Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Review: Dreamfever by Karen Marie Moning

Dreamfever by Karen Marie Moning
Fever #4
Urban Fantasy
October 26, 2010 (Reissue edition)
Mass Market Paperback, 512 pages
Dell
Source: Purchased a copy from my local Chapters.
Steam factor: 2 1/2 out of 5 cups of steamin' smexy goodness.
Favorite quotes: "You're leaving me, Rainbow Girl."

He has stolen her past, but MacKayla will never allow her sister's murderer to take her future. Yet even the uniquely gifted sidhe-seer is no match for the Lord Master, who has unleashed an insatiable sexual craving that consumes Mac's every thought-and thrusts her into the seductive realm of two very dangerous men, both of whom she desires but dares not trust.

As the enigmatic Jericho Barrons and the sensual Fae prince V"lane vie for her body and soul, as cryptic entries from her sister's diary mysteriously appear and the power of the Dark Book weaves its annihilating path through the city, Mac's greatest enemy delivers a final challenge...

It's an invitation Mac cannot refuse, one that sends her racing home to Georgia, where an even darker threat awaits. With her parents missing and the lives of her loved ones under siege, Mac is about to come face-to-face with a soul-shattering truth-about herself and her sister, about Jericho Barrons...and about the world she thought she knew.

THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SLIGHT SPOILERS 

If you haven't read the Fever series, be warned, the ending of Dreamfever is the most awful cliff-hanger I have ever read. However, I use awful  in the sense that I am now DYING to get my hands on Shadowfever. How dare Moning leave her readers in such a bind! After having devoured the series in a week, I am so frustrated that I can't pluck Shadowfever off the shelf and continue reading. Waiting until January for the final instalment in the series will be pure torture!

Other than the cliff-hanger ending, I adored this book. Like the other books in the series, Dreamfever begins right where Faefever left off, with Mac being turned Pri-ya by the 3 Unseelie princes and an anonymous 4th member. Although she is close to death, Mac is rescued by Dani in the nick of time and taken to the Abby. Soon after, Barrons comes for Mac and takes charge in helping her to recover...which is an interesting process to say the least. While Barrons succeeds in bringing Mac back from being Pri-ya, gone is the Rainbow Girl she once was. Dreamfever than follows Mac and Barrons in their contiuined search for the Sinsar-Dubh and the other Fae Hollows, while the Lord Master (Darroc) and the other Unseelie wreak havoc on the world.

While this book is a complete page turner, it was a lot darker than the previous books in the series. Although we finally get some Barrons and Mac loving, the situation in which they finally get together is heartbreaking. After pulling for these two for so long, I hated seeing them come together in such a screwed up manner. Furthermore, I just don't know what to think of Barrons anymore! At times he wins me over when he dances around naked with Mac singing Tub Thumping (he even sets up a Christmas tree!). But when Mac is "cured," he returns to his usual jerk self. After 4 books, I'm frustrated with the dynamics of their relationship.

However, I do like the new Mac 4.0. She has finally shed that Barbie image and embraced her "savage" side. Although, again, what she must go through to complete her transformation is less than ideal. I also enjoyed seeing Mac become more involved with the sidhe-seers and especially with Dani.

In typical Moning fashion, however, some questions in the book are answered, such as Mac's linage, while others still remain up in the air. So for those looking for some explanations, prepared to be disappointed. I know I'm beyond ready for some answers.

While the book didn't advance the plot much further, it was still a thrill to read. Even with the cliff-hanger ending, I recommend this book and the Fever series to anyone looking for an exciting and well-written urban fantasy. Only 49 more days until Shadowfever....

PS: BARRONS BETTER NOT BE THE MONSTER!


Loved it! It was one steamin' hot cup of joe.

Other Opinions:

Other books in the series:
Darkfever
Bloodfever
Faefever
Shadowfever (January 18, 2011)


Monday, November 29, 2010

Sweet Sale Over at Kobo

As a Canadian, I don't get to relish in all the great deals that happen around American Thanksgiving. Yep, no Black Friday or Cyber Monday for me. However, this morning I got an email from Kobo detailing a wicked sale that they are having for the next 48 hours.
Here's the deats:

The more you spend the more you get! 48 Hours ONLY!
Stock up on eBooks and get more with every purchase!
  • Spend $10 to receive a 20% coupon
  • Spend $25 to receive a 50% coupon
  • Spend $30 to receive a FREE eBook
Plus, every purchase is entered for a
chance to win 1 of 5 eReader Bundles!


