Christine Wells - Scandal's Daughter

Sebastian, Earl of Carleton is not interested in marriage, so when his dying godfather ask him to marry his granddaughter, he refuses. Instead he suggests he’ll take Gemma to London and host a party. Shouldn’t she be married after three months, he’ll give in an marry her himself.
But being around Gemma at Ware, the reminder of their childhoodfriendship, brings mixed feeling for Sebastian. He won’t change his mind about marrying her, but why does the thought of the minx in the arms of another man raises his hackles?

Scandal’s Daughter is the debut of Christine Wells. Though you notice the fact that it’s a debut, that doesn’t mean this is a story well worth your time!
Sebastian is a rake, but reaching a time in his life where he is getting tired of debauchery. He’s tormented by his past and meeting Gemma again makes him realize who the little boy was, he left behind. He’s nice and naughty and made me smile.
Gemma is the daughter of a scandalous woman. Her mother left her father for her lover and Gemma is reminded of that fact every day by her aunt. She wants to manage Ware when the time is there, so marriage is no option for Gemma.

The first part is slow paced and nice (At Ware) Scovy is open and funny, very different from the rogue we met in chapter one. Then the story moves from Ware to Laidley and it moves on faster. And then as reader you think… oh one more chapter, one more… until it’s well past midnight when you close the book …
Though the book isn’t flawless (her mother’s scandal could be worked out a little better f.e.) it’s a nice and entertaining debut. Christine Wells has a lot of qualities and I’m sure regency lovers will have so nice hours when reading this book. The developing love between two childhood friends and the scars we all get from growing up are well written and I can’t wait to get The Dangerous Duke in my hands. The next novel by Christine Wells will be: Wicked little game, due July 2009.

Alexandra Ivy - Darkness Everlasting

Being the new Anasso means dealing with weres who trespass territory. So when the wereclan rules by Salvatore is hunting in Chicago, Styx wants to know why. He finds out they are after a human Darcy. To keep control until the Commission arrives he decides to take the woman prisoner.

Only when he has her in his control, he can't seem to control himself anymore. Drawn to Darcy is a way he has never experienced before he loses the cool that was so part of his being. Being the Anosso is now of secondary meaning. All he wants to do is protect and claim Darcy as his own. Rules and consequences be damned. Luckily there is still Viper to point out his obligations! But even then Styx unleashes all his powers when Darcy is taken from him. Claimed by Salvatore or not, this woman is his and his alone.

This is part 3 of Guardians of eternity. And I am a fan! Alexandra Ivy has created a world that is wonderful and even as original as possible these days...

Styx is the one who killed, or aided Viper killing the previous anasso. With Viper's support he claims the leadership of all the vampires. He's cool, arrogant and tremendously powerful. With his Ravens to protect him and Viper as his loyal supporter he is nearly invincible. Only when he meets Darcy he loses his cool demeanor, his ability for logical reasoning... But the power that is created by his heart makes him unstoppable.

Darcy is an orphan. Tossed out foster homes because of her ability to heal fast, she knows there is something about her... So instead of being petrified to face Styx, she is relieved to find someone who is able to explain her oddity. Who will take her just the way she is. Curious about why Salvatore is after her and used to being on her own she has a hard time giving Styx the control he wants.

Darkness Everlasting is a book that will keep you turning the pages, one after the other until you finish the book... Ivy's writing talent makes you able to forget everything and be drawn into a world with vampires, gargoyles and werewolf... The hero and heroine are worked out very well, and the secondary characters makes you laugh out loud (Levet) or curious for more (Santiago, DiAngelo)
Even the bad guy in this book draw my attention. Salvatore is a were you can't resist to like... Even if he's the enemy of Styx. Thank god, Alexandra Ivy is writing his book as we speak ;)

If you like vampires and paranormal book, get this writer on you wish list and I guarantee you, you won't be disappointed!

Julianne MacLean - When a Stranger Loves me (ARC REVIEW)

After reading a disturbing letter, Chelsea is taking a walk on the beach when she discovers a handsome, naked! Stranger. Little choice left, she takes the stranger to her house where she lives with her mom, her brother and his wife.

When the handsome stranger awakens they discover he can’t remember a single thing… Not how he ended up naked and stabbed in the water, nor his own name or his past…
Facing a future she wants to avoid at all cost and an attraction to a stranger she finds hard to deny, she sets up a daring and sensual scheme. Unfortunately the plan didn’t include the strong feeling she develops for the stranger who seduces her body by night and her heart by day. Living a dream has only one disadvantage… One moment one must wake up and face reality again…

This is part 3 of the Pembroke Palace Series by Julianne MacLean.
In this wonderful novel MacLean takes us on a journey with the missing Blake, the responsible, loyal brother.

Only with no recollection of whom he is, Blake is able to show the side he has to hide for so many years. With no one to remember, he is drawn to Chelsea without any inhibition. Faced with a love blossoming, but no memory of a wife or fiancée who might be searching for him. The love between Chelsea and Blake is strong and heartbreaking. Blake is heartbroken when he finds out what Chelsea planned and as his brother shows up to take him home, there’s only one thing he can do… Take Chelsea with him to see where to go from there and to have her by his side in a world that is so unfamiliar to him. Blake is arrogant, caring and more like his brothers than we would have assumed previously.

Chelsea is going to be forced to a wedding she doesn’t want. Ruined by a youthful elopement it’s the only marriage proposal she can expect. And since her brother’s wife hasn’t conceived yet, it up to her to keep the title in the family. Thus a plan developed in her mind… Chelsea started as a dreamer, a writer with her head in the clouds. But as the story continues she has to learn to deal with reality and face the fact that she is as free as she would like to believe… But when the truth is discovered, all her dreams seem to scatter around her.

The latest novel by Julianne MacLean is a heartbreaking story that grabs your heart and won’t let go until you finished the very last sentence…
Julianne MacLean’s wonderful talent combined with a heartbreaking plot and well developed and growing characters resulted in a book that will most definitely be on your keeper’s shelf.

With this book Julianne MacLean hits the stars. It has everything… Passion, love, betrayal, hurt and lots of emotions. I can honestly say this is the best book by this writer so far! And I have loved her work from the very first one… When a stranger loves me touches your heart in a way you won’t forget easily.

Sherrilyn Kenyon - One Silent Night

Stryker finally seems to have found the perfect way to kill Ash and Nick... By unleashing a primal source being he might end up dead himself, but hey who cares as long as his two archenemies go with him.

But things don't turn out as Stryker intends... War has a more difficult time killing Ash than Stryker would have imagined and Nick, well let's say he turns out to be more than he thought he would...
And to make things worse, Artemis is rather cross with him now because people might think she has anything to do with it... So she send Zephyra on a mission: Kill Stryker. A command Zephyra is more than glad to fulfill. After all she still has to get even with her ex husband for abandoning her...

Well, what can I say...

First I don't need a story about the badass in the series... Not that I disliked the book for that reason, but it's one more bridge to cross...

Then I am really getting confused in all this demon - gods thing...
Let's see... We had Ash.. All powerful, everyone afraid of him...
Oh but wait there is someone more powerful so they can kill ash... But there is also someone even more powerful to kill the one who would be able to kill Ash...
And of course, keep track... Someone more powerful to kill the more powerful to kill... anyway you get the picture...

I don't want to spoil things important but how the hell did Zephyra come up with the solution to fight the gallu???

While I rather liked Stryker in this story. He's a villain for sure, but he has his reasons... I didn't like Zephyra. She's cruel, whining... And oh she is so tormented because a 15!!!!! year old boy left her when his father, who happened to be a god, threatened to kill her if he didn't...
What she does to Jared is just plain cruel... So I assume she'll just be the new Satara in a way... The female evil to fight Ash...

What else... - SPOILER -

Oh yes... Ash he's god of faith, destroyer of the world... What more... Chtonian! Right, anyone knew that and did you know what else... he's half Charonte... I seem to have missed some books telling me that...

Of course there were things I liked... The dialogues, Kenyon is always good with those, the moment the 3 enemies are forced to combine their forces...

It's just, it's getting too much of everything... This is not the Kenyon I liked... I think after this one a lot of readers will stop reading her books.

Julianne MacLean - The Mistress Diaries

One year ago Cassandra met Vincent at a ball. The attraction is immediate and undeniable... But after spending a wonderful night together, Vincent disappears...

