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The Black Dagger Brotherhood Series By JR Ward
August 2008
September 2008 October 2008 November 2008 December 2008 January 2009 April 2009 May 2009 July 2009 |
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Friday, July 10, 2009The Black Dagger Brotherhood Series By JR Ward Imagine this, six massively huge mega bad ass warrior vampires defending their race against extinction against an organization of soulless baby powder smelling killers. The vamps in this series also happen to be caring, nurturing and so riddled with issues they need some deep ass serious therapy. The issues range from sexual abuse, physical disabilities to drug addiction. These are the vamps in JR Ward’s Black Dagger Brotherhood series. J.R. Ward’s writing is phenomenal! She is constantly pushing the envelope with this series. I for one hope she keeps on pushing. The books are not so much about the vamps attempts to save their race in as much as it is about over coming their issues when face to face with their happily ever afters and allowing themselves to love and more importantly to be loved. Powerful stuff. I highly recommend it.  Lover Avenged by THE BLACK DAGGER BROTHERHOOD: AN INSIDER'S GUIDE by J.R. Ward •Paperback: 496 pages •Publisher: NAL Trade (October 7, 2008) •Language: English •ISBN-10: 0451225007 •ISBN-13: 978-0451225009 Synopsis from author’s website: You’ll find insider information on the Brotherhood, their dossiers, stats and special gifts. You’ll read interviews with your favorite characters, including a heartbreaking one with Tohrment and Wellsie, conducted three weeks before she was killed by lessers. You’ll encounter deleted scenes—accompanied by the whys behind the cuts—in addition to exciting material from the J.R. Ward message boards and the answers to questions posed by readers about the series. You’ll learn what it’s like for J.R. Ward to write each installment of the series, and in a fascinating twist, you’ll read an interview with the author—conducted by the Brothers. For the first time ever, you’ll get an original short story about Zsadist and Bella and see the miracle of their daughter Nalla's birth and the depth of their love for each other. Also, you’ll get a sneak peek at the much anticipated next book in the Black Dagger Brotherhood series, Revenge’s story. This is a compendium no Black Dagger Brotherhood fan should miss…and an insider’s guide that will seduce you as powerfully as the sexy band of Brothers and the “ferociously popular” world they live in.  LOVER ENSHRINED by J.R. Ward •Mass Market Paperback: 560 pages •Publisher: Signet; 1st Printing edition (June 3, 2008) •Language: English •ISBN-10: 0451222725 •ISBN-13: 978-0451222725 Synopsis from author’s website: Fiercely loyal to the Black Dagger Brotherhood, Phury has sacrificed himself for the good of the race, becoming the male responsible for keeping the Brotherhood's bloodlines alive. As Primale of the Chosen, he is to father the sons and daughters who will ensure that the traditions of the race survive and that there are warriors to fight those who want all vampires extinguished. As his first mate, the Chosen Cormia wants to win not only his body but his heart for herself- she sees the emotionally scarred male behind all his noble responsibility. But while the war with the Lessening Society grows more grim, and tragedy looms over the Brotherhood's mansion, Phury must decide between duty and love.  LOVER UNBOUND by J.R. Ward •Mass Market Paperback: 528 pages •Publisher: Signet (September 25, 2007) •Language: English •ISBN-10: 0451222350 •ISBN-13: 978-0451222350 Synopsis from author’s website: Ruthless and brilliant, Vishous son of the Bloodletter possesses a destructive curse and a frightening ability to see the future. As a pretrans growing up in his father's war camp, he was tormented and abused. As a member of the Brotherhood, he has no interest in love or emotion, only the battle with the Lessening Society. But when a mortal injury puts him in the care of a human surgeon, Dr. Jane Whitcomb compels him to reveal his inner pain and taste true pleasure for the first time- until a destiny he didn't choose takes him into a future that cannot include her.  LOVER REVEALED by J.R. Ward •Mass Market Paperback: 480 pages •Publisher: Onyx (March 6, 2007) •Language: English •ISBN-10: 0451412354 •ISBN-13: 978-0451412355 Synopsis from author’s website: Butch O'Neal is a fighter by nature. A hard living, ex-homicide cop, he's the only human ever to be allowed in the inner circle of the Black Dagger Brotherhood. And he wants to go even deeper into the vampire world- to engage in the turf war with the lessers. He's got nothing to lose. His heart belongs to a female vampire, an aristocratic beauty who's way out of his league. If he can't have her, then at least he can fight side by side with the Brothers... Fate curses him with the very thing he wants. When Butch sacrifices himself to save a civilian vampire from the slayers, he falls prey to the darkest force in the war. Left for dead, found by a miracle, the Brotherhood calls on Marissa to bring him back, though even her love may not be enough to save him.  LOVER AWAKENED by J.R. Ward •Mass Market Paperback: 464 pages •Publisher: Signet (September 5, 2006) •Language: English •ISBN-10: 0451219368 •ISBN-13: 978-0451219367 Synopsis from author’s website: A former blood slave, the vampire Zsadist still bears the scars from a past filled with suffering and humiliation. Renowned for his unquenchable fury and sinister deeds, he is a savage feared by humans and vampires alike. Anger is his only companion, and terror is his only passion—until he rescues a beautiful aristocrat from the evil Lessening Society. Bella is instantly entranced by the seething power Zsadist possesses. But even as their desire for one another begins to overtake them both, Zsadist’s thirst for vengeance against Bella’s tormentors drives him to the brink of madness. Now, Bella must help her lover overcome the wounds of his tortured past, and find a future with her.  LOVER ETERNAL by J.R. Ward •Mass Market Paperback: 464 pages •Publisher: Signet (March 7, 2006) •Language: English •ISBN-10: 0451218043 •ISBN-13: 978-0451218049 Synopsis from author’s website: Within the brotherhood, Rhage is the vampire with the strongest appetites. He’s the best fighter, the quickest to act on his impulses, and the most voracious lover—for inside him burns a ferocious curse cast by the Scribe Virgin. Possessed by this dark side, Rhage fears the times when his inner dragon is unleashed, making him a danger to everyone around him. Mary Luce, a survivor of many hardships, is unwittingly thrown into the vampire world and reliant on Rhage’s protection. With a life-threatening curse of her own, Mary is not looking for love. Her faith in miracles was lost years ago. But when Rhage’s intense animal attraction turns into something more emotional, he knows that he must make Mary his alone. And while their enemies close in, Mary fights desperately to gain life eternal with the one she loves.  DARK LOVER by J.R. Ward •Mass Market Paperback: 416 pages •Publisher: Signet (September 6, 2005) •Language: English •ISBN-10: 0451216954 •ISBN-13: 978-0451216953 Synopsis from author’s website: The only purebred vampire left on the planet, Wrath has a score to settle with the slayers who murdered his parents centuries ago. But when one of his most trusted fighters is killed- orphaning a half-breed daughter unaware of her heritage or her fate - Wrath must usher the beautiful female into the world of the undead… Racked by a restlessness in her body that wasn't there before, Beth Randall is helpless against the dangerously sexy man who comes to her at night with shadows in his eyes. His tales of brotherhood and blood frighten her. But his touch ignites a dawning hunger that threatens to consume them both… Labels: black dagger brotherhood, JR Ward Click here to read entire post.  @
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Live dangerously! Click here to leave a comment  Friday, May 15, 2009Dead and Gone by Charlaine Harris NOTE: If you're HERE LOOKING FOR SPOILERS BE GONE WITH THINESELF. MIA DON’T DO SPOILERS. HOWEVER IF YOU CLICK ON THE AMAZON LINK AT THE END OF THIS POST YOU’LL FIND some heavy duty SPOILERS GALORE. Review: AWWWWW SOOKIE SOOKIE SOOKIE NOW! SORRY CAN’T HELP IT. I’VE BEEN ANXIOUSLY AWAITING this book 9 in the Stackhouse series SINCE LAST YEAR. Was it worth the wait? Depends on who you ask. A few of my fellow Sookie fans have expressed disappointment in this book. I am not one of them. I think those who are disappointed are missing the bigger picture. The series is moving on, it has to in order to remain fresh. What I think CH was trying to do with this book is getting us ready for Sookie’s future adventures. Sookie is getting involved on a deeper level with the supe world whether she wants to or not. Her relationships are changing and she is evolving. Synopsis: THIS BOOK TAKES PLACE SEVERAL MONTHS AFTER THE VAMPIRE WARS OF THE LAST BOOK. THERE’S A LOT OF STUFF GOING ON IN THIS BOOK all in the space of two days! MAN I HOPE SOOKIE IS TAKING HER VITAMINS B/C THIS CHICK LEADS ONE HELL OF AN EXHAUSTING LIFE. 1: THE WERES AND SHAPE SHIFTERS HAVE DECIDED TO TAKE A PAGE OUT OF THE VAMPS BOOK AND COME OUT OF THE CLOSET TO THE PUBLIC. NEEDLELESS TO SAY SOME PEOPLE ARE NOT TOO HAPPY ABOUT THAT. 2: A couple of FBI AGENTS SHOW UP TO QUESTION SOOKIE ABOUT THE EVENTS IN BOOK 7 BUT SOOKIE KNOWS THAT THEY ARE really THERE TO FIND OUT ABOUT HER ‘GIFT’ AND USE IT to THE GOVERNMENT'S ADVANTAGE. 3: CRYSTAL, SOOKIE’S PREGNANT SISTER- IN- LAW AKA THE TRAMP IS MURDERED. SHE IS FOUND CRUCIFIED (EWW) IN SAM’S LOT. SO THE WHO DONE IT IN THIS BOOK IS HER MURDER. 4: THERE’S A POWER STRUGGLE GOING ON BETWEEN THE FAe AND SOOKIE BEING THE GREAT GRANDDAUGHTER OF THE FAE PRINCE himself IS TARGETED. POOR SOOKIE CAN NEVER MAKE IT THROUGH A BOOK WITHOUT GETTING LUMPED UP. 5: QUINN THE WERETIGER MAKES A BRIEF APPEARANCE SEEMS HE’S STILL NOT OVER SOOKIE AND IS HAVING A HARD TIME ACCEPTING THEIR BREAK UP. 6: ON THE ERIC FRONT THERE’S QUITE A FEW INTERESTING DEVELOPMENTS. A knife used in Book 7 (Altogether Dead) is now providing an interesting twist to Eric and Sookie's relationship.I KNEW THAT KNIFE MEANT SOMETHING BACK IN BOOK 7! 7: BILL REDEEMs HIMSELF FOR HIS PAST ACTIONS BUT I STILL LIKE ERIC BEST. 8: A COUPLE OF SECONDARY CHARACTERS BITE THE BULLET ALONG THE WAY HENCE THE TITLE DEAD AND GONE. I really enjoyed this installment of the series and found myself smiling as I read the scenes between Sookie and Eric. Sookie is not the only one showing signs of evolving.IF YOU’RE A FAN OF THIS SERIES YOU’RE GOING TO LOVE THIS BOOK! IF YOU’VE NEVER READ THE SERIES IT’S TIME YOU DID. (SIGH) NOW THAT I’VE FINISHED DEAD AND GONE THE COUNT DOWN TO NEXT BOOK IN THE SERIES BEGINS ANEW. Dead and Gone (Sookie Stackhouse Book 9) By Charlaine Harris •Hardcover: 320 pages •Publisher: Ace Hardcover (May 5, 2009) •Language: English •ISBN-10: 0441017150 •ISBN-13: 978-0441017157 Labels: Charlaine Harris, Dead and Gone, Sookie Stackhouse, Southern Vampire Mysteries Click here to read entire post. @
