I've sadly read nothing lately :(

As crazy as it sounds, school and training for work has taken up all of my time lately and I haven't been able to finish a book in almost a month! :( It's sad but true, however I do recall wanting to post a review about P.S. I Love You (an amazing book!) by Cecilia Ahern, so that'll be up soon I promise.

Bye for now...

*Lisa Kleypas ~ Blue-Eyed Devil*

MEET THE BLUE-EYED DEVIL

His name is Hardy Cates. He's a self-made millionaire who comes from the wrong side of the tracks. He's made enemies in the rough-and-tumble ride to the top of Houston's oil industry. He's got hot blood in his veins. And vengeance on his mind.

MEET THE HEIRESS

She's Haven Travis. Despite her family's money, she refuses to set out on the path they've chosen for her. But when Haven marries a man her family disapproves of, her life is set on a new and dangerous course. Two years later, Haven comes home, determined to guard her heart. And Hardy Cates, a family enemy, is the last person she needs darkening her door or setting her soul on fire.

WATCH THE SPARKS FLY....

Filled with Lisa Kleypas's trademark sensuality, filled with characters you love to hate and men you love to love, Blue-Eyed Devil will hold you captive in its storytelling power as the destiny of two people unfolds with every magical word.

- Taken from the Barnes & Noble Website: http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Blue-Eyed-Devil/Lisa-Kleypas/e/9780312351656/?itm=2

~~~

~*~My Review~*~

I have adored every Lisa Kleypas novel I have read thus far, and Blue-Eyed Devil was no exception. After reading Sugar Daddy and thoroughly falling in love with the characters, I was practically jumping out of my seat at the chance to read Blue-Eyed Devil and continue the story with my second favorite guy from Sugar Daddy"Hardy Cates".

This was a very emotional book, which I had expected, however there was one extremely emotional aspect of this story I had not foreseen, and though I personally have never experienced anything of the same sort, it really touched me, making the story all the more personal. If you enjoyed Sugar Daddy I can just about guarantee you will enjoy the sequel. It has all of the amazing qualities Klaypas' other novels hold (her wonderful writing, her charismatic characters, and her ability to give each character their own life that not only enhances the overall story but really just causes the reader to fall in love with each of them, thus setting up the background for a follow-up story). It was an emotional, amusing, romantic, and delightful read that I was immediately drawn into from the first chapter. I will admit I preferred Sugar Daddy, however I believe that is more due to the fact that Liberty and Gage have found a permanent place in my heart than to this sequel being any less satisfying, because it truly is an equally remarkable book.

~~~

~*~Excerpts~*~

"Listen, honey," he whispered. "There've only been a couple times in my life when something felt so good I didn't give a damn about the consequences." His lips slid over my forehead, my nose, my trembling eyelids. "Go tell Nick you're not feeling well, and come away with me. Right now. There's a strawberry moon out tonight. We'll go somewhere and find a patch of soft grass, and share a bottle of champagne. And I'll drive you to Galveston to watch the sun rise over the bay."

*~*

"Maybe we should go in stages," Liberty said. "It may be a shock if I take too much off at once."

"No, you can't donate it if it's less than ten inches long. Just go for it." We were going to give the foot-long rope of hair to the Locks of Love program, which made wigs for children who suffered from medical hair loss.

Liberty combed my hair deftly. "It's going to release some curls once I shorten it," she said. "All this weight is dragging your hair down."

She plaited it and sawed the entire length off at the nape. I held the braid while liberty brought a Ziploc bag, and I dropped it inside the plastic pouch and sealed it with a kiss. "Good luck to whoever wears it next," I said.

*~*

"Haven, you know I'm right. Let's talk about this."

"If you don't want to have sex, I don't want to talk about our feelings."

He scrubbed his hand through his hair, looking confused. "Well, that's for damn sure the first time a woman's ever said that to me."

Warped Tour '09 :)

Hello all :)

Well as you can probably tell from the post title, this post is just to give you and update and mention how great Warped Tour 2009 was!