Now, Cassandra is back with a little surprise... While Vincent brings in his new fiancee, Cassandra introduces him to his little daughter. Because she is ill and believes she is about to die Cassandra has no choice but to ask for the Sinclairs to take her daughter in. She is casted from her home when her family learned about the pregnancy...

Vincent is angry, the one night he was not able to forget comes back with a vengeance. Just at the moment he has found himself a convenient wife and his dad believes her to be the cure to the curse... But when they learn Cassandra will get better, he hasn't got the heart to just turn his back on her. So he sets her up in a house, with servants and a legal binding contract to take care of her and June, while he can see his daughter grow up.

But while he is determined to continue his life as if nothing changed, he finds himself softening towards both June and her mother. Questioning his engagement to the cold, calculated Letitia...

When I met Vincent in 'In my wildest fantasies' I was intrigued by him. He was the brother you just loved to dislike. After being betrayed by Devon, he starts a life of womanizing, debauchery and coldhearted reasoning. Only Cassandra reaches a soft spot, but he firmly closes the door behind him after their night of passion. Even when she barges in his life again with a daughter who captures his heart straight away, he refuses to believe he could be what Cassandra wants. No fidelity for him, no caring wife to come home to. That's why he choose Letitia... She doesn't care about him or what he intends to do after their marriage.
I just couldn't like Vincent. He could be harsh, uncaring and I really wondered how MacLean was going to redeem him... Until Charlotte, his sister, shows us what her brother is really like and opened our eyes to the Vincent he is so hard trying to hide...

Cassandra is a widow when she meets Vincent. When she finds out she is carrying a child she is thrown out of her house. Forced to find a job and make her own money.
When she is ill and the doctor says she won't live long anymore, she has no other option but to turn to the man who wouldn't answer her letters.

In the beginning I was wondering how this would turn out... Vincent was real, didn't change overnight, but that also made it hard to like him. So I had fears that I would never start to like him, but I did. I adored Cassandra right away, and Vincent grew on me as I started to look behind the mask he was wearing.

One, no two things that I would have liked to see different.
1. The epilogue.
The series isn't finished, so I would have preferred just to know they were traveling. What happens when all is said and done would have been preferable in an epilogue in the very last book... But that's my opinion.
2. The dialogue between the brothers. So many years of dislike, even hate. I'd expected a more heated conversation, more blaming and building bridges. I think people who didn't read Devon's story might have a hard time relating to him.

But overall, this is another great love story about love, friendship, forgiveness by Julianne MacLean.

Barack Obama Victory Speech

Alexandra Ivy - Embrace the Darkness

After aiding the Phoenix against the witches Shay is back in the hands of the troll who owns her curse. Half Shalott, her beauty captivates everyone and her blood is a pure drug for vampires. So without any means to escape she finds herself auctioned off again. Anger and horror consumes her when she finds herself bought by the very vampire whose life she saved a few weeks ago...

Driven by a need Viper can't comprehend he finally lays eyes on the shalott again. Unfortunately he's not the only one to want the beautiful woman. When he buys her, he gets more than he wished for... Because an evil is stalking her and now his honor and love for Shay pulls him in the fight against a master and his kin.

When I read the first book in the series I was hooked. Ivy creates a demon world that is real and captivated my attention.
This second installment confirms the expectations I had..
With Embrace the Darkness Ivy delivers a tale that is sexy, exciting and captiving.

Viper is a clan chief. The stoic, arrogant vampire is considered one of the strongest of his kind. Having almost everything a vampire can buy with money, more women than one can handle he is astonished to discover he finaly finds himself drawn to the shalott that recued his live. Determined to get her out of his blood he buys her in order to seduce her.

Shay has never met someone who isn't interested in controling her. Viper's actions take her by suprise and she has a hard time convincing herself Viper has noble intention. And even while his kisses and carresses drive her wild, she won't surrender to the turmoil of emotions. After all, Viper is a vampire, and they killed her father and are most likely the ones threathening her own life right now. Still, while the evil closes in on her, she has but one option... Trust the very vampire she tries to keep at a distance and open her heart...

If you like vampires and the demon world I can safely recommend you Alexandra Ivy's Guardians of Eternity series. Her writing is wonderful and her world is unique and divers. Her heroes make your toes crawl and the heroines are women that can stand their own when the world they know changes.

This is an author I'm going to try out soon... I asked Janice to find part 1 and 2, I ordered part 3... As soon as they are all in, I'll just dive into them and I'll let you know what I thought about them!!!

Suzanne Enoch - After the Kiss

Sullivan Waring is a horse breeder by day, but a thief by night. When he came back from France after war, he found out his father (he's a bastard and not aknowledged by his father) stole the paintings his mother left him and gave them away to his friends. He might be the bastard of a marquis, but he will never be one of the ton. So there is but one option... To take them without asking...
But one of his missions goes wrong when he is faced with Lady Isabel Chalsey. To escape he distracts her with a kiss, but the event turns against him when he realises afterwards she took of his mask and saw his face.

He will even regret it more when she meets him the very next day and blackmails him into training a horse for her...

But when he is forced to deal with her on daily basis, he starts to see behind the spoiled, strong headed girl. Their attraction grows, but he won't give up his revenge and she won't give up her life in the ton... So how do they deal with their growing feelings without ruining them both.

After the Griffin series, I was hoping Enoch would once again write a series that could equal Lessons of Love and With this Ring. When I was through the first chapters, I thought that was not going to happen... Isabel was strong and indecisive, even insulting... Sullivan wasn't that bad, but he could have been more set on breaking Isabel's hold over him... But then they kiss again and from then the story changes... It becomes fun, enthralling and exciting.

Isabel is evolving from a selfish, spoiled chit into a woman than sees the world isn't everything she thought it was. That life within the ton isn't always great when you are no part of it or when they think you might cross the border... and becoming friends with a common is surely very close to that border... But then she show she has a backbone and deals with it in a way you have to admire. It's hard and not always the way we think it should be, but it's realistic and heartbreaking and you just keep wondering how they will solve the difference in class between them.

Sullivan is born on the wrong side of the bed. But the hard part is that his dad is a paragon and won't aknowledge his son. This leaves Sullivan outside the ton, but also outside the common people. When he meets Isabel he knows their passion is due to destroy them both, but how hard he might try, trying to stay away from he is the one thing he can't seem to do. Still, even as they both aknowledge their feelings, he won't have her ruined.

As I said, the first part of the book was a bit slow, I didn't like Isabelle and I was waiting for the book to explode instead of just going on... When you have read the LiL of WtR series you know Enoch is capable of grand things and you just want to feel that again...
But then we sees the progress in the book, you start to like Isabelle and Sullivan is showing his arrogance and his education showing. At that point you get drawn in the book and it won't leave you until the very last page... Wondering how Isabel will handle all that is coming her way, how they will find each other and perhaps even more important, how to keep each other...
There is no miracle coming, no liberty the writer takes (as far as I'm aware of) just the realistic view of a man born in the common class and a gem of the ton and how, even though their love is strong, they do have other things to consider besides their feelings.

I hope the 2nd one will satisfy as well, and Lord Bram... OMG... He will give Saint a run for his money ... He'll get his book in April 2009 and I so hope this will be her best book ever ;-))

Not enough hours in one day

Ok, 3 kids, husband working a lot, lots of things to do...
Reviewing isn't on my to do list very high...

But still...
I try to keep reading and I wanted to let you know how I felt about books (short)

Lara Adrian: super!! If you like paranormal, give her a try
Christina Dodd: great series also! I don't really like her historicals, but Darkness Chosen is wonderful
Julianne MacLean: read it in one evening! Great, smooth reading story! If you like her, you should have read this one by now... If not, what are you waiting for :-))
JR Ward: read it with an open mind, then once again this is a book worth your time... And don't forget... follow where the author leads you...
Gaelen Foley: Her Secret Fantasy disappointed me... I'm used to a very high level when I pick up her books, and this one just didn't do it for me... On the other hand she closes her Spice Trilogy with a bang, for I did love Her Every Pleasure
Alexandra Ivy: first book is very promising, recommended!!!
Alexandra Benedict: I have been looking forward to this book... I enjoyed it... Untill the end... It seems as if she tried to get 50 pag into one chapter... It ended rushed and left me unsatisfied...
Sherrilyn Kenyon: signed sealed delivered!!!!! Acheron is wonderful...
Shannon Drake: vampire series well worth the buy and time and... just get them ...
Laura Lee Guhrke: nice, but I wouldn't say rush out and get it... just nice in between read...

