Started out great, really enjoyed the apocalyptic telling of a disease outbreak, following several characters through this horror. The story fell flatStarted out great, really enjoyed the apocalyptic telling of a disease outbreak, following several characters through this horror. The story fell flat soon after though as we delved into magic, gardening, churning butter and people choosing apartments based on kitchen appliances in their newly formed town. Redeemed itself somewhat towards the end and has me curious about the second book.
I enjoyed this a lot, except maybe for that ending. However in Ward's defense my Golden Retriever companion of 12 years died recently too, so I get itI enjoyed this a lot, except maybe for that ending. However in Ward's defense my Golden Retriever companion of 12 years died recently too, so I get it Ward, even if some of your readers don't. I get the pain, the emptiness, the loss that you were feeling regarding Writer Dog. I get your non traditional, non HEA ending.
We don't always get our loves for as long as we want....more
Much like Christmas the BDB only comes around once a year and it's still my favorite book release of the year, even if I am starting to feel a little Much like Christmas the BDB only comes around once a year and it's still my favorite book release of the year, even if I am starting to feel a little too old to believe in "Santa" F-bombing it out in his leather pants.
Opening Line: “I am dead, but it’s not so bad. I’ve learned to live with it.”
I absolutely loved the first half of Warm Bodies. Meeting "R" was just a Opening Line: “I am dead, but it’s not so bad. I’ve learned to live with it.”
I absolutely loved the first half of Warm Bodies. Meeting "R" was just a joy, I mean he's hilarious in an unassuming and very undead sort of way and I can't say that I've ever read anything quite like him or this before. Dubbed a "Zombie romance" my initial thought was come-on how the hell is that going to work? I mean ewww but it does, in an innocent and sweet sort of way.
We meet "R" in an airport hangar, riding the escalator up and down (when the power is on) and doing pretty much nothing the rest of the time. He has no name, no memories and no pulse, but lately he has been feeling a bit different from his fellow dead, having thoughts and dreams and speaking with more than 6 syllables.
One day R and the rest of his groaning, stumbling hoard go out for lunch in the city and its there that he meets Julie. Julie is different and for reasons he can't understand, he decides not to eat her but to save her and take her back to his place. (he does however eat her boyfriend and his delicious brain begins to change everything)
So Julie and R get to know each other and the plot takes on a bit of a Romeo and Juliet vibe as the "Boneys" (evil leader zombies) don't like this arrangement. Julie and R decide to go back to her place (a survivor city in one of the sports domes) but that's not exactly a great idea either. Julie’s dad wants to kill him and the makeup he's forced to wear keeps coming off, plus he still can't walk or talk very well but he is changing, slowly coming back as something new.
It was about here that the story lost me a bit. It just seemed to lose its sense of humour and get a little out there for my tastes, as the two worlds collided and a new future was born. I enjoyed the vision of the world inside the dome but R’s connection with Perry and all his dreams lost me. The Boney's didn't make much sense either and it just kinda went into fantasy land, not that a zombie romance isn’t there to begin with. Can’t wait to see the movie. Cheers
Opening Line: "The sleek silver Beemer swerved roughly to the curb in front of my driveway, cutting me off as I pulled out."
Lucien Demarco is hungry. Opening Line: "The sleek silver Beemer swerved roughly to the curb in front of my driveway, cutting me off as I pulled out."
Lucien Demarco is hungry. We join him (in 1st person POV) seeking out a blood source after a long dry spell. One night he runs into an old vampire friend who ironically is now director of the Detroit blood bank. All our hero can think is perfect, guilt free sustenance, freedom from the weak blood of animals and evil men he’s been forced to feed on. As Lucien wanders the hospital corridors a couple of days later, anticipating his next meal he’s stopped in his tracks by an approaching nurse. This woman is exuding joy, pure blissful joy. And because Lucian can read emotions she smells sweet to him, like dessert. His hunger suddenly takes on a whole new meaning because if he were to take her blood those innocent, carefree emotions would seep into him eradicating the constant sorrow he feels and destroying the evil he has ingested from feeding on murderers. And so the hunt begins.
It doesn’t take long for Lucien to learn where Samantha lives and buy a house within the neighbourhood, then like the predator he is, he stalks her. It’s during this hunt that Lucien meets a young girl, throwing himself in front of a car to protect her. Surprisingly she is not afraid of him (most humans instinctively fear vampires), but this girl calls him her angel and holds his hand. Lucien is moved and vows to always protect her. Now imagine the tricky situation that arises when he learns that this child is the daughter of his intended prey.
I wish I could say I liked this more, I really wanted to, I mean the premise is fantastic; a hungry vampire stalking his neighbours only to fall in love with them, but after a slow start (which I expected based on other reviews) it never grabbed me. I think the romance angle was just too sweet, I kept waiting for some conflict, but for 90% of Lucien, Samantha (and Ollie’s) story it was just sweetness and light, a fairy tale romance.
