Review: Falling Under by Gwen Hayes

Note: I received a copy for review from the publisher
Genre: Young Adult
Publish Date: March 1, 2011

Theia Alderson has always led a sheltered life in the small California town of Serendipity Falls. But when a devastatingly handsome boy appears in the halls of her school, Theia knows she's seen Haden before- not around town, but in her dreams.

As the Haden of both the night and the day beckons her closer one moment and pushes her away the next, the only thing Theia knows for sure is that the incredible pull she feels towards him is stronger than her fear.

And when she discovers what Haden truly is, Theia's not sure if she wants to resist him, even if the cost is her soul.

I happen to enjoy dark stories and dark and dangerous characters, so when I read the synopsis for Falling Under, it sounded right up my alley even though I assumed it would end up being a rather watered down and less edgy story than what the blurb led me to believe. Well, I woulda lost that bet.

Where to begin? I'm still feeling a bit shaken and stirred after finishing this book just a couple hours ago, so you'll have to bear with me, while I attempt to put my thoughts into some sort of coherent pattern here.

Let's start with our leading lady, Theia. I have to confess that the book was a bit of a slow start for me and a lot of that had to do with the narration in Theia's head. She sounded so....not 17 (and I usually enjoy that fact in my leads) that it threw me off at first. To be completely fair, though, Theia is British, has had an extremely (understatement) sheltered upbringing and her father is both overbearing and completely cold and closed off emotionally so one can understand why Theia did not have the voice of a typical teenager. It took me a little while to warm up to Theia, but a few chapters in and I was feeling much more comfortable in her head and by the end...well, I really think she grew into a fascinating and layered character that I liked very much.

Haden (which I've now decided to name my next child) is a fabulously layered and interesting character. He's dark, dangerous, vulnerable, arrogant, self-deprecating and charming by turns. This is not a faux dark and dangerous leading man. He has dark cravings and though he fights them, they are also bound up with the good and pure feelings he has for Theia and the results of this twisted, but no less pure, love can be messy, ugly, and also brilliant and lovely. I can absolutely understand why Theia would put her soul on the line for him even though the "lonely male" card has been played over and over before, Haden really owned it in this story and made it work for himself. It's rather like taking in a wounded and half starved wolf. He may be grateful, but he may just eat you for your trouble. And you may still think it was worth it in the end...

The story itself had moments where the cliches ran thick and the imagery could be heavy handed, but it worked for the book. Many times the book even called itself on the comparisons that could be made. Even still, I enjoyed the lush and vivid setting that at times was beautiful and strange and at others was dark and beyond disturbing and often blended the beautiful and disturbing together. I felt swept up in the current of the tale and buffeted about like I was in a storm at sea. There were times where the story turned on it's head and I thought for sure I was not going to like the new developments and I thought to myself "Why?!" But then an insidious voice would whisper to me..."Why not?" and I was completely pulled under again.

Something that really worked for this story were the side characters. They were vital to the story itself and were not props. They were vivid and very much their own people but they came together in such a beautiful way. The characters are all bound together and fiercely loyal and I really felt there was a "no man left behind" unspoken motto for most of the book and I loved it. Another thing that I found worked well for the story were the moments of unexpected humor. There was definitely some "bad juju" ,as the characters called it, goin' down and yet in the midst of all the heavy someone would say or do something that made me unexpectedly laugh out loud. Those moments of humor and lightness really helped to balance the story out. Oh, and Madame Varnie is one of my favorite characters. Maybe ever.

Falling Under is definitely darker, edgier and frankly, more erotic than a lot of YA's that I read and it really worked for me. There was still a lovely bit of innocence and purity that ran through the story that really helped balance the book and the characters so that they were relatable and made you hope, even when things looked impossible, that there was light at the end of the tunnel.

The ending was very satisfying for me and really helped bring the characters to a more equal footing as well as showcasing a lot of growth for several of the people we come to really care about. We really get to see just how far Theia and Haden are willing to go for each other and how far their friends are willing to go, too.

