Sunday, August 31, 2008

"King of Sword and Sky"

Synopis from Back of the Cover:

The magical tairen were dying, and none but the Fey King's bride could save them. Rain had defied the nobles of Celieria to claim her, battled demons and Elden mages to wed her. Now, with magic, steel, and scorching flame, he would risk everything to protect his kingdom, help his truemate embrace her magic and forge the unbreakable bond that alone could save her soul.






Though I have not yet read the previous two books in this amazing fantasy series, I can confidently tell you that anyone who has not read this series is missing out!

When I found out that I had managed to snag an ARC copy of King of Sword and Sky from LT's Early Review program, I tried to find the first two books at my local library, hoping to read them before this one arrived so that I would not be lost. Sadly, my library only had one of them, Lord of the Fading Lands, and someone had it checked out for the next month. Even though I picked up King of Sword and Sky with no prior knowledge of the series or the fantasy world that it envolved, I was only 'lost' a few times in the story, and even then it was only briefly and it did not damage the over all enjoyment of the book. I do plan on going back to read the first two books as soon as I can, but I have to say that even though this was written as a series, this book could almost be a stand alone, though I am sure that if you read them all in order you will triple your enjoyment of the captivating series.

King of Sword and Sky is an amazing combination of romance and fantasy, magic and passion, adventure and mystery. It's not just fantasy, it's not just romance, but it's a perfect mix of all of that, and so much more. The love is sweet and tender, the characters are interesting and funny, strong when they need to be, and the sex is pretty intense too! As bestselling paranormal romance author Christine Feehan is quoted to have said about this book: "A brillant, sensual must read." ***Please NOTE, again, that those are not my words--- they belong to C.F. and are written on the front of the ARC cover!****

From page one, heck, from book one, you are drawn straight into this mystical world of fantasy and love, strength and evil, and you won't be able to put it down until the very end! I had heard that this was suppose to be the last book, but the ending seems... lacking, like there is suppose to be more books to come. Perhapes there is and I simply misunderstood, which is entirely possible since I am new to this compelling series. Even if this was suppose to be the last one for sure, the ending is still wrapped up nicely, so you will not be left asking 'Wait, but what about...'. But I do hope that C.L. Wilson writes more after this, because I can honestly say that I am now hooked!

4.5/5 STARS! A brillant story, a spectacular series, worthy of awards and many re-reads. A definite must read for any fantasy fan, romance fan, or just plain book lover. Prepare to be sucked into the world of the Tarien Soul series...you just might want to stay there and never leave!

~TBQ~

Friday, August 29, 2008

"The Secret Circle Volume I" Is a Magical Success!

Synopis from B&N.com:

The circle's power has lured her home

Forced to move from sunny California to gloomy New England, Cassie longs for her old life. Even so, she feels a strange kinship to a terrifying group of teens who seem to rule her school. Initiated into the coven of witches that's controlled New Salem for hundreds of years, she's drawn into the Secret Circle, a thrill that's both intoxicating and deadly. But when she falls for the mysterious and intriguing Adam, Cassie must choose whether to resist temptation or risk dark forces to get what she wants—even if it means that one wrong move could ultimately destroy her.



Though her previous novels have revolved mainly around vampires, werewolves and all the other paranormal creatures of the night, The Secret Circle focuses just on the witches. But don't let that get you down-- it's still just as amazing as all of her other books, and I promise that any teen fantasy fan, especially L.J. Smith fans, will love this captivating tale of romance, betrayal, magic and danger. NOTE: This is the first two books in the series, originally released seperately in the mid-to-late '80s, reprinted together for the first time. The next two in the series, also out of print and being re-released two-books-in-one will be released soon.

Who wouldn't want to read a book filled with love and mystery, adventure and magic, friendship and betrayal? It has everything you could possibly want! *Well, okay, so maybe adding in werewolves and/or vampires and hot Highlanders would make it slightly better, if possible, but that's probably just my preferences... :) *

Just like with her other books, the thing I loved about The Secret Cirlce was the way that L.J. Smith writes-- with beautiful descriptions that make you feel like you really are there in the story, in this amazing fantasy world that she's weaved together. And the story line! Very interesting... By the end of the book, you're still not sure if Faye is as evil as she acts and sounds or if there really is some good in here. Is it the Darkness that was accidently released from the crystal skull that is causing all the mayhem and death in New Salem, is it another witch *Faye, possibly?* or is it something else.....or someone else? She leaves you wondering, haning on till the very end, and then letting you drop of, making you wait for the next book. And while you are upset that you won't know what happens next for a few months, it's a good upset-- it's not the 'Wow, I hated that book/ending/characters and if I read the next one it will only be so I can see if it gets better' kind of hate, it's more like the 'Wait, but what happens next?! What do you mean I have to wait!?' kind of hate.

5/5 STARS! For the perfect fantasy/romance read, especially if you've finished Breaking Dawn and you are wondering 'What do I read now?!', I highly suggestion that you go out to the bookstore and pick up The Secret Circle, along with all of L.J. Smith's other books. I promise, you will not regret it!

~TBQ~

Sunday, August 24, 2008

"Evernight" Bites... In a Good Way!

Synopis from B&N.com:

Bianca must attend Evernight Academy when her parents take jobs as teachers there. Evernight is a school that has been strictly for vampires in the past, but now also admits humans. After her small town upbringing, it is hard for Bianca to make the transition to a school where most of the other students are rich, beautiful and snobby. She falls for Lucas, a student who, like her, is a social outsider, and he becomes her boyfriend. Suprising events unfold, and Bianca must decide who she wants to be
















I've heard a couple of reviewers say that they did not enjoy Evernight as much as they thought they would simply because the author withheld information from the reader until later in the story. This is a stupid reason to dislike a book, especially one as wonderfully written as this one. Yes, she did choose not to tell us that the main character was a vampire until almost a fourth or more of the way through the book, but if you read the book, I believe you will agree wtih me when I say that choosing not to tell us at the very beginning actually made this book better, making it stand out from all the other vampire books that are popping up left and right *Not that this is a necessarily a bad thing, since I have read most of all the new vampire books and enjoyed almost all of them*.



