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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, September 6, 2011
Review: Dark Warrior
Dark WarriorAuthor: Rebecca York
Release Date: September 6, 2011
Publisher: Berkley Sensation
ISBN: #978-0425243701
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Format(s): Paperback (295 pgs), e-book
Book Source: Publisher
About the book: |
An ancient struggle between two powerful forces erupts into an explosive confrontation in modern times.
In the first century BC, the Ionian Priestesses (rivals to the Oracle at Delphi) made a dangerous bargain with a group of cursed warriors called the Minot. In return for saving them from a barbarian invasion, the women took the Minot as consorts, but the uneasy truce disintegrated when the warriors tried to dominate their partners.
Centuries later, the women hide their true identity from the world and run the Seven Sisters Spa in Sedona, Arizona. Still mistrusting men, they ruthlessly use them for procreation but never marry.
Now Minot, Jason Tyrone, and Ionian, Sophia Thalia, confront truths neither wants to acknowledge.
Only if Jason and Sophia dare to form a strong psychic bond can they save themselves and the Ionians from destruction. Or will the women discover Jason’s true identity and rip out his psychic powers first?
What G & U are talking about: |
Dark Warrior appears to be a standalone novel by Rebecca York (a pseudonym for Ruth Glick). It something that Gikany and I would classify as paranormal romantic fluff. This is a difficult review to write because we didn’t love it but we didn’t dislike it either.
Sophia and Jason’s story was well-told. It is engaging and fun, even though for two people who don’t know each other well, they sure smex it up a lot. However, we both had a couple of issues. The first was Sophia waffling about trusting Jason, who did nothing but try to appease her wishes. Second was the relative ease that everyone seems to have in finding missing people through the use of the internet.
The mythology in Dark Warrior is one that is completely suited to a romance novel…in other words a convenient reason to have lots of sex with someone you don’t know. The Minots are a race of Alpha men with enhanced physical characteristics while the Lonians are women with mental enhancements. Even with that being said, we liked that the two characters we come to know well, Tessa and Sophia, are choosy. This isn’t a deep novel with twists or turns, just a lighthearted read.
Even with the above issues, it is an easy and hot read, something to whittle the hours away on a rainy day. It could easily be adapted to a series but we’re not sure we’d keep it on our TBR (to-be-read) pile. If you are going on vacation, going to have a long weekend, or need a good mindless read Dark Warrior is for you.
Their Rating: |
Liked it, but I had some issues - recommend (B)
Labels:
Monday, September 5, 2011
Coming Soon...
Coming soon from Ballantine Books:
Available 9/6 -
In this captivating novel of romantic suspense, New York Times bestselling author Linda Howard brings us deep into the wild, where a smart and sexy outdoor guide and her ruggedly handsome competitor must join forces to survive—and avoid becoming what they never expected to be:
PREY by Linda Howard
Thirty-two-year-old Angie Powell has always spoken her mind, but in the presence of Dare Callahan she nurses a simmering rage. After all, why give Dare the satisfaction of knowing he can push her buttons and push her to the edge?
Three years ago, Dare returned home to rural western Montana and opened a hunting business to rival Angie’s. Complicating matters is the fact that Dare has asked Angie out (not once but twice) and has given her a gift of butterflies in the process. Angie has no patience for butterflies. They only lead to foolish decisions. And now the infuriatingly handsome Iraq war vet has siphoned away Angie’s livelihood, forcing her to close up shop.
Before Angie is to leave town, she organizes one last trip into the wilderness with a client and his guest, who wants to bag a black bear. But the adrenaline-fueled adventure turns deadly when Angie witnesses a cold-blooded murder and finds herself on the wrong side of a loaded gun. Before the killer can tie up this attractive loose end, a bear comes crashing through the woods—changing the dark game completely.
Luckily, Dare is camping nearby and hears the shots. Forced together for their very survival, Angie and Dare must confront hard feelings, a blinding storm, and a growing attraction—while being stalked by a desperate killer and a ferocious five-hundred-pound beast. And neither will stop until they reach their prey.
Available 9/6 -
In this captivating novel of romantic suspense, New York Times bestselling author Linda Howard brings us deep into the wild, where a smart and sexy outdoor guide and her ruggedly handsome competitor must join forces to survive—and avoid becoming what they never expected to be:
PREY by Linda Howard
Thirty-two-year-old Angie Powell has always spoken her mind, but in the presence of Dare Callahan she nurses a simmering rage. After all, why give Dare the satisfaction of knowing he can push her buttons and push her to the edge?
Three years ago, Dare returned home to rural western Montana and opened a hunting business to rival Angie’s. Complicating matters is the fact that Dare has asked Angie out (not once but twice) and has given her a gift of butterflies in the process. Angie has no patience for butterflies. They only lead to foolish decisions. And now the infuriatingly handsome Iraq war vet has siphoned away Angie’s livelihood, forcing her to close up shop.
