September Book Reads

Hi everyone! Just stopping in to say a quick hello. Things are still not resolved on my end, so my break from blogging is not over yet but I did want to say thank you to everyone for stopping by and emailing me. I appreciate the kindness.

My September Book reads...

1) "City of Bones" by Cassandra Clare (YA) 4 stars

2) "Leaving Paradise" by Simone Elkeles (YA) 3 stars

3) "Beyond the Highland Mist" by Karen Marie Moning (romance) 3.5 stars

4) "The Tycoon's Secret Affair" by Maya Banks (romance) 1 star

5) "No Rest for the Wicked" by Kresley Cole (paranormal romance) 4.5 stars

6) "Desire Unchained" by Larissa Ione (paranormal romance) 4 stars

Now these books I've read during my break from blogging, but have not yet written a blog review for them:

7) "Passion Unleashed" by Larissa Ione (paranormal romance) 3.5 stars

8) "City of Ashes" by Cassandra Clare (YA) 3 stars

9) "City of Glass" by Cassandra Clare (YA) 3.5 stars

I am currently reading: "Wicked Deeds on a Winters Night" by Kresley Cole and really enjoying it - actually I really like this whole series and recommend it for paranormal romance readers.

Well, that's about it for now. I miss you all and hope to get back to blogging soon!! Take care!!

WTF Wednesday

It's WTF Wednesday, so let's get started with a guy piercing his own penis! Ouch! I don't know if I'm terribly impressed with his...er balls...er...for doing this, or distressed over his lack of brain function to even contemplate doing this to himself.
This next one... the male tree...

And then we have another WTF toy. Seriously, who the HELL thought up a stripper pole for little girls to play with??????

Your regularly scheduled program has been interrupted to bring you this important message...

Hi everyone! Life has kicked me in the ass recently and I need to take a break from blogging. I don't know if it will be a few days or a week or more, but I do intend to return as soon as possible. My email and this blog will remain open...take care!

Books and Book Meme

First, the UPS guy was here and he delivered the next three books I will be reading this week. (I am not even bothering to put them in the TBR pile because I can't wait to get my hands on them).

Currently I am reading: "Passion Unleashed: A Demonica Novel" by Larissa Ione.

Books I plan to read this week:
"City of Ashes" and "City of Glass" by Cassandra Clare - I am enjoying this YA series very much and can't wait to find out how it ends.

Then I am back to The Immortals After Dark series with "Wicked Deeds on a Winter's Night" by Kresley Cole - this is book #3 in the series.

Next, I found this meme on "Reading, Writing & Ranting" yesterday and thought about it for hours, then decided I'd give it a try.
Using only books you have read this year (2009), cleverly answer these questions. Try not to repeat a book title. Each of my responses will lead back to my review of the book from this year.

Describe Yourself: An Unforgettable Lady (by Jessica Bird- AKA JR Ward)

How do you feel: "No Rest for the Wicked" (by Kresley Cole)

Describe where you currently live: "City of Bones" (by Cassandra Clare)

If you could go anywhere, where would you go: "Club Dead" (by Charlaine Harris)

Your favorite form of transport: "Broken Wing" (by Judith James)

Your best friend is: "My Man Michael" (by Lori Foster)

What's the weather like: "An Ice Cold Grave" (by Charlaine Harris)

Favourite time of day: "Nauti Nights" (by Lora Leigh)

What is life to you: "Passion" (by Lisa Valdez)

Your fear: "Dead as a Doornail" (by Charlaine Harris)

What is the best advice you have to give: "Surrender" (by Kimberely Zant)

Thought for the Day: "The Courage to Love" (by Samantha Kane)

How I would like to die: "Unbroken" (by Maya Banks)

My soul's present condition: "Soul Deep" (by Lora Leigh)

I have to say this was a lot of fun to do and I enjoyed looking back at all the books I've read so far this year. I think this meme would be fun to do with song titles too. :o)

True Love in its many forms...

These are some very different videos on true love. You may laugh, you may cry and you may even gag. This is true love in all its forms...

First...what is True Love about?? I got teary-eyed over this one.


This one made me cry...and then cry some more- and then more.


This one made me smile...its cute.


And this one made me gag...so be warned. Only a woman who truly loves her man would do this... (you may need a barf bag for this one)


True love isn't just for humans...(I cried again)

"Desire Unchained: A Demonica Novel" by Larissa Ione

Last month I read "Pleasure Unbound: A Demonica Novel" by Larissa Ione and really didn't care for it (rated it 2 stars). But...I had heard so many good things about the series that I had purchased the first three books and wanted to give them all a shot, so yesterday I picked up the second book in the series "Desire Unchained" and could NOT put it down.
THIS one I liked. My problems with the first book was that it was so full of reminders about how evil these demon 'heroes' were that there was no redeeming qualities in any of them for me. They all repulsed me and I wanted the demon hunters to kill them all. I am so pleased that in the second book there was NO reference to how evil the demon hero was. All the dark doom and gloom in the first book that was centered on the demon hero, was transferred in the second book onto the protagonist (dark evil Roag) as it should be. Thus leaving me able to not only like and connect with the hero but to cheer for him and sigh over how tortured and sexy he was (*sigh*). The other thing I felt missing in the first book was growth of the hero, overcoming his issues to come out better at the end. This book delivered all that perfectly along the way and by the end had a great finish.
*some spoilers*
Back Blurb:

"Pleasure is their ultimate weapon . . .
Runa Wagner never meant to fall in love with the sexy stranger who seemed to know her every deepest desire. But she couldn't resist the unbelievable passion that burned between them, a passion that died when she discovered his betrayal and found herself forever changed.
Now, determined to make Shade pay for the transformation that
haunts her, Runa searches for him, only to be taken prisoner by his darkest enemy.
A Seminus Demon with a love-curse that threatens him with eternal
torment, Shade hoped he'd seen the last of Runa and her irresistible charm.
But when he wakes up in a dank dungeon chained next to an enraged and mysteriously powerful Runa, he realizes that her effect on him is more dangerous than ever. As their captor casts a spell that bonds them as lifemates, Shade and Runa must fight for their lives and their hearts-or succumb to a madman's evil plans."

This book starts off with the hero Shade, and his ex-human girlfriend (sort of) Runa chained up in a dungeon. Shade had liked Runa (for a human), but because of his curse (one that would make him invisible and dead to the world if he fell in love) he couldn't let their relationship develop beyond fantastic sex. If he found a mate and bonded with her while loving her...he'd be doomed. Runa, had been crushed when she had walked in on Shade having a threesome - she didn't know anything about him being a Seminus demon (sex demon) - she thought he was just a sexy hot human who rocked her world. After witnessing the threesome, Runa runs out of Shade's apartment and ends up being bitten by a werewolf. Now Runa is a werewolf and she is not happy about it.

While in the dungeon, Shade is tortured with whips and blowjobs - (no, really!). If a demon gets turned on a LOT but doesn't get to come, he could die from the pain (how many times do teenage boys tell that story?! - but in this story it's true! Really!). Since Runa hates him and they are chained apart there isn't much chance of her giving him release, so instead Shade asks her to hurt him hoping the pain will deflat his...pain. Runa shifts into a werewolf (at will, something unheard of) and bites him. This will later have adverse effects. But the bite works, Shade's painful penis subsides and now the pain is all in the bite and he can deal with that.

But the evil demon Roag comes up with a new plan to torture Shade, he drugs Shade and Runa, then gets into their head making them think they are having an erotic dream about each other. Only it's no dream. These two have mind blowing sex and Shade bonds with Runa. There are two major problems with this, first Runa hates him and second he doesn't hate her and loving her could kill him. He has to try and distance himself emotionally from her, while physically because he's bonded to her, he can't leave her alone or stay away from her. Not to mention his now overwhelming desire to screw her brains out all the time.

These two go on a hot sexual tension filled adventure. Their bond grows, as does their feelings for each other while trying to survive and deal with Shade's curse and Runa's full moon issues. Besides these two, there are other characters we see more of, my favorites from the first book. First there is Shade and E's brother Wraith the demon/vampire (love him-tortured hero) and then there is the human Kynan. For those of you who liked the Butch/Vishous relationship in JR Ward's Black Dagger Brotherhood series, I think you will get that feeling with Wraith and Kynan - I did and I liked it very much.

While the evil Roag gets taken down in the end (in such a great way!), the other stories touched about in this book leave you begging to read the next ("Passion Unleashed"- which I am started about 2 hours after I finished this book!). Shade and Runa have their happy ending and I was completely satistified with this book. The characters were relatable, engaging and endearing - all musts for me. The story was packed with action, sexual tension, erotic sex (if you liked Vishous with his leather, whips and chains you will probably like Shade).

I rate this book 4 stars out of 5. And if you didn't like the first book, PLEASE give this book a try.

Thursdays This and That Post

What I'm currently reading: "Desire Unchained: A Demonica Novel" by Larissa Ione. So far, I am liking this one more than the first book in the series.

What I'm watching tonight:
First up tonight: the new show "Vampire Diaries"...

-I am watching this show not because I liked the book (I still haven't been able to finish it, so far its boring me). I am watching it because of the producers and writers.
After "Vampire Diaries" ends, the new season (season 5) of Supernatural begins- and I can't wait! I totally love this show...


Then its on to the next episode of Project Runway!
(here's a recap of last week...)

What I'm waiting for UPS to deliver:

"No Rest for the Wicked" by Kresley Cole

I am really loving "The Immortals After Dark" series by Kresley Cole. Earlier this year I read the first book in the series "A Hunger Like No Other" and it remains one of my favorite series books this year.

Today I finished "No Rest for the Wicked" the second book in the series and I am even more hooked on this series.

Back Blurb:

"A soldier weary of life . . .
Centuries ago, Sebastian Wroth was turned into a vampire — a
nightmare in his mind — against his will. Burdened with hatred and alone for ages, he sees little reason to live. Until an exquisite, fey creature comes to
kill him, inadvertently saving him instead.
A Valkyrie assassin dispatched to destroy him . . .
When Kaderin the Cold Hearted lost her two beloved sisters to a vampire attack long ago, a benevolent force deadened her sorrow — accidentally extinguishing all of her emotions. Yet whenever she encounters Sebastian, her feelings — particularly lust — emerge multiplied. For the first time, she's unable to complete a kill.
Become competitors in a legendary hunt.
The prize of the month-long contest is powerful enough to change history, and Kaderin will do anything to win it for her sisters. Wanting only to win her, forever, Sebastian competes as well, taking every opportunity — as they travel to ancient tombs and through catacombs, seeking relics around the world — to use her new feelings to seduce her. But when forced to choose between the vampire she's falling for and reuniting her family, how can Kaderin live without either?"

