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2013 Reading Challenge
Jen (That's What I'm Talking About) has
read 0 books toward her goal of 75 books.
New-To-Me Authors
2013 reading goal:
15 new-to-me authors.
1) Stacy Gail
2) Heather Massey
3) Sidney Bristol
4) Ann Mayburn
5) Thea Harrison
6) Virna DePaul
7) Mary Quast
8) Molly Harper
9) Eleri Stone
10) PJ Schnyder
11) Kait Ballenger
12) Denise L. Wyant
13) Lucy Monroe
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Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Review of Black Wade: The Wild Side of Love
Black Wade: The Wild Side of Love
Author: Franze & Andaerle
Release Date: August 2009
Publisher: Bruno Gmunder Verlag Gmbh
ISBN: #3867870365
Genre: Graphic Novel, M/M erotica
I won this book from the wonderful Marq at Love 2 Read For Fun
From Goodreads:
The rough and merciless pirate Black Wade and his band are the scare of the seven seas. And just like his greed for gold is insatiable, his sexual craving knows no boundaries as well: When they board a British ship, Wade takes Lieutenant Jack Wilkins as a prisoner to satisfy his lust. At first Wilkins struggles with all his might, but soon he has to acknowledge that he actually has pleasure in the eager sexual encounters with the handsome pirate. In the meantime his fiancée Annabeth is waiting wistfully for the return of Jack, not knowing if he’s still alive. And on the pirate ship emotions are running high as well: Buccaneer Marak keeps a jealous watch over the prisoner Jack. He would love to polish Wade’s gun barrel himself. Due to the rising nervousness Wade realizes that he cannot allow himself the tender feelings he begins to have for Jack. To prove how merciless he is, he maroons Jack on a raft and relinquishes him to the forces of the wide ocean. But that’s nowhere near the end of the story...
What I’m talking about:
Okay, so let’s get this out of the way right up front... I liken reading Black Wade to guys who say “I read Playboy for the articles.” While those articles may be thought-provoking and interesting, we all know it wasn’t the driving reason for buying the magazine.
The key to reading a graphic novel is that you need to read both the written words as well as the detailed pictures that go with each panel/scene. Because there are so few words, reading them alone will not give you the entire story. Black Wade is no exception to this rule. There are several key plot points and underlying facts that can only be discovered from the artwork. For example, in the very beginning of the story Lieutenant Jack Wilkins lays down for a rest on his voyage home and fantasizes about his fiancee. But what we see is that fantasy turn from Annabeth into a rather large phallic, and only then does Jack find his release. It’s a key part of the developing story, told to the reader via images.
And let me tell you about the images in the book. They are incredible. I read a few comics, but none have the artistry of Black Wade. The details are amazing, colorful, and as I said earlier, tell a story on its own. But be warned: this is a VERY graphic novel! (And the pun is not a joke.) If you are at all uncomfortable with male/male sex - then do not get this book. You have been warned. However, if you enjoy intense m/m sex - or are curious - this is a wonderful story to read.
While Black Wade’s love story is simple in nature, it is pleasing in every way. I do not condone forced sex as the start of a relationship (Wade captures Jack and makes him a “love slave”), but it works in this pirate tale. Jack may be saying “no,” but the pictures tell the whole story. You start to realize that maybe the “no” is not one that means stop, but one that means “I am not ready to face the fact that I am a homosexual and am enjoying this sex.” Once again, you need to “read” the artwork to understand the emotional connection that develops between Jack and Wade. It’s amazingly sweet and completely satisfying. There are a few tough parts to get through (a horrible rape scene of Wade), and the story had a few open-ended sub-plots (what’s with Marak?). I was sad to see the story end so quickly and I can only hope that there will be a second story in this wild tale.
My Rating:
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Monday, June 28, 2010
Review of The Sin Eater's Prince
The Sin Eater’s Prince
Author: Keta Diablo
Release Date: January 2010
Publisher: Ravenous Romance
ISBN: #978-1-60777-319-1
Genre: Paranormal Romance, M/M Romance
From the author’s website:
Owen Rhys, the sin eater of his village in Wales, has been shunned by the local villagers his entire life—except by Andras Maddock, the local physician. In love with the one man he thinks will never return that love, Owen is shocked when Andras saves him from death at the hands of a vampire and admits he cares deeply for Owen.
