookies with family and friends? You know the feeling you get when you drink a yummy cup of cocoa, tea, or a hot toddy? That is what the Heartfelt Award is all about, feeling warm inside.

Rules:

Put the logo on your blog/post.Nominate up to to 9 blogs which make you feel comfy or warm inside. Be sure to link your nominees within your post.Let them know that they have been nominated by commenting on their blog.Remember to link to the person from whom you received your award.

Here are the nominees:

Lizzy- Cornucopia of Reviews

Barbara- Happily Forever After

Mary- Bookfan Mary

Kristen- Bookworming in the 21st Century

Marie- Cupcake Witch

Devotion

Zac- Dirty Pages

Lovin Me Some Romance

A Book Lover's Diary

Nomination!

2009-08-08T10:36:00.000-07:00

I'm so touched I have been nominated for the Spread the Love award by SusiSunshine. This is the first time I have been nominated for an award and I'm very greatful. Thank you Susi! :) Here's what it looks like:

CSN Bookshelf Pre-Review!

2009-08-05T20:57:00.000-07:00

Hi everybody! Sorry I haven't posted in a few days. I've just got back from vacation and I'm still trying to adjust to reality. :) I have recently received a wonderful opportunity hosted by CSN home office furniture to review a bookcase/shelf. I went and searched through the site and found some truly beautiful bookcases that are just amazing. I dream of someday having my own library in my home, and I found some that meet my fantasy expectations perfectly:

As much as I would love to indulge myself and choose a large bookcase to fill, I am moving back into a new dorm in a few short weeks. Therefore, I have chosen a beautiful bookcase that I feel will meet my storage needs as well as not take up too much space. I feel that this is a practical, as well as beautiful bookcase for those with limited space, such as living in a dorm.

I highly encourage everyone to search the site as there are so many wonderful items to choose from!

In My Mailbox -3

2009-08-02T13:38:00.000-07:00

Once again I'm out of town this week. I just love to travel and see new places, but it does hinder how active I am on putting up posts. This is my last little vacation before returning to college *sigh*. This week I got 4 new books In My Mailbox! I'm very excited about them, so here they are:

Montana Mistress by Sara Orwig

Struggling hotel owner Laurel Tolson had had enough of wealthy, arrogant men who thought their money could buy anything and anyone. But then tycoon Chase Bkennett swept into her little Montana town and made her an offer as enticing as it was indecent. He'd more than match the price of her entire hotel—if she'd be his mistress for just one month. The idea was shocking, scandalous, yet strangely seductive. But soon she realized that sharing Chase's bed could never be enough. She wanted to share his life, forever….

The Once and Future Prince by Olivia Gates

He would have been king of Castaldini…until scandal sent Prince Leandro D'Agostino into exile. Now Phoebe Alexander, his secret lover who'd refused to leave with him, had come to convince him to accept his rightful crown. But the pain of betrayal still coursed through Leandro's veins. He would rule only if Phoebe bowed to his wishes.Scorched from the decisions of her past, Phoebe was willing to do Leandro's royal bidding. She knew she could never be his queen, but she would freely become the prince's lover. Then an unexpected pregnancy changed everything.

The Moretti Arrangement by Katherine Garbera

What was he going to do with Angelina?Dominic Moretti knew he could fire his secretary—he was certainly within his rights to do so. What he really wanted, he realized, was to make her…pay.

Revenge wasn't a noble trait, but she'd stolen from him. And he still didn't know why. All the time he'd trusted her, all the time he'd been fighting his attraction to her, she'd been plotting with his enemy. Yet now he held all the cards. He could do whatever he wanted with Angelina. And he wanted her to be his…completely.And now he had the means to make that happen.

Daddy by Surprise by Debra Salonen

Kat Petroski has a weakness for swoo. That indescribable charm guys from the wilder side have. Not that falling for it has worked out for her, since she-s a twice-divorced mother of two. So she-s got an early-warning swoo alert. Then Jack Treadwell walks into her life.

Between his motorcycle and his adventure-seeking attitude, Jack has all the trappings she can-t resist and should. Still, is that the real Jack? Something tells her he may be more dentist than biker. But is he father material? Because swoo aside, Kat-s a mom first. And the man who wins her heart must first win over her boys.

