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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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Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Review & Giveaway: It Happened One Bite
It Happened One BiteRelease Date: March 1, 2011
Publisher: Sourcebooks
Regency Vampyre Trilogy #1
ISBN: #978-1402245077
Genre: Recency Paranormal Romance
Format(s): paperback (416 pgs), e-book
I received an ARC copy of this book from the PUBLISHER for the purposes of an honest review.
From the author’s website:
He's lost, trapped, doomed for all eternity...
Rich, titled, and undead, gentleman vampyre James Maitland, Lord Kettering, fears himself doomed to a cold and lonely existence-trapped for decades in an abandoned castle. Then, beautiful Scottish witch Blaire Lindsay arrives, and things begin to heat up considerably...
Unless he can persuade her to set him free...
Feisty Blaire Lindsay laughs off the local gossip surrounding her mother's ancestral home-stories of haunting cannot scare off this battle-born witch. But when she discovers the handsome prisoner in the bowels of the castle, Blaire has no idea that she has unleashed anything more than a man who sets her heart on fire...
What I’m talking about:
Although It Happened One Bite is the first book in this new series, it picks up the story line first started in Ms. Dare’s Westfield (Lycan) Brothers series. The story overlaps a bit with the 4th book of that series, The Taming of the Wolf (review HERE), and centers on five (unrelated) sister-witches of the Coig with a few other returning characters from the prior series. This book focuses on the warrior witch, Blaire. Last we saw, she and her brothers were off inspecting an inherited estate, when sister-witch and seer, Cait, predicts danger for Blaire.
In It Happened One Bite, Blair and her brothers begin the story by heading to the Highlands to Briarcraig Castle. Shortly after arriving at the abandoned estate, the trio of siblings discover a mysterious gentleman that has been locked away for an unknown amount of time. Blaire quickly surmises that the stranger, Lord Kettering, has been trapped a lot longer than a human could survive. She also realizes that her mother and fellow witches were responsible for his imprisonment. As both Blaire and Kettering attempt to uncover the truth, they find themselves falling for one another.
I have to say that I really enjoyed It Happened One Bite. The story had a bit of action, a lovely Regency romance and sexy gentlemen vampyres. Blaire is a powerful woman who holds her ground. She is strong-willed and sharp tongued. She doesn’t mince words and is an open book for the most part. I find her a refreshing change to some of the lead characters I’ve read lately.
James is a gentleman. He is caring and kind. Yet, when he has Blaire alone, he allows his inner-heat to show. He is upfront with his feelings and even when conflicted, lets Blaire know what is in his heart. I enjoyed their romance, especially the twist in the end (what happens when James discovers his true feelings).
The book also sported some wonderful side-charters. I adored James’ maker, mentor and closest confident, Matthew Halkett, the Earl of Blodswell. He is a valiant knight with a history significant within the Coig. We actually got a peek at Blodswell in The Taming of the Wolf. I sense a dramatic story behind this man and look forward to reading more of his history in the upcoming book, In the Heat of the Bite (July 2011). And readers of the earlier series will be happy to know Alec MacQuarrie is back - still heartbroken from losing the perceived love-of-his life, Cait. Alec’s life takes a significant turn while helping to defend his friend, Blaire.
Although this is a spin-off from the Westfield Brothers series, it could be read as a stand alone. However, having read the previous book, I was familiar with the characters and probably had a bit more emotional tie to them. It is a captivating tale, with engaging characters and plot. The climax was slightly disappointing, but in the end, did not diminish the story.
My Rating:
Really enjoyed - strongly recommend (A-)
Be sure to come back tomorrow for my interview with the author, Lydia Dare.
GIVEAWAY: I have two (2) copies (two winners) of It Happened One Bite to giveaway here at That’s What I’m Talking About. Thank you to Sourcebooks (www.sourcebooks.com) for sponsoring the giveaway of Lydia Dare’s latest book. To enter, please leave a comment and your email at the end of today’s review or tomorrow’s interview with author Lydia Dare. Winners restricted to US and Canada mailing addresses, only. Contest open from March 16, 2011 until Monday March 21, 2011 at 9:00 PM EDT. Two (2) winners will be selected from the comment entries using random.org.
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Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Review: Falling Under
Author: Gwen Hayes
Release Date: March 1, 2011
Publisher: New American Library (NAL)
ISBN: #978-0451232687
Genre: Young Adult, paranormal
Format(s): Paperback (336 pgs), ebook
I received a copy of this book from the PUBLISHER for the purposes of an honest review.