Unleash your story

When I was checking out Eve Silver's blog, I read about this charity program and I wanted all of you to know...

"I'm part of a group of authors who have planned an event we're calling: Unleash Your Story: Make a Difference. This fun event will bring writers and readers together to raise money for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (CFF). Cystic Fibrosis is the most common fatal genetic disease in the U.S. Thirty years ago life expectancy for a child born with CF was only five, but through the efforts of the CFF and others, life expectancy and quality of life has increased dramatically. We hope through our fund-raiser to help the CFF continue these efforts and to someday soon find a cure!

Our event, Unleash Your Story and Make A Difference, is targeted at both readers and writers. There will be fun contests and prizes to see who can rack up the highest pages read (for readers), word counts (for writers), and funds raised. Plus writers can track their own productivity by trying to keep up with our Pacesetter Author, New York Times Bestselling Author, Debbie Macomber.

We are hoping you will consider joining in our efforts by doing one or more of the following:
•Start your own team. Read/write on your own or form a team with your friends to raise money, read books, complete your work-in-progress, and win prizes together.
•Donate individually, and ask others to support you. Through the CFF web site every participant will get their own personal web page where people can donate in that participant' s name. (All donations are tax deductable.) And, of course, win prizes.
•Donate a prize for us to give away to teams or individuals. We are looking for anything and everything readers or writers might enjoy—books, critiques, get-aways, lunch with an author/agent/editor, crafts by you—you name it! (Again whatever you donate is tax deductable and you will receive a receipt from the CFF)
• Motivate your fans to read more and write more by posting your progress and participation on your personal web site or blog.

We're really hoping you will consider joining our efforts. We think it will be a fun way to help others live longer, more enjoyable lives. For more information email info@unleashyourstory.com or visit our web site at http://www.unleashyourstory.com"




Support my efforts!

I'll definitely see what I can do and perhaps make a donation!! So you guys check this site out and spread the word!!!!!!!!!!!

Hugs
CQ

Gaelen Foley - Her Only Desire (Part 1 Spice Trilogy)

Ian Griffith, the paragon marquess we met in the Knight Miscellany Series is set out to meet his match...

The proper, honorful peer is sent to India to negociate a peace treaty between local kings, thus preventing a war. When he sets foot on Indian soil, one of the first people he meets is Georgiana Knight, cousin to his best friends. She is a woman on a mission and needs rescueing. The strict marquess sees it as his duty to protect the young woman from scandal, especially when he learns she wants to go with him on his mission. Ian can't have that, so he makes sure she is grounded... After all, with her brothers gone, she is in need of the guidance of a man... him.

But somehow he isn't suprised when she arrives a while after him and he starts to admire the headstrong beauty. But married once before, he has no intention to do so again. But in sensual India, even straightlaced Ian might wander from the proper path to grasp a passion he never once felt before...

In the previous series we met Ian Griffith as a friend of the Knights. Handsome, proud, honorbound... Everything to make him the perfect peer and diplomat... Even though I really liked him, I was a bit hesitant when I picked up his book... After all.. madly in love with his deceased wife, stiff... What fun would he be??

But I should have know better!! If Gaelen Foley can redeem Alec Knight, then she sure can turn rather boring Ian into a hero that stole my breath away.

Georgie is a headstrong, loyal to the bone, independent woman. Raised in India, she fights off marriage and the consequences it brings to woman. She is furious when Ian fooled her, but soon she starts to see the good side of the man, even th deeper passion that smolders in his eyes. But everytime she comes closer to the man deep down, something happens that puts her at distance again...

Georgie is the niece of Georgiana Knight, also know as the Hawkcliff's Harlot. You can tell Foley wanted a mix for the two. On her site she tells she got many pleas to write the first Georgiana's story, but of course, Hawkecliff's harlot isn't really heroine material in a romance novel... So we get Georgie... Fiercy, loyal, smart, fighting for women in need... Only no lovers and children from other men Laughing

Gaelen Foley is one of my favorite writers... She makes me smile, she makes me smile, she makes my heart break...

Her only desire is a book that grabs your attention and just keeps pulling you deeper and deeper... Georgie is a hit from moment one... She never crosses the border or being stupid in her independance, even though her actions don't always have the result she envisioned... When the story unfolds she loses the impulsive side, but never the passion, the need to do right. Ian grows on you page after page... And when he sheds the peer armor and shows the man inside, I fell for him straight away. He changes from a proper and quiet diplomat to a man who wants to live again.

The changes in both of them are so well written, that Her Only Desire is once again a book to have on your shelves, no, in your hands !

I would have loved to have more interaction between the other Knights, but we can't have all...

This book is a pageturner where the writer is able to bring India in your living room. The protagonists are wonderful and I just adore little Matthew... Not the ideal child, but a real boy that isn't always happy he don't get what he wants...

I just loved it

Celeste Bradley - Duke Most Wanted (Heiresses Brides 3)

In his will Hamerish Pickering expresses his disappointment about his daughters. Being a self made man, he had high hopes of his daughters marrying a title. But instead they all married a common fellow. Now he wants to set things straight. His fortune will go to the first Pickering girl in 3 generations to marry a duke... If not... smugglers of wiskey will gain everything...

Now we meet the 3t generation: Phoebe, Deidre and Sophie and their stephmom entering society to find a duke and get a hold of the money.

Sophie and Graham enjoy each others company. He makes her feel less akward, not making her breaking things whenever he adresses her. And she brightens up his rakish life.
Until one day everything changes... Gray gets notices his father and 3 older brothers are killed by an elephant... Now he gains what he never anticipated: the dukedom of Edencourt. But the estate is in ruin and Graham needs money and he needs it fast. So a marriage to a wealty heiress seems the only way out. When he informs Sophie she realises her feelings for Gray are more intense than she thought. To think she has a fortune waiting for her, only it's lost when she informs Gray of it. But she isn't one to stand by and watch everything get lost. So she turns to Lementeur to transform her from plain, tall Sophie to the intriguing Sofia.

This one is the best out of 3. I adored Gray and I just loved Sophie.

The way she speaks her mind to him, the way he seeks her out whenever he needs someone to talk to.
How he has to become a responsible duke unexpected and leave his playful, rakish life behind when he sees the state of his inheritance...
He has no option but marry for money, not for his own sake, but for the tenants on his property that have been starving under his fathers reign.

In the end there is a twist that left me behind a bit disorientated. The ending seems a bit rushed and I would have loved to see Gray fighting for his heroine without first trying to secure her fortune. The way they did that felt strange, unannonced.

But overall a great read!

With all 3 books read I can definitely say this trilogy is no waste space. Don't expect too much, but a nice fun read on a lazy sunday afternoon.

Celeste Bradley - The Duke Next Door (Heiresses Brides2)

In his will Hamerish Pickering expresses his disappointment about his daughters. Being a self made man, he had high hopes of his daughters marrying a title. But instead they all married a common fellow. Now he wants to set things straight. His fortune will go to the first Pickering girl in 3 generations to marry a duke... If not... smugglers of wiskey will gain everything...

Now we meet the 3t generation: Phoebe, Deidre and Sophie and their stephmom entering society to find a duke and get a hold of the money.

This time it's the stunning beauty Deidre that tries to get a hold of the pot of gold by proposing to Calder, Marquis of Brookhaven and a future duke.
But the money isn't what sets her on this course. When Deidre was only 16 she fell in love with the handsome marquis the first time she met him. She had to watch how her cousin Phoebe was engaged to him without seeing his value. So now she won't waste anymore time and she proposes to him.
Calder weighs the pros and cons and sees the advantages in a marriage to beautiful Deidre. She won't bother him and he'll be able to keep focused on his fabrics.

Too bad he didn't get to know Deidre better because finally out of the clutches of her stephmother Tessa, Deidre can be herself again after marrying Calder and being an absent wife is not what she had planned...


I had so much fun with this book. The antics of Meggie and Deidre, the story of Fortescue and the reactions of Calder to the events the women in his life has in store for him. His organized life is ruined and even though it's hard for him to admit, it's hard not to enjoy it...

Deidre lived under the supervision of Tessa after the death of her father. Tessa, who is after the heritage more than Deidre, made Deidre's life miserable. So now finally able to toss Tessa out, she won't live under a new patron telling her how to live her life.

