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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
Sunday Snippets
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Monday, December 31, 2012
Quickie Review: A Perfect World by Kris Cook
A Perfect World
Author: Kris Cook
Release Date: March 24, 2011
Publisher: Forbidden Passion Press
Genre: Sci-Fi Romance, Erotic, Novella
Format(s): e-book
Book Source: Purchased with my own funds
About the book:
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In a world where death has been virtually conquered and beauty is the norm - a husband goes to extreme measures to ensure his wife is approved to have their baby.
Will Greg be able to agree to William's wicked request so that Seana can become a mother?
What I’m talking about:
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In the future, people live in a world full of medical wonders, where humans can live without disease for as long as they want. Because of this, there are rules, such as zero population growth... which means there must be a death for a child to be born. Also, a female cannot have a child after she reaches 38 years of age.
Greg and Seana go to rich relative William to ask if he'll willingly die so Seana can get pregnant. William agrees, but the kicker is that he wants to impregnate Seana himself (the old fashion way) before he dies.
A Perfect World is a very short story, not even novella length, which leads little time to develop characters or provide any solid backstory. However, Mr. Cook still finds enough space to create an interesting concept for a future world. The sci-fi features are presented with enough detail to fabricate a thorough picture for the reader.
Overall the story is enjoyable, but rough around the edges. Due to the shorter length, the insinuated bonds and "I love you’s" felt unnecessary and contrived. But with that said, I still had a little tear in my eye at the pinnacle of the story.
A Perfect World is a fun, erotic sci-fi short. Due to the length, there isn’t much story or plot, but the premise is solid and enjoyable.
My Rating:
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Liked it, but I had some issues - recommend (B)
Labels:
Celebrating 2012 Books & The Princess Bride
Sometimes, when I'm reading a book that I'm really into, I MAY have been known to assign characters from a book to a series or movie. I decided that for my year-end post that I would create a cast list for a 25th Anniversary edition of The Princess Bride. One of my all-time FAVORITE movies. If you've NOT seen this awesome flick, check out the IMDB link and rent it, buy it or find it for download somewhere!
Here is the cast of the Princess Bride retooled with characters from some of the books I read in 2012:
Westley – Florent, from The Oracle Glass by Judith Merkle Riley
Westley, much like Florent, is giving. He is willing to be seen as the bad guy as long as people leave him alone, and they allow him to live his life.
Inigo Montoya – Tohrment, from Lover Reborn by J.R. Ward
Seriously. If Ward had used, “My name is Tohrment. You killed my shellan. Prepare to die,” when he was killing those pale dudes, I may or may not have reacted, as I said this phrase over & over while reading the book.
Prince Humperdinck – Julian, from Redlisted by Sarah Beaman
Julian seems to run the show. He's not disobeyed openly, and it appears as though he is the man. Not sure if I believe this...but thereyago.
Count Tyrone Rugen – Harvey McLeod, from Every Breath She Takes by Norah Wilson
Harvey is a jerk, and wants the main character to sell his ranch to him. He'll do (practically) whatever it takes to make himself successful.
Vizzini – Nico, from City of Dark Magic by Magnus Flyte
Nico and Vizzini both have the tenacity of a pit bull once they lock-on to a target. Their creativity is phenomenal, and they seem to work well with certain others. Also, they're both small-of-stature. Probably helps the Napoleon complex.
Fezzik – Tommy, from The Final Piece by Maggi Myers
Seemingly larger-than-life, Tommy is Beth's great protector, much like Fezzik protected Buttercup and Wesley.
The Princess Bride (Buttercup) – Raina, In the Company of Witches by Joey W. Hill
Raina has the perfect blend of 'let it happen' and 'control the situation', much like Buttercup.
Valerie – Hilde, Provoked by Rebecca Zanetti
This sassy granny wasn't afraid to contradict others, standing up for what was right or things in which she believed. Including pulling people that thought they were all that & a bag-o-chips down a couple pegs.
Miracle Max – Garrett, Heart Secret by Robin D. Owens
Max was able to tinker with spells and potions. Garrett, however, was a skilled investigator. He was able to tinker with the lives of others that might be in trouble, and be able to clear their names...or further incriminate them.
So. If you've read these titles, the following is going to be HILARIOUS! If you've NOT read them, but seen the movie, you may be persuaded to pick up a book or two. If you've not read the books nor seen the movie, you may be lost...but the dialogue is epic anyway! I picked up the Princess Bride script from: http://www.princessbride.8m.com/script.htm … because it's tedious to type out a script from a movie (not that I've ever done that... **sideeye**).