By 'misleading' us, not telling us at first that she is a vampire, the story was more interesting, capturing your attention and holding it longer because you did not know where, exactly, the story was going to next. It was almost like a good mystery novel, twisting and turning, always keeping you on your feet. You find yourself asking 'Can we trust this character?' or 'What will this person do next'. Personally, if you find yourself asking these questions, wanting, no, needing to find the answer, feverishly flipping page after page, devouring the book not only for the answers but for pure enjoyment too, then the author must be on the right track. Not everyone wants a book where the plot line and characters' stories and pasts are practically spelled out for you from the first page, that's just boring. But when the author leads up to that point, like bread crumbs to lead the way to the end, each one telling you a little bit more, hinting towards what is next *or so you think...* then the story is much more compelling.



I loved the new twist on vampires in Evernight. Gray added something new to the story, making it fresh and captivating, making the reader hang onto the every word, every chapter, until the end of the story, when they find that they NEED to have the next book, they HAVE to find out what happens next. Always a good sign, in my opinion.



The love story between Lucas and Bianca is very sweet, yet very passionate. The desire between the two is handled brillantly, making it interesting and tempting, but not making it sound cheap. Sometimes a very hard thing to do, especially when writting for a YA audience, but Gray pulled it off perfectly. The kiss scenes are to die for... maybe literally? *Small joke..you know, vampires..to die for? NVM...*



I would definitely recommend this book to any fantasy/romance lover, especially if they fell in love with Bella and Edward's love story *Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that this book lives up to Twilight's amazing-ness completely, but I think it would make Twilight 'proud', if that makes sense....* Evernight is a great vampire story, filled with betrayal and love, action and mystery, and I promise, you will find yourself picking this book up again and again, waiting, anxiously, for the next book in this fantastic series.



5/5 STARS! To sum it up in one word: Perfect.

~TBQ~

Tuesday, August 19, 2008

"Taken by Storm" , "Prey", and a Contest!

Okay, sorry that I do not have the time to write a full review for the two books I finished today, but I figured I'd at least post them and how many stars they get. I may come back at a later day to write a review for them, but if not...Well, you're just have to trust my rating, won't you? I read Taken by Storm by Donna Fletcher. Great historical romance, set in Scotland. It's filled with adventure and passion, love and laughs. 4.5/5 STARS! The other one was a teen fiction novel by one of my favorite authors, Lurlen McDaniel, Prey. It was different from what she's written before, and the story line (A female teacher seducing a 15 year old male student, they get it on and 'fall in love' with each other, or so they say) was just.. wrong. However, she wrote it nicely, like always, and I will admit that the story line, though nasty, is very true more often than we'd like to admit.... 4/5 STARS! One more thing before I go. There is a contest going on for 50 copies of Joy Nash’s Immortals: The Crossing. The series is amazing, written by more than just one author, and I'm excited to see what Joy Nash's book, the next in the series, will be like-- probably just as amazing as the others, I'm sure. So if you'd like to enter, click on the link below and leave a comment! http://aliveontheshelves.blogspot.com/2008/08/50-days-50-books-50-chances-to-win.html Until next time.... ~TBQ~

Monday, August 18, 2008

"My Shadow Warrior"

Synopis from B&N.com:
Acclaimed author Jen Holling presents the stunning final novel in her sensual trilogy, set against the windswept hills of Scotland, about a trio of sisters with witchcraft -- and passion -- in their blood.
Rose, the youngest of the MacDonell sisters, is more concerned with her father's mysterious illness than with her impending marriage to her childhood sweetheart. A gifted but frustrated healer, she decides to beg help from William MacKay -- a reclusive laird who is renowned not only for his ferocity, but also for his healing powers. Denied entry to his fortress in the cold, harsh mountains of the far northwestern highlands, Rose uses cunning to force her way in, and William is duly intrigued with this bold slip of a girl. But securing his help may not be enough to save Rose's father. For there is something darker at work in the glen, something more powerful than William's and Rose's magic combined, and only the soul-deep passion that shadows their mutual desire can help their love prevail.
I had high hopes for My Shadow Warrior when I picked it up...And in the end, I wasn't too disappointed. True, it wasn't my favorite book, but it was still pretty good. The story line was perfect-- a historical romance set in Scotland, but with a slight paranormal twist. I love paranormal romances, so when an author is able to weave together both historical and paranormal, I'm very happy. Holling was able to do that in My Shadow Warrior, but I felt like, at times, she wasn't quite reaching it's full potential. Especially in the passion department.
I think that is my only complaint, really. There was amble opportunity to take the love scenes and turn up the heat, not in a straight-forward erotic way, but in a combination of love and lust, both of which the hero and heroine had plenty of. In fact, through out the whole book, the H/H only had one sexual encounter, and it was pretty tame, over in only a few pages and not filled with a whole lot of conversation *Which, depending on the story and the author's writing, can be just as erotic as the actual sex* or, well, sex. I felt disappointed, because even though the main point of a romance book is the romance, the love and connection, I think that, in a way, the intimate connection they share is also important. If she [Jen Holling] had only added a tad bit more passion to Will and Rose's story, I probably would have gave it a perfect rating.
The healing/magic subplot was brillantly done, and I will probably go back to read her previous books about Rose's sisters. Jen may not write very 'hot' romance, as in the love scenes, but she does write a great historical/paranormal romance, set in Scotland, no less, which is one my favorite backdrops for books.
4.5/5 STARS! My Shadow Warrior is a perfect combination of a lush Scotland setting with a paranormal twist. The story is filled with magic and mystery, love and danger, connection and even a few laughs. A great story, though a bit lacking in heat. Still, this is a book I would recommend to any romance fan.
~TBQ~

Saturday, August 16, 2008

"Feast of Fools"

SYNOPIS from B&N.com:

The wait is over. dig into the feast...In the town of Morganville, vampires and humans live in relative peace. Student Claire Danvers has never been convinced, though—especially with the arrival of Mr. Bishop, an ancient, old-school vampire who cares nothing about harmony. What he wants from the town's living and its dead is unthinkably sinister. It's only at a formal ball, attended by vampires and their human dates, that Claire realizes the elaborately evil trap he's set for Morganville.