I also found Samantha (and Lucien for that matter) to be immature and there were moments, dare I say, when I felt like I was reading something from the Twilight universe. Our hero all self loathing and overtly agreeable to anything Sam wants or needs because he feels guilty lying about what he is. They also wait six months to have sex, I mean these are experienced adults who are having sleepovers and into each other, I just felt this was a stretch.
And as much as I enjoyed Lucien’s “family” I was constantly reminded of the Cullen’s especially during their Christmas visit where everyone tries to act human in a comical sort of way for the sake of the girlfriend (they also have healing and telepathic powers and are often called in as back up to fix things) For some weird reason it’s also when our couple decides to consummate their relationship, all within prying, super vampire ears.
I am by no means giving up on Laura Kaye, I loved Hearts in Darkness, can’t wait to read North of Need and love the world she created here. Her vampire characteristics were, can I say realistic? More practical then magical, more predatory, which is how I always imagined a vampire would be , much like a lion or bear who is excited by fear and will instinctively take chase if you run. Anyways I’m so far off topic. Cheers.
Opening Line:"It was October. The trees of the cemetery had turned a decayed brown, and a cold breeze had whistled in, replacing the stifling heat of Opening Line:"It was October. The trees of the cemetery had turned a decayed brown, and a cold breeze had whistled in, replacing the stifling heat of the Virginia summer."
For some reason I went into Volume 2 of this series thinking it was going to be told from Damon’s POV. Yeah I know it states quite clearly in the title “Stefan’s Diaries” but the photo of Ian Somerhalder on the cover threw me. Anyways, we are again in Stefan’s head, joining him directly after the end of Origins The Salvatore brothers are attending their father’s funeral in Mystic Falls and trying to come to terms with the fact that they are now vampires. Catherine is gone (never to reappear in this book) and the Civil War rages on.
I should mention that while this is based on author L.J. Smith's original characters and historical flashbacks from the TV series it’s not really connected to either and reads just fine as a stand alone. I would especially recommend it to historical romance fans and the fact that it’s YA isn’t really an issue here either.
Stefan is embracing his new powers as a vampire although his additional strength, speed and ever present hunger are going to take a while to get used to. Damon on the other hand has all but given up, refusing to feed and hating what Stefan has turned him into. Before long the brothers are discovered and chased out of town, hopping a train bound for New Orleans they're looking for safety and a new life. Stefan begins to experience bloodlust and manages to drain several passengers before they arrive while Damon continues to hate everything about his new existence especially his brother.
The majority of our story takes place in the New Orleans of 1864. The Salvatore brothers are at odds and soon separate with Stefan going on a killing spree before being adopted by a “family” of Vampires. Under Lexi’s guidance Stefan is quickly taught “how to be a better vampire” existing on animal blood and flexing his powers of mind control.
Meanwhile Damon gets caught by a vampire hunter and sold to a circus, shackled with vervain he’s forced to perform in fights to the death. Despite it all a bond still exists between them and Stefan soon devises a plan to rescue his brother, he just didn’t expect to fall in love in the process.
The epilogue of this instalment is fantastic, setting things up perfectly for the future Salvatore brothers we’ve come to know. Cheers...more
Opening Line: "The day my life changed started out like any other."
So I have to admit this was surprisingly good. Surprising because I’m not anywhere Opening Line: "The day my life changed started out like any other."
So I have to admit this was surprisingly good. Surprising because I’m not anywhere near the demographic the book is aiming at. For starters I’m far (far) from being a YA (although admittedly I do sometimes still act like it) I’ve never read any of the books from L.J Smith’s original series and I’m only a casual fan of the TV show. (Oh, but those Salvatore boys are yummy to look at) However Stefan’s Dairies was a great read and stands perfectly fine on its own, completely separate from either series, except of course for using the same characters and town setting.
Based on historical flashbacks shown briefly in the TV series, here we get to go back to the “origin” of the Salvatore brothers, set during the civil war before they became vampires. The writing is simple but the story is complete and very good with elements of suspense and romance throughout; Stefan trying to live up to his fathers expectations, young love and the jealousy yet unbreakable bond between two brothers as they vie for the same mysterious woman.
I wouldn’t have any trouble recommending this to anyone (of any age) who enjoys historical romances as it can easily be read as a stand alone without ever having seen the TV show or reading the original series. However it is pretty nice to be able to use Paul Wesley and Ian Somerhalder as visual references :)
Its 1864 and seventeen year old Stefan Salvatore has just proposed marriage to a girl he doesn’t love. As his overbearing father grooms him to take over the family estate his wayward brother Damon returns from the still raging Civil war and a beautiful girl named Katherine moves into the carriage house. Recently orphaned Katherine is everything his betrothed is not; seductive and mischievous she also harbours a grave secret and has fully captured the attention of both Salvatore brothers. When strange killings begin to occur within the town, Stefan’s father organizes a lynch mob to track down the killers. It seems there be vampires in Mystic Falls. Cheers...more
Just noticed that this series is switching to a hardcover release!