So head on over to Kobo and grab all the eBooks your heart desires! And if you are wondering, you do not need a Kobo e-reader to view the books you purchase. Most books are available as EPUB downloads.

Pick of the Week: Eternal Flame by Cynthia Eden

Is it just me, or has November kind of sucked as far as new releases go? Well, the middle of November anyway. However, this week looks pretty darn good for paranormal romance lovers. On the 30th, both Cynthia Eden and Alexandra Ivy are releasing new books. While I have read a few books in Ivy's Guardians of Eternity series, I'm more eager to pick up Eternal Flame. Although the second book in Eden's Night Watch series was disappointing, I'm hoping that Zane will fan the flames and get this series going again.


Eternal Flame is out November 30, 2010.

Here's the blurb:

Cynthia Eden invites you into the world of the Others—supernatural creatures who are sexy, powerful, and more than human in every way...

No one that deadly should look that good. Hybrid demon Zane Wynter specializes in tracking the most lethal criminals, whether human or Other. But Jana Carter is nothing like his previous targets. She's an Ignitor, able to conjure and control fire. She's also sexy beyond belief—and used to playing dirty...

Jana knows she's being set up. She even knows who's responsible: Project Perseus, a secretive group that plans to rid the world of paranormals by any means necessary. From Louisiana's sultry swamps to its desolate cemeteries, Jana and Zane must race to destroy the mastermind behind Perseus before their world goes up in flames—and with it, a desire that burns too hot to resist...

Sunday, November 28, 2010

An Award...for me!?!?



This has made my day! J-9 over at Blood Rose Books has given me The Versatile Blogger Award. How cool is that? This is my first blogging award and for only starting this blog about a month and half ago I'm pretty darn proud! Hopefully, there will be more awards to come :)

7 things about me:

1. Sometimes I skip class just to read a book, but only if it's REALLY good

2. One day I would like to get my Masters in Publishing

3. My favorite movies are A Nightmare Before Christmas and Fight Club

4. If I could have one fictional boyfriend come to life it would be Wrath from BDB...although Bones is a very close second.

5. I watch Jeopardy every day. I even have the Jeopardy Wii game.

6. I'm in love with Florence + the Machine. I could listen to Lungs 24/7.

7. I haven't read the Sookie Stackhouse novels, but True Blood is my all time favorite show.

Friday, November 26, 2010

Review: Faefever by Karen Marie Moning

Faefever by Karen Marie Moning
Fever #3
Urban Fantasy
July 28, 2009
Mass Market Paperback, 416 pages
Random House Publishing.
Favorite quote: "...then somebody like you walks in and it ratchets up to the Nine Inch Nails song my uncle plays all the time for his wife."

He calls me his Queen of the Night. I'd die for him. I'd kill for him, too.

When MacKayla Lane receives a torn page from her dead sister's journal, she is stunned by Alina's desperate words. And now MacKayla knows that her sister's killer is close. But evil is closer. And suddenly the sidhe-seer is on the hunt: For answers. For revenge. And for an ancient book of dark magic so evil, it corrupts anyone who touches it. Mac's quest for the Sinsar-Dubh takes her into the mean, shape-shifting streets of Dublin, with a suspicious cop on her tail. Forced into a dangerous triangle of alliance with V'lane, an insatiable Fae prince of lethally erotic tastes, and Jericho Barrons, a man of primal desires and untold secrets, Mac is soon locked in a battle for her body, mind, and soul.


This series just keeps getting better and better. Picking up right where Bloodfever left off, Faefever will leave you gasping for breath by the end.

