Review: Dark Needs at Night’s Edge by Kresley Cole
May 16, 2008
Devon’s review of Dark Needs at Night’s Edge by Kresley Cole
Paranormal Romance published by Pocket Books 29 Apr 08
I wasn’t going to read this book, to be honest. I had read A Hunger Like No Other and enjoyed it, and No Rest for the Wicked and thought it pretty good. But I had never quite gotten around to Wicked Deeds on a Winters Night. And I’m not a big fan of ghost love stories. No body means no sex, no hugs, no kisses. How’s an author going to make that HEA work? I tend to view them with deep suspicion. But this book was getting good buzz (see Gwen’s review), and it had a crazy hero. I love a tormented hero. Tormented to the point of crazy sounds good. (Let’s not think too deep on what that says about me). So I decided to try it. Good thing for me, because this is my favorite read of the year so far.
Tags: 2008, Dark Needs at Night's Edge, Devon, Grade A, Immortals After Dark series, Kresley Cole, May 2008, Paranormal, Pocket Books, ReviewSpotlight: Debra Salonen Heads For The Hills
May 16, 2008
Debra Salonen is one of the hardest working writers in the romance genre. Since the publication of her first book in 2000, she’s amassed an impressive back list and garnered a loyal following among Harlequin SuperRomance fans. May marks the publication of the first book in a new five-book series for the line that will keep her and readers busy well into 2009. Debra recently took time out of her busy schedule, and agreed to sit down to an interview. Enjoy!
Review: Scions: Insurrection by Patrice Michelle
May 15, 2008
Devon’s review of Scions: Insurrection by Patrice Michelle
Paranormal Romance released by Silhouette Nocturne 1 May 08
Insurrection continues the story of three paranormal races spawned from a government experiment, enemies who are bound together by a prophecy. This sequel to Scions: Resurrection focuses on the Lupreda, or werewolves, who were created by vampires to be their prey. Like the first in the trilogy, this was a fast paced, action packed read, I but enjoyed it even more.
Tags: 2008, Devon, Grade B, May 2008, Paranormal, Patrice Michelle, Review, Scions series, Scions: Insurrection, Silhouette NocturneReview: Highland Fire by Hannah Howell
May 15, 2008
Gwen’s review of Highland Fire by Hannah Howell
Historical romance re-released by Zebra 27 May 08
This historical with mild paranormal elements was originally released by Howell’s alterego, Anna Jennet, in Nov 1995. For a peak at the original cover, just run your mouse over the cover to the left. I’m a huge Howell fan, so you know I just had to read this. Am I sad I did? No, but let’s just say it wasn’t on the same level of Beauty and the Beast.
Tags: 2008, Grade C, Gwen, Hannah Howell, Highland Fire, Historical, May 2008, Review, romance, Zebra*Winners!* Lori Devoti’s Unbound Contest
May 14, 2008
We have the winners for the “Hunt is On” contest!!
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Review: Byte Marks by Mardi Ballou
May 12, 2008
Laura J’s review of Byte Marks by Mardi Ballou
Contemporary paranormal romance eBook novella released by Samhain Publishing 13 May 08
I like paranormal romances but I prefer that they are on the lighter side. I love Mary Janice Davidson and Kimberly Raye’s vampires and even though Charlaine Harris’ Southern Vampires are a little darker and more suspenseful, I still find the humor and mystery outweighs the suspense you find in most paranormals. This book was definitely for book for those who are like me, the ones who want sexy vampire heroes, some good vampire loving and a good storyline to go along with that.
Tags: 2008, Byte Marks, Contemporary Romance, eBook, Erotic, Grade C, Laura J, Mardi Ballou, May 2008, Novella, Review, romance, Samhain PublishingReview: Stay With Me by Maya Banks
May 11, 2008
Limecello’s review of Stay With Me by Maya Banks
Contemporary erotic romance released by Samhain Publishing 6 May 08
Maybe it’s my mood, or my brain has melted, but this book just didn’t do it for me. I’m one of those readers that always wants more, more, more emotion. I wouldn’t mind if 90% of a book was just the characters developing their relationship. In fact, I prefer it. It’s why I read romance. I don’t need a sub-plot, no thriller or mystery, precocious child or serial killer. (Yes, an interesting list there.) While this book is all about Catherine’s angst and her relationship with her husbands - it didn’t grip me. The first 21 pages just said the same thing. A lot. Catherine is sad. She’s pregnant. She’s lonely.