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Live dangerously! Click here to leave a comment Wednesday, May 6, 2009Tairen Soul Series by C.L. Wilson Never judge a book by it’s cover, in this case by a really cheesy cover. When I first glanced at the covers of the Tairen Series I admit I rolled my eyes. “cheese fest!” I exclaimed. Man was I wrong! Don’t get me wrong I still think the covers are cheesy but man oh man the treasure that rests within those pages is priceless! So much so I've read this series at least three times since coming across it last Summer. Yeah, it's that good. C.L. Wilson's Tarien Soul series, which I had mistakenly been referring to as the Fading Lands series is the one series I feel comfortable saying will continue to captivate people for generations to come. Wilson has created a complex and magical world filled with evil Mages, Fey warriors, and these beings called the Tairen, huge winged felines (think panther on steroids) . With each book in the series her characters gain more depth. The main characters Rain and Ellysetta grow through out the series but you develop an affection/disdain for each of the secondary characters as well. There’s no speed reading through this series and to be honest you won’t want to. Her writing is sublime. You can envision it all in your mind as you read. Each page deserves to be savored. You will find yourself white knuckled with apprehension over what will happen and hissing at the villain. The villain in this series is everything you’d want in a villain. This series is dark, it’s filled with murder, torture, prejudices, and of course love. What Ellie and her biological parents are put through at the hands of the villain will make your blood boil and eyes tear up. When Ellie and Rain hook up (as if there was ever any doubt) you’ll find yourself sighing. When I read the first book Lord of the Fading Lands I was instantly captivated. No way in hell can this author keep this up I thought. Well I was wrong. With each book the story got better and better. I found myself unwilling to put each of the books down. I was touched and yeah even moved to tears a few times. This series is awesome. I can hardly wait for the fourth and last installment.  Lord of the Fading LandsBy C.L. Wilson Synopsis from Publisher’s Weekly: This fantasy-romance debut features faerie king Rain Tairen Soul, a man tormented by age-old grief: a thousand years ago, the woman he loved was slain in battle, and in his rage he laid waste to half the world. Now his people are dying out and the evil mages of Eld are rising again. When Rain hears the call of his lost soul mate, Ellysetta, he journeys to the neighboring kingdom to find her; when he claims a woodcarver's daughter as his mate, he scandalizes the nobility of her country and rouses the interest of Eld's wicked wizards, who come seeking her in order to get at Rain. •Mass Market Paperback: 402 pages •Publisher: Leisure Books (October 2, 2007) •Language: English •ISBN-10: 0843959770 •ISBN-13: 978-0843959772  Lord of the Fading Lands By C.L. Wilson Synopsis from Publisher’s Weekly: Wilson's sequel picks up, appropriately, right on the heels of the first title's denouement. Ellysetta Baristani and her betrothed Fey lord, returning hero Rain Tairen Soul, are days away from their wedding, but the wicked Eld lords are drawing ever closer to locating Ellysetta, whose magic they hope to use for their own ends. As the intrigues of the Eld plot ripple throughout the court, Ellysetta wrestles with personal demons and the mysterious power within her. Meanwhile, tensions on the country's borders mount as the specter of war draws nearer. •Mass Market Paperback: 386 pages •Publisher: Leisure Books (October 30, 2007) •Language: English •ISBN-10: 0843959789 •ISBN-13: 978-0843959789  King of Sword and Sky By C.L. Wilson Synopsis from Publisher’s Weekly: The richly imagined third volume of Wilson's bestselling fantasy romance series draws the reader into a complex web of ancient magics and looming war surrounding a central mystery: why are the kitlings of the powerful Tairen, magical winged catlike beings, dying before they hatch? Ellysetta Baristani, a woodcarver's daughter with unexplained magical gifts, must find the solution with the aid of her recently discovered truemate, Rain Tairen Soul, the Fey king tormented by his past misdeeds. Wilson peels back layers of secrets surrounding the evil mages of Eld and their schemes to destroy the Tairen and the Fey, but the revelations never overwhelm the emotional intensity of Ellysetta and Rain's developing relationship. Mass Market Paperback: 467 pages •Publisher: Leisure Books; (September 30, 2008) •Language: English •ISBN-10: 0843960590 •ISBN-13: 978-0843960594 Labels: C.L. Wilson, King of Sword and Sky, Lady of Light and Shadows, Lord of the Fading Lands, Tairen Soul Series Click here to read entire post. @
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Live dangerously! Click here to leave a comment Friday, April 24, 2009Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah Synopsis From the book jacket: In the summer of 1974, Kate Mularkey has accepted her place at the bottom of the eighth-grade social food chain. Then, to her amazement, the "coolest girl in the world" moves in across the street and want to be her friend. Tully Hart seems to have it all - beauty, brains, ambition. On the surface they are as opposite as two people can be: Kate doomed to be forever uncool,with a loving family who mortifies her at every turn; Tully, steeped in glamour and mystery, but with a secret that is destroying her. They make a pact to be best friends forever; by summer's end they've become TullyandKate. Inseparable. It pains me to say this but this book just didn’t do it for me. Don’t get me wrong I didn’t hate the book with the same passion as I did the last installment of the Twilight series. Unlike that book I never flung this book across the room. It’s just that I felt as I’ve read this before. I was able to put it down and walk away from it and not get that itchy hand feeling I get when a book is so fantastic I hate having my real life interrupt my reading. I really wanted to like it, I mean I loved the cover…loved the plot synopsis but eh what can you do? It reminded me of “Beaches” and I found the writing so predictable I was able to guess what was going to happen next. My mother however LOVED the book and we usually have similar taste in books. I guess this book and I were never meant to be.  Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah •Publisher: St. Martin's Press (February 5, 2008) •Language: English •ISBN-10: 0312364083 •ISBN-13: 978-0312364083 Labels: Firefly Lane, Kristin Hannah Click here to read entire post. @
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Live dangerously! Click here to leave a comment Sunday, April 5, 2009Grass For His Pillow, Brilliance of The Moon, The Harsh Cry of The Heron, Heaven's Net is Wide: Tales of The Otori by Lian Hearn I can’t say enough about this series. The second book was better than the first and each book seemed better than the one before. The writing was beautiful and lyrical. I found it really hard to put down each book of the series down. It's really a must read.  GRASS FOR HIS PILLOW:Picks up exactly where the first book ends. Lady Kaede, goes home to her aging father pregnant with Takeo’s baby. She doesn’t know if he’s alive or dead but she maintains the hope that he will come for her. In the mean time she rebuilds her life and with the help of her lady -waiting Shizuka, Kaede slowly amasses the power and strength to become a leader of her own family, the Shirakawa. In the meantime, Takeo is living amongst The Tribe. He is torn between his identities with the Otori, the people he originally called family (The Hidden), and his father's people, The Tribe. Takeo is confused as to which path to take. He is unhappy but because he gave his word to be a part of The Tribe, he stays with them. Although Takeo takes up with another woman on his journeys with The Tribe, his love for Kaede never dies. Eventually he runs away from the tribe and learns that the woman he’d slept with is pregnant with his son. He is reunited with Kaede and marries her. 
Brilliance of the Moon: Soon after Kaede and Takeo's marriage, messengers arrive at Terayama from his Uncles with a threat, and the head of Ichiro, his old teacher. The Otori army lies in wait to ambush him, so Takeo leads them over the mountains, and across the river near Kibi, with the assistance of a bridge made by Jo-an and some outcasts. After a minor skirmish with some bandits, they lead the army to Maruyama, the domain that Lady Maruyama left to Kaede. Lady Maruyama's son-in-law, Iida Nariaki, a cousin to Iida Sadamu, has marched in to Maruyama just ahead of them, but Iida's army gets caught between the Maruyama and Takeo's armies, and are defeated. 
The Harsh Cry of the Heron: Takeo and Kaede are now the prosperous rulers of the Three Countries. They have three daughters, Shigeko, and twins Miki and Maya. Shigeko, the eldest daughter and heir, has been trained as a boy as she will inherit the domain of Maruyama when she comes of age, and the Three Countries upon Takeo's death. Maya and Miki, on the other hand, are seen as cursed not only because of the superstitious beliefs concerning twins, but also because of their Tribe talents, indicated by the Kikuta lines on their palms. They are feared and ignored by many, including their mother, but are well-loved by Takeo and Shigeko. Takeo's only fear is that the prophecy concerning his death will be realized - he can only be killed by his son. 
