Book Review: Three Musketeers: Midnight Heat

Book Title: The Three Musketeers # 3: Midnight Heat
Author: Donna Kauffman

Publisher: Loveswept: Random House
Format: ebook

Cost: $2.99

Pages: 240

How I got it: NetGalley

My Rating:★★★1/2
Erotica Rating: N/A
Synopsis:

They call themselves the Three Musketeers: three lifelong friends, men who will put it all on the line in the name of honor and loyalty. Friendship is the most important thing in Dane Colbourne’s life—apart from his job as a determined investigator who never leaves a case unsolved. After the near-catastrophic midair collision of two planes, Dane focuses his laserlike intensity on the air traffic controller who appears to be responsible. But when she claims innocence with equal ferocity, Dane knows he may finally have met his match. Adria Burke has gone over the details of “the incident” in her head: She is certain there was a third plane in the air at the time of the collision, and that she actually saved hundreds of lives with her commands. But how can she convince Dane of the truth? As they try to ignore the fact that there is an undeniable spark between them, together Adria and Dane uncover evidence that there was something else going on in the sky the night of the incident. But will their passion leave both of them permanently grounded?

My Review:
Good story, this is the first book in the series that I read & I am looking forward to reading the rest. These men seem captivating.  This story in particular had well written characters, it's also apparently picking up where Born to Be Wild left off, which is great if you have read the other story (which I haven't done so yet).

Donna writes in a way that draws you in and allows you to fall in love with her characters.  they are so well written & rounded that you feel like you know them.  In this book she smoothly brings back the other characters without them taking over the book, but enhancing this story at the same time.  I enjoyed how Adria & Dane met, especially because they both had to hold back their natural inclinations: to be a smart ass in Adria's case and rampant curiosity & attraction in Dane's care. Right away you could tell they were going to be a fun couple to read & they didn't disappoint.

Adria's & Dane's love & passion for flying planes & being around planes provided them with great common ground & so did their past, both having had tough times with deep loss.  I loved that they were drawn to each other & decided to explore it.  Despite everything going on around them they still made the decision to be together.

Adria has a few issues she needed to deal with and when it seems like Dane has gone against everything she thought they had, she decided to take matters in her own hands.  That final confrontation between then was both sad and endearing because here were two people trying to decide if they were in it together or if they should stand behind their pride.

Poor Adria, her whole career in the balance, being threatened, a co-worker who allowed her to take the rap for him, considering their job, she actually was being foolish there, but I get helping out your friends. The only thing good out of this situation had to be meeting Dane, and the family he brought along with him.


This is perhaps out of the two I read that is most dated, they talked of beepers, and payphones, while talking about cellphones, but I get it, some places still have payphones (not DC where they are but some still do)

A very good, quick read, I highly recommend this one as well as the rest of the series.

Happy Reading my loves

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***FTC Rules require I state that I received this as a review copy from the author/publisher in exchange for an honest review**** 

ARC Book Review: Lana's Lawman

Book Title: Lana's Lawman
Author: Karen Leabo

Publisher: Random House/ Loveswept Classic Romance
Format: ebook

Cost: $2.99

Pages: 320

How I got it: NetGalley

My Rating:★★★★☆
Erotica Rating: 
Synopsis:

Though it’s been years since Sloan Bennett has seen Lana Gaston, time melts instantly when he comes to her rescue during a Texas thunderstorm. Lana was everything a teenage bad boy couldn’t have . . . but she felt like his for three magical weeks. Then she broke his heart—and Sloan walked away from Destiny, Texas. But now he’s back, wearing a badge, and wondering if fate has decided to give him another chance. A struggling single mom, Lana can’t help looking back at all the wrong choices she made. With Sloan so close again, she’s filled with old regrets and deep new longing. Could the silly souvenir of a policeman’s badge, given to her by a fortune-teller, have more meaning than she ever dared to dream? Once, Lana didn’t have the courage to tell Sloan how much she cared. So she hurt him instead. But as his sensual lips dare to kiss away yesterday’s pain, she’ll risk her heart to let him know that this time, she’s his forever.

My Review:

Ohhh boy, bad boys who become good boys & ride motorcycles, & wear uniforms. Who wouldn't love that?? I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I read it in like one day. The beginning of the story was so engaging I started adding the other books even before I started reading the rest of the book, I just knew it would be good!!

I was hooked from the prologue and the book didn't disappoint at all. I loved catching up with Lana & learning her story; a pretty good catch~up on what happens to the high school's most popular student, & it doesn't always have a happy ending.

Much like Lana I thought she was the one who delayed getting married, but nope she was the second of the three in the prophesy.  She was actually pretty good as a character, she was strong but very vulnerable, floundering in knowing who she was after a relationship that was devastating.  Finding herself means giving up all she was known and comfortable with, & going all in with everything she has to make a better life for herself and her son.