The fourth book in Caine's captivating new teen fantasy series, Feast of Fools shows a new twist on vampires...along with a good dose of mystery and love.

From the very start of the series, I've been hooked. True, there were times, especially in the first book, when I felt like the story was moving a little bit slow. But it quickly picked up, twisted and turned many times, all the while still holding my interest, making me want to read the next book in order to find out what's going to happen to Claire and her friends.. especially Shane. I'm a sucker for romance, and the one brewing between Claire and Shane is both heart-warmingly tender and very passionate, a great combination, which Caine is able to weave togethre without making the love subplot innocent and boring or slutty and cheap. Sometimes a very hard thing to do, especially in a book written about teens and aimed towards a teenage audience *Though I would recommend these books to any vampire fiction lover..or book lover in general, no matter the age or gender.*

Though the story line and writting is different from the countless other vampire books I've read, especially one of my all-time favorites, the infamous Twilight, I still have it listed as one of my favorite because it's different, but in a good way.

It's interesting in it's own way, grabbing my attention and not letting go until the end of the book--and even then, I'm waiting, craving the next installment, the next chapter in Claire's difficult life. It's not easy living in a college town that happens to be run by vampires...dozens of them, in fact, and not all of them are good and innocent...

I love how Caine is able to twist the story so many times, always keeping you on the edge of you seat, making you believe that you know what is going to happen next-- but wait! Everything's changing...., without slowing down the over-all flow of the story line or, more importantly, confusing the reader. Everytime you flip the page, you'll find yourself being pulled in deeper and deeper into the world of Morganville, Texas, realizing that nothing is as it seems, and maybe, just maybe, the only people you can trust are the people you live with...Then again, maybe not.... I love when an author is able to do that to the reader, pull them in until everything seems real, and you find yourself sighing with pleasure as the hero and heroine share a passionate kiss, or running, breathless and exhausted, away from a dangerous killer. Morganville Vampires provides all of that and so much more!

5/5 Stars! Feast of Fools is a perfect combination of fantasy and real life, love and mystery, danger and adventure. A great book, a definite 'must-read' for any vampire fan, especially true Twilight fans.

~TBQ~

"The Perfect Wife" Provides the Perfect Romantic Read!

Synopis from B&N.com:

The perfect wife should be beautiful, trusting, and absolutely agreeable—or so the Earl of Wyldewood thought. But in New York Times bestselling author Victoria Alexander's intriguing tale, he finds that marriage is about more than mere appearances . . .

When the Earl of Wyldewood meets Sabrina Winfield, he thinks he's found the ideal match. Graceful and genteel, the elegant blonde will look simply exquisite displayed on his arm. And a lady like Sabrina will undoubtedly occupy her time with proper matters, leaving him free to pursue his own pleasures . . .

But beneath Sabrina's delicate beauty lies the most infuriatingly stubborn, wildly adventurous woman the earl has ever met. She's nothing like the perfect wife he had imagined. And before long, all he can think of is quieting her biting wit (with his kisses), putting an end to her outlandish schemes (with his own carefully planned seduction), and doing everything in his power to become the perfect husband.



First off, I love Victoria Alexander's writting-- she is an amazing historical romance author, providing both wit and love, steamy passion and mystery, and a good plot line and characters. What more can you possibly ask for?!

The Perfect Wife started off a little bit slow, but quickly gained speed. It was different, as far as my reading preferences go, because the hero and heroine were both parents, widowed, and they were in their thrities already. Usually the heroine is younger, maybe 26, and the hero is anywhere from her age on up to mid 30's. I'm not really complaining, however, because as I read the story, I felt that they really matched, and they truly did love each other.

Set in the back drop of England, but quickly moving to the open sea and Egypt, The Perfect Wife was captivating and interesting. Not only is it a great love story *With some great love scenes, I might add!* but V.A. has managed to also give us a nice subplot, the theme of danger and adventure, burried treasure and secret pasts...

I also liked how she was able to so deftly weave together not only Nicholas and Sabrina's love story, but also Erik and Belinda's and even some of Matt and Nic's sister *I'm so sorry, I can't remember her first name right now!!*. I found it a nice mix, and I didn't feel that it was confusing or took depth away from any of the relationships, like you would expect from such a detailed character plot.

4.5/5 STARS! The Perfect Wife is a great example of historical romance at it's best-- steamy, yet innocent, true love and exotic mysteries... And more than few reformed rakes... Because every woman knows---A reformed rake makes the best husband! ;)

