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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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Friday, September 30, 2011
Review: The Goblin King
The Goblin KingAuthor: Shona Husk
Release Date: October 1, 2011
Publisher: Sourcebooks
Shadowlands Trilogy #1
ISBN: #978-1402259852
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Format(s): Paperback (319 pgs), e-book
Book Source: Publisher
About the book: |
Cursed by a Druid a millennia ago, Roan lives a bleak existence in the Shadowlands, desperately trying to retain his soul and not succumb to the goblin horde.
When a beautiful human summons him to grant a wish, he sees a glimmer of hope. But will she ever agree to be his queen?
When a beautiful human summons him to grant a wish, he sees a glimmer of hope. But will she ever agree to be his queen?
What G & U are talking about: |
The Goblin King is the first full-length novel in a new paranormal trilogy by Shona Husk. There seems to be a free ebook prequel entitled, The Summons, which is the backstory to when Eliza first called the Goblin King, Roan. The story is referenced and summarized in this novel. Gikany and Una did not read it (we discovered it when putting together this review), and we did not feel as if we missed anything. However, it might be fun to read as an extended teaser if you are interested in trying the series on before purchasing this book.
Gikany and Una specifically requested this book from Twimom. We were intrigued by the synopsis and thought it might be a new and fascinating world. Long story short, we felt a little let down by the novel. The Goblin King did not live up to our expectations, however we did enjoy it. Overall, we think the author could have done more with the characters and the world, but didn’t. What follows are the few issues we found with the novel.
The main bad guy, the Druid, had no back-story or character development. Simply put, the Druid is evil, he is the reason Roan and his men were cursed and that’s that. You cannot reason with him, he hates Roan, and waits to be able to destroy him for being a King who would turn his back on his people and sell them out to the Romans. We feel that there could have been more to the Druid and this plot point. It adds to a story if a main character was evil and was guilty and redeems himself (one of Una’s favorite plot devices is the element of redemption) or if the main character is innocent all along (see…we will NOT spoil you!) and can plead his case or work with the evil. But that didn’t happen. The conflict between the Druid and Roan was concrete and, to us, lacking depth.
Gikany and Una loved Roan’s brother, Dai. He was a fascinating character with an intriguing intelligence and wonderful wit. We feel he also lacked character development. We would have like to have learned more about him including what he discovered through his studies. However, since there will be two more novels in this world and the next novel is entitled Kiss of the Goblin Prince (due out in May of 2012) we may be getting more of Dai and his back-story as well. Mind you we are assuming that Dai (as brother to the Goblin King) is the one this book will focus on. Currently there is no information on the author’s website to confirm or deny this.
One last issue, that affected Una more than Gikany, was a feeling of “bad editing.” What I mean is, think of when you watch a movie: in one camera angle the person is holding a glass of tea in a highball glass, then they switch to the other camera angle and she/he is holding a tea cup. This is what I mean by bad editing. There are numerous moments where I had to go back and reread because as the novel was unfolding in my head…I had a, wait, was she standing behind him…or was she in front? It was these little moments that interrupted what was a nice and easy flow to the writing.
By the end of the novel, we both realize that this was not going to be the dark, deep, gritty and sexy novel we expected. However, for a more “fluffy” read, it is quite enjoyable. Lighthearted is not the right word as there are some dark elements to the novel, but it is a fairly quick read. The Goblin King is entertaining with a very interesting world and mythology. We are interested in seeing where the author goes in the next novel.
Their Rating: |
Liked it, but I had some issues - recommend (B)
Purchase Information:
Thursday, September 29, 2011
ARC Review: Frail
Today I have a special guest here at That’s What I’m Talking About. Please welcome Rum from Books in the Spotlight. Rum’s blog primarily focuses on the Young Adult genre, and she brings us today’s review of...
