REVIEW - JANE'S WARLORD

Author: Angela Knight
Paperback: 320 pages
Publisher: Berkley ( June 1, 2004 )
ISBN-10: 0425196844 
Adlibris: Link

And here I was afraid it was gonna be cheesy!

Tells you not to judge a book by its cover or name.

I did make new cover for it though, just for kicks and giggles, the original cover is below. I just felt it needed that something extra.

Now to the book!

The story begins with Baran making a time travel jump to Jane's 2005 to make sure serial killer who's stolen a jumpsuit is stopped from killing Jane Colby.

Baran is teamed with a giant wolf with voice manipulator allowing it the ability to speak, which is probably the best comic relief from an animal I've seen since Aisling Grey's demon Jim a newfie.

Jane returns from reporting on a savage killing for her small town newspaper to find a six foot four Viking of a man in her bedroom. A delicious "I'm here to save you - I don't believe you" ensues. Showing Jane's no run of the mill romance lead lady.

As the two battle things out, they try and catch the serial killer who keeps taunting them.

This book is filled with future, sci-fi and steamy scenes. It goes overboard in a fun readable way, the book is easy to finish in 24 hours.

To the depth of the characters, Baran has his issues but doesn't seem to lose control often, whereas Jane is tortured by the ghost of her father. I would have liked more on Jane's relationship with her father, and closer to the questions she bonders. But then again these characters don't linger too long after you finish reading.

It's a fun read, nothing too serious. So yeah, I'd recommend it for those days when you want to skip reality.

Rating :

TOP TEN REBELS IN LITERATURE

This is hosted by The Brooke and the Bookish.  This week's question is...Top Ten Rebels in Literature.  Here it is in no particular order.

1. Jane from Black Dagger Brotherhood series by J.R. Ward. Tough ass surgeon who isn't afraid to tackle with over 200 pound vampire if needs be.
2. Drake from Aisling Grey, Guardian series by Katie MacAlister. Wywern of the Green Dragons takes bull from no one, is fiercely protective and dangerous.
3. Han Solo, yeah didn't know there is a book as well? There is, loads of books actually and he is to be the ultimate rebel. ;)
4. Eve Dallas, from In Death series written by J.D. Robb who has her be tough as nails detective who battles her past and at times her drop dead gorgeous husband Roarke.
5. Roarke, from In Death series written by J.D. Robb. Irish former street thug, smuggler, all around illegal guy turned multibillionaire in 2050's new york, where he charms the detective Dallas with his wicked mind, drop dead gorgeous looks and heart of iron to marry him. Has a lovely possessive streak.
6. Rei Shimura, written by Sujata Massey. Not your avarage japanease woman, Rei is a antique dealer, part time sleuth who doesn't confirm to standard while remains lovely and smart and intellegent without going over board.

7. Anita Blake, written by Laurell K. Hamilton. Vampire killer extraordinaire, while almost pint size she kicks ass and takes names like no other female character before her. Don't wanna run into her in dark alley if your interests are blood sucking, demonizing or eating people.
8. Allegra written by Katie MacAlister. Even on just one book this girl has learnt to be a tough cookie, no one pushes around anymore. Even with one busted leg and mismatch eyes she doesn't let her outside let people pity her.
9. Eric Northman from Charlaine Harris's Sookie Stackhouse Series. Big bad viking. Must more be said... who doesn't like vikings! He also does pretty much what he wants, damn the consequences.
10. Wrath from Black Dagger Brotherhood series by J.R. Ward. The Blind King, does pretty much whatever he wishes, but with dark attitude, leather pants and a temper. No one stand in the way of this massive full blood vampire.

That was fun!

LIBRARY FINDS #1

Alright so I am back from the Library ( go bless them ) and though originally going to get mood/background music for my current books I couldn't help myself and ended up with two new reads, though one has to wait two weeks before it gets read as it's Book 2 of Silver Dragon Series.

Here they are!

Katie MacAlister's "Up in Smoke" Book ;2 of the Silver Dragons
'MacAlister continues her delectable contemporary paranormal series with another sinfully sexy, fabulously fun tale of love, vampires, ghosts, and demons.'

Now Book one is geting it's butt to me as we speak, but while waiting I got other books to read, for example...

Angela Knight's "Jane's Warlord"
Reporter Jane Colby is shocked by a gruesome murder in her small southern town, but she is even more stunned to learn that the murderer isn't from this century and that she is his main target. Her only chance at surviving is fighting fire with fire, or, in this case, future with future, as embodied in Baran Arvid, a twenty-fourth-century warrior. Baran's orders are to keep her from dying, and Jane's mission is to stop the murderer before he kills again. As the tension mounts and their trust grows, both realize they're also trying not to lose their hearts.