~TBQ~

Friday, August 15, 2008

"The Naked Earl" is a Light and Romantic Read

Synopis from B&N.com:
He Took Her By Surprise
When a naked earl climbs through the window into her bedchamber, Lady Elizabeth Runyon does the proper thing: She screams. Loudly. And then…well, Lizzie has had enough of being proper. She wishes to be bold. Wanton, even. She won’t be commanded to put on her nightgown. Just this once, she will be absolutely daring... She Returned The Favor Robert Hamilton, Earl of Westbrooke, has no intention of being tricked into marriage by a detestable female, and if he has to flee naked across a rooftop, he will. Jolly good there’s an open window waiting--as well as an undressed, slightly drunk, and alluringly beautiful Lady Elizabeth. Oh dear. If they are caught together, he might have to marry her. The idea is delicious -- and the temptation is irresistible... Though I would not call MacKenzie's books my favorite, they are rated fairly high on my over all list *4/5 stars*. Her books are written with more of a light, comical side than most romance novels that I read, but I have still found them to be surprisingly good reads. Yes, parts of the books have annoyed me at times, whether it's a certain character *COUGH, Felicity, COUGH* or the plot line during a certain part, but it's no where near as bad as some other books I've read. I will definitely read the others in her series (The first book, The Naked Duke, and the last one in the series, The Naked Gentleman) because I think they are respectable reads and they do provide a few laughs, which is always a plus. They may not be the best books I've ever read, but I would still recommend them to other readers, though not at the top of my recommendation list. I will probably re-read them, when/if I get the chance/time. 4/5 STARS! A nice story filled with scandal and laughs, love and schemes, The Naked Earl is a great book to pick up when you want a historical romance with a lighter, fluffier side. ****Sorry for such a short review, but I am very busy right now and the fact that I even have time to write this review at all is a miracle! I promise, the next one will be longer! ~TBQ~

Thursday, August 14, 2008

"The Naked Marquis" is Funny and Romantic

Synopis from B&N.com
The Man Is Practical
As marriage proposals go, Charles Draysmith’s suit is as romantic as the moors in December. Emma Peterson might be only a vicar’s daughter, and he the new Marquis of Knightsdale, and perhaps he would rather marry her than endure the marriage mart. But when he suggests how much he’ll enjoy securing an heir, well, a lady can only endure so much.
But The Lady Is Passionate
There’s something about a woman throwing pottery at a man that piques his interest. Perhaps his proposal lacks grace, Charles thinks. But it does seem a perfect solution. He acquires a wife; his young charges have the mother they so desperately need, and Emma gains security and position. You see? Simple. Practical. Sensib -- oh no, not the ceramic dog... He will have to confess the truth to calm her down. And the truth is, he’s madly in love...
Though I was a little hesitant when I first picked up The Naked Marquis, after a few chapters, I was pleasantly surprised that I was actually enjoying it. After reading excerpts and summaries about Sally MacKenzie's series, it seemed like the books were more on the comical side of romance--something I do not usually go for. But I felt that MacKenzie was able to combine comedy and romance together very nicely, promting me to grab the next book in the series right away *though I still have to go back and read the first one, The Naked Duke*. The only thing that kind of bugged me about this book was the hero's name-- Charles. I'm sorry to say that I am a stickler for names, and the older ones, like Charles, seem kind of flat for the hero of a romance novel. Not that it's not a good name, but for some reason, it just doesn't quiet work for me *No offense to any Charles out there!*. Other than that, I thought the story line was nicely written, fairly interesting, and the romance was nice, going from scandalous and passionate to sweet and tender. Another thing that kind of annoyed me was the heroine's lack of knowledge about 'the marriage bed'. I know that in those times, the young women were only told the bare necessities the night before the wedding, but come on! Emma knew absolutely nothing, and I don't think that the excuse 'She's the vicar's daughter' is a good enough reason. In other books, the heroine usually knows a bit about the sexual act, but not in the Naked Series! I have nothing against a virginal heroine in my romance novels, but please, don't make her as ignorant as a nun! I felt that during the times when the author could have had Charles lovingly explaining some of the details, she instead chose to make it akward and slightly funny. I personally would have liked it better if Charles had decided to give her 'lessons' about passion instead of blushing and avoiding the questions.. but maybe that's just me. 4/5 STARS! All in all, the book wasn't too bad, a possible re-read in the future, and I will grab the other books in the series to read because I am interesting in a couple of the other characters, whom I already know have their own book. A great book if you want a historical read that is light and funny, but has a nice plot line, a bit of a 'who done it? subplot' and some passionate love scenes. ~TBQ~

Tuesday, August 12, 2008

"The Dangers of Deceiving a Viscount" is Wicked and Wonderful

Synopis from B&N.com:


Lady Phoebe Fairchild is well aware that the ton would be appalled to learn of a young lady of quality involved in a trade. Therefore, she resorts to selling her beautiful handmade gowns under a fictitious name: Madame Dupree. So when circumstances force her to visit the estate of William Darby, the Viscount of Summerfield, to design ball gowns for his sisters, she assumes Madame's identity. Phoebe's discomfort in her new position as hired help is nothing compared to her visceral attraction to the viscount himself. Heathenishly handsome and shamelessly seductive, Will invites her to be his mistress -- and Phoebe is shockingly tempted to accept. But as their desire for each other grows and the risk of exposure becomes even greater, Phoebe is in dire danger of losing her reputation, her livelihood -- and her chance of becoming the bride of the man whose passion has claimed her forever
I've been a fan of Julia London's from the very start, when I picked up one of her Highlander novels *Highlander in Love, Highlander in Disguise, and Highlander Unbound, all great romance books that I would recommend to anyone!* so it's no surprise that after I finished The Dangers of Deceiving a Viscount, I had to add it to my favorites list!
The only problem I had with the book was minor and it was needed for the storyline-- Alice, Will's eldest sister. She was very braty and annoying, I want to slap her! But she does get much better as the story goes on, and by the end you can almost sympahtize with her... almost.
Besides her little attitude problem, the rest of the book is flawless, pulling together romance and laughter, deception and loyalty. Will learns how to love, he helps his family to become whole again, and it's all because of Phoebe. *Oh, yeah, another little 'flaw', in my opinion. Who names the heroine Phoebe? I don't really like the name, but oh well...* Their story is sweet and tender, funny and sexy and most of all real. They 'break up', they have fights, they know *Well, okay, Will thinks* that they can't be together, and yet in the end, they make up, and they get through it, even though she had lied to him about her life.
If there was one thing I would have liked to have a little bit more of in this book it would be the sex scenes. There were only a few, and they were pretty tame, at least to my standards. But they were nice, and well written, so I enjoyed them nonetheless. Maybe it's just because I'm use to reading more 'X' rated romances why I wanted more from those scenes.
4.5/5 STARS! A great story line, placed in a lush historical England setting with a devilishly handsome lord and a strong independant woman-- what more can you ask for?
~TBQ~

Monday, August 11, 2008

"Shifter" Is One Sexy Beast!

