Fool - Christopher Moore

Ok first off I love this author bec he is hilarious...and this book was no exception...to make King Lear from the POV of the fool into a comedy no less is a fantastic feat and I love every word on every page and so very glad that it didn't follow in full Lear canon!

New fav phrase to go with Fucksocks is the olde Eng Version Fuckstockings and above all Heinous Fuckery most Foul!!!

Not really gonna get into the plot other than to say that yes it is King Lear, yes it is a comedy, and yes it is a good book!!!!

Katie MacAlister - lots

Ok so I am going to group her books into one post as there are several...



Steamed - Jack is a steampunk fan from our current time who along with his sister is sent to an alternative 2010 due to a chemistry lab accident. He and Octavia who is the captain of a airship must search for a means to return him to his own time and face other obsticals. This was my 2nd Katie Mac book and had my crying I was laughing so hard and cannot wait for the rumors of the sequel. I won't give anything away (largely due to memory gaps) but I do recommend this book and her others.



Corset Diaries - this book is about the leading lady being convinced by a friend to be on an English reality show in relation to Victorian era lifestyles etc. I've also drawn a tremendous blank on this but can say that this was another that had me laughing til I was crying and I love that the characters are older (30s) and she's not a dainty little woman but a healthy curvy woman at that. (please note that this is a common trend in her contemporary stories)



Men in Kilts - mystery author meets Scotsman and moves w him to his farm and they live happily ever after despite his nasty son and a horrible neighbor. Im not going to say that this was a favorite of mine but it was good none the less. The bridal shower had me cracking up and spewing coke all over the floor when I read it.



Improper English - woman goes to England for 2 months to write a book to prove to her mother that she can succeed at something. Meets neighbor and they hit it off but she is so focused on her own faults that she ends their relationship inorder to take a journey to self discovery and finish rewriting her novel - books ends happy and I enjoyed it but again not in the top fav.



Blow me down - Amy agrees to play an RPG virtual reality game in order to connect w her daughter - due to *edited for spoiler* she becomes trapped in the game along w its creator Corbin and they must complete the predetermined "stage" in the game inorder to return to real life. It was a good twist on an RPG and VR and I really enjoyed it and it is one that I recommend as it was a fav.



A Hard Days Knight - this is a top fav and one I def recommend - takes place in a Ren Faire and involves a lot of Jousting (yummy men in suits of armor etc) and there is enough mystery mixed in w the story to make it an easy read as you go along w the characters to see if they will trust each other, find out whos sabotaging the 3 dog knights and have the HEA!



My Zombie Valentine - short story in relation to the Dark One's series and Zombies. Cute story but I don't recommend reading it until you've read at least one Dark One's book as much information is skimmed over due to length issues but it was a good short story.



Ain't Mythbehaving - Two short stories - the first is about the God of the Hunt and his search for a new Goddess - it is one of the few books that I've read by Katie Mac thus far that takes place from the male POV and it was hilarious as he tries to convince the American visiting his Irish castle a week before his required wedding date that he is a sensitive modern male due to much watching of Oprah and reading of Deepak...and his references to his manly self are a trip. The second story is about a woman visiting family in Sweden and coming accross Viking ghosts after a car accident and how she is a Valkrye and promises to help them reach Valhol. The best is that Odin has his domain in a freaking Pippy Longstockings amusement park of all places and spends his days watching a wall of TVs. Its a true trip.



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Now we move onto actual series' and not stand alones -



Love in the time of Dragons - I read this first and in actuality you want to read this last as pertinent information/history that is referenced in this book takes place in the other dragon series - Long and short this is the first book in the series about Baltic and Ysolde and in it we see Ysolde begin to remember her past life and love and we are starting to learn that Baltic is NOT the evil villain that he is portrayed in the previous books (again recommend NOT reading this one first if for nothing else to prevent avoidable confusion). It has a cliff hanger ending setting up for the sequel that comes out in May called The Unbearable Lightness of Dragons - and from what I understand Ysolde will continue down the road to clearning Baltic's name and regaining her memories from a previous life.