Frail
Author: Joan Frances Turner Release Date: October 4, 2011
Publisher: ACE
The Resurgam Trilogy #2
ISBN: #978-0441020706
Genre: YA Paranormal
Format(s): Hardcover (384 pgs), e-book
Book Source: Publisher
About the book: |
In a post-apocalyptic world, life is what you make it…
Since a devastating, morphing plague swept through human and zombie populations, almost everyone who survived is an “ex” these days. Ex-human. Ex-zombie. Both creatures crave flesh, have the strength and speed of predators — and what seems like immortality. Pierced skin and broken bones mend, but their all-consuming hunger never dies…
Amy is the only purely human survivor from her town — a frail. Her mother is gone, but Amy won’t believe that she’s dead. Feral dogs stalk her, in reality and in her imagination. Amy thinks she’s losing her mind. But when an ex-human named Lisa saves her life, a fragile friendship forms, a bond that will save Amy over and over again when she and Lisa are abducted into a makeshift community run by exes who use humans as their
slaves.
slaves.
For a girl used to going it alone, trusting anyone isn’t easy, but Amy will have to. She has secrets from her past she can’t afford to face by herself, and secrets in her future that could cost her almost everything … including her humanity.
What Rum is talking about: |
Let me preface this review by saying I don't read much contemporary horror with lots of blood, violence, and gore. I prefer psychological horror like Edgar Allen Poe's short stories and poems where you don't notice how scary it is until you stop to think about it. I'm also not a zombie fan. It's not that I hate them per se but they are not my first choice when it comes to the undead. If you're unlike me and actually enjoy reading about zombies, Frail by Joan Frances Turner will happily take you on a horrifying and gory ride. Frail is actually a companion novel to Turner's debut novel, Dust, but it is not necessary to read the first book in order to enjoy it.
As Frail begins, we are decades in the future where a plague destroys most of humankind along with zombies and the undead. Amy is our narrator. She is a 17-year-old frail, a human, she believes, who struggles to survive along the shores of Lake Michigan. She meets a group of undeads and zombies, some of whom don't seem to have her best interests at heart. Actually, the zombies may not have hearts at all, as they neither bleed nor breathe but are in constant search of food to in order to satisfy their never ending hunger. Amy is a likable character. She is a fighter who is fierce when she has to be, but it's hard when you're fighting the undead who just won't stay dead. While she's physically struggling to stay alive, she is also internally battling her own demons from her past. She believes she's done something very wrong and needs to atone for her sins. The only way Amy can cleanse her conscience is to find her mother, who she certain is still alive and escape various dangerous creatures along the way. I found myself very interested in Amy's story and it's what really made me want to continue to read the book, especially when I found myself losing interest.
While Turner's writing is exceptional, I did think it was a little over-the-top with nihilistic similes and passages that were graphic and gory that I had to skim due to my sensitive stomach. Despite the action scenes that took primary focus in the second half, I found this part of the book a bit too slow. You literally lose Amy and her story when Turner infuses so many secondary characters. I had a hard time keeping track of who is who. None of the secondary characters made any impression and they didn't stick with me after I finished the book. While some may like the plot twists along the way (and there are a few good ones), I was a bit bored with the tedious group mentality and impatiently waited until we got back to Amy's mindset so I could find out all the sordid details of her past.
As I mentioned earlier, I'm definitely not the right reader for Frail, but I really think that fans of horror, especially of the zombie genre, will have much to like.
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
ARC Review: Spider's Revenge
Today I have a special review post from the lovely Danni. Danni won my Spider’s Revenge ARC Giveaway, and today she takes over That’s What I’m Talking About to tell us a little more about Jennifer Estep’s newest release.
Danni is a stay-at-home mom who loves to read. Luckily she gets enough free time to indulge in her passion. Paranormal romance and urban fantasy are her preferred genres, and she loves a hot shifter story! Please welcome Danni to That’s What I’m Talking About!
