My May Reads...

Books I read in May...

1) "Rules of Attraction" by Simone Elkeles (YA)

2) "Dead in the Family" by Charlaine Harris (Fantasy Fiction)

3) "The Fulfillment" by LaVyrle Spencer (Romance) *re-read*

4) "Nut Cream" by Jade Buchanan (MM Romance) *ebook*

5) "I heart you, You haunt me" by Lisa Schoeder (YA)

6) "Rikers High" by Paul Volponi (YA) *DNF*

7) "Beastly" by Alex Flinn (YA)

8) "New Blood" by Peter McPhee (YA)

9) "Warrior's Song" by Catherine Coulter (Historical Romance)

10) "Darkfever" by Karen Marie Moning (Fantasy Fiction)

11) "Bloodfever" by Karen Marie Moning (Fantasy Fiction)

12) "Faefever" by Karen Marie Moning (Fantasy Fiction)

13) "Hail Caesar" by Thu-Huong Ha (YA) *review on my YA blog The Cracked Spine*

14) "Separate Beds" by LaVyrle Spencer (Romance)

I just want to mention that the only DNF I had this month "Riker's High" was NOT because the book wasn't well written. It was because I just wasn't in the mood for it and couldn't get into it at the time. I might pick that one up again in the future.

Happy Memorial Day to everyone in the States!

"Separate Beds" by LaVyrle Spencer

Title: Separate Beds
Author: LaVyrle Spencer
Published: 1985
Genre: Romance

Synopsis: Catherine Anderson and Clay Forrester come from two completely different worlds, but one blind date leaves them forever linked. Clay, a handsome law student, and Catherine, a serious, bookish undergrad, experience an evening they will never forget. Fortified by the beauty of the night, as well as a bottle of wine, they share a night together. A few short months later, Catherine discovers she's pregnant. They agree to a marriage of convenience, an arrangement that suits them both-until they begin to fall in love.
Moving and deeply affecting, Separate Beds is a celebration of the healing power of love.

This is re-read for me that I haven't read in quite a few years.

In a word: Bittersweet

I say this is a bittersweet romance, not because it doesn't have a happy ending, it does. But because these two mess up and fumble from the beginning to nearly the very last page before they get it together and truly admit their feelings for each other. From their first blind date they make one mistake after another, but fate continues to bring them together.

Catherine is one of the most stubborn heroines I've ever read and for most of the book she frustrated me beyond reason because she kept pushing Clay away when she should have just let go and opened up to him. She would have saved herself a world of hurt if she did. She bordered close on "too stupid to live" for me most of the time, except that she had an abusive past so I cut her some slack. She was emotionally damaged, but not broken. She was strong, but vulnerable. Those things made me go easy on her, but she still caused me numerous moments that I wanted to slap her upside the head and say "What are you doing?!".

Clay said lots of stupid things and made his own mistakes which he owned up to, but he tried so many times to reach Catherine I can't blame the guy if he'd had tossed up his hands and never looked back again. There is one thing he did that doesn't sit well with me and I am not sure I forgive him for. It's a big no-no for heroes to do while they are supposed to be pining for the heroine. I won't give it away, but I am sure others who've read the book know what I'm talking about. I didn't like it, and I don't think I've forgiven it.

But it was Catherine who was really frustrating to me and for that reason this is not one of my favorite LaVyrle Spencer books but it's still a wonderful romance story with a happy ending.

I give this book 3.5 stars out of 5. It's better than 'good' but not a 'great' read.

Blog Crawl: Linda Howard

Many of you have been following The Blog Crawl this month, started by Kassa and others as a way for bloggers to show our appreciation to authors who’ve entertained and touched us with their talent and hard work. Today is my day to share one of my favorite authors. I’ve chosen Linda Howard as the author to write my fan letter to.

Dear Linda,

You don’t know me and I don’t personally know you, but you’ve been a part of my life for decades. To be honest, I’ve been reading your work since I was a young teen back in the very early 1980’s and I’ve stuck with you all these years.

You know how a certain song will take you back to a moment in your life…a past boyfriend, a dance when the cutest guy asked you to dance, the song that was playing when you broke up with your first love, the hymn played at a funeral for a beloved family member? The song takes you back to that moment like it was yesterday and becomes part of that memory? Your books do that for me.

I can recall specific times in my life when I was reading one of your novels. Being a teenager riding the bus for the first time into ‘the city’ from my suburbia home with my best friend; our noses buried deep in “Come Lie With Me”. The bus ride was over far too quickly for both of us.

My ex-husband enjoyed the effect your books had on me – does that fall in the TMI category? Well let me just say I believe your “MacKenzie Family” series is responsible for at least one of my children being conceived (she even carries the name “McKenzie”-no “a” though)!

Your books didn’t just accompany me through the good times; they were there during the bad times too. I can recall reading “Open Season” and being able to laugh out loud at the delightfully entertaining heroine and the sweet humor in some of the scenes, when in reality I had very little to laugh about back then. You’ll never know how much I needed to be able to just smile again. Your book did that for me. I thank you for that.

Your books are shelf keepers. They all have badly cracked spines, dog eared pages, and some even have elastic bands wrapped around them because of loose pages. To me, that only shows how much I love them and how much it’s meant to me to read them not just once or even twice, but numerous times over the years. My copy of “All the Queens Men” is barely in one piece, but I still adore it.

Your books are my comfort reads. They are what I turn to, knowing in advance the pleasure they will inspire in me while I lose myself in one of your wonderfully spun stories with characters I can’t help but come to love.

I want to thank you Linda for being a part of my life, for bringing me laughter, some tears, lots of sigh worthy moments, thrills and most of all comfy companionship. We’ve never met, probably never will, but you feel like a friend to me after all these years because you’ve touched my life and been there with me through thick and thin for so many years.

Thank you Linda, I look forward to reading more from you in the years to come.

Your devoted fan,

Elizabeth Jules Mason

The Blog Crawl moves to the Stumbling Over Chaos blog next!


**Linda Howard photo from Amazon.com website**

"Faefever" by Karen Marie Moning

Title: Faefever
Author: Karen Marie Moning
Series: Fever series Bk#3
Published: 2008
Genre: Fantasy Fiction

Synopsis: He calls me his Queen of the Night. I’d die for him. I’d kill for him, too. When MacKayla Lane receives a torn page from her dead sister’s journal, she is stunned by Alina’s desperate words. And now MacKayla knows that her sister’s killer is close. But evil is closer. And suddenly the sidhe-seer is on the hunt: For answers. For revenge. And for an ancient book of dark magic so evil, it corrupts anyone who touches it.
Mac’s quest for the Sinsar Dubh takes her into the mean, shape-shifting streets of Dublin, with a suspicious cop on her tail. Forced into a dangerous triangle of alliance with V’lane, an insatiable Fae prince of lethally erotic tastes, and Jericho Barrons, a man of primal desires and untold secrets, Mac is soon locked in a battle for her body, mind, and soul.
As All Hallows’ Eve approaches and the city descends into chaos, as a shocking truth about the Dark Book is uncovered, not even Mac can prevent a deadly race of immortals from shattering the walls between worlds – with devastating consequences...


Overall series impression: Getting better and better.

This is my favorite of the series so far. The heroine Mac (MacKayla Lanes) is coming into her own, gaining knowledge and power of her sidhe-seer abilities, and learning to count only on herself to find the answers. I still have issues with the writing, the author does not let me into Mac's head or feelings as much as I am used to in first person told stories and I miss that. I don't feel like a know Mac as well as I should- especially since this is the third book in the series.

The conflicts, mysteries, doom 'n gloom are oozing off the pages in this book and Mac is smack dab in the middle of it all with no one to truly trust. She's got all sorts of males clamoring around her but they all have ulterior motives and Mac is on to them. She wishes she had one person she could fully trust but she does not. None of the people are fully honest with her and none of them are selflessly on her side, they all want something from her.