In Faefever, Mac continues in her quest to recover the mythical Sinsar-Dubh with the help of the mysterious Jericho Barrons. However, she is still unsure who she can trust. After a close encounter with the fabled book, Mac learns that the Sinsar-Dubh has morphed into something far more fearsome than just an Unseelie Hallow. Also, Dublin itself appears to be on the brink of chaos as the Dark Zones continue to grow and more Unseelie slip through the cracks. As Halloween or Samhain fast approaches, Mac learns that the prison walls holding the rest of the Unseelie at bay will fall if the MacKeltar's ritual is not performed correctly. However, without the Sinsar-Dubh, Mac has no idea how to keep the barriers separating our world and the Unseelie prison in place.

If you hate cliff-hangers, do not read this book. The ending packs quite a punch. However, the rest of the book will keep you flipping the pages at a steady pace. In Faefever, Moning reveals more about the origins of the Sinsar-Dubh and the Unseelie. She also gives a few more clues about the true identity of Barrons. Yet, for every lose end Moning ties up, she adds a new twist to the story that will have you scratching your head. I thought for sure I had Barrons nailed! Guess not...

Mac also continues her transformation in the book. She is beginning to embrace the Savage Mac side of her. However, she still desperately clings to the elements that defined her life before her sister's murder. Although I'm glad the girly-girl attitude is gone, I understand Mac's need to hold on to some scraps of her old life, even if that means wearing a pastel colored sweater or buying a pink bike helmet. Mac is quickly becoming one of my favorite heroines.

The secondary characters in the book also become more integral to the overall story in Faefever. Everyone seems to have a large stake in finding the Sinsar-Dubh. Also, each character is complex in that they are all shades of grey. Not everything is black and white in this book. The good guys aren't necessarily good and some of the bad guys aren't all the bad. It certainly makes you more empathetic to Mac's trust issues.

So far, Faefever is my favorite book in the series. However, I'm about to go pluck Dreamfever off my bookshelf so its regin as my fave may not last long. If you haven't started this series yet, what are you wating for? I've kicked myself enough times already for not devouring these books sooner.


Loved it! It was one steamin' hot cup of joe.

Other Opinions:

Other books in the series:
Darkfever
Bloodfever
Dreamfever
Shadowfever (January 18, 2011)

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Review: Bloodfever by Karen Marie Moning

Bloodfever by Karen Marie Moning
Fever #2
Urban Fantasy
August 26, 2008
Mass Market Paperback, 368 pages
Random House Publishing
Source: Purchased a copy from my local Chapters.
Steam factor: 1 out of 5 cups of steamin' smexy goodness.
Favorite quote: "One day you may kiss a man you can't breathe without, and find that breath is of little consequence."

I used to be your average, everyday girl but all that changed one night in Dublin when I saw my first Fae, and got dragged into a world of deadly immortals and ancient secrets...

In her fight to stay alive, MacKayla must find the Sinsar Dubh-a million-year-old book of the blackest magic imaginable, which holds the key to power over the worlds of both the Fae and Man. Pursued by assassins, surrounded by mysterious figures she knows she can't trust, Mac finds herself torn between two deadly and powerful men: V'lane, the immortal Fae Prince, and Jericho Barrons, a man as irresistible as he is dangerous.

For centuries the shadowy realm of the Fae has coexisted with that of humans. Now the walls between the two are coming down, and Mac is the only thing that stands between them.


After a shaky start, I can now say I have officially caught the fever! Picking up where the first book left off, Bloodfever eclipses Darkfever in more ways than one.

The book begins with Mac still recovering from her injuries in meeting with the Lord Master. Although she is finally starting to feel at home at Barrons Books and Baubles, she soon starts seeing a spectral figure that bares an eerie resemblance to death. Conflict escalates when Mac is questioned by the Garda (Irish police) for murder and Derek O'Bannion shows up at the store looking for his dead brother. However, Mac finds some hope in discovering more about her abilities when she runs into another sidhe-seer. But when Mac is kidnapped by an enemy she thought was dead, she is forced to make a decision that may have terrible consequences for her in the future.

I liked this version of Mac far more than the last version. In the book, Mac says that there are two Macs, girly Mac and savage Mac. In Bloodfever, girly Mac takes a backseat. She continues her transformation into grown-up Mac as she begins to grapple with the seriousness of her situation. Yet, she still retains some her southern charm. I get quite a kick out of her telling Barrons he is a "petunia".