Garrett: Hoo hoo hoo! Look who knows so much, heh? Well, it just so happens that your friend here is only mostly dead. There's a big difference between mostly dead and all dead. Please, open his mouth. Puts the bellows to Florent’s mouth, and blows air in. Now, mostly dead is slightly alive. Now, all dead... well, with all dead, there's usually only one thing that you can do.
Tohrment: What's that?
Garrett: Go through his clothes and look for loose change. Removes the bellows. Hey! Hello in there! Hey! What's so important? What you got here that's worth living for? Pushes on Florent’s abdomen.
Florent: t-r-u-e l-o-v-e.
Tohrment: "True Love," you heard him? You could not ask for a more noble cause than that.
Garrett: Sonny, True Love is the greatest thing in the world
…
Tohrment: This is Raina’s True Love. If you heal him, he will stop Julian’s wedding. Garrett: Shah! Wait, wait. I make him better, Julian suffers?
Tohrment: Humiliations galore.
Garrett: Ha ha ha! Hi dah lig dah lah nay juh! That is a noble cause. Gimme the sixty-five. I'm on the job.
Hilde: Woo-woo!
…
Harvey: Kill the dark one and the giant, but leave the third for questioning.
Tohrment: Kills charging guards. Hello. My name is Tohrment. You killed my father. Prepare to die.
Rugen pauses, then turns and runs. Tohrment chases him. Florent and Tommy look at each other.
Tohrment: Tommy!!!!!! I need you!!!!! Rams body against door repeatedly.
Tommy: Gesturing to Florent, who he is supporting. I can't leave him alone.
Tohrment: He's getting away from me, Tommy!!! Please!!! Arr!!! Tommy!!! Aaargh!!
Tommy: Places Florent against a suit of armor. I'll be right back.
Tohrment: Continuing to ram the door. Arr! Arr! Tommy breaks the door down. Thank you.
…
Ever read a book and instantly you think about a character from a movie? What are your favorites?
Happy 2013! Best wishes for a year filled with fabulous plots, strong heroines, and hot heroes!
Friday, December 28, 2012
Year in Review - 2012
Here we are at the close of another year. This year my goal was to focus more on reading and less on the mechanics of blogging, and I’m happy to report it was a success! Emotionally and mental I was in a much better place, finding time to read and enjoying writing the reviews. I am happy to report that the total number of books read this year was 97 books, up 33 books from last year! My original goal was to read one book per week, but up’d the goal to 65 books (one more than 2011). I blew that goal out of the water!
I had also challenged myself to read new-to-me authors this past year. Originally, I thought about one new author per month, for a total of 12 in the year, but when I realized I would exceed that rather quickly, I up’d that goal to 24 new-to-me-authors. I ended up reading 30 new-to-me authors! I am really proud of this accomplishment and plan to try and get at least 12 more new-to-me authors in 2013.
Having the more relaxed mental attitude also helped with blogging. I am pleased to report that I published over 460 posts in 2012, up over 100 from 2011! My review team kept me busy! We added a new feature in late September called Saturday Conversations, a place where we take the time to chat about the things going on in our lives. On the downside, I finally said goodbye (for now) to my long-running Sunday Snippets weekly post back in October 2012, after the 124th post!
I really have enjoyed blogging and discussing books with all of you. Although visitors were down in 2012, I know I have a great group of loyal readers, and I thank you each of you from the bottom of my heart. My blog is a labor of love, and I’m happy to share it with you all! Below is my TOP TEN for 2012... How did 2012 go for you? What were your favorite reads during the year?
10) My friend and sometime guest reviewer, Ang, came on board as a permanent member of the That’s What I’m Talking About review team. Ang enjoys reading historicals and contemporaries - creating a better balance of romance here at the blog.
9) I enjoy doing giveaways here at That’s What I’m Talking About, and the discovery of Rafflecopter has made giveaways so much easier for me! I love that it manages the entries and picks the winner/s for me, but I also enjoy all of the options, like tweeting about the giveaway.
8) Did anyone else notice the increase in Self-Published Authors this past year? I had the opportunity to read and showcase both newbie authors, but also some of my long-time favorites went the route of self-publishing in 2012. Whether by choice or due to circumstances, the decision to self-publish was a-okay with me. I enjoyed books from Shiloh Walker, Carolyn Crane, Jill Myles and Allyson James - all self-published. And this trend to self-publish was at the center of a question I asked at the Lori Foster’s Reader-Author Get Together, bringing a true cricket moment, but many laughs for my friend Dren and myself!
