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.



---

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.

Wicked burn - Beth Kery

He wanted all of her—and did she ever let him have it…Vic Savian knows what he wants when he sees it. And what he wants is his sexy neighbor, Niall Chandler. When he finds her in the hallway of their building being harassed by an aggressive suitor, Vic steps in—and finds himself greatly rewarded…Sleeping with her gorgeous neighbor—when she didn’t even know his last name—was the craziest thing Niall’s ever done. Now, she can’t seem to get enough of Vic—or the uninhibited passion he stirs in her. Suddenly, with his help, she’s opening to sensual pleasures she’s never known before. But when Niall’s past comes back to haunt her, will she and Vic let themselves venture beyond the bedroom and explore the possibility of the love that’s in their hearts?

I enjoyed this book enough to read it back to back and still kept the file on my phone, I even added the book on my wish list for a purchase when I am in funds enough to do so.

I throughly enjoyed Vic's brusk nature and how he just gets to the point and puts it all out there. I also liked how Niall inspite of all the drama she'd had in her life she was willing to take another chance at love and put herself on the line to get what she wants from Vic and when he denies her his heart after finding out her secret she is still brave enough to keep trying until he knows the whole truth.

I really really enjoyed this book and do recommend it. The sex is there - no lies about that but even so it's still tasteful and I know I for one will never look at a pearl necklace the same again.

Hard and Fast - Erin McCarthy

In her latest NASCAR romance, McCarthy returns to Charlotte, North Carolina, and the world of stock-car racing to introduce another famous driver, Ty McCordle. Ty is a ladies man, specializing in busty blonds, yet he finds himself intrigued by an acquaintance of his friend’s wife, Imogen Wilson. Imogen is a slender, glasses-wearing brunette working on her masters in sociology. Her straightforward, no-nonsense manner is wildly different than the obvious come-on strategies employed by most women, who are always trying to land him as a husband. But Imogen, much to her horror, has always had a crush on Ty. So when he ends up in her car waiting out a downpour, she’s rattled, but too much the scholar to let this opportunity pass. Imogen has decided to write her thesis on the world of racing and getting said racer to propose. She soon comes clean as their relationship develops, but Ty has a secret that may crash their budding romance right into the wall in this supersexy, superfun story.

Ok so this is the book I found on Amazon and was wow'd by the cover...not a big fan of hard abs and such but wow...just wow.

Now onto the book, I read it as a PDF, reread it as the actual text and am rereading it again bec along with book one it puts me in a happy place and it is just funny. Imogen is very open, honest, and matter of fact and the way she relates to the world at large is a total trip. Ty is highly intimidated by her bec he feels she is too smart for him but they start dating and they actually get along very well and balance each other out perfectly, he adds impulsiveness to her life and she adds structure to his. They have their ups and downs but the morning after conversation concerning bodily fluids and their viscocity had me almost peeing my pants I was laughing so hard. This again is a series I HIGHLY HIGHLY recommend and am on pins and needles for book 3 to come out next August.

And what's great is that you don't have to know a thing about NASCAR to understand the story because what little reference is actually made to the sport is explained. Yummy books!!!

Flat out Sexy - Erin McCarthy

Two years after Tamara Briggs's husband was killed in a wreck at Talladega, she's back to dating, but her latest beau is a dud. She dumps him and remains intent on not ending up with another race-car driver, but that's exactly what she gets when she meets Elec Monroe. Things progress quickly, and soon she's having dynamite sex with this younger man who's nice to her kids—who could ask for more? There's a catch of course: Elec is the son of Tamara's dead husband's father's sworn enemy.

Ok so first off - oh so yummy cover - definately makes you want to get up and purr...

Ok moving on. I read the sequal to this one first as a random find on Amazon and was intrigued by the cover and the by the blurb on it - so downloaded the book and read...loved it - bought this book (which is book 1) and the sequel.

Now this is a series I have already reread in the short time I have owned the books and HIGHLY HIGHLY recommend the author. She has other series' and thus far I am hooked on her style. The characters are funny and fun. The sex scenes are obv there as this is a "romance" novel but it is not graphic as some of the others out there. The characters have their flaws that they work around. Elec Monroe the hero in this book has been dating in the "bimbo brigade" before meeting Tamara because he has a secret that he thinks will prevent him from ever having a serious relationship, and Tamara is so worried about EVERYTHING it is just funny watching him over come all her concerns.