Heaven's Net is Wide: The prequel to tells the story of the life of Lord Shigeru from the age of 12 (the year in which Takeo is born). It begins with the murder of Kikuta Isamu, Takeo's father, and includes Shigeru's training with Matsuda Shingen, the battle of Yaegahara, the role of Muto Shizuka, the meeting with Lady Maruyama, and other events foreshadowing Across the Nightingale Floor. It concludes with Shigeru and Takeo's meeting which begins the Trilogy. Labels: Brilliance of The Moon, Grass For His Pillow, Heaven's Net is Wide: Tales of The Otori, Lian Hearn, The Harsh Cry of The Heron Click here to read entire post. @
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Live dangerously! Click here to leave a comment Thursday, January 29, 2009Across the Nightingale Floor by Lian Hearn Across the Nightingale Floor by Lian Hearn is part one of a five book series, (trilogy plus two prequels) set in feudal Japan featuring swordfights, secret religion, conflicts of honor, revenge, torture, secret lovers, young wannabe lovers, martial artists incognito, assassinations, squeaky floors designed to prevent assassinations, and a clan of super-powered ninjas. Lian Hearn by the way is actually YA (young adult) author Gillian Rubinstein. Her most well-known (and best) novel under her own name is titled Galax-Arena. Tomasu is a teenaged boy who lives with his mother and step-father in a peaceful Japanese farming village. But his life is not what it seems. His community “the Hidden” is a persecuted community which practices its religion in secret, knowing that the price of exposure is death. One day the village is discovered and everyone but Tomasu is massacred by the evil warlord Iida Sadamu. The fleeing boy who just happens to be a dead ringer for Lord Otori’s dead brother Takeishi. Tomasu encounters Lord Otori, who rescues and adopts him, and re-names him Takeo. As Takeo adapts to his new life, he becomes embroiled in intrigue, and discovers some major secrets about his biological father and his own developing supernatural abilities. It seems he gets the skills from his daddy. Takeo's father was a member of the secretive Kikuta Tribe, and he has many special abilities such as exceptional hearing, invisibility, and the ability to split a second, phantom self from his own. Skills that will come in handy to extract revenge for the death of Lord Otori’s brother and Takeo’s family. Meanwhile, a beautiful girl named Kaede is held hostage by the evil Lord Noguchi, who is a sworn enemy of Lord Otori. When her groom to be in a forced marriage dies while celebrating his betrothal Kaede picks up the reputation of being a jinx to men especially in light of the fact that a guard who had tried to rape her had also met his maker. A marriage is then arranged between Lord Otori and Kaede by his under handed uncles on the order of Lord Iida. Lord Iida is not playing match maker out of concern for the couple. He wants Otori out of the way so he can marry the woman Otori truly loves plus take over some more land and if he gets to kill the popular Otori well then all the better. Lord Otori’s his bride to be and Takeo fall in love at first sight and the plot thickens. I have mixed feelings when it comes to this book. I like the story but it feels like it’s missing something. At times the writing came across as flat but there were scenes that were so vibrant they just leapt off the pages. The few love scenes between the couples were snoozers and lacking emotion. I might as well been reading a recipe for latkes. Across the Nightingale Floor by Lian Hearn Published by: Riverhead Books (Part of Penguin Putnam) ISBN: 1573223328 Labels: Across the Nightingale Floor, Lian Hearn, Tales of The Otori Click here to read entire post. @
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Live dangerously! Click here to leave a comment Wednesday, January 14, 2009Tess of the d’Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy This has been one of my favorite books for years. My friends and I would get into arguments over this book. They viewed Angel as the hero and Alec as the villain. I always saw it differently. To me Angel is a hypocrite he claims to love Tess he puts her on a pedestal one she never asked to be placed on in the first place and when he finds out about her past he leaves her! WTF? That’s love? Even though Alec was less than honorable in his pursuit of her he never abandoned her. The author made sure Alec paid for his sins by towards the end of the book. Tess Durbeyfield is a 16-year-old country girl, the eldest daughter of John and Joan Durbeyfield. In a chance meeting with Parson Tringham along the road one night, John Durbeyfield discovers that he is the descendent of the d’Urbervilles, an old and rich family with land holdings as far back as William the Conqueror in 1066. When he learns this John and his wife send Tess off to a meet a nearby relative, hoping that the relative will help them out of poverty. While visiting her relatives, the d’Urbervilles,Tess meets her playboy "cousin" Alec d’Urberville, who finds himself attracted to Tess. Alec arranges for Tess to become the caretaker for his blind mother’s poultry, and Tess moves in to take up the position. While in residence at the d’Urbervilles, Alec seduces and rapes Tess. Against Alec's wished a pregnant Tess (Alec doesn't know) returns home, gives birth to a son, Sorrow, the product of the rape, and works as a field worker on nearby farms. The baby dies shortly after it's born leaving Tess devistated. Tess leaves home again and takes a job as a milkmaid in a nearby dairy. She meets and falls in love with a travelling farmer’s apprentice, Angel Clare. She tries to resist Angel’s pleas for her hand in marriage but eventually marries Angel. He does not know Tess’ past, although she has tried on several occasions to tell him. After the wedding, Tess and Angel confess their pasts to each other. Tess forgives Angel for his past indiscretions, but Angel cannot forgive Tess for having a child with another man and leaves her. Tess returns to her parent’s house and out of neccesity leaves home again to work on a farm in another town. Her life and her working conditions are very harsh. One day Tess sees Alec again, now a practicing evangelical minister, preaching to the folks in the countryside. When Alec sees Tess, he is struck dumb and finds out that Tess had bore him a son. Alec leaves his position to pursue her. Alec follows her back the place where she works asking her to marry him. Tess refuses in the strongest terms, but Alec is persistent. Tess’s plight is over whelming at times I never fail to shed a tear or be outraged by Tess’s plight every time I read this book. It is an excellent book. You can download a free copy here. Enjoy. Labels: Tess of the d’Urbervilles, Thomas Hardy Click here to read entire post. @
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Live dangerously! Click here to leave a comment Friday, December 26, 2008The Crimson City Series By Various Authors Surprisingly my friends weren’t into this series which is a damn shame because the concept is really original. Crimson City’s got it all. It’s action-packed, intense, and romantic without going over the top. Oh yeah the Crimson City series has something for everyone including vampires, humans, werewolves, mechs, and demons. Oh my! Each chapter in the crimson series is written by a different author. I love this concept! These books are heavy on the sci-fi/fantasy action and light on the romance which is a-okay with me. The heroines are just at tough as the men, no one is perfect, no one has all the answers, and you really get drawn into what’s going on in Crimson City. I read somewhere that there will be no more installments in the series but I’m hoping that it’s not true. Oh and they make great stand alone books too. You don’t need to read the entire series in chronological order to know what’s going on. I got turned onto the series after coming across the 5th book in the series in a pile of neglected books belonging to my best friend. She hadn’t had the chance to read it and chucked it at me since I was in search of something new to read. I was hooked. Crimson City  (Bk 1 in Crimson City Series) by Liz Maverick Hero & Heroine: Human B-Ops Agent Dain Reston and Primary Vampire Fleur Dumont In this first book of the Crimson City series, you’re introduced to a Los Angeles where demons, werewolves, and vampires exist along side of humans. It’s world where ethnic prejudice is not only limited to humans. Fleur is a vampire whose past took her out of the vampire leadership which should’ve gone to her. She lives her life as nothing more than a spoiled rich girl. Then, with the assassination of her half-brothers, the leaders of the vampire nation, she takes back the power that was denied to her. Only she is not quite ready for it, she hasn’t had all the training she needs. Dain has no past he can remember. His earliest memories are of waking up in a hospital bed. His wife was killed by vamps and he can’t really remember her. Naturally he’s attracted to Fleur. When Fleur’s brothers are murdered by a hybrid machine/human called a Mech Dain and Fleur team up. I wasn’t too enamored of Fleur and Dain the main characters. As a couple they were a bit thin for my taste. I liked what I knew about them, but they were not fleshed out and actions they took in the story line didn't have the consequences that I’d expected. I was more intrigued by the secondary characters Marius, Cyd, and Jillian. I was more interested in learning about them and their stories but I guess that’s the point of any series, leave you wanting more. However over all Crimson City was a good read and a great launch for the series itself. •Mass Market Paperback: 357 pages •Publisher: Love Spell (July 30, 2005) •Language: English •ISBN-10: 0505526220 •ISBN-13: 978-0505526229 A Taste of Crimson  (Bk 2 in Crimson City Series) by Marjorie M. Liu Hero & Heroine: Vampire Michael and Alpha Werewolf Keeli Maddox Vampires and werewolves bitter enemies are on the verge of signing a peace treaty when someone starts killing vampires in Crimson City , framing vamps and weres alike. Michael is the Vendix aka “The Punisher”, the first vampire executioner of other vampires. Keeli is the only surviving relative of her grandmother, the Grand Dame Alpha werewolf of the entire city. Her path crosses with Michael’s one night when she saves a woman from being raped and is arrested for her trouble. Micheal secretly working with the human police department steps in a saves her from jail. In turn To Michael & Keeli team up to help catch the killer and help save the peace negotiations. I loved these characters. Keeli is incredible. Even though she has her own prejudices to deal with in regards to vamps she is willing to work with them change for the greater good and much to her dismay finds her attitude about them changing. Even though he was forced into the role as Vendix for things he did beyond his control when he was younger he’s shunned by his people still he looks out for them. These two make a great team and you'll be cheering them on to find a happy ending. •Mass Market Paperback: 372 pages •Publisher: Love Spell (August 30, 2005) •Language: English •ISBN-10: 0505526328 •ISBN-13: 978-0505526328 Through a Crimson Veil (Crimson City)  (Bk3 in Crimson City Series) by Patti O’Shea Hero & Heroine: Kiverian Demon Conor McCabe and Mahsei Demon Mika Noguchi Mika has been sent to Crimson City on an extremely important mission; shes’s supposed to steal something from Conor but she Mika has her own agenda as well. Conor is