7) It seems that every year there is at least one big book in a long-running series, one that everyone can’t wait to read (can anyone say Qhuay 2013?!). In 2012, there were two such books for me. First was the climatic conclusion to the (first story arc of) Midnight Breed series by Lara Adrian, and a book for the long-tormented hero, Chase. We finally got to read his book, Darker After Midnight, and it did NOT disappoint! Not only did the book chronicle Chase’s journey of redemption and love, it also ended with an amazing twist that will completely reboot the series when it returns in February 2013. 2012 also was the year that Paris finally finds love in The Lords of the Underworld! Gena Showalter’s keeper of Promiscuity, Paris, has been pining for Sienna since the beginning of the series, and in The Darkest Seduction, Paris finally finds peace.
6) Reading so many New-to-Me Authors in 2012 was not only a huge accomplishment, but also such a joy. I found some great new series that have now become “auto-buys” for me. As I mentioned earlier, I hope to continue adding new authors to my bookshelf, but I won’t do it at the expense of giving up books and series I currently read. I think I will be able to squeeze in a few more - because that’s the best way to discover new favorites!!
5) URBAN FANTASY! When I look back at 2012, I realize that I have been reading a lot more urban fantasy titles and really enjoying them (even a bit more than PNR!). My favorites are ones that have a strong heroine, who may be flawed but believes in herself and those around her, coupled with some romance. Long-time favorites like Kate Daniels (and her partner Andrea, who was the main character in one of my favorite books, Gunmetal Magic), Janet Begay (Stormwalker series), Victory Vaughn (Deadtown series) and Madeline Black (Black Wings series), were joined this year by new-to-me characters like Gin Blanco (Elemental Assassins), Kit Colbana (Colbana Files), Drusilla Jaco (Sentinels of New Orleans), and Justine Jones (The Disillusionists).
4) In 2012, I said good-bye to three of my “auto-buy” series. First, Jill Myles ended her wonderful Succubus Diaries series with Succubi Are Forever in April. In November, Larissa Ione released the fourth and final book in her sexy Lords of Deliverance series. Rogue Rider may have the final chapter for the Horsemen, but the world of Demonica will live on when she returns to UGH in 2013 with Reaver’s book! Finally, December saw the final book Alyssa Day’s Warriors of Poseidon series. Long-time readers FINALLY got Alaric and Quinn’s story in Heart of Atlantis.
3) I finally made time to read The Disillusionist series by Carolyn Crane. What. An. Amazing. Series. I cannot not say enough great things about this trilogy which centers around a group of misfits who learn to use their phobias and insecurities to “cure” true bad guys of their vices. The third book in the series, Head Rush, was one of the best books I read this past year and earned a spot as one of my all-time favorites!
2) It is hard to pick a favorite book for 2012... There were several great reads that came out this past year. My top 3 new releases for 2012 are: Riveted by Meljean Brook, Gunmetal Magic by Ilona Andrews, and Darker After Midnight by Lara Adrian.
1) Getting to hang out with some of the most wonderful women and fellow book lovers at both Lori Foster’s Get Together and Authors After Dark NOLA. Not only did I have to opportunity to check in with some of the friends I’d met in 2011, but I finally got to meet in real life several more of my online tweeps. Plus - meeting and hanging out with some amazing authors. I think I went a bit fangirl several times. Connecting with gracious people and making friends with those I have something in common is truly a blessing! I look forward to doing more of the same in 2013!
Thank you all for stopping by and supporting me and That's What I'm Talking About. Joyous New Year and Happy Reading!! Be sure to check back in January when I’m planning a HUGE book giveaway blow out for my 3rd Blogiversary!
Thursday, December 27, 2012
Author Guest Post: Amanda J Greene
Hello Readers! Today I bring you paranormal romance author Amanda J Greene. Amanda is the author of the self-published Rulers of Darkness series. See Vampbard’s review of the second book, Caressed by Night, earlier today (HERE).
When she is not writing, Amanda can found playing the role of a full time university student who works part time. She lives in Southern California with her very supportive husband and their sweet cocker spaniel. Doing all the above and being a military wife is not easy, but rewarding! Of course, she accomplishes everything with a strong cup of coffee in her hand.
Amanda is here today to share a chapter excerpt from her upcoming release Caressed by a Crimson Moon (Rulers of Darkness #3, January 25, 2013). Please help me welcome Amanda to That’s What I’m Talking About.
Caressed by a Crimson Moon
Rulers of Darkness #3
January 25, 2013
Consumed by madness and tormented by dark memories of blood and death, Hadrian Lucretius, King of the Validus Clan, has returned after living in self-imposed exile for nearly three hundred and fifty years.