Have I mentioned it is funny? The inner dialogue is freaking great. And a series I would totally recommend!!!

Head over Heals

Who said "you can't go home again"? In Veronica Davis's case,who'd want to -- especially when you hail from Fossil, Washington? But now she's back among the good-ol' boys who think she's fair game just because she's in a waitress uniform.
The truth is, Veronica's the boss -- at least until she can sell the family saloon and skip town again as fast as her feet cancarry her-and nobody knows that better than Cooper Blackstock. From behind the bar, the ex-Special Forces Marinesees all. And his undercover agenda has made the feisty boss-lady's troubles his own.
And her troubles are considerable, what with a family in turmoil, a pseudo-bartender with dangerous secrets, a murder investigation, and death threats. Though the town surprisingly rallies in support, it's still a good thing that Cooper will be there to catch Veronica if she stumbles -- if he doesn't start falling himself.

This is one that I read as a download and would very much likely go out and buy the next time I am book shopping. It was awesome to see the transition from the general assumptions made based on first impressions change to actual knowledge...plus the funniest part of the book that was overall endearing - the hero is built beautiful blah blah blah - but rather than just have a LARGE member the author made his penis curve...not something I've read before but actually got a kick out of for the simple fact that in so many romances the men have perfect and perfectly large penises so I was amused and intrigued that the author added that little detail. Yeah I get a kick of some random sh** don't I?! ;D

Overall the story is really really good and definately one I would recommend reading!

Definately one to own for me and had me looking up more of her books to boot!

Wickedly ever after

After discovering her fiancé in the arms of a courtesan, Lady Athena McAlister comes to a frightful realization: Most men prefer the company of their mistresses to their wives. How can she, and other brides-to-be, become both wife and mistress to a man? In her quest for knowledge, she begs her grandfather to let her start a finishing school for marriageable ladies. There she and her friends discreetly invite London’s most notorious rakes to educate them on the art of seducing a man.
Marshall Hawkesworth’s sister has become far too knowledgeable about the ways of sex, and he suspects that her new finishing school is to blame. Marshall poses as a lecturer on several topics, including sensual kissing, and he soon finds Lady Athena to be a most apt pupil. But before he has her school shut down for good, he’s determined to give her a few private lessons she won’t soon forget…

I don't have a tremendous amount to say on this book other than it is another that joins the "fluffy" girls get the hot guys category! Loved that part of it. It was overall a very sweet book and one I enjoyed reading especially since I got it because I liked the title. ;p I will admit that it is a bit cheesy but that is never a bad thing!

Tied up, Tied down

The strongest bonds are the ones unseen Rough Riders series Businesswoman Skylar Ellison is firmly in control of her life. So getting tangled up with a sexy Wyoming cowboy-and conceiving a baby in the parking lot of a honky-tonk-wasn't in her plan. Since it appears the daddy has taken off for greener pastures, the only thing to do is pull up her bootstraps and carry on alone. Cattle rancher Kade McKay returns home after a year on the range, and is knocked for a loop when he learns he's the father of a three-month-old baby girl. When Skylar refuses to marry him, Kade grits his teeth, moves in and plays house by her rules to prove he's a man in for the long haul. Despite Skylar's insistence they are to remain strictly parenting partners, their old passions flare hot as a brush fire, spurring Kade to demand absolute sexual surrender from the headstrong woman. Skylar willingly submits her body to the hot-blooded cowboy but she's leery of handing Kade the reins to her heart. Can Kade convince Skylar the wicked sex games aren't a temporary distraction? Or will he have to bust out the ropes to show her he wants to be tied to her.forever?

Oh this is one is going to go down as one of my favorites for nothing more than the fact that it is a built hot guy going nuts over a curvy poss slightly plump woman! ALWAYS a good thing in a book when the hero does more than drool for a human stick insect! The story is very sweet in the way that they grow to love each other and work beyond all the drama they had in the past. A truly enjoyable read and another making me want a cowboy!