In walks her old love, her first love, the bad boy, Sloane who became a cop & man oh man do the sparks fly. I loved that their love wasn't perfect as soon as they met, they had to work at it. Lana was a woman who had a hard first marriage & isn't trying to make the same mistake. She fights hard not to dive in and give up her freedom, or her independence, but wants a relationship, she has to learn how to balance being able to lean on someone and just giving up completely to someone.  She lacked confidence in herself & her decisions & saw anyone's help as a threat to her independence (even when it wasn't)

Sloane was an amazing character, he is more comfortable relating to people as a cop than as a man, because he has never known what it is to have someone love him down to his bones. He's had a pretty tough life until a good man took an interest and gave him something to strive for.   Even though he had done everything he wanted coming home to Destiny & finding Lana there brought him back to those teenager years after she broke up with him.  He had his doubts as well but still he made the decision to go full throttle especially with Lana's son Rob.  Sloane was an amazing role model in that situation  I felt so deeply for him when his incident happened.  I'm glad it brought them together

I enjoyed the story, even though there was a moment after Rob got into trouble that I wanted to slap Lana for her reaction; eventually she got her head on straight but still it took an eight year for her to see it;  out of the mouths of babes is all I can say.  I loved Sloane as a character & Lana was pretty good as well.  the ex husband wasn't fleshed out, but then he was only a background character anyway.  I wanted more about her friends and I can't wait to read Millicent's story especially ( I mean have you seen that cover??) 

Enjoy the read my loves

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***FTC Rules require I state that I received this as a review copy from the author/publisher in exchange for an honest review**** 

ARC Book Review: Dark Knight

Book Title: Dark Knight
Author: Donna Kauffman

Publisher: Random House
Format: ebook

Cost: $2.99

Pages: 240

How I got it: Netgalley/ Purchased

My Rating:★★★★☆
Erotica Rating: N/A
Synopsis:

A rogue warrior who challenged her to taste the pleasures of surrender. . . He was her mission, a midnight capture she'd trained for, but Logan Blackstone sensed her presence in the isolated cabin--and pinned agent Scottie Giardi to the bed! Utterly primitive, stark naked, and dangerous in every way that mattered, Logan demanded the truth in a voice as seductive as it was lethal. Recklessly aroused by this dark god, Scottie responded with potent abandon, but once he'd claimed her soul, would he keep it? Fierce and mesmerizing, achingly intense and breathlessly sensual, Donna Kauffman's sizzling story of perfectly matched adversaries is one of her wildest--and one of her best! He tantalized her, overwhelmed her, and taught her the exquisite thrill of losing control, but could a woman who never played it safe find sanctuary in this renegade's heart?

My Review:
"After all, she had drugged, shot at, and chained the man within twenty-four hours of meeting him. Why the hell shouldn’t he believe her capable of worse" Scottie, Dark Knight

Extremely fast read. Well written characters that weren't stilted or stiff, the story line nor the dialogue felt forced. I really loved the characters because they made sense together, they flowed well.  From the get go I loved Scottie, she's driven, resourceful, & knows her own mind (of course that's before she met Logan, then all hell breaks loose).  Here to do the job the by the rules Scottie is in for it with a fly the seat of his pants renegade Logan; who doesn't it take kindly that this strange woman has shot him full of drugs & hogtied him to the bed.

He grumbled something, then wrenched onto his stomach as if some invisible force had shoved him. Her mouth went dry. A coil of white linen between his legs was all that covered him. Somewhere she found enough spit to swallow. But she couldn't dredge up a denial. She wanted that sheet gone. In fact, she curled her hands into fists against the temptation to step into the room, grab the sheet and tug it the rest of the way off of him.The man was simply too glorious to be covered. He deserved to be naked. He had the kind of sprawled grace that would make artists of any medium salivate. Chapter 1.

Man oh man from the first few pages, the two hit it off. Ever mindful she has a mission to accomplish Scottie is here to the job & Logan's not about to make that easy for her. Every turn they find themselves fighting for the upper-hand. In each other the two have found a kindred spirit & even though the book states that there is some adventure involved it's mostly off the pages (so like deep background stuff).  This book is more of a character book with the focus being on Logan & Scottie & the love affair they are engaging in.  

I can't wait to find Lucas story or the other women/men of the Dirty Dozen, they sound intriguing.  Although accelerated due to the dangerous situation the action is a foregone conclusion & takes place mostly off page.  The rest of the book is about them & the buildup of trust between them.

The pop & sizzle between the two gives a pretty big buildup, it leads to a pretty good love scene between them. Not the modern day, porn/graphic erotica detail but still a good basic about them love scene.  I liked that they were 'kindred souls' & found a home in each other.  It was a good novel.  I like Donna's writing & look forward to enjoying some more of her books.

A definite must read, add to your book pile asap. Happy Reading

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***FTC Rules require I state that I received this as a review copy from the author/publisher in exchange for an honest review**** 

ARC Book Review: Colton Showdown

Book Title: Colton Showdown
Author: Marie Ferrarella

Publisher: Harlequin Romantic Suspense
Format: ebook/ paperback

Cost: $5.25

Pages: 224

How I got it: NetGalley

My Rating:★★★★★
Erotica Rating: N/A
Synopsis:

"You're safe from those monsters now."It's supposed to be the final confrontation. Philly detective Tate Colton will go under cover to bust the sex trafficking ring targeting young Amish women. He doesn't count on his sting operation falling apart—or being forced to escape with the breathtaking key witness he's sworn to protect. Hiding in New York City with a handsome detective? Amish seamstress Hannah Troyer's more than a little out of her element. The big city—and men like Tate—are part of a world that's nothing like what she's used to. As danger inches closer, he's her only route to safety…and a forbidden attraction she dares to indulge in

My Review:
Wow, now I have to find the other sibling's stories.  This is book four of the series, and it's written that way.  Most books you can read without having read the first few books, this one you kinda had to have read them to really understand the back story, the previous couples and their stories, but you can still read it on it's own.  (all of that is to say I have read the books out of order..oops).  I so want to read Caleb's story he seems like an intriguing gentleman. I personally loved Tate, it was told mostly from his POV & yet at the same time it wasn't first person.