However, Barrons is just as mysterious as ever. Throughout the entire book I was so frustrated because when you think you have it figured out, Moning adds a new twist. I'm just confused about Barrons as I ever was. However, I have my theories about what Barrons could be. Also, I enjoyed the added sexual chemistry of Barrons and Mac's relationship. While the sparks between the two is evident in the first book, their attraction is undeniable in Bloodfever. I'm still keeping up hope that these two will end up together in the end.

Along with throwing new curve balls into Barrons true identify, Moning also adds some new twists to the story. While some plot lines get wrapped, new ones are introduced. As a result, I am now hooked on this series. I thoroughly enjoy Moning's writing style and found that I finished the book faster than I wanted to. I'm lucky that I can just pick Faefever right off my bookshelf. Actually, that is what I'm going to do right now. Watch out Barrons, here I come.


Really liked it! It was mmm mmm good.

Other Opinions:

Other books in the series:
Darkfever
Faefever
Dreamfever
Shadowfever (January 18, 2011)

Waiting on Wednesday: Last Sacrifice by Richelle Mead

I'm not usually a fan of young adult or YA books, but if something really good comes along that just begs me to read it, well I just can't say no! I first started reading the Vampire Academy series last summer after reading a string of bad romance novels. Sometimes a girl just needs a little breather. To my surprise, Vampire academy soon became on of my favorite YA series. I love me some kickass heroines and Rose certainly fits that category. I also have a huge crush on Dimitri and am eager to see what is going to happen between them. Full of great action, adventure, suspense and romance (the PG-13 kind), the Vampire Academy series is the perfect home away from home for romance readers.
The final book in the series, Last Sacrifice, comes out December 7, 2010. Make sure to check out Mead's site on November 29th to read an excerpt from the book!
Here's a small blurb (the official description hasn't been released yet):
The astonishing final novel in Richelle Mead's epic series!
Murder. Love. Jealousy. And the ultimate sacrifice. Now, with Rose on trial for her life and Lissa first in line for the Royal Throne, nothing will ever be the same between them.

Monday, November 22, 2010

Review: Darkfever by Karen Marie Moning

Darkfever by Karen Marie Moning
Fever #1
Urban Fantasy
August 28, 2007
Mass Market Paperback, 384 pages
Dell
Source: Purchased a copy from my local Chapters.
Steam factor: 1 out of 5 cups of steamin' smexy goodness
Favorite quote: "Dubh is do?" I was incredulous. It was no wonder I hadn't been able to find the stupid word. "Should I be calling pubs poos?" "Dubh is Gaelic, Ms. Lane. Pub is not."

MacKayla Lane's life is good. She has great friends, a decent job, and a car that breaks down only every other week or so. In other words, she's your perfectly ordinary twenty-first-century woman. Or so she thinks…until something extraordinary happens.

When her sister is murdered, leaving a single clue to her death-a cryptic message on Mac's cell phone-Mac journeys to Ireland in search of answers. The quest to find her sister's killer draws her into a shadowy realm where nothing is as it seems, where good and evil wear the same treacherously seductive mask. She is soon faced with an even greater challenge: staying alive long enough to learn how to handle a power she had no idea she possessed-a gift that allows her to see beyond the world of man, into the dangerous realm of the Fae…

As Mac delves deeper into the mystery of her sister's death, her every move is shadowed by the dark, mysterious Jericho, a man with no past and only mockery for a future. As she begins to close in on the truth, the ruthless V'lane-an alpha Fae who makes sex an addiction for human women-closes in on her. And as the boundary between worlds begins to crumble, Mac's true mission becomes clear: find the elusive Sinsar Dubh before someone else claims the all-powerful Dark Book-because whoever gets to it first holds nothing less than complete control of the very fabric of both worlds in their hands…


After reading a lot of praise for Moning's Fever series, I decided to see what all the fuss was about a year and a half ago. However, my first attempt at Darkfever did not out turn out too well. I had to put the book back on the shelf halfway through because I was bored with it. I found Mac annoying and the lack of romance frustrating. However, I refused to let Darkfever become an official DNF and promised myself that I would give it another shot. So, with release of the new paperback versions of the Fever series (love the new covers btw), I decided to give Darkfever a re-read.