Spider’s RevengePublisher: Pocket Books
Elemental Assassins #5
ISBN: #978-1439192641
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Format(s): Paperback (400 pgs), e-book
Book Source: Author
About the book: |
Old habits die hard. And I plan on murdering someone before the night is through.
Killing used to be my regular gig, after all. Gin Blanco, aka the Spider, assassin-for-hire. And I was very good at it. Now, I’m ready to make the one hit that truly matters: Mab Monroe, the dangerous Fire elemental who murdered my family when I was thirteen.
Oh, I don’t think the mission will be easy, but turns out it’s a bit more problematic than expected. The bitch knows I’m coming for her. So now I’m up against the army of lethal bounty hunters she hired to track me down. She also put a price on my baby sister’s head. Keeping Bria safe is my first priority. Taking Mab out is a close second.
Good thing I’ve got my powerful Stone and Ice magic — and my irresistible lover Owen Grayson — to watch my back. This battle has been years in the making, and there’s a chance I won’t survive. But if I’m going down, then Mab’s coming with me...no matter what I have to do to make that happen.
What Danni is talking about: |
Gin is finally ready to face Mab Monroe. Finally ready to take down the person that destroyed Gin's family and set her on the path of becoming the Spider. The action starts right off the bat with Gin making an attempt on Mab's life right in her own home while Mab is entertaining guests. Of course things can't be that easy for Gin. And she also discovers that there are tons of bounty hunters in town going after a bounty on both Gin and her sister, Bria. Gin has to stay in front of all the bounty hunters, and make sure her sister stays safe.
When Gin isn't making an attempt on Mab, she is plotting. And she isn't plotting alone. Much to her chagrin all of the people that she has protected in the past and have become her friends all want to do their part to help Gin. Gin doesn't know what to do with that kind of support.
The final face-off is pretty extreme. While she may have help taking out Mab’s guards and the bounty hunters, the actual fight with Mab is one-on-one. I won’t spoil the end for readers, but I will say that Gin does finally have some words with Mab before the elements start flying.
I enjoyed this book and spent my reading time feeling both anxious and excited. The buildup to this showdown was pretty immense, and it lived up to the anticipation. I loved seeing Gin grow, and all the events that have led to this showdown revealed in their own time.
Danni’s Rating: |
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Why I Like RoM/Mmmmance
Today B takes over and tells us why she loves to read m/m romances...
When I was first asked to consider writing an article about this topic, I thought it would be fairly easy to do. I’ve since decided that’s not the case. M/m fiction is hot, sure. And can be sweet, too. But so is a lot of hot romance or erotica. Is it that sex between two men is still considered taboo by some, and therefore a guilty pleasure? Possibly, except that I don’t feel even a twinge of guilt when reading it. Most of the m/m authors I’ve read are women, so it’s not about a difference in the gender perspective of the author, either. And so on, and so on…
So, what is it about m/m fiction that makes my toes wiggle? My journey towards m/m fiction began with several ménage stories, each involving one woman and two men. Guess which parts were my favorites? Yep. The ones that involved just the men together. Once I figured that out, it didn’t take me long to delve into m/m romance.
So, that leaves me with the idea that it’s the love between men that’s so appealing. And I think maybe that’s because it has nothing to do with me at all. In any story with a female narrator or main character, I tend to view the happenings of the novel through her eyes. Her experiences, at least partly, become mine within the context of the story. I’ve read many wonderful books that have made stepping into the heroine’s shoes for a while an absolute delight: brilliant novels with intelligent, strong leading women, engaging plots that have kept me turning pages far past any reasonable bedtime, and delicious intimacy that demanded a few rereads, at least. What a wonderful escape they can be!
But, with m/m fiction, more specifically, erotica, it’s easy to just watch the story play out, and hurt and hope for the men involved as a spectator. I cheer for them from the sidelines, am horrified and angered on their behalf when things go badly, and could happily imagine buying them a drink (or four) and listen to anything they wanted to tell me for hours on end. And if they’re content when the novel is done, then I’m generally ecstatic as a reader.
