BookGasmic Reviews

From Zero to Four Kids in Thirty Seconds ~ Amy L Peterson

2012-02-21T12:53:00.001-08:00

3 1/2 out of 4 stars

What a pleasant surprise this book turned out to be.

This is a sweet, uncomplicated book that feels both real and unapologeticly honest. And while there were a few stumbles along the way with pacing, I found myself smiling while reading this book. Sometimes it takes a simple story about finding love and family when you least expect it, to remind me of why I love to read so much. I found myself rooting for Amy and hoping for her to have her perfect, if complicated happy ending.

*This book was offered to me for review from the author, but that fact had no affect on my review.*

Quick Update

2012-02-15T18:39:00.001-08:00

I have been sick with both a cold and then the stomach flu over the last couple of weeks. Because of that, I have been doing much whining and moaning, but very little reading lately. I hope to have a proper update posted within the next few days. :)

Incarnate ~ Jodi Meadows

2012-02-08T11:14:00.001-08:00

Incarnate by Jodi Meadows

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I was beyond anxious to read this book after hearing about the premise. A world where everyone is continually reincarnated, and fully retain memories of their past lives. Living one life as a male, the next as a female...but the underlying soul remains the same. Until one day a NewSoul is born. Someone with a clean slate, that takes the place of a soul that had lived countless lives before.

The concept was brilliant, and truly unique. And there are aspects of the story that i really enjoyed; I loved the characters of Ana and Sam. The creepy/awesome idea of each person being responsible for the graves of their past selves (when Ana is taken to Sam's cabin in the woods, it borders a cemetery full of all his former bodies).

But, around the half way mark, the story started to slow down. A lot. The romance that began to blossom between Ana and Sam seemed to hit a brick wall, and each and every situation seemed to be dragged out far too long to make for a truly interesting read.

I plan on giving the second book in the series a chance, but this definitely didn't live up to my admittedly very high expectations.

Beauty Queens ~ Libba Bray

2012-02-02T19:06:00.000-08:00

Beauty Queens by Libba Bray

My rating: 1 of 5 stars

I very rarely give up on books. But, I will make an exception for this one.

I was okay with the over the top silliness of the story in the beginning. Unfortunately it didn't take long for it to go from amusing, to slightly grating and into full blown want to throw my Kindle against the wall annoying.

I am all for satire...but there is NO WAY I would have been able to make it through 400 pages of this. I gave up around the 35% mark.

View all my reviews

This Is Not A Test ~ Courtney Summers

2012-01-29T18:52:00.000-08:00

This Is Not a Test by Courtney Summers

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

In A Nutshell:

Sloane is at the end of her rope. Feeling betrayed by a sister who abandons her to a life alone with their abusive father, Sloane plans to end her life. Little does she know that the world outside her front door is spiraling out of control. The infected are taking over the living, and Sloane finds herself barricaded inside the local High School. A lone girl who wants to die, among 5 other teenagers who desperately want to live.

Thoughts:

This had to be one of the most intense book reading experiences I have ever had. The feeling of both anxiety and claustrophobia was just overwhelming at times. But, not in a way that would make me want to stop reading. In fact, I couldn't put this book down. And when pesky things like work made me have to walk away from this story for a few hours, I could not stop thinking about the characters and where I thought the story was going.

The last third of this book was just unrelenting in it's intensity. The over-all feeling of dread by the final 25 pages was just insane. And the ending didn't not disappoint in the least.

And yes, this is a story about a zombie apocalypse. But it is SO much more than that.

I am in awe of the way this author was able to maintain both the creep factor, and the overwhelming tension through out this book. There was truly no slow parts...no filler. Just a nail-biting "oh-my-gawd-what's-going-to-happen-next?" kind of story.

Bottom Line:

A relentless, completely brilliant book. With zombies.

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Bryan's Brain ~ Bryan Healey

2012-01-28T10:42:00.000-08:00

Bryan's Brain: Volume I by Bryan Healey

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A highly enjoyable, extremely funny anthology of essays from Bryan Healey.

Bryan leads us through a childhood full of obsessions....ranging from his attempts to build a time machine out of his mother's minivan, to deciding to buy his own private mountain, and his life's goal of opening his own dinosaur theme park.

Bryan's stories are both funny and sweet in their child-like enthusiasm. He never takes himself too seriously, and in fact spices up his tales with a healthy dose of sarcasm and self-deprecating humor....all of which only add to the enjoyment of the book. And when Bryan gets somewhat serious in his essay about his Grandfather ("Sport") his emotion feels completely genuine, and in fact touched me greatly. I recently lost my Father and his descriptions of how he felt losing such a formally strong and larger than life figure in his life, hit very close to home with me.

This collection of essays was a joy to read from beginning to end. And if Bryan manages to open up that theme park...i will be first in line for tickets.

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Dreams Both Real & Strange Vol 2 ~ K.W. McCabe

2012-01-23T14:46:00.000-08:00

3 1/2 stars out of 5

Another very enjoyable short story collection.

What I especially liked was that these stories were a continuation on the ones from the first Volume. They have the same lyrical, magical feel as the first and answers some of the questions left hanging in Volume 1.

I look forward to reading more by this author in the future.

**Special thanks to K.W. McCabe for offering me these books for review.**

Dreams Both Real & Strange Vol 1 ~ K. W. McCabe

2012-01-23T12:39:00.001-08:00

3 1/2 out of 5 stars

This book was a quick and enjoyable read for me.

The short stories included in this volume were at times a little confusing, especially with how short they were. It seemed like I was just getting a feel for one particular story, and it was moving on to the next. However, I loved the lyrical style of writing, and the otherwordly feel to all of them.

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Paper Towns ~ John Green

2012-01-19T20:41:00.000-08:00

Paper Towns by John Green

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

In A Nutshell:

Quentin Jackobsen is an average young man growing up in Orlando. He's not popular, or unpopular...he floats somewhere in between. The most extraordinary thing about Q's life, is that he had the good fortune to grow up living next to one Margo Roth Spiegelman. A larger than life girl who's adventures are the stuff of legend. One night, Margo enlists Q to help her carry out her biggest adventure yet; a meticulously planned out night of revenge. Upon returning home the next morning, Q feels more alive then ever, and is hopeful for a future that might include Margo. But there is anther side to the girl that seems so full of life. A dark, and desperate side...and as Margo Roth Spiegelman decides to drop out of her life in Orlando, Q's true adventure is only just beginning.

Thoughts:

I don't even know where to start with this book.

I have purposely been putting off reading John Green's newest book The Fault in Our Stars for the time being because I knew it would be an incredibly emotional read. Little did I know what kind of condition I would be in by the end of Paper Towns.

There were many times when I wished I could reach inside the book and shake some sense into Q. And there were many times when I wished I could kick Margo Roth Spiegelman's butt. But, in the end....I absolutely loved this book.

There are definite similarities between this book and Green's first novel Looking for Alaska. Both main characters are obsessed with a girl...or in actuality the IDEA of a girl, and both go in search of answers to the girls underlying mysteries. But having similar plot elements in this case isn't a bad thing, and Miles and Q are two totally different characters, which makes both stories work so well in their own ways.

I can count on one hand the times that a book has made me cry. This book made me cry. The last 3 pages were my complete undoing. One second I was fine, and the next....sobbing. In fact, after I finished the book I left it on my couch and went and got ready for bed (at 4am...after staying up all night to finish a book I had started that evening), and when I returned to put the book back on the book shelf, I looked at the cover...and i started crying AGAIN.

John Green...you are an evil, evil man. How do you manage to create these characters...these beautifully flawed, quirky characters...that just come alive off the page, and find a permanent home inside my brain?

And one final note: The last line of the book...the final sentence...hands down my favorite closing line of any book I have ever read.

Bottom Line:

Along with Looking For Alaska, Paper Towns is now firmly nestled on my Favorite Books of All Time shelf.

My YT Book Review Channel

Small eBook Haul

2012-01-17T19:50:00.001-08:00

I got this ARC from Netgalley....

And these titles for my Kindle. :)

A Will To Murder ~ Hilary Thomson

2012-01-16T21:00:00.000-08:00

A Will To Murder by Hilary Thomson

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

In A Nutshell:

When wealthy but slightly nutty patriarch James Boyle dies suddenly, his relatives congregate at the family home for the reading of the will. As more questions arise about the true cause of Boyle's death, and more and more relatives begin dropping like flies, utter chaos ensues.