Which pisses me off. I'm not sure I'm invested enough in Ward's angels to shell outJust noticed that this series is switching to a hardcover release!
Which pisses me off. I'm not sure I'm invested enough in Ward's angels to shell out the $$ for hardcover especially when I'll just end up replacing it in PB so my series is all matchy, matchy. (Yeah I know) Damn I hate when publishers do this.
So far this series isn't up to BDB standards, and what I mean by that is that I've yet to reread any of the books whereas my BDB's are trashed, I've reread them several, several times so it doesn't hurt so much having 2 copies.
*SPOILER FREE* Opening Line "The bastard's taking the bridge! He's mine!"
Wow, I honestly don’t know where to begin with this review. To say that this w*SPOILER FREE* Opening Line "The bastard's taking the bridge! He's mine!"
Wow, I honestly don’t know where to begin with this review. To say that this was good is an understatement. To say that it knocked me on my ass and left me a drained, emotional wreck, is far closer to the truth. Yup, LOVER REBORN did me in, talk about your gauntlet of emotions, I mean I expected some angst but jeez! I cried (I mean really cried) I laughed, I sighed, I swore, I groaned and I gasped but in the end I also smiled.
As much as I was anticipating this book it was also with a heavy dose of apprehension; was I ready to see Tohrment find love again? Was he ready? Were any of us really ready to let Wellsie go? And most importantly could Ward make me believe in this new love? The answer is a resounding yes, I think in part because it doesn’t happen quickly (or easily) Reborn has been broken into 4 sections (1 per season) so that this book takes place over the period of a year. And it was over that year and all the shit that goes down (and oh does the shit ever go down) that Ward made me believe.
Starting where Lover Unleashed left off and with her usual flair Ward throws us into “Spring” and right into the action and pain that is Tohr. Chasing down a group of Lessers, Tohr is now relentless in his pursuit of the enemy, basically only drawing breathe to “ahvenge” his murdered wife and son. Tonight’s hunt sees Tohr launching himself off a bridge as John and Qhuinn watch helplessly from below, John issuing a silent scream as Tohr falls. And so it begins. Through 572 pages Ward proceeds to give us everything we want and then some…
Without going into spoiler territory (which is going to be hard) I can tell you of course that this is Tohr and No’one’s story. These two have a long history together and are both equally broken so it makes sense for them to get together. Lassiter is helping to move them along on the love train (in his own way) and as it turns out with a sense of urgency. John and Xhex also play key roles in their story, giving us some absolutely filthy-hot love scenes as well as showing us a marriage in transition.
Xcor and his Band Of Bastards are back and gaining strength in Caldwell. They do things here that… can never be forgiven. Sending one Brother on a mission under a decree of death. New and mysterious characters are introduced (Assail) while others are fleshed out (Throe and Zyphor.) We’re still all mixed up in the whole hot-mess that is Layla/Qhinn/Blay/Saxton; however that’s all about to change:) The Blind King still kicks ass, Ward throws a “needing” (or two) our way and gives us details of a ceremony that absolutely broke my heart. We also bare witness to a battle that gave me heart palpitations for all of its 60 pages and left some Brothers with life threatening injuries.
Somehow through all this Ward also manages to give us time with each and every member of the Brotherhood mansion. We get to see everyone doing their thing, giving us some special moment with each of them and that in itself says something because there are so many characters now. There also aren’t any “lesser” POV’s to suffer through; we don’t travel back to the old country or to the other side to hang with the chosen (verily.) And I have to compliment Ward on toning down the product placement and Wardisms. This book just flowed beautifully.
In fact I would have to say that Ward has hit her pinnacle with Lover Reborn. The balance here is just right; the romance, the action, the surprises and the healing. I honestly never knew where this was going to go and when that happens you’re guaranteed a great ride.
And now for the good news Blay and Qhuinn have been officially announced as book #11! That’s right the wait is over. It looks like Ward has worked a miracle with her publisher because their story was originally to be a novella and now they’re getting their very own Hardcover instalment. Way to go boys. See you Spring 2013
**Spoiler Free**In trying to review LOVER MINE two words keep popping into my head; Amazing and Damn… just Opening Line: "He wished he had more time."
**Spoiler Free**In trying to review LOVER MINE two words keep popping into my head; Amazing and Damn… just damn. How can I honestly put into words how much I loved this story and how sad I am that it’s over? Following a year long wait JR Wards 8th instalment of the Black Dagger Brotherhood finally made its way into my eager little hands. At 512 pages LOVER MINE is huge (with a fantastic cover) and I’m happy to report that it does not disappoint, in fact with John Mathews long awaited story the WARDen positively shines.