Was Darkfever better the second time around? Yes. However, I approached the book with an entirely different mentality. In my first attempt at Darkfever, I wanted romance. I wanted Mac and Barrons to fall madly in love with each other and do the nasty several times over. Thus, I set myself up for disappointment right from the get go. This time, I took the book for what it was, an urban fantasy. In doing so, I discovered a far more interesting world where faeries are more than adorable little wood creatures.

Moning's world-building in the book is wonderful. She perfectly intertwines both the realistic and fantasy elements of the novel. The Dublin she describes in the book is both dark and gritty, where you can walk into a pub and perhaps encounter an Unseelie. It made me want to hop on a plane and go experience Dublin for myself. Also, I appreciated that Moning included descriptions of Gaelic words right into the text. I hate when you have to flip back and forth to the glossary.

Although Mac's narration of the story annoyed me in my first attempt at reading the book, I found her perspective to actually be quite amusing. She's feisty and fun. While she comes off in the beginning as being quite narcissistic, she is quick to admit her weaknesses. Also, her viewpoint brings a sense of lightness to the novel that would otherwise be bogged down by the seriousness of her situation. Despite her girly-girl attitude, you can also plainly see that Mac goes through a transformation in the book both physically and mentally. I'm eager to see what other changes Mac occurs in the rest of series.

And then there is Jericho Barrons, sigh. What a mystery. I love Mac's description of Barrons when she first meets him:

"He wasn’t handsome. That was too calm a word. He was intensely masculine. He was sexual. He attracted. There was an omnipresent carnality about him, in his dark eyes, in his full mouth, in the way he stood. He was the kind of man I wouldn’t flirt with in a million years."

Wowza. Barrons definitely has my interests peeked. However, I'm still not sure what to think of him. I'm also wondering about this V'lane character and how he fits into the story. If I didn't like anything else about the novel, wanting to know more about Barrons and V'lane would certainly be enough for me to read the rest of the series.

In reading Darkfever, do not expect a romance. However, do expect a story that just gets more addictive as you go along. Despite a slow start, the book has enough suspense and mystery to keep you interested until the end. I'm happy I gave this book a second shot and I'm eager to see what happens to Mac in her quest to find the Sinsar Dubh.

Lukewarm, but still hits the spot.

Other Opinions:
~Goodreads
~All Things Urban Fantasy - 5/5
~Dark Faerie Tales - 5/5

Other book in the series:
Bloodfever
Faefever
Dreamfever
Shadowfever (Janruary 18, 2011)

Author's website

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

A Quick Sip Review: Snowbound by Larissa Ione

Snowbound by Larissa Ione
Contemporary romance featuring some hot action both on and off the slopes
July 29, 2008
Trade Paperback, 225 pages
Samhain Publishing, Ltd.
Source: Purchased ebook from mybookstoreandmore.com
Steam factor: 3 out of 5 cups of steamin' smexy goodness

Passion hot enough to melt the slopesand their hearts. Thanks to a devastating medical diagnosis, ski patroller Sean Trenton has endured two years of celibacy. Two long years that have chipped away at his confidence. Now, with the career opportunity of a lifetime on the line, hes ready to remedy the celibacy situation, and sexy snowbunny Robyn Montgomery is just what the doctor ordered.
Unfortunately, the last thing reliable, intense radio station manager Robyn Montgomery wants in her suddenly turbulent professional and personal life is a thrill-seeking former Olympic skier-even if he is a total hottie. Shes had it with guys who hog the spotlight and leave her in the shadows. So why is it that even an icy blizzard cant temper the combustible heat between them?


I hate snow. Although I love living in Canada, winter has never been my friend. Recently, we had our first snowfall where I live and in order to cope with all the white stuff, I decided to read something that would help spice up the snow a little. As an avid Larissa Ione fan, I knew Snowbound would be the perfect choice!

Although Snowbound was a little to tame and cookie-cutter for my liking, I thought the ski-resort setting was a fun and unique twist on the classic romance plot. You don't see a lot of hunky heroes who were former Olympic athletes.