I'm going to include one of my favorite passages and it really highlights, for me, Haden's struggle with the darkness in him. If you don't like spoilery stuff then don't read on:

"This isn't a crush; it's an obsession. You are never not in my thoughts. Your scent carries across a room and paralyzes me with longing. I don't want to hold your hand. Part of me wants to set you on fire and hold you while the flame consumes us both, to eat your heart so I know that only I possess it entirely. Are you scared now?"

Oh, Haden, you had me at setting me on fire and eating my heart. ::dreamy sigh::

My final grade: A

It's a bit of a slow start but once the story gets a hold on you, you need to know where it's going to take you next.

Author's Website

Seriously, Cosmo, you're just telling me what I already know...

So, this article was circulating on Twitter this week. I noticed that it starts off with what the ladies can say to the guys in order to enhance their "special moment" and hey, that's cool. Although whenever I've read that in my fiction books, I've been a little dubious about it's sexiness, so consider yourselves vindicated oh authors whose heroines use that phrase. I humbly apologize for ever having doubted you.

Then we get to the good stuff. That is, we get to the part about what sexy talk enhances a woman's pleasure and, being a woman, I was very interested in this part. I thought maybe I could pass a little helpful advice on to the hubby. "Look honey, it says in this article that if you say this to me, I'll have the best orgasm ever."
But as you read it, you will realize that it's actually telling women what to say out loud to maximize their own enjoyment, not what the gents should say to the ladies. Now, I'm all for women doin' what they gotta to get their "happy time" but why the hell do we always have to do all the work? Not only do we have to talk dirty to our partner during sex, but we also have to talk dirty for ourselves? Come on fellas, step up a bit here. I'm not askin' for much, just for you to carry some of the load, that's all.

Seriously though, the fact that women are responsible for their partner's and their own pleasure? So typical... LOL.

I defy you not to dance...

to this awesomeness. Come on, you know you wanna...



Oh, and Happy Friday!

What I Did For a Duke by Julie Anne Long

For years, he's been an object of fear, fascination . . . and fantasy. But of all the wicked rumors that shadow the formidable Alexander Moncrieffe, Duke of Falconbridge, the ton knows one thing for certain: only fools dare cross him. And when Ian Eversea does just that, Moncrieffe knows the perfect revenge: he'll seduce Ian's innocent sister, Genevieve—the only Eversea as yet untouched by scandal. First he'll capture her heart . . . and then he'll break it.

But everything about Genevieve is unexpected: the passion simmering beneath her cool control, the sharp wit tempered by gentleness . . . And though Genevieve has heard the whispers about the duke's dark past, and knows she trifles with him at her peril, one incendiary kiss tempts her deeper into a world of extraordinary sensuality. Until Genevieve is faced with a fateful choice . . . is there anything she won't do for a duke?

Genre: Romance
Pub Date: 2/22/11
Note: I received a copy for review from netgalley

What I Did For a Duke is actually part of the Pennyroyal Green Series, but it's the first one that I've read. Fortunately, I didn't feel like I was missing anything by not having read the previous books. We are introduced to Genevieve Eversea and her her loud and crazy family. One of her brothers, Ian, is caught by the Duke of Falconbridge in bed with the Duke's fiance. Escaping with his life (but not his clothes) the Duke leaves Ian with a warning, his punishment will fit the crime.

What I loved was that this story could have been the same tired story of seducing the innocent to pay back the brother/father/cousin that wronged the powerful and worldly hero of the story. However, the premise may be one we're familiar with, the characters were entirely fresh and far from cardboard cutouts.

Alex, the Duke, is cold and intimidating, but he also possesses a wry and sometimes self-deprecating sense of humor. It's just that very few ever get to see it. He's not a boy. He's nearing forty, he's been married before, he's fought in wars and duels and he knows what it is to love and lose. I appreciated this about him. He was no untried boy running amok around society. He's smart, witty, calculating and he knows his own mind. He doesn't spend the book fighting what he wants. He identifies what he wants and he goes after it.