If you don't know what Warped Tour is, it is a yearly concert put on with over 50 bands involved. They play at various locations throughout the country - mostly rock music. This was my first year going, and it was amazing! It was about 10 hours long, and we were out in the heat with practically no shade going from stage to stage (there was about 6 stages), it was cramped as all heck, and their water and food were OF COURSE overpriced, but it was amazing! I loved seeing some of my favorite bands up close and personal and found some really great ones I need to look into =)

As far as the updates go I just wanted to say that I finally finished Blue Eyed Devil a few days ago however the concert prevented me from posting a reply before now, so you should be seeing one sometime tomorrow, and hopefully one on P.S. I Love You (because it is such an amazing book it demands a review!) Okey-dokey, well that's all for now. Talk to ya tomorrow I hope :)

And as always, if you have nay recommendations for me I'm all ears :)

Soon To Come...

Here is a list of the books I will be reviewing in the next little while:

* Lisa Kleypas - "Blue-Eyed Devil" (Sequel to "Sugar Daddy")

* Cecelia Ahern - "P.S. I Love You" (I read this a few years ago and loved it so much I have read it three times since...so I figure it's time to 'share the love') haha

* C.L. Wilson - "Lord of the Fading Lands" AND "Lady of Light and Shadows" (The first two novels in Wilson's Tairen Soul Series)


On a different note: Has anyone read a book called "Tall Dark And Dead" by Tate Hallaway?? I read the excerpt and it looks interesting but I am not sure if I want it enough to order it or not. Please let me know if you have read it and what you thought of it. :)

*Angie Fox ~ The Accidental Demon Slayer*

Straight-laced preschool teacher, Lizzie Brown, never lies, never cusses, and doesn’t really care much for surprises. When her long lost Grandma Gertie shows up on her doorstep on a neon pink Harley Davidson wearing a “Kiss My Asphalt” t-shirt and hauling a carpet bag full of Smuckers jars filled with road kill magic, Lizzie doesn’t think her life could get any stranger. That is, until her hyper-active terrier starts talking and an ancient demon decides to kill her from his perch on the back of her toilet.

Lizzie learns she’s a demon slayer, fated to square off with the devil’s top minion in, oh about two weeks. Sadly, she’s untrained, unfit and under attack. Grandma’s gang of seventy-something biker witches promises to whip Lizzie into shape in no time, as long as she joins them out on the road. But Lizzie wants nothing to do with all this craziness. She simply wants her normal life back. When she accidentally botches the spell meant to protect her, she only has one choice – trust the utterly delicious but secretive man who claims to be her protector.

Dimitri Kallinikos has had enough. Cursed by a demon centuries ago, his formerly prominent clan has dwindled down to himself and his younger twin sisters, both of whom are now in the coma that precedes certain death. To break the curse, he must kill the demon behind it. Dimitri needs a slayer. At long last, he’s found Lizzie. But how do you talk a girl you’ve never met into going straight to Hell? Lie (and hope she forgives you). Dimitri decides to pass himself off as Lizzie’s fated protector in order to gain her trust and guide her towards this crucial mission. But will his choice to deceive her cost them their lives, or simply their hearts?

- Taken from Angie Fox's Website http://angiefox.wordpress.com/books/

~~~

~*~My Review~*~

What first drew me to this book was the name and cute cover, however the summary I read for it (a different one than the one I put above) kind of threw me off the book. It sounded a bit too cheesy for my tastes, and I thought for sure it would wind up being a disappointment, so I put off getting it for a long time. However that title and that darned cute cover just kept drawing me back until I finally gave in and checked out the first few chapters in Barnes & Noble. I was pleasantly surprised. :) It's not the best story in the world nor is it the most fabulous writing I have ever encountered, however it has a unique storyline and a quirky humor that really appealed to me. I really enjoyed the story, especially it's eccentric characters. I would recommend this book for anyone looks for an entertaining and simple read. This book is honestly hard to describe because true, in many ways it could never compare to the other paranormal series it is quite similar to, however it has some very unique qualities about it that are very intriguing and entertaining. And I loved that it wasn't a 'serious' series if that makes sense at all. It was an easy read, light humored, and not meant to be emotionally charged. Overall it was cute and quirky and I will definitely read it's sequel.