Calder is the same stoic marquis we met in the previous novel. After the death of his first wife and the loss of Phoebe to Rafe, he's not sure how to handle the spiritous Deidre. Everything he says or does seems to go the wrong way.

This story made me laugh several times, made my heart bleed for Meggie and brightend up my evening when reading this.

Like the previous book this is a light read, no deep drama...
There could have been if things with Meggie were worked out more. That's what I regret most... A bit more of why and how, perhaps a more intense making up between father and daughter...

But besides that, a worthy follow up of Desperately Seeking a Duke. Sophie's story is next and it won't be long before I pick up this book.

Celeste Bradley - Desperately Seeking a Duke (Heiresses Brides 1)

In his will Hamerish Pickering expresses his disappointment about his daughters. Being a self made man, he had high hopes of his daughters marrying a title. But instead they all married a common fellow. Now he wants to set things straight. His fortune will go to the first Pickering girl in 3 generations to marry a duke... If not... smugglers of wiskey will gain everything...

Now we meet the 3t generation: Phoebe, Deidre and Sophie and their stephmom entering society to find a duke and get a hold of the money.

In Part 1 Phoebe meet Rafael at a ball and the attraction between them is pure and instant. In that moment Rafe decides she's the one and points Phoebe out to his older brother Calder, a future duke to see if he would approve the match ... Calder, being on the search for a wife himself and always very efficient, sees the advantages of Phoebe and decides not to waste time. The next morning, not aware that Rafe wanted Phoebe, he proposes. Phoebe accepts without any doubt, thinking the offer came from Rafe...

When she finds out the mistake she made, it's too late... Finally she has the attention of her dad again, the money could be hers and she wants to avoid scandal again at any cost...

But will she be able to put her heart aside and marry the much colder Calder, forgetting all about the one man who puts sunshine in her life and lets her be Phoebe.

Celeste Bradley was a new author for me, but one I will definitely try more.
This book is highly entertaining, though no high emotions or intense drama... Just a fun story that puts a smile on your face while reading.

Phoebe is a vicar's daughter. At 15 she caused quite a scandal and ever since she has tried to redeem herself in her fathers eyes. Untill she meets Rafe and experiences love at first sight again. When she realises she accepted a marriage proposal from the wrong brother, she is afraid she won't be able to handle a new scandal. But Rafe won't go out of her system. So will her heart overrule her mind? Or will she be able to live a happy life with the stoic Calder.

Rafe is the half-brother of the Marquis of Brookhaven. He's quite the opposite of his efficient brother, even though they are rather alike in looks. When he meets Phoebe he knows she's the one he has been waiting for, the one woman to cave the rake. But things go wrong and Rafe thinks Phoebe prefers his brother over him, because after all, who would choose a bastard rogue over a wealthy future duke?

If you like regency, this is a story you will want to read. It's light, funny. Some things are far-fetched, but hey, it is fiction.
When you are in need for a not to complicated book that will brighten up your day without too many plots and deep emotions, this books is one I can really recommend.
If you don't like regency, or if you want deep emotions and soulsucking event, pass on this one because it will leave you dissatisfied.

I really enjoyed it and look forward to part 2 where Deidre meets her match...

Nicole Jordan - To Seduce a Bride

Lily Loring flees to London after the matchmaking of Mrs Freemantle ànd one hell of a kiss on an attic by Heath, the third friend of Marcus, the sisters guardian and now husband to her eldest sister.
But after a while Heath tracks her and is determined to secure her as his wife. Even though Lily rebukes his every attempt.

I won't spend many words on this book.

Many times I almost wanted to close it and put it back on the shelves...
Where Roslyn was a bit overbearing at moments, Lily was it during the whole book.
Ok, their parent marriage wasn't the HEA at all, but she did see her eldest sister and (after a while)her middle sister find true love. Heath is sweet, attentive, seductive... I mean... One can protest too much too...
When he claims he wants to marry her, she shoves him away
when he tells her he loves her, she pushes him away

only the idea of losing him makes her realize her mistake. But by then, in my eyes, noone would have blamed him if he shut the door in her face...

No, to me this trilogy started promising, but it ending was poor... Especially when you know this author has so much talent...

Nicole Jordan - To Bed a Beauty

After experienced the failed marriage of her parents and the following scandal, Roslyn Loring is determined to marry for love and love only. So after her sister gets engaged with Marcus, she feels her time has come. She has a nice friendship with Haviland and is determined to secure him, feeling he won't need much persuasion. However, she has learned that men fall in love with their mistresses, rather than their wives. So she turns to Fanny, a notorious Cyprian.
At a Cyprian ball, she gets the unwanted attention of Drew, The Duke of Arden and on of Marcus' best friends... After a sensual interaction she flees...

Only to have to face him again on her sisters wedding... He recognizes her as his little shepherdess and feels it his duty to find out why she would attend such an event. When he finds out why, and she proposes to him to help her gain Havilands attention, he refuses at first, only to rethink his decision.

He will help her to become a woman men want as their mistress. Unfortunately they both didn't count on the fact that the passion between them wouldn't be subdued but burn more fiercly each time they meet.

Only Roslyn wants love and the last thing Arden is willing to give is precisly that...

This is the second installment of the Courtship Wars trilogy (so far, probably more books will come out in this series)

Roslyn is determined to win a man by making him love her. Since men love mistresses, not wives, she needs to be taught how to be a seduction. She turns to Arden for lessons, lessons that turn out true seductions of their own. However, as long as there is no love from Arden's side, Roslyn will not bend... It will be love or nothing at all...

Arden doesn't believe in love. In passion, yes, but love is not meant for him. Roslyn, however, turns his world upside down. He's arrogant, handsome and confident. He won't be foolish enough to be lurred into marriage. Not even if this woman rises a passion that he never experienced before.

Book 2 is a very entertaining book. I would not recommend it to not-regency lovers, but those who like the period and Nicole Jordan won't be disappointed.
I still prefer the notorious series by this author, but the time reading this book isn't wasted.

The interactions between Roslyn and Arden are passionate and steamy. At some point however, Roslyn is dragged to a level of being boring and repetious. But she recovers and Arder is top all the way...

Like I said, the courtship war triloy is not the best by this authors hand, but if you're in for an easy and light read, this might be a book to grab.

European Championship

We're heading for the semi-finals... And without Portugal... Who would have thought? Well, besides me then ;)
This teams benefits from the success the previous generation had... Final, semi finals...
But imho the team now doesn't have the same level as the previous one... Luis Figo who could replace him? Rui Costa, certainly a more adept teamplayer than Deco, who - by the way- I never really liked, the defense is much weaker than the one with Couto, Jorge Costa and so on...

I have hopes for Christiano Ronaldo, but let's hope he's prepared to leave his celeb status and keeps focusing on his soccer!

But anyway, German, Spain, Turkey and Russia... Which means 2 teams that are hardly european... But that discussion has been held lots of times and I'm not going in to it anymore...

So who am I thinking will win the EC 2008...
Spain... no, they always fail somewhere...
Turkey, let's hope not or their noise will awake my kids again... ;-)))
Russia, from Russia with love, they are good, really good
But I'd put my money on Germany...

First it's always better that we can say "he, we lost from the EC winner!" :)
Second, they are a cup team, always have been and always will be...

So Germany is my guess...

Nicole Jordan - To Pleasure a Lady

Marcus Pierce, the new Earl of Danvers is at lost. With his title he has inherited the responsability of 3 wards. No kids, but 3 young, beautiful women, all at a marriageable age. He has no intention of letting the responsability last, so he intends to marry them off as soon as possible. He'll provide them with a nice sum, so their suitors might look over their scandalous past. Four years ago, their mother ran of to France with her lover, finally tired of her husbands escapades. Two weeks later their father was killed in a duel over a paramour.
The ladies started their own life, they found a teaching school and start teaching there, thus providing an income of their own.

But Marcus is determined to get rid of them untill the eldest of the sisters Arabella storms in during a fencing session with his friends and captivates his immediate attention.
After meeting again Marces is even more determined to marry her off... only he will be the groom and no one else. So they make a bet... He'll court her, and she will try to resist him. If she won't succumb to his charms in two weeks, she'll be free and so will her sisters... She will be able to continue teaching, given a large sum and more important he won't force them into marriage...

This is part one in the Courtship Wars trilogy.

Arabella is the eldest of the sisters. She's hurt by the quarrels of her parents and she's determined never to marry.