So if one were to read the dragons books in order one would start with the Aisling Gray Guardian series. I'm not going to break the story down book by books but do a general over view - titles are as follows - YOU SLAY ME - FIRE ME UP - LIGHT MY FIRE - HOLY SMOKES - The gist of it is this - Aisling arrives in Paris in the first book to deliver a relic (that is stolen by Drake the wyvern of the Green Dragons) and is brought up on murder charges for being in the wrong place at the wrong time. She learns she is a Guardian and Dragon's mate and becomes a Demon Lord when she summons an unclaimed demon name Effrijim AKA Jim who takes his form in that of a male Newfoundland. The story follows as we watch her clear her name and leave Drake to continue working for her uncle bec as much as she and Drake are physicially combustable and she is his mate - she doesn't see a future for them...the next book takes place in Hungary for a convention for all of the otherworld members and Aisling trying to find a mentor to teach her how to be a Guardian and once again she is caught in the middle of a murder investigation of dead Guardians in the hotel...She agrees to be Drake's mate but he is unbending in his expectation and thusly pushes Aisling away when she finds out that he manipulated her to agree to be his mate and does not want her persuing the Guardian duties. Book 3 picks up with Aisling and Jim (her demon) in London this time with a mentor named Nora Charles and Aisling is caught up in the middle of a political ploy between the blue dragons/silver dragons/war w the red dragons. The fourth book takes place as Drake and Aisling are trying to get married/deal w the red dragon war/the resurfacing of the true blue dragon wyvern/the head demon prince Bael/and finding Drakes long missing brother and wyvern to the almost extinct black dragons.



The next series (that I am not finished with) is the silver dragon series and the titles include - PLAYING WITH FIRE - UP IN SMOKE - ME AND MY SHADOW - The leading characters are Gabriel the wyvern of the silver dragons and his mate May who is a doppleganger and a shadowwalker and we progress through these books as they try to find out if in fact Baltic is alive - dealing w May's demon lord Magoth - the dragon heart - and I dunno what else as I've not finished w the 3rd book yet. But I can say that even if I hadn't read the light dragon's book first I would STILL have loved Baltic who plays more and more into the story as the books progress, and you are supposed to bec the role of hated villian is filled by Fiat Blu former blue dragon wyvern.



So yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaaaah I think I'll end this epic for now and promise to update when I read her vamp Dark One series. :D Happy reading!

And another thing.... (seq to Hitchhikers guide to the galaxy)

Ok not going to bother copying any of the information on this book because I didn't like it. I made it about halfway through before I gave up.

The characters were shadows of the original. The plot was kinda lame. And the over use of the word "zark and frood" were boring.

I applaud the author for trying I really really do but in all honesty it just does not compare to the original in any way or shape.

*sighs*

To desire a devil - elizabeth hoyt

Nothing is more intoxicating - Reynaud St. Aubyn has spent the last seven years in hellish captivity. Now half mad with fever he bursts into his ansestral home and demands his due. Can this wild looking man truly be the last earl's heir, thought murdered by Indians years ago?

Or dangersous - Beatrice Corning, the neice of the present earl, is a proper English miss. But she has a secret: No real man has ever excited her more than the handsome youth in the portrait in her uncle's home. Suddenly, that very man is here, in the flesh - and luring her into his bed.

Than surrendering to the devil - Only Beatrice can see past Reynaud's savegry to the noble man inside. For his part, Reynaud is drawn to this lovely lady, even as he is suspicious of her loyalty to her uncle. But can Beatrice's love tame a man who will stop at nothing to regain his title, even if it means sacrificing her innocence?