From the author’s website:
In her dreams he’s irresistible—seductive, charming, and undoubtedly dangerous. But when he appears to her when she’s awake—and captivates her just the same—she’s not sure which way is up and which is down.
Theia Alderson has always led a sheltered life, not allowed the same freedoms as the rest of the teenagers in the small California town of Serendipity Falls. But when a devastatingly handsome boy appears in the halls of her school, she feels every urge she’s ever denied burning through her at the slightest glance from Haden Black. Theia knows she’s seen Haden before—not around town, but in her dreams.
Theia doesn’t understand how she dreamed of Haden before they ever met, but every night has them joined in a haunting world of eerie fantasy. And as the Haden of both the night and the day beckons her forward one moment and pushes her away the next, the only thing Theia knows for sure is that the incredible pull she feels towards him is stronger than her fear. And as she slowly discovers what Haden truly is, Theia’s not sure if she wants to resist him, even if the cost is her soul.
Theia Alderson has always led a sheltered life, not allowed the same freedoms as the rest of the teenagers in the small California town of Serendipity Falls. But when a devastatingly handsome boy appears in the halls of her school, she feels every urge she’s ever denied burning through her at the slightest glance from Haden Black. Theia knows she’s seen Haden before—not around town, but in her dreams.
Theia doesn’t understand how she dreamed of Haden before they ever met, but every night has them joined in a haunting world of eerie fantasy. And as the Haden of both the night and the day beckons her forward one moment and pushes her away the next, the only thing Theia knows for sure is that the incredible pull she feels towards him is stronger than her fear. And as she slowly discovers what Haden truly is, Theia’s not sure if she wants to resist him, even if the cost is her soul.
What B is talking about:
Theia Alderson is an anomaly. She’s shy, overprotected, has a British accent, is a brilliant violinist, and is the object of affection of an irresistible half-demon. Haden Black is the handsome new boy in school but carries a dark secret, one that will change Theia’s life forever.
Although I’m fairly new to YA novels, Falling Under seems wonderfully dark for the genre. It also addresses some very grown-up themes. Hayes doesn’t try to pretend that high school is a bastion of innocence, nor does she insinuate that her characters, and teenagers in general, I believe, will not be able to navigate the unraveling of their own naivety.
There is a strong undercurrent of awakening sexuality running throughout the novel. Thanks to Haden’s restraint, however, Theia is able to experience, and is sometimes hurt by, various stages of desire, from curiosity to longing to desolation. Hayes also addresses the reality of high school promiscuity through one of Theia’s best friends who is a sexually active girl. I was pleased to see that her choice to do so is treated as simply another facet of her personality, rather than allowing it to become a larger issue than it should be in the story.
As much a YA horror novel as a romance, Falling Under is filled with plenty of things that are creepy and evil. Instead of relying on her characters to simply say these creatures are frightening, Hayes describes her gruesome incarnations in detail, and makes the distinction between the two worlds of her novel unmistakable in the process.
The novel did leave me a little unsatisfied in some ways. For instance, after a point it seemed that the trials Theia continually faced were never going to end, and any resolution would be persistently elusive. Also, Haden’s treatment of Theia, even though he explains it’s for her own good, seems excessively cruel. And, while her continued pursuit of him despite his actions disappointed me, I expected it all the same.
Altogether, Falling Under is a pleasantly challenging novel. I enjoyed watching Theia and Haden fight for one another, as well. The secondary characters are just as well written as the main protagonists, and Hayes’ commitment to the establishment of the world within her story is impressive. One of my favorite things about the novel is that Hayes treats her target audience as the young adults they are, and thoroughly capable of handling the themes she has woven into her novel.
B’s Rating:
Liked it a lot - recommend (B+)
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Sunday Snippets #49
Dead, Undead, or Somewhere in Between by JA Saare
Eternal Press.
February 2010 I tasted the metallic bitterness of my blood on his lips and shared his lingering essence by pulling the tip of his tongue into my mouth and sucking softly. He growled, hands rough against my hips, dragging me downward. Uncontrollable warmth spread through my body, in places I wanted him to touch, and I ground my hips deliberately against his pelvis, moving my hands lower, latching onto that perfect mound of flesh on his ass to pull him against me.
He ripped his lips away. “You can’t know how badly I want this,” he groaned next to my ear, kissing the tender spot just behind. I didn’t speak, using actions to convey my agreement, bringing my hands up to cradle his face and draw his lips to mine.