her vishtau mate which is a sacred bond among the demons. Conor is a the B-Ops freelancer that kills rogue paranormals on the streets of Crimson City. Oh yeah Mika is half human/ half demon who splits her time between the human world with her dad and the demon world with her mom. She is totally into being a demon. In order to accomplish her mission Mika hires Conor to protect her by making up a lie about someone being out to kill her. Conor is half demon as well and not too happy about that fact. He’s the result of his human mother being raped by his demon father. Eventually he learns Mika’s been lying to him but by that time he also learns someone is out to kill him and Mika because of their bond is determined to keep him alive. This book introduces the Bak-Faru’s demons so powerful other demons fear them. The fight scenes in this book were fantastic, the descriptions so vivid you see a clear picture of everything in your head while reading. •Mass Market Paperback: 369 pages •Publisher: Love Spell (September 27, 2005) •Language: English •ISBN-10: 0505526476 •ISBN-13: 978-0505526472 A Darker Crimson  (Bk4 in Crimson City Series) by Carolyn Jewel Hero & Heroine:Vampire Tiberiu Korzha and Human C.C.P.D. Officer Claudia Donovan Claudia Donovan is a young single mother and a police officer with the LAPD. She is cynical about the paranormal species she has to deal with but overall she is a down to earth likable character. While investigating a crime scene she meets the vamp Tiberiu Korhza. The demons of Orcus believe they have found the key to enable them to open the portal between their world and the human world. The key happens to be Claudia and in order to “persuade” her to work with them they kidnap her daughter and bring Claudia into their world. Tiber has been working up an alliance with the very same demons but they betray him while he is in their world. Claudia and Tiber end up striking a deal in order for him to gain what he wants and for her to get her daughter back home safely. There’s also a “love” triangle thrown in for good measure. Lath a Bak-Faru demon has the vishtau bond thing going on with Claudia. Problem is he hates humans, she hates demons, falls for the vamp and you know someone is going to end up hurt. This book was awesome on every level. It was hard for me to put this book down. Be warned though it’s darker than the other Crimson City books and there is a rape scene. •Mass Market Paperback: 373 pages •Publisher: Love Spell (October 2005) •Language: English •ISBN-10: 0505526581 •ISBN-13: 978-0505526588 Seduced by Crimson (Crimson City)  (Bk 5 in Crimson City Series) by Jade Lee Hero & Heroine: Human Druid Patrick Lews and Human Phoenix Tear Xiao Fei In the previous book The gate to the demon world, Orcus was opened now the war is on. Patrick is the Draig-Uisge, an enforcer of sorts for the Druids. Xiao Fei is the last Phoenix Tear, is a woman whose blood holds so much power she can un-turn a vampire. Patrick believes he and Xiao can close the demon gate together but first they have to over come their own issues. This book is action-packed and has several interesting twists along the way. •Mass Market Paperback: 339 pages •Publisher: Love Spell (February 28, 2006) •Language: English •ISBN-10: 0505526727 •ISBN-13: 978-0505526724 Crimson Rogue (Crimson City)  (Bk 6 in Crimson City Series) by Liz Maverick Hero & Heroine: Mech Finn and Ex B-Ops Cyd Brighton We briefly met these characters in the opening book of the series. Cyd was Dain’s partner and Finn was the mech who killed Fleur Dumont’s brothers. As a result of actions that happened in Seduced by Crimson Cyd and Finn are back in the human world and not having an easy time of it. Cyd’s got one of those pesky Bak-Faru demons hot on her trail determined to bring her back to Orcus and Finn is trying to become human. I was couldn't put this book down until I finished. •Mass Market Paperback: 336 pages •Publisher: Love Spell (April 4, 2006) •Language: English •ISBN-10: 0505526255 •ISBN-13: 978-0505526250 Shards of Crimson (Crimson City)  (Bk 7 in Crimson City Series) byLiz Maverick Patti O’Shea, Carolyn Jewel, Jade Lee The final book of the series it’s a collection of stories by the Crimson City team in which we get to catch up with some of the past characters and meet some new ones. Here’s the problem with this book it left a lot of loose ends in regards to some of the characters in the previous books. While the anthology of stories was great it left the fan like me in the lurch in regards to some of the characters we’d come to know from the previous books. I’m really hoping that this is not truly the last book of the series. I want to know what happened with the half wolf-half vamp kid rescued by Micheal and Keeli in their book? What happened to the kid/wolf that Xiao rescued the one that was part of a prophecy? What about Jill and Marius? Here’s a summary of the book from Amazon.com: . "A Time to Howl" by Liz Maverick. Tajo the werewolf tells his soulmate Princess Gia to forget him and leave, as he is a lone rogue. By doing this he breaks two hearts but he must confront Marius and the other Dumont vampires and their werewolf allies. "DX" by Carolyn Jewel. As a favor to a friend and to regain her government security clearance, private investigator Hell Marshall accepts a case from I-Ops to bring down a killing DX (demon of unknown origin). The DX seems easy to deal with when compared to how her heart beats when she is near her partner Special Forces Agent Jordan Lightfeather. "School Bites" by Jade Lee. At Ben Franklin Middle School, human teacher Toni Freedman intercedes in a fight between three male students when one of them Kumars Gray bit her. Principal John Wayne Wong wants to protect the woman he loves whether she is a wolf, human or both. "Dark Awakening" by Patti O'Shea. The evil Bak-Faru pursues Kimi who fears what will happen if her stalker catches her as she is new to the demon game. Her only hope rests with Nic a demon if they can keep their star-crossed attraction under control. •Mass Market Paperback: 370 pages •Publisher: Love Spell (January 2, 2007) •Language: English •ISBN-10: 0505527103 •ISBN-13: 978-0505527103 Labels: Carolyn Jewel, Crimson City Series, Jade Lee, Liz Maverick, Marjorie M. Liu, Patti O’Shea Click here to read entire post. @
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2 comment from: Liz Maverick, Mia,
Live dangerously! Click here to leave a comment Sunday, December 14, 2008Paradise Lost by John Milton Divided into 12 books Paradise Lost is the famous epic by 17th-century English poet John Milton. Published in 1667, the poem tells the story of Satan's rebellion against God, his expulsion from Heaven along with the rest of the rebel angels, and how he tempted Adam and Eve to eat of the forbidden fruit and fall from grace. Ever since I first borrowed the book from my mother’s book case back in high school it has been one of my favorite books. One look at my weathered 1935 edition with its yellowed pages and worn binding would attest to its popularity. I’ve read the book so many times over the years I’ve lost count. A lot of people I’ve recommended the book to have been put off by it claiming it’s a long difficult read but eventually they are won over by my argument that Paradise Lost is the ultimate fantasy novel. It’s written in old English and unless you’re into Shakespeare you might have a hard time with it at first but once you’re into the story the flow of the language is easy to understand. Here’s an interesting bit of information the majority of William Blake’s poetry was based around Paradise Lost. Nice huh, got you curious now eh? A free copy of Paradise Lost is available for download by Project Gutenberg. I’ve also found a scanned copy online. Go on enjoy…. Labels: John Milton, paradise lost Click here to read entire post. @
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Live dangerously! Click here to leave a comment Tuesday, December 2, 2008Meredith Gentry Series by Laurell K Hamilton This series was recommended to me by a few of my blog readers. When I mentioned it to some friends who are huge LK Hamilton fan thanks to her Anita Blake series they trashed Merry Gentry to no end. I read it anyway the plot of the series is unique and off the hook. Meredith Gentry , princess of faerie is in between a rock and a hard place. Meredith has gone into hiding in Los Angeles, having fled her homeland after having had a crappy childhood. Her aunt the sadistic Queen of Air and Darkness, ruler of the Unseelie Court of the sidhe, tried to drown her as a kid and she spent the rest of the time fighting for her life while growing up. Meredith is of mixed parentage and as a result mortal which doesn’t fly too well where she’s from. After being in hiding for 3 yrs working as a detective Merry is found and brought back home for an audience with the Queen. The Queen makes Merry an offer she can’t refuse. If she can get pregnant before the Queen’s bad seed of a son has a kid Merry can have the throne. The Queen is even willing to supply the men for Merry to do the nasty with. She’s giving Merry some of her Royal Guard men who’ve been celibate for hundreds of years. If Merry refuses the Queens offer then she will be killed. So basically it’s hump like a bunny or die for Merry. Needless to say Merry’s cousin Cel the queen’s son isn’t too thrilled. There’s just no winning for poor Merry. In between the sex Merry fends off assassination attempts and develops feelings for her guards. Here’s the thing though Merry’s hoo-hah seems to have magical powers. I’d hate to think what would happen if Merry broke wind. Every time she boinks a guard his former powers are restored. Merry also is slowly bringing the land of faerie back to life while she’s in the court. A lot of people bitched about the so called kinky sex in this series (threesomes, bondage) saying it bordered on the pornographic but to tell you the truth I really didn’t think the sex was all that outrageous. It was mild erotica at best and perfect considering what the plot dealt with. Did I absolutely go bonkers this series like I did for The Dark Hunters Series (Sherrilyn Kenyon), the Southern Vampire Series (Charlaine Harris), or the Fever Series (Karen Marie Moaning)? Na I didn’t, even though it did have its moments the Merry Gentry series for me was an average read. I had no trouble putting the books down and walking away from them. I think it could have been so much more than it is. Maybe if we'd seen more of the Queen and her son in action. Did I enjoy the series? Yeah actually I did. It was okay. Will I be impatiently waiting for the next installment so desperate that I'll spring the 20 bucks for the hardcover edition like I've done for a few other series? Na, even though I liked it I can wait until it comes out in paper back. Below are the plot summaries for each book courtesy of Wikipedia. I took the easy way out this time. I'm studying for finals. Read at your own risk. They contain spoilers.  