Marcus is captivated for the first time in his life, and is equally determined to marry her. He uses all his charms and sensual knowledge to make Arabella surrender.

I always like Nicole Jordans book. When you pick one, you are in for a nice regency read with a lot of steamy scenes. While this book doesn't have as many of them, the erotical scences are more that sufficient.
The dialogues are great, the book put a smile on my face more than once.

The other characters are interesting too... Mainly the stoic duke of Arden and the hellion sister Lillian...

I'd definitly advice people who love regency to get this book and the 2 sequels. You won't be disappointed.

Sherrilyn Kenyon - The Dream Chaser

Simone Dubois gets a call from the coroner. He's Tate, her friends and a squire... He needs her help since his corpse got off the examiners table and walked out of the room... Since Simone has paranormal gifts (she has a ghost as a housemate) she might find out something.
When she gets at the place, she meets the ghost of Gloria, the girl that walked out of the room, but her body is gone...
Suddenly they are attacked by daimons. Luckily a handsome stranger rushes to her aid: Xypher. One of the daimons attaches bracelets on both their wrists. This are bracelets given to Satara by Stryker. They connect the two people... Which means when one dies, the other one dies too. Satara did this because she knows Xypher will come after her now that he's released from hell for a while. To be able to kill him, Stryker gave her the bracelets.

Xypher knows the bracelets are no good. But he can't identify them, so he and Simone decide to go to Julian for help. Julian is able to tell them the limits of the bracelets and also that they are unable to be removed...

So now Simone is stuck to this handsome stranger, a man so angry he leashes out to everyone around him. But when she gets a glimpse of the man behind the anger, she can't help but feel curious about Xypher... So when she is nice to him, Xypher realises that is the one thing he has no defence against...

This should be part 3 in the Dream Hunter series. We meet Xypher, whom we met in Devil May Cry. And the story that began there, just continues, so I don't understand why this is a Dream Hunter... It proves to me that both series are still connected very strongly. We don't see M'Adoc or V'Alerian at all, there are no dreams to appear in... So to me, this is just the sequel to Devil May Cry.

Xypher is the type of man I love. Hard, hurt, he lashes out to everyone and everything. Until Simone is just nice to him. He has no defence against that, but he doesn't trust it either. Never in his life has somebody been nice to him just because...

Simone is a ME. She lives with a ghost and things from other dimensions are no suprise to her. She has lost her parents and learned to survive on her own. Still her core is nice and friendly, so even when the odds are against Xypher, she still tries to reach out for him.

I really like most of this book...
Xypher is hard, he has some great comebacks...Simone is sweet, but strong at the same time. We meet Ash again and a new caracter that really caught my attention...
We have the ghost Jesse, who died in the 80's and got stuck there... Readers that were born then will have a good laugh at his cultural references.

What bugged me... The Kenyon errors as I call them... In one chapter Ash removes Xypers scares, a few chapters later, Simone traces his scars with her fingers...
And the end... I feel it's rushed... The book could use one more chapter to give it the ending it deserves... Or at least to explain the end some more...
When Katra showes up f.e. and does what she did ;) I felt like: that's all there is to it?????????

But overall it's a nice read? Jaden is a new person I would love to meet again soon... ;)

Christina Dodd - Touch of Darkness

Rurik is heading towards the island where an ancient crypt is being uncovered. After some research and the recent events with his brother Jasha, Rurik believes this could be the tomb that holds an icon he is searching for to get salvation... When he arrives at the isle he learns that Tasya is back. He seduced her a while ago, but she left him the next morning. He now also realizes Tasya might be the woman he needs, the one destined for him and thus the one to discover the icon...
When they are in the tomb together the next day to uncover some traps, they are closed in by some Varinskis. Luckily they don't realise Rurik and Tasya are in the tomb. They are only determined to close the tomb by creating an explosion...
Rurik and Tasya barely make it out in time, and now need to run for their life! The Varinski are after them and they have to find the lost icon. Heading from Scotland to France, the Varinski are on their tails and Rurik has to find a way to make Tasya his, this time forever... But he doesn't realise she has her own agenda... And when she would discover he's one of the Varinski's... There might never be a future for them together.

Again a wonderful story by Christina Dodd. To be honest, she should keep writing paranormal, since I love this work, while I don't run wild about her historical books.

Rurik is a former pilot, but due to an experience a few years ago he won't fly anymore. Not very handy when his animal form is an hawk. He's arrogant, understanding, and all we want in a hero... and his seduction... well let's stick to cruelty in a way you have to love it...

Tasya is hunting Varinskis. Determined to bring them down she somehow never dug up the fact that Rurik Wilder was a Varinski too... She's attracted to him, but she knows his life is in jeopardy should she face the Varinskis at last.

This is a story of two people with their own agenda. An agenda that's the same but that also crosses the other one in the end. Only love and sacrifice can make the goal for both of them the same.
It's a great story that leaves me waiting for the next one.

I look forward to Ardik's story!!

Jacquelyn Frank - Damien

With the library discovery, the Nightwalkers have to work together for the first time in centuries...
When Syreena joins the group, she meets Damien, the Prince of Vampires, again. He brings his representant Jasmine to the meeting.
Syreena is going for a walk, but finds Ruth on her track... Unable to defeat her, she is taken with the evil Mind Demon. Damien has followed a little later, eager to discuss with the little lycanthrope... But he can't see or sense anything. Luckily he's an elder, so well trained in using his senses and when he shakes of the spell Ruth casted, he can see the bloodtrail Syreena has left behind. Without hesitating he sets after the two women, determined to get to Syreena before she gets killed...
He tracks her down and flees with her.. But she's wounded so severly he has only one option... Breaking a century old rule and feed from another Nightwalker so she can use his strenght to heal...

I've anticipated this book for a long time and Damien didn't let me down...

We meet the clan of the Vampires with Damien as the supreme ruler. He's tough, smart, arrogant and of course handsome as sin...
Syreena gets his attentions straight away, but he doesn't recognize the true attraction right away... Vampires are easily bored and always seek for new challenges.

Syreena is the little sister of Siena. She's her adviser and friend. When Damien enters her world, he forces her to choose for herself for the very first time. To take choices about her own life and live with the consequences.

I loved the story, I loved the romance... You have the same main story as in Elijah: two different Nightwalker species attracted to eachother, while it's forbidden. But that didn't bring the story down...

What I didn't like was the interaction between Jasmine and Damien, and Jasmine as a caracter. I could understand her, and him in the beginning, but after a while I just wanted Damien to say: stop whining and get a life of your own... Just my 2 cents about it...

I'm curious about Noah. With the new discoveries they made... And I loved the introduction of Tristan and the Shadowdwellers...

So in short, great story, Damien is great when with Syreena or on his own, I dislike him with Jasmine. Syreena lives up to the expectations.

Donna MacMeans - The education of Mrs Brimley

Emma flees to the Pettibone School for Young ladies, claiming to be widowed. She needs to escape her uncle who is determined to sell her to the highest bidder...
But her little lie has bigger consequences that she thought it would be. Because the people running the school are devoted spinster... Thus they need someone to teach the girls the secrets of the bedchamber... Virginal Emma needs to find a way to get the answers and who would be better suited than their scandalous neighbour Lord Nicholas Chambers, aka Lord Bedchambers.

When she approached the rake, he agrees to teach her everything on one condition... For each question she'll have to remove on piece of clothing and pose for a painting.
Emma is desperate to stay at Pettibone, so she has to agree to his proposition, very aware of what the dangers are... her reputation and her heart are in jeopardy...

This is the debut of this writer.

The education of mrs Brimley has a highly entertaining set up... A prim, virgin in need of the education of a roguish artiste...

Emma fled to Pettibone to avoid an unwanted marriage. She has to stay out of the clutches of her uncle. So she lied when she applied to the position as teacher. But then she must teach the girls what happens in the bedroom, being a widow she should be able to tell those young women what to expect...

Nicholas is in need of a model. So when Emma knocks on his door he makes a bargain... He'll teach her if she will be his model. Every fiber in his being reaches out to her, so no one else will do anymore...

I liked the story, but you could tell this was a debut. Some things could have been explained more, the sensuality could get higher...
At this point I'd say she's a good author for Candlelight series. Entertaining, but not captivating, interesting set up, but not worked out wel enough...

I'm sure this writer might be able to get an even higher level with her next book, and I will buy that one to.