Speaking of which, I liked Sean a lot. He was cute, flirty, but no egotistical when it came to showing off his fame and talent. I also appreciated how Ione stuck a little twist in the story regarding Sean's physical attributes and his lack of self-esteem. Robyn was also a great character. I enjoyed seeing her learn to deal with her lingering issues of being the former chubby girl in high school that everyone made fun of. Who can't relate to that?

While I don't really have anything bad to say about the book, I found it was a little bland. It was just very predictable. Although predictability isn't necessarily a bad thing, I just found myself waiting for something more exciting to happen.

However, Snowbound was successful in chasing away my winter blues. It is the perfect little love story to make you feel all warm and tingly on the inside. I actually kept craving hot chocolate while reading it which I found slightly odd. Nevertheless, I can't wait to get back on the slopes so I can go find me my own Sean!

Lukewarm, but still hits the spot.

Other Opinions:
~Goodreads

Author's Website

Sunday, November 14, 2010

Review: Cowgirls Don't Cry by Lorelei James

Rough Riders #10
Erotic/Contemporary Romance/Hot Cowboys
November 9, 2010
ebook, 1156 kb
Samhain Publishing, Ltd.
Source: Purchased ebook from mybookstoreandmore.com
Steam factor: 5 out of 5 steamin' cups of smexy goodness!

Good girls can play rough too...
Jessie McKay has accepted her marriage to Luke McKay wasn’t perfect. After two years of widowhood, she’s ready to kick up her bootheels—until Luke’s younger brother shows up to spoil her fun. But if Brandt thinks she’ll ever take orders from another McKay male, he’s got manure for brains.
Brandt McKay has avoided his sweet, sexy sister-in-law ever since the night he confessed his feelings for her weren’t the brotherly type. Unexpectedly faced with proof of Luke’s infidelity, Brandt is forced to ask for Jessie’s help in taking care of Luke’s young son. Jessie agrees on one condition—she wants Brandt’s boots exclusively under her bed for the duration.
The sexual heat that’s always simmered between them ignites. Brandt is determined to make the temporary situation permanent, proving to Jessie he’s a one-woman man. And Jessie is shaken by feelings she’s sworn never to have again for any man…especially not a McKay.
Warning: Contains branding-iron-hot sex , the one McKay on earth who wants to be tamed, and a woman who’s decided tame is for nice girls who finish last.

What can I say? I absolutely loved this book. I think it may even be one of my favorite books in the Rough Riders series. When I first read the premise of the book, I was a little unsure of how James was going to pull it off. I mean come on, taking care of your dead husband's illegitimate love child? That's a tough one to tackle but James handles it perfectly.

First, I want to address the prologue because I have recently read a number of reviews in which the reviewer didn't have a lot pleasant things to say about it. After grieving so long for her no-good cheating husband, Jessie wants to prove to herself that she can be wild and free with her sexuality. However, Jessie decides to hook-up with a loser named Mike who offers to share her during a beach party. After some reluctance and lots of alcohol, Jessie decides to go for it. What she doesn't know is that Brandt McKay is also attendance at the party and decides to stop Jessie from making a terrible mistake. After trying to convince a drunk Jessie to leave Mike's camper, he tries to storm out, but stays in order to prove to Jessie that he isn't a push over. After an awkward threesome situation in which Mike passes out, Brandt wraps a naked Jessie up in a quilt and drives her home.

Yes, the prologue is awkward to read. However, it is meant to be awkward. It's purpose is to make the reader uncomfortable so one can understand just how misguided Jessie is in trying to forget all the regrets she had about her marriage and exert her sexuality after years of being cheated on by her late husband. In the prologue, I really felt Jessie's desperation. Without the prologue, I don't think I would have fully understood Jessie's mentality in trying rid herself of the stigma of being a widow who couldn't keep her husband satisfied. For me, the prologue was the perfect introduction to the book.

Like the rest of the Rough Riders series, I was completely smitten with the main characters. Brandt McKay is simply delicious and a true gentlemen at every turn. He was there for Jessie despite her rejecting his advances. And when Landon, the illegitimate love child of his brother Luke, comes into his life, he takes full responsibility in taking care of the boy. Like the rest of the McKay men, Brandt is also an alpha male to the T, who takes control in and out of the bedroom. I'm so excited to read about the rest of his brothers and cousins who will hopefully get their own books as well. Personally, I hope it's either Chase or Ben. I can't get enough of those McKays!