Genevieve was a great heroine. She's exceptionally clever. So clever in fact that she's on to the Duke pretty early on in the story. She even calls him out on it. Which both irritates and impresses him. She's a little irreverent, she's kind and generous and yet a little scandalous subject matter doesn't send her into hysterics, but instead intrigues her agile mind and her great sense of humor.

I loved Alex and Genevieve together. They have a bit of the same sense of humor and could also appreciate the differences between them. Their witty repartee was great fun to read and the chemistry between them was both believable and undeniable. I loved how they spoke to each other, got to know each other and how Genevieve learned to appreciate the difference between a man that knew himself already and one that had a lot of growing up still to do.

I felt a bit disappointed at the end just because I wanted to spend more time with this couple. I wanted to see them into their HEA. This is not a couple that readers would quickly become bored with.

Final Grade: A-

What I Did For a Duke: Pennyroyal Green Series

What I Did For a Duke at book depository

Author's website

Review: Stone Kissed by Keri Stevens

Note: I received a copy for review from netgalley
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Pub Date: 12/10
When Delia Forrest talks to statues, they talk back. She is, after all, the last of the Steward witches.

After an arsonist torches her ancestral home with her estranged father still inside, Delia is forced to sell the estate to pay his medical bills. Her childhood crush, Grant Wolverton, makes a handsome offer for Steward House, vowing to return it to its former glory. Delia agrees, as long as he'll allow her to oversee the restoration.

Working so closely with Grant, Delia finds it difficult to hide her unique talent—especially when their growing passion fuels her abilities.

But someone else lusts after both her man and the raw power contained in the Steward land. Soon Delia finds herself fighting not just for Grant's love, but for both their lives...

This was a fun and touching read that I read in one night. Keri Stevens' characters really come alive in this story, and considering many of those characters are made of stone, I think that says something.

Delia is a sweet girl with a lot on her plate. Her estranged father is in critical condition and suffering from terrible burns. The home that she adores and always felt safe in has been burned and must now be sold to pay for her father's mounting hospital bills. The man she's had a secret crush on for years is back in her life and more than a little cold and intimidating. Then there is the small matter of how the statues in town are talking to her nonstop and even starting to move around. Delia could have easily been a victim or a doormat of a character, but somehow her sweetness was also met with an equally stubborn and strong side to her. I liked her, I really did. A few times I would have liked to see her smack Grant upside the head, but overall I think she handled him quite well.

Grant....::sigh:: Grant is a dark and broody and moody type. He doesn't trust or love easily, but the few that he does, he will do anything to protect and care for. Occasionally this leads to him being overbearing and bossy, but you know that he's that way because he cares. Delia was great for Grant. She challenged his preconceived notions and his world view and she made him laugh. The two of them together were really great and watching Grant when he went weak for Delia? Yeah, that was very satisfying. It's always fun to watch a big, strong guy fall and fall hard.

Final Grade: B+

Author's Blog

Cover: Passion by Lauren Kate

This is the cover for Passion the third book in the Fallen series by Lauren Kate. She has had visually stunning covers for this series so far and this one seems to be no exception. At first glance I didn't know how I felt about it. The more I looked at it the more I like it, though. It's haunting and beautiful with a wistfulness about it.
Pubs seem to be hitting the ball out of the park with YA book covers lately. What do you think about this one?

Marketing Ploy Fail

So, it was brought to my attention on twitter that a book had been written based on the upcoming movie, Red Riding Hood. This was not totally strange to me, even though it's usually a movie based on a book, but I've seen this before with movies and television series moving into books. What was odd to me was that, for starters, the book was apparently published in January of this year while the movie won't be out until March. This didn't totally make sense to me considering that the movie would be spoiled for a lot of people and if they liked the book they may go see the movie, but if they didn't like the book, the movie may be out ticket sales. Also, that's a few months time for the hype of the book to die down and people may lose interest in the movie. I'm not a marketing genius by any means, but I would think it would make sense to release the book at the same time or after the movie releases.