Kiss of Shadows by LK Hamilton Book 1 Meredith Gentry Series The story begins in Los Angeles, California, in a world where magical creatures are "out of the closet" and, in some cases, even legal. Princess Meredith NicEssus is working for the Grey Detective Agency under the assumed name of Meredith 'Merry' Gentry. When two women come to the agency with a story about fey-wannabes and rituals involving fey women, Merry goes undercover to investigate. However, she and her colleagues get more than they bargained for when it is discovered that the culprit is using Branwyn's Tears, an oil that can make a human into a sidhe lover for a night, and turn even a sidhe or a sidhe-descendant into a sexual slave. In the process of solving the case, Merry's secret is revealed, and she finds herself being hunted by the Sluagh. Brought to see their King, Sholto, he offers Meredith a deal. Himself disapproved of by Andais, Queen of Air and Darkness, because of his mixed blood, he proposes an alliance between the two of them. However, jealous at the idea of the princess becoming his lover, Merry is attacked by Sholto's harem of nighthags. During the fight Merry's Hand of Flesh is revealed when one of them, Nerys, becomes nothing more than a ball of flesh. Shocked, Merry tries to flee, only to find herself trapped. It is at this point that Doyle, Captain of the Queen's Ravens, appears. He announces that the Queen never sent the Sluagh out after Meredith, and that in fact the Queen meant her no harm. As prove of this he produces the Queen's sword Mortal Dread, as well as the Queen's mark, which he transfers to Merry in a kiss. Merry returns with Doyle to the Court. There she is reunited with both friends and enemies. The Queen reveals that she wishes for her bloodline to continue upon the throne. For that to happen, she is willing to take as her heir whoever of Meredith or her cousin, Cel, can first produce an heir. She lifts the geas of celibacy upon her Ravens for Meredith alone, insisting that she choose at least three or even more in order to increase the chance of her becoming pregnant. While this offer would permit Merry to end her self-imposed exile and return home, it also brings with it its own dangers. Cel, previously his mother's sole heir, makes several attempts upon her life. It is in order to gain support that Merry makes alliances with others such as Kurag, the Goblin King. Finally, it is revealed that Cel was behind the Branwyn's Tears incident in LA, something illegal by current laws. In punishment, he is to be confined for six months after being coated with the oil himself, something akin to torture. •Mass Market Paperback: 480 pages •Publisher: Ballantine Books (February 26, 2002) •Language: English •ISBN-10: 0345423402 •ISBN-13: 978-0345423405  A Caress of Twilight by LK Hamilton Book 2 Meredith Gentry Series A Caress of Twilight begins a few months after the events of A Kiss of Shadows. It is December, and Merry and the Sidhe warriors she has chosen as her lovers have returned to Los Angeles, California. Merry has resumed working for the Grey Detective Agency and several of the Sidhe have also joined the payroll. Merry is approached by Maeve Reed, previously known as Conchenn before her exile from the Seelie Court and now a famous Hollywood actress. Maeve asks Merry to perform a fertility rite that will permit her to have a child by her dying human husband. In return, she tells the princess that the reason for her exile was that she had refused to become the wife of Taranis, King of Light and Illusion, because she believed he was sterile. Galen, badly injured by the demi-fey during A Kiss of Shadows, has yet to heal, despite the usually phenomenal healing abilities of a sidhe warrior. Merry approaches the Queen of the Demi-Fey, Niceven, regarding a cure. The price of the cure and an alliance is a weekly drink of Merry's blood by a surrogate to be chosen by Niceven. During Merry's first night in bed with Doyle, they are interrupted by Andais who reveals that the Nameless has been freed. The worst of both courts, the Nameless was the last great spell that Seelie and Unseelie had cooperated upon. They had stripped themselves of everything too awful for them to be permitted to stay in the United States, and from it had been formed the Nameless. A strange murder brings members of the Grey Agency, including Merry, to the scene. However, their presence is challenged by others of the police force and they are thrown off site. However, this is not before they have a chance to suspect that supernatural forces are at work. It is suspected that the lives had been sucked from the murder victims by the ghosts of dead gods. Nothing is said to the police, however, as the only known person to work such a spell was a sidhe and, if it were discovered, that fact could result in all sidhe being banished from the country. Healed from his injuries by Niceven's representative, Sage, Galen acts the part of the Green Man in the fertility ritual with Merry which results in Maeve Reed becoming pregnant. It begins to become clear that Taranis is also planning something as various social secretaries insist upon Merry attending first the Yule Ball and then a feast in her honour. This culminates in a conversation between Merry and Taranis himself. Finally, the Nameless attacks Maeve Reed's home. It is finally defeated by Merry and her companions, Merry herself showing for the first time her second Hand of Power - the Hand of Blood. The result of the destruction of the Nameless is the release of the magics which formed it; these magics transfer themselves to the victors, who begin to exhibit unforeseen side effects. •Mass Market Paperback: 368 pages •Publisher: Ballantine Books (March 15, 2005) •Language: English •ISBN-10: 0345478169 •ISBN-13: 978-0345478160  Seduced By Moonlight by LK Hamilton Book 3 Meredith Gentry Series Seduced by Moonlight begins shortly after the events of A Caress of Twilight. Kurag, Goblin King, is insisting upon proof that Kitto has become sidhe following sex with Merry. She offers an extra month of their alliance for every goblin hybrid she can bring into sidhe magic. During the discussions, Siun, Kitto's nightmarish, spidery former mistress, appears and he is terrified. It is revealed that Rhys also swore blood price on her, as it was she that took his eye when he failed to "glow" for her during sex. In his fear, Kitto accidentally uses the Hand of Reaching to open a portal through the mirror. Siun falls through and is trapped half-way, and after some negotiation, Kurag allows the Ravens to do what they like. Kitto viciously wounds her, and Rhys kills her with a word. It is revealed that Meredith is a vessel for the Goddess Danu when she inadvertently brings the pregnant Maeve Reed back into her god-head, and gives Frost newfound god status (which he is not comfortable with). The cup or cauldron also reappears after Merry has a dream about it, an effect that has significant impact upon the sidhe who believed it lost forever. During sex with Merry many of her lovers suffer unexpected side-effects: Rhys is brought back into his god-head Frost is brought into his god-head Sage is turned into a full-sized sidhe Nicca is possessed by Dian Cecht Doyle regains his shape-shifting abilities (turning into a dog and a horse), plus ones he never had previously (an eagle). Merry and her lovers return to the Courts. Upon the flight back, Merry is presented with the Queen's ring by Rhys. This is not only a symbol of her status as heir, but also a potent artifact in its own right. It was known as the happy ever after ring as it permitted sidhe to find their perfect mates. When they arrive at the airport they are greeted by several of the Queen's Ravens as well as human policemen. The Queen has insisted that Merry take to her bed any of the sidhe that the ring recognises. A short while after their arrival, they attend a press conference. A policeman is bewitched and shooting breaks out. Merry is saved by Frost and others of the Ravens. Yet more Ravens await Merry at the sithen. The Queen insists that Merry beds two out of the four before she appears before her. The result is the appearance of a spring, from which Merry fills a cup. Andais, apparently insane with bloodlust, is attacking her men. The Ravens attempt to intervene and protect one another. Merry uses her Hand of Blood to draw wounds upon her aunt. The Green Man then gives Merry the ability to heal all those in the room. It is discovered that a spell was used to incite the Queen to murder. The plot was hatched by those amongst the court who feared that a mortal Queen, Merry, would result in the sidhe ceasing to exist. Merry is challenged by one, Miniver, and they duel before the court. Meredith is declared the winner. •Mass Market Paperback: 432 pages •Publisher: Ballantine Books (December 28, 2004) •Language: English •ISBN-10: 0345443594 •ISBN-13: 978-0345443595  A Stroke of Midnight by LK Hamilton Book 4 Meredith Gentry Series Following on almost immediately from the events of Seduced by Moonlight, A Stroke of Midnight begins with Merry and the Ravens attending a press conference in the sithen. This is highly unusual as the home of the sidhe is usually off-limits to the human press. However, it is felt that it is more secure than holding the conference elsewhere. This opinion is challenged almost immediately by the deaths of Beatrice, one of the lesser fae, and a human reporter. Merry, assigned to solve the murders by her aunt, Queen Andais, opts to bring in human forensics in the hope that science might be able to succeed where magic has so far failed - and bring a murderer to justice. The entire novel takes place within approximately one day. •Mass Market Paperback: 416 pages •Publisher: Ballantine Books (November 28, 2006) •Language: English •ISBN-10: 0345443608 •ISBN-13: 978-0345443601  Mistral’s Kiss by LK Hamilton Book 5 Meredith Gentry Series Picking up where the previous novel, A Stroke of Midnight, left off, Meredith and company are still holed up in the underground fairy mound of the Unseelie Court, with the princess still trying to get pregnant. Mistral, one of the queen's guards, is on temporary loan to Meredith after the recent attempt on her life. The powers that they stir up affect some serious changes in the land of faerie, none of which make Queen Andais happy. Sholto, King of the Sluagh, comes to terms with Merry and awakens the Wild Hunt. Again, the book takes place in approximately one day. •Mass Market Paperback: 336 pages •Publisher: Ballantine Books (October 30, 2007) •Language: English •ISBN-10: 0345443616 •ISBN-13: 978-0345443618  A Lick of Frost by LK Hamilton Book 6 Meredith Gentry Series A Lick of Frost begins one month after the events of Mistral's Kiss. The opening chapters show Merry and her guards Rhys, Galen, Doyle, Frost, and Abeloec in a conference room, being questioned about the charges of rape against Rhys, Galen, and Abeloec. King Taranis has brought the charges on behalf the woman allegedly raped by the aforementioned fey. The meeting ends badly, with Taranis losing what little control he had on his sanity, and one of the officers of Taranis' guard, Sir Hugh, telling Merry that he is going to force a vote among the nobles of the Seelie court to choose a new king, and he wants Merry to take Taranis' place. When Merry and her guards get home after taking a trip to the hospital (as Doyle and Abe got badly hurt from Taranis' attack), they call Aunt Andais to tell her of all that has happened- specifically the offer to rule the Seelie Court. Andais believes Merry already agreed to rule and abuses one of her guards (Crystall) in a sadistic rage. Eventually, Merry and her men convince Andais otherwise, but she still continues to abuse the guard in reaction to many of them leaving to join Merry. The series of mirror-calls end, and Merry finalizes the coming together of her, Ash, and Holly for later that night. Night comes and Holly and Ash arrive, along with all of the Red Caps in tow. Jonty, a Red Cap that helped Merry fight in Mistral's Kiss, sheds a tear as Merry tells him she would bring the Red Caps into their power. She catches the tear on her finger and consumes it. This brings on the