So I'd say an entertaining book, which makes me anticipiting the next one, but if that one fails to enthrall me, she'll not make my auto buy list

Sherrilyn Kenyon - Upon the Midnight Clear

The God of Pain Dolor is summoned from is his sleep by a human. His job is to torture this human's brother.... But the idiot doesn't know that calling to a God is never without consequences...
The awakening of Dolor releases Leta from her slumber too. After putting Dolor in stasis and went to a century long sleep to recover from the fight, she never tought any human would be evil enough to kill the one he loved to gain a favor from Dolor.
So she enters Aidan's world, the intended victiom of Dolor. His pain and anger will fuel her powers and together they might be able to destroy Dolor, even if this means her betrayal might be the final blow to Aidan.

Ok, let's get to the point... Yes, the book is thin... Yes, the print is large... yes, this might have been good for an anthology...
Been there done that... Personally I like the fact that, even if it's all of the above, I'm still able to put it between the other Kenyons... So I didn't mind it's a book on it's own, even in HC and that I paid the money for it... Get over it...

So I dealt with that topic, now the story itself...

I liked it...

We all have people we trusted and cared about betraying us... Trying to set up everyone around us against us. Lord knows it's a subject that's always fitting...
So when I learned about the betrayal Aidan suffered, from those he thought cared about him and not his money or fame.. about the hatred his brother Donnie deals with... My whole heart reached out for him...
It was so heartbreaking how he turns away from everybody so they won't be able to hurt him anymore...

Until Leta appears on his front door... She's as determined to stay within as he is determined to show her out... Only as a Godess she can summon a snow storm to help her case... Equally bruised by life, she should have no emotions at all, since she is a Oneroi. But being around Aidan makes her feel things she shouldn't be feeling anymore... More determined than even to keep him from Dolor and sending the God back to his stasis, she has to gain his trust, and fast...

I truly liked this book... After some of the other reviews, after Devil may cry, I was a bit hesitant in starting to read this book... But I shouldn't have been... I missed the great quotes Kenyon is able to create, but I could really sympatize with Aidan's feelings... It's the way of the world that people who have nothing try to benifit from those who have worked for it and still envy and hate them for it...

It's a nice in between read, that due to his lenght won't take you long to finish, but in my opinion, it's worth your time! So I'll consider to see DMC as an 'accident de parcours' and keep looking forward to August 5th when Ash' story hits the shelves.

Christina Dodd - Scent of Darkness

Christina Dodd – Scent of Darkness
Years ago Konstantine Varinski stroke a deal with the devil. In exchange for his soul, he would gain the ability to change into a beautiful predator… One of the things he had to do to gain the bargain is to obtain the family icon… He killed his mother to get it. After he gained his ability, the devil broke the icon in 4, sending it all over the world…
1000 years later one of his descendents leaves the Varinski clan behind and starts a life of his own, with a woman he loves. He changes his name to Wilder and starts his own family.
It’s at a party with her kids that Zorona Wilder experiences a vision about the battle between good and evil, her sons joining the war and her husbands soul in the balance… After she points at him and tells him he is dying, the man collapse…
After a complete make over, Ann Smith is on her way to her boss Jasha Wilder with a contract that needs to be signed. Set out for seduction, she is prepared to go all the way to get the man she has loved a long time.
When she gets there, she in into a big surprise. After waiting for Jasha to arrive, she is stunned to see a terrific wolf entering the house. But she becomes petrified when she sees the animal transform into her handsome boss before her own eyes. Ann has but one option, run for her own life, with a wolf following her track, determined to chase the intruder.
While the storms breaks loose, and Jasha is closing in on her, Ann finds a tile with a Madonna on it… Why are all these things happening to her? But as she turns with the icon in her hands, the wolf is approaching…

I’ve doubting a long time to buy this books… I didn’t dislike Christina Dodd’s books, they just never called to me when I was looking for a book to read…
But this time Janice told me to read it… So obedient girl that I am, I took the book and sat down to read… And I can honestly say, I hardly put it down before I finished!
This story has everything I wanted at that moment… Wolfs, a curse, sensuality and even the good old boss-secretary relationship.
Jasha is arrogant, strong, and with abilities that aren’t in the normal package. He can turn into a wolf, but even as a man he doesn’t loose all those extra senses… He already sensed Ann’s attraction to him, but now she seeked him out in his territory… And now they play by his rules! And while the storm rages, the wolf unleashed his own storm within both of them.
Ann is the efficient secretary who leaves the rules behind for the first time in her life… And it results in her facing a wolf upclose and personal. She is being chased by a wolf, and after the storm seeking his guidance to escape from killers from the Varinski clan, she learns to know Jasha the way he is… Not the idol she took him for, but the real man of flesh and blood… and well, occasionally fur and fangs…
I absolutely loved this book, and I’m eager for the next 3 books in this series. Dodd had definitely a lot of talent in the paranormal genre. And I can’t wait to read what happens with his other brothers and his sister…

Gena Showalter - Darkest Fire

This is a short ebook as the start of a new series by Gena Showalter. It explains the setting of the Lords of the underworld.

Greyon is guardian of the gates of hell. Every day he hungers for the vision of the godess that inspects the walls... Then one day she approaches him to inform him of a crack in the wall.

After a discussion with Lucifer they both descend in hell to fight de Demon Lords and save mankind. And to face the passion between Greyon and Kadence.

This is a prequel. So everything evolves very fast, but it never bothered me at all. You learn to know two persons who have to deal with their inner self. Greyon sold his soul to the devil himself to save his wife only to be left behind when he had to pay the price for his deal. Kadence is the godess of oppression and she had to keep to herself all her live because otherwise she just takes over other people's lives.

This story explains the events leading to the existence of the Lords of the Underworld. It's short, fast, sensual and entertaining and left me eager for the first book in the series: The Darkest Kiss. I hope it will continue with the level Darkest Fire started the series with.

Eve Silver - His Wicked Sins

Henry Pugh has been called to a gruesome murder scene. The owners of a local pub are killed in a very bloody manner. Upstairs he finds the maid Ginny, with her hair scalped from her head and her fingers cut off… And the horror doesn’t end there.
Years later Elizabeth travels to Yorkshire to attend a teaching position on a local boarding school. She needs the job to help her family survive. But when she gets at the village, it appears that they have forgotten her. Luckily for her, Griffin Fairfax is on his way to the school to visit his daughter. His nearness evokes feelings in Elizabeth she hasn’t felt before.
But once at the school rumors about the handsome gentleman makes her apprehensive. He seemed to have been the one discovering the dead bodies of several of the serial killers victims. When Beth is wandering on the grounds of the school, she gets the uncomfortable feeling of being watched… and most of the times she runs into Griffin right after that.. But she doesn’t dare to confide in anyone, since she has secrets best kept to herself… Is she attracted to a coldhearted killer, or can she trust her heart to make the right decision?

Eve Silver has a way with words that makes me reading her books and forgetting all around me…
That is what happened with this one too…
Elizabeth has had a terrible experience in her past, thus making her an oddity in her town. Her mother taught her to deal with her fears and anxieties, but she never really gotten over them. When she attends a new position as teacher and odd things are happening, she must face her fears since she can’t afford to loose the income she is providing. When she is near Griffin Fairfax, her fears seem to vanish, only to be replaced with other feelings. But can she trust the one man who understands her, but also seem connected to each murder….
Griffin is a gentleman and rumors claim he killed his own wife in front of his daughter. The child refuses to speak, and it takes another bruised soul like Beth’s to break down Isobel’s walls. Griffin recognizes Beth’s fears and knows how to handle them. Both have their secrets, who will be the first to reveal them?
But while they deal with their feelings, the serial killer has set his eye on Beth.
I just loved His Wicked Sins… Mrs. Silver takes you out of your daily life and pulls you into her world. I confess, there were moments Beth was being watched and I felt the shivers creeping over my back. Telling myself not to be foolish and not to look over my shoulder.
The tension is tangible, the surroundings well described and the sensuality much more present than previous Dark Gothic books of Eve Silver.
I’m so glad I got the occasion to read this in advance, and I suggest you all look out for this book when it hits the shelves. It will give you some nice hours of entertainment.

My own website

With a little (well lots :)) of help from my friend Janice it's finally there!!
My very own website with all my reviews!!!

here it is http://www.carpathianqueen.com

It's still growing every day, but we have made a start!