Thoughts:

I can't remember the last time I had so much fun reading a book. The over the top wacky story line reminded me of one of my all time favorite movies; Arsenic & Old Lace. The pure chaotic insanity of the characters and some of the situations that unfold in A Will To Murder garnered me so many genuine laugh out loud moments that i have lost track of them all.

Yes there were a LOT of characters to try and keep track of (a little bit difficult to do for the first third of the book), but it was worth it in the end because the author had planted such a huge goofy grin on my face that none of that seemed to matter.

Hands down my favorite character was Arthur. His sections of the book were among the most entertaining. I vote for another book featuring Arthur and his adventures with Flopsy & Mopsy.

Bottom Line:

A wild and wacky mystery that's bound to be one of my favorite reads of the year.

My YT Book Review Channel

The Near Witch ~ Victoria Schwab

2012-01-15T17:59:00.000-08:00

The Near Witch by Victoria Schwab

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

In A Nutshell:

On the night that a mysterious stranger is spotted in the small village of Near, children begin disappearing from their beds. As the villagers begin to panic, and point fingers at the stranger, young Lexi knows that someone else is behind the disappearances. That what was once thought to be nothing more than a ghost story, may in fact be very real.

Thoughts:

The Near Witch reads very much like a classic, if dark fairy tale. The words are lyrical, and the story has a magical feel to it, which I loved. One of the aspects I loved the most was how Schwab uses the element of "The Stranger" and the Thorne Sisters to shine a light on prejudice and just how hard it is for some people to handle change and their lack of acceptance towards people who are deemed at all different from themselves. She handled the subject in a very delicate way, and I think that it only adds to the richness of the story.

Bottom Line:

A beautiful dark fairy tale.

My YT Channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/Bookgasmic

Taken ~Zia Marie

2012-01-13T23:25:00.000-08:00

Taken by Zia Marie

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

*Synopsis*

While taking his little sister Aubrey to a fair in a nearby town, 17 yr old Jackson finds himself lost. He stumbles into a town that at first seems deserted, and then suddenly bristling with life. And the people of the strange town soon make it clear that leaving is not an option.

*Thoughts*

After winning a copy of this book through LibraryThing.com, I had initially sat down to read the first chapter or two just to get a feel for the story. The next thing I knew, it was 2 hours later, and I hadn't moved or looked away from the book once in that time.

This book completely blew me away. The story line was fast paced, the characters were well developed and relateable. The entire book felt like a really awesome episode of The Twilight Zone...which in my world is a *very* good thing.

*Bottom Line*

Hands down the best dystopian novel I have ever read. I can't wait to get my hands on the 2nd book in the series, Lost.

My YT Channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/Bookgasmic

My blog: http://ravingbookaddict.blogspot.com/

The Statistical Probability Of Love At First Sight ~ Jennifer E Smith

2012-01-11T13:56:00.000-08:00

The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Maybe my expectations were just too high for this book, but I can't help but feel disappointed after reading it.

The premise is great...an American girl who misses her flight to London for her father's wedding, meets a cute British boy at the airport. The two end up sitting together on the 7 hr flight, and the reader knows as they go their separate ways in London, that they will definitely run into each other again.

For the first half of the book, Hadley came off as a bit of a brat. And while she managed to redeem herself a little bit by the end, (though her about-face regarding her new step-mother seemed a little too cliche), it's hard for me to really enjoy a story if one of the main characters is grating on my nerves. Oliver was a sweet character, but seemed a little too one-dimensional at times.

This was a VERY short, and quick read for me, so it wasn't hard to stick with it until the end. But, I expected & wanted much more than I got from this book.

My YT Channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/Bookgasmic
My blog: http://ravingbookaddict.blogspot.com/

An Abundance Of Katherines ~ John Green

2012-01-08T13:34:00.000-08:00

4 1/2 Stars

While not quite as magical as Looking For Alaska, An Abundance of Katherines was still a wonderfully quirky, sweet, and surprisingly funny book.

Colin Singlton has an obsession with anagrams, and with girls named Katherine. He believes he has been dumped by 19 of them in his short life. After Katherine XIX breaks his heart, he and his best friend Hassan go on a road trip and find themselves spending the summer in a tiny town in Tennessee called Gutshot.

This is only my second time reading a John Green book, and I can honestly say the man truly does live up to all the hype surrounding him. The characters he creates are so beautifully brought to live...all their quirks, and faults and insecurities feel real and very believable. In both Looking For Alaska and An Abundance of Katherines Green has created unique characters that I will always remember.

The character of Colin does come off as winy and needy at times, but in the end I couldn't help but root for this washed up child prodigy, and the band of misfits surrounding him.

>>My book review channel on YT<<

Lowboy ~ John Wray

2012-01-07T20:01:00.000-08:00

4 Stars.
Lowboy is the story of 16 yr old Will. A paranoid schizophrenic who manages to escape from the mental hospital (which he refers to as "school") he has called home for years. Will walks onto a subway in NYC, prepared for his great mission; to save the world from a fiery ending by the end of the day.

The book is told through various viewpoints, Will's, his mother Violet and the missing persons detective assigned to find Will before he turns violent. Out of the three, Will's POV is most affecting, as the reader is able to witness the decline in his mind's ability to tell the difference between reality and fantasy the longer he is off his medication.

I guess I was naive going into this story, somehow assuming there might be a light at the end of the tunnel for Will. I was not expecting this book to be as dark and bleak as it was. But, the story worked in keeping me interested, and I definitely cared about Will a great deal by the end of the book. The supposed 'twist' involving Violet was pretty predictable, and didn't really add anything, since her character was annoying at best.

At once beautifully written, and truly disturbing, Lowboy was a reading experience I won't soon forget. The main character of Will Hellar has made a huge impression on me. And it is that fact that makes the ultimate resolution to this dark, dark story so heartbreaking.

More book reviews on my channel.
http://www.youtube.com/user/Bookgasmic

News

2012-01-07T11:47:00.000-08:00

I know it has been forever since I posted a review. Things have been crazy hectic lately.

But, since my book review channel on You Tube is alive and kicking, I plan on writing many more reviews.

My YT channel

http://www.youtube.com/user/Bookgasmic

Darkness Under the Sun/What the Night Knows ~ Dean Koontz

2011-10-24T20:17:00.001-07:00

FYI

2011-10-23T14:25:00.001-07:00

Have been sick with the cold from hell, so I haven't been up to writing reviews that last couple of weeks. But...i will be back shortly! :)

The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer ~ Michelle Hodkin

2011-10-09T15:23:00.000-07:00

1 star

****SPOILERS AHEAD****

It has taken me a week to try and get my thoughts together regarding this book. And after 7 days, I am still left with an unpleasant taste in my mouth. Honestly, I think I must have read a completely different book than everyone who gave this 5 stars, did.

I went into reading this book with an open mind, and was actually very anxious to start reading it because of all the glowing reviews and recommendations I had gotten for it. And even when I didn't fall in love with the story the way that others did, I was still more than willing to stick with it because I wanted to see what happened. I wanted to see where the author was going with all of Mara's hallucinations. But, the further I got in the book, the more frustrated I became.

Some of the things that frustrated me: There are the obvious similarities to Twilight & Hush Hush...a quiet, awkward girl becomes the stalkerish obsession of a ridiculously gorgeous boy full of mystery. But where this book differs (in my opinion anyway) is that the stalkerish boy in question here has absolutely NO appeal or redeeming qualities whatsoever. Noah is one of the most obnoxious, self-centered asshats I have come across in fiction in quite some time. And the way that Mara goes from being rightfully stand-offish towards him, to being completely smitten beyond all hope in zero to sixty is just one of the many faults of this story. And then there is Mara's best friend. About 3 quarters of the way through, he completely drops out of the story. Um...why was he there in the first place? Other than to pop in every few chapters to remind Mara to stay away from Noah?! Just when I thought there might be a character that was interesting and trying to talk some sense into our heroine... he gets suspended from school, and poof! he's gone.

And here is my main problem with the overall book: To be blunt, Mara's 'ability' is just plain ridiculous. Yes, it is unique...but only in that it is a silly story concept that just doesn't work in my opinion. And the fact that she meets and falls in love with a boy who just happens to have the exact opposite ability...is enough to make me want to smack my head into the wall. And as if all those elements weren't enough to make me sorry I wasted my time on this book in the first place...there's the actual ending. The 'big reveal' as it were....it worked about as well as one of those 'dun dun DUN!!!' sound effects in a really cheesy movie. And left me literally saying out loud to myself..."Are you freaking kidding me?!" I know they are setting up a series here, but gimme a break! To have the villain magically come 'back from the dead', is one of the most overused plot elements of all time. And it wasn't even used well.