remaking of Maeve Reed's house into a sithen. Those of faerie who stand in that room with no faerie dog to keep them grounded, crumple to the floor. Some of the crumpled men are revived by one of the dogs, but Frost stays down. The creation of the sithen (faerie land) allows the ring of fertility on her finger to flare to life and Merry realizes that she is pregnant with twins. Each twin has three fathers like in the story of Ceridwen. A phantom image of Merry's children appear by their respective fathers, Rhys, Frost, Galen, Doyle, Mistral, and Sholto. There is also a dimmer phantom image of a 3rd child (that has the potential to be born after the twins). Frost turns out to be the sacrificial king for the creation of the new sithen. Merry prays for him not to die, and he turns into a white stag and runs off. Merry runs to one of the gardens of her sithen to be alone and grieve the loss of Frost. While out there, Taranis (using illusion to appear as one of her guards) knocks her out and takes her to his bedroom back at the Seelie Court. It is assumed that he rapes her, and then believes he fathers her children. Hugh, some others at the Seelie Court, and Doyle (in dog form) sneak her out of the bedroom and into a press conference where she tells the press that Taranis made the Seelie woman (Lady Catarin) believe that it was Rhys, Galen, and Abe who raped her. However, it was all just an illusion of Taranis' making and the woman was in fact raped by other Seelie nobles working with him. Merry also tells them that she is pregnant, and that Taranis kidnapped and raped her. The book ends with Merry in an ambulance with Doyle, continuing to mourn Frost and her current situation. She is on her way to the hospital to treat the concussion she received from Taranis and to take a rape test. •Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages •Publisher: Ballantine Books; Reprint edition (October 28, 2008) •Language: English •ISBN-10: 0345495918 •ISBN-13: 978-0345495914  Swallowing Darkness by LK Hamilton Book 7 Meredith Gentry Book seven of the Merry Gentry saga opens with Princess Merry now pregnant with twins and grieving the loss of her lover, Frost. Damaged but recovering from being raped by her Uncle Taranis, Merry is once again surrounded by her royal guards, although her duplicitous family is still doing their level best to separate her from those her love her. Now Taranis is claiming to be the father of her unborn twins, a claim that Merry knows to be a lie. When someone close to her is killed, Merry, in her fury, calls up the Wild Hunt and demands vengeance. With the world of faerie lining up against her and her insane cousin Cel reluctant to give up his claim on the throne, Merry stands very little chance of wearing the crown anytime in the near future. Forced to watch as those she loves are sacrificed to her quest, Merry begins to question whether being a fairy queen is what she really wants at all. •Hardcover: 384 pages •Publisher: Ballantine Books (November 4, 2008) •Language: English •ISBN-10: 0345495934 •ISBN-13: 978-0345495938 Labels: Laurell K Hamilton, Meredith Gentry Click here to read entire post. @
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4 comment from: , Mia, , Mia,
Live dangerously! Click here to leave a comment Saturday, November 22, 2008The Southern Vampire Mysteries By Charlaine Harris I was drawn to The Southern Vampire Mysteries Series by Charlaine Harris because of the funky art work on the covers. Then I found out that the HBO series True Blood is based on this series of books. I dig the series but I LOVE the books. You know how they say that you can never just eat one potato chip? This series was like a costco sized bag of chips for me. I was hooked before I even finished the first book. I can hardly wait to the newest book in the series comes out next year. A fan is born…seriously how can you not love a series in which Elvis, yeah that Elvis is now a vampire and known as Bubba? The heroine of the series is Sookie Stackhouse, a down to earth 20 something year old telepathic barmaid living the tiny town of Bon Temps, Louisiana. She’s considered the town odd ball because of this talent and until the vampire Bill Compton walks into her life she never had much use for the talent. Thanks to Bill and I don’t necessarily mean it in a nice way Sookie discovers there’s a whole world that humans are clueless about. A world full of supernatural creatures. Sookie encounters vampires, werewolves, wereanimals, fairies, etc. and is forever in some sort of peril. This series rocks.  Dead Until Dark: Book 1 Vampires are out of the closet and living among us thanks to the Japanese inventing a synthetic blood they can live on. One night Bill the vampire walks into the bar Sookie works at and her life is changed. She can’t read his mind and of course they are attracted to each other, especially after she saves his life. In the midst of all this feel good stuff there’s a serial killer running amok in Bon Temps and Jason, Sookie’s brother is the prime suspect due to his history with each of the victims. Mass Market Paperback: 292 pages Publisher: Ace Books (May 1, 2001) Language: English ISBN-10: 0441008534 ISBN-13: 978-0441008537 Mass Market Paperback: 291 pages  Living Dead In Dallas: Book 2 Sookie learns that the United States is broken up into areas, and each area has a Sheriff who is the leader of all of the other vampires in that area. There are kings and queens of areas too, whom the sheriffs report to. In this novel, we see more of Eric Northman. Who is Eric? Eric is Bill’s Viking vampire boss the Sheriff of area 5. He was introduced in the first novel but in this one he has more to do. He also seems to be developing a thing for Sookie. In order to protect Sookie Bill gets himself assigned to Eric and in a way Sookie becomes an employee of Eric as well. He rents her out to find a missing vamp in Dallas but the adventure doesn’t end there. Sookie gets attacked by a maenad, a supernatural creature who thrives on chaos, violence and drunkenness. She hunts for the murderer of a co-worker and attends an orgy with Eric as part of her quest to find the murderer. Mass Market Paperback: 291 pages Publisher: Ace Books (March 26, 2002) Language: English ISBN-10: 0441009239 ISBN-13: 978-0441009237  Club Dead: Book 3 Remember Sookie’s boss Sam? Well it turns out he’s a paranormal dude, he’s a shape shifter. In this book we get to meet some of the fur faced people that live in the United States when Bill goes missing after breaking up with Sookie. Only he neglects to tell her he’s dumping her, for another vampire, that bastard. Eric is the one who is forced to deliver the news plus he has to ask Sookie for help in finding Bill otherwise he is in big trouble with his queen the kind that will end his immortality kind of trouble. Oh yeah and she meets Alcide a werewolf with a psycho ex girl friend who has it in for Sookie. Mass Market Paperback: 258 pages Publisher: Ace Books (April 29, 2003) Language: English ISBN-10: 0441010512 ISBN-13: 978-0441010516  Dead To The World: Book 4 Jason Stackhouse goes missing and Sookie joins forces with were and vamps to kick some evil ass. A coven of witches tries to muscle in on Eric’s business and when he won’t give the head witch what she wants a percentage of his business and sex with him she puts a spell on Eric and gives him amnesia. Sookie finds him running down the road towards her place and takes him in. She ends up having to babysit him while Eric’s people come up with a plan to get rid of the witches. Eric and rebounding Sookie get real close in this book and act out on their feelings for each other. Sookie also murders someone in self-defense in front of Eric. Mass Market Paperback: 320 pages Publisher: Ace (May 3, 2005) Language: English ISBN-10: 0441012183 ISBN-13: 978-0441012183  Dead As A Door Nail: Book 5 The leader of the Panthers, Calvin Norris, is out to win Sookie’s heart. Unfortunately, someone is shooting at the local were population, and suspicions fall on Jason Stackhouse who has been forced into becoming a supernatural creature. While Sookie is trying to clear his name, she gets shot, attacked by a vampire and meets Quinn at the werewolf leadership challenge. Who is Quinn? You’ll learn more about him in the next book. Alcide’s back and takes advantage of Sookie’s kindness to use her talent to help his dad out which ends up backfiring on his dad. Eric and Bill are in the picture too-Bill trying to make Sookie jealous and Eric trying to figure out what went down while he stayed with her. Mass Market Paperback: 320 pages Publisher: Ace (April 25, 2006) Language: English ISBN-10: 0441013333 ISBN-13: 978-0441013333  Definitely Dead: Book 6 Quinn and Sookie start seeing each other; Eric is not a happy camper about that. Sookie goes to New Orleans to meet the vampire queen and solve a problem for her. In the process Sookie gets bit by a were turned vamp by her dead cousin the queen’s former girlfriend. Sookie also finds out the real reason Bill walked into her bar the night they met. Bill was sent by the queen of Louisiana to find out about Sookie’s abilities and to get as close to her as possible. That’s right- Bill seduced Sookie because his queen told him to even though he insists he really did fall in love with her. Sookie has someone trying to kill her and gets kidnapped along with Quinn. Of course Eric is there to help her out. Sookie also finds out she has a hint of fairy blood running through her veins. Mass Market Paperback: 352 pages Publisher: Ace (March 27, 2007) Language: English ISBN-10: 0441014917 ISBN-13: 978-0441014910  All Together Dead: Book 7 Sookie attends a vamp convention working as an aid to the Queen of Louisiana, Sophie-Anne Leclerq. The summit is a tense event the queen has been accused of murdering her husband, the King of Arkansas and will be tried at the summit. Sookie knows the charge is a lie because she was a witness to his death. Sophie-Anne plans to put Sookie's gift to good use, having her "listen in" on the thoughts of the humans working for the other vampires at the convention as well as for the hotel itself, as alliances are formed and allegiances tested in what can only be described as a political power struggle of potentially deadly implications. Sookie discovers a plot that could put all the undead and Sookie herself in mortal danger. Sookie’s ties to Eric are also strengthened when he steps intercedes and prevents the queens right hand man from binding Sookie to himself and the queen. Mass Market Paperback: 352 pages Publisher: Ace (March 25, 2008) Language: English ISBN-10: 0441015816 ISBN-13: 978-0441015818  From Dead To Worse: Book 8 All hell breaks loose in this one. Sookie gets caught in the middle as both the weres and the Louisiana vamps battle outside threats. She also finds out where her gift and fairy blood come from and Eric finally remembers everything. Hardcover: 368 pages Publisher: Ace Hardcover; 1 edition (May 6, 2008) Language: English ISBN-10: 0441015891 ISBN-13: 978-0441015894 Labels: Charlaine Harris, Sookie Stackhouse, Southern Vampire Mysteries Click here to read entire post. @