Dagan, son of Traherne, the vampire Andras killed to save Owen, will stop at nothing to avenge his father’s death and obtain the Prince of Wales’s mystic sword from Andras. The divine claymore holds the power to grant immunity from the sun’s harsh rays—the one exemption the dark Lords of the Underworld has sought for centuries.
Star-crossed love, sorcery, and bloodlust collide on a vengeful path where only one side can remain.
What I’m talking about:
Owen is one of those perfect males... a quiet, humble man... one that is gorgeous, but doesn’t know it, one that gives of himself day after day and expects nothing in return. From the beginning I fell for Owen. I was so worried he would get his heart stomped upon or end up being used and tossed away. But someone else noticed how amazing Owen is... Andras, small town physician and vampire-in-hiding. The two admire each other from afar, never expecting their lust and desire to be returned. Yet fate brings them together and leads them on a wonderful journey.
Their love story is uncomplicated and full of life. They don’t play games with one another and act on their desires almost immediately in the book (although it has been about 5 years of backstory for the two of them.) Their union does not disappoint. Their love making is HOT and full of beautiful emotions that pulled on my heart strings. There is detailed m/m erotic sex, so if you are at all leery of m/m romance, you may want to steer clear. However, I found the romance so beautiful, it didn’t matter to me what their sexual preferences were.
But, this story does not end with the union of Owen and Andras. Enter Dagan, long tooth (vampire) and bad guy extraordinaire. His father was slain by Andras and now Dagan wants revenge - as well as the magical sword which Andras holds. In order to defeat Andras, Dagan discovers the physician’s weakness: Owen. Dagan uses Owen in his attempts to bring down Andras. Yet Dagan is also drawn to beautiful Owen, and I wondered: is there more to this simple man than meets the eye?
The Sin Eater’s Prince takes place in old-Wales and the mythology is slightly different that the “typical” vampire romance. The vamps are not the good guys and there is no hot and heavy blood-sucking fantasies. Andras must fight his dark side continuously. Ms. Diablo incorporates various Welsh tales and traditions, which gives it a darker undertone and that “old world” vibe.
In addition, we meet a handful of supporting characters that fill out the story. I enjoyed kind-hearted Carys, and hope that we may see a future where she finds a lovely man to warm her heart.
The only downside to this tale was the ease at which Dagan and his clan was brought down. There was a lot of build-up and it seemed a bit too easy or too quick for my taste. In addition, I was left wondering about the mysterious werewolves, the evil dragon lord, Draig, and a few other things.
Those unanswered questions coupled with the open-ended, vision-of-the-future epilogue, have my interest piqued for a second book. With Owen was just learning of his true nature and potential, I sure hope Ms. Diablo follows up on this delightful tale. The Sin Eater’s Prince is an enjoyable read that I definitely recommend.
My Rating:
Sunday, June 27, 2010
Sunday Snippets #14
From Wicked Enchantment by Anya Bast.
He couldn’t taste her on his tongue anymore and he missed her flavor, so hot and sweet. It was easily addictive. His fingers curled as he fought the desire to stroke that small, pouting bud, and he wondered how hot and bothered he could make her in her sleep. She was gorgeous all of the time, but when she was aroused... then she became irresistible. Would she wake up moaning for him, spreading her thighs so he could sink his cock deep into her heat?
Placing his hand to the inside of her knee, he slowly moved upward. As he suspected, she opened like a flower for the sun. Unable to resist, he dragged his fingers over her heated sex, exploring her damp softness.
Before he did something he would regret--like wake her from the deep healing sleep she needed so badly--he rolled away from her, stood, and rubbed his hand over his face. Gazing back at her, he wrapped his hand around his aching cock and stroked from base to tip. He tipped his head back on a groan of frustration. She would be his in every sense of the word. He just needed to be patient. Aislinn didn’t know it yet, but he planned to act out with her every one of the erotic acts that crowded his mind.