To maintain peace with the vampires, Eva Maldonado is offered as a sacrifice to the crazed vampire king by her father, the alpha of the Silveria Shifter Pack. Hadrian’s reputation is both legendary and lethal; he is ruthless, bloodthirsty, lusty, and soulless. When Eva arrives at the ancient fortress high in the Carpathian Mountains, she is shocked to find a ravaged man with dark burning eyes filled with loneliness and dangerous desire.
Would she be his lover…or his prey? His savior…or his victim? Would Hadrian lure her into madness or would their perilous passion be their redemption?
Excerpt:
Eva groaned when the clock on the mantle elegantly chimed three. She slid from the bed and began to pace the room again. She could not stop thinking about her encounter with the king. He was a powerful, mysterious, and all together lethal vampire, terrifying and undeniably sexy. She was struggling to find a logical explanation to her reaction but came up with nothing. With a sigh, she acknowledged that her confinement was not helping her bewildering thoughts and restlessness.
She circled about the room. Though the space was large and stylish, she felt trapped. At her father’s village, she had been treated like a prisoner, always locked away, always caged. She craved movement and she wanted out. Now.
She had not promised Falcon she would stay in the room. Once given, a shape-shifter could never go back on their word, a trait she wished she had not inherited from her father. Falcon was right, she admitted, she could easily get lost and she did not want to be caught by the king again.
Or did she?
No, of course not.
She paced by the door for the hundredth time, casting a longing glance to the knob. It wasn’t locked. Maybe, if she just stepped out into the hall for a moment she would feel better. She shook her head. No, she would wander away. She would be unable to resist the urge to roam. In frustration, she threw her hands in the air. Hoping a shower might help calm her, she went to the dark polished dresser and pulled out a set of pajamas before stomping to the bathroom.
Having inspected the washroom earlier, she had been pleased to find it stocked with all the necessities. After placing her neatly folded pajama pant and tank top set on the counter, she grabbed a bottle of body wash, then studied the collection of expensive shampoos and conditioners and randomly selected a French pair. She turned on the shower and quickly ditched her clothes.
The warm water that rained down from the numerous showerheads was soothing. She took her time bathing and washing her hair, savoring the heated water and privacy. For the past ten years she had bathed in a communal shower with chilled water. Well, no one had actually bathed with her, no one bared to be that close to the half-breed.
“Another positive check for the vampires,” she said as she sat on the bench, basking in the heat and steam that gathered in the roomy glass shower stall.
God, she had missed true civilization. The shifters she had lived among envisioned themselves superior to the human race, deciding that living in the jungle, with few modern amenities and technology was the way to go. She rubbed the back of her neck and snorted. The pack was nothing but backward, from their views of the world, of women, of war, everything. Why could they not be like most other shifter packs and live with humans? Have normal homes, eat at restaurants, and enjoy dance clubs and movie theaters.
Enjoy everything I once had.
She had lived within human society the majority of her life. She and her mother had lived happily together, just the two of them before cancer stole her life and her father claimed hers. She had attended public schools, making friends with humans and even a few shifters. Never had they treated her like a leper or made her feel inferior.
With a sigh, she turned the water off, quickly dried and dressed. Out of habit, she brushed out her thick hair with her fingers, instead of using one of ivory combs, and fastened it in one long braid that extended to her hips. Next, she stoked the fire. It’s flames coming back to life with a vengeance and she happily greeted the warmth. Eva fell into a chair and brought her legs up. She hugged them to her chest and rested her chin on her knee. For a while she sat, gazing unseeing into the fire. The shower had helped, but she still fought the urge to glance at the door.
Never had she felt so restless, not even during a full moon when she was locked in her hut while the pack shifted into animal form. Their snarls, growls, and fights would echo in the night and, being a half-breed, she remained in human form. Her body grew tense as she tried to keep her focus on the elegant dancing flames.
When the clock’s beautiful melody chimed four, Eva cursed and jumped to her feet.
“That’s it.”
She stormed back into the bathroom and threw open the door to the walk in closet. She wiggled free from her pajama pants and quickly pulled on a set of dark jeans, slid her feet into thick socks and tied on her snow boots. All the while, she silently thanked Falcon for purchasing these items for her. After she snatched a powder blue down jacket, matching beanie and gloves, she reentered her room. Eva paused before the door, her hand hovering just above the knob. She knew she should stay. She knew Falcon was right and the last thing she wanted was to get lost in this inexplicably large castle. Or be found by the king…
An unseen force beckoned to her, calling to the dormant wildness within her. She wanted nothing more than to throw open the door and run.
Eva rubbed her temples and dropped her head.
“What is wrong with me?”
She had never craved movement so much in her life. She needed to be out of this castle. She longed to feel the cool wind whip at her cheeks, the moon kiss her skin and…She frowned as her heart began to slam in her chest. There was something else. Something in the back of her mind demanding that she go into the night. She knew there was something out there. Something she…needed.