Apparently the publishers thought of this however and the answer they arrived at boggled my mind just a bit. It seems that when you get to the end of the book, there is no last chapter. What you get instead is instructions to go to a website to read the last chapter. Now, if you visit that website now you will be informed that you will have to wait to read the last chapter until after the movie has been released. Now see? No spoiled ending and the publisher keeps you on the hook and your interest piqued. After all, you do want to know how the story ends, don't you? The real kicker here is that there is no warning on the cover of the book or in the book description telling the book buying public that you will be paying full price (at least $9) for a book with no tangible ending. Now, I could be overreacting here, but I feel like that's a major fuck you to the intelligence of the book buying public. Do they honestly think we would find it cute to turn to the what should be the first page of the last thrilling chapter only to get a message that basically says "Ha ha! Bet you thought there'd be an ending here. Sucka!"?
Are we supposed to give them points for creativity? Novelty? Big, huge brass balls?

ETA: So I just went on the website redridinghoodbook.com and was greeted by a huge and cheerful countdown widget announcing on 23 days left til you can have the satisfaction of knowing how the book you paid for in monopoly real money is going to end! Ooh, the suspense, y'all!

Ok, I put it to you, the book consumers of the world, how would you feel having picked up what you assumed to be a finished copy and then found out there was, not even a lack of a happy ending, but simply a lack of any ending at all? I mean sure, there'll be an ending on the website, but whenever you want to re-read the book are you supposed to go back to the website to re-read the last chapter? How long will the site be up? Do they expect you to pass down an incomplete book to your kids (if it's even good enough, I can't say)? Is this a sign of things to come in the publishing industry? What are your thoughts?

Review: Outside In by Maria V Snyder

Genre: Young Adult
Publish Date: Feb 15, 2011
I received a copy for review from netgalley.

Me? A Leader? Okay, I did prove that there's more to Inside than we knew. That a whole world exists beyond this cube we live in. And finding that led to a major rebellion - between worker scrubs like me and the snobby uppers who rule our world. Make that ruled. Because of me, we're free. I thought that meant I was off the hook, and could go off on my own again - while still touching base with Riley, of course. He's the one upper I think I can trust. But then we learned that there's outside and then there is Outside. And something from Outside wants In.

I had trouble with the previous book about Trella and the people of Inside called Inside Out as some of you may recall. However, I had hoped that after the coming together of the people of Inside and the discoveries that were made by Trella about herself and the state of her world that this book would be better and that the characters would have grown and therefore be more enjoyable to read. I was sadly disappointed.

The first part of the book I could not stand Trella, yet again. She didn't want to be bothered with helping the council fix Inside, she didn't seem to have a real job, and she never went back down to check on the Lowers where she originally came from. Nope, it seemed that as long as she had a room in the Uppers section that was much more spacious than the Lowers, and everyone left her alone to explore, she was happy. If you asked more you got whiny Trella. And on top of that everyone is telling her how she's the only one who could help them, save them, fix them. It was irritating because she comes off as one of the worst heroes ever. However, I did like that when there was a crisis or emergency, she always stepped up to help and when it became obvious that Inside was heading towards yet another disaster, she put on her big girl panties and went about rescuing everyone and their brother.

The side characters had been somewhat likable and relatable in the first book, but in this one, I was hard pressed to find one character that I actually liked. Riley whined if she spent too much time working with the council or helping others and then would turn around and tell her how disappointed he was in her because she didn't do enough to help. I actually felt kinda bad for Trella when it came to Riley and that's saying something. Some of the other characters that were so confident and ready to help in the first book suddenly became an annoying hindrance to the cause in this one.