I do have to say this is a very sensitive story that the author has chosen to write and she does it beautifully.  Marie handled the story well without being trite or being too overdone.  She does get repetitive when describing the bad guys ( we get it they are scum, no arguments here, no need to have several paragraphs describing why the cop is the good guy & they aren't we got it.)  I do have to say I didn't put the book down until I finished it (about three days, work kept interfering with my reading) because it was that captivating to read the story between Colton & Hannah.

Hannah is an Amish woman kidnapped and sold to the highest bidder, which luckily for her is Detective Tate Colton,  he's there to rescue her & the other young women being snagged from their small town of Paradise Ridge.  Tate works hard to stay focused & on target, his job is to get the ringleader not fall in love, but we know what they say about Gods & plans right??

I loved Hannah, even though she was like a brand new baby in the world she was fascinated and so in love with everything she made it new for Tate who is of course a little jaded after many years on the force in Philly.

The only thing I didn't like (and this is just a personal thing) but the author's obsession with Hannah's virginity, I understand that it's why she was stolen, but Tate's belief that she was 'innocent' and 'pure' kept being brought up. I get that why she was being sold was because of her virginity but it doesn't mean she herself as a woman is an "innocent/pure" human being. I dislike when purity myth is banded about especially now, but hey I guess that's the point of the story right??

Either way it's still a good read, & fast paced as well. Now excuse why I add three new books to the TBR Pile so I can catch up with the rest of the Colton's. ( Wait what do you mean I'm defeating the purpose of the TBR Pile?? You mean I'm not supposed to add books?? Well then I fail don't I??) Happy Reading my loves.

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***FTC Rules require I state that I received this as a review copy from the author/publisher in exchange for an honest review**** 

ARC Book Review: My Kind of Christmas

Book Title: My Kind of Christmas
Author: Robyn Carr

Publisher: Harlequin Mira
Format: paperback, ebook

Cost: $7.99, $4.00

Pages: 314

How I got it: NetGalley

My Rating:★★★★☆
Erotica Rating: N/A
Synopsis:

The Riordan brothers may have a reputation for being rough-and tumble, but Patrick has always been the gentle, sweet-natured one. These days, his easygoing manner is being tested by his high-octane career as a navy pilot. But for the Riordan brothers, when the going gets tough…the tough find the love of a good woman. Except the woman who has caught Patrick’s attention is Jack Sheridan’s very attractive niece. Angie LeCroix comes to Virgin River to spend Christmas relaxing, away from her well-intentioned but hovering mother. Yet instead of freedom, she gets Jack Sheridan. If her uncle had his way, she’d never go out again. And certainly not with rugged, handsome Patrick Riordan. But Angie has her own idea of the kind of Christmas she wants—and the kind of man! Patrick and Angie thought they wanted to be left alone this Christmas—until they meet each other. Then they want to be left alone together. But the Sheridan and Riordan families have different plans for Patrick and Angie—and for Christmas, Virgin River–style!

My Review:
This is a sweet Christmas romance, it's short & sweet. It's written as a part of a series, yet you can read it as a stand alone.  It references a few couples from previous books (which have been added to the 2013 to be read pile of course).

In this novel we meet with Angie & Paddy who are both recovering from traumatic events in their lives, Angie almost died & it's forcing her to re-evaluate her wants & needs.  Many of her goals & plans are ones her parents pushed her into & she wants to see if they are the right ones for her or has she been living for them this whole time.  Her mother pushes really hard for her to get back to 'normal' as fast as possible not even seeing that maybe this is a new normal.  I liked that Angie was willing to fight for her own needs & took the chance to go & re-evaluate and not just jump back in because it would help others feel more comfortable.  Although this rebellion led to some serious fireworks between her & her mother.

Patrick (Paddy) is trying to decide if being up in the air is still his love & dream.  After watching his best friend being shot down he is understandably having a hard time.  He takes sometime to rethink his life plan & also reconcile his new life goals with what he is going to do to protect & provide for his best friend's widow & son.  Ohhh Paddy is so sweet, to even have that as an idea is sweet (misguided) but sweet non the less.

When they meet they hit it off immediately because Angie has decided she won't let life slide by her anymore.  Her family in town especially her Uncle Jake who still thinks of her as a little kid has a cow

Jake cringed " Ah, dammit he's playing around with her hair!!

Luke laughed a little harder "I've played with hair...you've played with hair..."

"She's too young!! I don't want that to happen" he said glumly.

"Out of my hand. He's a Riordan, That fact that he's always been a real docile & sweet Riordan makes no difference at all. That Riordan..if he's got his eye on a target__hey nothing any of us can do"  Luke says

Can i say how much I laughed at this scene?? I could so see this happening. I laughed really well reading this book. This would make a great Christmas movie especially with the little miracle that gets thrown in, which helps Angie back onto her path. This wasn't cheesy or forced, it was a good read & the extended families?? had me cracking up. Especially when Paddy asks his brothers if they felt like dirty old men for marrying younger women.  I swear the author knows my mother, the bossiness must be a mother trait.