Sebastian loathes himself. He hates being a vampire and was turned by his brothers against his will. As a vampire he has no heartbeat, no blood flowing in his body, he can't have sex- his male parts no longer work since he's become an undead and he misses his dead family and the sunlight. He's hundreds of years old and totally miserable.

When Kaderin the Cold Hearted (daughter of the gods) answers a request by the villagers to kill the vampire in their town, she has no idea what meeting Sebastian will do to her life - nor does he have any idea what Kaderin will do to his undead life! Kaderin is a killing machine who feels nothing. She never feels joy, anger, sadness or anything because she 's been blessed (cursed) and had all her feelings removed after her two sisters died battling vampires and Kaderin survived. She buried herself in such pain, guilt and sorrow that a curse was placed on her taking all her feelings away and leaving her the perfect killing machine.

But when Sebastian kneels before her wanting to die, she can't kill him. Something stops her...and she begins to want this ragged, pale, and unkept vampire who has no will to live and wants to die. She stares at him in a way Sebastian hasn't been looked at in several lifetimes...like a desired man. But his body is useless as a vampire, no sex for the undead without beating hearts. But when Sebastian gets close to Kaderin and they begin to speak he hears a roaring in his ears and a thunderous blast. His heart has just started pumping. Kaderin unknowingly has just become the vampire's Bride. And Kaderin who never feels anything is overcome with lust.

Sebastian is startled by his sudden beating heart and more startled by his sudden raging hardon! He wants her like he's never wanted anything in his life- including his undead life! Kaderin is not about to have sex with her enemy the vampire, but she's not opposed to getting each other off.

Sebastian is old fashioned and comes from a time when men didn't just jump women's bones and he's had very little experience with women (he was a warrior fighting for a decade in a war, and then the plague came...no time for sex or romance in his life). He is mortified when Kaderin begins making out with him and grinding herself against his raging hardon until they both scream in orgasm. He can't believe he just came in his pants and she can't believe that was the best orgasm she's ever had and they never even took their clothes off!

These two are very passionate - the book is FULL of great sexual tension and hot love scenes. This book also contains the BEST ever scene of a man getting his first blowjob! Oh my heavens!! I fell completely in love with Sebastian, he was so sexy, strong and yet vulnerable and totally endearing all at once. Kaderin was an extremely likable kickass heroine.

While Kaderin is determined to stay away from Sebastian and compete in a violent contest for a valuable prize (think Amazing Race but with supernatural beings), Sebastian is just as determined not to let his Bride go. He is faithful, loving, determined and very horny all the time with his new turned on body.

This was a great story that will be going on my keeper shelf to reread for years to come.

I give this book 4.5 stars out of 5.

Tim Gunn Superhero to the rescue!!

Do you watch Project Runway?

(I love it, just check out author Kendra Leigh Castle's blog every Friday after a night of Project Runway)

Like Tim Gunn? (who doesn't like this man? He's great!)

Want more Tim Gunn? (yes!)

How about Tim Gunn Superhero?? Super-what?? Ok, I'm not so sure about this one...

For more on the story, click HERE.

My Long Weekend Wrap-up

It was a beautiful sunny long weekend so the kids and I did some driving around and I stopped at a garage sale because I saw a table of books. All the books (hardcover and paperback) were just $.25 cents - I couldn't pass that up!

I bought 4 hardcover books in perfect shape with their slipcovers still on and 1 well read paperback that I was not leaving without.

Hardcovers: "My Sister's Bones" by Cathi Hanuer (YA)

"Cold Mountain" by Charles Frazier

and two Charlaine Harris (YIPPEE!!) books from her "An Aurora Teagarden Mystery" series.

"Three bedrooms, One Corpse" by Charlaine Harris

"The Julius House" by Charlaine Harris

And the paperback I got?? It's from one of my all time favorite movies...

"The Outsider" by Penelope Williamson

Currently reading: "No Rest for the Wicked" by Kresley Cole (loving it so far). This is the second book in her "The Immortals After Dark" series. I really loved the first book and this one is not disappointing me at all. Lot's of sexual tension and chemistry between the hero and heroine.

Currently watching: "Blood Ties" - I finished the first 2 disc's in season one - the first disc was horrid. I had to force myself to watch it. But I have to admit that the last episode of disc #2 was good. It was the episode when Henry got taken by the guy from the Inquisition who was draining the blood of vampires so he could live forever. I felt bad for Henry. I don't like Vicky much and I think the writing and acting are bad, but I will finish watching season one of "Blood Ties".