In My Mailbox was created by: The Story Siren

The Tycoon's Rebel Bride by Maya Banks

2009-07-31T09:47:00.000-07:00

Synopsis:

Tycoon Theron Anetakis had only one problem—and she just walked through his door. With his business takeover complete, he'd intended to arrange a marriage for himself to further secure his future. However…

Little Isabella Caplan had blossomed into a voluptuous vixen with plans of her own, and they didn't include letting the executor of her father's estate also arrange a marriage for her to another man! She had pined for Theron long enough. Now it was time to seduce her hot-blooded hotel tycoon and bring him to one bended knee.

Review:

I found this book to be cute an lighthearted. I ended up finishing it in one sitting, it was just the kind of book I was in the mood for. Both Isabella and Theron were believable characters, with the only complaint I had was that I would have loved to see a little more passion from Theron's end. I LOVED the dialogue! Isabella had the perfect balance of both wit and seriousness, books that make me laugh always put me in a good mood.

This is the second book in a mini series, and I'm glad to say that I like where it's going. I love the three brothers! Maya Banks is a wonderful writer, always having a well thought out plot line. I can't wait for the third, and final, story. MATURE CONTENT, BE ADVISED

Cover: 5

Plot: 3.5

Character: 4

Writing: 4.5

Overall: 4.2

Waiting on Wednesaday -1

2009-07-29T11:06:00.000-07:00

This is my first WOW, so here goes!

Coming out August 11

This is the third book in a mini series by Maya Banks. I recently finished reading the second, The Tycoon's Rebel Bride, and plan to be posting a review on that hopefully tomorrow.

Dark Curse by Christine Feehan

2009-07-26T20:15:00.000-07:00

Synopsis:

A new Carpathian novel from the #1 New York Times bestselling "queen of paranormal romance." (USA Today)Born into a world of ice, slave to her evil father, Lara Calladine knew only paralyzing fear as a child. Only by escaping with her mysterious gifts unbroken would she survive to claim her great Carpathian heritage as a Dragonseeker...Now, Lara is in search of the source of her nightmares the cold, dark corners of her childhood just on the edges of her memory. Only one man has the power and the will to help her: dangerous, arrogant Nicolas De La Cruz.Together, Lara and Nicolas search the treacherous Carpathian landscape for the truth about their pasts and discover a passion that neither has ever known before.

Review:

OMG I loved this book! Where to start...Well, I've been reading about the Carpathians for years now. It was my first vampire series, which makes it very dear to me. Ever since I first entered this magical world with Dark Prince almost eight years ago, I was hooked. The series has yet to disappoint me. In fact, it just keeps getting better! With more interesting characters and an overall story line that is just incredible. The world that Feehan has created is so well thought out and detailed that, at times, it seems real.

Dark Curse has to be my second favorite so far, Dark Fire is hands down my first, I just fell in love with both Nicolas and Lara. Lara was wonderfully written, she was everything I love to read in a heroine: strong, powerful, feminine, kind, and of course sassy. I also loved the question that was revealed in this book that has been bugging me since Dark Prince, what is causing the carpathinan women to miscarry their babies so often? This book becomes sort of a reunion, much like Dark Celebraton, in that several characters from past stories make an appearance. This book is probably one of the most important stories so far in the series because of all the pieces of the puzzle that are finally being put together about this wonderful world. This book left me completely satisfied, with the only complaint I have is that it ended on a bit of a cliffhanger and I had to wait almost a year to read the next one lol. Christine Feehan truly is the "Queen of Paranormal Romance". MATURE CONTENT, BE ADVISED!

Cover: 5

Plot: 5

Character: 5

Writing: 5

Overall: 5

In My Mailbox -2

2009-07-25T19:10:00.000-07:00

I'm on vacation this week so I haven't been able to post as much as I would have liked, but here are the books I received this week! I'm particularly excited about Shiver, I stopped by Barnes and Noble today and I discovered that they got it early! Ahh, I just can't wait to read it. :)

Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater

Synopsis:

For years, Grace has watched the wolves in the woods behind her house. One yellow-eyed wolf--her wolf--is a chilling presence she can't seem to live without. Meanwhile, Sam has lived two lives: In winter, the frozen woods, the protection of the pack, and the silent company of a fearless girl. In summer, a few precious months of being human . . . until the cold makes him shift back again.

Now, Grace meets a yellow-eyed boy whose familiarity takes her breath away. It's her wolf. It has to be. But as winter nears, Sam must fight to stay human--or risk losing himself, and Grace, forever.

The Tycoon's Rebel Bride by Maya Banks

Tycoon Theron Anetakis had only one problem--and she just walked through his door. With his business takeover complete, he'd intended to arrange a marriage for himself to further secure his future. However...