Going into this book, I had hoped to see how Inside was going to come together and erase the damage that was done in Inside Out as they expanded into the expanse and learned about their past and where they were going and Outer space. I was hoping to see how they would overcome any difficulties and crises that would pop up in the natural progression of things. That was not this book. The plot was so implausible that I actually shook my head several times. We had to go back to being under an evil rule and have rebellion 2.0 to get the people to care and work together and if the only way they can come together and get things done is when they're under attack, I don't see how they're going to survive to get where they're going. Also, the whole concept of the Outsiders was just a bit much for me.

Final grade: D+

These books were not for me, but I can see how others would enjoy them. The idea behind them is good and there is a lot of action and the requisite romance so I don't expect everyone else to be as annoyed with them as I have been.

Review: Kiss of Darkness by Loribelle Hunt

Genre: Paranormal Romance
Pub Date: Jan 2011
I received a copy for review from Netgalley

Winter, a hybrid, has spent her life at war. A group of humans who are part demon, the hybrids, along with the lupines and nightwalkers, have dedicated their lives to defeating demons and protecting humanity. Yet, despite their united cause, the three groups share an uneasy alliance.

When hybrid military compounds come under attack from demon insurgents, Winter has no choice but to turn to the lupines and nightwalkers for assistance. It's a partnership based on necessity and she has no intention of letting down her guard with either group.

Marcus, the nightwalker Lord, has other plans. The immediate attraction between him and Winter promises a passion he can't ignore. To claim her as his own, he'll not only have to fight the demons who seem hell-bent on destroying her, but her own misconceptions about him and the nightwalker race. It's a battle he refuses to lose.

Kiss of Darkness is a fun paranormal romance full of hot alpha guys (that aren't afraid to take orders from women), action, sex, lust, and some very kickass women that know how to get the job done.

Winter is a warrior and a leader and she's running out of time. Soon the demon that shares her soul will take over completely and there will be nothing left of the woman she once was. Winter agreed to share the soul of a demon and become a Hybrid in order to fight full fledged demons, protecting the innocents and also avenging the murder of her husband. Now, 60 years later, she meets a mysterious and powerful man that makes her yearn for things she fears she shouldn't and she's not even sure she can trust him or his people.

Marcus is a sexy alpha hero. He wants to protect Winter and lock her up somewhere safe, but what made me love Marcus is that he realizes that he can't do that to her. She's a warrior and a Hybrid, not what he would have chosen for himself, but now that he has her, he knows that loving her means letting her be who she is. He also helps Winter learn to trust and to give and he stops her from constantly taking foolish risks with her life.

Kiss of Darkness is also populated with great side characters. Something that was both a blessing a curse about the book was that it seemed to actually be three love stories in one. We get Marcus and Winter, and then Winter's friend Gia with Marcus' brother Lucas as well as Winter's friend and second in command, Dupree, and the girl he wants but denies himself. The set up seems to be for Lucas and Gia to have their full story next and I have to say that I would love to read it.

Overall, a fun and sexy read with likable characters and steamy romance.

Final grade: B

Red Riding Hood- The Movie

I'm not sure if this is going to end up being cheesy, but it looks like it's going to be dark and gorgeous and therefore and I am suckered into wanting to see it. It comes out in March and I'm pretty sure I'll be dragging the hubs with me to see it ;)

Review: Pale Demon by Kim harrison

Condemned to death for black magic and shunned, Rachel Morgan has three days to somehow get to the annual witches convention in San Francisco and clear her name. If she fails, the only way she can escape death is to live in the demonic ever after . . . for ever after.

Banned from the flight lists, Rachel teams up with elven tycoon Trent Kalamack, headed for the West Coast for her own mysterious business. But Rachel isn't the only passanger along for the ride. Can a witch, an elf, a living vampire, and a pixy in one car survive for over 2,300 miles? And that's not counting the assassin on their tail.

A fearsome demon walks the sunlight, freed after centuries of torment to slay the innocent and devour souls. But his ultimate prey is Rachel Morgan. While the powerful witch with nerves of steel will do whatever it takes to stay alive, even embracing her own demonic nature may not be enough to save her.