"The Tycoon's Secret Affair" by Maya Banks

The third book in "The Anetakis Tycoons" trilogy by Maya Banks is "The Tycoon's Secret Affair". I have not yet read the first book in the trilogy, but these are easily stand alones as the other brothers are mostly just mentioned and their stories aren't largely mentioned.

Back Blurb: "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?"

This book started off good, then annoyed me to nearly tossing it across the room, then ended OK if not WAY to "Disney Land" perfect - like it was all a perfect illusion and couldn't possibly be true.

Jewel travels from one place to the next working hard then moving on. She never stays long in one place because she was raised in assorted foster homes and now as an adult still doesn't feel like she deserves a true 'home'. When she moves to a new town for a great sounding job, she meets a very sexy guy and does something she's never done before - has a one night stand with a stranger. The sexual tension is great with them and he sounds really sexy.
After a night of passion, they go their own ways. When Jewel shows up at work, she finds out the guy she had sex with the night before is her new boss, Piers.

Piers is not pleased to see her and being a coward gets one of his lackey's to fire Jewel and send her on her way while Piers ducks out. I hated this and it was a strike against Piers that he didn't confront Jewel himself.

So Jewel, with no money and no place to go, has to return to San Francisco and get the only job she can find on short notice as a waitress. Soon she finds out she's pregnant - with complications. She needs surgery and bed rest. She is desperate and calls Piers for help. Piers of course doesn't believe that the child is her, but he's happy to hear from her because he's felt bad about her being fired. Now he gets nasty with her just when the doctors tell her to take it easy and that she needs rest and no stress. Piers annoyed me beyond reason because he had a split personality. One moment he's thrilled to get her back and demands they get married, the next he is telling her that if the child isn't his he will destroy her - nice guy. This goes on and on and I really didn't like it.

Piers had gotten burned years ago so this is supposed to explain why he treats Jewel so badly and upsets her during her dangerous pregnancy - I didn't buy it. This just didn't work for me. Then the story got 'too perfect'. All the sudden Piers wants her to pick out the perfect diamond ring, the best at any cost because his wife deserves the best. He takes her shopping for clothes, jets her all over the place, buys her a house by the ocean - turns on all the pampering while at the same time getting a lawyer to draw up papers saying she has to give up ALL rights to her child if things don't work out - a child he still refuses to believe is his. Piers couldn't make up his mind. Reading his story was like watching a tennis match with the ball bouncing back and forth. Jewel was steady and her character grew. She was too forgiving and easy on Piers in my opinion, but I liked her well enough.

I rate this book 1 star out of 5. Just didn't work for me unfortunately- and I didn't like the cover on this one either.

The Saturday Post

What I'm reading: "The Tycoon's Secret Affair" by Maya Banks. I am reading this all out of order. First I read the second book in the trilogy ("The Tycoon's Rebel Bride") back in June, then I thought this book was the first book- nope, it's the final book. I have no idea when I'll get around to reading the first book in the series ("The Tycoon's Pregnant Mistress") that kicked things off! But I do love Maya Banks' romances, she's a talented romance writer and she never disappoints me.

What I'm watching: Last night I started watching "Blood Ties" season 1 (compliments of Netflix). So far, I'm not impressed and think "Moonlight" was MUCH better, but it's still early and I've got more dvd's to watch in the season to watch. Vampire Henry is OK, but I think everyone else is over acting and the story stinks. For example Henry is a vampire hundreds of years old and the only way he can live his undead life is by protecting his secret (that he's an undead). But right off the bat he tells Vickie that he's a vampire and in less then 24 hours he gets hurt and Vickie without missing a beat, yanks her sleeve up and feeds him. Then she spends all night on a bed watching him.

I'm not buying that. That sort of thing should have come after some time and trust was established. Where's the build up? Where's the tension? Where's the slow steps in these two learning to trust and open up to each other? In less then 24 hours both of their secrets have been blurted out to each other (her diminishing eye sight, him being a vampire). So that's my major gripe with the show...it moved too fast. But it's early and shows have to feel there way around in the beginning to get established, so I will watch more and hope it gets better.

What I'm looking forward to: Finally! A zombie movie I want to watch! I really don't like anything zombie, but this movie...this movie I can't wait to see.

Five Funny Friday Fails

Just laughing my ass off! LOL

Whatcha got in your pants? (listen VERY close to the answer-LOL)


The talking dead...LOL!


I want to grow up to become this little old lady...


Is this really the "best" man?


A literal translation of "kiss my ass" from a paramedic.


HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND EVERYONE!!!

Bitching about bookcovers

You can't get away from it. No matter where you look in Barnes and Noble or Borders or any other book store...the headless torso is here and its dominating the bookshelves. Headless torsos aren't just on romance covers and they aren't limited to hunky male abs. They cover YA books, SciFi books, fantasy books and females get their heads lopped off too. I don't think it would bother me so much if it was just a few books here and there, but its not. Old book covers are being tossed and new headless torsos are replacing them. My question is WHY? What's so great about headless torsos?? And why are so many headless torsos tinted?? I've seen pink torsos and purple torsos and blue torsos...what's with the tinting??