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Live dangerously! Click here to leave a comment Wednesday, October 22, 2008Twilight Watch by Sergei Lukyanenko Twilight Watch is the third in a series (The Night Watch ,The Day Watch) part fantasy, part vampire story, and part detective story, this series has been the most successful science fiction series of all time in Russia and a true international sensation. In America, Fox Searchlight released the film adaptation of Night Watch to great reviews, and adaptations of the next two books are currently in production. Now lets get to how I felt about the book.... While each book works as a stand alone book I really do I recommend that you read the series in order to get the most out of it. I absolutely loved the first book "The Night Watch" in the series although I must warn you personally I found the first half of second book in the series "The Day Watch" slow as molasses and almost gave up on it. Now i'm glad I didn't. "Twilight Watch" (aka "Dusk Watch") is fast paced from beginning to end. Here’s a brief description of the series for those not familiar with it: Walking the streets of modern day Russia, indistinguishable from the rest of its population, are the Others. Possessors of supernatural powers and capable of entering the Twilight, a shadowy world that exists in parallel to our own, each owes allegiance either to the Dark or the Light. Twilight Watch opens with a mystery, the Night Watch, the Day Watch, and the neutral-overseer Inquisition all receive anonymous notes that a way has been found to turn normal humans into Others. A renegade “Other” disappears with a fabled book of spells and appears intent on using it to alter the course of mankind because of this the forces of Light and Dark must cooperate to stop him. Adding to the urgency is the fact that Anton’s daughter has been kidnapped. Lukyanenko’s writing per usual was riveting and his characters are intense and complex. It’s full of mystery, turns and twists, and one hell of conclusion which is the set up for the next book in the series. I loved this book and highly recommend it. I had a hard time putting this one down. •Paperback: 416 pages •Publisher: Miramax (June 13, 2007) •Language: English •ISBN-10: 1401360211 •ISBN-13: 978-1401360214 Labels: Sergei Lukyanenko, Twilight Watch Click here to read entire post. @
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Live dangerously! Click here to leave a comment Tuesday, October 7, 2008Minion by LA Banks Minion is the first book in the Vampire Huntress series. The copy I purchased was a special author’s edition containing a new beginning and added scenes. Here’s the thing I found it to be a little repetitious but I’m pretty sure that was due to the added scenes. Maybe I’ll track down the original version of the book and compare it to this one. Here’s the plot in a nutshell: By day Damali Richards is a successful spoken word artist, by night she’s and her band are vamp slayers. Her band/team consists of Marlene and Shabazz (parental figures), Big Mike, Rider, Jose, J.L., and Dan. Each of them has their own area of expertise. Damali and her crew are ridding the world of vampires when they come across a new breed of evil and that’s the crux of the story. Minion offers a sense that the reader has come in on a story in progress. The prologue provides some detail of the characters history more details are provided as the story moves along. Damali soon to be 21 has some special powers that are revealing themselves slowly and a connection to the villain of the story Fallon Nuit, vampire with the strength of demons and power in the mortal world. He wants Damali because of her powers and the only one capable of giving him to her is Carlos Rivera. Carlos is an old friend and love interest of Damali’s who is recruited by Nuit by giving him by offering him vengeance on those who brutally murdered Carlos family. Carlos doesn’t learn what Nuit actually is until it’s too late. I loved the premise of the story, the plot was anything but predictable, and there was a kick ass cliff hanger of an ending. My only complaint about this book was that some of the scenes went on a bit too long and bored the hell out of me. I’m going to continue reading the series because I figure it can only get better as it goes along. •Mass Market Paperback: 320 pages •Publisher: St. Martin's Paperbacks (April 29, 2004) •Language: English •ISBN-10: 0312987013 •ISBN-13: 978-0312987015 Click here to read entire post. @
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Live dangerously! Click here to leave a comment Thursday, September 25, 2008Faefever by Karen Marie Moning This is the 3rd book in the fever series. If you haven’t read the series I really recommend you do especially if you’re into contemporary urban fantasy. Let me give you a recap of the series so far... The series’ heroine is Mackayla “Mac” Lane. Mac is a genuine Southern bell, raised in Georgia, living a carefree life until her sister Alina's death. Alina was murdered while attending college in Dublin, Ireland. Since the cops can’t solve her murder Mac heads out to Ireland to do it herself and finds herself plunged into a world where it’s Fae vs. Man. These Fae are not the sweet little Tinkerbelle’s of Peter Pan. These suckers are evil, vicious, and basically want to destroy our world. To them humans are right up there with roaches. They care nothing of the damage they inflict on us. While in Dublin looking for clues into her sister’s death Mac discovers she is actually more part of the supernatural world than the human. She comes from a long line of a long line of sidhe seers,who are hunted by the the fae. The sidhe seers are women with the ability to see through the glamour of the Fae and Mac seems to be the strongest one of them all. She meets Jericho Barrons and commits to a reluctant partnership with him in exchange for his protection. She is also recruited by the Seelie (good Fae) prince, V’Lane, to help find the book for his Queen Aoibheal whom he claims wants to keep the Unseelie ( bad Fae) from taking over. The problem is he is also a Fae, a death-by-sex Fae and Mac’s not certain she can trust him or Barrons. The men each have their own agenda when it comes to the book. Mac is valuable to both of the men because she can detect ancient Fae relics and it’s this talent that makes her indispensable in finding the Sinsar Dubh. The Sinsar Dubh is an all-powerful dark book created over a million years ago by the Unseelie king who seems to be M.I.A. by the way. Who ever posses the book has the power to control of the very fabric of both worlds in their hands. Every time Mac is close proximity to the book she gets violently ill. Mac (and the reader) are clueless as to who Barrons really is or as to the real reason he wants the Sinsar Dubh but he gives Mac a place to live, a job, teaches her how to use her powers, and does his best to keep her alive. There’s some sexual tension between them of course but that’s not the main focus of the series. The characters are all in a race against time to find the book as more and more of Dublin is lost to darkness and our world is in peril. I really love this series and adore Mac. She has grown through out the series as a person. In the beginning she’s carefree a live for the moment type of girl always intending to go to school to pin her future down. As the series progresses you see her change. She becomes stronger but she no longer walks around with blinders on. Despite the fact that she is surrounded by evil she manages to remain true to herself. The ending of this book will shock and hurt you to your core if like me you’ve come to love Mac’s character. Luckily it’s not the end it’s just a pause in the series until the next installment. Faefever just like Bloodfever and Darkfever is a fantastic read. I had a hard time putting the book down and am eagerly waiting the fourth book in the series. •Hardcover: 352 pages •Publisher: Delacorte Press (September 16, 2008) •Language: English •ISBN-10: 0385341636 •ISBN-13: 978-0385341639 Labels: Faefever, Fever Series, Karen Marie Moning Click here to read entire post. @
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Live dangerously! Click here to leave a comment Sunday, September 21, 2008Apaches: A Novel of Suspense by Lorenzo Carcaterra Apaches takes place in the 1980’s during NYC’s crack epidemic. The main characters Boomer, Dead-Eye, Pins, Geronimo, Reverend Jim, and Mrs. Columbo are legends within the NYPD. Forced into retirement because of serious injuries received while on the job they team up and hit the streets after a 12 year old girl is kidnapped and the kidnapping turns out to more evil and horrifying than just a kidnapping. Each of the officers has an area of expertise that when combined makes them into the perfect lethal team “the Apaches” and they answer to nobody including the law. They are in effect a criminal’s worst nightmare come to life. This book is not for the faint hearted. It’s intense, gripping, and all hell out disturbing. It is one of the most horrific stories of greed revolving around missing children ever written. I would love to see this book made into a movie. The ending alone would be worth the price of admission. Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages Publisher: Ballantine Books (September 27, 2005) Language: English ISBN-10: 0345487125 ISBN-13: 978-0345487124 Labels: Apaches, Lorenzo Carcaterra Click here to read entire post. @
7:36 AM
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Live dangerously! Click here to leave a comment Monday, September 15, 2008In the Time of the Butterflies by Julia Alvarez Julia Alvarez had a very personal connection to the story of the Mirabal sisters. Her parents had been part of the resistance movement and were able to avoid ending up like Las Mariposas by fleeing to the United States before Trujillo was able to arrest them. The Mirabal sisters were well educated women born into Santo Domingo’s upper class and had met Trujillo. When Trujillo came to power, their family lost almost all of their fortune. Trujillo a known rapist became interested in Minerva Mirabal and she refused his ‘romantic’ advances towards her, in retaliation Trujillo ordered that Minerva, a lawyer not be granted a license to practice law. Influenced by her uncle, Minerva joined the anti-Trujillo movement and was followed into it by her sisters. Two of the sisters were arrested and tortured on several occasions and three of the sisters’ husbands were jailed. Despite this the sisters refused to give up their fight. After the sisters' numerous imprisonments, Trujillo decided to get rid of the sisters. On November 25, 1960, Trujillo’s men ambushed the women on their way back from visiting their jailed husbands. The sisters were led into a sugarcane field, beaten and strangled to death. In the Time of the Butterflies by Julia Alvarez is the fictionalized account of the four very real heroic women who dared to take a stand against Trujillo and fought for their country's freedom until they were murdered by Trujillo’s regime. Minerva, María Teresa, and Patria Mirabal were key members in the underground movement to depose Trujillo and were known as “Las Mariposas” (the butterflies). As a little girl way before I even knew what politics were I remember hearing about Las Mariposas from my Dominican godmother. They were held up to me as an example of the strength and bravery all women are capable of showing. The book opens with Dede the only surviving sister telling La Mariposas story to an interviewer. Alvarez depicts their lives through their own voices, having each sister narrate a chapter as if speaking from the grave. Through her writing Alvarez is able to show you the struggles the sisters went through in their fight against Trujillo as well as the toll it took on their personal lives. This book is a must read. Note: As news of the murder of Las Mariposas spread through out the island the public was outraged and this led to more people become aware of the movement and supporting it. Trujillo believed at the time that he had removed a significant problem. His solution would directly contribute to Trujillo’s assignation six months later by some of his own associates. From 1996- 2000 Dede Maribal’s (the surviving sister) son, Jaime David Fernandez Mirabal, served as the vice-president of the Dominican Republic. Minou Tavarez Mirabal, the eldest daughter of Minerva Mirabal has served as a Congresswoman since 1998 until 2006, and has recently been reelected for four additional years (until 2010). Paperback: 352 pages Publisher: Plume (August 1, 1995) Language: English ISBN-10: 0452274427 ISBN-13: 978-0452274426 Labels: In the Time of the Butterflies, Julia Alvarez Click here to read entire post. @