The relationship...bizarre, confusing and convoluted relationship between Mac and Jericho is filled with tension and great aha! moments in this book. Nothing much about Jericho is explained (we can rule out a few things-like him being a normal human etc), but Mac is determined (as am I!) to figure out just what the hell IS Jericho Barrons?? He is an amazing mystery to not only Mac but me too! Most of the time I don't like him at all, he is NOT a likable character. He does not treat Mac well at all other than trying to keep her alive but that is mostly because he's using her to get what he wants, more Fae relics.

But Jericho has his moments...when he's not dragging her down the street by her hair while she's retching because she's close to an evil Fae relic that is. Nice guy eh? Not! Jericho is NOT nice and he never wants Mac to forget that. The problem is, he is lusting after her and when he thinks she is close to death you finally see some emotion out of him - something that he keeps TIGHT, no I mean REALLY FREAKING TIGHT control over. When he lets out emotion it turns VIOLENT- fast and Mac is often the object of that violence. Does he beat her? No... is he on the very edge of physically hurting her? Yes! This is all part of just what IS Jericho Barrons? He is some sort of volatile supernatural being, but the mystery has yet to be unraveled.

So I watch him very closely in each book and try to pick around the pieces of who he is and I am beginning to think he might be a Wounded Hero *hand to forehead in dramatic pose*, the truly damaged kind that has no hope. *sigh-I am SUCH a sucker for those!* If Jericho is a damaged wounded hero battling horrible personal demons he may turn out to be a fantastic character at the end of this, right now he's mostly an ass.

Like I said in one of my previous reviews for this series, I am more and more viewing these books as a jig-saw puzzle rather than a story. I am crazily slapping puzzle pieces in place so I can view the final puzzle to see just WHAT is this about! Mostly who is Jericho Barrons and how do all the questions (there are more questions asked and brought up in this book than any I've ever read) finally get answered? That's what I want to know.

I give this book 4 stars out of 5 stars. It just keeps getting better for me, even though I have issues with it. The mystery keeps me coming back for more - I just HAVE to figure it all out! I am a woman on a mission with this series.


By the way, I just love this cover because it really fits the story well.

"Bloodfever" by Karen Marie Moning

Title: "Bloodfever"
Author: Karen Marie Moning
Series: Fever Series Bk#2
Published: 2007
Genre: Fantasy Fiction

Synopsis: I used to think my sister and I were just two nice southern girls who'd get married in a few years and settle down to a quiet life. Then I discovered that Alina and I descend, not from good wholesome southern stock, but from an ancient Celtic bloodline of powerful sidhe-seers, people who can see the Fae. Not only can I see the terrifying otherworldly race, but I can sense the sacred Fae relics that hold the deadliest of their magic.
When my sister was found dead in a trash-filled alley in Dublin, I came over to get answers. Now all I want is revenge. And after everything I've learned about myself, I know I have the power to get it....
MacKayla Lane's ordinary life underwent a complete makeover when she landed on Ireland's shores and was plunged into a world of deadly sorcery and ancient secrets.
In her fight to stay alive, Mac must find the Sinsar Dubh-a million-year-old book of the blackest magic imaginable, which holds the key to power over both the worlds of the Fae and of Man. Pursued by Fae assassins, surrounded by mysterious figures she knows she cannot trust, Mac finds herself torn between two deadly and irresistible men: V'lane, the insatiable Fae who can turn sensual arousal into an obsession for any woman, and the ever-inscrutable Jericho Barrons, a man as alluring as he is mysterious.
For centuries the shadowy realm of the Fae has coexisted with that of humans. Now the walls between the two are coming down, and Mac is the only thing that stands between them....

First thoughts: Better than the first book in the series & cover is a great improvement from the first (which I thought had nothing to do with the story).

This book begins where the last one ended and finally it begins to answer some questions while it tosses more questions into the mix. Mac is adjusting to the knowledge that she is a Sidhe-Seer (pronounced SHE-seer). She is getting used to seeing the horrible forms of the Fae because Fae magic "glamour" doesn't work on a Sidhe-seer. Normal humans only see the glamour and have no idea of the ugly horrid beasts the Fae walking among them are, but Mac knows. She sees it all, but there simply are just too many of them for her to make a dent in ridding the world of them.

While Jericho continues to use Mac's ability to locate Fae relics, Mac continues on her search to identify her sisters murderer. She is bent on revenge and she won't be happy until she's got it.

Jericho is a huge mystery. At this point he hasn't told her much of anything and from all his mysterious abilities and intelligence all you really know is the guy isn't human- not fully at least. I still have no idea what Jericho is, but at this point I am leaning towards Druid with something else mixed in there. For a while I was thinking vampire, and I was almost ready to dismiss that except for a scene in which there was blood around he seemed more excited than he should be about it, and he doesn't seem to be around much in the daylight. But I don't think he's a vampire, I think he's some sort of Druid wizard with a long secret history. Still he is a complete mystery and I am completely enjoying being perplexed about him. I love a good mystery and Jericho Barrons is a very good mystery.

This book has a bit more action, it's more fast paced, gritty and has a bit more humor and tension between Mac and Jericho. Slowly Mac is chipping away all the mysteries and dangers surrounding her and so far she's managed to stay alive- mostly because Jericho is determined to keep her around for her "OOPS Detecting" (that is finding Fae relics).

I give this one 3.5 stars out out 5. I enjoyed this book better than the last and currently I am reading the 3rd book and enjoying it too.

"Darkfever" by Karen Marie Moning

Title: "Darkfever"
Author: Karen Marie Moning
Series: Fever Series book #1
Published: 2006
Genre: Fantasy Fiction

Synopsis: "MacKayla Lane’s life is good. She has great friends, a decent job, and a car that breaks down only every other week or so. In other words, she’s your perfectly ordinary twenty-first-century woman.
Or so she thinks…until something extraordinary happens.
When her sister is murdered, leaving a single clue to her death - a cryptic message on Mac’s cell phone - Mac journeys to Ireland in search of answers. The quest to find her sister’s killer draws her into a shadowy realm where nothing is as it seems, where good and evil wear the same treacherously seductive mask. She is soon faced with an even greater challenge: staying alive long enough to learn how to handle a power she had no idea she possessed - a gift that allows her to see beyond the world of man, into the dangerous realm of the Fae…
As Mac delves deeper into the mystery of her sister’s death, her every move is shadowed by the dark, mysterious Jericho, a man with no past and only mockery for a future. As she begins to close in on the truth, the ruthless Vlane - an alpha Fae who makes sex an addiction for human women - closes in on her. And as the boundary between worlds begins to crumble, Mac’s true mission becomes clear: find the elusive Sinsar Dubh before someone else claims the all-powerful Dark Book - because whoever gets to it first holds nothing less than complete control of the very fabric of both worlds in their hands…"

In a word: Intriguing

I struggled a bit with this book because of the writing. The story is told from the heroine MacKayla "Mac" Lane's point of view, I like that. What I didn't care for was that she TOLD me things had happened instead of SHOWING me how it evolved. One moment she'd be in a scary position and the next she would be safe and reflect back in general telling me what I'd missed. I don't like that. I want to be IN THE MOMENT with the heroine, facing what she faces, feeling what she feels at that moment. Because the author jumped around and told me things in hindsight I felt ripped off on several occasions. Same thing with the dialogue. It would say that Mac and Jericho talked instead of SHOWING me the discussion between the characters. I would then be TOLD what had come out of the conversation instead of allowing ME to come to my own conclusions about what had transpired.

My other gripe was that while the story was told from Mac's point of view, I didn't very often 'hear' Mac's thoughts as she was working things out. Suddenly she'd have an idea and take off on it. I was never included in the process of SEEING how she got the idea. Again I was TOLD something without the benefit of SEEING the process. I don't know if others have a problem with this, but its a peeve of mine especially with first person point of view stories. Don't TELL me things, SHOW me things.

That said, the book was intriguing and the world Karen Marie Moning has created captured my interest and over-came my frustration with the writing style. I wanted to read more even while I was complaining (and I did complain) it kept me turning page after page. So don't get the idea I didn't like it, I did. I just had some major pet peeve issues with it, but nothing that would prevent me from finishing the story. As a matter of fact, I am going to read the entire series because I am that interested in it, so clearly something is working for me, I just haven't figured out what that is yet!