I had fun reading this book it was a really good straight up romance, no weird action thrown in, or weird crazy happenings, just a good romance and a reason for each of them to go back to their lives healed & happy. I loved it & the ending of course just cinched it more for me.  I can't wait to read the other 19 books especially Jake's & Luke's stories because they are interesting & fun characters.

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Book Review: Dark Possession

Book Title: Dark Possession

Author: Christine Feehan
Publisher: Berkeley Hardcover

Format: Hardcover

Cost: $24.95

Pages: 352

How I got it: Library 

My Rating:★★★★★
Erotica Rating: ★★★★
Synopsis:

Manolito De La Cruz knew he was dangerously close to turning into a vampire. The last thing he expected after being called back to his Carpathian homeland by Prince Mikhail was to catch the scent of his destined lifemate in MaryAnn Delaney. MaryAnn is human, but she knows all too well the aggressive instincts of Carpathian males. And they're not exactly the kind of men she'd prefer to be bound to for life.
A dedicated counselor for battered women, MaryAnn has a fulfilling life with no room for someone like Manolito, born and bred in the Carpathian mountains, a law unto himself. But when MaryAnn agrees to go to South America to offer guidance to a brutalized young woman, she has no idea a trap awaits her in the sweltering thick of the jungle. She has been drawn there by Manolito himself, who has seductive plans for the unaware, irresistibly human female..

My Review:

Manuel/Monlito is an awesome Carpathian, on who knows true honor and what it is to be a hero.warrior. we first meet him in Dark Celebration and this is where his true story begins, unlike ther est of the series is you missed this book first then you missed the real beginning of this story, so when you started Dark Possession you were already behind. I realy loved mauel because he constantly stood behind his word, he placed himself in danger constantly and in the reunion novel was the one to make the greatest sacrifice to protect Jacques and Shea's baby.

Meeting MaryAnn, whose grief let everyone she was Manuel's lifemate which of course made this story line interesting and unique compared to the others. Unlike the other women who have found themselves sucked into this new world Maryann knew about the Carpathian world, after all her best friend was married to Manuel's older brother; she is recruited to help the jaguar women who have been victimized and raped, and she also begins to help Solange, which leads to Solange being more open to meeting Dominic later. See this is how the books build on each other, because without Maryann I'm sure Dominic would have had to fight harder for his mate, but anyway this isn't their story this is MaryAnn's and Manuels, can i also say that I freaking love that their is a black character in this one, finally a female black lead, although MaryAnn at the beginning is a bit of a punk, but still it makes her unique and lovable.

MaryAnn herself isn't quite human and she sense this but is very afraid of what it means and what she is so she hides from it, she still doesn't quite believe in the Carpathian world even though she is apart of it, she figures it's a horrible nightmare or just a disease for them, Le Sigh MaryAnn Le Sigh. Because I had already read several of the other books out of sequence I already knew what MaryAnn was, but still how she finally figures it out was never discussed in the other books and this one scene was freaking AWESOME!! I loved that she was a girly girl and had her ways of building up her confidence,even when she knew she was in the wrong. *who really brings stilettos to the jungle??*

A few CONS of the story:

Despite strong evidence to the contrary MaryAnn insists on pretending she is human, she fights her nature and then asks stupid questions (esp on page 205). She kept doing this over and over again, after a while it just got repetitive.

The men's belief that they had the right to determine what happened to the women, and overruled the women on many an occasion. O_o

PROS:

Manolito was willing to do whatever to get MaryAnn to accept him, even if it meant going against his instincts and the teachings of his brother. An example of this was saving Luis.

This book also included some serious good fast paced action, that just drew you in and didn't let go.Le Sigh, clearly by not reading the books in order I'm learning stuff which build on each other as the books went along. This book picked up from Dark Demon and Dark Celebration and laid the ground work for Dark Slayer and of course Dark Peril. Now I seriously would love to know what happens to Luis, this is one of the first characters of his kind, and I need to know. In dark peril, Solange's story we see the blending of species due to royal bloodlines, does the mean MaryAnn is a royal too?? I need to hurry up and read the others that I have skipped.

Definite get out and read it. Five stars for story and Four stars of steamy romance.This one is way better than predator, considering Manuel was raised by his brother. O_o

Book Review: Dark Celebration

Book Title: Dark Celebration

Author: Christine Feehan

Publisher: Jove Novel

Cost: $7.99

Pages: 298

How I got it: PaperBackswap

My Rating:★★★☆☆
Synopsis:

After centuries as the prince of the Carpathians, Mikhail Dubrinsky fears he can't protect his people for long from their greatest threat: the extinction of their species at the hands of their immortal enemies--who are devising a scheme to slaughter Carpathian females. But even with his own lifemate, Raven, and their daughter, Savannah, vulnerable to the encroaching evil, Mikhail's hope is not lost.

