Synopsis

After having her heart broken, Lily Carver ran north to manage an upscale resort-and back to her longtime friend Sam Denning. Though she's well aware of how hot Sam's become, she refuses to risk her heart again. No matter how incredible his kisses make her feel...
Sam's been in love-and lust-with Lily since the summer they met. When he finally shows her how much he wants her, Lily can't resist his seduction. But Sam's a forever kind of guy and she's only interested in short, painless relationships.
Lily thinks she can protect both their hearts with a short affair to let their passion run its course, something where they both know the rules and can explore the sparks between them without getting burned. But their best-laid plans are put to the test by their undeniable attraction-and by a secret Sam's been keeping from Lily that could ruin everything.

Review

Something So Right is the familiar story of a heart so broken and bruised that it's owner will not take another chance on love. In this case Lily is so determined to set boundries that she has become quite mercenary about them. Sam is deeply in love with her and has finally given up fighting the attraction for the sake of saving their friendship.
We see these themes quite often in the romance world but Elyse Mady has managed to give the story it's own charisma. This is helped along by the imagery of the beautiful and remote setting which lends to the touching and sweet story.
All in all a pleasant read.



His music holds back the night, but time is running out.

Silent screams echoed in the deep. Visions taunted, too late. Jimmie paid the price and keeps his secret close. He longs for redemption but Death changed everything.

For Ember Grace high school is her world to command. But when her best friend turns on her, Ember struggles to understand as heart-wrenching memories intrude.

Something guides Jimmie’s hand and the music flows and commands, unleashing fearful events that threaten all he knows and loves. The answer lies in the deep, for hunger feeds on fear and the beast is far from sated.

Forged in an agony of a painful shared past, Jimmie and Ember’s link grows but will it be enough to save the town, save themselves?

And something lurks in cold still waters, waiting to change everything.

November Knight is the epitome of a sleeper hit! A powerful piece of  young adult storytelling from an author that unabashadly delves deep into the teenage mind and heart of Jimmie Knight.

Michael J. Pollack's writing is smooth and clean with an easy flow. Very often in YA there are cringeworthy moments as the author invariably tries too hard to capture youthful repertoire. There is not a single hint of that in November Knight and the essential core of what it is to be a teenager is captured perfectly.

November Knight is a beautiful harmony of character and plot driven story line that few authors can pull off. The concepts were all wonderfully unique and the characters well developed and complex.

Jimmie Knight's quest for redemption from a guilt he has owned since the age of twelve brings him back to the place where it all started. A place where he must face his demon and fight for not only his soul but for the nineteen others that are in jeopardy of being lost forever.

I truly do not have the words to explain just how wonderful this story is. I fell in love with Jimmie and then Ember. I was positively gripped by the tale and I was sad to say goodbye when it ended. It is a truly poignant story, as well as action packed and an edge of your seat thriller to boot. If I had to describe it in one word which is practically impossible I would have to use the word gripping even though it is so much more.

Another series where I will be waiting in HUGE anticipation for the sequel and yes there is going to be a prequel too. The prequel called The Bone Voyager's will hopefully be coming out very very soon. It is the story of the characters Renee and Marshmallow Chris from November Knight.

Available October 4th

A story of paranormal passion from the author of the Big Bad Wolf series! From the New York Times bestselling author of the Big Bad Wolf paranormal romances, a brand-new novella in the world of the Lost Angels. For millennia, the archangels have searched for their destined mates on earth. Now they are beginning to unite, but for Angel, it is a time of danger and fear. For with the Culmination these unions will bring about, her true nature will finally be revealed—opening her to an impossible desire, and exposing her to the one man she desperately craves…. Look for Avenger’s Angel, the first full-length book in the new Lost Angels series from Heather Killough-Walden, on sale November 2011.

In Alway's Angel Heather Killough-Walden has created the perfect primer for her riveting new Lost Angel's 

series. Much more than a primer however, Angel's story is riveting, and I absolutely fell in love with her.

There is a palpable sense of mystery and power that emanates from the character of Angel. It is clear that

 she will be playing a central role in the end game and there are elements that would prefer that she did not

 make it there.


 The interesting thing about Heather Killough-Walden's writing style is that she is completely

 unbiased. It is practically impossible to tell which point of view you are reading from. We all assume as

 reader's that the goal of our heroine is goal of good and ensures the correct outcome in the fight against evil.

 It is clear however that when it comes to HKRW there are no gaurantees. HKRW's plot is far thicker than it

seems on the surface and as much as we think we are seeing there is so much more going on in the depths. I

am left deeply intrigued and ravenous in my wish to see the whole picture as it unfolds in the four books to  

 come.

One of the many things I love about HKRWs writing is her ability to create well rounded characters chock

 full of personailty. As it turns out Paranormal creatures are people too! They might not be human but after

centuries of life on Earth they too have learned to enjoy the creature comforts we all do. It just goes to show

that everyone needs a warm bed and a hot chocolate sometimes...Yes even Angels!

Alway's Angel is most definitely worth the read! I am so looking forward to finding out exactly what the roles of The Morning and The Evening Star's are in this tale. I cannot wait to read the rest of the series!