Maybe I have just been spoiled by reading so many truly great books over the last few months, but The Unbecoming Of Mara Dyer was a huge disappointment.

The Replacement ~ Brenna Yovanoff

2011-10-09T14:22:00.000-07:00

5++++ stars

Every once in a while I stumble upon a book that takes me completely by surprise. I had no idea what to expect going into this book, but decided to take a chance on it because of the interesting synopsis and creepy cover art. I am so glad I did, because this was hands down one of the most enjoyable reading experiences I have had all year.

On the surface, Mackie seems like an average teenage boy. He goes to school, has a crush on a cheerleader and feels alienated from the adults in his life. But Mackie is a Replacement, a changling left in the place of a human baby that was stolen from it's crib in the middle of the night sixteen years ago. Because of his potentially fatal reactions to iron, blood and consecrated ground, each day is a struggle just to survive.

In Mackie, Yovanoff has created a truly wonderful character. The reader can't help but be captivated by his story. His sense of longing to live a normal life...to just belong somewhere, is heartbreaking. And his absolute devotion to his sister is just one of the many reasons I love him so much.

I loved just about every aspect of this book...from the smart dialogue, to all the truly creepy characters Mackie meets in the Underground world called Mayhem, to Mackie's best friend. The ONE thing that I was not so thrilled with was the female lead, Tate. She was just too...harsh for my taste. She didn't seem to appreciate everything that Mackie ended up going through to help her. And her hot and cold attitude toward him was frustrating. But in the end, that was just a minor annoyance that is easily overlooked.

What a wonderful surprise this turned out to be. Such an amazing story with truly unique and unforgettable characters. Loved every word!!

Virtuosity ~ Jessica Martinez

2011-10-09T14:19:00.000-07:00

1 star - DNF

Usually I have a LOT to say about a book that I have read....either good, bad or in between. But sometimes a book comes around that I just can't bring myself to care about either way. This was unfortunately one of those books. So, I will keep this short and sweet...

I got about half way through this book, and had to give up. I had a very hard time taking the characters seriously. They seemed very one dimensional, and some of the dialogue was just plain laughably ba

Daughter of Smoke and Bone ~ Laini Taylor

2011-10-02T17:56:00.000-07:00

Inital thoughts as I finished the book:

The last act has left me a puddle of emotional goo.

*deep breath*

***********************************************************************

5++++ Stars

I will admit to going into this book not knowing exactly what to expect. The book synopsis is so vague and mysterious that I couldn't help but want to dive into this bizarre world where a young girl is sent out on these errands by her beastly guardian in search of teeth...human and otherwise. Where a door opens in Prague, and exits into Marrakesh.

I was completely captivated by this story from the first line. And I knew this was something special within the first few chapters.

I truly feel like delving any more into the actual plot would lessen the impact for anyone thinking of reading this book. This really should be a book that is experienced from beginning to end, with the roller coaster of emotions that that entails.

But, I do have to point out that Laini Taylor's writing is just absolute perfection. Her characters come to life in such a vivid way, that it honestly felt like I was inside the book as I was reading it. And one final comment regarding the character of Akiva. Hands down one of my favorite fictional characters ever.

Normally I would have been beyond annoyed by the MAJOR cliffhanger of an ending that this book had (the final few chapters left me a weepy mess), but I can forgive Taylor for that, knowing that we will have 2 more books in the series to look forward to.

Bottom line:

One of the best books of 2011 (top 3)

One of my all time favorite books...period.

Feed ~ Mira Grant

2011-10-02T17:24:00.001-07:00

4 1/2 - 5 stars

It's taken me several days to get a grip on exactly how I feel about this book. As it is, this review will be a short one since I am still having a hard time trying to put my thoughts into a review that isn't a rambling mess.

This books was not what I expected. At all. Going in, I thought this would be an old fashioned zombie gore-fest. And while there are scenes of the infected going on the attack, this book is more about what's going on in the world of the living. Attempting to survive in a world where each and every person is born with the same virus. A virus that will activate upon the person's death, or even at some random moment in time...turning the person into the horror movie cliche' of a zombie. Of course you could also still be turned into the walking dead the old fashioned way of being chomped on by your undead neighbor. But the idea of living day to day with the question of not if...but when and how it will happen? That's what's truly scary about this book.

I will admit that Grant was a little too descriptive at times. There are countless scenes involving routine blood tests, and while I know that aspect of the story is important, I still didn't enjoy reading about the same process so many times. Also, the beginning was a little slow, and I feel like the story itself was dragged out a little too much. But the last act of the book....more than makes up for any faults i may have with the overall story. The ending packs a HUGE emotional punch, so much so that I find myself unable to dive into the next book right away, as i feel like this one took so much out of me.

So thankful to all of the people who recommended this book to me, as it truly was one of the best I have read in a long time.

Unclaimed ~ Courtney Milan

2011-09-25T20:54:00.000-07:00

4 - 4 1/2 stars

Courtney Milan has fast become one of my very favorite authors. She has a way of weaving a story in such a simple, yet beautiful way...her characters are beautifully flawed and the reader can't help but care about them.

In the previous book of the series, [book:Unveiled|8663392], I will admit to not being overly fond of Mark, the youngest member of the Turner clan. He came off as aloof and very prim and proper (hard at work on a book detailing the joys of chastity). But, in Unclaimed, Mark became a truly wonderful male lead.

Milan handled Mark's virginity and view on the world in a believable way, and pairing him up with a 'fallen woman' out to seduce him, while seemingly a bit predictable, the way in which the seduction was handled, was anything but.

The only real flaw of this book was the fact that the ending seemed a little drawn out, and the resolution involving Jessica and her former 'protector' was a little too melodramatic for my tastes. It was those two factors alone that prevented me from giving this 5 stars. But otherwise, this was yet another wonderfully romantic, and sensual tale from Ms Milan.

ARC provided by NetGalley.com

Apocalypse Scenario #683 The Box ~ Mira Grant

2011-09-21T11:50:00.000-07:00

5 Sars

To gear up for reading [book:Feed|7094569], I decided to try this novella from author Mira Grant first. All I can say is...wow. This may have been short, but it packed a helluva punch in my opinion. It was unique, interesting and incredibly unsettling. I will go out on a limb here and say that it just may be one of the best short stories I have ever read. Yes, it was that good.

The Night Circus ~ Erin Morgenstern

2011-09-18T16:57:00.000-07:00

Having finished reading this a few days ago, i have been struggling ever since to try and put into words how much I enjoyed this book.

The Night Circus is a magical experience from start to finish.

The circus appears without warning.

Probably one of the best opening lines i have read in recent memory. it succeeds in grabbing you from the first lines, and I found myself staying up all night because i literally could not force myself to put this book down.

Le Cirque des Reves...The Circus Of Dreams, is a fitting name for the other-worldly attraction that captures the hearts and minds of so many people. At the heart of the circus are Celia and Marco...two illusionists trained from an early age by two very different but equally powerful magicians... pitted against each other in a mysterious competition that spans nearly 30 years. The way this secret competition ends up encompassing Celia and Marco's lives....and the lives of everyone associated with the Circus (both directly and behind the scenes) is the true heart of this beautiful story. Every aspect of the storytelling works on every level. From the characters, to the atmosphere, to the budding romance, and the sense of dread that falls over everyone as things begin to spiral out of control.

Every second I spent reading this book was a joy, and i look forward not only to reading this book again, but to devouring anything else Erin Morgenstern releases in the future.

Anna Dressed In Blood ~ Kendare Blake

2011-09-18T16:55:00.000-07:00

5++ Stars

Call me jaded or it could just be that having been a huge fan of horror from an early age, i have gotten to the point where it truly takes a LOT to unnerve me. But, while reading the incredibly entertaining Anna Dressed In Blood, i found myself feeling more than a little unsettled several times.

Cas is the new kid at the local high school in a small town in Canada. He also happens to be a ghost hunter. He (along with his mother, a White Witch) travel around the country dispatching spirits, following in the footsteps of his deceased father. He has come to find the spirit known as Anna Dressed in Blood, a 16 year old girl who was murdered on her way to a party. The legend goes that anyone who steps inside Anna's house, never comes out, and she has been blamed for dozens of gruesome deaths over the years. But for some reason when Cas breaches her doorstep, she allows him to live.