My Review:

This is the reunion book of the series, it's the first time in the series that all the major characters are together, it also includes the start of Skyler's story with Dimitri that everyone ahs been talking about.  It's a pretty amazing to read the follow up to everyone's story and fo course see the beginning of MaryAnn's story (FINALLY a Black character in this series).  Mikhail is trying to bring the ravaged pieces of his people back together by having them embrace the celebrations of their human counterparts.  It's a chance for the Carpathian men to gather and meet all that they are risking their lives for: their Prince, their people  & to see the hope of those who have found their mates.  The awakening Ancients also get a chance to swear alligiance to Mikhail.

Personally I thought it was stupid of them to be 'cooking' when they can't really eat it anyway, just a waste of resources. Most of the story if seen through the eyes of Mikhail as he travels to each of the couples, then they pick up the story and go from there sharing and following up on things that have happened since their stories.  The weaving of the different stories together was pretty amazing.

I did however a few things that grated the nerves:
1) Mikhail and Gregori's discussion where they stated that the Carpathian Earth Healer walked with her head unbowed, as if women shouldn't be proud as well.
2) Page 192 " If I had my way,  would choose a time in history when I could simply lock you up, keep you safe and to myself, never share you" ~ Rafael  ~~~Let me just say right now, that's not sexy at all, nope not at all.
3)The deleted scenes, especially the one of Skyler and Dimitri, let me just say, it's one thing if the female  characters are of age and are taking on these millennia old men, it's a whole other thing for it to be Sjyler, who we know is underage and is a survivor of sexual abuse. Give her time to grow the heck up, I mean she does discuss this in the book, they even talk about the fact that she shouldn't have been able to call to his soul until she was of age, and Dimitri talks about how he felt her when she was a child and whenever he tried to find her to help her she hid herself from him, cool I get it, but she's still a child and writing that into the story is just kinda scivvy. If you deleted it because it didn't fit; why put it in. It really just screamed pedophile to me, especially because she states she's too young to be his lifemate, then she is too young to be a sexual being.

Since I have already read Razvan's story before this, I kept feeling bad for him every time they talked down about him because I just wouldn't understand why no one ever thought if Xavier would go to war by killing a mated pair why they didn't didn't think maybe just maybe Razvan was a victim as well?? It was just easier to blame him and have someone they would hate than to really examine their own actions, and what they had done and didn't do that allowed Xavier such free reign for years.

All in all, the book was actually was pretty good. Short compared to the others, but still good.  It was awesome to have a few loose ends tied up in this book, and have new threats pulled that will show us some of the upcoming stories. So far I have loved many of the books and been intrigued by the story of the people of the Carpathian world. I can't wait to read the ones I have missed.
Happy Reading

Book Review: Salvation In Death

Book Title: Salvation in Death

Author: JD Robb
Publisher: Putnam
Pages: 353
Cost: $26.95
How I got it: Borrowed from the Library
My Rating: ★★★☆☆
Synopsis:

When Detective Lieutenant Eve Dallas confirms that the consecrated wine contained potassium cyanide, she’s determined to solve the murder of Father Miguel Flores, despite her discomfort with her surroundings. It’s not the bodegas and pawnshops of East Harlem that bother her, though the neighborhood is a long way from the stone mansion she shares with her billionaire husband, Roarke. It’s all that holiness flying around at St. Christobal’s that makes her uneasy.

My Review:
This time the murder revolved around a priest or a man who was so good at the con he played the Catholic Priest for years. I'm not sure how I feel about this five years and no one noticed that this man wasn't who he said he was?? How did he argue theology, give counsel, without anyone noticing he had no sodding clue what he was talking about?? He must be one hell of a con.  Only someone else was a better con than he was and he was killed.  This time I couldn't feel sorry for the victim like I do in the other books(sometimes), many times throughout Eve or Roarke flashback or talk about past victims, meet past victims and I have no earthly idea who the hell they are because I tend to forget you unless you are part of the core group (sad but true, otherwise there would be no room in the noggin for pertinent day to day information)

I liked that until she laid it out for me I was kept guessing on who the killers were; one of whom I would have never thought to look at. And the way the victim was killed?? Just too inventive by half.  This was a good story that for me had a few too many drawbacks, which is why i gave it three stars, I will explain the drawbacks below:

Now onto several things I noticed about Eve in this book that just about pissed me off, enough that i even threw the book across the room:

1. page 85, I noted on Goodreads while reading that Eve is a bitch. No one for any reason ever deserves to be abused, and considering Eve was once a victim herself you would think she has some sympathy for those who didn't murder their abusers. Eve is supposed to be complicated but in this case throughout most of the book I came borderline close to hating her, I mean really hating her especially after reading this scene.  
2. Eve seems to hate women everything that screams feminine she calls stupid.
3. She's a freaking hypocrite, she's a cop, her husband is a thief & a confessed murderer (okay he had a valid reason but still), and he is still breaking the law especially for her a lot of the time and her best friend was a con woman; and yet she has the nerve to give people the beady eye.
4. She looks down on cops who don't just do the job and those who became more than desk jockeys. She hates others who play the political game.
5. She's a bully who makes fun of everyone else's job yet her is so important. She is in a word a bitch and not in a good way. I need her to  grow already, take your ass to her Mira and work it out and stop letting that shyt be her fall back excuse for everything. 