Besides the writing style frustration I was equally frustrating in not getting any answers. Moning spins a supernatural tale full of questions but hardly ever delivers any answers at all. I finished the first book wondering if I knew anything at all about anything! I had no more answers at the end of the first book than I had at the beginning! All I had was more questions and an intense curiousity to see where the author would take me next. She left me wanting to know more. Her story was more a puzzle to me than a story and I felt on a mission to complete the puzzle and see the final picture.

About the story...I found that Darkfever reminded me a little bit of other stories I had read in a slight way. The heroine Mac reminded me a bit of Cat "Kitten" Crawfield from Jeaniene Frost's Night Hunter series. Not because Mac and Kat are anything alike- they are NOT. But because in the first book Cat was used by Bones to locate vampires and in this story Mac is used by Jericho to locate relics- Fae relics. These women each have a talent that their male counterpoints need and they use them to get what they want.

Then there are the Seelies and Unseelies in this series - these are bad and badder Fae beings who prey on humans in assorted forms until the humans are dead. These Seelie/Unseelie strongly reminded me of the "Lessers" in J.R. Ward's Black Dagger Brotherhood series. They are growing more powerful and their numbers are increasing as they spread across Dublin, Ireland killing people and sucking the life from them. They have a powerful leader somewhere but no one knows where or who he is.

Then there is the heroine herself who reminds me a bit of Sookie Stackhouse from the Charlaine Harris series. The heroine Mac is a blond bartender from the Georgia, in America. A full fledged southern girl who loves the sun and working on her tan. Funny thing is Sookie Stackhouse is a sun worshipper too, always works on her tan, works in a bar and has blond hair.

While I enjoyed the book, I wonder if anyone else saw these things or got the same impressions I did reading these books (I am currently on the 3rd book in this series and will have the other reviews up soon). Did parts of this book remind you of other fantasy fiction?

I give this book 3 stars out of 5 stars for a "good" read. I had issues with it, but not enough to keep me from reading the entire series and I can say each book is better than the one before it- so far.

*Note: This is pure fantasy fiction, not a romance book at all which makes me wonder just what the cover has to do with anything in the book. The cover seems to suggest some romance going on but there is NONE. This is another cover that doesn't fit the story, in my opinion. Happily the rest of the covers in the series are a much better fit for the series in my view.

Tuesday's This & That Post

So much I wanted to do yesterday and so little time. Besides the usually daily grind I hit the library and came out with the first two Karen Marie Moning books in her "Fever" series. Over the weekend I had purchased the 3rd book in the series during the library sale, so I needed/wanted to read the first two books in the series before I started my book.

I spent all my free time reading, which totally interfered with watching the big first night finale of "Dancing With the Stars" and the kick off to this season's "The Bachelorette" (the woes of a book and reality TV addict). I did somehow manage to start and complete "Darkfever" while watching both reality shows- I really don't know how because I am not good a dividing my attention. Anyway, I'll get my review up for "Darkfever" at some point today.

As far as Dancing With the Stars goes, I think Nicole/Derrick have it made and rightly so- even though I do really like Evan, Nicole and Derrick just out did everyone else this entire season in my opinion. So kudos to them, I think they'll win the glittery mirror ball award.

Now the Bachelorette Ali...

I wasn't going to watch this season because to be honest I am a little burnt out on this show. But the previews have captured my interest...guys fighting, cops and an ambulance rescue for someone injured (editing makes it look like a fist fight). This season's bachelorette is Ali from last season - she had chosen her job over her love for bachelor Jake and the moment she left the show she regretted it and tried to come back but Jake was already in love with two other women. Ali cried and now she's back looking for love on this seasons The Bachelorette.

While the bachelor men were pouring out of limos to meet Ali I made my 'favorites list' from first impressions. Two of my top four favorites from the first few moments of the show were sent packing: Jay the lawyer from RI and Kyle the outdoor/mountain man from CO - these two guys seemed interesting to me and like they had something many of the others didn't. Ali didn't agree, so they were sent packing. Oh well...

The two others she kept were my 3rd and 4th picks, Ty the southern charmer from TN who is divorced but really wants kids and a family. And Chris L., the teacher from Cape Cod Mass., who left his job and life in NY to return home and care for his dying mother in her last weeks of life. To him family is #1 and always will be. That said NONE of the guys really wowed me this season and usually a few do. Perhaps it wasn't the guys, but me because I was dividing my attention between the show and reading "Darkfever" by Karen Marie Moning!

The guys I didn't like right off the bat...

Hunter from TX- he's already a bit jealous and looking to get rid of the competition instead just focusing on winning Ali's heart. He got out of the limo, said hello then promptly told her he has to use the bathroom and runs into the mansion. Later he sings some song he wrote about her and the show. He didn't impress me.

The second guy I didn't like off the bat was, Craig M from Canada (he was the guy in the multi color rainbow type tie). He was complaining just hours into the show, stirring up trouble by making fun of other guys and seemed to show a temper already. I didn't like anything about him, he actually had shifty eyes! NO kidding!

But the most memorable moment of the show was Ali's one on one time with Derrick (AKA "Shooter"). Derrick wanted to leave an impression on Ali- and he left one on millions of viewers when he explained why his nickname was "Shooter". Derrick suffers/suffered from premature ejaculation. I thought Ali was going to fall off the sofa when Derrick told her that (complete with hand gestures to his crotch in case she didn't fully grasp what he was telling her).

When he got sent packing, he said he was embarrassed for telling her that- wonder what he thinks about telling millions of viewers that?! *lol* You all know he's NEVER EVER gonna live that down - his buddies won't let him.

Fans of the CW Channel's Supernatural and Vampire Diaries have you heard about the changes??

First no change to Vampire Diaries (yay!). It will remain in its current time slot (8pm EST) on Thursday nights and beginning this Thursday it is repeating the entire season 1 so if you missed something or want to jump on the band wagon tune in this Thursday night for the pilot show.

Supernatural...besides the change in who will be running the show for the 6th season, Supernatural has moved to Friday nights at 9pm (EST).

The CW's press release about "Supernatural":

Returning for its sixth season, this haunting series follows Sam and Dean Winchester, two brothers bound by tragedy and blood to their dangerous, other-worldly mission. This past season, Dean and Sam faced their toughest foe yet: the Devil himself. As the Apocalypse raged on around them, the brothers, aided only by a dwindling band of fellow hunters and rebel angel Castiel, sought a way to stop Lucifer and save the planet. Ultimately, they discovered a way to force Lucifer back into Hell and end the Apocalypse – but at tremendous cost: Sam’s life. Season 6 will be a season of mystery and shadow. Heaven and Hell have been left in complete disarray since the apocalyptic events of Season 5. And now, monsters, angels and demons roam across a lawless and chaotic landscape. And so Dean Winchester, who has retired from hunting and sworn never to return, finds himself being pulled back into his old life – pulled back by none other than Sam Winchester, who has escaped from Hell. The two reunite to beat back the rising tide of creatures and demon-spawn, but they quickly realize that neither are who they used to be, their relationship isn’t what it used to be, and that nothing is what it seems. The series stars Jared Padalecki as Sam Winchester, Jensen Ackles as Dean Winchester and Misha Collins as Castiel. "Supernatural" is from Warner Bros. Television in association with Wonderland Sound and Vision, with executive producers McG (“Nikita,” “Charlie’s Angels,” “The O.C.”), Eric Kripke (“Boogeyman”), Robert Singer (“Midnight Caller”), Sera Gamble, Ben Edlund and Phil Sgriccia.

(Source: Chicago Tribune)

The Thursday night 9pm time slot is being filled with a new series called "Nikita"...