Synopis from B&N.com:


When it comes to shapeshifting paranormal romance, who can resist...
New York Times bestselling author Angela Knight, USA Today bestselling author Lora Leigh, and national bestselling authors Alyssa Day and Virginia Kantra?

Whether transforming under a blue moon or prowling the streets, the shifters come alive to fulfill the wildest of fantasies in this seductive anthology by four masters of paranormal romance.






As a whole, Shifter was a great book- sexy, passionate, funny, thrilling, full of untamed desire... what more can you ask for? I know what you are going to say: Where's the delicious bad boys, the sexy shifter alpha males? Well, no worries ladies, they are in the book too-- plenty of them! In fact, you may need to call the fire department before you start reading, it's that hot!

When you find an anthology with top paranormal romance authors like Angela Knight, Lora Leigh, and Alyssa Day, how can you go wrong, right? Not only do they write great paranoraml romances, but they all know how to add in the perfect amount of borderline erotica, which is always a plus, in my opinion. And believe me, they do not disappoint, even in an anthology, where sometimes it feels like the stories are too rushed! I loved each and every one, and I felt like they were able to tell a great story and wrap it up nicely even with limited pages available.

The only story that I had a problem with was the last one, Sea Crossing, by Virginia Kantra. I've read her work once before, in the last anthology I rated, and in that one I was also a little disappointed. I do not mean to offend any Kantra fans out there *Or Kantra herself, of course!* but I have to say that after two slightly bland stories that I've tried of hers, I don't think I will be reading any more of her books. I will definitely re-read Shifter when I get the chance, but when I do, I will skip right past her story because it failed to hold my interest. Though she was able to write some pretty good sex scenes, I felt like the rest of the story line and characters, conversation and development, was forced, and not, well, completely developed. There was just something missing, and I'm not sure what it was, but I noticed it in the other story I read of hers. And I don't think that it helped any that the hero was a selkie. I've never really been into selkies in my romances, and the fact that it was the male who was selkie, it kind of turned me off, if that makes sense. There's just something about the thought of a handsome and sexy male turning into a seal that doesn't really work for me. Sorry to any fans out there, but this is my opinion.

Oh, just a little side note: In Lora Leigh's book, A Jaguar's Kiss, the lucious bad boy, Saban... WOW! Grab a fan or a bucket of ice before starting it! Not only is the story hot hot hot!, like all of her books, but Lora Leigh made this hero extra sexy, in my opinion, by giving him a Cajun accent and a name like 'Saban'. Is it unusual? Yes, BUT it's so damn sexy! Is it just me, or does the name just scream "Untamed Passion" that would boil over, both in bed and out!? And when you read the story itself, I swear, that "Untamed Passion" triples in it's intensity, which you would think couldn't be possible.. and yet it is. Oh, God, let me tell you-- it is! While reading Saban and Natalie's story, I found myself whispering under my breath 'Saban' over and over again, actually pronouncing his name outloud each and everytime it came up in the story.. and a few times when it didn't!- because it's such a sexy name. I'd love to have my own personal Saban... *SIGH!*

4.5/5 stars! Shifter is a great book, full of passion and thrill, love and laughter.. and Saban, as I've already said. ;) Don't miss this great book written by three wonderful authors... Oh, and one author that tried her best, but that I felt the book itself could have done without.

~TBQ~

Sunday, August 10, 2008

"Visions of Heat"

Synopis from B&N.com:
Used to cold silence, Faith NightStar is suddenly being tormented by dark visions of blood and murder. A bad sign for anyone, but worse for Faith, an F-Psy with the highly sought after ability to predict the future. Then the visions show her something even more dangerous - aching need...exquisite pleasure. But so powerful is her sight, so fragile the state of her mind, that the very emotions she yearns to embrace could be the end of her.
Changeling Vaughn D'Angelo can take the form of either man or jaguar, but it is his animal side that is overwhelmingly drawn to Faith. The jaguar's instinct is to claim this woman it finds so utterly fascinating, and the man has no argument. But while Vaughn craves sensation and hungers to pleasure Faith in every way, desire is a danger that could snap the threads of her sanity. And there are Psy who need Faith's sight for their own purposes. They must keep her silenced - and keep her from Vaughn.


From the very start of this amazing series, I've found myself submerged into the Psy-Changeling world right from the first page. I feel like I'm there, like I am part of this unique world. I loved Slave to Sensation and I found myself falling for Visions of Heat just as quickly. Now I have to wait until I can get the other books in the series in order to continue, which is a very hard thing to do because the series is so good, so addictive that you can't put the book down until the end, and even then you are unwillingly to see it end.

Nalini Singh has created a lush paranormal world that is filled with cold, insensitive Psy and the sensual, hot-blooded Changelings....Perfect combination, and when they get together-- WOW! The sex scenes are everything a woman can ask for in her romance novels, not sleezy or porn like, but a nice combination of erotica and tender love. Word of Caution to any Future Readers of These Books? HAVE A FAN NEAR BY BECAUSE YOU WILL FIND YOURSELF THINKING 'WOW, IT'S GETITNG HOT IN HERE!' Which is a good thing, really, if the author is able to make you hot and sweaty while reading the book while still holding onto the deeper, more heady feelings of love and trust between the characters.