M/m eroticism, at least in the books I’ve read, also tends to be very unguarded and deliberate. Seduction seems to be more internalized, a common device being one partner making the other aware of his previously unacknowledged need, then waiting until that need explodes into unreserved taking in relatively short order. Emotions tend to be expressed with more efficiency, if not a more basic disclosure of the heart, in general. Even if the underlying sentiment is unbearably sweet, the language is most often going to be raw enough to blister. And isn’t that bunches of fun?!
Of course, all these are opinions based on my singular experiences as an observer. I’m sure that’s part of it, too. It’s not a huge leap from observation to voyeurism, after all, and curiosity is admittedly part of the attraction.
Whatever the reasons, I’ll just continue to wish all the boys well and a truly happy ending. And if they make me squirm a little along the way, I can live with that just fine.
Monday, September 26, 2011
Frail Giveaway
Halloween is just around the corner, and what better way to celebrate than with a ZOMBIE book. That’s why I’m giving you a chance to win FRAIL by Joan Frances Turner.
In a post-apocalyptic world, life is what you make it…
Since a devastating, morphing plague swept through human and zombie populations, almost everyone who survived is an “ex” these days. Ex-human. Ex-zombie. Both creatures crave flesh, have the strength and speed of predators — and what seems like immortality. Pierced skin and broken bones mend, but their all-consuming hunger never dies…Amy is the only purely human survivor from her town — a frail. Her mother is gone, but Amy won’t believe that she’s dead. Feral dogs stalk her, in reality and in her imagination. Amy thinks she’s losing her mind. But when an ex-human named Lisa saves her life, a fragile friendship forms, a bond that will save Amy over and over again when she and Lisa are abducted into a makeshift community run by exes who use humans as their
slaves.
slaves.
For a girl used to going it alone, trusting anyone isn’t easy, but Amy will have to. She has secrets from her past she can’t afford to face by herself, and secrets in her future that could cost her almost everything … including her humanity.
One lucky winner will receive FRAIL for some spooky Halloween reading.
Be sure to check back on THURSDAY for a guest review of FRAIL from Rum at Books in the Spotlight.
The Rules: To be entered, please leave a comment telling me about your favorite Halloween costume. You do not need to be a google follower of my blog, but it always appreciated. Contest is open from September 26, 2011 until Friday September 30, 2011 at 9:00 PM EDT. If your email is not part of your profile, please leave it so I may contact the winner. One entry per person. Contest is restricted to US mailing addresses only. One (1) winner will be selected from eligible entries using random.org. I am not responsible for items lost in the mail.
Thanks and Happy Reading!
Sunday, September 25, 2011
Sunday Snippet #77
Midnight
by Ellen Connor
Berkley Sensation
September 6, 2011 God, what had she said?
“Cristián.”
Release hit him like a sledgehammer to the back of the head. With a hard grunt, he shot against the wall. He used his free hand, fisted tight, to bang the slippery stucco. Pleasure washed over his skin.
Chris came back to the world with the sudden feeling of being watched. Shit. With as much confidence as he could muster, he turned.
Rosa was leaning against the opposite wall. A small bundle of bath supplies waited at her feet. She wasn’t standing in the doorway as if she’d just walked in. No, she had settled in. To watch him.
“All done?”
“Yeah,” he gritted out.
He was still stark naked, holding his flaccid cock. Shit. Shit. Shit. He grabbed his washcloth off a nearby hook and wiped his hands, then ran a little water to rinse the wall. As calmly as he could manage, he found his towel and began to dry off.
Rosa didn’t budge. She followed his every movement with a dark, unreadable gaze. “Don’t do that again unless you want a hard-up bravo to help you out. There are one or two.”
“Lay off, all right?”