Saturday, June 26, 2010
Book Blogger Appreciation Week
Hi friends... at the encouragement of a fellow blogger, I've decided to register for the Book Blogger Appreciation Week in the category of Best New Book Blog. This post is a summary of the five posts that will be used in judging my blog. Thanks for following along! I love to blog because you all make it fun!
Book Review: Siren's Call by Devyn Quinn (ARC)
Book Review: Dark Succession by Teresa D'Amario
What Does a Book Rating Mean To You?
Author Interview: Lara Adrian
Isn't it erotic... don't you think?
Book Review: Siren's Call by Devyn Quinn (ARC)
Book Review: Dark Succession by Teresa D'Amario
What Does a Book Rating Mean To You?
Author Interview: Lara Adrian
Isn't it erotic... don't you think?
Friday, June 25, 2010
Bound By Rebellion - Review
Bound by Rebellion
Release Date: February 2010
Publisher: Liquid Silver ebooks
Blood-Vine Series Book #2
ISBN: #978-1-59578-670-8
Genre: Paranormal Romance/Novella length
Note: An e-copy of this book was given to me by the author for review purposes.
Note: An e-copy of this book was given to me by the author for review purposes.
Katiya and Lucas are blood-bound mates. Nearly a decade ago, their idyllic relationship quickly devolved into one of animosity. Furious with Luke’s meddling in her privacy, she left him. Except, they have a pesky issue that continues to bind them together. They must carry on, sharing their blood, or face the deadly consequences, literally.
Ten years have past since Kat moved out. Now, their estrangement firmly in place, she is desperate to move on with her life. So desperate in fact, that she will even rebel against the long-held convictions of her people. Secretly, over the past several months, she has formed an infatuation with a co-worker and, tonight, she plans to take it to the next level.
Luke is unhappy with their tenuous situation. He is prepared to do anything to win her back. He wants her in his arms where he can show her the depths of his passion. If seduction is the key to their reconciliation, he is more than ready to take her to new levels of pleasure. He needs her home, with him, to keep her safe and secure.
Once Kat takes a drastic step to alter her life, she comes face-to-face with a sinister threat. Lucas must find her in time and, when he does, he promises, on his life, that nothing will keep them apart ever again.
What I’m talking about:
When we first meet Kat and Luke, we discover that they are separated and Kat is ready to move on. In the beginning, we find out that Kat must maintain a “relationship” with her estranged mate so that he can survive (needs her blood) and she can stay young. She convinces herself (and me) that it is an awful arrangement. But as I read on, I realized that Kat was also a spoiled brat.
In comes Daniel: handsome co-worker and Kat’s prospective romance. She hasn’t been out with anyone since Luke and is finally ready to take that chance. Immediately we know that something isn’t quite right with Daniel, and I enjoyed trying to figure out what it was (and how Luke would figure it out).
The first thing I noticed about Ms. Paige’s work was the exquisite detail she pours into her story. From beginning to end, each scene was thoroughly described, but not over done. Here is an example:
Sprawled out on a butter-soft, overstuffed, dark leather couch, he flipped on his bigscreen plasma TV. The fifty-two inch monstrosity hung on the wall directly across from the L-shaped sofa. Underneath the television, a black lacquered entertainment center held speakers, game consoles and a vast selection of DVDs.
I loved that I was able to visualize the surroundings, and this enhanced my reading immensely.
I was also impressed with the character development in Bound by Rebellion. Usually, I am frustrated by the expedience with which a character changes in shorter books (novella-length); however, Ms. Paige has written full and interesting characters that grabbed my attention and left me satisfied.
The romance between Kat and Luke is hot and sexy! We get “just the two of them” for roughly the last third of the story and the time is largely well spent. There is an emotional shower scene that left me a bit misty-eyed, but also feeling a tad over-heated *wink*. My biggest complaint was that while reading from Luke’s POV, we are constantly reminded that he was “holding back his need” for Kat. It became redundant and put a damper on some of the sexiness.