At times this book was frightening, heart-breaking, funny and even romantic. I truly loved each and every character, no matter how minor they might have appeared to be. And while I could argue that this book should be allowed to stand on it's own....with no real need for a sequel, I have to admit, i am excited to see what comes next for Cas and his group of unlikely friends.

A wonderfully entertaining joyride of a ghost story.

Wicked West ~ Victoria Dahl

2011-09-18T16:54:00.000-07:00

3 1/2 - 4 stars

A wicked little novella from Victoria Dahl (writing here as Holly Summers...the heroine from her contemporary romance [book:Talk Me Down|4716621]).

After reading Talk Me Down, I knew I had to read this, and I'm glad I did. Brooding Wyoming Sheriff Hale & seemingly prim and proper English widow Lily make an interesting Dom/sub pair in this quick tale. Considering this was such a short novella, there wasn't much of an actual plot, but the love scenes were hot and the characters likable. I'm not usually fond of westerns in general, but i am glad i made the exception for this.

Talk Me Down ~ Victoria Dahl

2011-09-18T16:51:00.000-07:00

4 1/2 - 5 stars

Contemp romance is usually not my thing. But, surprisingly i was immediately won over by this one.

After 10 years, Molly Jennings is moving back home to Tumble Creek, Co. Back to small town life, and if she has her way, into the bed of schoolgirl crush, and her brother's best friend, Chief of police Ben Lawson. But, Molly has a secret and Chief Lawson is bound and determined to find out what it is.

Victoria Dahl has a wonderful writing style. I love when a romance doesn't take itself too seriously, and this one sure doesn't. There are scenes and dialogue that are truly laugh out loud funny, and the love scenes??? Uber hot and steamy (thanks in large part to an excellent tough but sweet hero in Ben). I have seen several reviews that mention people not liking Molly, and while I found her determination to hide her occupation from Ben (though in some ways it makes sense given his past) silly....i loved her character. She was tough, and spunky and a perfect match for Ben's serious police Chief.

I can't wait to dive into the next book in the series.

Pumpkin Man ~ John Everson

2011-09-15T17:34:00.000-07:00

1 star

Being a big fan of horror novels in general, i jumped at the chance to read an ARC of this book. Unfortunately, this book was nothing short of a hot mess.

The basic plot of the book involves a man who was brutally murdered and decapitated, being brought back from the dead to seek vengeance against those who did him wrong. A grieving daughter seeks refuge in an empty cabin, and all kinds of supposedly spooky things ensue. The first third of the book had promise, but when I realized that the author only seemed interested in piling on the gore instead of creating real tension, i couldn't wait for it to end.

The concept is a decent one, and I was really hoping that this would be a good scary read on the way to Halloween, but this just didn't work for me at all.

ARC provided by NetGalley.com

Her Kilt-Clad Rogue ~ Julie Moffett

2011-09-13T23:43:00.001-07:00

5 stars

I have always had a love for all things Scottish...especially historical romances set in that beautiful country. And Her Kilt-Clad Rogue was a delight from start to finish.

Scotsman Connor & Englishwoman Genevieve spend a perfect summer together, but when Connor abandons Genevieve to run off and marry another woman, Genevieve is left devastated. 10 years later, Genevieve is in desperate financial straits, is brought to Scotland to become the governess to Connor's son after the mysterious death of his wife....the woman he left Genevieve for all those years ago.

The story of how Connor and Genevieve find their way back to each other is sweet, and considering this is a short novella, the author succeeds in making the reader truly care about these characters and long for their chance at a true HEA.

Book provided by NetGalley.com

Unveiled ~ Courtney Milan

2011-09-11T12:12:00.001-07:00

5+++++ Stars

After having only read 2 books by Courtney Milan, she has now become one of my Automatic Buy authors.

The plot has been dissected by many other reviewers, so I will just concentrate on my thoughts on the characters themselves.

This was without question one of the best historical novels I have ever read. Milan has such a beautiful way of bringing a story to life. Each and every character is fully developed and she especially has a knack for creating amazing heroes.

*Let the gush-fest begin* Simply put...Ash is my ideal man. He's intelligent, devoted to his family, prone to smartass comebacks, confident but with a sense of vulnerability that he's not afraid to show. And he's willing to go to any and every length to win the heart of the woman he loves. In Margaret, Ash sees the epitome of everything he wants, no matter her supposed 'station' in life.

You're important. You matter.

That statement is just...perfection. Especially in the context of the story, and how it relates to Margaret's character.

And I have to say that Milan handled Ash's 'secret' very well. She took a plot element that could have come off as melodramatic and just made it another aspect to the personality of a truly wonderful character. *end gush-fest*

Unveiled has earned a permanent spot on my favorites shelf, and I am so incredibly eager to dive into the next book in the series.

Pride & Passion ~ Charlotte Featherstone

2011-09-11T11:10:00.001-07:00

ARC Courtesy of NetGalley.com

4 stars

I've been having a hard time trying to put my thoughts together regarding this book. There were a LOT of things i absolutely loved about it, and there were more than a few things I didn't like.

The beginning grabbed my attention immediately. I haven't read any other historical romances with a paranormal edge to them, so i really enjoyed that aspect (initially at least). Also, the first half of the book was written beautifully....the characters came to life, and I found myself being swept away in their story. Adrian, The Lord of Sussex was a wonderful character. He is a deeply passionate, loving man who keeps his emotions hidden behind a facade of a cold, boring aristocrat.

I can honestly say, without a doubt Featherstone has written some of the most sensual and erotic love scenes I have read in a LONG time, in this book. As someone who likes their sex scenes steamy....i was a happy camper.

Now as to what I didn't like...The names of the 3 main female characters....Lucy, Lizzy and Izzy. Needless to say, it was a bit confusing to try and keep track of who was who at times. Also, the last third of the book felt a little overblown to me. The paranormal aspect, and the dialogue between Lucy and Adrian just felt....forced and cliched at times. Also, the fact that for two thirds of the book Lucy is so dead-set against being with Adrian, that the way she just decides from one minute to the next that she simply MUST be with him didn't really work for me.

However, despite any minor problems I may have had with the final act, the over-all book was a very enjoyable, uber steamy read. I can't wait for the next in the series.

Tempt Me At Twilight ~ Lisa Kleypas

2011-09-11T10:50:00.000-07:00

2 stars

I never thought I would see the day when I nearly gave up reading a Lisa Kleypas book out of sheer frustration. I have loved everything else I have read by her, and have quite the attachment to the Hathaway series. But, I just did not enjoy this book in so many ways.

My main problem was with the hero, Harry Rutlidge. This may end up being a very unpopular opinion, since i know so many people loved his and Poppy's story, but to me....there was very little to like about Harry. Yes, i know once the story of his childhood etc comes out, it is slightly easier to understand his actions and motivations, but for me, his behavior for the first half of this book completely turned me off on him. The obviously complete disregard for Poppy's feelings, and frankly his entire demeanor was just not attractive to me.

The only things I did enjoy about this book, were the scenes with the other members of the Hathaway clan, and I especially liked seeing the interactions between Marks and Leo. I have high hopes for that book, and hope that the rest of the series succeeds in making me forget how disappointing Poppy and Harry's story was.

The Lady Most Likely ~ Eloisa James, Connie Brockway, Julia Quinn

2011-09-11T10:36:00.000-07:00

1 star

I tried....oh how I tried, to get into this book. I am usually not fond of anthologies to begin with, but I figured since I like all three authors, and i found the idea of a 'Novel written in three parts' intriguing, I thought I would give it a shot.

Unfortunately, this book is a huge mess. There are far too many characters to even attempt to keep track of, and it's also a choir trying to determine who's character is in the forefront of the a particular chapter, and who is just passing through.

The entire thing seemed ridiculously over-done; characters that are nothing more than historical romance cliche's (the ethereally beautiful girl who all the men are in love with, the boorish aristocratic, the rogue who loses his heart to an unexpected lady etc etc) witha kind of slapstick humor that i just don't enjoy. So, i found myself giving up on this a little over half way through.

Devil's Bride ~ Stephanie Laurens

2011-09-07T20:39:00.001-07:00

1 1/2-2 Stars

I will freely admit it...i skimmed through a large portion of this book. I have nothing against an uber-Alpha male if written in the right way, but there was just something about Devil Cynster that REALLY bugged me right from the beginning. Yes, he was darkly brooding and handsome. Yes, he cared about the heroine, Honoria and refused to 'claim her' until she agreed to be his wife...but his rather brutish attitude bothered me. Also, i didn't really like Honoria all that much either, and the so-called murder mystery element was boring and took up far too much of the story. There were just long stretches of this book that felt like filler to me. Far too many secondary characters that I didn't feel the slight bit interested in.