Everything I said in my review for Slave to Sensation applies here: Sexy, hot, alpha males, wild, delicious, thrilling, compelling, et cetera. Visions of Heat is a perfect continuation of her heady Psy-Changelings Series, drawing on all the emotions that humans and Changelings hold so dear to them but the Psy have blocked...until now, until these strong Psy women have broken through the Silence and tamed the wild beasts who are their mates. I can't say enough good things about Nalini's books, but you have to trust me when I say that they are a definite must read for any paranormal romance fan. If you love authors such as Christine Feehan, Lora Leigh, Angela Knight, or Alyssa Day, you will love Nalini Singh too!

5/5 STARS! A great series, a spectacular book, definitely one that you will find youself drawn to again and again. The perfect combination of love, sex, passion and thrill, Visions of Heat will pull you in from the first page and only let you go after the last word, while still whispering in your ears Come back for more....

~TBQ~

Friday, August 8, 2008

"Slave to Sensation" Will have you Begging for More!

Synopis from B&N.com:

THE HOT NEW NAME IN PARANORMAL ROMANCE.
Nalini Singh dives into a world torn apart by a powerful race with phenomenal powers of the mind-and none of the heart.
Born a Psy, Sascha Duncan must hide the emotions which mark her as flawed. But a passionate Changeling will tempt her to reveal everything-and risk her very soul.








Though the short summary may make Slave to Sensation sound like a cheesy futuristic romance at first glance, I assure you it is anything but! Nalini writes a great story, showing a fresh new view in paranormal romance. Set in the future, her world is full of psy's and shapeshifters, changelings as they are called, and forbidden love, forbidden sensations, turned into true love with a hot, wild side.

I love when my romance novels have a sexy alpha male as the hero-- who doesn't, right? Well, Slave to Sensation delivers, giving us not only the hero, but also some of the other males in the Packs, who will, of course, have their own books later on. The men in the Packs are perfect combinations of wild and tender, sexy and funny. Oh, and did I mention that they are more than just a human man? Yeah, they can change into wolves and panthers and jaguars. Sounds like the perfect man, right ladies? Believe me, before the end of Slave of Sensation, you will be in love (or at least lust) with Lucas and his Pack members-- maybe even some of the Wolves, too.

The story had everything-- love, laughs, thrills, erotic moments and tender ones. And don't forget the cute little cubs. Yes, that's right, when their babies are first born, they usually start to take on the form of their animal side from the very start, and are able to switch back and forth around their first year. I fell in love with the twin cubs during the first scene that they came into, and I'm sure you will too.

Lucas is both rugged and dangerous yet tender and sweet. He's protective, he's demanding, he's Alpha of the Pack, and now Alpha of Sascha's heart. But don't go thinking that just becuase the males are so pushy that automatically makes them the alpha in the mating. No, their mates are just as strong willed, just as commanding, and they have their men wrapped around their fingers, but not in a bad way. They both give and take, command and listen, and add to that the fact that they share a special connection, a deep connection, *both in bed and out! ;-)* and you have a great relationship. Just reading their story makes you feel like you've walked in on an intimate moment between two people who are deeply in love. And in a way, you are. It's sweet and sexy, wild but sometimes tame. It's a perfect combination of everything!

5/5 STARS! If you love a great paranormal romance book that has fire and passion, lust and love, laughs and thrills, then Nalini's Psy-Changelings Series is perfect for you! Definitely a must read for fans of other Paranormal Romance Queens like Christine Feehan, Emma Holly, Angela Knight, and Lora Leigh. If her other 4 books are just as sexy and wonderful as Slave to Sensation, then I am sure I'm going to devour them just as quickly and as I did this one. A fresh new voice in paranormal romance, one that you should definitely keep your eye on!

~TBQ~

Wednesday, August 6, 2008

"Damien: The NightWalkers" Perfect Combination of Sexy and Sweet!

Synopis from B&N.com:

They are the Nightwalkers, mysterious beings who dwell in the shadows of our world, and Damien, the Vampire Prince, is among the most powerful of them all. But one woman will tempt him with a desire unlike anything he has known, and together they will face a terrifying and relentless foe.


HE'D NEVER LOVED.


BUT SHE WAS IRRESISTIBLE.


As reigning Vampire Prince, Damien has tasted every pleasure the world has to offer-consorting with kings and queens and delighting in sensual adventure. Now, tired of such pursuits, he devotes his energies to protecting his people. The war between human necromancers and Nightwalkers has escalated, and when the enemy makes a daring move, kidnapping Syreena, a Lycanthrope Princess, Damien boldly follows. He succeeds in rescuing her, but is unprepared for the erotic longing her lush sensuality awakens in him.


Gifted with rare abilities, Syreena grew up in a cloistered setting and was forbidden to form attachments to others, yet the connection Damien feels with her is immediate, intoxicating, and impossible for either to resist. But claiming Syreena as his mate could have shattering repercussions for every Nightwalker-and leave their enemies more dangerous than ever before.


Temptation tastes sweetest at night.







Since the first book, Jacob, I have been absolutely in love with the Nightwalkers Series, grabbing up each and every book since then and consuming them quickly while still savorying each individual story. Jacquelyn Frank is a great author, able to create a world filled with every 'creature' needed to make a perfect paranormal romance setting: Vampires, Demons *Not all Evil/Ugly ones either*, Shapeshifters, et cetera. Add to that her ability to create various situations--sweet and heart-warming, sexy and wild, passionate and funny. You will find yourself laughing at times, almost close to tears, or enthralled while reading the lush love scenes.



Even though I loved all of the previous books in the series, with Gideons probably being one of my top favorites, I think that I was really impressed with Damien's story, because we finally got to see more of the Vampire world, which has fascinated me from the first book. In this book, we get to learn about the vampire Prince's past, a little about their 'customs', and we get to see how he starts the ball in motion to pull all of the Nightwalker species together in order to fight their common enemies instead of each other. It's great for such a passionately sexy story to also have a subplot that is interesting and compelling, telling the story of a time long past and a step forward, out of war and destruction, for an entire world, AKA, the Nightwalkers.



