On The Prowl...Books Beware ;)

Ok I am officially dying to read Whirlwind Wedding by Jacquie D'alessandro!!! I found this author via reviews on blogs and barnes&noble.com and boy am I glad I took the time to check her out! I have a list of 5 of her novels I'm desperate to read especially Whirlwind Wedding!

I read the summary and was immediately intrigued, and once I'd read an excerpt on Jacquie's homepage I was a goner!!! I want to read this novel so badly but unfortunately it is not available at any of my local bookstores, thus I will be forced to order it and wait for the snail-mail to bring it into my waiting arms.

Anyone who is interested in historical romances should check out Jacquie's homepage at http://www.jacquied.com/index.html. I have yet to read any of her books however the fact that I am pimping her work after only reading excerpts should be a good sign lol. I'll let ya know when I finally get my hands on Whirlwind Wedding and will definitely post a review afterwards.

~~~
On another note: I only have 2 more finals before classes end and with that in mind I am taking a break and heading to Six Flags Discovery Kingdom (the amusement park) tommorow!! It should be wonderful and I will post pics if I remember to take the camera *which knowing me: I'll likely remember to take it but forget it in the car lol...so is my life...* ;)

Smile!!
Cherie

"Suddenly You" (Lisa Kleypas)

Summary: She was unmarried, untouched and almost thirty, but novelist Amanda Briars wasn't about to greet her next birthday without making love to a man. When he appeared at her door, she believed he was her gift to herself, hired for one night of passion. Unforgettably handsome, irresistibly virile, he tempted her in ways she never thought possible...but something stopped him from completely fulfilling her dream.

Jack Devlin's determination to possess Amanda became greater when she discovered his true identity. But gently-bred Amanda craved respectability more than she admitted, while Jack, the cast-off son of a nobleman and London's most notorious businessman, refused to live by society's rules. Yet when fate conspired for them to marry, their worlds collided with a passionate force neither had expected...but both soon craved.

- Taken from Lisa Kleypas' Site http://www.lisakleypas.com/ -

~*~ My Review ~*~

This is the second novel I have read by Lisa Kleypas and I must say it has proven to be every bit as wonderful as "Mine Till Midnight" (a huge compliment indeed)!! The storyline was very original and the relationship between Amanda and Jack is (simply-put) mouthwatering!! Kleypas has once again managed to capture the desire, the tenderness, the vulnerability, the courage, the sparks, and most importantly the love, to such a degree that I was sad to see it end (although the ending was absolutely to my liking). And once again she has managed to create characters that I adore: Amanda is amazingly witty and I loved that Kleypas didn't follow the norm and make her the most saught after beauty in the story but rather a woman who was a bit more round than tall and who had accepted her life of spinsterhood (and yet she still had Jack desiring her in every way possible). And speaking of Jack: Kleypas has once again given me a hero fit for my fictional love list lol. Jack's wit, sexy looks, and playfulness mix with his air of danger, intelligence, tenderness and hidden vulnerability to make him my favorite playful scoundrel. ;)

I am so glad I bought this novel and can not wait to explore Kleypas' other works...I have no doubt they will all be as fabulous as the first two I have had the pleasure of devouring lol.

That is all for now...

Cherie :)

Long Time No Post...

Sorry, I know it's been awhile but I am so blame-free for my lack of presense here on my blog this last week. Can I really be faulted if finals kept me from posting?...I think not. lol...ok ok I suppose I could have found time, but what would I have posted about? Finals are boring enough as it is without complaining about them. Not to mention that all of my free time (plus some time that should have been spent studying) was strictly reserved for my books. *hee hee* what can I say? I openly admit to being a book junkie. ;)



Speaking of...



I finally got my greedy little hands on Night Pleasures by Sherrilyn Kenyon and am planning on devouring the book at first chance!! I also just bought five new historical romances (four from the Friends of the Library bookstore I told you about - all costing under $3 each) and one from Borders bookstore. From FOL, I bought the first 2 installments in Sabrina Jeffries' Royal Brotherhood Trilogy (I read this series a long time ago and have been meaning to purchase it since then lol) and I also got Jeffries' first 2 books in her School For Heiresses Series. I finished Never Seduce A Scoundrel (1st book in the series) about a week or so ago but never got around to posting about it but no worries I will...lol. From borders I bought Lisa Kleypas' "Suddenly You"...I finished it last night and will definitely be posting a review of it on here today :).