Fans are given exactly what we’ve been waiting for with ever evolving storylines, multiple POV’s, surprises, tragedies, plot twists, ass-kicking action,(Xhex much) humour and oh the romance. Completed here with erotic, blush-worthy love scenes and of course the inevitable struggle and heartache. I can tell you that this story brought me to tears more than once and not for the reasons you might expect. All of this awesomeness has been wrapped up with Wards unique style of writing, complete with product placements, rap music, unique street language, multiple f-bombs and a whole new batch of cool Wardisms I can’t wait to start using, you feel me.
The series is brought full circle within this book with loose ends cleverly tied together and resolutions brought to story threads we’ve had growing and brewing since the beginning. Sadly I realized that even with Ward continuing indefinitely JM/Darius will be the last of the original brothers to have his story told and that with this book being red, just like book 1 (Dark Lover) she’s given us book ends of a sort.
With us since the beginning, in this instalment we finally get John Mathew (and Darius‘s) story. Of all the characters John is the one we have the greatest sense of and have invested the most time in, having watched him change from a scrawny, neglected and abused pre-trans into an enormous, and angry male with a ton of fricken baggage. His pairing with the half Sympath Xhex has been in the works for some time now and with her abduction in the end of (Lover Avenged) we have the perfect place to begin their story. (Which I’m not going to give away) I will say however that I was pleased to see reflections of the sweet, sensitive John we remember (only now oozing sex appeal) and witness a softer side of Xhex. As always their path to HEA is not an easy one but its fun and sexy as hell watching them open up to each other and get there.
As a whole the storyline blew my mind. With three very separate and distinct running plotlines, (which at first had me wondering, where the hell is this going?) Ward manages to merge all the puzzle pieces together into WOW, bringing us deliciously full circle. Darker and more serious than past books my only real complaint would be the lack of banter between the Brothers and the Brothers as a whole. The moments that we’re given are excellent and while they’re all represented to a degree (some more than others) I insatiably craved more and truly missed them. Qhuinn and Blay, each now with their own POV manage to somewhat fill the gap who along with Saxton bring a different degree of heartache, sexiness and hot mess to the mix. Lash is also back as the Lessening societies leader and surprisingly awesome here as he takes things to a whole new gooey level of evil.
In the end Ward leaves us smiling with contentment, with new characters emerging and events opening up for future stories that I can’t wait to discover. I just wish it wasn’t so far away because I find that after getting just 3 days with the BDB its already time to leave them again and I’m not quite ready to let them go yet. See ya next year boys, stay safe Cheers!
Oh, and in case you were wondering Ward dedicates this book to John Mathew himself(which was what started my first crying jag)
Really!? How did I not know earlier that the hero of this book was going to be Thomas “Veck” DelVecchio, Jr from Lover Unleashed
Gah, how awesome is thReally!? How did I not know earlier that the hero of this book was going to be Thomas “Veck” DelVecchio, Jr from Lover Unleashed
Gah, how awesome is this? I love the crossover.
This must mean we'll also get to see his partner...Jose del la Cruz, yippee. Endless possibilities here; Butch sightings, Lessers, The Band of Bastards (Throe) and the subsequent headaches leftover from his scrubbing.
The year long wait for Tohr's book just got a little easier! You rock warden.
*Confirmation given at Ward's latest signing (thanks Mahlet) that Throe from the Band Of Bastards will indeed play a role -"has a meaningful moment in it" and that we will see more crossover between the two series in general.
~So here's my Spoiler Free review~
As others have mentioned this is the best yet from Ward’s Fallen Angels series. She seems to have gotten the mix just right here and I found myself completely caught up in the story, it’s romance and all the many sub characters and their ongoing battles. I suppose introducing the hero in the last BDB book didn’t hurt matters, as from the get-go I was wondering how a Vampire attack and Veck’s subsequent “memory loss” was going to be explained. However the two series feel very different to me now, and even though I can still sense the BDB world in the background, its no longer a distraction.(I do become a squealing fan girl when I find those cameos though) Speeding black Escalade in the rain or old landlord in a butlers uniform anyone.
I would describe this as a romance wrapped in urban fantasy. The mix works though, along with Ward’s usual hilarious male banter, excessive product placement, seriously hot love scenes and a few major surprises -which we should see the trickle down effect from for several books to come. I also feel that she finally got the romance right here; I enjoyed Veck and Reilly and found myself rooting for their HEA.
Through some unique world building we also get a much closer look at arch angels Nigel and Colin(who are growing on me) and of course our sexy saviour Jim and his badass fallen angel sidekicks Adrian and Eddie… (Sigh)
Lastly I have to mention Devina. She is just awesome, probably Ward’s best female character to date and a superb villain. Yes she is evil but she is also so much more, what with her therapy sessions, hoarding issues, insecurities and school girl crush on Jim -which let me tell you he uses to his full advantage. Alls fair in love and war bitch.