Now I still have few books coming in the mail either tomorrow or latest early next week. More on that later.

I have a fear that "Jane's Warlord" is going to be cheesy - but hey won't know untill I read it. ;)

REVIEW - LOVER ENSHRINED - BOOK ;6 OF THE BLACK DAGGER BROTHERHOOD

Author: J.R. Ward
Pages: 560 pages
Publisher: Signet
Published: June, 2009
Form: Paperback
Series: Black Dagger Brotherhood Novels #6
Adlibris: Link

Ugh... I have to be honest, but this one was not for me, I had to struggle to get through it.

Phury who's been wholly readable in other books, goes off the deep end with drugs and has a proverbial monkey on his back.

Cormia on the other hand is joy to read as she discovers how fun life is outside the Other Side at the Chosen Sanctuary, as she learns to live a little, watch movies and adjust to colors.

Her interaction with John Matthews is much more pleasant than it is with Phury, who can't get his shit together, and after he gets some sanity back after 444 pages you feel dragging as well.

John Matthews and his friend Qhuinn and Blay are yet again fun to read, as they bring the only cheer into the book apart from Cormia's discoveries.

In all the couple is flat and even the ending doesn't save it.

Perhaps I am slightly biased here due to having seen addicts, having lived with one so it's no fun to read, and in all if I'd know how sad and unnerving this book was I would have not read it.

If you do decide to skip the book I'll sum up for you what you need to know to move into the next book after my signature.

I truly hope there will be less screwed up brothers in the books to come, cause it keep getting darker and darker... This one didn't have much light or romance to speak of it in.

Rating :

If you do decide to skip the book I'll sum up for you what you need to know to move into the next book: John and Qhuinn get in trouble after Qhuinn slahes the throat of Lash who turns out to be the son of Omega and vampire. Qhuinn ends up being John's 'bodyguard' to get him off the charges of murdering the now 'missing' Lash who has returned to work for daddy. 
Tohrment is brough back by fallen angel Lassiter who wishes to remain with the brotherhood against everyone's wishes.
Z and Bella's Daughter is born which join the brother together again after they fell out when Phury od'd.
Cormia and Phury open up house a part from the brotherhood as Phury was put on leave of absence and offer  a sort of half away house to Chosen who wish to come out of the Sanctuary.

REVIEW - LOVER UNBOUND - BOOK ;5 OF THE BLACK DAGGER BROTHERHOOD

"As a member of the Brotherhood, V has no interest in love or emotion, but when a mortal injury puts him in the care of human surgeon, Dr. Jane Whitcomb she compels him..."


Author: J.R. Ward
Pages: 528 pages
Publisher: Signet
Published: September, 2007
Form: Paperback
Series: Black Dagger Brotherhood Novels #5 
Adlibris: Link

First thing first, Vishous comes out in book four as a sexual deviant, and seems to have feeling for Butch, and the way this book begins isn't diverting from that road... until he meets Jane that is.

Vishous who has had active role in the previous books as well gets his past brought to day light so to speak, and we get reasons for why he as he is, from a monster of a father to a surprise of a mother. To a destiny of keeping the vampire race going.

We also meat Jane, and I just loved her character from page one on, she has a rough life like V as well and hasn't found love and nurturing from her parents either which brings these two closer together.

Now it is probably very anti-feminist of me but I love books where the woman is abducted by the male lead to keep her safe - there is something very romantic/cave man about it, and the fact that this is how the ball gets rolling with Jane and V had me giddy from the beginning.

But like in all brotherhood books these brothers are messed up, Rhage with his inner beast he can't control, to Zsadist slavery and sexual abuse, to Butch insecurities about his lineage and being human, V is no exception he hates himself with quite the vigor. It seems the only one half sane about this group is Wrath who comes out pretty much A-Okay in Book 1. So angst is expected again.

It seems John Matthew's role keeps getting bigger and bigger, we get to know the guy more, and the more we do the more he reminds us of the crewed up brothers, serious issues. It seems the pure forces in these books are always the women, saving graces almost. But then again isn't that life as well. ;) John had developed a bit of health into his life with friending Qhuinn and Blay who at the beginning of this book are pre-transition aka before their bodies turn from skinny small guys to vampires aka big muscled tall guys. And the adolescent getting a body suddenly is quite fun to read.

We also get into the head of Phury, Zsadist twin, who pines quite painfully over Z's mate Bella. So much so that it is hard to read, which means next book might be a tough one like Lover Awakened was. With Phury's growing usage of milder drugs is creepy at least he still has a good kind heart, even though he tries to numb it good.