Synopsis of Nikita:

When she was a deeply troubled teenager, Nikita was rescued from death row by a secret U.S. agency known only as Division, who faked her execution and told her she was being given a second chance to start a new life and serve her country. What they didn’t tell her was that she was being trained as a spy and assassin. Ultimately, Nikita was betrayed and her dreams shattered by the only people she thought she could trust. Now, after three years in hiding, Nikita is seeking retribution and making it clear to her former bosses that she will stop at nothing to expose and destroy their covert operation. For the time being, however, Division continues to recruit and train other young people, erasing all evidence of their former lives and turning them into cold and efficient killers. One of these new recruits, Alex, is just beginning to understand what lies ahead for her and why the legendary Nikita made the desperate decision to run. The series stars Maggie Q as Nikita, Lyndsy Fonseca as Alex, Shane West as Michael, Aaron Stanford as Birkhoff.

(source: Chicago Tribune blog)

Well that's it for now. I'll be back later with my review on "Darkfever" by Karen Marie Moning. Have a great day everyone!!

Huffington Post Finds Book Reviewers Lacking

I was reading blogs with Google Reader this morning as I do most mornings. This morning blogger Donna at BITES had a link to an interesting article in the Huffington Post. The article is about book reviews.

The author of the article, Sarah McCarry, makes some rather bold statements but doesn't back them up with any sources or proof.

She writes:

"Book bloggers and reviewers--female book bloggers and reviewers especially--often seem to subscribe to a kind of cultlike apologism, in which they feel the need to defend the author as a person even if they are temerarious enough to be displeased by her book. Negative reviews are met with a resounding chorus in the comments: the author is a wonderful person, the author worked hard, the author did her very best. The idea is, apparently, that women are so exhausted by the intellectual labor required to produce the text in question that we are unable to withstand any subsequent critique, and ought instead to fall back on some kind of rosy-cheeked sorority of lady writers, exchanging stain-removal tips and sob stories."

Really?? I haven't seen that at all, and I spend a good amount of time reading other blogs while writing and maintaining two of my own. Just before I read this article I gave the worst book review I've ever given in my life (see "Warrior's Song" by Catherine Coulter review) and I find it ironic that after I published this scathing review I read that article from the Huffington Post.

The article goes on to talk about this being a sort of male vs female thing. That female authors are given breaks if their writing stinks but men are raked over the coals- or so this articles author seems to believe. I disagree. In my experience with the dozens of book bloggers I read daily and follow their reviews I believe the give honest, well thought out reviews on the books they read. Most spell out what they really liked in a book and didn't work for them. I don't know any book reviewer that gives all great perfect thumbs ups to the books they read.

So what do other bloggers think?? Do you sugarcoat or flat out lie in your book reviews to spare an authors feelings? Do you go easier on female authors than you do males?

"Warrior's Song" by Catherine Coulter

Title: "Warrior's Song"
Author: Catherine Coulter
Series: Song Series
Published: 2001 (rewrite from 1984)
Genre: Historical Romance
Pages: 373

Synopsis: Originally published under the title Chandra, this is the stunning novel that first introduced Graelam de Moreton of Catherine Coulter's magnificent series: Fire Song, Earth Song, and Secret Song. Completely revised, rewritten and repackaged, Warrior's Song takes its rightful place as a prequel to the bestselling Song trilogy.


In a word: ACK! (is that a word?)

I don't know when I've ever read a book that I didn't like a SINGLE CHARACTER in it. The heroine was TOO STUPID TO LIVE, the hero a complete moron, the villian turned good guy is a SERIAL RAPIST, the heroine's father has incestous-like feelings for his daughter and I think she him. There wasn't a single likable character in the entire book. I really don't even know how to review this.

The setting is near the Welsh border in the year 1272. The heroine is Chandra who thinks she's a boy and is petrified of submitting to sex. She is scared from watching her father have sex with every female 14 years and up for decades- including Chandra's friends. She's watched his dick thrust in and out of assorted females and even compares her fathers penis, balls and pubic hair to other mens she's seen. The women who have been screwed by Chandra's father tell Chandra what a great lover he is and how deep he goes inside of them. (I can't help but wonder what the hell this author was thinking when she wrote this trash.)

Chandra is running around the country side in leather pants and full male clothing hunting wild game like a man. She doesn't like men other than her buddies, doesn't ever want to marry a man, hates her father screwing women, but she dresses like a man and refuses to ever leave her fathers side (this makes NO sense to me at all). She has an unhealthy obsession with her father and he for her in a twisted sick way.

In the second chapter of the book, Graelam (the knight whose come to marry her) decides to force Chandra into telling him where her mother and young brother are hiding in the castle. When Chandra refuses to tell him, Graelam decides to rape Chandra's friend in front of her to force her to speak. No one spills the beans and Graelam rapes an innocent 17 year old virgin while Chandra watches in horror. (Later this same rapist Graelam becomes a hero and gets his own romance story in another book in this same series-gag- the author calls this rapist "a bad boy"-I am stunned a romance author would call this vicious rapist merely a 'bad boy' and then give him his own romance story).

Chandra is doomed to marry the rapist until another guy shows up and together (Chandra grabbing a sword, daggers etc) battle Graelam and his men driving them from her castle. The hero is Jerval. He befriends Chandra and she enjoys joking around with him, wrestling with him as a man and even punches him in the arm numerous times like he's a "good buddy" *lots of eye rolling while I read these scenes*. Chandra is oblivious to being a woman or the thought of marriage. She in convinced she will live out her days with her father in his castle.

Jerval tries to win Chandra over and get her to marry him, she freaks out but her father forces her to accept Jerval as a husband. Jerval being the idiot that he is thinks as soon as he screws her she will enjoy male attention- she doesn't. She hates that he makes her body respond and every single morning she gets up before him and runs off so he won't touch her.

Jerval then thinks that marriage has suddenly changed Chandra and now she will dress like a woman and act like a woman. Wrong. She's still dressed like a man, hunting, riding, wrestling, sword fighting and more. He (stupidly) can't believe she didn't change once he married her- DUH!? These two are BOTH too stupid to live.

The book goes on and on and on with Chandra wanting to be manly and Jerval wanting a real wife to care for his own castle and people- Chandra could careless about the castle, she wants to compete with weapons- bows and arrows, swords, dagger throwing -all that man stuff!

The entire book is full of Chandra doing exactly what she wants, Jerval being surprised she doesn't act like a woman and assorted men all admiring Chandra (for what I have no idea, she drove me stark raving mad).

This book rates: ZERO!!!!!!!!

What I find interesting is most of the reviews on Barnes&Noble give this book a 3 or 4 star rating, while the reviews on Amazon are around a 1 star rating.

"New Blood" by Peter McPhee

Title: New Blood
Author: Peter McPhee
Published: 2007
Genre: YA Fiction based on a true story
Pages: 167

Synposis: After a gang of thugs beat him up, Callum's parents have had enough of Glasgow's (Scotland) tough streets. His family moves to Canada to make a fresh start, joining Callum's older brother and his wife in Winnipeg. But Winnipeg has its share of bullies, too. Still healing from his injuries, Callum also has deep inner scars that will make his new high school, in this country, even more of a battleground.
Inspired by a true story, New Blood is a gripping yet moving account of violence, recovery and hope.

I enjoyed this story because I liked and felt compassion, worry, sorrow and hope for it's main character Callum. He has gone through so much and not just survived, but survived without hating humanity. He was open to believing people can and do change- even bullies. He discovered that some bullies can have good intentions even if their delivery is all wrong, something he hadn't considered before arriving in Canada.

Callum is a hero in that he can't stand to let someone else, anyone else be bullied or hurt. He is not a "mind your own business-don't get involved" type of guy. He sees someone getting hurt, he jumps right in to help even if he knows he might end up getting severely hurt or even hated by the person he's attempting to help.

This is a realistic book, that does and doesn't have a happy ending. It's happy because Callum survives, grows and learns to move on. It's not happy because so many people disappoint him and even betray him. The violence doesn't really go away, its in our society, but Callum learns to walk away and make a better life for himself while he heals from his horrific wounds.

I would definitely read more from this author.
3.5 stars out of 5

Library Sale! My Loot!