Lorelie James - Dirty Deeds

DIRTY DEEDS...when good, clean fun isn't an option. Just once, good girl Tate Cross wants to experience a red-hot, no-strings-attached affair. Shes temporarily left her graphic artist position in Denver to settle her aunts estate in Spearfish, South Dakota. However, Tate receives a city mandate: she must comply with new landscaping regulations before she can resell the property. Given Tates precarious finances, she asks her friend, Val for advice. Val swears her brotherowner of a local construction company, and a man well-versed in purely physical relationshipsmight consider trading dirt work for art lessons. When Tate meets the mysterious Casanova, can she convince him to toss in a few sex lessons as well? Nathan LeBeau believes few women look at the Native American man beneath the filthy work clothes and hard hat. Hes kept past liaisons casuala fact his sister shared, hence Tates sexy proposition of wanting a hands on demonstration of his sexpertise. But in truth, hes tired of relationships based solely on sex. His goal of proving hes not completely hopeless in matters of the heart is second only to his dream of expanding his business. What happens when Tate desires no-holds-barred sex and Nathan favors a good old-fashioned romance? A battle of wills ensues. And Tate is willing to get down and dirty to get what she wants.


This was a yummy erotica/romance that I have deemed worthy of buying. I really and honestly have no comment on this one other than I really liked it and again ended the book with a "oh i want a man like that!" And in my opinon if i end the book that way its a good book ;p

Lorelie James - Cowgirl up and Ride

Goody-two boots AJ Foster has waited her entire life for Cord McKay to see her as more than a girl in pigtails. Now that she's old enough, she's pulling out all the sexual stops and riding hell-bent for leatherstraight for his libido. Divorced rancher Cord has sworn off women]]until innocent AJ suggests he teach her how to ride barebackand he realizes she doesn't mean horses or bulls. Busy with the responsibilities of running a ranch and riding herd on his rambunctious family, Cord agrees to take AJ up on her offeron a trial basis.

Ok this was a romance I was bound to love. A) it was released on my birthday! B) Cord calls AJ babydoll (my fav pet name never used on me)! It was a sweet book. It was not overt in its description of the sex etc. All in all a highly enjoyable romance that left me all "Oh I want one just like him!"

Hush Hush

For Nora Grey, romance was not part of the plan. She's never been particularly attracted to the boys at her school, no matter how much her best friend, Vee, pushes them at her. Not until Patch came along.
With his easy smile and eyes that seem to see inside her, Nora is drawn to him against her better judgment.
But after a series of terrifying encounters, Nora's not sure who to trust. Patch seems to be everywhere she is, and to know more about her than her closest friends. She can't decide whether she should fall into his arms or run and hide. And when she tries to seek some answers, she finds herself near a truth that is way more unsettling than anything Patch makes her feel.
For Nora is right in the middle of an ancient battle between the immortal and those that have fallen - and, when it comes to choosing sides, the wrong choice will cost her life.

Oh oh oh!!!! Thank you Kim for letting me read your advanced copy! WOWOWOWOWOW!

Voyeur

Ok this was a random find that I later downloaded that turned out not to be too bad.

I am not going to wax poetic about the story - which was sweet and followed the typical romance guideline...boy meets girl (through unconventional means), boy and girl fall in love, they part and are reunited...and all the time in between the sex is AMAZING...but I am going to say that if I EVER find a man that when he mearly kisses me causes my toes to curl and make me feel at home all at the same time as is written in this book, I will be VERY happy indeed!!!

All in all it is a very sweet book.

Suffering from writer's block and with no lover to speak of, novelist Laura Watkins is in a funk. She needs a getaway and a release. Fast. Fortunately, she finds both in the retreat of a friend's isolated Colorado home. It's hers and hers alone for as long as she needs it. Then she comes upon the webcam, and her curiosity is aroused. So is her secret fantasy-to be watched by a stranger.
His screen name is Flyboy. He likes what he sees. He wants to open up for her, too. Now, they're only one click away from exploring an after-hours game of exhibitionist and voyeur where anything goes. But now it's time to take it one step further-by meeting in the flesh. This time, no rules, no limits, and absolutely nothing to come between them.

Common Courtesies

And for my final trick, a blog dedicated to general fiction...this is where I will post my sentiments on anything from Romance to Suspense and what not. Why, you ask do I have other blogs dedicated to certain subjects and then a mish mash for the last??

Easy, I currently have two main addictions I am feeding...Austen variations (mostly P&P) and vampires. When another groupd divides itself and takes up an entire shelf, it too will get a blog.

:D