~~~

~*~Excerpts~*~

" 'Yeah, um. In case you haven't noticed, I'm more of an indoor girl.' Not that I was against motorcycles, in theory. But if Grandma thought I was going to hoist my rear end up on the back of her hog, a pothole had knocked something loose in her head.

'Well, Lizzy, the thing is...' she cleared her throat, 'our coven's on the run.'

Oh lordy. 'You think you're a witch?'

'Am a witch, darlin. So was your mother. And if I wasn't such a damned good witch, all hell wouldn't be after us. I don't have time to spell it out for you right now, but let me ask: you own any leather chaps?'

Yeah, hanging right next to my white capri pants. 'No!'

'Well, that bites,' she said. 'Life on the road can chafe your thighs.'

I gulped. She'd better not even think of kidnapping me. That was it. 'Pirate! Watchdog! Attack!' He didn't even have enough courage to whimper. Useless beast. Last time I was buying him Silky Bones Pet-Sicles."

~

*Karen Chance ~ Curse The Dawn*

Cassandra Palmer may be the all-powerful Pythia now, but that doesn’t mean people have stopped trying to kill her. Most of the supernatural power players don’t want the independent minded Cassie as chief clairvoyant—and they’ll stop at nothing to see her six feet under.

The Vampire Senate does support Cassie in her position, but their protection comes with a price: an alliance with the sexy master vampire Mircea, who has claimed Cassie as his own.

But even the vampires will have trouble keeping Cassie alive now that the self-styled god Apollo, the source of the Pythia’s power, has it in for her in a big way. To save her life—and the world—Cassie’s going to have to face down her creator once and for all.

- Taken from Karen Chance's Website http://www.karenchance.com/books.html

~~~

~*~My Review~*~

There are many wonderful authors currently getting their works out there, however even though there is such a vast quantity of authors in this day and age to choose from, it is still a rare and precious find when you discover an author whose every work completely enthralls you - both fulfilling you and leaving you dying for more all at the same time. I have found such an author in Karen Chance.

I first came across Ms. Chance's work with the Cassie Palmer series, and boy was I hooked from that first novel! I followed the series like an obsessed woman, just counting the days until the next installment. However even with my complete adoration for her first series, when I came across Chance's next series, I'll admit I was reluctant, especially as it was to star a different female lead in the very world I have fallen in love with in the Cassie Palmer books. And so I read the book under the impression I would dislike this disruption into the cozy paranormal world I had come to know and love...boy was I mistaken. I LOVED her second series! The female lead in Midnight's Daughter (Dorina Basarab) is enchanting in an entirely different way than our dear Cassandra, and I found that having the same 'world' and even some of the same characters from the previous series simply allowed me to connect more fully and far more quickly with this new series than I thought possible. I honestly LOVED that I was seeing the characters I had thought I'd known in a completely new light, leaving me feel even closer to them. Chance is brilliant! Her writing talent is excellent, her characters are quirky, powerful, and thoroughly loveable, and her storyline is one that drags you in so completely you hope it'll never end.

I honestly can not praise this book, this series, or her other series enough. I truly loved them all and believe you will too. Read them...you wont be disappointed. Oh, and if you do, start with "Touch The Dark" the first novel in the Cassie Palmer series (trust me it will make the overall experience even better) :)

~~~
~*~Excerpts~*~
" 'I really am Pythia, but I don't know what I'm doing and there's no one in my time who can help me.'
'That's a problem.'
'Yeah.'
'Good luck with that.' She grabbed the mage by the collar.
'Don't you dare leave!' I said furiously. 'I helped you!'
'You almost blew this place sky-high! Anyway, even if I wanted to help you, there are rules.'
'Screw the rules! You stuck me with this godforsaken position-...'
'I didn't hear that.'
'...-and now you think you can just walk away? You have a responsibility here!'
I'd been waving the gun around in my agitation, and it accidentally went off and took a chip out of a brick over the mage's head. He blinked. 'Uh, ladies? Might I suggest-...'
'Shut up!' we told him in unison. He shut up.