But it wasn’t enough, not nearly enough...
I raked my nails up and down his back, bringing them around to his chest. The skin was cool and firm, and I arched my back, pressing my aching nipples against him, desperate to ease the burn.
“Rhiannon.” He pulled away, hands holding either side of my face to prevent me from interrupting him. “I want to take you to my bedroom, and love you until the sun comes up. But if I do, you’ll hate me in the morning. I would despise myself for allowing that.”
Friday, March 11, 2011
Review: Dead Waters
Dead WatersAuthor: Anton Strout
Release Date: February 22, 2011
Publisher: Ace
Simon Canderous Series Book 4
ISBN: #978-0441020119
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Format(s): Paperback (352 pgs), ebook
I received a copy of this book from the PUBLISHER for the purposes of an honest review.
From the author’s website:
With Manhattan's Department of Extraordinary Affairs in disarray (forget vampires and zombies- it's the budget cuts that can kill you), Simon Canderous is still expected to stamp out any crime that adds the "para" to "normal." And his newest case is no exception...
A university professor has been found murdered in his apartment. His lungs show signs of death by drowning. But his skin and clothes? Bone dry. Now Simon has to rely on his own powers- plus a little help from his ghost-whispering partner and technomancer girlfriend- to solve a mystery that has the NYPD stumped and the D.E.A. shaken and stirred.
What B is talking about:
Simon Canderous has it rough. He’s a psychometrist (someone who can “read” the history of an object by touching it) with the Department of Extraordinary Affairs – Other Division, and he’s trying to solve a murder, all while dealing with bureaucrats and budget cuts. Never mind the resurrected victim, a vengeful Naiad, and his girlfriend’s need for extra drawer space. It’ll take everything Simon and his colleagues can do to save themselves…and New York City while they’re at it!
I wasn’t sure what to think about Dead Waters at first. I felt a little disoriented trying to follow all the scene changes in the beginning, which shouldn’t be surprising when starting an established series with a book other than the first one. The previous books in the series, Dead to Me, Deader Still, and Dead Matter, would definitely have been a more solid beginning.
Aside from the learning curve, I really enjoyed this book. I laughed out loud at Strout’s comic skewering of governmental procedure, oblivious restructuring, and fiscal mishandling. Despite these challenges, the D.E.A. (loved the acronym) functions as a secondary character. In fact, Simon and his fellow employees are more like a moderately dysfunctional family than a team.
Simon isn’t cuddly. He’s immature, vain, and obstinate, but he’s got a lot to contend with to be a young member of the Other Division, especially when his psychometry leaves him with some serious emotional baggage to carry around. Simon is also caring, determined, and heroic, though, and Strout makes it all work somehow.
I very much want to try this series from the beginning. Having read the excerpt of the first Simon Canderous novel offered on Strout’s site (link HERE), which cracked me up at one point, I think the series as a whole has a lot to offer. On its own, Dead Waters left me feeling a little incomplete, but it’s a really fun read and has enough personality that I definitely want to read more.
B’s Rating:
Liked it a lot - recommend (B+)
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
I'm Talking about Lords of the Underworld...
Dear Readers:
Please join me celebrate Gena Showalter’s amazing LORDS of the UNDERWORLD series today over at Stella - Ex Libris. Book Blog. Stella is part of the Book Blogger’s Anonymous reading group-book club created by Steph from Paper Cut Reviews, where each month they select a book to read and discuss.
The book they have chosen for March is The Darkest Night, the first book in Gena’s Lords of the Underworld series. Stella asked me to talk about my favorite things about Gena’s fantastic series. Find out my favorite Lord, Heroine, book and scene. Also read some of the other great posts and join in the discussion. So pop on over and check it all out!CLICK HERE for a link to my post on the Lords.
Happy Reading!
Sunday, March 6, 2011
Sunday Snippets #48
River Marked by Patricia Briggs
Ace Publishing.
March 1, 2011
Sunday Snippet
“What can you tell me about the thing in the river?” I asked finally.
He made a rude sound. “I can tell you she’s not a poor misunderstood creature. Gordon is right. She’s Hunger, and she won’t be satisfied until she consumes the world.”
She. That answered several things. There was only one. That seemed more manageable than a swarm of monsters that could bite a woman in half and make a man shoot Adam.
“How big is it?” I asked.