On the good side, Laurens definitely knows how to write a steamy love scene. Although it felt like she spent the first half of the book building up to the big moment, and then she attempted to cram in as many sex scenes as possible until the last act of the book, which completely fell flat in my opinion.

I realize this is the first book of a long series that many people have recommended to me, and I definitely plan on giving the second book a shot at some point. But, in the end I can't help but feel very disappointed by Devil's Bride.

Unlocked ~ Courtney Milan

2011-09-06T11:21:00.001-07:00

5+++ Stars

Unlocked was my introduction to the work of Courtney Milan, and what an introduction it turned out to be.

Milan somehow manages to give us more emotion, passion and character connection in this short novella, then a lot of other authors can do with twice as many pages.

I think what I loved most about this story, is that the plot wasn't one that had been done to death in the genre. Elaine has been the subject of ridicule due to the hurtful acts of both Evan and his cousin since their youth. One cruel remark has a snowball effect, and Elaine has been the butt of jokes ever since. But Evan has done much growing up over the years and has returned to attempt to make amends. And Elaine has no intention of making it easy for him.

Elaine is a wonderful character. She is a strong and vibrant and much more concerned about the attempts at humiliating her sweetly 'head in the clouds' Mother then anything directed at herself. And Evan is just as richly developed. He takes full responsibility for the actions in his youth that caused Elaine so much pain. Handled by another author, I doubt I would have been so quick to understand, and willing to forgive his character. But, just how much I ended up loving Evan is a testament to the talent of Milan at creating some of the most wonderful characters i have read about in some time. The H&h's slow dance not just towards a HEA, but to genuine trust and friendship, was deeply moving for me.

My one complaint, is that I wish their story could have been a full size novel. But, I am happy for taking the journey with them, as short as it may have been.

Draculas ~ JA Konrath, Blake Crouch

2011-09-05T17:54:00.000-07:00

5++ stars

A completely different and ingenious take on the vampire novel.

4 amazing authors: J.A. Konrath, Blake Crouch, F. Paul Wilson, Jack Kilborn, and Jeff Strand- each creating their own characters and following them through to the end - come together to create an absolutely amazing twist on the Vampire novel.

Mortimer Moorecook is a desperate and dying man. Willing to do just about anything to survive the disease that is ravaging his body. After acquiring the so called "Dracula's Skull", he believes he has found the answer to his prayers. Within minutes of the skull arriving at his home, he sinks the elongated teeth into his own neck...

To say anything else about the actual storyline would take away from the enjoyment of discovering all the twisted nuances to this roller coaster of a novel.

As gory and twisted as this novel is (and trust me when i say, this is not for the squeamish), there is a hefty dose of delightfully warped black humor thrown into the mix, which only made me love this book more.

I am already a HUGE fan of JA Konrath/Jack Killborn, but this book makes me anxious to read more by the other authors as well.

Not for the fainthearted, but if you enjoy finding yourself giggling as you squirm in your seat, grab this book and dig in!

Hearts In Darkness ~ Laura Kaye

2011-09-05T17:50:00.000-07:00

4 +++ stars

I was surprised by how much i truly enjoyed this little novella. The author packed a lot into such a short book, and she somehow made it all work. Whenever i read an erotic novella i usually feel like the plot is rushed in order to get to the naughty bits. I didn't feel this way here. The main characters were likable and damn if Caden (who definitely reminded me...looks wise...of one of my favorite male characters, Zsadist from JR Ward's Black Dagger Brotherhood series) isn't smoking hot. *fans self*

Recommended for anyone who likes their erotica steamy and short.

Hush Hush ~ Becca Fitzpatrick

2011-09-05T17:47:00.000-07:00

5+++ Stars

Even though this book has been lumped into the YA category, it definitely felt more like an adult-minded para romance to me.

I love a good vampire story as much as the next para-junkie, but I have to say I now have a major weakness for fallen angels as well.

While I can understand some people making comparisons between this book and Twilight (dark, brooding hero, and a heroine who, against her better judgment, can't keep herself from being drawn into the hero's mysterious world). But, in my own humble opinion, Hush Hush is a far superior book. Yes this book has a few faults (the bad guy is far too easy to figure out, and there are a few continuity issues that pop up), but they obviously didn't bother me that much since i basically read this book in one sitting.

And finally, let me just say this...Patch is one helluva hero. He's a full-on sexy badass, and I loved him to pieces.

Mine Til Midnight ~ Lisa Kleypas

2011-09-05T17:34:00.000-07:00

5++ Stars
*All Time Favorite Book List*

If I could give this book 10 stars, I would. I honestly haven't enjoyed a book this much in AGES. Cam Rohan is now firmly planted very close to the top of my list of all time favorite leading men.

The chemistry between Cam & Amelia is just breathtaking. I have always been a sucker for an Alpha male, and Cam is about as Alpha as they come. When he finally sets his mind to having Amelia, he won't let anyone or anything stand in his way. He's fierce, compelling, intense and sexy as hell and Amelia is helpless to resist his charm...and I definitely can relate.

This was my first experience reading Lisa Kleypas, and I have to admit I picked a great one to start with. From the first page, this book sucked me into the storyline, and the beautifully detailed world of the characters.

I have to point out something that many of the author's fans know all too well; Lisa Kleypas not only writes a hero to die for...but she has a knack for creating the most beautifully erotic love scenes I have ever read. She has said in the past that when she writes love scenes she choreographs them down to the last detail, and it's obvious that she does just that. She somehow manages to create toe-curling encounters without ever going too far in her descriptions. Her dialogue is always perfect...no eye-rolling or giggling, the way I have found myself doing while reading love scenes in other books. She knows how to mix romantic with scorchingly hot like no one else.

LK cares about every aspect of her novels, and it shows. Which is one of the many reasons she has such a devoted following. I for one consider myself lucky to include myself among them.

Sin City (Hot In The City #2)

2010-03-19T09:15:00.000-07:00

5 out of 5 stars

I am a huge fan of Lacey Alexander. She has a knack for writing some of the sexiest, raunchiest erotic stories I have ever come across, and she does it all in a way that is neither over-the-top or uncomfortable to read.

This is the second installment in her Hot In The City series (beginning with the equally excellent French Quarter). This time around we have the story of Diana and Marc. They both work for the same company, but on different sides of the country. They begin a phone call and email flirtation that quickly becomes hot and heavy. Soon, Diana is dispatched to help Marc on a work project at his home base in Las Vegas, and when these two characters finally meet face to face, the chemistry is beyond blistering.

Alexander not only fills this book with many well done erotic encounters, but actually gives us a plot that makes sense, and doesn't seem forced. Something missing in a LOT of erotic fiction these days.

Now, having said all that, I realize this book is not for everyone. It features a wide variety of pairings: M/F, M/M/F/M, M/F/M, F/M/F and a hint of M/M. But, if you enjoy intelligent erotica, and don't mind a bit of kink, then you can't go wrong with Lacey Alexander.

Tuesday's Eye-Candy

2010-03-09T15:16:00.001-08:00

The Duke & I by Julia Quinn

2010-03-06T13:49:00.000-08:00

3 out 5 stars

I have been spoiled by Lisa Kleypas. It is impossible for me to read an historical romance by any other author without in some way comparing it to LK's work. Which is admittedly unfair. But even with the huge shadow of Lisa Kleypas hanging over ever other historical novel that I read, I still ended up really enjoying this book.

The Good: I loved the Bridgerton family. Sometimes a big wacky, family can come off as more than a little over the top and silly. But, JQ made the family likable and believable, which was really nice. I also LOVED Simon, even though some of the things he did made me want to throttle him. And the love scenes, while not nearly as steamy as some by Kleypas, were still very well done.

The Not So Good: I found that the story dragged a little about half way through until picking back up towards the end. Also, some of the situations were fairly predictable, but in the end it didn't really matter since I was still interested in the story.

All in all, an enjoyable, quick read.

Passion by Lisa Valdez

2010-03-01T18:02:00.000-08:00

5 out of 5 stars
*All Time Favorite Book List*

To me, Passion felt like two completely different books.

For the first 10o pages or so, I found myself caught up in the incredibly vivid and passionate secret love affair between Passion Dare (the heroine's name is beyond silly, but I got used to it) and the intense Mark Randolph Hawkmore.