The ninth installment in Ms. Harrison's Rachel Morgan series is a fast paced ride full of demons, elves, witches and pixies and everything in between. The first half of the book was a little irritating for me at times. Rachel and Trent bicker and make assumptions (par for the course) and Rachel and Co get into trouble at every turn. The second half of the book was much more satisfying for me. Things start really happening and we get to the meat of the story. I do have to say that I guessed Trent's big secret pretty much from the get go and didn't understand why no one else seemed to put the pieces together.

We learn more about demons and Al (who I can't help loving), and we also get to see Rachel and Trent coming to some sort of uneasy alliance. After the developments of Trent's secret and his promise to let Rachel have a part in it and the price they paid to help each other, I'm very interested to see where their relationship goes. I love the affect they have on each other, whether fighting side by side or just fighting with each other, it's never a dull moment.

Ivy and Jenks are fabulous as usual, although I can't help but feel that the whole Jenks gets a restart at life storyline is a bit of a prop and not very fair to him and is more about Rachel and her selfish need for him to be in her life. We see a bit of him trying to deal with living without his wife and learning to enjoy life all over again.

On one hand, we're told that the issues between Ivy and Rachel have finally been worked out, but then a few pages later, it looks like we're heading back into the same twisted territory. I really hope that in the next book we see that they really have come to a better understanding of each other and how to be in each other's lives.

The story progresses quickly and the action comes fast and furious. I enjoyed Rachel a bit more in this one. I think and hope that she's starting to grow up and come into her own and it's a nice change to see.

Final grade: B

Author's Website

Pale Demon at book depository

Review: Archangel's Consort by Nalini Singh

Vampire hunter Elena Deveraux and her lover, the lethally beautiful archangel Raphael, have returned home to New York only to face an uncompromising new evil…

A vampire has attacked a girls’ school—the assault one of sheer, vicious madness—and it is only the first act. Rampant bloodlust takes vampire after vampire, threatening to make the streets run with blood. Then Raphael himself begins to show signs of an uncontrolled rage, as inexplicable storms darken the city skyline and the earth itself shudders.

The omens are suddenly terrifyingly clear.

An ancient and malevolent immortal is rising. The violent winds whisper her name: Caliane. She has returned to reclaim her son, Raphael. Only one thing stands in her way: Elena, the consort who must be destroyed…

One of my favorite passages: "You asked me once what you should call me."

Elena scowled. "I think you said something like 'master,' but I've decided I had to be hearing things."

"What would you like to call me?"

That made her pause. "Husband" was too human, "partner" factually wrong for a being as powerful as an archangel, "mate"...perhaps. But none of it was quite right. "Mine," she said at last.

He blinked, and when he raised his lashes again, the blue was liquid fire. Yes, that will do. "But for public consumption, you are my consort."

Raphael and Elena are back in New York, the city he rules and the place that has been Elena's home all her life. Elena is stronger now, physically, than she was in the beginning of Archangel's Kiss, but she's still nowhere near as strong as she needs to be to hold her own against ancient vampires and powerful archangels. Vampires begin attacking all over the city, weather has gone crazy all over the world and even archangels are beginning to act strangely. None of this bodes well for the world but especially for Elena and Raphael. Add to that Elena still dealing with the painful memories of her past and the hateful attitude of her father while still trying to be there for the sisters who need her and the city and friends that she has sworn to protect as her own and Elena has herself a full plate.

I have always loved the relationships and interactions of the characters in Ms. Singh's books. The supporting cast of characters are always well formed and bring a life to the story that it just wouldn't have without them. Raphael's seven are devoutly loyal to him and we see more of them in this book. Elena's friends would walk through fire for her and she feels the same about them. We get more interaction between Elena and Sara, Ransom, other guild hunters and Elena's family. One thing that irritates me slightly is how Elena's family continually puts their crap on her and she just takes it. I would love for her to one day put them in their place. We also see Elena dealing with the realities of becoming an angel: knowing she will outlive her friends, how people on the street and even people she once worked with now view her and how much more she has to learn. I really enjoyed that aspect. Elena may have made Raphael a little more human, but he's definitely brought a huge amount of change to her own life as well.