As with all of Ward’s books there are many characters fighting for POV time; popping us back and forth between hero and heroine, into heaven and hell and the minds of angels, demons and anyone else caught in the crossfire of battle #3. I can honestly say though that I didn’t ever want to skip any of their sections (Lessers) as each POV was an integral part of the story and more than held my interest.
Yes, the WARDen got it right with ENVY and I can’t wait to find out what happens next.
Homicide detective Thomas “Veck” Delvecchio is convinced he’s just killed a man. Haunted by the legacy of his serial killer father and followed by a dark shadow, it was really only a matter of time until he gave in to the dark side. The problem is he doesn’t remember the attack and the evidence says he’s innocent. Sent to monitor Veck is internal affairs officer Sophia Reilly whose interest in Veck grows increasingly personal as they share pizza and a mutual admiration for Victoria’s Secret.
Entwined in their budding romance is Jim Heron, now facing the 3rd round in the ultimate end game of good VS evil. He and his two back up angels have been given the task of battling against the devil for Veck’s very soul.
Bringing our group together is Reilly and Veck’s investigation of missing person Sissy Barton. She is of course being held by Devina (Crave) Jim is determined to find her body and retrieve her soul from hell whatever the consequences which gives him more reason then ever to shadow Veck, who’s own internal struggle is just beginning. Honestly I could go on and on about the plot. So much happens and I‘m not doing it justice here so I will stop. It is intricate, shocking, suspenseful, exciting, sexy and just well played. Cheers ...more
“Forget desperate. One hundred and eighty years without an orgasm had finally taken its toll. She’d crossed the line from desperate to completely dera“Forget desperate. One hundred and eighty years without an orgasm had finally taken its toll. She’d crossed the line from desperate to completely deranged.”
Vampire Viviana Darland has come to the small Texas town of Skull Creek seeking out the last and only man to ever gave her an orgasm and she‘s not leaving until she gets it. Hot on her trail are two revenge driven vampires she created, hell bent on destroying Viv to regain their humanity in a kill the sire become human again domino effect.
Viv’s tired of running and she’s willing to pay for her past but first she’s going to seduce Garret Sawyer and get her last O on. This vampire is going to go with a bang. (LOL, I don’t think I’ve ever used the O word quite so many times in a review before)
When not creating custom motorcycles at his chop-shop or breaking horses Garrett is also searching for the one that created him. He‘s close now, he can feel it, so the last person he has time for is Viviana. It’s been over a hundred years since he’s seen her and despite banging everything in sight he still hasn’t been able to get over the pain of his first love’s betrayal. And now just when he’s taken a vow of chastity she’s trying to seduce him, come on, like that’s ever going to happen again. Theres just no way he’s going to give her what she wants, what she needs.
This is the final book from Kimberly Raye’s sexy and hilarious Love At First Bite trilogy. Set in Skull Creek Texas (I want to move there) These quickie romances follow the love connections of eccentric but completely likable women as they get their groove on and find true love with gorgeous Texan cowboys who also just happen to be vampires.
Now while I loved the first two books Dead Sexy and Drop Dead Gorgeous this final instalment was a disappointment. It was missing the humour, small town antics and hilarious secondary characters that made the first two books great. The ending also felt rushed and was really more of a set up for her next series then a satisfactory conclusion. Still this had its moments on motorcycles and underwater and I will give it this; it’s very Blaze-ish (if you know what I mean) but I guess with a tag line about a vampire seeking her last orgasm how could it be anything but erotic. I would recommend the first two from the series and sadly give this a miss. ...more
Opening Line: “He was growing hungry for the night”
I BURN FOR YOU was an okay read. I mean I won’t be rushing out for the rest of the series or anythiOpening Line: “He was growing hungry for the night”
I BURN FOR YOU was an okay read. I mean I won’t be rushing out for the rest of the series or anything but it did have its moments. It’s the first book from Susan Sizemore’s Prime series (which is also available in the omnibus Crave the Night) Providing us with yet another unique take on Vampire romance. I have to say though that I enjoyed the world building here and for the most part, as a first-book-in-series it wasn’t overwhelmed with huge info dumps but explained gradually throughout.
Our hero is of course Vampalicious; dreamy, tortured and seriously alpha or “The Prime” as his chest beating manliness is explained as here. There are interesting secondary characters and some funny dialogue and I enjoyed the premonitions/dreams aspect from our heroine as well as the mind melding process our couple went through. The love scenes are steamy enough but nothing special, which was how I felt about the romance in general -nothing that I’ll remember for very long. My only true complaint (other then the blahness) was the abrupt ending, with several loose ends left hanging and a general feeling of what? That’s it? Still there’s way worse paranormal romance out there.
Alec Reynard is battling his inner demons and true vampire self. Undergoing secret medical treatments that allow him to go out in the daylight and live among humans. Alec keeps himself on a very tight leash and everything seems to be going according to plan until he feels the call of his “Bond Mate” She brings out the beast in Alex and suddenly his cocktail of drugs isn’t working so well anymore, hence the recent sunburn and aggression issues he‘s been experiencing.