I've got my eyes on some others as well: thanks to some fabulous reviews I've found online I am now eager to read "Moon Called" by Patricia Briggs, "Comanche Moon" by Catherine Anderson, "A Reluctant Reformer" by Lynsay Sands, "Love Bites" by Lynsay Sands, "The King of the Unblessed" by Michelle M. Pillow, and a new one not yet out "Cry Wolf" by Patricia Briggs.

Alright well that's all for now. I'll be posting some reviews on here today and possibly tommorow evening so look out for them ;)

TaTa FoR nOw...

~*~ Quote Of The Week ~*~

“Dorothy: Weren't you frightened?

Wizard of Oz: Frightened? Child, you're talking to a man who's laughed in the face of death, sneered at doom, and chuckled at catastrophe... I was petrified.”

- The Wizard of Oz movie -

The Castle of the Wolf!!!

I finished reading "The Castle of the Wolf" the other day and stand by my previous belief that this is truly a wonderful romance novel. The storyline was original, the characters were wonderfully easy to relate to (and as I mentioned in a previous post, I ADORED most of the characters and despised one in particular - which I consider a sign of fabulous writing...after all, such a strong emotional response can only be brought about by a very good story :)...), and the ending was even better than I had hoped for. I don't want to give too much away, but lets just say that I now am eager to find my own "wolf" lol ;)

I also really loved how Sandra Schwab (the author) added in the spirit of the "Wolves of Wolfenbach"...it was very original and I enjoyed reading the short blurbs from their perspective!!

So all-in-all this was a really great book...I daresay it has even become one of my favorites, and I would definitely recommend this to anyone who enjoys either historical or paranormal romances (it really fits under both categories, although I'd say it leans more so into the historical area.)

I already posted a summary of this book just a few posts ago so if you'd like to read it, you can find it below or go to Sandra Schwab's homepage @ http://www.sandraschwab.com/.

Man I'm Pooped!!

At this moment I am contemplating whether to quickly finish this post, shut down my laptop, and fall into the warm comfort of my blankets and cool softness of my pillows, OR quickly post this message, shut down my computer, and read...lol...which do you think I'll choose?

LOL...truth be told I've already set the book beside my bed knowing I'll more than likely read for hours and hours still, thus sacrificing precious sleep for precious stories (sounds like a good deal to me haha).

I'm thoroughly exhausted at the moment; this week I have been running around studying for finals for my college courses, and organizing/de-cluttering...I spent the first half of today in classrooms, and the second half in my bedroom dusting and reorganzing every ity bity inch of it because I am redecorating tommorow...*oh yes, the fun continues on through the weekend*. And to top off my week, I am just beginning to really get over that "sickness" (*cough, near-death-experience, cough*) that I was suffering from last week. Thankfully though, I am feeling much better aside from the exhaustion and a left-over headache that seems to be having separation anxieties - it's refusing to leave me, whereas I've packed it's bags and am doing my best to push it out the door.

Okay well I don't really have much else to write, but if I find a spare moment this weekend *LOL...yeah...right...that'll happen* I'll come on to post an update on the books in my life ;)

Later Gator...

"Castle Of The Wolf" (Found A New One!!! ...hee hee)

There is a used bookstore in my town called "Friends of the Library"...I love going there because they generally have a few hidden treasures (all under $5!!) that I can lose myself in. I went in there yesterday to see what novels they had and stumbled upon a novel by an author I had never heard of before. I read the back and the front excerpt and was suddenly purchasing it (for only $2.25 in case you're wondering ;) ...lol....).

"Castle of the Wolf" by: Sandra Schwab is truly spectacular!!! I have to continuously tear myself away from it to study and yet can't seem to stray from its pages for very long (which is a good sign for the story but a bad sign for my finals this coming week lol).

"Castle of the Wolf"

By: Sandra Schwab

Summary: After the death of her father, Cissy Fussell finds out that she has
inherited a castle in the Black Forest - but on one condition: she has to marry
the son of her father's old friend.

Ever since he returned home from the war, physically and emotionally wounded, Fenris von Wolfenbach has lived in the castle of his family, retired from the world like the beast in the fairy tale. Thus he is far from happy when one day a young Englishwoman turns up on his doorstep and claims his home as hers. Fenris is prepared to use any means fair or foul to get rid of his unwelcome visitor again.