~
" 'Dulceata,' Mircea said quietly, using the pet name he'd given me as a child, meaning 'dear one.' And despite everything, that word in that voice made my heart give a little start behind my ribs. It didn't matter what my heart said, I reminded myself. My heart told me stupid stuff all the time. My heart should just shut the hell up."

~

"'You're saying you got to keep alive the very people who want you dead?'
'That's what I'm saying.'
'That sucks.'
'Which will be the title of my autobiography, if I live long enough to write one. Now, can we get out of here?'
'My thoughts exactly.' The voice came from behind me, and a gun was pressed to my rib cage."

Hope I didn't lose my touch ;)

Lol okey dokey, well I started a book review last week and yet haven't finished it! I hope I haven't lost my touch!! Haha I'm going to try to finish it tonight since I have some spare time =)

Update on the life of Cherie:

Things are going amazingly with my bestfriend turned boyfriend, I moved back home and am attending a closer school, and even though I have been crazy busy I was able to read two books since my last post (pathetic I know compared to what I used to read in that amount of time, however that's all the books my time can take right now unfortunately :(...sad but true.) Thankfully though they were two wonderful books so stay tuned for the reviews!!!

Cherie

I'm Back...I promise.

Well as you might have noticed I haven't been on blogspot for a LOOOONNNNGGGGG time. I'm sorry. Things in my life got hectic and difficult to say the least, however thankfully things are better now. I am starting over I suppose you could say, with new goals and a stronger motivation. :)

I dont have as much time for reading as I would like however I am working on it haha.

Thank you guys for your advice and support in my last couple of postings. They really helped. Everything worked out wonderfully...I'll share more in my next posting, likely either later on tonight or tomorrow.

2 Boys, 1 Me, Lots of Confusion

Alright, I need some advice.

In my life, family and friends mean everything to me...they are what makes each and every day worthwhile. There are three people who know me inside and out, one is my sister, one is a girl friend of mine, and the third is a guy friend. We've known each other for years but over the last year we've become ridiculously close. Nothing ever happened between us because he was in a relationship with one of my closest friends, however about two months ago she ended things (rather badly) with him. I was there to pick up the pieces I suppose you could say, and we became even closer than before. He is the first person I speak to in the mornings and always the last person I talk to before I sleep. He means the world to me and probably knows me better than anyone. I have noticed some feelings for him, but I had these before he and my friend got together and so I just ignored them. However last night we stayed up all night (an 11 hour phone conversation) and he admitted to having feelings for me.

I have been having problems with the guy I'm seeing recently...I'm never sure where I stand with him, we haven't seen each other in about 9 weeks, and I can't help but feel as though I am simply a "for now" girl - someone to spend his time with when he has nothing better to do. Anyways, things have been shaky between us and I have been planning on talking to him about it for awhile now however things kept getting in the way.

Now I have two guys and I am afraid of making the wrong decision. On the one hand, I have this seemingly good guy who I have been dating and who (though i dont really know where i stand with him) I know I care for. On the other hand I have one of the most important people to me in my life, who I feel strongly for but who is my friend's exboyfriend, and who (though I know would never do anything to hurt me), I fear may be jumping into this too soon.

I think I already know my answer, I mean I enjoy being with this new guy but I do not see it being very serious, whereas with my friend, I know that whatever we have it will be long-lasting (whether it is just maintaining the friendship or taking the next step)...however I guess what I really need to know is...am I betraying my friend by becoming involved with her ex?

Please help...

Quick Update!