The ARC of Eve Silver His Wicked Sins is finished and I absolutely loved it!
Review will be added asap, so stay tuned ;)

Jacquelyn Frank - Elijah

Elijah the Demon warrior has been trapped. Surrounded by his enemies he tries to stay on his feet, while the life force slowly emerges from him. He can’t let these traitors be the better of him, but as they come closer, his blood drips from his body and he feels he is about to lose conscience. Just before he hits the ground he heard the distinct cougar call. His enemies flee and leave him behind, thinking he’s dead or he will be very soon. With the thought he failed his King, he drifts off in unconsciousness.
Siena, Queen of the lycanthropes approached the fallen warrior. Her cougar call scared off the other women, but sunlight is approaching so she must get Elijah to safer grounds. She stops the bleeding as good as she can, and then takes him to a cavern to let him heal.
When Elijah awakes he attacks Siena, not knowing where he is or who he’s dealing with. When he realizes he is strangling the Lycanthrope Queen, he releases her. But then another kind of confusion settles in between them. How can passion surge that much between a Demon and a Lycanthrope. Determined not to give in, both of them try to make the best out of the forced situation. Until Elijah is better, both of them will have to deal with the suppressed arousal.
However, a passion that strong won’t be denied… So the question remains: where do they go from there? How can the Lycanthrope Queen and the Demon Warrior give in to their passion without causing war again? Will Siena be able to give up her independence and can Elijah be loyal to another Royal than Noah?

Jacquelyn Frank did it again.
Her Nightwalker series proves to be a keeper. Each of the heroes and heroines well worthy for each other. And a way of writing and telling the story that only keeps you yearning for more. Yes, Jacquelyn Frank has made me addicted to this series.
Elijah is a strong man, the leader of the demon warriors, loyal to his King Noah. He can’t believe he, of all demons, ran into a trap made by his enemies. When he is rescued by Siena, he has to fight all of his natural instincts so he will be able to stay away from her.
Siena is equally strong to Elijah. She is the Queen that arranged peace between Demons and Lycanthropes. How can she force Elijah on her people now? He is after all the one that led the demon army, the one that killed their previous king, her father, himself… But an Imprinting isn’t to be denied. And when they part ways, she finds out the side-effects. Determined to ignore them, she feels her mood getting worse hour after hour until Gideon provides for a possible solution. But will the proud Elijah be able to accept her condition?
Elijah is a story that will keep your attention from the first letter up to the very last one. It will make you smile, cry and hope they find a way to be together.
Besides Elijah and Siena’s story, we also meet the villains again and Frank brings us a bit closer to the reason they act like they did and will do again.
Bella is proving to be more than meets the eye, and by standing up to her mate she made me laugh out aloud more than once.
I loved Jacob, Gideon and now Elijah! June better be here fast, because Damien proves to be a hero to die for.

Elijah finished!!!

Hi to all,

Finally finished Elijah!! What an amazing story... Review will be posted later. I also saw that Damien is showing on Rhapsody Bookclub... Another book to look forward. Do you believe I even want Damien more than I want Phury???

Now I'm starting with His wicked sins, an arc from Eve Silver!! Haven't heard from her?? Shame on you! Especially His Demon's kiss is a true treasure. So far I haven't been disappointed by anything Eve wrote... So go to wherever it is you get your books and buy her books!! Janice is reading her now, curious about her opinion!

There are some FRB on its way now... Always fun when they get in ;)

Otherwise things are going great! It has been busy, but in a fun way. Tristan is talking babylanguage all day now, Logan is eager to stand on his own two feet and Kian... well he's determined to ride his bike as good as his friend Ward... He still has a long way to go lol since Ward is really really fast... Even his dad can't follow him anymore ;-) Not bad for a almost 5 year old!

Twins are awake now, going to feed them, bathe them en enjoy them... That's what kids are for lol

Big hug to all of you

Happy camper

Happy Easter to all of you!!
Hope you had a lot of chocolats ;)

Kian was very pleased with his gifts... Since spring should be here soon, he got a toyhouse for the garden... Unfortunately, this morning: SNOW... So the little house is in our living room now... He says he wants to stay the night over there.. lol

Natasja mailed me to tell me Damien and Noah will be in HC!!!! That's very good news. Now Elijah won't be alone shining in HC on my shelves...
When my library will be finished some day...
But I must say, Ivan is working very hard on it... The floor is done, so next the walls... I hope by this summer Sarah and I can put all those treasures back in the spotlight (and list them again ;) )

Going to fix dinner now!

Have a nice day all of you

it's been a while

I know...

But you have to forgive me...
Tristan has been hospitalized and when he came home Logan got sick...

They are wonderful boys, but twins demand a lot of time!
A good thing for Janice, because now I hardly find time to read, I buy buy buy...

I'm reading Elijah now... So Jacki, Can't wait for Damien... (damn her questions bout the nightwalkers...;)

My husband is building me my own library. The sweetheart seems to think I'll have more then enough room to put my books in for the rest of my life... lol He'll wake up from his dream soon enough...

update!

So I finished the last Woodiwiss ever... It was kind of strange to finish it and realise that I read every book she will ever publish... RIP

Otherwise things are going great! Busy Busy Busy ;)
Tristan and Logan are doing wonderful. Kian is being so sweet to me... The relationship with his father is something else... Two of a kind, it creates fireworks from time to time.
This evening we have to go to his teacher to hear how he's doing at school. He's a smart-ass, so I think he'll just blend in with the others. Why count to 100 when the teacher only ask to go to 10?

Next week Ivan is at home, finally lol but our agenda is filled with doctor visits. Check up for me, twins and twins again.

Janice told me friday Elijah will be on his way!!! I can't wait! Have to finish rogue so I can start reading his story.

Logan is awake... Gotta go

Rene Lyons - Daystar

We are thrown back to the year 1293 where we meet Constantine Draegon as a little boy. What he faces is only the beginning...
Back at the present time we get to witness the dilemma Lexine is struggling with. She senses some power within her, ghost flee when she nears them and her belly itches all the time. And then you also have the voices in her mind.
Constantine is the first to notice her new energy. He forced himself to stay away from her, but he has to admit failure time after time. And when one night he gives in and kisses her he knows he's lost.

When Lex finally tells the truth to the Templars they find out she's the Hallowed. She has to travel to England to have a chance at surviving. But she must do it on her own, because the Templars can't leave Seacrest.
But Constantine won't have it. He's determined to claim her as his and protect her all the way.

So after a night of passion they head off to England and the Order of the Rose who will protect Lex from the renegades that are after her.
Will the time they spend together also teach Constantine how to accept her love and return it.

*sighs*
What a wonderful story.
Constantine grabbed my attention the minute I met him and he kept it until I turned the last page of The Daystar.
What we learned about his past made me ache for him. You just keep hoping Lex will break through his walls and makes him see he's worthy. The rage inside him is so tangible. The way Rene Lyons gives us a peek in his past is so well written.
Lexine is the innocent girl that falls in love with a guy who should be the last on earth for her to fall for. But she does, and hard. We got a first glimpse of that in Midnight Sun. Her innocence and devotion is the one thing that helps Constantine deal with his past.

The Daystar is a tremendous book, that keeps me yearning for more. Rene Lyons knows how to keep the attention. She's definitely an author worth buying time after time. I already know I will soon reread her books...

One thing I missed... Considering the way Midnight sun ended, I would have loved to see more interaction between Constantine and Allie.

Shana Galen - Blackthorne's bride

Tired of being wooed for her dowry, Lady Madeleine Castleigh has given up on finding true love. But on her way to elope with a boring but honorable philanthropist, her carriage is seized by a nobleman on the run. Maddie is alarmed, especially when she catches sight of Jack Martingale, Marquess of Blackthorne, exactly the sort of wickedly attractive man she's sworn to avoid.

Chased by a powerful duke with revenge on his mind and a private army in tow, Jack has no choice but to confiscate Madeleine's carriage. He promises to take his leave once they arrive at the wedding in Gretna Green but doesn't count on his growing desire for the blue-eyed beauty. When the unexpected appearance of Maddie's father and the mistakes of a drunken priest alter everyone's plans, Maddie is furious—until she discovers that Blackthorne's kisses arouse a passion in her she'd long ago stopped praying for.

Maddie is tired of all the proposals, of her father controling her life... So she decides to elope to Gretna Green with a man who will give her the freedom she needs...
But she hadn't foreseen her cousin Ashley intervening... nor could she foresee two handsome man hijacking their coach and throwing all of them in an adventure they will never forget...