But will he manage to put Cissy to flight with rats on the loose? Or will she unravel the secrets of the Castle of Wolfenbach and eventually tame her beast?

- Taken from Sanrda Schwab's website http://www.sandraschwab.com/

~*~My Review~*~

I am nearing the end of Schwab's story...a few more chapters and I'll have to close the book (sad thought)...Thus far I have been thoroughly enthralled by Schwab's novel! It is written very well, has some very great characters (including some who you want to slap in the face and stab in the toe with your sharpest high heels...but also others who you want to hold safe in your embrace and whisper reassuring words of love into their ears all night long...), and the storyline is really amazing! Our heroin is an amazingly intriguing combination of innocence, wit, desire, bravery, and stubborness, while our male hero is a flawed, roguish, wonderfully gentle sweetheart "bugaboo" who has made my list of "fictional loves" under the title of "Bat Conquerer". Although the storyline may seem a bit too close to the corny aspects of fairytales when judged by the back cover, it is truly a delightful, intriguing read that had me laughing, sighing, and "ahhh"ing non-stop (there was also a moment where a certain no-good, egotistical scoundrel *scowl* made me lash out and wish I had high heels on and him within arm's -no! LEG'S - length) lol. This has been a wonderful read and I am sooo thrilled I took a chance on it at that charming little bookshop I've come to treasure. =)

I'll keep ya posted on the book's progress :)

~*~ Quote Of The Week ~*~ (I know, I know...it's late...again...)

Ok...obviously I am not doing well with keeping the quote of the week to stick to a particular day...so I have decided I will simply post a quote once a week (specific day and time be damned! ;) lol) Besides, it adds to the surprise this way...when will Cherie post the quote this week? Today?...nope. Tommorow?...Wouldn't YOU like to know!! *evil cackle...thunder & lightening...more evil laughter...cough, cough...thunder dies down into a pathetic silence* Oh well, there your bit of insanity for the night...




Alrighty...onto the quote! This week, my quote of choice is....




*Drum Roll....*




*...Are you ready for this?*




*...No really. Are you ready?...Are you sure?...Wow...you really want to know huh?*




*Sighs*




*O-K...I guess if you really must know...the quote this week is...*

What's love?

Love is...

What makes a weak man brave

And a king step off his throne

Good times, bad times

Easy times, tough times

It comes in an instant

And lasts three days after forever

That's what love is.

- Mike (Unknown by me)–

Okay, I know what you're thinking...CHERIE! That's not a quote, it's a poem! Well YES, YES IT IS. But making the title of these weekly blogs "Quote, poem, random saying, etc...of the week" was just too darn wordy...so just know that that's what I mean by quote of the day. I'll likely be posting quotes (from anywhere and everywhere - including my faves from books! mmmhhh...think of all of the possibilities!!), poems, famous sayings, songs, or whatever I feel like posting...so suck it up honey cause it's going to be fabulous! lol...okay...I daresay I'm in a loopy mood right now and apparently a chatty one at that, so I'm going to stop typing now...




Remember to smile!! =)

Mine 'Till Midnight (wowsers!!)

Summary: When Amelia Hathaway's brother disappears into the gambling hells and brothels of London she turns to half-Gypsy club owner Cam Rohan (from The Devil in Winter) to find him. Afterward, Amelia takes her family to their newly inherited country house. Surprisingly Cam is visiting their neighbor and his interest in Amelia leads him to continually call at their home. Though the family seems eccentric, Cam is utterly enchanted and begins wooing Amelia with gentleness, hoping to bring out her spirit of adventure. His care for her emotional and physical well-being combined with his help in dealing with a bee problem and restoring the ramshackle estate endears him to Amelia and her sisters. However, it is his promise to sweep her away at midnight into a sensual world where she is cherished and carefree that enables her to allow Cam deep into her heart and her family. Somehow Cam heals the family's wounds and when an ex-suitor starts snooping around hunting a priceless treasure, he is there to save them.