Literally from the first sentence of this novel, the sexual chemistry and heat generated by these two characters is enough to render a person speechless. Okay, it rendered *me* speechless at least. There is a lot of sex in this book, especially early on. And, as it has been brought up by nearly everyone writing a review for this book, the sex scenes are incredibly vivid and detailed, and they along with the language may bother some readers. This is most definitely an historical erotica novel, with a BIG emphasis on the erotica part.

And while I was thoroughly enjoying the passion and naughtiness of this story, something happened round about 200 pages in. This book became less about blistering sex scenes, and much more about the intense, bone-deep love that the two characters felt for each other. The last third of this book broke my heart, and literally reduced me to a weepy mess.

Now that I have read Passion I see why it means so much to so many people. If you take the time to look past the vivid sensuality of the early parts of this book, you will find one of the most beautiful and deeply moving love stories I have ever read. I hope more people will open themselves up to this reading experience, because I'm so glad I did and this will definitely be a story I will never forget.

Black Ice by Anne Stuart

2010-02-28T09:11:00.000-08:00

5 out of 5 stars
*All Time Favorite Book List*

I will admit I had been a little hesitant to read this book for a couple of reasons. First of all, Romantic Suspense has never been my favorite genre, and secondly although I am a sucker for a dark, brooding hero, I wasn't exactly sure what I would think of the Uber-Alpha Bastien.

All I can say is, i am so glad I decided to give this book a shot after all, because it ended up being one of the most enjoyable reading experiences I have had in quite some time.

The storyline itself grabbed me right away. There was just the right amount of tension and action to keep me glued to my chair for most of the day. I simply could not put this book down, which has been rare for me lately.

Now, as for Bastien. *sigh* Where do I even begin. I think everyone who has read this will agree with me, that the man that appears at the beginning of this book, is not the same man we are left with at the end. And his journey into becoming that man, was wonderful to experience. In many ways, Bastien will always be just as cold and aloof as he ever was. He's still the tough as nails mercenary. But by the end of the book, he has allowed a small part of himself to come alive because of his love for Chloe. The later scenes between the two characters are both heartbreaking and incredibly beautiful. I never expected that this book would make me cry, but the scene at the airport, did just that.

Thoroughly entertaining, suspenseful, passionate and just plain well-written, Black Ice will now have a permanent place on my Keepers shelf.

Minion by L A Banks

2010-02-28T09:09:00.000-08:00

1 out of 5 stars
*Worst Book List*

I very rarely give up on books. If i have a problem getting into a story, I will usually put it down for a while, and try to approach it again at another time.

I attempted to read this book on 4 separate occasions over the course of a year, and I still found it impossible to finish.

To be quite honest, I found this practically impossible to read. First of all, there's not many things I hate more than the feeling of being dropped into the middle of a story without any kind of explanation or backstory until late in the book. Call me silly, but it's confusing as hell and just plain frustrating. How can you possibly enjoy a book when you have no clue what the heck is going on? When you keep having to make sure you are indeed reading the FIRST book in a series, because nothing is making sense?

Also, the dialogue...good grief. It was like the author's main goal was to make these characters sound 'current' and to use as much street slang as humanly possible. It came across as being incredibly trite and annoying.

And there is also the fact that the characters were far from likable. Everyone had a chip on their shoulder...but without giving the reader a reason WHY they acted that way until late in the book, it was hard to feel anything but annoyance toward their behavior.

I have heard that the series gets better as it progresses, but I think I'm beyond giving it another shot at this point.

Dark Magic by Christine Feehan (Carpathians #4)

2010-02-26T13:12:00.000-08:00

2 out of 5 stars

I think i have officially lost my patience with this author.

Everything about this series is hopelessly repetitive. From the plot (Uber-Alpha male finds his lifemate. The chosen woman always whines about being bossed around initially, but that aspect is usually quickly forgotten. Someone threatens the couple's happiness/safety. Again, that is usually quickly and far too easily resolved. Lifemates have their HEA)...the phrasing, and in the case of this book, Dark Magic, even the actual dialogue, and descriptions of the two main characters are used again and again. Basiclly Feehan is recycling the exact same story over and over again, and simply changing the names, the woman's hair color (all of the females are described as beyond beautiful, with a tiny waist, narrow ribcage, and large breasts), and a few other small details.

The ONLY reason i'm giving this 2 stars instead of 1, is the fact that i ended up liking Gregori more than the previous two male leads, Jacques and Aidan.

I have returned to this series numerous times over the last few months...hoping that maybe, just maybe the next installment might capture me the way the first book, Dark Prince did. I wasn't even able to finish this book, i was so frustrated. And i hardly ever give up on a novel.

Dark Gold by Christine Feehan (Carpathians # 3)

2010-02-26T12:57:00.000-08:00

2 out 5 stars

Christine Feehan has fostered an amazingly successful career from rehashing basically the same plot over and over again. All of the Carpathian books that i have read have pretty much been the same, with the exception of the names and locations. Incredibly beautiful female becomes the obsession of an incredibly possessive and arrogant vampire. The female puts up a half-hearted resistance to the vampire's advances before finally falling under his spell and the two characters end up having poorly written and terribly repetitive sex. A somewhat cardboard cutout villian/obsticle prevents the couple's happiness for a while, before once again love conquers all and the Carpathians ride off into the sunset.

Yep...that about covers all of the books in the series that i have read.

As far as this one specifically goes...There is relatively little action in this book. The main focus being the relationship between Aidan & Alex. The interaction between them...the constant back and forth of Aidan trying to get Alex to obey his every command, and Alex whining about everything under the sun... got more than a bit repetitive and mind-numbingly boring by about page 200. And while i liked Aidan, Alex got on my last nerve. Having said that, it still ended up being slightly better than the previous book in the series.

One Silent Night by Sherrilyn Kenyon

2010-02-26T12:53:00.000-08:00

3 out of 5 stars

While there were a few aspects of this addition to the Dark Hunter series that i enjoyed (revelations about Nick's powers, the return of the trademark DH snarkiness after the overwhelming seriousness of the previous book, "Acheron"), i still had quite a few major problems with the book, which made me feel more than a little disappointed in the end.

1. Having read this in about 2 hours, the story felt like something that should have been included in an anthology, rather than released as a stand alone novel. Coming after the mammoth "Acheron", OSN feels rather hastily, and sloppily put together.

2. I could be in the minority in this, but i found it hard to truly care about Stryker as a lead. He's the bad guy, and therefore i didn't really care if he got his HEA.

3. I hate to say this...i really do. But, Ash in this book...was a shadow of the bad-ass warrior i have come to know and love. Granted, he wasn't the main focus of the story, but that has never stopped him from blowing my mind in the majority of the previous DH books. I truly hope that, considering this book is the start of the new "ark" of the series, that SK isn't planning on letting such an amazing character as Ash, fade into the background.

The Maestro's Butterfly by Rhonda Leigh Jones

2010-02-26T12:36:00.000-08:00

1 out of 5 stars
*Worst Book List*

This book was ridiculously over the top, and just plain BAD. In fact, it has the distinction of being close to the top of my list of worst books I've ever had the misfortune of reading. What an honor.

The plot, or what the author tried to pass off as one...was laughable, and made little sense. I realize this was a short novel, but Jones didn't even attempt to show any kind of motivation as to why the characters did what they did. I think this was a prime example of someone writing a bunch of sex scenes, and throwing them together with a bit of idiotic filler to fill up the pages. And having been a long time fan of both erotica & romantica fiction, i can honestly say there was nothing at all sexy about this book.

The female lead proceeds to have every kind of sex with just about any male character in the vicinity, and considers herself 'in love' with what has to be hands down one of the most unappealing 'heroes' I've ever read about. The Maestro is supposed to be dark, dangerous and possess a forbidden type of sexiness. For me, he came off as being an uncomfortably written bully. Sexy? I don't think so.

The solitary bright side? . The story could have been longer.

When Darkness Falls by Shannon Drake

2010-02-26T12:34:00.000-08:00

3 out of 5 stars

Better than the first book in the series, Beneath A Blood Red Moon, but once again the story seemed to fall apart towards the end of the book. The ending itself was extremely frustrating, and left more questions than answers.

I love the character of Lucian. He is a near-perfect anti-hero. However, his heroine Jade ended up coming off as somewhat whiny. The secondary characters (Jade's friends from her writers group especially) were for the most part entertaining, and provided a bit of much needed comic relief.