But headless tinted torsos aren't my only gripe today. I am also getting very tired of tattoo covered bodies on book covers. There's an epidemic of headless torsos and tattooed body's these days. The creativity of book covers is diminishing rapidly. I love and admire the book cover the goes against the flow and does it's own thing. THAT catches my eye and will make me pick up a book and consider buying it. For example, the book covers for Charlaine Harris' Sookie Stackhouse series and her Harper Connelly series, and Stephenie Meyer's 'Twilight' series. Those are different, they stand out and catch your eye (at least they do mine in a sea of tinted torsos). I can't tell you how often I walk by torso covered books in the bookstore because there is NOTHING special about it. It blends in with all the others - even if it is tinted pink or tulip yellow (what the fuck is with that??).

So who decided that headless and tinted headless torsos and people coated in tattoos was the bomb for books? And better yet WHY? What's the point? Does it really sell more books when you lop off heads, add some tint and a tattoo??

My guess is it's cheaper. A body shot of a model without the head probably pays out less. The tint...? I have no idea what's up with that. The tattoos...my guess is because it is so popular today with people. The "in" thing, so I get that, but do we need people covered in them and on every book cover? Is there such a thing as 'over-kill' any more? Yes, in my opinion.

I also get that the authors have little to no say at all about what cover is slapped on their books, so I try not to judge a book by its cover. And to that extent all the books I used as an example in both the photos above are all books I LOVE from my keeper shelf to be reread many more times in the future. So my dislike of headless torsos doesn't keep me from my favorite authors...but it probably keeps me from trying new to me authors as I honestly almost never pick up a headless torso book unless I know the author or someone highly recommends the book to me - someone I trust that is.

What the hell is my point in all this? I think publishers are doing a disservice to their authors. I think creativity is being tossed out the door and replaced with keeping up with the Jones. I think headless tinted torsos are as over used today as Fabio was in the 1980's and it's boring me to near tears. Let's see something different, give me variety and stop copying everyone else! That's what I want from publishers. Variety is the spice of life...it's also good for book covers in my opinion.

OK, my rant is over...for the moment. :o)

"Beyond the Highland Mist" by Karen Marie Moning

Book: Beyond the Highland Mist
Author: Karen Marie Moning
A Dell book copyright 1999

I bought "Beyond the Highland Mist" by Karen Marie Moning for two reasons. First, because so many people are fans of this author and I have seen nothing but good reviews on numerous books written by this author. And secondly, because I loved the cover (long haired, bulging muscled hot hunk in a kilt - what's not to like?) as it reminded me of those old Zebra romances back in the 1980's when I first began reading romance novels.
I have to admit, I was a little disappointed when my order from Borders came and I didn't get that cover, I got the chopped off head all blue-ish torso cover. To me, the first orginal cover is much better and these new covers that are all over the place adorning book cover after book cover right now with chopped off heads and only some tinted abs to look at are a disappointment.

I don't want a headless torso, I want the whole guy in a kilt or nothing (plain solid color with a title and author name would be better in my opinion). Who thought headless guys were sexy or appealing? These covers actually turn me off books and if not for the authors names who are 'automatic buys' for me, I wouldn't bother even buying them.

Which cover do you like best?

Back Blurb: "He would sell his warrior soul to possess her. . . .
An alluring laird...
He was known throughout the kingdom as Hawk, legendary predator of the battlefield and the boudoir. No woman could refuse his touch, but no woman ever stirred his heart--until a vengeful fairy tumbled Adrienne de Simone out of modern-day Seattle and into medieval Scotland. Captive in a century not her own, entirely too bold, too outspoken, she was an irresistible challenge to the sixteenth-century rogue. Coerced into a marriage with Hawk, Adrienne vowed to keep him at arm's length--but his sweet seduction played havoc with her resolve.
A prisoner in time...
She had a perfect "no" on her perfect lips for the notorious laird, but Hawk swore she would whisper his name with desire, begging for the passion he longed to ignite within her. Not even the barriers of time and space would keep him from winning her love. Despite her uncertainty about following the promptings of her own passionate heart, Adrienne's reservations were no match for Hawk's determination to keep her by his side. . ."

This was a time travel romance and I often don't do well with these types, but this one was good and I liked it very much. The hero is Hawk (Scotland 1513) and he's got a huge reputation for being very skilled in bed and leaving the women begging for more. Getting women is easy for him, there's no challenge in it as no woman has ever turned him down. But Hawk has issues. He's been under the kings thumb for years, forced to do his bidding - even becoming 'the King's Whore' - something very humiliating for him.

Adrienne de Simone is a modern day heroine (1990's United States) who has sworn off beautiful men because she can't trust them. They lie to her and use her and she's done with them. She was raised in an orphanage and then took up with a rich and powerful beautiful man who betrayed her and used her. When she was faced with him killing her or her killing him, she turned a gun on him and killed him. Then she took off and went into hiding.