There were a few other personality issues I had with Kat - or more concerns about how “easily” she seemed to forget and move on (I can’t give details without putting in spoilers). At times, I felt the 180-turn in her feelings for Luke from the beginning of the story were too radical. However, in the end, almost all of my issues were addressed, which made me a happy girl.
The novella leaves an open door for more stories to come (Luke has some handsome brothers waiting in the wings), and I will for one will be reading any subsequent books. This was an enjoyable, sexy read with the right mix of action and romance.
My Rating:
Follow Friday with Parajunkee
Hi folks...
It's Friday and I'm going to try out Parajunkee's Follow Friday Blog Hop:
If you like what you find here, please follow my blog, and be sure to leave me a comment to let me know if you found my blog from the Follow Friday book hop. And new followers: be sure to leave me a link to your blog so I can visit you! Thanks!
Happy Friday!
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Author Interview - Christa Paige Part 2
Today I have the honor of welcoming back author Christa Paige. We had so much to talk about that Christa returned for a second day of interviews. Christa started her writing career as a critique partner for aspiring authors. Prompted by the crit-group, to attempt writing her own books, she embarked on the fascinating journey of being a novelist. She has a passion for the paranormal genre and decided to create a unique twist on vampire lore. Soon after that, she started her first contemporary series, Kissin’ Cops, based on the sexy detectives from Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. A Southern California native, she is happily married to her very own alpha male. Together, they restore classic cars and often go RV-ing. When she isn’t writing, she is a busy mother of two active girls. Her days are spent home-schooling. At night, she continues working on the next installments in both her Blood-Vine and Kissin’ Cops series. Please help me welcome Christa to That’s What I’m Talking About.
Christa: The first thing I ever wrote, novel-wise, was when I was twelve years old. It was a sweeping romantic tale about a Civil War widow named Katherine, who thinks her husband lost his life on the battlefield and so, she remarries. Only, she finds out a few years and a couple of babies later, that her first husband had never really died. I began with complicated romantic plots and I don’t think I have changed that much since then. Serious writing-wise, I have been working on original fiction for about four years.
Twimom: Sounds like a lot to think about at the age of twelve. Outside of writing, how do you spend your time?
Christa: I’m the mom of two extremely busy pre-teens. I don’t know if I have time for hobbies. When we do find sometime for ourselves, hubby and I restore classic cars. Well, he does all the greasy, sweaty dirty work and I order all the cool interior parts. There is nothing more exciting than hauling butt in a rumbling ’69 Camaro SS! Also, we go RVing often. During the summer, it is all about the lake and, during the winter months, we go to the desert for dirt biking. On top of those, I really enjoy cooking. My youngest has celiac and so I spend a ton of time converting recipes so she can enjoy good food like everyone else.
Twimom: You are one busy mama! When it comes to books, what is your favorite genre to read? Who are your favorite authors?
Christa: Regency has always been my favorite genre. I love heroes in Hessians and cravats. There are so many authors in historical romance that I have on auto-buy. Gaelen Foley, Mary Balogh, Barbara Dawson-Smith, Laura Kinsale; all top my favorites list. I do have to add that I absolutely love Pamela Clare’s MacKinnon’s Rangers series as well. She really knows how to write delicious heroes and her historical background is simply amazing. Who knew rangers during the French and Indian war would make such delicious heroes?
Twimom: That is one genre I do not know a lot about, but you make it sound so sexy! What is your favorite book you've read in 2010?
Twimom: *sigh* John Matthew... Anyhow to follow up, what book release are you looking forward to (other than your own!)?
I can not wait for Connor MacKinnon’s book to come out but, according to Pamela Clare, Defiant won’t be released until 2012. That’s like forever. So, to pick something closer to now, I am looking forward to Gaelen Foley’s My Dangerous Duke.
Twimom: Christa, once again thank you so much for taking the time to tell my readers a little bit about yourself and your writing. It was wonderful chatting with you.
Christa: Thank you, Twimom.Readers... Be sure to stop back tomorrow when I have a review of Christa’s latest Blood-Vine story: Bound by Rebellion.