She looked perfectly relaxed, her hands tucked behind her back. That pose thrust her breasts against a white button-down, one long enough to just cover her ass. Did she use it as a nightgown? It looked rumpled as if she’d slept in it. Beneath the clinging cotton her nipples were rock hard.
In the dream he’d been arrogant. He’d known what it was to be wanted. Maybe that was because she’d looked at him the way she was doing just then. Stark appreciation shone from her luminous brown eyes. He could knock down trees with his bare hands when she ate him up with her stare.
Chris wrapped the towel loosely around his waist and eased nearer. Any minute she’d pull a gun on him, but he didn’t care. She was the inspiration behind two of the most satisfying orgasms he’d had in years. And he felt like paying homage to his muse.
“Thank you,” he said.
“For what?”
“Letting me finish.”
She licked her lower lip and smiled. “I won’t lie, Cristián. I enjoyed the show.”
PURCHASE INFO:
Midnight (A Dark Age Dawning Novel)
Friday, September 23, 2011
Contest Winner - End of Summer Giveaway
I would like to thank everyone for stopping by That’s What I’m Talking About for my END OF SUMMER BOOK GIVEAWAY. I want to give special thanks to existing and new GFC followers!
Every person that commented on the post was entered into the contest - one entry per person. The winner was selected using random.org.
The Winner:
debbie
CONGRATULATIONS!!
Debbie did NOT leave her email, so I cannot contact her. Hopefully she’ll see this message and please email me at twimom227 (at) gmail (dot) com with her mailing address so I can send her the books! You have until Wednesday September 28, 2011 (end of day) to contact me. If I don’t hear from you by then, I will draw another winner.
Thank you and Happy Reading!
Review: The Darkest Surrender
The Darkest Surrender
Author: Gena Showalter
Release Date: September 27, 2011
Publisher: Harlequin HQN
Lords of the Underworld #8
ISBN: #978-0373775811
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Format(s): Paperback (432 pgs), e-book
Book Source: Publisher
About the book: |
Possessed by the demon of Defeat, Strider cannot lose a challenge without suffering unimaginable pain. For him, nothing stands in the way of victory. Until Kaia, an enchanting Harpy, tempts him to the razor’s edge of surrender.
Known among her people as The Disappointment, Kaia must bring home the gold in the Harpy Games or die. Strider is a distraction she can’t afford because he as an agenda of his own – steal first prize, an ancient godly artifact, before the winner can be named. But as the competition heats up, only one prize will matter – the love neither had thought possible…
Known among her people as The Disappointment, Kaia must bring home the gold in the Harpy Games or die. Strider is a distraction she can’t afford because he as an agenda of his own – steal first prize, an ancient godly artifact, before the winner can be named. But as the competition heats up, only one prize will matter – the love neither had thought possible…
What I’m talking about: |
Ms. Showalter kicks off her eight full-length Lords of the Underworld (LotU) book with a little history of harpy, Kaia. We’ve seen Kaia around - twin sister to Bianca (Lysander’s mate) and big sister of Gwen (Sabin’s mate). (For my LORDS primer post, click HERE). When she was only 14 years old and full of untested confidence, Kaia unknowingly released a prisoner who decimated a large percent of the Harpy population. He also happened to be the consort of a fellow harpy who to this date, waits to seek her revenge on Kaia. Kaia was named “The Disappointment,” and while she never let it show, she was deeply hurt. Now Kaia and her sisters have the opportunity to prove their worth at the Harpy Games, a deadly “warrior Olympics” of sorts.
The first thing I want to say about The Darkest Surrender is WOO-HOO!! I am a huge fan of LotU, and felt the last two books have been mediocre. So it is with great pleasure for me to say GENA IS BACK! Surrender gets back to the basics, and showcases all that I adore about this great series. HUMOR, check. SEXY HERO, check. KICK-ASS HEROINE, check. FUN PLOT, check. LOTS OF ACTION & SMEX, check, check! Fans of this series will not be disappointed!