Meanwhile, a fairy Queen was set on making her men jealous, so she told a tale of how the Hawk had pleasured her beyond all men and that none could compare to the Hawk in bed. The fairy King and the fairy fool (Adam Black) didn't take well to hearing this from their beloved Queen, so they set out to ruin the Hawk. Their plan, find the one woman across time for the Hawk to fall in love with - making sure the woman would reject the Hawk, thus breaking his heart and spirit. The fairy fool, Adam Black searches the ages and finds Adrienne and believes her to be the perfect woman for the Hawk. Using fairy magic, he hurls Adrienne back in time and she lands in the lap of brutal Laird Comyn. Laird Comyn has a problem, his daughter "Mad Janet" (she was mental disturbed) was to be the Hawk's wife by order of the King - the problem was Comyn brutalized his daughter and killed her. Now he needed a woman to become Janet Comyn. As if an answer to prayers from the gods, Adrienne drops into his lap in front of hundreds of people- most believe her to be some sort of witch. Comyn doesn't care what she is, he is going to marry her off to the Hawk and be done with it.

The Hawk gets drunk and sends his closest friend Grimm, to do a proxy marriage. Hawk doesn't want Mad Janet for a wife, but once he gets a look at Adrienne he changes his tune fast. He wants her but she doesn't want him -or so she keeps telling herself. Instead the smithy on Hawk's estates catches her eye - it's the fairy Adam Black who uses magic to make sure that Hawk is miserable wanting a wife who denies him. The problem is, love is stronger than fairy magic. Adrienne and Hawk fall in love despite all the fairy's interference and plots. But will time be their biggest enemy? When the fairy fool and the fairy King argue over sending her back or letting her stay Adrienne is tossed back and forth between her time and Hawk's and people begin to believe "Mad Janet's" tales of coming from the future.

This was a nice historic time travel romance, FULL, FULL of sexual tension and longing with a hero who is extremely sexy and easy to like and love. My only complaint is that the end of the book was too abrupt. I don't like when to end a book the author jumps months at a time to give you the happily ever after all in one chapter. The final chapter was more like one long epilogue instead of the chapter the concluded the story lines and show our hero and heroine getting their happily ever after. Aside from that, it was wonderful reading a historical romance set in Scotland with men in kilts and women in lovely gowns.

I rate this book 3.5 stars out of 5.

Its WTF Wednesday

Yesterday was a great day for book blogging as I finished 2 books and actually got both book reviews up and posted. Then I sat down to watch the final 2 DVD's of Friday Night Lights season 3. While I didn't much care for the beginning of season 3 or some of the changes, I did love the final show when all the main characters storylines were told (finishing high school, what colleges they were going to, what directions their family's were headed in, etc.). I even shed a tear or two as it will be sad not seeing 'the team' together on the field any more. I did like the end twist of coach taking a new job at the rival school - a poor school that doesn't have all the extra's and pampering he's used to. I think that will be a good storyline and I look forward to that in season 4. Also, as annoying as Buddy is...I like the guy. He is faithful to football and while he's a terrible husband and often screws up as a father, he's got a good heart and he's doesn't back down from a challenge, but goes after what he wants. I like that.

Next on my Netflix list I start season 1 of "Blood Ties" - a vampire series I have never watched but have heard good things about.



My book reading...I plan on starting "Beyond the Highland Mist" by Karen Marie Moning today, but there are a few other books calling to me, like some of Lora Leigh's "Breed" books which I haven't read in months but have sitting in my TBR pile. Also, I've got a few erotica books that I want to get reading as I haven't read any of those in ages either, so I'll see what happens when I actually sit down to read.

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It's WTF Wednesday...

<--the WTF condom dress

<--the best WTF Pepsi Protester sign (LOL)

<--- How many WTF naked people does it take to change a light bulb?

WTF street performer...

<--I must be twisted, but I think he's kinda sexy (wears black, heavy breather, good with his hands...).

WTF Advertising...

<--Just when boys stopped worrying about hairy-palms...

"Leaving Paradise" by Simone Elkeles

I loved "Perfect Chemistry" so much I had to try another YA novel by author Simone Elkeles and she didn't disappoint me. The book is "Leaving Paradise" and it's a two part YA romance story - the second book comes out in 2010. In this book we meet Caleb Becker who is preparing to leave juvenile detention (DOC - Department of Corrections) after nearly a year in jail for crippling his neighbor Maggie Armstrong in a hit and run accident while Caleb was very drunk (there is a totally unseen twist here).

Caleb can't wait to be free and in control of his life again. He wants nothing more than to get back home, back to his family, friends and girlfriend. He wants his life back.

While surviving the accident, Maggie hasn't gotten her life back. She lost her best friend Leah (Caleb's sister), she can't play tennis any more and she was the best, she walks with a limp and has a horrible scar on her leg that she can't bare looking at and won't think of letting any one else see it either. She used to be athletic, popular with many friends and worked desperately to gain her father's attention.

The spark of life that Maggie had, was taken from her that night. She's a shell of what she used to be and fully blames it all on Caleb - the boy she used to have a crush on for years. As much a Caleb wants to get back home to Paradise (the town they live in), Maggie can't wait to get out of Paradise and leave behind all the pain and memories that torment her now. When her tennis scholarship is revoked she takes a job as a companion/helper to an elderly woman Mrs. Reynolds. Mrs. Reynolds is a no nonsense woman who treats Maggie as if nothing is wrong with her and Maggie responds well to that.