Eva slowly opened the door. Sticking her head out into the hall, she looked both ways before silently tiptoeing from the room, closing her door. She retraced her steps, descending to the main level and out the front door.
Relief filled her as the wind rushed over her. She quickly tucked her ears beneath the beanie and shoved her hands into her gloves. Taking in a deep breath, she filled her lungs with the clean scent of trees and freshly fallen snow.
“Okay, I’m outside. Where to now?”
An odd sensation compelled her to turn right. She walked along the wall of the castle and continued around until she came to a terrace. The furniture was covered with tarps weighted down by snow. Coming to the edge, she was shocked by what she could see. Below was a large hedge made labyrinth, with a building of glace at its center and a lake, frosted over by ice, towards the back. The land was flat and stretched for miles a village of cottages huddle together against the line of trees that extended for miles and ended at a cliff.
She quickly descended the steps from the terrace and paused when she came to the entrance of the labyrinth. Should she enter? Did she dare? Again, an odd feeling swept over her. Not one of fear but of excitement. Confusion clouded her mind while instinct compelled her forward.
Eva slowly wound through the maze, using her photographic memory to find its center. She was almost certain the glass building was a green house and she was anxious to see what kind of tropical plants would be living such fragile lives in these unforgiving mountains.
Her steps faltered as she came to a bend. The hair on the back of her neck stood on end.
She was not alone.
Eva froze and strained her senses. Her hearing and eyesight was slightly better than a human’s but nothing compared to a full shifter or—she swallowed hard—a vampire. Unable to detect anything, she slowly crept forward. Placing her back against the twelve-foot tall hedge wall, she peeked around the corner.
A man sat on a white marble bench, his elbows resting on his knees, his head hung low. She could only see his perfectly hard profile and her heart skipped a beat as her breath caught. High, bold cheekbones and a straight, stern jaw descended to thin, yet enticing lips. His hair was black and buzzed in an extremely short military fashion. To her disappointment, his eyes were closed, but she knew they would be intense. He was dressed in all black, a stark contrast to the white that surrounded him.
Raw power radiated from him. He was pure unadulterated male. Lethal. She knew instinctively this vampire was the crazed king, Hadrian Lucretius. The man—no, the beast that had ensnared her in the hall.
His eyes remained closed as his lips pulled back from his long, white fangs tinted with red.
Blood.
She knew she ought to be horrified but as before…he was making her lust. Her body was hot and heavy, her breathing came in soft gasps, and heat spiraled through her core as she recalled the feel of his powerful body looming over her.
“I know you’re there.” His voice was deep and heavily accented though his style of speech was modern. He spoke again, but she did not comprehend his words. She closed her eyes and savored his voice. Dark. Seductive. She shivered, not from cold, but from pleasure.
Nothing made sense. She knew her reaction was insane. She knew she should be terrified and run as fast as she could back to the castle and the safety of her room. But, she could not bring herself to leave, nor did she want to run. Her heart stuttered at the thought of him chasing her and something wild deep within her roared to life.
In a rush of movement, she was pulled forward and spun about. Her back slammed against the hedge, a cool, strong hand wrapped about her throat. Her cry of shock quickly faded to a gasp of delight. He stood before her, pinning her to the hedge. Her senses flared, taking in his fresh scent. He smelled of pine, wilderness, and male. His eyes gazed deeply into hers as if searching for her very soul. They were fathomless, obsidian pools that swirled with malice, grief, and…desire.
Her heart thundered in her ears as her lips parted, drawing in rapid breaths, filling her lungs with his irresistible scent. Again, she wondered at her response, but lust clouded her mind, blocking all rational thought.
She dropped her gaze to his broad shoulders and chest, which were covered only by a short-sleeved black shirt. Her fingers twitched at the thought of running her hands over the hard muscle. He was lean, solidly built, and tall, clearly over six feet.
He crowded her. Trapping her.
She loved it.
Hadrian’s gaze focused on her pulse. Eva’s heart beat wildly, teasing him. His fangs felt heavy in his mouth and they ached to pierce her slender throat.
The run had helped him immensely, driving away those hateful memories. He thanked God he had recovered before his ward had stumbled upon him in the labyrinth. The memories always left his mind tainted.
Blood.
He had wanted blood. No. Needed blood. Death. Yes, he had craved to taste death, to savor it. He had hunted in the forest and fed from a rabbit. It’s tangy blood and tiny life had brought him precious little relief. It was enough. It would keep him from tearing her throat open and gorging himself on the sweet elixir.
She would be spicy, exotic, and oh, so hot.