Tags: 2008, Contemporary, Erotic, Grade C, limecello, May 2008, Maya Banks, Review, romance, Samhain Publishing, Stay With MeHappy Mother’s Day! Romance and my mom
May 11, 2008
It seems that every blogger has to have a story about why they read romance and how they started. Mine, it turns out, was because of my mother.
My mother raised all three of us to be readers. I remember snuggling next to her on the couch with my head on her shoulder while she read to us. She says that all of us kids had our favorite books which we read over and over. Mine was Winnie-the-Pooh and the honey Tree. It was only a matter of time until I developed a taste for reading on my own. I’ve come a long way from the days of Winnie-the-Pooh, but my mom still influences my taste in reading.
It was Mom who introduced me to books that became favorites. Mom read me the book version of The Wizard of Oz after I came to love the movie. Mom read my first Nancy Drew book to me. Hell, she even read me the occasional Baby-Sitter’s Club book, which I never really got into but thought I ought to because they were popular. She didn’t have to read aloud to me, once I got old enough to start reading on my own, but even until I was a teenager I treasured the times that she would.
I’ll never forget the day Mom introduced me to my first real romance novel. I was ten years old, and it was shortly before school started. For some reason we were alone in the house and it was raining. Probably she didn’t know how else to keep me occupied, so she pulled out Phyllis Whitney’s Thunder Heights. I’m pretty sure the book I linked to is the one she actually had. Anyway, I was enchanted. Here was my first real grown-up book and I went on a huge Phyllis Whitney reading jag. I didn’t care that her formula was pretty much the same–you could always tell who the bad guys were, who the love interest would be, etc. I loved the exotic settings and the Gothic atmosphere.
Later I left romance, but I always kept coming back to it, invariably because of Mom. Mom encouraged me to read Outlander by Diana Gabaldon. I read Perfect and Almost Heaven both by Judith McNaught. More recently, Mom got me interested in Marjorie Liu, who is one of my favorite authors. Even if the books aren’t to my taste, (Mom loves Katie MacAlister, who I don’t see the appeal of at all), I’ll still try any author if it passes the Shannon’s mom seal of approval.
My mom has been a hugely influential person in my life. I am pretty sure that, both good and bad, I owe a lot of who I am to her. The fact that she made me love reading is just the tip of the iceberg as far as I’m concerned, but it’s something for which I’ll always be grateful to her.
Tags: May 2008, Mother's Day, Ponderings, ShannonCReview: Mistress Menage by Jenesi Ash
May 10, 2008
Limecello’s review of Mistress Ménage (Mistress Diaries, Book 3) by Jenesi Ash
Erotic romance short story eBook released by Harlequin Spice 1 May 08
I think I need to preface my review with the statement that I like Harlequin as a publisher. A lot. In fact, I probably spend twice as much on Harlequin books as I do on groceries. [And I buy from the site with discount codes - so imagine. Scary.]
Tags: 2008, eBook, Erotic, Grade F, Harlequin, Harlequin Spice, Janesi Ash, limecello, May 2008, Mistress Diaries series, Mistress Menage, Review, romance, shortstoryReview: Eyes of Fire by C.J. England
May 9, 2008
Shannon C.’s review of Eyes of Fire (Mylari Chronicles, Book 1) by C.J. England
Fantasy romance eBook released by Samhain Publishing 2 May 08
I love a good fantasy romance. And I have mentioned elsewhere that I like the trope of chick from our world wanders into fairyland. So I was fully expecting to enjoy the first book in the Mylari series. Unfortunately, while the external plot was interesting enough to me that I am almost tempted to follow this series, the romance left me really cold.
Tags: 2008, CJ England, eBook, Eyes of Fire, Fantasy, Grade D, May 2008, Mylari Chronicles series, Review, romance, Samhain Publishing, ShannonC