This weekend was my local library's spring book sale *joyful squeal* and I was sitting in the parking lot nearly a half hour before the doors opened. There is little better to a book addict than a book sale were all the hardcover books are $1 and every paperback is $.50 - can't go wrong with that!
I think I did very well and have some awesome books that were already on my To-Be-Read list and some books that I never heard of but looked interesting so I bought them. I bought over a dozen books and walked out spending less than $11.00!! *happy smile*

First up my YA loot!

"Hail Caesar" by Thu-Huong Ha (YA)

Synopsis: Caesar thinks he can't be touched by anything or anyone. Boys idolize him. Girls lust after him. And he has power over them, because he doesn't care about any of them . . . until the new girl comes along, and turns Caesar's world upside down.
A funny, honest, in-your-face portrait of a guy who has to learn to stop being a legend in his own mind.


"Unleashed" by Kristopher Reisz (YA)

Synopsis: A sexy teen novel about a boy who falls in love with a girl who can shapeshift into a werewolf.


"The Witch's Boy" by Michael Gruber (YA)

Synopsis: This critically acclaimed tale of a witch and her goblin-child is wholly original, and the legendary characters of old who touch their story — Cinderella, Rapunzel, Rumplestiltskin — are made new through Michael Gruber's imaginative lens. Gruber's literary voice is as magical as his imagination. With The Witch's Boy he has created a wondrous journey through the realms of magic.

"Stargazer" by Claudia Gray (YA) (2nd book in the series)

Synopsis: The vampire in me was closer to the surface . . .
Evernight Academy: an exclusive boarding school for the most beautiful, dangerous students of all—vampires. Bianca, born to two vampires, has always been told her destiny is to become one of them.
But Bianca fell in love with Lucas—a vampire hunter sworn to destroy her kind. They were torn apart when his true identity was revealed, forcing him to flee the school.
Although they may be separated, Bianca and Lucas will not give each other up. She will risk anything for the chance to see him again, even if it means coming face-to-face with the vampire hunters of Black Cross—or deceiving the powerful vampires of Evernight. Bianca's secrets will force her to live a life of lies.
Yet Bianca isn't the only one keeping secrets. When Evernight is attacked by an evil force that seems to target her, she discovers the truth she thought she knew is only the beginning. . . .


"Jude" by Kate Morgenroth (YA)

Synopsis: "Listen, you're young. We don't send kids to jail. If you had something to do with this, it's better to tell us. Then we can help you. Maybe it was a friend of yours come to take care of things for you. You've got a nasty bruise there, and your neighbors told us that you tend to get a lot of bruises. We take those things into account, you know. We understand about things like that."
"You don't understand anything," Jude said.

After Jude watches his drug-dealer father get gunned down at the kitchen table, he's taken from their dangerous neighborhood to a comfortable home, an elite private school, and a mother he doesn't remember. Only fifteen, Jude is under suspicion for his father's murder, but to save his own life, he can't tell the police what he knows.
To make things worse, Jude's mother is the district attorney. She can protect him from the police — but when Jude's classmate overdoses on heroin, Jude is implicated, and his mother decides to prosecute. Jude is determined to clear his name, though he doesn't know that mysteries from his past have yet to be revealed — secrets that will forever alter the course of his life.


"The Seer" by David Stahler Jr. (YA) (2nd in the series)

Synopsis: Young Jacob Manford grew up in Harmony, a blind boy raised in a colony of citizens dedicated to blindness as a way of life. Stricken with sight at thirteen, he escapes to the futuristic city of Melville, only to discover he has traded one hostile community for another.
Jacob's sight introduces him to a thrilling new world--vast landscapes, glittering skyscrapers, and flying machines--but he is unsure if he has finally found a place to belong. Will Jacob ever find what he is looking for?


**That's it for my YA books - of all of them "Jude" is the one that most interests me.**

"Must Love Hellhounds" fantasy fiction anthology with Charlaine Harris, Nalini Singh, IIona Andrews & Meljean Brook

Cover quote "Four All-new Tales of Devilish Dogs"

Synopsis: In these hound-eat-hound worlds, anything goes... and everything bites.

Follow paranormal bodyguards Clovache and Batanya into Lucifer's realm, where they encounter his fearsome four-legged pets, in Charlaine Harris's The Britlingens Go to Hell. Seek out a traitor in the midst of a guild of non- lethal vampire trackers, one that intends to eradicate the entire species of bloodsuckers, in Nalini Singh's Angels' Judgment. Find out why the giant three-headed dog that guards the gates of Hades has left the underworld for the real world-and whose scent he's following-in Ilona Andrews's Magic Mourns. Embark on a perilous search for the kidnapped niece of a powerful vampire alongside her blind- and damn sexy-companion and a hellhound in Meljean Brook's Blind Spot.
These four novellas by today's hottest paranormal authors will have hellhound lovers everywhere howling.


"Faefever" by Karen Marie Moning (fantasy fiction- 3rd book in the Fever series)

Synopsis:He calls me his Queen of the Night. I’d die for him. I’d kill for him, too. When MacKayla Lane receives a torn page from her dead sister’s journal, she is stunned by Alina’s desperate words. And now MacKayla knows that her sister’s killer is close. But evil is closer. And suddenly the sidhe-seer is on the hunt: For answers. For revenge. And for an ancient book of dark magic so evil, it corrupts anyone who touches it.
Mac’s quest for the Sinsar Dubh takes her into the mean, shape-shifting streets of Dublin, with a suspicious cop on her tail. Forced into a dangerous triangle of alliance with V’lane, an insatiable Fae prince of lethally erotic tastes, and Jericho Barrons, a man of primal desires and untold secrets, Mac is soon locked in a battle for her body, mind, and soul.
As All Hallows’ Eve approaches and the city descends into chaos, as a shocking truth about the Dark Book is uncovered, not even Mac can prevent a deadly race of immortals from shattering the walls between worlds – with devastating consequences...

"Blue-Eyed Devil" by Lisa Kleypas (Romance)

Synopsis: MEET THE BLUE-EYED DEVIL
His name is Hardy Cates. He’s a self-made millionaire who comes from the wrong side of the tracks. He’s made enemies in the rough-and-tumble ride to the top of Houston’s oil industry. He’s got hot blood in his veins. And vengeance on his mind.

MEET THE HEIRESS
She’s Haven Travis. Despite her family’s money, she refuses to set out on the path they’ve chosen for her. But when Haven marries a man her family disapproves of, her life is set on a new and dangerous course.

WATCH THE SPARKS FLY. . . .
Two years have gone by. Now Haven has come home. This time, she is determined to guard her heart. And Hardy Cates, a family enemy, is the last person she needs darkening her door—or setting her soul on fire.


"Somewhere I'll Find You" by Lisa Kleypas (Historical romance)

Synopsis:All London is at Julia Wentworth's feet—and anything she desires is hers for the asking. But the glamorous leading lady guards a shocking secret: a mystery husband whom she does not know, dares not mention ... and cannot love.
For years Damon Savage has been searching for the stranger his parents wed him to without his consent, hoping to legally free himself from matrimony's invisible chains. And he is astonished to discover his "bride" is none other than the exquisite lady he'd hoped to make his mistress! But though his wife by law, Julia will never truly be Damon's—until he conquers her fears, his formidable rivals ... and her proud, passionate, and independent heart.


Next I got THREE Tami Hoag books *happy dance*

"Prior Bad Acts" - Tami Hoag (fiction thriller)

Synopsis:It was a crime so brutal, it changed the lives of even the most hardened homicide cops. The Haas family murders left a scar on the community nothing can erase, but everyone agrees that convicting the killer, Karl Dahl, is a start. Only Judge Carey Moore seems to be standing in the way. Her ruling that Dahl’s prior criminal record is inadmissible raises a public outcry—and puts the judge in grave danger.
When an unknown assailant attacks Judge Moore in a parking garage, two of Minneapolis’s top cops are called upon to solve the crime and keep the judge from further harm. Detective Sam Kovac is as hard-boiled as they come, and his wisecracking partner, Nikki Liska, isn’t far behind. Neither one wants to be on this case, but when...