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Author Interview - Christa Paige Part 1
Today I have the honor of bringing to you author Christa Paige. Christa started her writing career as a critique partner for aspiring authors. Prompted by the crit-group, to attempt writing her own books, she embarked on the fascinating journey of being a novelist. She has a passion for the paranormal genre and decided to create a unique twist on vampire lore. Soon after that, she started her first contemporary series, Kissin’ Cops, based on the sexy detectives from Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. A Southern California native, she is happily married to her very own alpha male. Together, they restore classic cars and often go RV-ing. When she isn’t writing, she is a busy mother of two active girls. Her days are spent home-schooling. At night, she continues working on the next installments in both her Blood-Vine and Kissin’ Cops series. Please help me welcome Christa to That’s What I’m Talking About.
Twimom: Christa, welcome and thank you for stopping by.
Christa: Thank you for inviting me.
Christa: When I first began writing the series I knew two things. First, my females would not have vampire traits but would carry the genetic mutation. Second, the males would not be undead, soulless monsters who slept in caskets. I really liked the idea that the females were not as strong as the males because it gave them a vulnerability which makes their mates over-protective! I wanted a plausible reason for the vampirism, so I did an extensive search on longevity in different cultures. Finally, my research paid off and I found one that I felt worked wonderfully. After incorporating the factual information, from the Abkhazian people into the broader mythology of my vampires, I was able to create this new culture which I called the Kan Asma. (Loosely translated in Turkish it means the people of the Blood-Vine.) Since they are dependent on sharing blood to extend their lives and give them super-natural abilities, I think they can be classified as vampires. However, they do not call themselves vampires because they are living and breathing creatures who have basic needs like the human next door. They do, however, believe they are superior to humans.
Twimom: It’s an interesting concept that works well in your stories. Can you tell me a little more about the mythology of the Kan Asma?
Christa: Basically, many centuries ago, the villagers stumbled upon a succulent berry-vine that grew way up in the Caucasus Mountains. Those who ingested it ended up with a severe belly-ache; the weakest of the community didn’t survive the night. All the towns-folk who made it through the illness ended up changed. The vampire traits surfaced within the males and soon, preternatural instincts kicked in. Their appetites were altered and they craved that berry. Unfortunately, their addiction to it made it become extinct. Because they were descendants of Turkish invaders, they kept their social hierarchy with powerful princes and commoners. To this day, they continue to manipulate the next generation of younglings by orchestrating the best genetic matches.
Abkhazia has its very own mythology that is expansive. Weaving those intriguing tidbits into the Kan Asma culture has been truly enjoyable. I hope readers like the distinctive take as well. The mythos of my vampire community is based on the Nart Epos as well as Circassia folklore. Trees and harvest are very important to them as well as rites and customs. The moon plays a huge role in the rituals as well, which worked perfectly for sun sensitive vampires!
Twimom: I really appreciate the detail you have put into your mythology--I find it fascinating. Where do you think the series will go next? Are you contracted to write more books?
Christa: Currently, I am working on the third Blood-Vine novel. This is Traian’s story, Bound By Obsession. The most important thing about this book is that Tray ends up in a huge dilemma. He will have to make a difficult choice: family or his mate. I intend to have this story published through Liquid Silver Books again since, at this time, they have the other two stories, but I am not contracted for the book or on a deadline to turn it in. However, I am hoping to have it completed soon for a late fall release.
On top of that story, I have been working hard on a stand alone title. It features Sevastian, a cousin to the siblings in the Blood-Vine series.
Twimom: I for one hope to see Bound By Obsession in the fall! For those not familiar with your other works, can you tell us about your books/series?
Twimom: Sounds like a lot of fun! Christa... Look at the time! I have enjoyed chatting with you and I still have more questions. Can we continue the interview tomorrow?
Christa: Sounds like a great idea.
Twimom: Thank you Christa for stopping by.
Dear Readers: Be sure to come back tomorrow when I continue my interview with author Christa Paige. ALSO - on Friday I'll have my review of her latest Blood-Vine book.
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