Before Angie is to leave town, she organizes one last trip into the wilderness with a client and his guest, who wants to bag a black bear. But the adrenaline-fueled adventure turns deadly when Angie witnesses a cold-blooded murder and finds herself on the wrong side of a loaded gun. Before the killer can tie up this attractive loose end, a bear comes crashing through the woods—changing the dark game completely.
Luckily, Dare is camping nearby and hears the shots. Forced together for their very survival, Angie and Dare must confront hard feelings, a blinding storm, and a growing attraction—while being stalked by a desperate killer and a ferocious five-hundred-pound beast. And neither will stop until they reach their prey.
Review: Archangel's Blade
Archangel’s BladeAuthor: Nalini Singh
Release Date: September 6, 2011
Publisher: Berkley Sensation
Guild Hunter #4
ISBN: #978-0425243916
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Format(s): Paperback (336 pgs), e-book
Book Source: Publisher
About the book: |
The severed head marked by a distinctive tattoo on its cheek should have been a Guild case, but dark instincts honed over hundreds of years of life compel the vampire Dmitri to take control. There is something twisted about this death, something that whispers of centuries long past…but Dmitri’s need to discover the truth is nothing to the vicious strength of his response to the hunter assigned to decipher the tattoo.
Savaged in a brutal attack that almost killed her, Honor is nowhere near ready to come face to face with the seductive vampire who is an archangel’s right hand, and who wears his cruelty as boldly as his lethal sensuality…the same vampire who has been her secret obsession since the day she was old enough to understand the inexplicable, violent emotions he aroused in her.
As desire turns into a dangerous compulsion that might destroy them both, it becomes clear the past will not stay buried. Something is hunting…and it will not stop until it brings a blood-soaked nightmare to life once more...
What I’m talking about: |
For the fourth (and possibly best) Guild Hunter book, Ms. Singh steers away from main characters Archangel Raphael and his Hunter Consort Elena, who were the primary focus of the first three books. Instead we follow Raphael’s second-in-command, the ancient vampire, Dmitri and recently abducted Hunter, Honor. Chronologically, this story follows the third book, Archangel’s Consort (review HERE, purchase info Archangel's Consort (Guild Hunter)
), and readers of the series will recognize several familiar faces.
), and readers of the series will recognize several familiar faces.With the change in character focus, I feel that readers new to this series *could* start with Archangel’s Blade, however, this is such an amazing series, I recommend starting at the beginning where readers witness how cold and cruel Dmitri is. Dmitri is near immortal and has lived a long life, completely loyal to no one except Raphael. The development of Dmitri’s character over the course of the first three books washes over and clings to you like I imagine his ability to manipulate scents to lure and trap his prey. She managed to draw me into Dmitri’s web, where I too became one of his “victims.” I love that Ms. Singh did nothing to change this truly complex and forbidding creature. Without softening Dmitri, Ms. Singh indulges us with glimpses into the psyche and heart of a man who will only weep before one woman.
Honor is a special woman as well. As a Hunter for the Guild (a group of trained individuals that help control errant vampires), she knows that her life is in danger at all times. She was abducted, tortured and raped by a dangerous vampire, and at the beginning of the book, is finally learning to conquer her fears and control her self-doubt. When she is paired with Dmitri to work on a case, her first case since the abduction, she isn’t sure she will survive, and she most likely would not have made it with any other man. Without missing a beat, Dmitri carefully pushes Honor, using a restraint he has never shown before, forcing her to face her fears and heal. Although she is frightened, Honor has always felt a bond and attraction to the mysterious Dmitri, and she pushes back, fighting and becoming whole.
I was a bit concerned about Honor and her recovery. It seems that lately there have been more storylines that use rape/recovery as a means for falling in love. I’m not here to comment on that fact, but rather note that some authors handle this and write a better story than others. In this case, Ms. Singh does, in my opinion, a good job. Honor does not go riding off into the sunset. She starts and stops many times before allowing herself to fall for Dmitri. Her character was developed in such a way that leaves little doubt in her desire and ability to survive and overcome. As Honor herself said she’s not a victim, she’s a survivor.
The characters make this book, but the story is equally intriguing. First, Dmitri and Honor search for her abductors, taking them down one and a time to find the mastermind. Second, Honor helps Dmitri track down an ancient foe, one that made Dmitri the vampire he is today. In addition, we read more about Holly (now known as Sorrow), the woman abducted and tortured by Archangel Uram in the first Guild Hunter book. (And maybe we are giving clues about a future pairing?!) All of these plots mingle and move at just the right pace to keep you glued to the pages.