Little Isabella Caplan had blossomed into a voluptuous vixen with plans of her own, and they didn't include letting the executor of her father's estate also arrange a marriage for her to another man! She had pined for Theron long enough. Now it was time to seduce her hotblooded hotel tycoon and bring him to one bended knee.

I'm soo excited about reading these books, can't wait to get started!

In My Mailbox was created by: The Story Siren

Teaser Tuesday- 1

2009-07-21T06:20:00.000-07:00

Today's Teaser Tuesday is Hidden Currents by Christine Feehan. This is my first Teaser Tuesday, so here goes!

My Teaser:

"He knew these men, good friends willing to risk their lives to help Jonas and Jackson get Elle back. They were going into a war zone without a weapon other than their trained bodies."

Rules:
1) Grab your current read
2) Open to a random page
3) Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
4) BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
5) Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Teaser Tuesday are brought to us by: Should Be Reading

What are you reading Mondays- 2

2009-07-20T12:00:00.000-07:00

Ok so I fell behind last week, I'm doing my best to catch up. Here's my plans for this week!

What I read:

Burning Wild by Christine Feehan

What I'm reading:

What I plan to read:

The Tycoons Rebel Bride by Maya Banks
Dream Warrior by Sherrilyn Kenyon
Living Dead in Dallas by Charline Harris

This meme was brought to us by J.Kaye's Book Blog.

Burning Wild Book Trailer

2009-07-19T17:13:00.000-07:00

This is the current book that I'm reading, Burning Wild by Christine Feehan. I found the trailer on her website and thought it was cute. So here it is! :)

In My Mailbox -1

2009-07-19T08:40:00.000-07:00

I'm a little bit behind this week, I still have some books I haven't finished. That hasn't stopped me, though, from getting more. I'm very excited bout reading them, so here goes!

Living Dead In Dallas by Charlaine Harris

Synopsis:

Cocktail waitress Sookie Stackhouse is on a streak of bad luck. First, her coworker is murdered and no one seems to care. Then she's face-to-face with a beastly creature that gives her a painful and poisinous lashing. Enter the vampires, who graciously suck the poisin from her vains (like they didn't enjoy it).

Point is, they saved her life. So when one of the bloodsukers asks for a fsvor, she complies. An soon, Sookie's in Dallas using her telepathic skills to search for a missing vampire. She's supposed to interview certain humans involved. There's just one condition: The vampires must promise to behave- and let the humans go unharmed. Easier said than done. All it takes is one delicious blond and one small mistake for things to turn deadly....

Dream warrior by Sherrilyn Kenyon

Synopsis:

The son of Warcraft and Hate, Cratus spent eternity battling for the ancient gods who birthed him. He was death to any who crossed him. Until the day he laid down his arms and walked into self-imposed exile. Now an ancient enemy has been unleashed and our dreams are his chosen battlefield. The only hope we have is the one god who swears he will never fight again.

As a Dream-Hunter, Delphine has spent eternity protecting mankind from the predators who prey on our unconscious state. But now that her allies have been turned, she knows in order to survive, the Dream-Hunters need a new leader. Someone who can train them to fight their new enemies. Cratus is her only hope. But she is a bitter reminder of why he chose to lay down his arms.

Time is running out and if she can't win him to her cause, mankind will be slaughtered and the world we know will soon cease to exist.

I hope to be better this week. I've been wanting to read Dream Warrior for some time, I can't wait to get started!

In My Mailbox was created by: The Story Siren

Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris

2009-07-16T17:50:00.000-07:00

Synopsis:

Sookie Stackhouse is a cocktail waitress in small-town Louisiana, but she keeps to herself and doesn't date much because of her "disability" to read minds.

When... she meets Bill, Sookie can't hear a word he's thinking. He's the type of guy she's waited for all of her life, but he has a disability, too - he's a vampire with a bad reputation. When one of Sookie's coworkers is killed, she fears she's next.

Review:

I heard about this book several years ago, but never really got into it until the television show came out. I absolutely love True Blood, and Dead Until Dark did not disappoint! I was surprised that I enjoyed the book so much because normally first person novels get on my nerves. That's the only thing I had a complaint about. I think that if an author decides to write in first person then she/he should have more dialogue to balance it out and I feel that it would make getting to know the other characters easier.