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Live dangerously! Click here to leave a comment Thursday, September 11, 2008Our Little Secret by Duncan Fairhurst As an intern at a mental health clinic I deal with a specific client;the mentally ill substance abuser.The one thing the majority of them have in common is the history of childhood sexual abuse. Our Little Secret by Duncan Fairhurst is an autobiographical account of the sexual abuse suffered by the author at the hands of his father and how it affected his life. The abuse began when Duncan was 4 years old. It started out with molestation and escalated to rape when he was 14 years old. The abuse finally ended when Duncan tried to kill himself at the age of 14. As a result of this attempted drug over dose Duncan spent several months in the hospital with kidney damage. While in the hospital he saw a psychologist but unfortunately was never able to reveal what happened to him because his father was always in the room during the therapy sessions. All through his childhood Duncan thought like so many abused children do that the abuse was normal. Duncan’s father, Clifford Fairhurst would tell his son that the abuse was normal behavior from 'people who love each other.' When he was older the father bought Duncan’s silence with gifts and money - a gesture he mistook as an act of love from a father to a child. Duncan became addicted to the drugs and alcohol he used to numb is pain. At the age of 18 he left home, cut off contact with is father, and spent the next 6 years of his life addicted to drugs. His life changed when he finally opened up to his girlfriend. She took him to a center for abused children and he began therapy. His mother was ignorant of what was happening but to her credit when Duncan finally informed her after being in therapy she divorced her husband. Duncan’s story finally came to light after seeing his father one day on the street holding the hand of a five year old boy. His father was so focused on the child whose hand he was holding he never even noticed Duncan. Duncan found the strength with the support of his friends to file a police complaint against his father a year later. This book is a must read, it is a testament to the strength of one individual to get his life back and to save others from being victims. Fairhurst wrote his story with a honesty his graphic description of the abuse he went through will make you cringe. It’s a story that needed to be told. Hardcover: 304 pages Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton Ltd (March 8, 2007) Language: English ISBN-10: 0340932686 ISBN-13: 978-0340932681 Labels: Duncan Fairhurst, Our Little Secret Click here to read entire post. @
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Live dangerously! Click here to leave a comment Wednesday, September 3, 2008Le Père Goriot by Honoré de Balzac Le Père Goriot is an 1834 novel by French novelist and playwright Honoré de Balzac included in the Scènes de la vie privée section of his novel sequence La Comédie humaine. The background for Le Père Goriot is 1819 and it follows the intertwined lives of three characters: the elderly doting Goriot; a mysterious criminal-in-hiding named Vautrin; and a naive law student named Eugène de Rastignac. I can give you the basic plot of Le Père Goriot (Father Goriot)in one paragraph: Goriot A retired widower living in a boarding house in a poor section of Paris is totally devoted to his daughters refusing to see them for the arrogant selfish creatures that they truly are. His steady descent into poverty is a direct result of his generosity towards his daughters. Even though he sacrifices every thing to ensure their happiness and entrance into society he gets squat from them in return. He’s not even allowed to be seen with them in public or visit their homes. Oh yeah he also dies a miserable death. Ain’t that a bitch? What I possibly can’t describe here are the emotions evoked by this novel. When he wrote this novel Balzac was the first author to use cross over characters meaning that his characters appeared in other books by his as well.(take that Marvel Comics!). Le Père Goriot is required reading in lit classes all over the world because of Balzac’s realist style and the way he used the smallest details to flesh out his characters and stories. It’s been a personal favorite of mine for years. I’ve read the book several times and it never fails to move me. Here’s a link to a site offering Le Père Goriot for free in ebook format. If you haven’t read the book I hope you’ll take advantage of it . Paperback: 304 pages Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA (June 24, 1999) Language: English ISBN-10: 0192835696 ISBN-13: 978-0192835697 Labels: Honoré de Balzac, Le Père Goriot Click here to read entire post. @
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Live dangerously! Click here to leave a comment Saturday, August 30, 2008Acheron By Sherrilyn Kenyon Okay I have a confession to make until a year ago I never even gave paranormal fiction a shot. A couple of years ago a friend gave me her copy of Dragonswan by Sherrilyn Kenyon to read on the subway. I took one look at the cover snarled at her and shoved it rather violently back in her bag. But my friends are nothing if not persistent heffas. Last year around this time I was really sick and had read everything in my bookcase a couple of times. My friend handed me another Sherrilyn Kenyon book “Dark Side of The Moon” and in my Nyquil induced high I threw this one at her head and weren’t we both surprised when I actually managed to wing her with it too? Feeling guilty over the red mark on her forehead I flipped through the pages and promised to give it a shot especially when I noticed that it bore the same title as my favorite Pink Floyd Album. That one book did it for me, I was hooked. In less than a month I managed to catch up with the entire Dark Hunter series. I am now an official Kenyon Minion. I love her work and I am not alone on this given the amount of copies of Acheron that were flying off the shelves when I purchased mine. I know I wouldn’t be able to do the Dark Hunter’s justice if I tried to explain the concept of the series so do yourself a favor if you’re not familiar with them check out this link to the Dark Hunter site everything you need to know is right there. Now on to the review… Acheron the character is the leader of the Dark Hunters a kind and somewhat enigmatic character. He goes through a lot for his Hunters something they are unaware of,he pays for their freedom literally with his body and blood. Acheron the book is the latest in the DH series and let me tell you something it was phenomenal the first 200 pages of my copy of Acheron are tear stained.I recently wrote something on my main blog about a painful part of my mother’s childhood that mirrored Acheron’s own so his story touched me on a very personal level. Even if that had not been the case I’m certain I still would’ve been moved to tears. Acheron’s book is divided into two parts the past and present. In the first half of the book we learn all about his past. As a reader you suffer with him and wonder how much can he possibly endure and when the hell will this poor guy catch a break? You find that out in the second part of the book which takes place in the present. I say this every time I review a book I’m not into giving out spoilers but here’s the thing Acheron gets what he deserves and more in the end. Personally if you’re unfamiliar with the Dark Hunter series I would suggest reading a few of the Dark Hunter books so you can get a feel for the characters and why they are so beloved or despised among the DH fans. Was there anyway this book could’ve been better? HELL NO! Well maybe a soundtrack at the end would have been cool but then again I feel this way about all DH books where there’s always a mention of a tune or two. Hardcover: 736 pages Publisher: St. Martin's Press (August 5, 2008) Language: English ISBN-10: 0312362153 ISBN-13: 978-0312362157 Labels: Acheron, Dark Hunter, Sherrilyn Kenyon Click here to read entire post. @
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Live dangerously! Click here to leave a comment Tuesday, August 26, 2008Erotic Fairy Tales: A Romp through the Classics by Mitzi Szereto One of my friends is into erotica and knows I’ve always loved fairy tales so she figured this would be the perfect book to turn me on (no pun intended) to the genre. At first I was kind of hesitant. I wasn’t too sure I was going to like it, after all erotic fairy tales? C’mon there’s a certain side I don’t want to know about the beloved fictional characters of my childhood. That’s akin to finding out Miss Piggy was a stripper at a joint owned by Kermit the Frog Mitzi Szereto rewrote and put the sex back in 15 classic fairy tales among them Little Red Riding Hood and Sleeping Beauty but she did it in such a way that it wasn’t graphic at all just a lot of analogies and innuendo. For example describing a Princess' genitals as a rose petal, I thought that was cool. Each story is prefaced by a short introduction about its history and the sexual culture of the era it was written in. The stories were entertaining and full of subtle humor. I was really surprised by the book, it turned out to be a good read and not once did I blush. However let’s just say I will never look at Cinderella’s glass slipper and Prince Charming the same way again. Paperback: 175 pages Publisher: Cleis Press; 1 edition (April 9, 2001) Language: English ISBN-10: 1573441244 ISBN-13: 978-1573441247 Labels: Erotic Fairy Tales: A Romp through the Classics, Mitzi Szereto Click here to read entire post. @
8:18 AM
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 <br />•Language: English <br />•ISBN-10: 0451225856 <br />•ISBN-13: 978-0451225856 <br /><br />Synopsis from author’s website: Caldwell, NY, has long been the battleground for the battleground for the vampires and their enemies, the Lessening Society. It’s also where Rehvenge has staked out his turf as a drug lord and notorious nightclub that caters to the rich and heavily armed. His shadowy reputation is exactly why he’s approached to kill Wrath, the Blind King, and leader of the Brotherhood. Rehvenge has always kept his distance from the Brotherhood, even though his sister is married to a member. Because he’s a sympath, his identity is a deadly secret- the revelation of which will result in his banishment to a colony for sociopaths. And as plots within and outside the Brotherhood take their toll against Rehvenge, he turns to the only source of light in a darkening world- Elhena, a vampire untouched by the corruption that has its hold on him- and the only thing standing between him and eternal destruction.<br /><img src=http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v479/mia_nyc/IG7.jpg border=”0”><br /><br /><br /><a href=){kind=link}