With all the craziness going on and the imminent awakening of Raphael's mother, Raphael begins to act oddly and Elena is there to ride the storm with him. That is something I adore about their relationship. There is never a question of walking away, of not riding the storm with each other. Sometimes it's painful, sometimes it's ugly, but their bond is bone deep and shines with a purity that is simply breathtaking. I enjoy that they don't say the words "I love you" all the time. There's no need and they would seem rather pale in the light of what they feel, the lengths they would go for each other. I give much love to Ms. Singh for letting this series be darker and edgier than many romances. Their love is not a gentle thing, but then they are two strong-willed warriors and nothing is ever easy for them.

Final Grade: A

Author's website

Review: Reign of Pleasure by Emma Petersen

Deposed queen Rhiannon’s sexual proclivities have finally gotten her into trouble. After Rhiannon took a pleasure slave who didn’t belong to her, the courtesan’s master is asking the ultimate price for the trespass—not Rhiannon’s life, but her body…and complete submission for three days. Rhiannon is determined to submit only her body, but Lord Ignius Sebastian, her new master, will settle for nothing less than her soul.

2 fave quotes: "I wonder if all the warriors who tremble when your name is uttered know what a fucking coward you are" Oooh, watch out girl, you are baiting the tiger.
and:
"All I've ever wanted to be is yours." Yeah, that line and my panties come off. I'm that easy.

I am a fan of Emma Petersen. I loooooved Master of the Game. Was smitten with Seducing St. Nic and now I find myself quite taken with her latest, Reign of Pleasure.

Rhiannon is a deposed immortal queen. She has refused to remarry after the death of her beloved husband and king two centuries ago and the Council will not reinstate her to full Queen privileges until she remarries and produces an heir. Rhiannon is willful and stubborn, clinging to the memory of her husband like a talisman against the demands of her Council and the maneuvering of her suitors. It took me a little while to warm up to Rhiannon. I admired her loyalty to her husband's memory, but even she admits that she's a bit of a spoiled brat. She does come into her own as a woman and into her own skin as the story progresses and it was nice to see.

Ignius Sebastian.....::sigh:: Emma Petersen writes some very drool worthy heroes in her stories and Ignius did not disappoint. He's dark, dangerous, mysterious and feared by his peers. He was dominate and masterful and yet capable of such emotion and tenderness. He's very fierce and not to be crossed, but at the same time you know that Rhiannon is his one weakness. Any man that bides his time for 200 years so he can pounce is hotness in my book. You gotta love a patient man ::wink wink::

The plot was decent. The story is novella length so naturally there is more time spent exploring the relationship and smexy times of Rhiannon and Ignius. And yeah, those are some good smexy times, too. ::cough:: I did really like a few of the side characters in the short time we got to see them. Just a good, sexy read with mild BDSM. And some girl on girl...but mostly, Ignius bringin the goods, if you know what I mean ;)

Final Grade: B

Reign of Pleasure at Ellora's Cave

Author's Website

Spaz reviews Reign of Pleasure at Wicked Lil Pixie's 4.5/5

Because I Need a Laugh (NSFW and bad language galore)

So, a dear friend of mine is having a really bad time right now and I feel completely useless. And between my life drama and others I know that are having a rough time right now, I figure we could all use a little laughter and this always brings a smile to my face. This is the audio of Christian Bale's infamous rant on the set of that silly terminator movie. First is the original audio and then I have the fabulous mixed version to music. It's epic and awesome.

A bit of a heads up: If you haven't heard this before and our offended by the F word, don't listen to this. Seriously, Christian lurves himself the F-bomb. If he could cuddle it and take it to bed, he totally would.






See? This shit makes me giggle. Every time. ::sigh::