He looked at me and poked his tongue into his cheek. “You know? That’s a good question. I think we ought to find out.”
And he knocked me into the river.
The water was icy and closed over my head, encasing me in silence and darkness. For a moment the shock of the fall, of the cold, and of sheer surprise froze my muscles, and I couldn’t move. Then my feet hit the riverbed, and the motion somehow woke up every nerve into screaming urgency. I pushed off and up, coming to the surface and sucking in air.
I could hear him laughing.
Son of a bitch. I would kill him. I didn’t care if he was Coyote or the son of Satan. He was a dead man walking.
I struck out for the swimming hole even though it meant fighting the river. But for the next mile downstream or so, the riverbank was cliff face, and I didn’t want to stay in the river that long; there was a monster out here somewhere.
A toddler walking along the bank could have beat me, for all the forward progress I made. I was only a fair swimmer, strength without technique. It was enough to beat the slow flow of the Columbia, but not by much.
Two otter heads poked up beside me, and I growled at them. Somehow knowing they were fae made them less of a threat than real river otters though I expect the opposite was actually true. I was too busy fighting the river to worry about adjusting my beliefs in accordance to reality.
They disappeared under the water for a few minutes before one popped up again, watching my slow progress with cool appraisal.
“I’d swim faster if I were you,” observed Coyote.
Rage fueled my strokes, and I finally made it around the bend and into the shallower, slower water. I swam until the water was waist-deep and staggered toward shore on my feet. Coyote waded in knee-deep and stopped to watch me.
“What did you find out?” he asked.
“That you are a jerk,” I told him, my voice vibrating involuntarily with the chill. “What in-“
Something wrapped around my waist and jerked me off my feet, and my head was underwater again.
Friday, March 4, 2011
Meet a new blogger...
Dear Readers... Today I’d like you to help me welcome Melissa from Were Vamps Romance Reviews and Book Club blog. Melissa is new to the blogging world and I’ve asked her to come by and tell us a little more about herself and her site. Please say hello to Melissa!
When writing out reviews I tend to try to avoid all spoilers. This makes my review a little shorter and more basic then other blogs. It is great for people on the go, who may just want to find the pro and cons quickly. I think this is what makes my blog different from others. For my blog, I have a goal of having a book review post every day of the year. Starting with new releases and older release when I run low.
Well, first I would like to thank Twimom for having me. It is such an honor to be a blog guest on such a well-loved site. For those who never heard of me my name is Melissa. I am a stay at home mother of two beautiful girls, and wife to one awesome husband who spoils me. I am addict to Starbucks, books and my nook e-reader. I like to read for probably the same reason anyone else does. I like to escape from reality. Who would not love the substitute reality that these books can send you? Hot, tortured men, and in need of a good woman? I am there!
About June of last year, I had a few friends start complaining they could not find a book they liked. I started suggesting books. They liked the books so much they started to hound me for more. Soon it was to the point I had to post a book list on a Facebook note. Since I was once just like my friends, I thought about running a blog. Share my taste of books with friend and the World Wide Web. Since every blog is different in their personal taste of books, I started my own.
I run the new blog Were Vamps Romance. The blog consist of book reviews and a book club. As you probably guessed for the name, it is a Paranormal Romance based genre. I do wonder time to time to other genres. I tend to wonder over mostly to Urban Fantasy, Fantasy Romance, Futuristic Romance, and in certain moods Erotica. Authors I enjoy and in not particular order are Christine Feehan, Sherrilyn Kenyon, J. R. Ward / Jessica Bird, Dara Joy, Lynsay Sands, Emma Holly, And about a hundred more.
When writing out reviews I tend to try to avoid all spoilers. This makes my review a little shorter and more basic then other blogs. It is great for people on the go, who may just want to find the pro and cons quickly. I think this is what makes my blog different from others. For my blog, I have a goal of having a book review post every day of the year. Starting with new releases and older release when I run low.For my blog being as new as it is I think, I am doing a good job. To be honest I did not think it would be as much work as it is. It is a work in progress. In the future, I would like to have authors as guest postings and interviews. I really would like to meet new authors and spread the love of reading. Reading is such a great outlet, learning and mind tool. These days it seems like less and less people read. It is such a shame, in my opinion.
Well in closing this guest post, I would like to thank all readers for their time. I hope you come by for a visit. Thank you so much, again, to Twimom for allowing me the honor to be your guest blogger for the day. You are such a sweetheart.
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