He ran his tongue over his fangs and Eva sighed. The scent of her desire grew stronger. He took in a deep breath and shuddered. Intoxicating. His erection strained against his pants as heat consumed him. He wanted to teleport her to his bed, feel her soft body beneath him, her hips rocking with his as he claimed her, filled her. Her lust sang to him like a siren’s song and fired his icy blood.
“We meet again, little one.” He brushed the elegant column of her throat with his thumb, pausing over her pulse with every stroke. “I did not expect it would be so soon.”
Hadrian kept his hand on her neck as he stepped back to appraise his prey. He had known she was small, but his mind had been completely consumed with lust and hunger earlier to focus on detail. She was barely over five feet and slight of frame. Fragile. He could snap the poor girl; easily break her like a doll. He eased the pressure on her neck at the thought. Her face was delicate with almond shaped eyes that were down caste, concealing their color. She also had well defined cheekbones and stubborn chin. Her luscious, pouting lips were peach in color. Hadrian shivered as he imagined their taste. He could not remember the last time he had felt another’s lips pressed against his. Never had he kissed the women he took to his bed…not since he had been a mortal man, not since his wife. But damn, her mouth was tempting.
He dropped his gaze to her body. She was tightly bundled in a thick jacket, the blue a perfect complement to her smooth sun kissed skin. Her dark brown hair was pulled back and fastened in a braid that came to her hips. He resisted the urge of freeing her locks, having the absurd desire to run his fingers through her hair.
He released her throat to press his hands to the hedge on either side of her head. Her gaze met his and Hadrian bit back a curse. Amber. Pure, amber stared back at him. Not yellow, as he thought before when he had found her in the hall.
Stunning.
For an instant, his gaze grew sharp. Eva tried to look away, but his hand caught her chin and forced her to face him.
“Look at me, little one.”
She raised her hands, intending to shove him away, like she knew she should. This was wrong. He was a vampire. No, he was a crazed vampire king and she was, well, a lowly half-breed, who was also his ward. Nothing could happen between them. As if I would want something to happen between us, she told herself.
His thumb brushed over her bottom lip, the caress was simple and yet completely erotic. He sank his body into hers and Eva lost her breath. .
Hadrian slipped his hand down her neck to her nape; his fingers began to play with the stay strands of hair that had escaped her braid. His ravenous gaze roamed her body. Despite the bulkiness of her jacket, he could feel her generous curves. The blue material covering her chest strained ever so slightly against her breasts as her hips cradled his, her stomach was flat and soft against his painful erection.
“Shall we continue what we started in the hall?”
Eva swallowed hard as she thought, Oh, God, yes!
His finger danced over her shoulder and her chest to the zipper of her jacket. She watched as he slowly drew it down, heat coiled in her core.
Eva couldn’t think. She couldn’t move. The heat of his strong hands burned through the thin material of her pajama tank top as he spanned her waist. She did not notice the cold but shivered in anticipation. His fingers slowly slid up her sides and paused at her ribs, just below her aching breasts. She arched her back and he hissed.
“Terror,” Hadrian whispered. “You should be feeling terror.”
Eva squeaked in response, unable to speak.
He leaned his head down, his breath brushed along the sensitive flesh of her throat.
“You should run,” he said. Would I let her escape? Yes, he would. He would use what remained of his will to remain still as she raced through the labyrinth. He should set her from him and demand that she go.
All Eva could do was nod. She knew he was right. She should be screaming. She should be praying that Falcon would come to her rescue. This dark vampire had her trapped. Hadrian, the mad king, had her at his mercy. She tried to remember the evil rumors, hoping they might be able to draw her back into reality. Nothing came. All she could think about was how much she wanted to feel his hands on her body, hips lips against her skin and his—
“Touch me,” Eva gasped. Desire controlled her mind as lust gripped her body.
His black gaze jumped with dangerous delight. He spun her about, forcing her back against his chest, his hands gripping her hips as he pressed her front towards the hedge.
Heaven help her, a bolt of treacherous excitement ran down her spine to curl her toes. She pressed her hips back and groaned at the feel of his hard cock against her ass.
“Do you know who I am?” he asked, his lips brushing her ear.
“Y-yes.”
“Who?” His demand was rough and, God, she loved the anger that laced his voiced. On some level, she knew she must be losing her mind to desire this vampire. She did not care. She wanted him. Now. Primal, sexual need coursed through her in sweet agonizing pulsating waves.
“H-Hadrian Lu-Lucretius,” she answered.
Eva cried out in surprised pleasure as he slowly scraped his fangs drew his tongue over her rapidly beating pulse. She tilted her head to the side, giving him better access to her neck.