Hi ya!!

I just popped in to say hello and give y'all an update. I just finished "Ransom My Heart" By: Mia Thermopalis (a.k.a. Meg Cabot) and will likely be posting a review on that in the next day or so. I will also be posting a review of Barton's "Dying For You" (fingers crossed) tonight, or if I don't find time then tomorrow night.

Like always, if there are any new and upcoming authors or novels/books (or even just some of the good old ones you think I may not have read as of yet) please feel free to give me a shout out and let me know some of your faves! ;)

On a different note, I have a question to pose to anyone and everyone who reads this: I have been dating a very sweet, funny 22 year old for a few months now and (though we haven't seen each other recently due to unavoidable circumstances) I am really crazy about him. However, lately I've been unsure as to how he feels about me. He is always very sweet and says he's crazy about me, but at the same time I can't help but feel that I'm just here for him because something better hasn't come along. Maybe I'm just being a silly ninny, but either way I need to know where we stand with each other...which is why I'm going to ask him how he sees our "relationship" next time we are together. He has never actually called me his girlfriend and (though I have considered him to be my boyfriend for awhile) I have never broached the subject. So my question is this: How should I go about finding out if we are a couple or simply dating or even just friends with benefits?

...Any and all suggestions and advice would be soooo wonderful and much appreciated!

Thanks and have a splendid day! =D
Cherie

*Lisa Kleypas ~ Sugar Daddy*

SHE’S FROM THE WRONG SIDE OF THE TRACKS
Liberty Jones has dreams and determination that will take her far away from Welcome, Texas—if she can keep her wild heart from ruling her mind. Hardy Cates sees Liberty as completely off-limits. His own ambitions are bigger than Welcome, and Liberty is a complication he doesn’t need. But something magical and potent draws them to each other, in a dangerous attraction that is stronger than both of them.

HE’S THE ONE MAN SHE CAN’T HAVE
When Hardy leaves town to pursue his plans, Liberty finds herself alone with a young sister to raise. Soon Liberty is under the spell of a billionaire tycoon—a Sugar Daddy, one might say. But the relationship goes deeper than people think, and Liberty begins to discover secrets about her own family’s past.

WILL THEY FIND THEIR HEARTS' DESIRES - OR WILL HEARTBREAK TEAR THEM APART?

Two men. One woman. A choice that can make her or break her. A woman you'll root for every step of the way. A love story you'll never forget.

- Taken from the back cover of Lisa Kleypas' "Sugar Daddy" novel

~~~

~*~My Review~*~

Lisa Kleypas has to be one of the most phenomenal authors I have ever had the pleasure of coming across. I can say with all honesty that I have truly loved every novel I have ever read by her - to the point that reading each book once through is simply not enough. Kleypas has the unique and wonderful ability to bring life into her stories in a way that astounds her readers, leaving them breathless and longing for more, while at the same time feeling a sense of complete satisfaction and fulfillment. I think what amazed me the most was Kleypas' adaptability as an author.

Before "Sugar Daddy" the only books I had read by Kleypas were all Historical Romances, thus I was a bit hesitant to read one of her few contemporary novels. However one day I found the book in one of my favorite used bookstores and my curiousity got the better of me. I found the summary on the back interesting, so I chose to read the first chapter and THAT is what got me hooked! I loved that Kleypas began the book while our heroin was still young. Unlike most books where you are introduced to the lead female character right before she encounters her soon-to-be-true-love, Sugar Daddy allows readers to follow Liberty through her life. You meet her as a young girl, and follow her along her long, difficult, and wonderful journey through life, so that you not only understand her life, but you yourself feel as though you are a part of it...you become Liberty Jones. And don't be fooled by the fact that this story starts off with our lead female character at a young age, nothing about this book is slow or drawn out and there is plenty of romance within this story from the very start.

As I mentioned before, one of the things that stood out to me the most was Kleypas' ability to adapt to this different genre of romance storytelling. It was as if she transformed her writing and author's voice to fit that of her main character. I'm afraid I'm probably not doing a very good job of describing it, so I will simply say: it is an amazing story and she was the perfect author to write it!

I am not going to describe the storyline any further than I already have because, one: it would be near to impossible to truly explain how complex and wonderful it is. And two: this is the type of story you need to experience...

If you give it a shot I know you will love this story - and please do not let the title discourage you in any way! It is ony of my all-time favorite stories and I would recommend it to anyone and everyone!! :)

~~~

~*~Excerpts~*~

" ...'What do you want from me?'