Ok so this was book 4 in the four soldiers series. Honestly my least fav but still definately good. The story was a bit forced in parts and sadly I gave up after 200 pages or so - but went back and finished it a couple of days later and I am glad that I did. Reynaud is essentially suffering from PTSD both from his last battle at Spinner's Falls but also from his captivity...and Beatrice is the only person who seems to get him to open up and talk of his trials in and effort to both comfort and understand. He in turn tries (in his own ODD way) to comfort her when she learns of the loss of her very good friend James. One thing I did enjoy was the coming together of all the past characters; Sam Hartley, Lord Jasper Renshaw (Viscount Vale), and Sir. Alistair Monroe (I LOVE his name). And when you find out who the bad guy is, you honestly are shocked, or at least I was... :D

The other stories are 1) To taste temptation {Samuel Hartly and Lady Emeline Gordon/St. Aubyn} 2) To seduce a sinner {Lord Jasper Renshaw, Viscount Vale and Melisande Flemming} 3) To beguile a beast {Sir. Alistair Monroe and Helen Fitzwilliam}...and I truly enjoyed all of them.

Elizabeth Hoyt is becoming one of my favorite romance authors and I look forward to reading her older works and reading what comes out next.

Nicole Peeler - Tempest Rising

Living in a small town in Rockabill, Maine, Jane True always knew she didn't quite fit in with the so called normal society. During her nightly, clandestine swims in the freezing winter ocean, a grisly find leads Jane to startling revelations about her heritage; she's only half human.

Now, Jane must enter a world filled with supernatural creatures alternatively terrifying, beautiful, and deadly - all of which perfectly describes her new "friend" Ryu, a gorgeous and powerful vampire.

It is a world where nothing can be taken for granted: a dog can heal with a lick, spirits bag your groceries, and whatever you do, never ever rub the genie's lamp.

Ok so this was a random purchase because I happened to see it and like the cover and the blurb on the back. After reading it I cannot freaking wait for the next book! Some of Jane's internal monologue is freaking hilarious - I had tears I was laughing so hard.

I so totally freaking recommend this book it's not even funny!

Covet - J.R.Ward

Redemption isn't a word Jim Heron knows much about-his specialty is revenge, and to him, sin is all relative. But everything changes when he becomes a fallen angel and is charge with saving the souls of seven people from the seven deadly sins. And failure is not an option. Vin DiPietro long ago sold his soul to his business, and he's good with that-until fate intervenes in the form of a tough- talking, Harley-riding, self-professed savior. But then he meets a woman who will make him question his destiny, his sanity, and his heart-and he has to work with a fallen angel to win her over and redeem his own soul.

Ok so this is how I spent my xmas vaca - reading Covet and I have to say after a rather slow start I really enjoyed it. The story was good the characters developed well. The drama between fallen angels and demons was great. LOVED the 4 English dudes helping Jim along. But most of all I ABO LOVED the references to the brotherhood...that Marie Terese (aka BIC from ZeroSum and Iron Mask) was the leading lady...Fritz Perlmutter got a play, Butch got a nod as a person seen by Marie Teres in church, Phury got a nod as she passed him between meetings in the church basement. Gina (as last seen in Rehv's book and JM's revenge lay against Xhex) and even Trez was in it.

Along with a great story it was nice to see some familiar players in the new series before Ms. Ward takes the next book away from Cauldwell.

Definate recommended read if you can get back the first few chapters as they lag a bit due to giving the reader some general history on the characters and how they will later connect.

Double Play

With the end of his career looming, the last thing ace pitcher Pace Martin needs is a distraction, even if it comes in the form of a tough, beautiful, tell-it-like-it-is writer who sees past his defenses.

Ok, so obv Amazon did NOT have a huge blurb on this book, but I bought it anyway...and I am SOOOO very glad that I did. It was very sweet. Pace Martin and Holly Hutchins are both wary, cynical, and private people who find it hard to trust in others. But the longer they try to fight their attraction for each other and finally give in...it's just so totally sweet. The little drama that unfolds is a nice change from some of the major ones in other romance novels. Hell the drama is more like real life in the sense that in spite of any anger and miscommunication that happens, they are mature enough to try to work it all out.

And some of the little things in the book is just funny, like Pace's stalker breaking up with him to move onto the catcher of the team was just funny and the fact that Pace has a history of ripping the zippers on his pants before a game...

All in all a heart felt happy ending for people who let their careers become their whole lives until they meet and realize life has more to offer.

Definate book I'd recommend.