I also liked Jessie. She goes through a huge transformation throughout the book. After being a victim of abandonment, widow-hood, and being kick-out of her home by her father-in-law, she is now just starting to get back on her feet. I really felt for her throughout the book. I thought her reactions to the obstacles in front of her were believable. I mean, who wouldn't freak out a bit when faced with trying to care of their significant other's illegitimate child? I'm also glad she didn't deny her feelings for Brandt through the entire book. There is nothing worse than a stubborn heroine.

I don't want to give it away, but I also enjoyed how James did the right thing with Landon in the end, although it broke my heart. Essentially, this book was an emotional roller coaster. I've never been so close to crying while reading a book.

Also, plenty of past Rough Riders characters and their millions of children make an appearance. Gotta love when an author updates the reader on the statuses of past characters! However, I have no idea how James comes up with all the different names for the children. I wonder if she just has a baby name book on hand?

And of course, like every other book in the Rough Riders series, there was plenty of smokin' hot smexin. I never thought a pear could be used that way, blush.


Loved it! It was one steamin' hot cup of joe.

Other Opinions:

Other books in the series:
For a complete list of the Rough Riders series, check out my Book Recommendation page

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Waiting on Wednesday: A Holiday Romance Collection (Jaci Burton, Lauren Dane, Shannon Stacey, & Megan Hart)

On December 6th, Carina Press is releasing A Holiday Romance Collection which features 4 short stories from Jaci Burton, Lauren Dane, Shannon Stacey, & Megan Hart. What makes this collection extra special is that you can either buy each story individually or buy the whole collection for a discounted price. They all sound so good that I don't know why you wouldn't want to buy the whole set!

PS: I think it's kind of funny that Jaci Burton named her female lead Riley Jensen. Wonder if she's read any Keri Arthur? Hehe.

Big Star, Small-town Christmas...
Country singer Riley Jensen would never have returned to her small Missouri hometown if her publicist hadn’t come up with the scheme to tape a Christmas special there. So she never would have known that the man who broke her heart at eighteen—causing her to flee to Nashville—was now a widower with a seven-year-old daughter. Riley has ten years of angst-filled hit songs and Grammy awards to prove she doesn’t need Ethan Kent. But suddenly, she can’t help thinking of all she gave up by running away…
Ethan Kent knew Riley had the talent and the drive to make it as a singer. He also knew she wasn’t going anywhere if she stayed in their nowhere town for him. Then one night and one huge mistake sent her running on the road to fame. Which doesn’t mean he ever stopped loving her…
But with so much separating them, can Riley and Ethan find their way back together one magical country Christmas?

Their First Christmas, Bound Together…
All Jude wants for Christmas is Rori, all to himself. It’s their first holiday season as a couple, and staying home, seeing friends and family, means they’ll be surrounded by the memory of Rori’s late husband. It’s time for Jude and Rori to create their own traditions. Time for them to fully explore their most intimate desires to dominate and submit...
Rori is thrilled when Jude whisks her away to a luxury resort in the mountains. Spending Christmas away, just the two of them, is the perfect time to show him she’s ready to give herself to him completely…

Newlyweds Leah and Brandon Long are finally taking a honeymoon. But just two days into their Christmas-in-Vail vacation, Leah gets run down by an out-of-control snowboarder, severely spraining her ankle. Being stuck indoors isn’t so bad though: the luxurious chalet boasts a hot tub and cozy fireplace. Besides, sitting with her feet up while Brandon serves her in every way a man can serve a woman is exactly how both of them like to spend their time...
Leah would be in heaven, if only Brandon didn’t insist on bringing up the idea of a family. She knew that kids were part of the package, but she’s not ready to make any plans just yet. Still, with kinky sex and deep conversation the only things on the agenda for the next week, Leah can’t avoid the discussion for long. Will she be ready to take her marriage to the next level in the New Year?