If you like your hero's to be sexy and slightly dark, dangerous but still sweet and gentle when it comes to his woman, then I think you will love Damien just as much as I did. He was open to love almost from the very beginning, which is kind of unusual for an alpha male type hero. He wants children, he's willing to do anything for his mate, and besides making her blood run like hot lava, he can also do it to the reader! In my opinion, that helps to make him a great canidate for a perfect hero. Oh, and the fact that he is a vampire doesn't hurt! ;-)

4.5/5 STARS! Once again, Jacquelyn has created a spectacular story, deftly twisting together a tender love story with a sexy, wilder side, a few laughs, and even some thrill, fighting evil away both their people and each other. A great series, a great book, this is an author you should definitely keep your eye one-- she's going somewhere! Oh, and if you want to read more about the Nightwalkers or their author, please visit her website--- the forum is great, full of funny posts, book conversations, and especially, the Eye Candy post, which is filled with gorgeous, sexy, and for the most part, half-naked, men, contributed by fellow Nightwalker nuts! Warning, if you open up the Eye Candy post, you might not want to do it when you are at work orh ave kids around-- it can quickly get veeeeeery hot while looking through the pictures! ;-)

~TBQ~

Monday, August 4, 2008

"Night World" Volume 1 is a Perfect Journey into the Magical World of the Night

Synopis from B&N.com:
The Night World isn't a place. It's all around us. It's a secret society of vampires, werewolves, witches, and other creatures of darkness that live among us. They're beautiful and deadly and irresistible to humans. The Night World laws say it's ok to hunt humans, to toy with their hearts-even to kill them. According to the laws, humans must never find out about the Night World. And members of the Night World must never fall in love with a human.
Told with interweaving characters, these are three stories about what happens when the rules get broken . . .
In SECRET VAMPIRE, Poppy is diagnosed with terminal cancer. Her only hope for survival is James, her friend and secret crush. A vampire in the Night World, James will risk everything to turn Poppy into a vampire and make her immortal.
DAUGHTERS OF DARKNESS tells a tale of three vampire sisters who are fugitives of the Night World.
And two witch cousins battle using black magic and white magic for their high school crush in SPELLBINDER.

I have read L.J. Smith before, so it was no surprise to me that I loved this book. I fell in love with her books when I first picked up Vampire Diaries a few years ago, and I can't wait until she writes Damon's book. So when I realized that she has written so many other series over the years but they are all out of print, I was frantic, waiting for these three-books-in-one reprints. I just wish they'd print them faster!!

This book contains the first three books in her spectacular Night World series. The Night World isn't a place... no, it's all around you, it's everything. It refers to the creatures that belong to it, no matter where they are in the world. I can't think of a better setting for a series than that, can you? I mean, seriously, what more can you ask for? It's got vampires, both made vampires and born ones, werewolves, shape-shifters and witches. As if that's not enough of an incentive, add magical words like soulmate and true love, along with Ms. Smith's amazing writting skills, and you have the receipe for a perfect read! With the guarantee of more to come in the series, which is just a bonus!

Out of the three stories in this book, I have to say that I felt like the last one, Spellbinder was one of the 'weaker' ones, sorta speak. I liked it, don't get me wrong, but I like the other two more and felt like Eric and Thea's story was kind of rushed, not allowing the audience to really feel the connection that they, as soulmates, have. Still, an interesting story that grabs your attention.

For me, the first one, Secret Vampire was the best one of the series so far because I felt like she was able to tell James and Poppy's story without rushing it. By the end, you were happy, you know how things were going to turn out with them and you could easily imagine, in your mind, what their life would be like after the story ended. The ability to write a story like that defines a great author.

The middle story, Daughters of Darkness, was also very good. I fell for bad-boy Ash from the very start, and I thought that even though the ending was a little bit different from what I would have wanted, it was still good and I can still see their future together, some day, even if it's only in my own mind.

5/5 stars! L.J. Smith knows exactly what she's doing, creating a great fantasy world and mixing it deftly with feelings and emotions, with love and mystery, to provide a great read that any teen, or adults!, will love. Smith twines fantasy and magic with myths and legends, adds in plenty of love and even some adventure or mystery and the end result is world that you can usually only find in your dreams. This is an author that you should definitely keep your eyes on, because I think she's only going to get better as time goes on!

~TBQ~

Sunday, August 3, 2008

"Breaking Dawn" Finally Arrives, Hot, Tender, and Perfect!

SYNOPIS from B&N.com:
Twilight tempted the imagination. New Moon made readers thirsty for more. Eclipse turned the saga into a worldwide phenomenon. And now, the book that everyone has been waiting for...
Breaking Dawn, the final book in the #1 bestselling Twilight Saga, will take your breath away











***WARNING: MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS! CAUTIONT!***


After years of waiting, hoping, praying devotedly for this book, or at least for the next book, always the next book, to come out, it's finally here. And if you call yourself a true Twilight Fan, you will love this one just as much if not more than the previous ones, devouring it in hours, unable to sleep, unable to eat, until you find out what lies within the pearly white pages of this amazing book.

Mere hours afters after starting Breaking Dawn, I heard a few other girls talking about it. Though I have no idea how far they were in the book, I am pretty sure that it wasn't very much (I cannot say where or why without giving out major spoilers, which I do not want to do.) But the thing that annoyed me was the fact that they were both saying how they 'were disappointed in the book and could not possibly finish it' they 'hated it' that much. I was shocked! I was angry! I was afraid that at any moment I was going to fly at them in a flaming rage, embracing my werewolf/vampire side (Even though I am all for TEAM EDWARD, I still love werewolves because I am a fantasy freak like that.) I was able to grab control, barely, and walk away from the girls, leaving their face and body intact. But it was hard...And yes, I know I may sound insane, but I call it 'obsessed'.