"The Alibi Man" by Tami Hoag (fiction thriller)

Synopsis: She was a vision. She was a siren. She was a nightmare. She was dead. Now he needed her to disappear. And he knew just how to make it happen. The Palm Beach elite go to great lengths to protect their own—and their own no longer includes Elena Estes. Once upon a time a child of wealth and privilege, Elena turned her back on that life. Betrayed and disillusioned by those closest to her, she chose the life of an undercover cop, the hunt for justice her own personal passion. Then a tragic, haunting mistake ended her career. Now Elena exists on the fringes of her old life, training horses for a living. But a shocking event is about to draw her back into the painful vortex she’s fought so hard to leave behind.


"Man of Her Dreams" by Tami Hoag (Romance)

Synopsis: him. Instead, she was crushed. After all her romantic fantasies, Ry’s proposal was missing one crucial element: love. But Maggie would prove to Ry that he had a heart—and then she’d use every teasing, tempting ounce of seductive power she had to capture it. The next time he proposed to her—and there would be a next time—common sense would be the last thing on his mind.
As far as Ry was concerned, solid partnerships made for lasting marriages—and that’s what he could have with Maggie. Of course he wanted her, as any man with eyes would want her. But he couldn’t love her…because he’d vowed never to fall in love again. Now it seemed that the only way to make her his wife was to use reverse psychology. He’d just retract his proposal—and pretend to be immune to her charms. He had no idea what a challenge that would turn out to be.


Next I bought "A Walk to Remember" by Nicolas Sparks because I love the movie - even though I know it has a sad ending and I almost NEVER EVER read a book that doesn't include a happily ever after ending. But for just fifty cents I couldn't pass it up.

And finally, I bought (for like the 3rd time) "Perfect" by Judith McNaught because its one of my ALL TIME VERY VERY FAVORITE romance books EVER. I have read and reread this book so many times- AND my bff's keep taking my copy so I can never find it. So once again, when I saw it sitting there on the table just begging me to buy it I couldn't stop myself! *grin*

"Perfect" by Judith McNaught (Romance)

Synopsis: A rootless foster child, Julie Mathison had blossomed under the love showered upon her by her adoptive family. Now a lovely and vivacious young woman, she was a respected teacher in her small Texas town, and she passionately lived her ideals. Julie was determined to give back all the kindness she'd received; nothing and no one would ever shatter the perfect life she had fashioned.
Zachary Benedict was an actor/director whose Academy Award-winning career had been shattered when he was wrongly convicted of murdering his wife. After the tall, ruggedly handsome Zack escaped from a Texas prison, he abducted Julie and forced her to drive him to his Colorado mountain hideout. She was outraged, cautious, and unable to ignore the instincts that whispered of his innocence. He was cynical, wary, and increasingly attracted to her. Passion was about to capture them both in its fierce embrace...but the journey to trust, true commitment, and proving Zack's innocence was just beginning....

*If you have never read this author you are MISSING OUT, she is a MASTER story teller. Three of her books make my top 10 reads of all time "Perfect", "Paradise" and "Whitney, My Love" - HIGHLY recommended. Great romance, steamy sex and phenomenal character development and plot! You won't want to put these books down, trust me!

What new books have you recently acquired?

Sex and Food Together??

It's my last day over on the island and today I am talking about SEX & FOOD TOGETHER!


Yes, when food becomes part of the sex act. Is is sexy? Kinky? Or just plain nasty?

You tell me! Join our sex and food discussion HERE.

Dick Discussion...

Hello everyone!!

I am still over on DIK and today I am talking about PENISES!!



Penises in books and slangs for penises (yummydoodles, sizzlesticks etc).

Stop over and join in the discussion share a book with a memorable penis and/or add some penis slangs to the discussion! Come on, you know you want to check it out! *grin*

Menstruation in fiction...TMI?

Have you come across menstruation in fiction books?

How about in paranormal or urban fantasy where vampires exist?

How was menstruation depicted??

Is it TMI for fiction?

That's what my post is about today over on DIK, if you're not too afraid stop by and share your thoughts.

Self Publishing...the future or a fizzle?

The wave of the future...self publishing?

I think so.

Barnes and Noble is climbing on the band wagon this summer with their own self publishing offer called "Pubit!". For more on that click HERE.

I recently read a wonderful post on self publishing that debunked many myths and showed the benefits to self publishing by Kait Nolan. Now I am not a writer, so I can't speak from experience about publishing in any form. But I am a control freak and when I look at some of the things publishers and editors do to authors (sometimes its like watching poodles jump through hoops) I have to say it would probably drive me nuts. I'm not talking about constructive criticism, I'm talking more about chopping up books because they are too long, or adding filler chapters because they are too short. Changing titles on the author even when the author strongly disagrees with the change. Let a story be a story! Don't "fix" what isn't broken. Trust the author, especially if they are already published and with a following.

Then there are the book covers. Do readers have a bigger book cover pet peeve than book cover art that has nothing to do with the characters in the book? The book is about a black woman and on the cover is a blond blue eyed white woman...the book is about a blond and the cover art has a red head on it. I read a Lora Leigh book a few months ago that I loved. The hero was a long haired biker hunk with a beard who wore worn out jeans and leather chaps all the time. The guy on the cover had a short military hair cut, totally clean shaven, dog tags around his neck and was wearing khakis! ACK! How much better would that cover had been if the artwork matched the hero in the story? It would have been swoon worthy (at least in my mind).

Trivial? To some maybe, but not to me. Stuff like that bugs the crap out of me. Like I've said before, I am a control freak. I am not a 'its my way or the highway' type, but I really do need to have strong input in my life and the work I do. That is ONE of the reasons why I think self publishing would be appealing to so many. I can't be the only control freak out there right? I imagine authors working for months or years on a book then having it accepted only to have it ripped apart, title changed and cover art that leaves much to be desired. How heartbreaking right?

Then there is the fact that people like Stephen King self published books. To me self publishing knocks out all the middle-men and leaves the author solely in charge and responsible for the success or failure of the work. While that may terrify some, I think it sounds wonderful.

What do you think about self publishing? Would you/have you self published or considered it? Do you read self published work? Do you think there is a future in it or will it fizzle out?

"Charlie St.Cloud" movie trailer

This looks so good!



There are so many movies I can't wait to see this summer...
"Eclipse"
"Beastly"
"Harry Potter & the Deathly Hallows"

What are you looking forward to seeing this summer?

"Beastly" by Alex Flinn

Title: Beastly
Author: Alex Flinn
Published: 2007
Genre: YA

Synopsis: I am a beast.
A beast. Not quite wolf or bear, gorilla or dog but a horrible new creature who walks upright—a creature with fangs and claws and hair springing from every pore. I am a monster.
You think I'm talking fairy tales? No way. The place is New York City. The time is now. It's no deformity, no disease. And I'll stay this way forever—ruined—unless I can break the spell.
Yes, the spell, the one the witch in my English class cast on me. Why did she turn me into a beast who hides by day and prowls by night? I'll tell you. I'll tell you how I used to be Kyle Kingsbury, the guy you wished you were, with money, perfect looks, and the perfect life. And then, I'll tell you how I became perfectly . . . beastly.

In a word: Delightful

I went to the library yesterday and one of the books I came home with was "Beastly" by Alex Flinn. Ever since I saw the movie trailers for this story I have been wanting to read it - Beauty and the Beast type fairy tales are my very favorites. Yesterday afternoon I sat down and began reading "Beastly" and didn't put it down until I had finished it cover to cover last night- it was that good!

Kyle is the hero who starts off an arrogant, self centered, cruel snob. He takes pleasure is putting people down and rejoicing in his belief that he is superior to everyone around him. He thinks that way because it's how his father raised him after his mother abandoned them. Kyle's father is rich and has connections, but most of all Kyle and his father are beautiful people - flawless on the outside.

One day a witch confronts Kyle and when Kyle proves to be as horrid as the witch believes him to be she curses him. She makes him as ugly on the outside as he is on the inside and gives him only two years to not only truly fall in love with someone but also to have that person love him back - seeing passed his beastly form to the person Kyle is inside.