Kaia and Strider are perfect for each other! Both are egotistical and funny, each thinks that they are at the top of the food chain, and both have the skills to prove it. Right from the start, I was chuckling out loud at Kaia's wit and humor. She knows fun. She can dish out the sarcasm and put-downs, but take it as well. Ms. Showalter does a wonderful job with Kaia's character. One example of this is that Kaia's mind would constantly wander - even while making out with her hottie, Strider. Instead of jumping straight from her inner monologue back to present without an acknowledgement of passing time, Strider calls out Kaia on her lost train-of-thought.
Strider is equally entertaining. He refers to his demon, Defeat, as "dude," calls himself Stridey-Monster, and makes quips like "Don't forget Mission One. The Rod -- and not the one in your pants." Together the two have amazing chemistry, and they are just plain fun.
The primary story of Kaia and the harpy games provides for moments of intense (and bloody) action. However, it also creates a platform for the reader to witness Kaia's true courage. She has been scarred by her past and abandoned by all of her kind. Although she has doubts, she manages to dust herself off when knocked down. She is feisty, but knows when to lie low - even if she chooses not to!
Tangled into the main plot line are hints and clues about the Hunters, the Gods and Goddesses and the never-ending battle that has consumed the Lords' lives. Ms. Showalter does a superb job of hiding little cookies to peak the reader's interest and come back for more. One side story involves the keeper of Promiscuity, Paris, and his continual quest to find the woman he believes is his one true match. We see a darker side of Paris and I so look forward to the next book - The Darkest Seduction, which is Paris' story. It is LONG overdue. We also find out some interesting tidbits about Kane, the keeper of Disaster, and extremely entertaining side-kick, William. I just hope Ms. Showalter doesn't make us wait long to find out what happens to these two.
Darkest Surrender is a fantastic addition to one of my favorite series. Ms. Showalter does a great job of weaving a tale without telling you the facts. Although a newcomer could enjoy this as a stand alone, I highly recommend you start at the beginning!
The first thing I want to say about The Darkest Surrender is WOO-HOO!! I am a huge fan of LotU, and felt the last two books have been mediocre. So it is with great pleasure for me to say GENA IS BACK! Surrender gets back to the basics, and showcases all that I adore about this great series. HUMOR, check. SEXY HERO, check. KICK-ASS HEROINE, check. FUN PLOT, check. LOTS OF ACTION & SMEX, check, check! Fans of this series will not be disappointed!
Kaia and Strider are perfect for each other! Both are egotistical and funny, each thinks that they are at the top of the food chain, and both have the skills to prove it. Right from the start, I was chuckling out loud at Kaia's wit and humor. She knows fun. She can dish out the sarcasm and put-downs, but take it as well. Ms. Showalter does a wonderful job with Kaia's character. One example of this is that Kaia's mind would constantly wander - even while making out with her hottie, Strider. Instead of jumping straight from her inner monologue back to present without an acknowledgement of passing time, Strider calls out Kaia on her lost train-of-thought.
Strider is equally entertaining. He refers to his demon, Defeat, as "dude," calls himself Stridey-Monster, and makes quips like "Don't forget Mission One. The Rod -- and not the one in your pants." Together the two have amazing chemistry, and they are just plain fun.
The primary story of Kaia and the harpy games provides for moments of intense (and bloody) action. However, it also creates a platform for the reader to witness Kaia's true courage. She has been scarred by her past and abandoned by all of her kind. Although she has doubts, she manages to dust herself off when knocked down. She is feisty, but knows when to lie low - even if she chooses not to!