'I want you to admit just once what you feel for me. I want to know if you'll miss me even a little. If you'll remember me. If you're sorry for anything.'

I felt his fingers clench my hair, tugging until my head tilted back. 'Christ,' he whispered. 'You want to make this as hard as possible, don't you? I can't stay, and I can't take you with me. And you want to know if I'm sorry for anything.' I felt the hot strikes of his breath on my cheek. His arms wrapped around me, stifling all movement. His heart pounded against my flattened breasts. 'I'd sell my soul to have you. In my whole life, you'll always be what I wanted most. But I've got nothing to give you. And I won't stay here and turn into my father. I would take everything out on you - I would hurt you.'..."

~

"...'You need a wife,' I told him one morning as I came to take his breakfast tray.

'I had a wife,' he said. 'Two good ones, as a matter of fact. Trying for another would be like asking fate for a kick in the ass. Besides, I do well enough with my lady friends.'

I could see the sense in that. There was no practical reason for Churchill to get married. It wasn't like he had a problem finding female companionship. He got calls and notes from a variety of women, one of them an attractive widow named Vivian who sometimes stayed overnight. ...

'Why don't you get a husband?' Churchill countered. 'You shouldn't wait too long or you'll get set in your ways.'

'So far I haven't found one worth marrying,' I said, making Churchill laugh.

'Take one of my boys,' he said. 'Healthy young animals. All prime husband material.'

I rolled my eyes. 'I wouldn't have one of your sons on a silver platter.'

'Why not?'

'Joe's too young. Jack is a ladies' man and isn't nearly ready for that kind of responsibility, and Gage...well, personality issues aside, he only dates women whose body fat is in the single digits.'

A new voice entered the conversation. 'That's not actually a requirement.'

Glancing over my shoulder, I saw Gage walking into the room..."

Free 3 Day Weekend!!

First, I would like to apologize to the few people who actually read my blog for being so sporadic with my posts as of late. I've been seriously neglecting my blog - which is terrible since I love blogging about my favorite reads - and I'm sorry about that. My life has been a bit crazy for these last few months and the truly depressing part is that I now can only read on the weekends because my weekdays are almost always too packed to fit it in. Thankfully though, I was able to get some reading done over christmas break and am currently in the process of reading a new book and rereading a couple of old ones! =)

Here is the list of books I've read recently and will be posting on this weekend:

* Dying For You (By: Beverley Barton)
* Sugar Daddy (By: Lisa Kleypas)
* Stranger In My Arms (By: Lisa Kleypas)
* The Duke's Indiscretion (By: Adele Ashworth)
* Highlander In Her Dreams (By: Allie Mackay)
* Before The Scandal (By: Suzanna Enoch)

The books I am reading currently are all ones that I have reviewed before with the exception of a new one I bought the other day called "Ransom My Heart" (By: Mia Thermopolis - a.k.a. Meg Cabot)...so far it's amazing, and I'm only on chapter 2!!! ;)

Alrighty, well I'm going to start on some of the reviews now but before I do, I'd like to invite anyone and everyone to give me some books ideas. I'm looking for some new reads and am not having much luck outside of the same series I have already found. Anything romance will be good, I'm always in the mood for historical and/or paranormal romance, and lately I've been into contemporary romance as well ( any books similar to Kleypas' Sugar Daddy or Barton's Dying For You would be most welcome!)

Thanks,
Cherie :)