When Caleb returns home, nothing is the same and he can't seem to adjust and fit in. Everyone is looking at him as a dangerous criminal and they keep bringing up his time in jail- which he does not want to discuss. His girlfriend now belongs to his best friend. His sister has gone completely goth wearing nothing but black and living almost entirely in her room leaving only to eat and go to school. She has cut herself out of life as much as she can. Caleb's mother is like a robot caring only what the neighbors think, making sure she keeps her own distance from her son. Caleb is back but it's not home anymore.

Part of Caleb's release from DOC is that Caleb has to perform community service, when he lands a job building a gazebo for Mrs. Reynolds - working along side Maggie - Maggie nearly runs away screaming. But slowly they learn to work around each other, ignoring each other until they can't help but think about each other.

Finally, they begin to talk and fall for each other. The last person Caleb expects to want more than anything in the world is Maggie, the girl he crippled but that is exactly what happens. Caleb wants Maggie, but the law forbids them contact. He ignores the law because he can't and doesn't want to stay away from her. She makes him feel free and whole again. When he's with Maggie everything seems right, but its not. His life is a mess still. While Maggie and Caleb patch things up and fall in love, the rest of Paradise falls apart.

Caleb is getting in trouble. Lies and rumors are running wild and no one seems to be able to hold things together, least of all Caleb who is falling apart fast. While Caleb spirals downward under the pressure of life after the accident, Maggie gets her spark back. She's not just getting stronger physically from therapy, she's getting strength back to be herself and stand up for herself instead of hiding and letting life get her down. Mrs. Reynolds' plays a delightful key part in this - she was a fabulous character in the story.

This book is a super fast read even though it has over 300 pages (mostly all dialogue). I don't want to give the last chapter away because the next book that comes out next year is the conclusion to Maggie and Caleb's story. If you are expecting all the issues brought up in this book to be solved at the end, forget it. Some are dealt with, while others are left for the next book - which I am eagerly waiting for.

I enjoyed this book, but I think I will like the conclusion much better as I am not one for cliff hangers. I rate this book 3 stars out of 5. A good start to what I hope will be a fantastic YA romance.

"City of Bones" by Cassandra Clare

I finished another YA book last night, it was a page turner that I could not put down. The book is "City of Bones" by Cassandra Clare. I have mixed feelings on this book, but mostly it's all good, my problem is how to do this review without spoiling it for anyone who hasn't yet read the book. Anything I mention is going to reveal something that the author has carefully hidden in the story to reveal slowly as the story unfolds. This is one of those books where you probably don't want to know ANYTHING that is going to happen because I truly might spoil it for you.

Back blurb: "When fifteen-year-old Clary Fray heads out to the Pandemonium Club in New York City, she hardly expects to witness a murder — much less a murder committed by three teenagers covered with strange tattoos and brandishing bizarre weapons. Then the body disappears into thin air. It's hard to call the police when the murderers are invisible to everyone else and when there is nothing — not even a smear of blood — to show that a boy has died. Or was he a boy?
This is Clary's first meeting with the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the earth of demons. It's also her first encounter with Jace, a Shadowhunter who looks a little like an angel and acts a lot like a jerk. Within twenty-four hours Clary is pulled into Jace's world with a vengeance, when her mother disappears and Clary herself is attacked by a demon. But why would demons be interested in ordinary mundanes like Clary and her mother? And how did Clary suddenly get the Sight? The Shadowhunters would like to know. . ."
So let me say, it's a good YA book, lots of action, teen angst, first love, unrequited love, loaded with twists and turns, and full of demons, vampires, werewolves and of course the Shadowhunters and more. That said, if you don't want to know the details in the book you have to stop reading my review right now. For everyone else, you've been warned...

*spoiler warning*

The book starts off with Clarissa "Clary" Fray and her best friend Simon going to an all age dance club. While at the club Clary sees a group of teens that no one else can see, then she sees them murder a boy - only he's not a boy because he 'POOF!' disappears into thin air when the teens kill him. The teens are not pleased that a "mundie" (in Harry Potter's world it would be "muggle"-plain old human) can see them and Clary isn't too pleased she can see them either as they are strange, covered with 'Marks' (runes burned into their skin) all over their bodies. Simon sees nothing, but he's a devoted friend and believes that Clary saw something, he just doesn't know what as he didn't see a thing

Later when Clary has a fight with her mother and bolts out of their New York apartment she meets up with Simon and again runs into one of those strange teens. Jace. Jace tells her he's a Shadowhunter (demon hunter) and that he lives at the Institute with other Shadowhunters (Isabelle and her brother Alec and Hodge their tutor and Church the cat). Jace knows Clary isn't any ordinary girl because she can see him, but neither Jace nor Clary know exactly why she can see them. The Shadowhunters can 'glamour' people and the environment to make themselves and their Institute invisible to humans.

Shadowhunters are Nephilim - half human, half angel - they can be born to Shadowhunter parents or they can be created by drinking blood from 'the Mortal Cup' and surviving the transition (most don't survive). The "Downworlders" in the trilogy are all the supernatural beings like vampires, werewolves etc. they come from evil- magic, demons etc. But they aren't necessarily evil themselves, so the Shadowhunters tolerate them as long as they behave and don't harm humans. Shadowhunters are human guardians to protect humans from demons in all their forms.

