Saturday, December 31, 2011

P.C. Cast--Destined (House of Night series)

Young Adult/paranormal romance

Breathing hard, Aurox stood there over the bodies of his vanquished enemies. He turned to Neferet.

"Very good," she said in her emotionless voice. "Let us leave this place before the authorities descend."

Aurox followed her. He walked heavily, his hooves gouging furrows in the dirty alley.

Weak. He felt weak. And more. There was something else.

"What is it?" She snapped at him when he hesitated before entering the car again.

"I do not know. I feel--"

She laughed. "You don't feel at all. You're obviously overthinking this."

"Yes, Priestess." Aurox got in the car and let the world speed past him.


I do not think. I do not feel. I am a weapon.

Zoey is finally home where she belongs, safe with her Guardian Warrior, Stark, by her side, and preparing to face off against Neferet -- which would be a whole lot easier if the High Council saw the ex-High Priestess for what she really is. Kalona has released his hold on Rephaim, and, through Nyx's gift of a human form, Rephaim and Stevie Rae are finally able to be together -- if he can truly walk the path of the Goddess and stay free of his father's shadow.

But there are new forces at work at the House of Night. An influx of humans, including Lenobia's handsome horse whisperer, threatens their precarious stability. And then there's the mysterious Aurox, a jaw-droppingly gorgeous teen boy who is actually more -- or possibly less -- than human. Only Neferet knows he was created to be her greatest weapon. But Zoey can sense the part of his soul that remains human, the compassion that wars with his Dark calling. And there's something strangely familiar about him . . .

{4 stars}
It had been so long since I read the last book in this series, I was a little lost when I started it and put it down several times before finally getting in to it. I needed a little brain cleansing from the series I have been following that cause me withdrawal when the book ends. So this YA series is just the ticket for a simple easy story line (as long as you've read the series). Zoey, once again can't catch a break from Neferet, it seems this story line as been set on repeat. We just keep changing the side villians and the setting. But all in all I like the series, I like Zoey's nerd herd, and I want them all to find their HEA. There are a few new suprises in this one that might lead to some interesting story lines. Without giving too much away, it looks like things are looking good for the nerd herd, new beginnings for the future. But evil never truly gives up right? If you want something to pass the time and cleanse your brain with an easy read, the House of Night series is it. Can't wait to see what happens next.

Tuesday, December 27, 2011

Kallypso Masters--Nobody's Hero (Rescue Me #3)

Erotic Romance-"alternative lifestyle"

Retired Marine Master Sergeant Adam Montague has battled through four war zones, but now finds himself running from Karla Paxton, who has declared war on his heart. With a twenty-five year age difference, he feels he should be her guardian and protector, not her lover. But Karla's knack for turning up in his bed at inopportune times is killing his resolve to do the right thing. Karla isn't a little girl anymore—something his body reminds him of every chance it gets.

Karla Paxton fell in love with Adam when she was a sixteen-year-old runaway and he rescued her. Now, nine years later, she's determined to make Adam see her as a woman. But their age difference is only part of the problem. Adam has been a guardian and protector for lost and vulnerable souls most of his life, but a secret he has run from for more than three decades has kept him emotionally unable to admit he can love anyone. Will she be able to lower his guard long enough to break down the defenses around his heart and help him put to rest the ghosts from his past? In her all-out war to get Adam to surrender his heart, can the strong-willed Goth singer offer herself as his submissive—and at what cost to herself?

CONTENT WARNING: This book contains very erotic scenes that include BDSM (bondage-discipline-domination-submission-sadism-masochism-master-slave)—but these ALWAYS will be safe, sane, and consensual (SSC) acts told in a more realistic approach to the BDSM genre. Includes rough sex, Shibari (rope bondage and suspension), anal play, cunnilingus, fellatio, flogging, sex toys, and intensely erotic "vanilla" sexual acts.


{4 stars}
I know I'm going to be in the minority with this review, but here goes. I started this series because of the great character development of the Masters at Arms men. But this one started out seeming to lose its emotional connection to the characters. We went from 0 to BDSM in a big rush and along with it we lost the intensity that this couple evoked. Some of the descriptives used by the author were not up to her usual style and I will leave it at that. BUT....even with the first half of this book being kinda "off" for me, the second half of the book restored my faith in the series. Adam and Karla have always been my favorite since the beginning and their story does not disappoint. Once the emotional journey really kicked in with Damiens family's event, I was reminded why I love the MEN. Karla is the perfect match for Adam, she brings out the protector in him, while still being the brat that will defy him when needed. It's all rather cute, funny, and completely charming watching Adam fall apart because she turns his rigid world upside down. Plus, we get a serious glimpse into Damien's story, and what a teaser it is!