I loved Sookie, shes so fun and unpredictable. She has moments where she's a bit of a busybody, yet it's clear her heart is in the right place. Bill did a great job of pulling of the mysterious act, mostly because you never know what he's thinking since it's not told from his point of view. The first several chapters were slow and it was very mellow. Looking back now I realize that was necessary to learn about all the different people living in this small little town. Overall this was a great book, especially if you love the paranormal. MATURE CONTENT, BE ADVISED.

Cover: 4

Plot: 4.5

Character: 4.5

Writing: 3

Overall: 4/ 5

What are you reading Mondays- 1

2009-07-13T11:02:00.000-07:00

Here's my plans for this week. This is my first time doing this so here goes!

What I read:

Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris

What I am reading:

What I plan to read:

Dream Warrior by Sherrilyn Kenyon
Hidden Currents by Christine Feehan

This meme was brought to us by J.Kaye's Book Blog.

The Tycoon's Pregnant Mistress by Maya Banks

2009-07-10T12:40:00.000-07:00

Synopsis

Greek hotel magnate Chrysander Anetakis's former mistress was pregnant? And had amnesia? That meant Marley Jameson didn't remember betraying him by selling company secrets. Or that he-d thrown her out of his life. So he told her a little white lie: they were engaged. Then he swept her away to his Greek island to await the birth of his baby and enjoy her sudden devotion...before tossing her out.

But he didn't count on Marley regaining her memory so soon.

Review

The beginning of this book started off promising, with dynamic characters and an interesting storyline. Yet the author quickly lost me when common sense seemed to fly out the door. I found it difficult to believe that the hospital would release Marley to Chrysander without any proof that he is acquainted with her, especially since the people who kidnapped her had not yet been caught.

Marley was a well written character who seemed, for lack of a better word, real. She was so traumatized from her kidnapping that she had lost her memory. Her confusion at being treated so poorly by the "hero", the man who claims to be her fiance, made me feel for her immediately. I felt that Chrysander's character left much to be desired. Thinking that Marley had betrayed him and slept with him to get pregnant, he comes up with the idea to lie about being engaged? Did i miss something? At this point in the story one almost gets the impression that he despises her, so why say their getting married? There were several moments in the book where I would have loved to have slapped Chrysander and his brothers, whom were no better in their treatment of the women carrying their niece or nephew. Once the ending is revealed and Chrysander gets an attitude adjustment the book redeemed itself, somewhat. I look forward to reading the other two stories in this series, I just hope they prove to be a better read. MATURE CONTENT, BE ADVISED.

Cover: 4.5

Plot: 3.5

Character: 3.5

Writing: 4

Overall: 3.9/ 5

Murder Game by Christine Feehan

2009-07-09T22:47:00.000-07:00

Synopsis:

Games should be fun, but for two expert teams across the country, they’re murder – because the winning team is the one that gets the most kills. The participants in this violent challenge rumored to be GhostWalkers. And Kadan Montague isn’t happy about it.

Kadan is a GhostWalker and he’s determined to clear the GhostWalker name of the rumors. To do it, he’s going to need the help of psychic Tansy Meadows. But as soon as he sees her, he knows his mission will be more complicated than he imagined – and the “murder game” may not be at all what it seems.

Review:

I really enjoyed this book. I think it's my favorite so far in the series. Tansy was such a realistic character, because she was strong and independent yet had moments where she became emotional. She was down to earth and despite everything she has to deal with, with her abilities, she has remained uncorrupted. I fell in love with Kaden from the start. His tragic childhood and wounded spirit makes you want to comfort him. There was great chemistry between the two characters and a realistic time period for their love to develop. The best part of this book was that neither character had a weak personality that allowed for the other to be dominant. Both characters were more than willing to speak their minds, I particularly enjoyed Tansy putting Kaden in his place when he got too bossy.

The story line was very well written. It was slow in the beginning but there were enough twists and turns that kept me turning the pages. The criminals were fairly predictable but didn't take away from the overall story. The back stories of certain characters were unusual for the author, which made it all the more enjoyable because it wasn't so predictable. The ending left me satisfied. MATURE CONTENT, BE ADVISED!

Cover: 5

Plot: 4

Characters: 4.5

Writing: 3.5

Overall: 4.3/ 5

Welcome!

2009-07-09T21:01:00.001-07:00

Hi! My name is Danni and this is my first book review blog. I'm still learning all the ins and outs of how to work it, so please be patient with me. :) I plan to review books with romantic themes. My two favorite genres are historical and paranormal. I hope to get really involved in this so if anyone has any comments I would love to hear from you.