Domini Lancer works at her grandfather’s security company as a bodyguard. She’s experienced premonitions her entire life and has grown used to the occasional weird dream. Lately though these dreams have been taking on a life of their own, filled with erotic visions of sex, blood and a man she doesn’t know. And now that voice in her head is there even when she’s awake, compelling her to buy peaches and go places she’s not entirely comfortable with.
So while Domini doesn’t yet know what she is or the danger this places her in Alec as her soul mate and The Prime is driven to protect her. Taking a job at the old man’s company he’s soon teamed up with Domini on their latest security detail. (Hmm mind influence anyone) As the darkness seizes him there is nothing Alec won’t do to keep Domini safe… And claim her as his own. ...more
Opening Line: "Xcor saw his father killed when he was but five years past his transition." **Spoiler Free** Ah yes, how sweet it is to be back with the Opening Line: "Xcor saw his father killed when he was but five years past his transition." **Spoiler Free** Ah yes, how sweet it is to be back with the Black Dagger Brotherhood. It was with some anticipation (understatement) that I cracked open the 489 pages I’d waited almost a year on, and it was with baited breathe that I began. Wondering exactly what direction JR Ward was going to take this 9th instalment in? Well I can tell you that with this one she does not disappoint, giving us fans exactly what we've been waiting for and then some.
Starting where (Lover Mine) left off and with her usual flair (the first 4 words will have you smiling) we get; multiple POV’s, evolving story lines, ass-kicking action and major injuries to most of the Brotherhood. We revisit past characters(Jose del la Cruz) while being introduced to new ones, including (among others) the intriguing ‘Band of Bastards’. This group of 6 is around to stay and with them comes an endless supply of future story possibilities.
With blasts of tension, humour, romance and way erotic love scenes we witness a couple of characters fall apart, see unrequited love, get major hints of things to come, and while laughing with Rhage and Fritz in the billiards room we also worry about the future of the King. Even though our main love story here is not as dominant as in past books, I have no complaints as Ward manages to include and give us moments with each and every member of the Brotherhood mansion in one way or another. And while I ached for Qhuinn and Blay, then there was V. And oh the V. True?
As much as this is pegged as Payne and Manny’s book LOVER UNLEASHED really belongs to Vishous and isn't it great (understatement) to be back in his, intricate, messed up, dirty lil mind. Along with Butch and Jane this trio goes to some very dark places, taking us right along for the excruciating ride and finally putting to bed (so to speak) Butch and V’s relationship once and for all. I loved revisiting V and through him, hearing from the Cop again as well as getting to know Jane better-who has at last stopped feeling like a ghost (I may forgive Ward yet for killing her) And in the afterward, those quiet moments spent between Butch and V well … in his words, “I have no words. Sixteen languages, but no words.”
All this awesomeness has of course been wrapped up with Ward's unique style of writing although this time there's a different vibe to it and it took me a while to put my finger on what it was. The multiple f-bombs, rap references and Wardisms are still here but she's managed to stop jumping around as we did in LOVER MINE with Ghostbuster storylines and Old Country flashbacks.
She's also toned down the product placement and riddle filled sentences ((i.e.“A gust of wind went Nike across the flat landscape" And with less 'Lessers' to contend with here (much like in(Lover Unbound)and them operating without a visible leader's POV the entire story flows better and you don't find yourself grumbling, wanting to skip ahead. Overall this feels more like one of the original books from the series then the urban fantasy-ish instalments of late.
Regarding Payne and Manny; I enjoyed this couple, verily I did. I’ve loved Manny from the first time we met him and enjoyed getting to know him here. His interactions/revelations with Butch are hilarious as is his discovery of Jane and the whole BDB world. Payne wasn’t as tough as I was expecting although she does manage to rescue herself while spending a considerable amount of time paralyzed. Manny’s method of healing her is very... Marvin Gaye and although their actual HEA is kinda corny I liked how Ward found a way to keep them together.
In the end Ward leaves us smiling with contentment (although I had been hoping for a mating ceremony and not the one you’d expect) and with events wide open for future stories that I can't wait to discover. I just wish it wasn't so far away because after spending just a few days with the BDB I'm not ready to let them go yet. See ya next year boys, stay safe. True.
Oh I've also just learned that book #10 will be Tohrment’s story. Wow that's bound to be a tearjerker. Cheers ...more
“It was the best sex she'd had in months. The only sex. Which wouldn't be such a bad thing except that the elusive O came courtesy of a red vibrator c“It was the best sex she'd had in months. The only sex. Which wouldn't be such a bad thing except that the elusive O came courtesy of a red vibrator called the Big Tamale rather than some hot, buff cowboy with a slow hand and an intoxicating smile.”