Word of warning, if you are squeamish about sex and especially bondage then perhaps you'll skip this book, like said V's a bit, well a lot, deviant when it comes to sex. I personally didn't really understand the whole bit, but then again I wasn't the target audience for it. But needn’t worry Jane will mellow him out a little.

The lack of Lesser absence in the book is tangible until the end where, you can't help but to cry a little at what V and Jane have to go through. But still it's worth reading, the chemistry between the two is yummy and similar to that of Book 2's Rhage and Mary.

Rating :

Started Reading : 3rd of July 2011
Finished Reading: 4th of July 2011

Music : Cheryl Cole's "3 Words" goes great with it! ( http://youtu.be/qT4t99xnkQ0 ) as well as her "Fight For This Love" ( http://youtu.be/4umc87T5UMs ) and Parachute ( http://youtu.be/-AWoZmAxKxg )

PARANORMAL ROMANCE RECOMMENDATIONS

From: Ciara Stewart @ http://ciaralira.wordpress.com/2008/05/29/if-you-like-the-black-dagger-brotherhood/

***

Join with me now: “Hello my name is [name], and I’m addicted to J.R. Ward’s Black Dagger Brotherhood.”

Welcome!

While you wait for Lover Enshrined to come out, here are 13 other book recommendations for Black Dagger Brotherhood crack addicts.

There is a difference between Paranormal Romance and Urban Fantasy: Paranormal Romance must have a main love story with a satisfying Happily-Ever-After for the hero and heroine. Urban Fantasy does not. BDB falls in the former, so I have NOT included Urban Fantasy in this list (even thought Patricia Briggs’ Mercy Thompson series is teh awesome). The recommendations all contain the things we love about BDB: Alpha heroes, love-true-love, and fabulous world building.

Rec’s for BDB Addicts:

1. Guardian series by Meljean Brook
2. Immortals After Dark series by Kresley Cole
3. Midnight Desire by Emma Holly
4. On the Prowl anthology by Patricia Briggs, Eileen Wilks, and Karen Chance
5. Hot Spell anthology by Emma Holly, Shiloh Walker, and Meljean Brook
6. Dirk & Steele series by Marjorie M. Liu
7. Tairen Soul series by C.L. Wilson
8. Darkness Chosen series by Christina Dodd
9. Midnight Breeds series by Lara Adrian
10. Dark Hunter series by Sherrilyn Kenyon
11. Paladins of Darkness series by Alexis Morgan
12. Nightwalker series by Jacqueline Franks
13. Psy-Changelings series by Nalini Singh (which I haven’t read but have heard great things)

Do you have any other recommendations?

***

REVIEW - LOVER REVEALED - BOOK ;4 OF THE BLACK DAGGER BROTHERHOOD

Author: J.R. Ward
Pages: 480 pages
Publisher: Signet
Published: March, 2007
Form: Paperback
Series: Black Dagger Brotherhood Novels #4
Adlibris: Link

This one is so full of twist "Best new series I've read in years! Now here's a band of brothers who know how to show a girl a good time." ~ Lisa Gardner

Enjoyed Book ;4 very much, even though read this one online. The previous three books have danced around the possibly budding, stomped flat romance of Butch, human tough-as-nails cop and Marissa, fragile virgin aristocratic vampire. 

The book begins with Butch's need to be a part of something, as he is no longer part of the human world, considered missing, and also not part of the vampire world either. Butch being aggressive and a smart mouth doesn't help matters, and neither does the fact that he pines after Marissa, a woman he met only few times months ago. Butch goes off on his own to fight off few Lessers after a night of drinking and gets himself captured.

The Omega makes his first appearance, and infects Butch with his dark essence leaving him to die in the woods. Luckily he's rescued by Vishous, but something in his has changed.

While Butch is battling his fears of turning evil, Marissa is feeling trapped in her social circle pining over Butch who seems to reject her every chance he gets. But hearing he's in her brother’s hospital she runs to his side.

As some things come to light they feel a connection starting to build again. Which leads into a whole mess of can humans and vampires be together, are the two just too different, and how does it affect the balance of the relationship when the female party is stronger.

Do not worry the steamy parts are still there, enough of them to make a reader blush several times. Butch seems to be a guy who likes to talk during sex. With that in mind this book definately, as all in the series, isn't for young adults - I'd recommend readers be over 16 or 17.

As these two pine and want each other in the most difficult circumstances we learn more of John Matthews, who studies and practices now mainly with Zsadist who seems to have truly turned somewhat appropriate after mating with Bella who waits for their child to be born. John keeps having hard time in certain areas of his training, and we find out more little by little of his former life.