House-sitting for her parents seemed like a good idea, until the microwave blew up and the lights went out...
Now Chloe Burke thinks upgrading the electrical system of her childhood home while they are away would make the perfect Christmas gift. Fortunately, there’s an electrician in town who can get the job done by the holidays...
Scott Quinn has wanted to get his hands on the Burkes’ wiring for almost as long as he’s wanted to get his hands on their daughter. Chloe didn’t notice Scott back in high school, but she’s noticing him now, and soon they’re indulging in a little festive fun: no strings, no expectations. After all, Chloe plans to get out of this goldfish bowl of a town and back to her real life in Boston by New Year’s...
But Chloe and Scott discover they enjoy each other’s company just as much out of bed. Could their holiday fling turn out to be the real thing?

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

New Cover Alert: Lover Unleashed by J.R. Ward


It's about darn time! I love this cover. LOVE LOVE LOVE it. The color really makes Payne's diamond eyes standout. I wonder how Manny's going to measure up to the rest of the Brothers. He's got some big shitkickers to fill! Uhh, why is March so far away?!?

Lover Unleashed is book #9 in J.R. Ward’s Black Dagger Brotherhood series and will be released March 29th, 2011.

Monday, November 8, 2010

Pick of the Week: Cowgirls Don't Cry and Slow Ride by Lorelei James

Sadly, I have 2 major papers due next week, so I'll be off the radar for a little while. Nevertheless, I'll try to keep up on all the latest book news and hopefully I'll be able to post at least one review. No matter how stressed I get with school I always make time to read!

This week's Pick of the Week goes to Cowgirls Don't Cry and Slow Ride by Lorelei James. I recently read the Rough Riders series back to back and I still can't get enough. Those Mckay men are smokin'! Also, Slow Ride is being offered as a free read from Samhain Publishing. FREE!

Good girls can play rough too…
Jessie McKay has accepted her marriage to Luke McKay wasn’t perfect. After two years of widowhood, she’s ready to kick up her bootheels—until Luke’s younger brother shows up to spoil her fun. But if Brandt thinks she’ll ever take orders from another McKay male, he’s got manure for brains...
Brandt McKay has avoided his sweet, sexy sister-in-law ever since the night he confessed his feelings for her weren’t the brotherly type. Unexpectedly faced with proof of Luke’s infidelity, Brandt is forced to ask for Jessie’s help in taking care of Luke’s young son. Jessie agrees on one condition—she wants Brandt’s boots exclusively under her bed for the duration...
The sexual heat that’s always simmered between them ignites. Brandt is determined to make the temporary situation permanent, proving to Jessie he’s a one-woman man. And Jessie is shaken by feelings she’s sworn never to have again for any man…especially not a McKay.
Warning: Contains branding-iron-hot sex , the one McKay on earth who wants to be tamed, and a woman who’s decided tame is for nice girls who finish last.

Keely McKay Donohue is enduring the longest wedding reception of her life: her own. The only saving grace is that Jack Donohue is finally hers. Usually her hunky man gives her everything she wants, so why is her groom denying her the one thing she wants right now?
Jack thought his secretive wait-for-the-honeymoon plan was romantic, until he realizes he’s only put Keely in a fighting mood. If he wants to get back on his temperamental bride’s good side, he’d better find a way to sweep his cowgirl off her boots…fast.

Saturday, November 6, 2010

These Books Need a Good Home Giveaway!

There are currently a TON of books sitting on my TBR shelf. As a university student living in a tiny apartment, I keep running out of space to pile my extensive book collection. Although I love my books, I'm afraid that I have lost interest in reading some of them. That doesn't mean these books are on the reject pile, no. I just don't have the time to give them the good read that they deserve. These books are in excellent condition.



SET ONE

SET TWO

SET THREE
(I accidentally ordered two copies)

So if you are interested in giving these books a good home leave a comment stating which set you would like and also include your email address so I can contact you if you win. Contest is open to Canada and U.S. residents only.You must be 18 or older to enter. Entrants that do not leave a valid email address will be disqualified.

***The contest opens Sunday, November 7 at 8:00 am Mountain Standard Time (MST) and closes Novemember 21 at Midnight Mountian Standard Time.Winners will be chosen randomly and announced and contacted on Monday, Novemeber 22***