Okay, you all know I adore Shana Galen's books. Due to circumstances it took me too long to get the book... My twins will be arriving very soon and I thought I wouldn't have much time to read after they are born... So I went to purchase the ebook!

After reading most of the day I can't say I regret the buy one minute...

All through the book I was smiling... Seeing the adventures happening right before my eyes. Smiling at the antics of all the characters.

Jack (Lord Blackthorne) was wonderfull... No polished gentleman! He's mostly rude in a very charming way...
We have Nick, and I pray we get to read his and Ashley's story very soon...
I had to smile when the two brothers interacted... You know... I can hurt my brother, but anyone else

Maddie was a wonderful heroine... She stood up for herself and her friends.

This is a book everyone will surely like. Especially those that tried other books by this author and liked them... You get the typical regency scenario... Heroine elopes and is 'rescued' by hero But Shana Galen is able to twist it in such a way you never read the plot like that...

It's a light read you won't regret

Jacquelyn Frank - Gideon

They're called the Nightwalkers—proud, ancient beings who live in the shadows, existing just beyond the human world. But there are also dangerous humans who hunt them—necromancers who use the blackest magic to manipulate them. And for a Demon named Gideon, the battle against these evil forces will soon be all too personal.

AS A HEALER, HE KNOWS HER BODY.
BUT IT'S HER HEART HE WANTS.
For a thousand years, Gideon has healed his people. And as the oldest surviving male of his race, his wisdom has always been respected without question. But Gideon knows that even he is vulnerable to the powerful, primitive desires that befall his kind during Hallowed moons—and nine years ago that truth was hammered home when he found himself claiming Magdelegna, the Demon King's sister, in a wild embrace.

Horrified by his lack of control, he left her wanting and furious—and then exiled himself for the better part of a decade.
Now, with necromancers threatening his people—and Magdelegna nearly their victim—Gideon must face another truth. He and the beautiful, stubborn Magdelegna are destined to be together, to share a love as deep and old as time itself. But first he needs to regain her trust. Then he'll have to save her life.
Every night holds secrets.

Years ago Gideon and Legna shared a moment that left her behind humiliated and made Gideon do something drastic which ultimately confronted him with Jacob, the Enforcer. After years in exile Gideon is back, only to discover nothing changed between him en Legna. She still fears him and detests him.
As the strongest living Body Demon Gideon senses something is not right with Legna and he confronts her. Legna finally puts her trust in him and lets him examine her. But things don’t go the way they were supposed to go and for the first time in his thousand years existence Gideon has no control whatsoever. It doesn’t take long to realize they are Imprinted. After all they saw what happened with Jacob and Bella.
But Legna has no intention of binding herself to a man she doesn’t know. So she gives him the chance to open up. When Bella is attacked and almost killed these two people are thrown together. They must deal with their bond to fight the evil that is threatening their species.
Together with the vampires, lycanthropes and other nightwalkers a war is on its way and Gideon and Legna will have to deal with their bond while risking their lives.

Gideon is the second book of the Nightwalkers series and it didn’t disappoint me at all. Jacob was one heck of a start and Gideon a very good sequel that left me hungering for the next installment Elija.
Gideon is thousand years old, with his past and his secrets and of course and attitude and ego that won’t be ignored. He spent the last 9 years in exile after a confrontation with Jacob, but now he is back. When he learns Legna is his Mate he is confused when she gets mad over things he says, or the way he acts. Because of this we have some very hilarious conversations between the two.
Legna is an empath and getting stronger by the day. Together with Gideon she tries to discover her new strength and her new Mate. She is sweet, the diplomat at Noah’s court and protected by both her brother Noah and her sister. When they find out she’s linked with Gideon they oppose. A secret from the past could surface when Gideon’s powers combine with Legna’s.
I truly liked this book. As Gideon and Legna are both demons they soon find out what is happening with them and how they must face this. This left more room for Jacquelyn Frank to explore the world of the nightwalkers, introducing new species and persons like Damien, Siena, and Tristan.
Some might see this as something bad, but for me it didn’t feel that way. I loved exploring the other races. Loved to see how they had to combine their forces in order to vanquish the danger to all of them. At the same time we see Gideon and Legna learning to trust each other and opening up to one another.
I can’t wait for Elija to meet his match, and knowing the heroine I’m sure he’ll have a rough time ahead of him.

Eve Silver - Demon's kiss

The Compact of Sorcerers, a brotherhood sworn to guard the wall between the human world and the demon realm, have relied only on one another for centuries.But now there's a traitor in their midst...Struggling medical student Clea Masters knows she's unique.Ever since her parents' death, she's been kept safe by an inexplicable force inside her that knocks back any threat.But when a demon attacks her, Clea is launched into a dangerous world she never knew existed.Her only ally is a lethal, seductive man who arouses a hunger stronger than anything she has ever imagined...Compact of Sorcerers member Ciarran D'Arbois will not let harm befall Clea.In her, he sees a strength he admires and a body he longs to caress.Yet demons are determined to break down the portal Ciarran has sworn to protect, using Clea as their key.Now as a rogue sorcerer leads the enemy ever closer, Ciarran and Clea have only one hope.Both must surrender to their darkest passions--and unleash their most dangerous, untested deisres.DEMON'S KISS--Which is more deadly, his passion or his power?

Ciarran arrives at the scene of a car accident. The gate between human realm and demon realm has been opened so he is there to close it. Both adults are dead, their souls out of their bodies and there is nothing Ciarran can do about it. The child isn't dead yet, but is so severly wounded that she's as good as dead. All Ciarran can do is use his magic to ease her pain. But something extraordinary happens. The child steals his magic to heal herself and this leaves him unprepared for the demon attack...

Twenty years later Clea is attacked by a demon and saved by Ciarran. This event turns her world upside down. The demons are after her because she is the key to open the gate between human and demon realm and Asag wants to release a powerful demon. But Ciarran is there to stop him and to protect Clea. There is only one problem... When Clea gets near to him she draws his magic from him. Just like she did 20 years ago. But with a traitor in their midst, there is noone Ciarran can trust to guard his Clea. But with her stealing his magic and thus making it harder to fight his inner demon, there isn't an option that's appealing...

What can I say...
I loved Eve's gothic romance, she even made me like her futuristic book!
So it wasn't a suprise when I just loved her new paranormal novel! Eve Silver has a talent for describing a world so colorful you feel as if you're lseeing it right before your own eyes.
She created a world that is unique. A band of sorcerers determined to protect the world against demons and keep the gates of the demon world closed. We meet Ciarran, Darqun, Javier and Dain all males that scream for a story of their own!

Ciarran is a loner. He likes his solitude. It makes it a bit easier keeping his own private demon in his cage. But with CLea his soul cries out for her. He's a sorcerer of the light, feeling responsible for a child he shouldn't have saved. He will save Clea from the demons, even if it means his own death!

Clea is a fighter. Whatever comes her way ... she deals with it... Even if it means she has to face the existence of demons and sorcerers and magic. Even if it means she is part of that world. I loved Clea. The way she handles all this. Strong, brave... She's a heroine worthy of our hero.

I loved the concept that they couldn't be apart yet being together meant danger too... Eve Silver did a terrific job !!!
The attraction between them is instant and as a reader you feel the passion sizzle and you can't wait for them to give in to it. They're ying and yang, two halves of the same soul. And the author knows how to make her readers feel it.

I can't say I missed anything in this book... There is the occassional humor, lots of sensuality and a well written plot!
We have secundary persona's that tickle my interest just enough to have me looking forward to the next one, and the one after that... This story is a very good start of what appears to become a terrific new series that adds something new to the world of paranormal stories.
When Demon's hunger will be released I will get that as soon as possible... But since Eve is on my auto-buy list, that's no surprise...

Demon's kiss is a book I can highly recommend.

oké, so I'm entering the world of blogging...
one more try to keep something up to date ;-)
what will you be able to find here...

Talk about books, books... and did I mention books ;-))
Also stories about my 3 little boys... And my daily life I suppose...

So a bit more about me.
I'm Ingeborg, but you can call me CQ ;)
I'm euh no too old to mention my age lol I live in Flanders (don't just say Belgium... delicate topic ;) ) and I'm married. I have 3 gorgeous little boys: Kian (4,5) and Tristan and Logan (8 weeks). In our house you can also spy a little dog: Spike... terrifying name, but he's adorable!

Any more questions, just ask! (anything but money, of course ;-)) )