So with an opening paragraph like this you know you’re in for a fun ride and for the most part DROP DEAD GORGEOUS doesn’t disappoint. This is book 2 from Kimberly Raye’s sexy and hilarious Love At First Bite trilogy. Set in Skull Creek Texas these quickie romances follow the small town antics and love connections of some rather eccentric but completely likable women as they get their groove on and find true love with gorgeous Texan cowboys who also just happen to be Vampires.
Dillon Cash used to be the biggest geek in Skull Creek until he inadvertently got between two warring vampires, losing his human life in the process. Now he’s back and better than ever, in fact except for whole burning to a crisp in the sun thingy and a small aversion to garlic, his new life rocks. This former nerdy computer tech’s been transformed into a hunka, hunka burning vampire love and every woman in town wants a piece of him.
Meg Sweeny or “Manhandler Meg” as she’s been known since high school, can’t believe the changes in her old friend Dillon. Now not only does she want his body but she wants his secret as well. You see Meg is a closeted geek and if Dillon can suddenly morph into a stud then theres a chance that with a little of his instruction she can become the much desired sex kitten she’s always wanted to be too.
All Dillon wants to do is erase his geeky reputation and blaze a trail as the towns studliest guy, possibly even emerging #1 on the coveted "Randiest Rooster" list. But theres something about his old pal Meg he can’t refuse, she see’s past his new muscles and heartthrob status and damn if he hadn’t always thought she was irresistible anyways. Our couple engage in a cat and mouse game of who’s seducing who and of course lose their hearts in the process.
Although I didn’t enjoy this as much as Dead Sexy this was still a good read. My only real problem being that geek heroes just don’t do it for me and regardless of his hot vampire makeover I never felt much of anything for Dillon. Even the love scenes (which are plenty spicy) didn’t work for me. But that’s just me. However the truly great thing about this series (besides the fact that it’s frigging hilarious) is the awesome cast of unconventional townsfolk and the crazy adventures they manage to get themselves into. Raye has written this in such an endearing, fun way that I find myself wanting to move to Skull Creek just so that I can spend Friday nights at Joe Bob’s Bar and Grill and buy my groceries at the local Piggly Wiggly. Not to mention the fact that I might bag myself a cowboy Vamp and make it onto the Gazette’s hot chicks list. Cheers...more
Opening Line; "He hadn't had sex in forty-eight hours. While two days of deprivation was nothing for most men, Cody Braddock wasn't the average guy."
IOpening Line; "He hadn't had sex in forty-eight hours. While two days of deprivation was nothing for most men, Cody Braddock wasn't the average guy."
I’ve really been enjoying Kimberly Raye's sexy and hilarious Love At First Bite series. Set in Skull Creek Texas (where I’m seriously considering moving) These quickie romances follow the love connections of several of the towns eligible women as they get their groove on and find true love with gorgeous cowboys who (oh yeah) also just happen to be vampires. Cowboy vampires who feed off sexual energy that is. Hmmm, now there’s an interesting concept.
Here we get Cody Braddock as our stud muffin. He’s a champion bull rider, so that piqued my interest even though he never actually rides a bull here. Anyways sexy vamp is seeking the one who turned him and murdered his family back during the civil war. Cody plans to kill his sire as an act of revenge but also to gain back his mortality. To have the strength required to destroy his nemesis though, Jake is going to need his batteries fully charged and since he feeds off sexual energy that’s where his little stop at a crowded bar in Austin Texas comes in.
Miranda Rivers has done everything possible not to be like her wild and wanton mama and sisters, even going so far as to except an e-mailed marriage proposal from her boring but dependable boyfriend who owns the town dry cleaners. Nobody will ever gossip about her again. But before she settles… down that is, Miranda wants one night of no strings attached, pure orgasmic sex. She’s looking for the big O and she may have just found him.
What our couple hadn’t counted on from this one night stand was an instant connection. Cody’s body hasn’t had “that” reaction to a woman in over 100 years and Miranda seems to be able to sense and feel his emotions. When Cody’s hunt for his maker takes him to Skull Creek choppers and back to Miranda and because one night wasn’t enough for either of them they decide to put a dent in the “Randy’s hottest sex spots” list. They’ll have one week to do it behind the bleachers at the football stadium, at the gazebo in the town square, the history section of the library etc. Then Cody’s either getting killed or leaving and Miranda’s going to marry boring ole what’s-his-name. Right?
I should mention that while I loved the first two books Dead Sexy and Drop Dead Gorgeous these more recent instalments just seem to more of the same, with slight tweaks to an almost identical story. In fact in going over my old reviews I realized that if you’ve read the first book then you’ve already read this story. Cheers people. ...more
Opening Line: “Two things pain can do for you: sharpen you up or dull you down. It never does anything for your mood.”
I’m pretty certain this was a caOpening Line: “Two things pain can do for you: sharpen you up or dull you down. It never does anything for your mood.”