Archangel’s Blade is a fabulous addition to the Guild Hunter series. With the difficult topic of rape/abduction, Ms. Singh gives the story grace and power. I grew to care about Dmitri and Honor and hope that we will see a lot more of them in the future.
My Rating: |
Enjoyed - strongly recommend (A-)
Books in the series:
Angels' Blood (Guild Hunter, Book 1)
Archangel's Kiss (Guild Hunter, Book 2)
Archangel's Consort (Guild Hunter)
Archangel's Blade (Guild Hunter)
Sunday, September 4, 2011
Sunday Snippet #74
In The Air Tonight
Dell BooksAugust 2, 2011
He was slick from the shower—the only thing keep- ing him from being exposed a thin towel tied low on his waist... very low. Her eyes noted the light dust- ing of hair leading down below the towel.
“You’re staring.”
“Yes.”
“I’m sure you’ve seen it all before, being a nurse and all.”
“You’d think.” Her fingers played with the buttons on her borrowed shirt absentmindedly, unbuttoning, seducing, praying it would work.
Another button—he couldn’t tear his eyes away now and that was what she’d wanted from the second she stepped into the bar and laid eyes on him.
“Paige...”
“I like the way you say my name.” With the final button undone, she slid the big borrowed flannel shirt easily off her shoulders and let it drop to the ground. Her bra came next, too fast for him to think about protesting, thanks to the front clasp, and she could see by the strain on the front of his towel that nearly all protest had left him.
But he waited, so still, watching to see if she’d go all the way. And yes, she would...
She skimmed her stretch pants off, kicked them out of the way. She leaned in, letting her body press against his, even as she was careful to keep her hands off him.
“Paige, I can’t.” But his arousal told her otherwise.
“You can tie me up,” she murmured against his ear and his erection jutted against her belly as his breath quickened. “Do you like that, the idea of me all spread out and naked for you?”
It was so easy to talk to him like that. She’d stirred him up, and these consequences she could easily live with.
“Jesus, Paige—yeah, I want you like that.”
“Then go ahead, finish what we started last night. Please.”
Saturday, September 3, 2011
Spider's Revenge ARC Giveaway
When I was at Author's After Dark this past August, I had the privilege of meeting the very talented and insanely sweet, Jennifer Estep. At the public book signing, she gave me a copy of her upcoming ELEMENTAL ASSASSIN SERIES fifth release, Spider's Revenge (September 27, 2011; Pocket Books). Unfortunately, I haven't read this amazing series yet (it's on the TBR pile!), and I cannot due justice to Ms. Estep's work by reading the 5th book without the knowledge of the first four. So this is where one of my readers gets lucky!!I am going to giveaway the ARC of Spider's Revenge to one lucky person. HOWEVER, there is a catch... since this is an ARC, we owe it to Ms. Estep to publish a review. Therefore, if you win this book, you will need to do a guest review for That's What I'm Talking About. Don't let that scare you - the review can be as short or long as you like. I just ask for some details about what you liked/didn't like and a rating. I'll format it and post it to my blog. Your review will be featured on September 28, 2011.
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.
In order to get the review posted on time, I am holding a SHORT contest, and I will priority mail the book to the winner ASAP. Due to constraints, the contest is only open to US mailing addresses. You must have the book read and review to me by September 26, 2011. (I will work with you if there are problems, no worries!) Again, since this is the fifth book in the series, I'm really looking for people that have already read the series.
The Rules: To be entered, you must leave a comment telling me your favorite book in Ms. Estep's Elemental Assassin Series to date. You do not need to be a google follower of my blog, but it always appreciated. Contest is open from September 3, 2011 until Tuesday September 6, 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. Winner shall provide a review of the ARC by September 26, 2011, which will be posted on That's What I'm Talking About on September 28, 2011. I am not responsible for items lost in the mail.
Thanks and Happy Reading!
Friday, September 2, 2011
Wanted - Murphy
What is it about Murphy’s Law? There is actually a website devoted to his “law” HERE. Gikany and I were over a week ahead of schedule when it came to the books Twimom had sent for us to review. Gikany is still on schedule. I’m behind. Sadly, I am the reason we were unable to bring a couple of reviews to you this week. I need to get eye to eye with this “Murphy” and punch him…dead in the face. Not to mention, that I lost a book. How, I have no idea, I’m incredibly Type A…almost obsessive compulsive! I have since bought said missing book and will review it anyway…because I gave my word to Twimom (even though she said don’t worry about it…I still feel as if I let her down).