Tangled into the main plot line are hints and clues about the Hunters, the Gods and Goddesses and the never-ending battle that has consumed the Lords' lives. Ms. Showalter does a superb job of hiding little cookies to peak the reader's interest and come back for more. One side story involves the keeper of Promiscuity, Paris, and his continual quest to find the woman he believes is his one true match. We see a darker side of Paris and I so look forward to the next book - The Darkest Seduction, which is Paris' story. It is LONG overdue. We also find out some interesting tidbits about Kane, the keeper of Disaster, and extremely entertaining side-kick, William. I just hope Ms. Showalter doesn't make us wait long to find out what happens to these two.
Darkest Surrender is a fantastic addition to one of my favorite series. Ms. Showalter does a great job of weaving a tale without telling you the facts. Although a newcomer could enjoy this as a stand alone, I highly recommend you start at the beginning!
My Rating: |
Review: To Seduce An Angel
To Seduce An AngelAuthor: Kate Moore
Release Date: September 6, 2011
Publisher: Berkley Sensation
Son of Sins #3
ISBN: #978-0425243695
Genre: Historical Romance
Format(s): Paperback (304 pgs), e-book
Book Source: Publisher
About the book: |
In book three Kit has become Daventry, a warrior angel trapped in a gilded cage who wants to free his family with a decisive defeat of the old duke. In a daring move that breaks all the rules of his safe life, he hires Emma Portland. Everything about Emma is a lie except her love. Alone, pursued by spies, falsely accused of a murder she didn’t commit, Emma must spy for the Duke of Wenlocke against Daventry. If she doesn’t play by Wenlocke’s rules, she dies. Emma passes herself off as a tutor to Daventry’s lost boys as she plans her next escape. What she doesn’t plan on is falling in love. To Seduce an Angel is the story of two lovers caught between the deadly pull of their past lives and the demands of the future.
What VampBard’s talking about: |
What's not to love about the title 'To Seduce an Angel'? I'm thinking to myself, "ok, maybe I'll find me a lil’ paranormal in here among what seems to be historical romance..." Nope. BUT... this was a GREAT story! Murder, espionage, and just plain bad guys doing bad things surround the beautifully crafted story about Emma finding her way, through a web of deceit, to Dav. As a group of boys learn to trust their trial teacher, it gives their guardian time to figure out his true feelings for her.
I seriously loved Emma, our heroine. She was strong and willing to do what was necessary for the happiness of those she loved. Yeah, martyr. But it's cool. What I think drew me the most to her was the fact that she was teaching the boys, and yet she was still so drawn to Dav in the most caring, yet sexual way.
The boys in the story created a bit of comic relief and additional action, as well as assisting with plot movement. I don't think that the plot would have worked as effectively without them.
As for Dav... I picture him as a bulkier John Stamos (back when he was doing Full House). Jus' sayin'. While Dav is doing battle to prove he 'deserves' his title as Daventry, he really doesn't feel worthy of the job. Some of his life experiences when he was younger contributed to his feeling of ineptitude when it comes to the more hoity-toity stuff in life. It becomes obvious as the story moves along that Dav is also trying to convince himself that he is worthy of loving someone. He struggles with feeling safe and at home in his home, and frequently takes to the roof to relax and get away from the stressors in his life.
I was seriously diggin' the symbolism in this book. Look for the roof, Emma's pin, the slates, the closet, and Dav's cloak for starters. The grammarian didn't take issue with this one, either. Never sent up flares for an editor once! I think there could have been a bit more development between Dav and Emma throughout the book, rather than the avoidance that seemed to transpire, but that's probably a personal preference because I really liked them together!
Shhhh... Kate Moore could turn me into a fan of historical romance...but don't tell anyone!
VampBard’s Rating: |
Enjoyed - strongly recommend (A-)
Purchase Info:
Thursday, September 22, 2011
Review: The Vampire Files, Volume 4, Lady Crymsyn
The Vampire Files, Vol. 4(Part I, Lady Crymsyn)
Author: P.N. Elrod
Release Date: September 6, 2011
Publisher: Ace Trade
Vampire Files Series, Book 9
ISBN: #978-0441020829
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Format(s): Paperback (289 pp.), e-book
Book Source: Publisher
NOTE: The Vampire Files, Vol 4 is actually two novels, Lady Crymsyn & Cold Streets. This review is for Lady Crymsyn only.