It bothers me that Eve doesn't give quarter to other victims yet constantly uses it to excuse her behaviour. When others contradict what she has decided in her head like when Peabody tried to defend the woman on page 85, Eve shut her down pretty nastily. I need her friends to call bullshyt on some of these things, I need Roarke to rip her a new one. I need to hurry up and catch up and discover what happened to this Eve and the Eve I read in celebrity in Death, 'cause I'm dying to know what brought on the change, I mean clearly it wasn't in this story. It's harsh job but someones got to do it.

Happy Reading

Book Review: Promises in Death

Book Title: Promises in Death

Author: JD Robb

Publisher:Putnam & Sons

Cost:$26.95

Pages: 342

How I got it: Borrowed from Library

My Rating: ★★★☆☆
Synopsis:

Amarylis Coltraine may have recently transferred to the New York City police force from Atlanta, but she's been a cop long enough to know how to defend herself against an assailant. When she's taken down just steps away from her apartment, killed with her own weapon, for Eve the victim isn't just "one of us."
Dallas' friend, Chief Medical Examiner Morris, and Coltraine had started a serious relationship, and from all accounts the two were headed for a happy future together. But someone has put an end to all that. After breaking the news to Morris, Eve starts questioning everyone from Coltraine's squad, informants, and neighbors, while Eve's husband, Roarke, digs into computer data on Coltraine's life back in Atlanta. To their shock, they discover a connection between this case and their own painful, shadowy pasts.
The truth will need to be uncovered one layer at a time, starting with the box that arrives at Cop Central addressed to Eve containing Coltraine's guns, badge, and a note from her killer: "You can have them back. Maybe someday soon, I'll be sending yours to somebody else."
But Eve Dallas doesn't take too kindly to personal threats, and she is going to break this case, whatever it takes. And that's a promise.

My Review:

I'm remembering now why Eve and I parted ways. It's not as bad in this book as in the other book, but it's still there. I keep saying I'm going to do a series post and I have it mostly written up it will be up on Saturday.

As for this book, it's okay. The mystery is good, it takes a while to figure out who did it and even their motivation.  I enjoyed working up to that, the learning of who, and why. I however found this book to be Eve's most hypocritical book. Sometimes she works my nerves with her self righteousness and know it all attitude, but this time?? It just hit a few wrong notes for me. This time the cop who is killed has a relationship that is so much like Eve's yet Eve insists that she is a good person and anyone who looks at her was wrong for it. I just wanted to slap her.

I had a few laughs especially when Roarke discusses her new ride, but I'm beginning to get tired of the same rerun with Eve that happens in every single book.  You can't freaking tell me that at this age in your life you don't how to cut loose, let go and unwind.  Why is ok for her to be abusive in her position as a cop but when another cop does it (I'm not saying either of them should be doing it, but it's highly hypocritical) he's a "prick" (Eve's words not mine). I get that the story needs Roarke to be a genius, but you can't tell me that an entire department of young and fresh e-geeks who do this thing daily and their Captain aren't as good as Roarke is on the computer. Why does she insist on bringing him in on EVERY case?? Why has Capt Whitney not called BS on the 'expert consultant' gig??

Why are these women her friends?? In one scene she makes fun of the fact that all these 'smart women' yet it's the street kid turned mom who figured out who the killer was.  I'm really beginning to feel like Eve doesn't like other women, especially women who are confident or even okay with sex, or anything 'girlie' and feminine. I get that her life was hard when she was little, I get where she is coming from, but after a while the excuse of your childhood can only go so far. I need for Eve to freaking EVOLVE already and stop using that as an excuse to be a all around bitch.

The story also had some great side stories including the advancement of the Louis/Charles story line; we got to see Mavis and the new baby, and see Dr.Myra unwind and have fun at the party.  I enjoyed this story, I more enjoyed the scenes without Eve as the focus, I would recommend this book if your reading the series, otherwise, I don't honestly know, this isn't a bad book or even close to being bad, I'm just tired of Eve's refrain and the fact that none of her friends or the people who love her haven't called her on her BS yet.  It's okay, maybe it's annoying to me because I have read the latest book and know that she has evolved somewhat and I just want to get there and figure out what happened to bring the changes between this Eve and the Eve in Celebrity in Death.

Either way, Happy Reading

Book Review: Dark Peril

Book Title: Dark Peril

Author: Christine Feehan

Publisher:Berkeley Books New York

Cost:$25.95

Pages: 342

How I got it:  Library

My Rating: ★★★★☆
Synopsis:

Dominic, of the Dragonseeker lineage—one of the most powerful of the Carpathian lines—is desperate to go to the very heart of the enemy camp and learn their plans.  There’s only one way to do so: ingest the parasitic blood of a vampire.  He knows that it is a mission from which there is no return. With little time before the blood takes effect, he’ll get the information he needs, relay it to the leader of the Carpathians, and go out fighting.  There is no more honorable way to end his life.Solange Sangria is one of the last of the jaguar people, a royal pureblood, a dying species that cannot recover from bad decisions made over hundreds of years. She has long been alone, fighting to save the remaining shapeshifters from the hands of Brodrick the Terrible: her own father, who slaughtered her family and everyone she loved.  Wounded and weary, she plans one last battle, hoping to stop the man who has made an alliance with the vampires, accepting that she will not come out alive.They are two warriors who have lived their lives alone.  Now, at the end of their time, they find each other—an obstacle neither can ignore

My Review:

I so have to stop skipping around in this series, I really mean it this time. Omgosh I'm so sorry I read Dark Predator before I read this one; it doesn't excuse all of Zacarius' behaviour but it certainly explained it way better than Dark Predator did. Here we see the full scene of how very close he came to turning, how close he came to losing his lifemate and his honor all in one fell swoop.