When it rains, it pours. I would also like to know the person who came up with this expression. I know some of you may recall the post I did about my mom (here). She, sadly, passed away in April of this year. What you don’t know is that in the last eighteen months I have lost half my immediate family. Twimom knows the pain that cancer brings; she lost a very good friend, a little girl named Molly (post here) a few years ago. Cancer has taken both my grandmothers, my great aunt, my aunt-in-law, two very good family friends, and my mother, in the past eighteen months. I also lost my grandfather this past January to a heart attack. And the most recent death taking place this past Monday – my mom’s mother, my gramma, “Barbar” died from bile duct cancer. With all the grieving I’ve been doing, I feel as if I haven’t been able to grieve for one person before I’m adding to it. I feel as if I should have the time to grieve for each person before I have to grieve for another.
So here is a post for today, something to post to make up to Twimom because I feel like such a flake. You know, I think we should all get together and wrangle up Murphy (I bet he is the one that came up with “when it rains it pours”). Sadly though, I bet he discovered these tidbits of wisdom through experience. Maybe the same experiences I’m trudging through now. Maybe leaving him in peace is better…
But I do promise you all wonderful and faithful readers…I will get ahead again. Gikany and I are plotting more interesting reviews and bringing books that you all might not be familiar with. As you know, we are huge Patricia Briggs fans…we just might have a few more of her earlier novels to tempt you with. Not to mention, I have a few books that I’m pressing (aka beating Gikany over the head with) her to read so we can bring the reviews to you.
However, I do want to say thank you. Several of you have started commenting on posts that Gikany and I bring to you as well as B, Nima and Vampbard. Thank you for your feedback and your comments. We enjoy them and, as it helps Twimom, it helps us as well. I know I especially love the opportunity for discussion! On behalf of all of us at That’s What I’m Talking About hope you all have a wonderful weekend!
Thursday, September 1, 2011
First Days
Yesterday was the first day of school here in my town. My boy is in second grade, and this is "old hat" for the two of us. But it was also the first day of kindergarten for my baby girl. That was a big step for both of us.
I don't talk a lot about my family on my blog, so let me give you a little background. My girl is my baby. Although born full-term, she was a peanut and had a number of minor medical concerns in her little life. At 5-1/2 years old, she is only 29 pounds. For those that don't know, that is the "average" weight of a girl who is less than 3 years old. And height-wise, she's not much better. She is a peanut. She's my baby.
I worried, would she be able to carry her backpack? Would she be able to get up on the toilet? Will she hold the line up trying to go up and down the stairs? And the biggest concern... would she be able to get on the bus?
I got her on the bus this morning and didn't shed a tear. I drove behind the bus up to her school so I could take a photo of her getting off the bus. When she got off the bus, she hung her head and walked by me, not acknowledging me at all. But not in that "mom, you are embarrassing me" kind of way. It was in her "I'm sad" way. I stood and watched as she got about half-way to the school and then stopped.
I walked over to her and noticed a tear in her eye. That is when I lost it. I cried for my baby and for me. I wasn't ready for her to get so big. I held her hand (and didn't let her see me crying), and walked her to her teacher. She gave me a hug and a kiss. I walked away. I spotted friends and went for a hug. And I cried.
Later, she got off the bus and played with her friends. She told me in great detail all about her first day and how much fun it was. I'm glad it all went well, because I worried.
It's going to be a bit strange not to have her around, tugging at my shirt, asking for help. I will miss having her with me during the day. But she is a big girl now. I love her and am proud of my kindergartener!
Tomorrow's post: Woo-hoo! I have free time again! (just kidding - about the post, still happy about free time!)
I don't talk a lot about my family on my blog, so let me give you a little background. My girl is my baby. Although born full-term, she was a peanut and had a number of minor medical concerns in her little life. At 5-1/2 years old, she is only 29 pounds. For those that don't know, that is the "average" weight of a girl who is less than 3 years old. And height-wise, she's not much better. She is a peanut. She's my baby.
I worried, would she be able to carry her backpack? Would she be able to get up on the toilet? Will she hold the line up trying to go up and down the stairs? And the biggest concern... would she be able to get on the bus?
I got her on the bus this morning and didn't shed a tear. I drove behind the bus up to her school so I could take a photo of her getting off the bus. When she got off the bus, she hung her head and walked by me, not acknowledging me at all. But not in that "mom, you are embarrassing me" kind of way. It was in her "I'm sad" way. I stood and watched as she got about half-way to the school and then stopped. |
| My baby girl (back to me) and her giant backpack. |
Later, she got off the bus and played with her friends. She told me in great detail all about her first day and how much fun it was. I'm glad it all went well, because I worried.
It's going to be a bit strange not to have her around, tugging at my shirt, asking for help. I will miss having her with me during the day. But she is a big girl now. I love her and am proud of my kindergartener!
Tomorrow's post: Woo-hoo! I have free time again! (just kidding - about the post, still happy about free time!)
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