About the book: |
In the latest Vampire Files omnibus, Jack Fleming now runs his own nightclub while remaining a reluctant player in the politics of gangland Chicago in the 1930s. And wherever vampires and mobsters mix, there will be blood...
Jack uncovers the body of a good-time girl who went missing six years ago. And since her body was stashed in what is now Jack's club, vampire or not, he won't rest until her murderers are brought to justice...
What B is talking about: |
Jack Fleming, P.I. has been excitedly working to get his new nightclub, Lady Crymsyn, ready for opening night. But when the crew he’s hired to complete construction on the basement of the property accidentally uncovers the remains of a woman who’d been buried alive, Jack thinks he’ll be lucky to open the club at all.
Set in 1930’s Chicago, Lady Crymsyn is an entertaining take on traditional murder mysteries with the inclusion of an ambitious, but kind-hearted, vampire, Jack Fleming, in the mix. Elrod’s engaging whodunit is big on twists and turns, and following Jack along as he works through layer after layer of intrigue and deceit was a pleasure.
Elrod keeps quite a few traditional vampire traits for Jack (no reflection in mirrors, must sleep through the daylight hours, and so on), but has created enough differences to set them apart from most others in the genre. One of the more interesting being that since very few humans are able to survive the turning process, most older vampires tend to shy away from making too many for their own purposes.
Though it would probably have been easy to allow the borrowed clichés of the time period to dominate the novel’s dialog, Elrod succeeds in using it as an accent, never letting it becoming excessively obvious. There are a couple of characters that use it quite readily, but, given their personalities, it suits them. The result is a feeling of authenticity, rather than the air of a bad gangster movie.
Lady Crymsyn successfully combines mystery, suspense, and romance into an inventive take on the vampire myth. With plenty strong female characters to give the story plenty of balance, there’s something here for most anyone who enjoys a good crime story. Elrod makes stepping inside her world easy, despite the Vampire Files series having a wealth of titles in it already. Though I would have welcomed a little more romance between Jack and Bobbi, his girlfriend, their relationship is solid, and their enjoyment of one another evident. Overall, Lady Crymsyn was an intriguing tale that kept me guessing until the very end.
B’s Rating: |
Liked it a lot - recommend (B+)
Books in the Series:
The Vampire Files, Volume Two
The Vampire Files, Volume Three
The Vampire Files, Volume Four
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
A Look Ahead in books
With the year almost 3/4 over, we've had some really great books to read in 2011. My favorites so far this year have been:
But there are so many more great books that are still to come! At the top of my WANT list are the following:
Those are only a few of the many books I want this fall!
What have been your favorite books released in 2011? What titles are you still waiting for this fall?
ALSO.... I wanted to point out a new feature at That's What I'm Talking About... Do you see the new "STORE" link in my header? I've created a place at Amazon that includes some of my favorite things. Check it out!
And... don't forget to enter my END OF SUMMER BOOK giveaway, open until September 23, 2011. For details, click HERE.
Thanks and Happy Reading!
But there are so many more great books that are still to come! At the top of my WANT list are the following:
Those are only a few of the many books I want this fall!
What have been your favorite books released in 2011? What titles are you still waiting for this fall?
ALSO.... I wanted to point out a new feature at That's What I'm Talking About... Do you see the new "STORE" link in my header? I've created a place at Amazon that includes some of my favorite things. Check it out!
And... don't forget to enter my END OF SUMMER BOOK giveaway, open until September 23, 2011. For details, click HERE.
Thanks and Happy Reading!
Labels:
Allyson James,
books,
Ilona Andrews,
Larissa Ione,
Meljean Brook,
reading,
Sydney Croft
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