Anyway, I had to tell that little 'story' in case there are more readers out there that feel this way. I have some very important advice, and if you care about Bella and Edward's story at all, if you are one that calls themselves a Twilight Fan, then you will listen to what I have to say and maybe do as I suggest. So here's my advice: If you find certain parts of the book to be annoying or 'disapointing' ****Which, by the way, I would NEVER call ANY part of the book, or any of the previous books, disappointing**** please, please, just stick with it and I promise, in the end, you will be more than satisfied, even if it's not in the way you've fantasized and wished over the years *Or shorter, if you are a newer fan*.

Now you are probably asking, why am I telling you this? Why do I feel so passionately about it? Well, as much as I hate to admit it, there were a few parts, very small and only fleeting moments at that, where I felt like the book was taking a turn that I didn't want, one that I may come to hate Stephenie for... but I stayed with it, of course, because her writing is so intoxicating, the plot line of Edward and Bella's love so captivating and adicting that I couldn't have put that book down if my life depended on it. I didn't hate these parts, exactly, but I wasn't the happiest. But after the story went on, and I started picking up the subtle hints and clues as I went, I realizes where Stephenie was taking it and I was happy again, probably more than before, because I knew that even if it wasn't what I had expected, what ANY Twilight fans had expected, to tell you the truth, it was still working out in the general way I had always imagined it.

I realize that everyone has their own opinions, and if you hate this series to begin with, there is no way that I can convince you to love it. All I can try to do is, maybe, convince you to give it another try, or if you are new, pick it up because I love the books so much (As do my friends, who are only into the series like they are because of me) and I am hoping that you will love it also.

The story is brillant, full of twists and turns that actually add to the story in a good way, not like some stories that are so confusing you hate it by the end or so choppy that you can't get past the poorly written structure. The love story of Bella and Edward transends mere fiction, pulling you in from the first book, making you wish you were in Bella's place, that you could feel a love like that, to enjoy the deep, intimate connection that they have from the beginning, that only grows as time continues. And the fact that he's a vampire doesn't hurt either, because even if it's meant ot be 'fantasy', you want to believe in it so much that sometimes you can actually picture yourself there, with Edward in the meadow, or talking to Alice while she plans more shopping trips. Stephenie Meyer makes all the characters seem real, believable, someone that you can *And, I believe, will!* fall in love with before the saga is over. The connection that she draws between not only the characters themselves, but also the characters and the audience, is wonderfully done, something that very few authors are able to acomplish.

The story has flowed, from page to page, from book to book, but now it has come to an end-- at least in Bella's point of view. By the end of Breaking Dawn, you will be blissfully happy, content with the ending. But a true Twilight fan, one that sees the books as not only entertainment but also something more, they will find themselves full of mixed emotions by the last page-- and I mean this in a good way. A true Twilight fan will be both happy and upset when they read the last page: Happy because it's touching and full of love, a true 'Happily Ever After', which is what we've always wanted for Edward and Bella. But underneath the happiness, there is a tiny bit of unhappiness because they know that when they close the book, the sags is complete, the story is done, and there is nothing left to tell.

Oh sure, there's still Edward's point of view to look forward to, but it's not the same. As great as an Edwards POV book will be, all it will be is retelling the story for us, which is a good thing, since you can never hear it too many times, but it's nothing really new, it won't cover the next step in their life. Breaking Dawn is our last tie to their story, to their love and devotion, and it ends the saga nicely, the only problem being that it is the end of the saga. And while she didn't leave us hanging, quite the opposite, in fact, a true fan will still want more. I think we who know Twilight best, those of us who have been with it since the very beginning, will always want more, no matter how many years go by. It's a story that sticks with you, in your heart and your memory, one that you will re-read over and over again, like visiting old friends from highschool. And yet every time, I think we will always fidn ourselves saying "But what will happen next?" And yet, we can't ask Stephenie to continue the series for the rest of her life, not only because she wouldn't, but also because everything must come to an end, even if we don't want it to. Instead, we can use our own imagination, our own dreams and hopes, to picture what's going to happen next, how their story will play out even after the pages have stopped being written.

And the thing is, that's a good thing. Because when an author leaves you at such a great place in the characters' lives, where you can imagine everything without his or her words written on paper, the possiblities are both endless and predictable. Any author can try to drag out a story indefinitely, thinking that they are giving the fans what they want. But only a great author, and even then, only very few, are able to realize from the beginning that what fans really want is for the series to end after the conflicts are resolved, after their loves and futures have been set, and allow them to go back anytime, anywhere, and picture in their own minds (Or is dreams?) what can happen next.

Stephenie Meyer is one of those authors, able to twist together every teenage girl's (Along with many older women and even the occasional boy's) wishes and dreams, fears and hopes, in one series, allowing us to connect with the characters, even with the story itself, because even if it's labeled as 'fantasy', it is still eerily close to some of the very things that every young girl, every romantic woman, dreams about at one point or another: Finding true love, unconditional and passionate and best of all forever, even after numerous accidents and road blocks. Knowing that sometimes, there really is a happily ever after.....

I could go on and on, giving out spoilers and examples, but what's the point when instead you could be reading this delicious book yourself instead of listening to me ramble on. And yes, in case you haven't figured it out, I am one of those 'romantic woman/young girl' that I just told you about, dreaming that something like this can really happen, while knowing in the back of my mind that I'll have to settle for a slightly different happy ending in my future.. one witout an Edward, without vampires and werewolves, one without immortality. But that's okay. Because whenever I want to, I can pick up the Twilight books again and live vicariously through Bella and everyone else in Forks, Washington, knowing that I can go back whenever I want to.

5/5 STARS! A great ending to a perfect saga! Stephenie Meyer has stepped it up, adding in the forbidden taste of desire and passion to the already deep well of heart-warming and gut wrenching love that Bella and Edward share together. And, best of all, you find out that Jacob will not have to be lonely and hurting for the rest of his existance.....And the connection that he and Bella share is very different from what all of us originally thought.......

~TBQ~