Monday, August 24, 2009

*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."

Sunday, August 23, 2009

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 :)

Friday, August 14, 2009

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. :)

Tuesday, August 4, 2009

*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."

~


Monday, August 3, 2009

*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