I’m pretty certain this was a case of the right book at the right time. And I say that because I’ve read some highly rated books lately that for whatever reason I’ve struggled to get through and yet couldn’t put this one down. It might just be that I haven’t read a paranormal (vampire) romance for ages and I welcomed the change from NA, YA, erotic shades of grey and romantic suspense, or it was a cleansing of the palate back from the days when I read nothing but vampire romances.( I think I must have missed them.) Then again maybe this was just an awesome book.
Anyhow, I Thirst For You is the second in the Prime series and I loved it. Easily read as a standalone (some world background/clan history is provided) this is a great story that will hit all your secret vampire fantasy buttons (you’d forgotten about) and will also work for those of you (me) into the whole kidnapping/taken hostage/prisoner on the run thing -I personally love that theme. The story is very sexy, humorous, with good action scenes and an exciting yet somewhat predictable ending. All in all it’s a great ride, in fact for the first hundred pages or so I couldn’t put it down.
Pilot Josephine Elliot is recovering from a plane crash which left her feeling responsible for the death of several of her passengers. Filled with guilt she has escaped to the quiet of the desert for a week of camping and solitude. Jo is also suffering because she is able to read emotions and right now needs to block the noise in her head.
Vampire and ‘prime’ Marcus Cage has just escaped from a top secret lab and is running across the desert. He is very hungry having been starved, abused and used as a test subject for months. As Marcus moves through the desert night he senses Jo, not just her heartbeat and the blood coursing through her veins but something else too. She has that “it” qualifying her as his soul mate should he choose to act upon it and providing he doesn’t drain her dry first because he is so thirsty.
For about half of this book Marcus holds Jo prisoner while he tries to outrun the bad guys and a raging forest fire set to flush him out. They stay in cheap motels and Jo initially spends a great deal of energy trying to escape (when she’s not hypnotized into sleep that is.) They soon begin sharing dreams/nightmares and Jo learns Marcus’ story, so that as much as she wants to escape him she also wants to help him and then she just plain wants him.
Marcus is pretty great (as far as vampire kidnappers go) forceful yet also considerate and restrained (it is after all his birthright as ‘prime’ to have sex whenever and with whomever he chooses)
There is an awesome foiled escape attempt (resulting in a Jeeps suspension getting a work out) and then Marcus lets her go having developed feelings and not wanting to risk Jo's safety any longer. The conclusion sees us back at the secret testing facility and began to remind me very much of Lora Leigh’s Breed series, with crazy scientists, genetic experimentation and hidden cameras while the bad dudes take their clothes, lock them up together and watch. Yeah. 385jb4.5...more
Opening Line: "The newspaper headline glared at me from a little vending machine: SEATTLE UNDER SEIGE--DEATH TOLL RISES AGAIN."
I was surprised by howOpening Line: "The newspaper headline glared at me from a little vending machine: SEATTLE UNDER SEIGE--DEATH TOLL RISES AGAIN."
I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this, I mean Bree's character only has a tiny part in Stephanie Meyers Twilight world so she and the rest of the newborns can’t really have much of a story to tell can they? Well as it turns out the answer is Yes. At 178 pages this novella manages to also give up some new revelations regarding Jane and the "dark cloaks" (Volturi) -jeez, that Jane is evil! And I absolutely loved seeing Carlisle, Jasper, Bella and “the red headed mind reader” from an outsider’s perspective.
There was more violence here then I would have expected from Meyer, as the newborns pillage Seattle and dispose of their drained food sources. I was also freaked out by a scene involving the armies seizure of a passenger ferry in the Puget Sound and the insuring carnage as the dine on their human buffet (I live on an island in the pacific northwest) We are also introduced to a couple of fantastic new characters; Diego as Bree’s love interest and in particular Freaky Fred, who I really hope to read about again someday. Because we all know the outcome there is a building level of suspense throughout the story. And as the inevitable Eclipse battle approached I found myself wishing for a different ending to Bree’s short second life as I'd come to genuinely care about her which I believe was Meyer's point.
Bree Tanner can barely remember a life before the relentless burning thirst took over. Now as a newborn Vampire this 15 year old runaway lives a precarious existence, trying not to draw attention to herself while her and her fellow newborns fight amongst themselves, killing each other as often as their prey. Her only other constants would be Riley, who as their leader the army follows submissively and without question and a horrifying creator known only as "her".
After 3 months Bree finds an unexpected friend in Diego when the pair discover that they can in fact go out in the daylight without turning into a pile of ash (a stake through the heart is pretty useless too) They quickly begin to wonder what else Riley’s been lying about and question his agenda as a whole. However as their friendship blossoms Bree and Diego soon realize that they’re nothing but pawns in a war that has little to do with them. But when everything you know about yourself as a vampire is based on a lie how do you find out the truth, who do you trust and how do you get yourself free?
With such an insignificant character like Bree getting her story told I realized that the novella possibilities here are endless. Now if we could only convince Stephanie Meyer to finally finish Midnight Sun. *sigh*
"Don't watch" the redheaded mind reader whispered. I closed my eyes." ...more