We also get into a new stage of the war between slayers and vampires as V and Butch figure out their connection. Once in a while things get bit gay between them two, then the reader is left with a feeling of 'what?' But as the book goes on  it comes evident why for the what.

This one is so full of twists that I cannot tell much more, but you'll enjoy finding them all out.

I enjoyed reading this one as well, not as dark as the last one but more moody perhaps.

Rating:

Started Reading : 30th of June 2011 : evening
Finished Reading : 2nd of July 2011: evening

Interested? Want to read some to see if it's worth getting? Click HERE.  

REVIEW - HOLY SMOKES - BOOK 4 OF AISLING GREY, GUARDIAN NOVELS

Mass Market Paperback: 352 pages
Publisher: Signet ( November 6, 2007 )
ISBN-10: 0451222547

I have to say at the top here this isn't as good as the 3 books on the Aisling Grey, Guardian Series, "You Slay Me", "Fire Me Up" and "Light My Fire".

But it is a must read if you have read the first three.

Aisling and Drake are getting married, but keep getting interrupted, alot.

Ofcourse there is also the facts of having been proscribed for using her evil powers, being a Prince of Abaddon to take care off.

She also finds herself pregnant.

Now the thing is, this could have been a great plot, but the story is distant, loose and frantically going all over the place in a way that makes you skip pages.

I absolutely loved Aisling's character in the first three books, she was a bit cooky but in a nice way - in this book she's more rambling and distracted.

Drake, one of my favourite male leads in paranormal romance genre is missing in this book, he comes as goes and doesn't really have a role.

I wanted more from this book. But atleast I have my imagination and the last three books to fall on.

Like I said before, if you aren't a fan of Aisling, no real need to read this. I'm sorry to say.

Rating:

+ ☆ ☆ ★ ★ ★

Started Book : 10th of June 2011
Finished Book : 1st of July 2011

REVIEW - LOVER AWAKENED - BOOK ;3 OF THE BLACK DAGGER BROTHERHOOD

Author: J.R. Ward
Pages: 464 pages
Publisher: Signet
Published: September, 2006
Form: Paperback
Series: Black Dagger Brotherhood Novels #3
Adlibris: Link

I just finished the third book, and with still 4 hours to bed time and no book 4, what am I to do?!

I shall write the review, and then tomorrow hunt down part 4.

I am really starting to like J.R Ward's vampires - few facts that separate them from aka normal vampires. They are not dead, they are alive, a species living away from human awareness. They drink blood, but only from each other and the opposite sex, they don't hunt humans. The Lessers are hunting them, killing vampires due to a jealous streak on Omega's side on Virgin Scribe who created the vampire race. They eat food as well as drink vampire blood for nutrition. They breathe and have other bodily hindrances. They are not immortal but live up to 1000 years.

But now to Book ;3 - it is definitely the darkest and most disturbing of the three, tapping on the issues of slavery and sexual abuse, almost disturbing enough to want to skip some of Zsadist's memories.

Zsadist is the male lead, a broken vampire warrior, feared and loathed by everyone he meets, except for our leading lady, Bella. Where Zsadist is rude, asshole and all around evil guy, Bella is kind, caring and determent.

In Book :2 Bella is kidnapped at the end of the book by Mr. O, a soulless Lesser, and in this book we begin with Zsadist's rampant search for her. Bella, who's been in captivity under the Lesser-fallen-in-love is fairly broken as well and Zsadist and Bella begin to heal each other.

Into the mix comes Zsadist's twin brother Phury who is just as infatuated with Bella as his brother.

As Bella tries to get through with Z, he relives a lot of his torment from the time of his change to vampire when he was taken as captive as a blood slave. These parts are bit hard to read, but show why he is and acts the way he does.

The story also follows more on John Matthew, as he meets Beth, Wrath's Queen and wife, now if you have read books 1 and 2 you can guess who he is, I know I did. John begins his studies and training to become a soldier, and possibly a member of the brotherhood. He also find great attachment to Thor and his wife Wellsie who short of legalities adopt him.

Mr. O wreaks havoc trying to find Bella, who he believes is his wife and who he, in his twisted way, loves.

We also meet Rehvenge, Bella's disturbed and filled with anger brother - who I know will come up in future books.

We also get new glimpse into Butch's and Marissa's relationship which will be what Book 4 is about.

Saddest story so far, but like all good books it has a good ending.

Rating:

Started Book : 30th of June 2011 : evening

Finished Book : 1st of July 2011 : day

Interested? Want to read some to see if it's worth getting? Click HERE.