For me, the single biggest problem was the fact that Lucian & Jade's future was left pretty much up in the air. The ending to BABRM while extremely far fetched in it's resolution, at least left little doubt as to the path that Maggie & Sean were on. Where as with this book, the reader is left feeling more than a little cheated out of a proper ending.

Scent Of Darkness by Christina Dodd

2010-02-26T12:32:00.000-08:00

2 out 5 stars

I REALLY wanted to like this book. But, unfortunately the story just didn't work for me. On numerous levels.

The main problem i had with the plot, was the fact that we are supposed to believe that Jasha worked with Ann for all that time, and never thought of her as anything other than his assistant, But, have him chase her through the woods in his wolf form, and suddenly she's irresistible? And within hours, he has decided she's his mate (aided by a few very complicated, very silly supposed 'signs')? Speaking of the above encounter...the entire scenario of Ann deciding to drive out to his house (which the author describes as looking like a giant penis) to surprise her boss and offer him her virginity was downright laughable. Possibly handled by another author, i MIGHT have been able to get past it. But here, it came off as ridiculous, and made me cringe while reading it. I know it's important to suspend reality while reading a book like this, but this was just one of a few aspects to this story that i just couldn't buy.

Suddenly You by Lisa Kleypas

2010-02-26T12:27:00.000-08:00

4 out of 5 stars

Suddenly You is a book that I was looking forward to reading with a giddy sense of anticipation. I had heard nothing but good things about it, and the snippets I had read online only seemed to whet my appetite. And while overall I did end up enjoying this book, there were certain things that bothered and downright frustrated me about it as well.

I loved the fact that in Amanda Briars, Kleypas has given us a self-made woman. The character is an author who has forged a life and career for herself without the help of a man in her life which was practically unheard of at the time. But unfortunately, I didn't end up liking her actual character all that much.

I can certainly understand Amanda's insecurities. However, the way she acted towards the hero Jack Devlin through a large part of this story, drove me batty. Considering how she had chosen to live her life so unconventionally before meeting him, I find it more than a little frustrating that she would care so much about what people thought of her being with Jack. Yes, he was her boss, but in my opinion it had more to do with her being embarrassed by his less than aristocratic upbringing. I realize that that is a common theme in historical novels, but for whatever reason, it truly bugged me here.

Having said all that, it will probably come as no surprise that I truly adored Jack Devlin, and his character is the main reason this book garnered 4 stars instead of 3. Lisa Kleypas has the Midas touch when it comes to creating thud-worthy heroes, and she has brought to life another winner in Jack. He is a 25 yr old man in love with an older woman who is...happily...not a stick figure. He unashamedly adores Amanda, and I love how in his eyes she is true perfection. The chemistry between Jack and Amanda right from the very beginning is scorching, and as usual, the love scenes are intensely erotic. I won't even get started on the raspberry scene...

I guess the fact that I felt so many different emotions while reading this book, is further testament to the brilliance of Kleypas. Even when i'm not thrilled with where she takes the story at times, I am always emotionally invested. And that's never a bad thing.

Dance With The Devil by Sherrilyn Kenyon

2010-02-26T11:54:00.000-08:00

5 out of 5 stars
*All Time Favorite Book List*

(from Goodreads.com)
Zarek's Point of View:

Dark-Hunter: A soulless guardian who stands between mankind and those who would see mankind destroyed. Yeah, right. The only part of that Code of Honor I got was eternity and solitude.

Insanity: A condition many say I suffer from after being alone for so long. But I don't suffer from my insanity-I enjoy every minute of it.

Trust: I can't trust anyone...not even myself. The only thing I trust in is my ability to do the wrong thing in any situation and to hurt anyone who gets in my way.

Truth: I endured a lifetime as a Roman slave, and 900 years as an exiled Dark-Hunter. Now I'm tired of enduring. I want the truth about what happened the night I was exiled-I have nothing to lose and everything to gain.

Astrid (Greek, meaning star): An exceptional woman who can see straight to the truth. Brave and strong, she is a point of light in the darkness. She touches me and I tremble. She smiles and my cold heart shatters.

Zarek: They say even the most damned man can be forgiven. I never believed that until the night Astrid opened her door to me and made this feral beast want to be human again. Made me want to love and be loved. But how can an ex-slave whose soul is owned by a Greek goddess ever dream of touching, let alone holding, a fiery star?
***

This book inspired so many emotions for me.

Long before I fell in love with the King of all Tortured Heroes, Zsadist (from JR Ward's brilliant Black Dagger Brotherhood series), there was Zarek. A truly frightening lone-wolf assassian who delights in shocking and scaring the hell out of anyone who even attempts to get to know him.

Zarek's backstory is heartbreaking. And in fact, a lot of the flashback scenes are a bit hard to read. But that only made me love this character more by seeing the reasons he ended up being so damaged...so cold. When Astrid enters his life, she becomes his lifeline, his reason to not give in completely to the darkness. Their scenes together are not always perfect. Kenyon frustrated me with a couple of the encounters that the two of them ended up having, but it still adds up to one of the most satisfying, heart-wrenching, and beautiful stories I have ever read.

Kenyon's dialogue here, shines. Some of the things that Zarek says to Astrid were heartbreakingly beautiful and romantic. In my opinion this is SK's best work, and Zarek is a character that I will never forget.

Night Pleasures by Sherrilyn Kenyon

2010-02-26T11:52:00.000-08:00

5 out of 5 stars

Having fallen in love with SK's style of writing with Fantasy Lover, i knew this book had a LOT to live up to. I definitely wasn't disappointed. Kyrian and Amanda are a couple for the ages, and their story is at once beautiful, romantic, tragic and sexy.

With this, the second novel in her series Sherri continues to add both spice and humor to the Dark Hunter world, and she does it almost better than anyone else around today. Her early DH books are hands down some of the best novels I have read, in any genre, in a very, very long time.

I have said this before, but I honestly think I read this series far too quickly the first time. I ended up getting slightly burned out around the time of Devil May Cry (DH #13). But, it ended up being like an addiction...I couldn't stop myself from devouring the next book. If I ever manage to get my TBR list down to a somewhat manageable level, I want to go back and experience this series again from the beginning.

Fantasy Lover by Sherrilyn Kenyon

2010-02-26T11:30:00.000-08:00

5 out of 5 stars
*All Time Favorite Book List*

Not officially considered a DH book, this was the one that not only got me hooked on Sherri's writing, but also the para-romance genre itself.

Sherrilyn has a knack for taking a seemingly ridiculous concept (Basic storyline of Fantasy Lover: an ancient Greek god is cursed into a book and he ends up being the willing sex slave of any woman who conjures him out of it, for the period of one month), and some how makes the characters and situations believable and compelling.

There were moments that made me laugh out loud, and moments that made me cry. Her love scenes were both erotic, and sweet and I couldn't help falling in love with Julian, and wanted him to finally find some sense of peace and happiness.

The series did in fact continue to improve, but this book will always hold a special place in my heart. It's a wonderful introduction into the world of the Dark Hunters, and highly recommended to any fan of para-romance.

Slave by Cheryl Brooks

2010-02-26T10:38:00.000-08:00

1 out of 5 stars

I have read some weird stuff in my time. But nothing...and i do mean NOTHING compares to Slave by Cheryl Brooks.

This first book in the Cat Star Chronicles, is a mixture of erotica and sci fi...two of my favorite genres. And while the mix SOUNDS good in theory, in this case it just did not work.

Basically the premise is this: Jacinth is an 'intergalactic trader' who buys a slave - who possesses more than a few feline qualities, and is nicknamed Cat - to help assist in her mission to free her kidnapped sister.

Much flirty banter and oogling of Cat's well endowed body ensue, and within about 2 days, the two characters have professed their undying love and mutual lust for each other. And this is when the real weirdness begins.

Jacinth discovers that Cat's....'male essence'... *cough* is a highly potent aphrodisiac and much discussion of bottling and selling the prized elixir begins. I will spare you the incredibly unappealing name that Cat has for it. Trust me, you don't need to know.

Everything about this book screams "oh.my.gawd." and not in a good way. The dialogue is cheesy and ridiculous, the characters are about as one dimensional as you can get. Even the sex scenes are poorly written.