This was crazy, she should be begging him not to bite her, not panting for his touch. All her life she had been told a vampire’s bite was ruthless and excruciatingly painful, something to be avoided at all costs. But she wanted this.
She frowned as she tried to analyze her reaction. She should be fighting him with every ounce of her strength. Instead she was aching with lust.
His tongue caressed her neck and her thoughts scattered. Her head lolled back against his chest.
Eva began to wriggle beneath his hold. She wanted to see him, to kiss his lips. It felt like an eternity since the last time she had been kissed. What would his fangs feel? Would the cut her? Something dark and wild in her roared at the thought. She tried to turn, but he kept her pined.
“You crave.” His fingers dug into her hips as he rubbed her against his shaft. He dipped his face down into the crook of her neck and took in a deep breath. She shuttered. He inhaled in her scent, like an animal, like the beast that he was and it thrilled her. “I can scent your need.”
She boldly covered his hands with her own and he allowed her slide their hands over her flat belly to her breasts. She moaned when gave a gentle squeeze. Her breasts were bare beneath her tank top and she hated the thin material for being in the way. She wanted to feel his palms against her hard nipples.
“Wild,” Hadrian breathed.
She sighed and began to adulate her hips against him. He bit back a curse as fire spread through his veins.
Take her.
His fangs grew even longer, his nails lengthened to claws as his cock swelled. His eyes flicked from her breasts to her pulse and back. The vampire within him howled as he thought of pushing her jeans down, revealing her sex. She would be so hot, so wet. He could tell by her scent she was ready. He could drive into her as he pierced her flesh and drank deep.
Take her.
Eva reached up to circle her arms about his neck—
She stumbled into the hedge. Whirling around she saw…nothing. He was gone. The snow was undisturbed, with the exception of her footprints.
The absents of his body left her vulnerable to the cold and she quickly zipped her jacket. She shook her head, trying to dislodge the sensual haze that clouded her thoughts.
Her neck tingled and Eva hesitantly raised her hand, her fingers met smooth skin. He had not bitten her. Her cheeks flooded with heat. She had wanted him to sink his fangs deep within her. Her blush grew even darker as clarity began to set in. She had freely offered herself to him, mind, body, and…blood. She had been his for the taking.
So why hadn’t he claimed what she had clearly offered?
Eva walked over to the marble bench and sat. She rubbed her hands anxiously over her knees as she fought the urge to search him out, to find him and demand they continue. He had wakened something darkly feral within her and she frowned, one hundred percent confused.
Why had she acted this way? Why did she want him so badly? She bounced her legs, barely resisting the need to hunt him.
She knew vampires could control a human’s mind. The ability made hunting and feeding much easier. Had he done that to her? Possibly. But, if he had reached into her mind, why had he let her go? Why had he not taken what he wanted?
“Because you’re a half-breed,” she spat.
No man in his right mind would want a half-breed.
But he isn’t in his right mind, she thought then mentally shook herself. Stupid girl, she chided. Even if he hadn’t used his power on me and I do truly desire him, it doesn’t make a difference. He is a king and I’m a half-breed bastard that he’s been saddled with as a ward.
She sighed and leaned back, titling her head up to the clear sky. The night was still. Silent. Her breathing had begun to slow, her heart returning to a normal pace while her body still throbbed with need.
Out of all the rumors she had heard of Hadrian, none had warned her about how devastatingly handsome he is. Darkness clung to him and he wore power and malice like a second skin. Yet, his touch had been gentle and—she shivered—deliciously firm. He could have ripped her throat out with his fangs or he could have slaked his lust on her. Instead, he deserted her.
A growl rumbled the night and Eva’s brow furrowed. It sounded like a jaguar. She glanced about, straining her hearing, trying to discern where it had come from. To her knowledge, there were no shape-shifters here besides—She slapped a hand over her mouth—Her. She had made the noise. Never before had she been able to growl, to channel the feral animal that lurked within every shape-shifter.
She shook her head in disbelief. Something strange was happening to her. First, she had craved freedom of her room, then followed her curiosity out of the castle, she had been compelled to enter the maze and this sexual madness with Hadrian. Everything pointed to what the pack called Drive, a behavior motivated by pure instinct. She was a half-breed and as such, she would never experience Drive. Or, should never.
Eva gave a heavy sigh, her shoulders slumping as she brought her hands up to massage her temples. Maybe she just needed some sleep. Jet lag could do strange things to people.
Thank you so much, Amanda, for stopping by and sharing a little of your upcoming release with us today!
You can find Amanda online ...