- Taken from Lisa Kleypas' Site http://www.lisakleypas.com/

~*~ My Review ~*~

I finished reading Lisa Kleypas' "Mine Till Midnight" a few days ago and all I can say is...wow. It was just as good as I thought it would be. Lisa Kleypas is an excellent writer whose storyline was creative and whose characters were superb! I fell head over heels for Cam Rhoan (our leading man)! Cam is everything you could want out of your main male character (and yet is different from most stories' "heroes" because he is not the most saught after - in fact he's often times shunned due to his heritage, he's rich - but material items mean nothing to him, and although he does do his best to convince our leading lady to be his, the thing that makes readers love him most is how he auotmatically goes out of the way to comfort, protect, and aid the woman he loves simply because he loves her and not as a way of 'wooing' her.) Cam has definitely been added to my list of "fictional loves" (the fictional male characters who win my heart lol) and I daresay he's made the lists of every other woman who has read this novel.

Still Dying...(or according to the doctor's..."sick")

Well it's official...I have now been "sick" this whole week!! As if my life isn't jam-packed enough as it is, my body decides to wage war on poor run-down lil' 'ol me. The doc says I may have mono or it may be that the stress in my life is catching up to me...I hold firm to the belief that I'm dying...we agreed to disagree lol.

Anyhoo...not much is going on in my life at this very moment...just school, college decisions and lots and lots of reading lol! ;) Well that's all for now...

Found another one ...or two...or three...

As if I'm not already drowning 5 inches over my head in books to read, I've found more...yep that right. I should really learn to tear myself away from that dratted barnes and noble website...not to mention reading the fabulous reviews on other blogs. If I were smart I'd catch up and devour the books in my long TBR pile before sniffing around reading book reviews and excerpts *laughs out loud at the idea*...(hey, I never claimed to be smart) ;).

This time around it was the blogs that did me in. The book I want to read most at the moment is "Mine Till Midnight" (by: Lisa Kleypas) - I have seen this book many times and been drawn by it's truly beautiful cover, but before now had always talked myself out of buying it...well, no longer. I just read an excerpt online and practically growled in frustration when the excerpt ended...I NEED to read this story! I'd also like to look into "Suddenly You" by the same author...although it doesn't look quite as appealing as "Mine till Midnight", I do think it will be an interesting read.

At the moment I'm craving historical romance and thanks to "accidentally" reading over a review on Nicole Jordan's Courtship Wars Series, am now in the mood to fall once again into Jordan's weave. Thankfully the books are not 5 feet from me so I daresay it is a situation that will soon be rectified...now if only I had some chocolate to accompany them...hmmm...I think it's time to go turn my kitchen over in my hunt for sweets ;)



Always A Sweet Tooth,


Cherie

~*~ Quote Of The Week ~*~

"Man is least himself when he talks in his own person. Give him a mask, and he will tell you the truth."
- Oscar Wilde –

(P.S. I'm sorry I'm posting this a day late...I was sick in bed yesterday and didn't get around to doing it then...I really love this quote and thought the picture went with it wonderfully lol...ttfn)

Gotta Love Those Books!!! ;)

I just finished rereading Sherrilyn Kenyon's "Fantasy Lover" and mmmhmmm...I've read this book about 5 times and each time I melt! It is such a remarkable combination of fantastic writing, to-die-for storyline/plot, and loveable characters. I'm a bit ashamed to say I have put off reading the remainder of the series, allowing myself to become distracted in all of the other amazing books I've come across. However after my latest reading of this fabulous story I am craving to continue the series!! I'm particularly desperate to read "Dragonswan" and "Night Pleasures" (that's what I get for reading the online excerpts...you think I'd learn not to read them until I can go out and GET the rest of the story but nooooo...*sighs*) No worries though...I'll have them in my hot little hands soon enough. And I have plenty of other amazing novels to keep my busy in the meantime lol.


Kresley Cole's Immortals After Dark Series has to be one of the best paranormal series out there. Cole's storylines are creative and, although they follow along a certain pattern as most series do, each novel is completely unique and a true treasure in itself. The characters vary wonderfully and her writing is such that you will instantly be sucked into the characters' world and will relish every moment you are there! I love that she didn't simply continue writing the same thing with the same types (or I suppose I should say "species") of characters; the stories and characters vary so greatly that you do not get a sense of monotonous repitition and yet because she keeps the same characters in each story (in the background, like character's such as Nix - who I am soooo dying to read about in her own story) the reader immediately feels familiar with the strange world and can instantly connect with each and every character, making it all the more personal and enjoyable. I have just finished reading "A Hunger Like No Other" and "No Rest For The Wicked" and am currently rereading "Wicked Deeds On A Winter's Night". All I can say for these books is that they are truly fabulous and anyone who enjoys paranormal romance will fall head-over-heels for this ass-kicking series! ;)

XoXo...
Cherie