Sunday, December 25, 2011

E.L. James Fifty Shades Darker (Fifty Shades #2)

Erotic Romance

Daunted by the singular sexual tastes and dark secrets of the beautiful, tormented young entrepreneur Christian Grey, Anastasia Steele has broken off their relationship to start a new career with a Seattle publishing house.

But desire for Christian still dominates her every waking thought, and when he proposes a new arrangement, Anastasia cannot resist. They rekindle their searing sensual affair, and Anastasia learns more about the harrowing past of her damaged, driven and demanding Fifty Shades.

While Christian wrestles with his inner demons, Anastasia must confront the anger and envy of the women who came before her, and make the most important decision of her life.


{5 stars}
Awakenings......and Liberation....

Poor, poor broken Christian. Part 2 is full of revelations, both from Christian and Ana. They really grow into their courtship. Lots of issues come to the surface, they have to face his past head on, and Ana has to come to terms with the Christian he was and the Christian he wants to be. To me this is not a series, but a novel broken out into 3 parts because of the sheer depth of the story and the amount of detail that we get from James' story telling. The sexual component to this story is not what captures me, its the dialogue. Ana's internal dialogue with her "inner goddess" is absolutely hilarious, I want to be best friends with her. The emails between Christian and Ana put the 5th star into this wonderful story. Their dialogue gives us a complete understanding as to who they are in their soul. Full of doubts and insecurities, wants and needs, and above all their capacity to find love. Ana learns to fight for what she wants and Christian learns to completely trust someone for once. The only downside is that I have to wait a month for the 3rd part! Ugh! If you haven't started this series yet, wait till the 3rd part is out, you will want to read each one back to back
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Friday, December 23, 2011

E.L. James--Fifty Shades of Grey (Fifty Shades #1)

Erotic Romance

When literature student Anastasia Steele is drafted to interview the successful young entrepreneur Christian Grey for her campus magazine, she finds him attractive, enigmatic and intimidating. Convinced their meeting went badly, she tries to put Grey out of her mind - until he happens to turn up at the out-of-town hardware store where she works part-time.

The unworldly, innocent Ana is shocked to realize she wants this man, and when he warns her to keep her distance it only makes her more desperate to get close to him. Unable to resist Ana’s quiet beauty, wit, and independent spirit, Grey admits he wants her - but on his own terms.

Shocked yet thrilled by Grey's singular erotic tastes, Ana hesitates. For all the trappings of success – his multinational businesses, his vast wealth, his loving adoptive family – Grey is man tormented by demons and consumed by the need to control. When the couple embarks on a passionate, physical and daring affair, Ana learns more about her own dark desires, as well as the Christian Grey hidden away from public scrutiny.

Can their relationship transcend physical passion? Will Ana find it in herself to submit to the self-indulgent Master? And if she does, will she still love what she finds?

Erotic, amusing, and deeply moving, the Fifty Shades Trilogy is a tale that will obsess you, possess you, and stay with you forever


{5 stars}
A slow erotic dance......
I picked up this book because of the amazing reviews and the book groups that keep starting solely to discuss this trilogy. So I just had to take the leap. It is a slow dance between Ana and Christian. His world is something she has never walked thru and her innocence draws him like no other has. But Christian has baggage, lots and lots of baggage, that he keeps controlled behind his sexual tastes. The sexual component to this story is not to overwhelming, not as dark as some I've read. But you still have to keep an open mind, it is still dramatic. And watching the two of them come to life together is amazing. I don't want to go in to too much detail about this book, each reader should experience it anew. But it is not a quick read, it's a slow detailed erotic dance as their relationship develops. The pace of the book builds the story in amazing intricate detail. But I am definitely happy that I picked it up, I'm starting book two this afternoon.

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Lynn Viehl--Nightshine (Kyndred series)

Paranormal Romance-vampire/other

When San Francisco paramedic Charlotte "Charlie" Marena stops to help at the scene of an accident, she never imagines she'll wind up trapped on a Mexican island, with orders to procreate with powerful Takyn Samuel Taske. In her mind, he's got two strikes against him: He knows about her secret nighttime telepathic ability and he's too wealthy to be trusted.

Samuel is psychic, but he's never foreseen that he'll fall for the woman he has been charged with protecting. GenHance--the biotech company willing to do anything to acquire superhuman DNA--is after them, and when Samuel discovers that his Takyn powers have abandoned him, Charlie's gift is their only hope for survival....

{4 stars}
I was confused at first. I get the Darkyn and Kyndred series mixed up. But once they landed on the island, everything made more sense. The story as a whole is a great part of the series, Samuel and Charlie are a perfect couple. But I did have a hard time grasping the plot of this story, it always seemed like I was missing something important or it was a little rushed. The pieces get all tied together at the end nicely though, and I had that "Ok I get it now" moment. We also get a glimpse at some previous Kyndred and Darkyn couples. I am really interested to see where this series is going, it almost reads like the Kyndred and Darkyn series are going to blend into one moving forward. All in all, a nice read.