E-MAIL: greene.amanda.j@gmail.com
Review: Caressed by Night by Amanda J. Greene
Caressed by Night
Author: Amanda J. Greene
Release Date: Feb. 29, 2012
Publisher: Self-Published
Rulers of Darkness Book #2
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Format(s): Paperback (393 pgs), e-book
Book Source: Author
About the book:
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Dimitri Arsov, the last remaining pure vampire, was thought to be dead for the past four hundreds years. Now, he is back and has a score to settle with the traitor that had tried to kill him centuries ago. But as he waits for his prey to blindly step into his carefully laid trap, his overwhelming hunger for blood is triggered when he saves a beautiful art historian.
Kerstyn Ingmar’s life was normal and straight up boring until the night she is rescued by the dangerously sexy, powerfully mesmerizing, Dimitri. Unable to resist his diamond blue eyes and intense kisses, she is drawn into his world of darkness and closer to her impending doom.
While their desire consumes them, Dimitri is haunted by images of a bloody and deadly future. As his enemies draw near, he must find a way to save his mate from her destiny before fate destroys them both.
What VampBard’s talking about:
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For some reason, Amanda Greene's Rulers of Darkness titles make me feel like I'm at home. They bring together all of my comfort read titles into one neatly-wrapped package. If you liked The Twilight Saga, The Black Dagger Brotherhood, or Lords of the Underworld, you'll find these titles a delicious mix of these other series.
As I began reading Caressed by Night, I was greeted with a glossary. As a personal note, I'm always irritated when a glossary goes at the beginning of a story because if an author isn't confident that their storytelling can stand alone, without front-loading the reader with a cheat sheet, I'm skeptical as to whether I'll enjoy the book. I skipped the glossary.
Ms. Green began Caressed by Night around 197 years after her previous title in the series, Caressed by Moonlight, left off. We learn that Dorian and Victoria are celebrating their anniversary mid-way through the story. I liked the fact that we saw Dorian and Tori again, but reading their book isn’t really needed to enjoy this title. Built into the book were 'reminders' necessary to understand the world-building and back-story.
I do enjoy the plot arc of Caressed by Night. While we knew from practically the beginning that Dimitri would end up with his mate, Kerstyn, we didn't know exactly how that would happen. Ms. Greene developed her plot to encompass not only our H/H, but we were introduced to several other players, hopefully with upcoming titles in the series.
I almost felt like the sub-plots surrounding supporting characters occasionally took a front seat to our main couple and their major conflict in the book, the battle Dimitri would have to wage with Ven for control of his kingdom. Some could argue that the major conflict was internal for Dimitri, as he really wrestled with how to tell Kerstyn about what the Fate has destined for them. I would be in the second group.
One of the sub-plots that I'm interested to see is between Sonya and Falcon. We saw a bit of this in Caressed by Moonlight. Wait until the end of this book to see a bit more! RAWR...but DENIED!
I'm also interested in Gabriel and the girl with the violet eyes. He reminds me SOOO much of early Zhadist from Ward's BDB... “Gabriel took in a deep breath. His nerves were raw, his body cold, and his heart thundered. The last time he had felt this on edge had been the night he escaped from bondage.” I totally feel for this guy. I totally connect with his character, and want to see his secrets.
We also catch a glimpse of Hadrian, another King. He's been in self-assessed exile for 350 years, and when he learns Dimitri has resurfaced, he, too, returns to the 'world of the living.' I want to learn more about him!!!
Kerstyn is a pretty strong heroine. She rolls with the punches, and simply falls into her position as Dimitri's mate. I'm sure that I would have added in a plot twist that Denise and Bobby's relationship was orchestrated by Sylvie to ensure that Kerstyn connected with Dimitri. I fully expected that to be revealed near the end. Nope. No manipulating others' lives. **snap** One of my favorite things about Kerstyn is that she never backs down or appears afraid of Dimitri, even when his demon is showing. Yup. Totally reminds me of Showalter's Lords of the Underworld. I also liked the fact that she was always sure of Dimitri, even when she wasn't sure he would stay with her.
Dimitri, conversely, is totally consumed with self-loathing. Wow. Talk about self-depreciating dude! Reluctant to admit he deserved a HEA, Dimitri had never shared vital pieces of information with anyone. When he took a chance and shared with Kerstyn, he revealed a HUGE part of himself, opening up for rejection that never arrived. He hadn't factored in that Kerstyn was his mate, and therefore, destined to be with him. I hope we get to see Dimitri regain his throne and re-integrate into his kingdom and people in future titles.
Ms. Greene is anticipating publication of the third installment of her Rulers of Darkness series, Caressed by a Crimson Moon, January 25, 2012. This title is about Hadrian, and I can't wait to read it!
VampBard’s Rating:
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Enjoyed - strongly recommend (A-)
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