And to think...this is only the first book in a series! *shudder*

Beneath A Blood Red Moon by Shannon Drake

2010-02-26T10:36:00.000-08:00

2 out of 5 stars

I have conflicted feelings about this book. First off, I'm a huge fan of Heather Graham/Shannon Drake (SD is Heather's pseudonym). And there were several aspects to this book that I really liked; I thought the historical flashbacks were the best part of the story. I also loved the character of Lucian who is the main focus of the next book in the series [book:When Darkness Falls|176789]. However, the things that I found irritating about the story began to pile up towards the end of the book. HG/SD is known to have a fondness for sappy dialogue, which doesn't bother me in small doses. Here, it was used to a near constant distraction. Also, the climax of the 'mystery' (which really wasn't a mystery at all, since the killer was made obvious by about 20 pages in)seemed a little over-the-top.

I plan on continuing on with the series, and am hopeful that Lucian's story will not leave me disappointed.

Mine Til Midnight by Lisa Kleypas

2010-02-26T10:14:00.000-08:00

5 out of 5 stars
*All Time Favorite Book List*

If I could give this book 10 stars, I would. I honestly haven't enjoyed a book this much in AGES. Cam Rohan is now firmly planted very close to the top of my list of all time favorite leading men.

The chemistry between Cam & Amelia is just breathtaking. I have always been a sucker for an Alpha male, and Cam is about as Alpha as they come. When he finally sets his mind to having Amelia, he won't let anyone or anything stand in his way. He's fierce, compelling, intense and sexy as hell and Amelia is helpless to resist his charm...and I definitely can relate.

This was my first experience reading Lisa Kleypas, and I have to admit I picked a great one to start with. From the first page, this book sucked me into the storyline, and the beautifully detailed world of the characters.

I have to point out something that many of the author's fans know all too well; Lisa Kleypas not only writes a hero to die for...but she has a knack for creating the most beautifully erotic love scenes I have ever read. She has said in the past that when she writes love scenes she choreographs them down to the last detail, and it's obvious that she does just that. She somehow manages to create toe-curling encounters without ever going too far in her descriptions. Her dialogue is always perfect...no eye-rolling or giggling, the way I have found myself doing while reading love scenes in other author's books. She knows how to mix romantic with scorchingly hot like no one else.

LK cares about every aspect of her novels, and it shows. Which is one of the many reasons she has such a devoted following. I for one consider myself lucky to include myself among that following.

Storm Of Visions by Christina Dodd

2010-02-26T10:13:00.001-08:00

DNF

This book tried my patience right from the very beginning. I understand that this book is loosely tied-in with Dodd's previous Dark Chosen series, but the author seemed to have just assumed that anyone reading Storm Of Visions would have been completely versed in the previous series. This being my first attempt at reading one of Dodd's books, I was completely frustrated and confused through the first 75-100 pages. There is nothing more annoying than starting a book, and feeling like you're being dropped right in the middle of the story.

But, once i figured out what was going on, i realized the story itself was just plain ridiculous and over-blown. The characters are over the top and the melodrama is suffocating. In all honesty, Dodd's writing is repetitive and just not very good.

It's rare that i give up on a book...but i could only make it 200 pages into this one.

The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown

2010-02-26T10:06:00.000-08:00

1 out of 5 stars

Obviously, this book disappointed me greatly. I kept plugging along until about half-way through when i realized that absolutely NOTHING had really happened in the storyline. It didn't even feel like a Dan Brown book. The excitement, and nervous anticipation i've felt while devouring his previous books, was nowhere to be found. My eyes were literally glazing over from Brown's attempt to sound scholarly about the minutest details of the most boring, and inexplicable 'scientific' subjects. Where both Angels and Demons and The Da Vinci Code succeeded in grabbing my attention right away with intriguing plots and believable characters, this book felt cold, stiff and read like a textbook instead of a novel. After waiting 6 years for the next chapter of Robert Langdon's story, i think it probably would have been impossible to live up to all the hype surrounding it. However, Brown could have, and SHOULD have done so much better.

Trial By Fire by

2010-02-26T10:03:00.000-08:00

5 out of 5 stars

Thanks to this book, i have a new weakness. Firemen. Yes, the hero Howard "Six-Pack" Paxton was at times adorable, sweet, romantic, shy and tortured. As well as being incredibly stubborn and hard-headed. But then, no one is perfect.

Everything about this book worked, on so many levels. The characters (even the secondary ones) felt real and well-rounded. The mystery surrounding the serial arsonist was intriguing, and had a well thought-out resolution, and the step-by-step revel of the true horror of Howard's early childhood, was heart-wrenching.

I have to say, i loved the heroine, Kat. She was strong, feisty, flawed, and the perfect person for Howard. She stood up to his sometimes boorish behavior, and she stuck by him as he tried to come to terms with his fear of opening up. And i loved the fact that Kat was a gorgeous, curvy woman and that to Howard, she was the sexiest thing in the world. I only wish there were more men like him in the real world.

Can't wait to read more from this series, and author.

Beyond The Night by Joss Ware

2010-02-26T09:59:00.000-08:00

2 stars out of 5

I was so excited to find a book combining so many unique elements that I love; post-apocalyptic mayhem, adventure, paranormal romance and zombies. How could it disappoint, right? Unfortunately, after a promising start, this book completely fell apart.

For the first 75 pages, I was riveted to this story. It was only after the band of survivors made their way to the city of Envy (a barren version of Las Vegas) that things went south for me. The story became less a zombie ass-kicking adventure, and more a retread of cliched para-romance themes. I won't get into specifics, since I don't want to spoil the 'twists' for anyone who plans on reading this, but I will just say that I rolled my eyes several times. And I have the say the last third of this book worked on my patience, and there was a LOT of skimming. To be honest, I was very happy to see this novel come to an end, which is unfortunate considering how excited I was when I began this book. :(

BookGasmic Reviews

From Zero to Four Kids in Thirty Seconds ~ Amy L Peterson

Quick Update

Incarnate ~ Jodi Meadows

Beauty Queens ~ Libba Bray

This Is Not A Test ~ Courtney Summers

Bryan's Brain ~ Bryan Healey

Dreams Both Real & Strange Vol 2 ~ K.W. McCabe

Dreams Both Real & Strange Vol 1 ~ K. W. McCabe

Paper Towns ~ John Green

*Small eBook Haul*

A Will To Murder ~ Hilary Thomson

The Near Witch ~ Victoria Schwab

Taken ~Zia Marie

The Statistical Probability Of Love At First Sight ~ Jennifer E Smith

An Abundance Of Katherines ~ John Green

Lowboy ~ John Wray

**News**

Darkness Under the Sun/What the Night Knows ~ Dean Koontz

FYI

The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer ~ Michelle Hodkin

The Replacement ~ Brenna Yovanoff

Virtuosity ~ Jessica Martinez

Daughter of Smoke and Bone ~ Laini Taylor

Feed ~ Mira Grant

Unclaimed ~ Courtney Milan

Apocalypse Scenario #683 The Box ~ Mira Grant

The Night Circus ~ Erin Morgenstern

Anna Dressed In Blood ~ Kendare Blake

Wicked West ~ Victoria Dahl

Talk Me Down ~ Victoria Dahl

Pumpkin Man ~ John Everson

Her Kilt-Clad Rogue ~ Julie Moffett

Unveiled ~ Courtney Milan

Pride & Passion ~ Charlotte Featherstone

Tempt Me At Twilight ~ Lisa Kleypas

The Lady Most Likely ~ Eloisa James, Connie Brockway, Julia Quinn

Devil's Bride ~ Stephanie Laurens

Unlocked ~ Courtney Milan

Draculas ~ JA Konrath, Blake Crouch

Hearts In Darkness ~ Laura Kaye

Hush Hush ~ Becca Fitzpatrick

Mine Til Midnight ~ Lisa Kleypas

Sin City (Hot In The City #2)

Tuesday's Eye-Candy

The Duke & I by Julia Quinn

Passion by Lisa Valdez

Black Ice by Anne Stuart

Minion by L A Banks

Dark Magic by Christine Feehan (Carpathians #4)

Dark Gold by Christine Feehan (Carpathians # 3)

One Silent Night by Sherrilyn Kenyon

The Maestro's Butterfly by Rhonda Leigh Jones

When Darkness Falls by Shannon Drake

Scent Of Darkness by Christina Dodd

Suddenly You by Lisa Kleypas

Dance With The Devil by Sherrilyn Kenyon

Night Pleasures by Sherrilyn Kenyon

Fantasy Lover by Sherrilyn Kenyon

Slave by Cheryl Brooks

Beneath A Blood Red Moon by Shannon Drake

Mine Til Midnight by Lisa Kleypas

Storm Of Visions by Christina Dodd

The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown

Trial By Fire by

Beyond The Night by Joss Ware

Small eBook Haul

News