It's a hard lesson for Kyle, but slowly he begins to see what a truly awful person he was. He's shocked at how much he missed in life when he thought he knew it all and had it all. He had nothing. It was a shallow superficial life until he became the beast.

As the beast he began truly seeing other people, contemplating what their lives might be like - something he never thought about before. As the beast he learned to look beyond the surface of people and he learned how to be a friend and have a friend for the very first time in his life. And most of all, he fell in love and was loved for the first time in his life.

5 stars out of 5 stars. Superb! Loved it!

Here's the movie trailer for "Beastly"...

"I heart you, You haunt me" by Lisa Schroeder

Title: I heart you, You haunt me
Author: Lisa Schroeder
Published: 2008
Genre: YA
Pages: 226

Synopsis: Girl meets boy.

Girl loses boy.

Girl gets boy back...

...sort of.

"Ava can't see him or touch him, unless she's dreaming. She can't hear his voice, except for the faint whispers in her mind. Most would think she'scrazy, but she knows he's here.
Jackson. The boy Ava thought she'd spend the rest of her life with. He's back from the dead, as proof that love truly knows no bounds."

In a word: Bittersweet

This is a verse novel and I don't like verse novels, but this one... this one touched me with laughter, tears, triumph, love and the enduring will to overcome and move on after tragedy. Superb YA verse novel.

Ave is a fifteen year old girl suffering from the tragic death of her beloved boyfriend Jackson. She simply adored him and he adored her. She calls Jackson "the star in her world" that made her "world brighter" (page 207).

When Jackson is gone all Ava wants is to have Jackson back...and she gets him back, sort of. He's there, he lets her know he's there in assorted ways. He turns on the radio, he opens and closes cabinet doors, he tosses her clothes around her room and best off all he almost touches her with his cool intense presence that she can feel. Even Ava's mother begins to smell the sent that was distinctly Jacksons.

Ava at first is thrilled to have Jackson back, he's a comfort to her as much as the thought of a 'ghost' disturbs her. She has to keep it a secret or everyone will think she's crazy. As it is everyone walks on eggshells around her because she is so depressed and devastated by the loss of Jackson that no one can reach her in her deep despair.

What Ava needs is to let go, but she doesn't know how to let go of Jackson and Jackson won't leave Ava until he's sure she is OK and ready to move on.

I really loved this book, even when I was crying reading it. If you like a bittersweet first love story and don't mind a verse novel, this is a must read.

4 stars out of 5 stars.

What the hell is he doing??

LOL!

Book Giveaway Winner!

This weeks From My Shelf to Yours 4 print giveaway has concluded and we've got a winner!!



The 4 STEAMY EROTIC print books up for grabs:

"Blush" by Opal Carew
"Blackmailed"by Annmarie McKenna
"Marly's Choice" by Lora Leigh
"Virtual Reality" by Joey W. Hill

And our winner is.................



CECILE!!!!!!!!!


Congrats Cecile!!


Enjoy!


I've got a new giveaway already planned for next week- lots of books from my shelf to share with other book lovers out there so if you'd like a shot at winning some free print books stop back again!!

Thanks everyone for following my blog and participating in the giveaways! (((hugs)))

Gyrating little girls too sexy?

Have you seen or voiced an opinion on the lastest uproar compliments of Youtube video clips on the Dance Precisions Dance Studio of Orange Country, California performed at World of Dance Pomona 2010?

This is a group of 8 and 9 year old girls gyrating to "All the Single Ladies" in a world dance competition.




What do I think? I've got mixed feelings. First I think they did a teriffic job and of course I love the song. I'm not a fan of the gyrating hips & pelvic thrusts - too sexual for children in my opinion. If they cut back a bit on that, I'd given em a thumbs up! The costumes...don't bother me at all. I took dancing for years and so did my daughters, it's all part of the competition and talent shows that go with dancing.

So what do you think? Too slutty for little girls or just fun at a dance competition?

My Friday Post...

Happy Friday everyone! I've got a mishmash of things today.

First, the latest My Shelf to Yours book giveaway ends today, so anyone who hasn't left a comment and wants a chance at winning 4 erotic print books you've still got a few hours to toss your name in the mix. Remember this is for U.S & Canadian FOLLOWERS of my blog. Several people left comments to win, but they are not followers so they have been disqualified from the giveaway. I will and do check, so please don't bother leaving a comment if you are not a follower. Good luck to my followers, I've already got another giveaway planned for next week!

Next some love for those sexy boys!
I love those Supernatural boys...*sigh*

While this season hasn't been my favorite of all the Supernatural seasons, it still never failed to capture me and make me want more. Well done boys, well done.

And WOW to Vampire Diaries, the best new show of the 2009/2010 season. While I simply could not get into the book series, the show has become my newest crack. I am so hooked...probably because of Ian Somerhalder but hey, who could blame me for that?! I really would love to see Damon with Elena. What a season final! I loved it! This will be a MUST BUY DVD when its released, I simply have to rewatch it.
Here's some Damon & Elena love...




Fans of the canceled "Moonlight" with Alex O'Loughlin as vampire Mick St.John have something to cheer about. Besides "Moonlight" playing weekly on the SyFy Channel, Moonlight has not been picked up by the CW and will airing on Thursday nights (along with repeats of Vampire Diaries) while we wait for next season of Vampire Diaries and Supernatural to reappear.

And a shout out to Kait Nolan who wrote a terrific post about self publishing. Anyone who has any sort of opinion one way or the other on this topic might find what she has to say very interesting, I sure did. So check out her website and her post on self publishing.

"Nut Cream" by Jade Buchanan

Title: Nut Cream
Author: Jade Buchanan
Genre: m/m romance

Ebook gift from Kris

Synopsis: Toby Madison is coming into his mating phase, and is leaking pheromones all over the place. He is about to find out what happens to bad little wolves, in the best possible way. Cliff Bullen is more than ready to place his mark on the man he has always wanted as his mate - with a little help from a bottle of nut cream.

Warning, this title contains the following: explicit male/male sex and graphic language.

I really had no intention of reading this book when I created my WTF Wednesday post yesterday, not because of the funny title or the amusing product description on Amazon.com, but because it's an ebook and I don't have an ereader that I like. But this was a short ebook and a gift from Kris (who couldn't resist sending me a copy of "Nut Cream" as soon as she saw my post up! Perv!- (((hugs))) thanks Kris)

I liked the story! Toby is a twenty six year old half human, half werewolf who is coming into sexual maturity. Werewolves have two puberty phases they go through, one as a typical teen human boy would, and another as a werewolf when they are in their early twenties. This is when they hit werewolf sexual maturity and begin looking for their mates.

Toby being half human (thanks to a full werewolf father and a human mother) doesn't know what to expect as his body doesn't seem to follow all the rules because of his human side. He has no idea that Cliff is his mate, he just thinks he has a huge manlove crush on Cliff. Poor Toby doesn't even know if Cliff is gay or not. Cliff is best friends with Toby's brother so he is always around the house and can't be easily avoided. Toby tries to avoid Cliff because every time he gets near him, Toby's body goes 'nuts' (hehehe) with desire.

Cliff can scent Toby's desire of him and Cliff wants Toby just as much but he takes things slowly- he tries to take things slowly to allow Toby time to adjust to the changes in his body, the fact that Cliff is not just some man-crush but is indeed his mate (something Toby still hasn't figured out) and letting family know that these two are hot for each other (anyone with a werewolf nose already knows this, but Toby with his rather human nose doesn't scent what's in the air).

Finally things get hot and Cliff makes Toby's sex fantasy come true when he goes down on Toby and fondles him to completion. Toby is thrilled and eager for more, but there is no lube! Damn, where's the lube when you need it? When you don't have lube...some nut cream will do! There's the nut cream in the bottle and the nut cream that is the product of Cliff's masterful love making to Toby's eager body.

I enjoyed this very short (took like 20 minutes to read) m/m romance - wish it was longer.

3.5 stars out of 5 stars.

Thanks again Kris!