Okay moving on to Dominic and Solange, I read a review before I picked this book up who couldn't understand why Solange who was supposed to be such a hard ass fell so 'quickly' umm did you read the same book i did?? Because it says right there in the book, in the first few chapters.  This is one of the few books, where the action was secondary to the relationship being formed and I believe that for these two characters it was necessary.

This is Dominic's story and I was in love right from the start, because I had read other story lines with him and he was a captivating figure who was seeking always seeking to know what happened to his sister. That kind of devotion endeared him to me from the start. Solange was a character we met before in the story of Riodarn and her cousin, it was lovely to see her again and learn her story. OMGosh her story is so painful, how can a man who should be King who should be the one looking to save his people be the one to tear them apart.  Dragonseeker Clan seems to be the Clan every Carpathian should want to be from, because no one in their Clan has ever turned vampire, which is why their plan worked so well.

Dominic and Solange are two people who have chosen suicide missions so their people can thrive, survive and live past what their enemies have planned. Dominic has done something none other has ever done, he has gone into the enemies lair in an attempt to learn all he can and take out as many as he can before he leaves this world for the next, and it is in this hour of need of desperation that he meets his lifemate.  For years he has sought her and never once has he met her, finally at the end of his journey the only comfort he has is the woman of his dreams Literally. He has dreamed of and shared the essence of who he is with this woman for years, seeking and offering comfort when their respective battles have become too hard.

I LOVED Dominic and Solange together, I loved everything about Dominc and his struggle to do what was necessary for his King while honouring the treasure that is his lifemate. Once he realised she existed he lived with the hope that there was someone or something great in the world that was just for him. Solange, a battle weary Jaguar, the last of the royal line is faced with the extinction of her people, she fights not for herself but for the countless women she stands for the women of the Jaguar race, whether they can shift or not, she fights to save them from those who seek to use and abuse them. Poor Solange has faced so much death and has been shaped into something she never should have been, yet she willingly takes up the cause.  And here is her reward, a man who loves both the woman and the Jaguar as well as the warrior, a man who respected her and was willing to wait until she was comfortable giving up control to him, submitting, allowing him close, a man worthy of her love.  Solange is a woman used to abuse and Dominic had to make her see that not all men where like that, her had to gain her trust, this took time, which made the book longer than most.

I personally loved the action (what was there) the romance, the building of a relationship (including how they learnt to fight together) and the full reveal of the extent the vampires are willing to go to bring down the Carpathians.  Dominic Dragonseeker is one of the more amazing and alluring characters she has written, with Solange as a perfect counterpart to him.  I loved having Josef mentioned again, personally I would love for him to be Skylar's lifemate, but apparently she belongs to someone else.hmmm I want to read the book that lets everyone know that because I haven't seen that tidbit yet.

I still have seven books left in the series, which will unfortunately bouncing around the Carpathian world going backwards and forwards, but I am enjoying a few of the stories and this one is going on the fave list, I will get a copy for myself that's how much I actually enjoyed it.

Book Review: Dark Symphony

 Book Title: Dark Symphony

Author: Christine Feehan

Publisher: Jove

Cost: $6.99
Pages:324

How I got it: Library

My Rating: ★★★★☆
Synopsis:

Byron, a Carpathian male and hunter of the vampire follows the sound of compelling music to Italy. There he discovers his lifemate, Antoinetta Scarletti, heiress to the great Scarletti fortune. A renowned concert pianist, Antoinetta is the glue that holds the Scarletti family together. Blinded in an explosion that killed her parents, she nevertheless stands to run the family shipping business.Antoinetta lives in the palazzo della morte, the palace of death. There, like her ancestors, she finds someone wants her dead. Antoinetta has a few secrets of her own and together, Byron and Antoinetta face the killers and one out of control Carpathian youth. 

My Review:

I so have to do a separate review on the series itself because this makes no sense. Ok I liked this story. The romance of it, the mystery, the non vampire action, this book was pretty cool. I really need to stop bouncing around in the series and read it as they were printed but I can't get the books in order, so I'm gaining information about other stories as I go, while also knowing whats coming up ahead for the characters.

Byron is one of the other warriors who wasn't meant to be a warrior but answered the prince's call. As a gem worker he isn't trained as well as those who are born to be warriors, and his rashness leads him into a trap by the vampires where he is tortured and becomes bait that leads several other Carpathians into the vampire's hands.  Punishing himself by banishing himself from his people & wandering the world as a hunter, he stumbles into Italy where the Scarletti family rules. It was nice to see the descendants of the Scarletti family still living in the palace, and knowing what I knew about their ancestor couldn't wait to see how this would play out.

Byron slowly seduced his mate and let her get to know him, while trying to let her get to know him.  Toni Scarletti was a world famous concert pianist, who is in charge and knows her role in her life. Faced with being a lifemate she doesn't know her role  in this relationship, but she wants to find out. She wants to be more than the leader of her family, she wants to be something to someone.  She was at first uncertain and only wanted a lover and Byron had to show her that his people weren't like the jaguar=men who left their women.