There is a lot going on in this book, first there is Clary and her family and just what she is. Then there is the disappearance of her mother, the Shadowhunters- their lives and history, there is also the history of the Shadowhunters and the Downworlders. The quick version is a little Harry Potter-ish (like Voldemort and his Death Eaters wanting to rule the world). In "City of Bones" we find "Valentine" a one time great Shadowhunter who wanted to rule the world. He wanted only pureblood humans in the world and set out gathering his followers (an army) to kill off all the Downworlders to make the world pure. There was a terrible bloody war between Valentine, his followers (the Circle) and the rest of the Shadowhunters and Downworlders. Valentine was thought to be dead, along with his toddler son Jonathon leaving behind a pregnant wife who was leaving him and going into hiding.

After Clary's fight with her mother (while she's off with Simon and meeting up again with Jace), Clary's mother disappears. Now Clary has to figure out what is going on, who is telling the truth and how to get her mother back. After Clary is attacked by a demon and manages to kill the demon, she is wounded and that is how Jace finds her and saves her life. He brings her back to the Institute to heal. As Clary and the Shadowhunters begin to put things together, Clary and Jace begin to fall in love. These two have chemistry together - good chemistry.

This was a great part of the book for me as I really loved both these characters and enjoyed watching them fall in love. Jace is a hard-ass who puts up a front and keeps people at a distance because of his own personal scars. He doesn't want to get close to anyone, but he can't help feeling things for Clary. And Clary is upset with herself for feeling anything when her mother is missing, but she can't help being drawn to Jace. Sounds good right? Wrong - sort of in a major way. BIG spoiler at the end of the book about these two.

The book is not all dark demon fighting, its got funny banter and humor threaded through out it. One of my favorite scenes is the Shadowhunters take Clary out to lunch at a diner that serves everyone so it has a rather interesting menu. The menu includes things like a toasted bat sandwich and assorted bloodtypes. Here's one of my laugh out loud moments from the book. Clary is reading over the menu while the other Shadowhunters are deciding what to order.

"Who eats raw fish?" she inquired aloud.

"Kelpies," said Alec. "Selkies. Maybe the occasional nixie."

"Don't order any of the faerie food," said Jace, looking at her over the top of his menu. "It tends to make humans a little crazy. One minute you're munching a faerie plum, the next minute you're running naked down Madison Avenue with antlers on your head. Not," he added hastily, "that this has ever happened to me." (page 192, City of Bones)

So while Clary and Jace have numerous close calls, get wounded several times and slowly unravel the mystery surrounding Clary they find out Valentine did not die and he's back and trying to raise an army to defeat the Shadowhunters and Downworlders once and for all. To do that Valentine needs the Mortal Cup - but Clary's mother has hidden it and Clary must find it before Valentine. There are several relationship issues that need to be sorted out, Simon/Clary, Clary/Jace, Alec/Jace and Clary with her parents (and Luke) and Jace with the history of his.

Clary figures out where her mother hid the Mortal Cup and she gets it back, then she finds out she's the daughter of Valentine - as if that isn't enough **SPOILER** she finds out the boy she's been making out with, Jace, is her long lost full blood brother. If you're grossed out just think how Clary and Jace felt! Now this plot twist REALLY ticked me off because these two have a cute first love romance and you want them together, then the author tosses incest in and well...you have to want them apart because anything else is just gross right? But something about this doesn't ring true for me.

First, I don't buy that the author set out on purpose to make the reader love these two characters and their romance only to yank the rug out from under us (that's sadistic for YA readers!).

Secondly, Jace and Clary look nothing alike and aren't anything a like. Now I know that is a weak point, BUTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT it was clearly pointed out in the book more than once, so my suspicion is its deliberate to the plot because the author has another twist up her sleeve for these two young lovebirds. I hope so anyway, or I'm really gonna be ticked off about this book!

And my last theory is because of Jace himself. He's never let anyone close to him, never allowed himself to love anyone after his 'father' was murdered before his eyes until Clary comes along. She's become everything to him and I don't think the author will take her away from him. Again that would be too sadistic for a YA book and totally depressing to leave such a hero with nothing as he's had so much ripped away from him in his young life. He's suffered numerous betrayals, let downs and mental abuse from his "father" - to have Clary yanked from him would be over the top and too much. I really don't think the author is going to do that.

My guess is these two are going to be tormented by their feelings for each other and then relieved to find out something - a switched at birth storyline or something! I am hoping that the real "Jonathon" died some unfortunate death in childhood and was 'replaced' by Jace by the twisted and sicko Valentine or something - anything so that these two teens are not blood related.

There is a lot packed into this book to set the foundation for the trilogy and parts were sometimes hard for me to remember what was what and who was who ('the Circle', the Brothers, Nephilim, Shadowhunters, assorted Downworlders, numerous demon types etc). The author created an extensive world, full of fascinating gadgets and too many plots to count at this point, but she hooked me. I have to know how it ends - mostly I have to know what happens between Jace and Clary in the end. So I will be purchasing the second and third books in the series: "City of Ashes" and "City of Glass".

I rate this book 4 stars - would have gotten 5 stars IF Jace & Clary weren't brother & sister- that plot twist ticked me off and very nearly made me put the book down.