***M/M Romance Reading Challenge***

WTF Wednesday: Nut Cream

LOL
Some book titles and blurbs just make you say WHAT THE FUCK?

This is one of those...

Title: Nut Cream
Author: Jade Buchanan

Blurb...

(from Amazon.com)
Two men and a bottle of nut cream ...

A Midsummer Night-s Steam story.

Nut [nuht] noun, verb.
1. A dry fruit consisting of an edible kernel or meat enclosed in a woody or leathery shell.
2. Slang, Vulgar - a testis.

Cream [kreem] noun.
1. A soft solid or thick liquid containing medicaments or other specific ingredients, applied externally for a therapeutic, or cosmetic purpose.
2. Slang, Vulgar - to have an orgasm.

Toby Madison is coming into his mating phase, and is leaking pheromones all over the place. He is about to find out what happens to bad little wolves, in the best possible way. Cliff Bullen is more than ready to place his mark on the man he has always wanted as his mate - with a little help from a bottle of nut cream.

Warning, this title contains the following: explicit male/male sex and graphic language. {gee ya think??} hehehe...

"The Fulfillment" by LaVyrle Spencer

Title: The Fulfillment
Author: LaVyrle Spencer
Published: 1979
Genre: Historical Romance

Synopsis: To Jonathan Gray, Mary is his loving wife of seven years. To his younger brother Aaron, she is a beloved friend--until the tumultuous weekend when she awakens in Aaron's arms. Mary embraces the infidelity that can bring her the child she has longed for, the child her husband begged Aaron to give her.


This is a re-read for me. I am a huge LaVyrle Spencer fan and her books have held the top spots on my keepers shelf since about 1980 when I first discovered her!

I adore this romance story because it is bittersweet yet romantic and full of sexual tension. Mary and Jonathan have been married for seven years and live on the farm land Jonathan's parents left to him and his brother Aaron. Aaron lives with them and helps Jonathan work the land because the size of the farm is simply too big for one man to handle and because the brothers and Mary are very close.

When the boys were young they had the mumps. Jonathan's mumps were much worse and had spread to his genitals making him unable to father children (which Mary and Jonathan figured out years after they were married when no child was produced from their marriage). Mary desperately wanted a baby of her own, but even she didn't want one as badly as Jonathan.

Jonathan's first love was the land and building the farm with the idea of making it a huge success to leave to a son. A son he could not have. After months of contemplation Jonathan cooks up a plan to ask Mary and Aaron to have sex so that Mary and Jonathan could have a child of their own by the only man Jonathan loved as much as his own wife: his brother.

Mary and Aaron were very best friends. They had an easy going relationship and close bond but they never looked at each other sexually at all. They were hurt and angry at Jonathan's suggestion. It caused a rift between all of them and lots of tension in the house. But it also planted a seed in all their minds and Aaron and Mary began to look at each other differently. Mary was looking at Aaron as a nice looking, strong male. Aaron was looking at Mary as a beautiful, sweet and very desirable woman.

This new sexual awareness was destroying the easy going friendship they had for years and both of them were angry with Jonathan for driving this wedge between their entire family. But once the seed was planted, neither Mary nor Aaron could go back to not seeing each other with new eyes. As much as they tried, they avoided each other, they worked till exhaustion, Aaron tried pursuing another woman...but it was each other that kept their interest. When Aaron closed his eyes he saw Mary.

I won't go into any spoilers, but to say this was a wonderfully bittersweet romance full of sexual tension and love. A deep, bonding love that endures all the heartache or mistakes to come out on top, stronger than ever.

4.5 stars out of 5 stars.


Final Comment: This is the only book I've ever read that the 'infidelity' works. It wasn't "cheating" in a way because it was proposed by the husband and set up with his blessing for the purpose of a much desired child that a couple couldn't' have on their own. It was a bit like a surrogate mother today would do for another woman who couldn't carry a child. The story "The Fulfillment" is a historical romance, so being artificially inseminated was not an option. This family did what they could at the time, for the love of a child they didn't have but wanted.

I re-read this book for the following reading challenges (for more info see my right sidebar):

***Re-read Challenge 2010***

***The Romance Reading Challenge 2010*** (Naida)

***Romance Challenge 2010*** (The Royal Reviewers)

From My Shelf to Yours Book Giveaway!!

I've got a new "From My Shelf to Yours" book giveaway this week for all U.S. and Canadian followers of my blog!

This weeks books are by some of my very favorite authors: Lora Leigh, Joey W. Hill, Opal Carew and Annmarie McKenna!!



This week I am giving away four printed STEAMY EROTIC books!



Title: Blush
Author: Opal Carew
Genre: Erotica

Synopsis: Kama Sutra, Tantra, Ménage…are you ready to blush?

Hanna Lane wishes she could shed her inhibitions and unleash her wild side in the bedroom. When she meets J. M.--a Kama Sutra and Tantra master--they embark on a sizzling path of discovery, exploring the ancient sensual arts and discovering new techniques that allow Hanna to unlock her naughtiest fantasies and make them a red-hot reality. But when Hanna’s exboyfriend Grey re-enters her life determined to win her back, Hanna longs to share herself with both men. But can she tell J.M. and Grey her most taboo fantasy? And who will win her for keeps?




Title: Blackmailed
Author: Annmarie McKenna
Genre: Erotica/Menage a trois

Synopsis: Brianna Wyatt may be a victim of her father's machinations, but one look is all it takes for Cole Masters and Tyler Cannon to offer her their own style of menage a trois blackmail. Brianna Wyatt's father is blackmailing her into doing what he wants by threatening to send her brother to an institution. She would do anything to keep that from happening, including go along with his demented scheme of her getting pregnant by Cole Masters--a man who's been rumored to share a woman with his best friend, and who leaves Brianna's innocent senses in shambles. Cole is sure he's about to be blackmailed-why else would a man whore his daughter? But there's something about her that neither Cole nor his best friend, Tyler Cannon, can deny. They want her, and don't hesitate for a second on making their own offer. Her brother's protection for her body. When danger flirts with Brianna's life, there is nothing they won't do to keep her safe. Including listening to what their hearts are saying.
**Warning: this title contains graphic language, hot, explicit sex, bondage, domination/submission and minage a trois and is not for the faint of heart!



Title: Marly's Choice
Author: Lora Leigh
Genre: Erotica

Synopnsis: Marly's love for Cade has spanned her teenage years, and survived strong and intact into womanhood. Her fantasies and daydreams have sustained her, but she's no longer content with merely imagining the touch of his hands, the taste of his kiss. It's time to seduce the tough, sexy cowboy.
She's heard the rumors for years, the tales of his sexual preferences. She's prepared herself to accept his desires. Prepared her body for his touch. But she wasn't prepared for the choice to come...
Cade's dark desires, his sexual excesses are based in the past. In a time when pain, shame, and blood stains his very soul. He carries a secret shared only with his brothers. A secret that has scarred the bond, the ability to be a brother or to accept the love of the men he was raised with. He knows the only way to prove his loyalty, his love for those brothers and Marly will be the key.
She has a choice. She can surrender to Cade's needs, his soul deep desires, or she can walk away. A choice only Marly can make. A choice that will change her life forever.



Title: Virtual Reality
Author: Joey W. Hill
Genre: Erotica

Synopsis: Mark is a reclusive Dominant who confines his sexual interests strictly to the online world. On his routine afternoon ferry ride, he meets a woman who rouses the Master in him, and the line snaps between the virtual and real worlds. She begs for him to take her over, and bring them both fulfillment and healing. He wants to refuse her but he finds himself agreeing to spend one day with her. It is a mistake, because the anger he holds inside is fully capable of destroying a soul as rare and beautiful as Nicole's. But no Master, not even one as strong and disciplined as Mark, can resist the offer of a submissive who wants only one thing-to be his forever.


That's it for this weeks book giveaway. This giveaway is open to ALL U.S & CANADIAN FOLLOWERS of my blog. ONE winner will take them all!! Please leave an email address in the comments if you wish to enter. This giveaway will close at noon EST on Friday, May 14, 2010.

Good luck!!!