Into the blending of their two lives and the creation of a new Carpathian couple is the mystery of who is trying to hurt the Scarletti family.  Which one of her family members have betrayed her. which one of them was willing to do anything to gain it all.

Cons of the story:

• Toni's willingness to ignore the fact that several of her family members were more than willing to walk all over her
• the stereotypical bitchiness of one of her family members, who was pretty but 'useless' and therefore found herself through men. ~~ Really though?? She couldn't just have daddy issues, she had to have all of the other issues as well?? Plus be an extra drama queen??
• the in-law who was harsh to her kids but loved the Scarletti name more than she loved who her kids were. Yes she married up but really did she have to be so insecure that she was willing to throw it all away?
• why do people feel the need to talk smack about rap?? Okay maybe the arena Josef choose wasn't the most appropriate time, but why throw shade on an entire genre of music??

Okay even as I was typing these I realised many of these are normal human traits, I simply wished she didn't have all of these characters in one family that all live together at one time.  I do think it's the mark of a good book that after you put it down your still thinking about the characters. I enjoyed this one, it was nice to see old characters, meet new ones, and learn even more about the Carpathian world.

Happy Reading

Book Review: Dark Dream

Book Title: Dark Dreamers "Dark Dream"

Author: Christine Feehan

Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers

Cost:$6.99

Pages:182

How I got it: Library
My Rating:★★★★★

Synopsis:

She’s known him since she was fifteen. Every night, he is with her: his face, his voice. Tonight, Sara Marten will meet the man who is both angel and demon, salvation and temptation: Falcon—the Carpathian, the banished hero. Tonight, Sara will meet the dark-eyed destroyer destined to be her mate.

My Review:
This is a review of Ms.Feehan's story. In this story, we see the history of the hunters & how they came to be, the ones who answered the summons by their Prince, who asked them to choose to fight and protect humans and Carpathians alike & they all volunteered.  Centuries before knowing he might die before he found her, his lifemate, the light to his darkness Falcon wrote down his feelings his promise to her.

Over 1500 years pass before the writings are found by archaeologists, Sara Marten & her family are on a dig & she feels compelled to of down deeper with the bowels of the cave to find what compels her there.  Within the cave she found the treasure she was seeking, but her presence draws to her and her family a vampire who was watching the cave for the one he knew would come.

I personally truly enjoyed this story Falcon is an awesome hunter, he was never meant be a warrior, but choose to rise to the occasion to protect his people.  He is one of the few who are actually 'honorable", he makes the De La Cruz clan with the exception of Riordan, & Nicholas, appear like savages. Here we also learn more about the jaguars and that were-wolves exist in this world as well.

I don't understand why Ms. Feehan wrote the earlier books with such great heroes the make the De La Cruz brothers such anti heroes and not the kind of men you would want to love.   I personally love Falcon & Sara together & all they try to accomplish as a couple. I loved seeing Mikhail & having the others mentioned again.

Happy Reading

Book Review: Dark Descent

Book Title: Dark Descent

Author: Christine Feehan

Publisher: Leisure Books

Pages:384

Cost; $6.99

How I Got it: Personal Library

My Rating:  ★★★★★
Synopsis:

They came from the darkest places: secluded monasteries, the Carpathian mountains, galaxies under siege. They were men with the blackest pasts-warriors, vampire monks, leaders of armies-but whose passions burned like dying stars. They had one purpose: to find those women who fulfilled them, completed them, and made them rage with a fire both holy and profane. They sought soul mates whose touch consumed them with desire, yet whose kisses refreshed like the coolest rain. And each man knew that for him there was only one true love-and in finding her, he would find salvation. 

My take on the book:
This is a short story, an anthology with featuring three awesome authors. I personally picked this one up for Christine's addition to the Dark series.  I can say that the smaller books have better plots, and better characters.  Much like the other anthology which contained Dark Hunger; Dark Descent features a a Carpathian who actually cares about his mate.

This installment introduces us to Traian, who was one of the many warriors sent out by the Prince to rid the world of the dreaded vampire.  In doing his duty of ridding the world he is tricked by vampires who are now working together and he becomes trapped in a cave by these vampires who are seeking to find a hidden treasure.

Joie Sanders, who is recovering from a recent brush with death. she has been seeing a man in her head and having discussions with him for months.  Driven by a need to find out if she is losing her mind or if the man is real she plans a trip with her siblings; she chooses to go caving in the Carpathian mountains.  Finding the cave, Joie ignores the voice in her head that warns her away, her siblings who feel seriously uneasy and goes into the cave. From there we have one of the better stories of lifemates. Joie isn't a simpering scared female, she has her own power and knows how to use it. She is strong, and knowledgeable, she also knows when she is outgunned and doesn't see it as an affront to her Independence to let someone more verse in dealing with the situation take over. I love her character and I love Traian because he wasn't afraid to embrace his lifemate and her strengths. He actually talked to her way before he attempted to get into her body. The lust and hot smoking sex was there but, the friendship was formed over weeks of talking and sharing with her who he was,a nd absorbing who she was.

I really like this one and would willingly re-read this book again, because it was so amazing.  It was of course a way to advance the story and share more of what the vampires are doing and why so many are changing so fast.  It advances the whole story line while giving us a beautiful story that was both romantic and fun, with an adventure thrown in.

Happy Reading