Sting is without contest my favourite poet of our time! Yes his poetry is set to music and he is considered a musician by most. His lyrics however speak for themselves, and there is no doubt that above all else Gordon Sumner is a poet. His poetry is deep and soulful, the beauty of which is matched by no other. Those that have not had the priviledge of discovering his poetry can find all his lyrics on http://www.sting.com/

The Book Of My Life
Let me watch by the fire and remember my days
And it may be a trick of the firelight
But the flickering pages that trouble my sight
Is a book I'm afraid to write

It's the book of my days, it's the book of my life
And it's cut like a fruit on the blade of a knife
And it's all there to see as the section reveals
There's some sorrow in every life

If it reads like a puzzle, a wandering maze
Then I won't understand till the end of my days
I'm still forced to remember,
Remember the words of my life

There are promises broken and promises kept
Angry words that were spoken, when I should have wept
There's a chapter of secrets, and words to confess
If I lose everything that I possess
There's a chapter on loss and a ghost who won't die
There's a chapter on love where the ink's never dry
There are sentences served in a prison I built out of lies.

Though the pages are numbered
I can't see where they lead
For the end is a mystery no-one can read
In the book of my life

There's a chapter on fathers a chapter on sons
There are pages of conflicts that nobody won
And the battles you lost and your bitter defeat,
There's a page where we fail to meet

There are tales of good fortune that couldn't be planned
There's a chapter on god that I don't understand
There's a promise of Heaven and Hell but I'm damned if I see

Though the pages are numbered
I can't see where they lead
For the end is a mystery no-one can read
In the book of my life

Now the daylight's returning
And if one sentence is true
All these pages are burning
And all that's left is you

Though the pages are numbered
I can't see where they lead
For the end is a mystery no-one can read
In the book of my life


Available 09/12/2011

Lucinda Darling thinks she's ready to get married.
Even though Donald doesn't give her butterflies, the heiress is ready to make her marriage work. She's got the dress, she's at the church and her fiancé...is making out with his ex. So Lucinda stuffs her tulle skirts into her tiny sports car and hits the road...only to have her car break down.
Jake Parker knows he's not ready to settle down.
But Grandma Hattie is sick, so, to make her happy, he's returning home to find himself a fake fiancée. When Jake rescues Lucy from the side of the highway, she goes from runaway bride to temporary fiancée.
Lucy hopes to escape the public eye in small-town Georgia, but she doesn't expect to fall for Jake's charming hometown, let alone Jake himself. Soon Jake and Lucy both start to wish their lie were true. But Lucy knows she must stop their pretense before Jake's family-and her heart-are hurt so badly they'll never recover.

Just A Little White Lie was everything I wanted it to be! Lynnette Halberg fulfilled all my most romantic wishes all the way to the happily ever after. For some reason every time I try to find the words to describe my experience in reading this book I get the image of warm apple pie with  a serving of fresh vanilla ice cream. This could be the reason I have been trying to write this for two days in an attempt to come up with any other description except for warm and sweet with wonderful spicy notes of intrigue served with a cool splash of fresh, creamy vanilla down home goodness.

Suffice to say I enjoyed this book, and I particularly enjoyed Lucinda's character. It was refreshing to read a character that is rich beyond believe with such a sweet and caring personality. One that has no care for social standing or putting on airs, but instead cares deeply about people.

This was the first Lynnette Halberg novel I have read and I am looking forward to reading more of her work.



He learned he was going to be a daddy the same day his parents’ murderer was set free. But Detective Ash Kendall was determined to keep it together. After all, one woman was at the center of everything, and Rachel Stevens had a lot of explaining to do.
The lovely DNA profi ler had no idea her evidence would reopen Ash’s old wounds. Despite all they’d been through, she hadn’t stopped loving the man who just found out he was going to be a daddy. And with someone desperate to keep the secrets of the Christmas Eve Murders hidden, Ash was the only man who could protect Rachel and her baby.

I have a not so secret confession to make! Harlequin books are my guilty pleasure. On the days where I just want a nice romantic interlude and a smile on my lips I usually turn to a Harlequin novel. The first thing I noticed about Harlequin novels when I first started reading them is that they get a bad rap. There is more to a Harlequin novel than meets the eye. The writing is usually of a high standard and the storyline is far deeper than one would suspect.
Detective Daddy is no different, the story was quite indepth and intriguing, I found myself zooming through every delicious tidbit to find out what happened and at the end of it I was left with my usual happy afterglow.
There was only one thing that irked me about the book besides the usual uninspired title and that was that there was an essential part of the storyline that was not resolved in the end. Now I do understand that not everything in life requires a perfectly happy ending but in this instance I felt the characters involved deserved a better resolution.


I have to say that I had preconceived ideas about what this book was about and I had to throw them right out the window once I started reading. It is rare to find such a unique story line in this genre. It seems that these days there are so many paranormal books out there that it is inevitable that the premise has been already done at least once or twice. Fairy Circle is it's own genre, it is a category all of it's own and it is beautifully done.
It is rare to find a character as deep as Saffron. She is very introspective and does not share her fears or thoughts easily. So much so that even as the reader I was still trying to figure out through the whole book. This definitely added to wonderful mystery of the story that had me peeling away the layers one by one. I do not write spoilers so I will refrain from going into too much detail and I will leave you with my overall impression that it was a delicate and beautiful read that left me wanting for more.


This title will be released on October 25, 2011

Ash, former prince of the Winter Court, gave up everything. His title, his home, even his vow of loyalty. All for a girl… and all for nothing.

Unless he can earn a soul.

I fell in love with Prince Ash of The Unseelie Court early on in The Iron Fey series! I have always been and always will be a flag bearing, card carrying member of Team Ash. What I did not realize at the time was that even though I thought I knew Ash I did not know him at all.

The Iron Knight begins our journey of discovery! A discovery of the true dark nature of the Fey and what it truly means to be a human. Through the endless trials and quests we also finally begin to understand Ash in ways we never knew him before.

Julie Kagawa is a gamer as well as an author and reader and as such she has a more finely tuned imagination than many authors, along with the ability to direct quests and battle scenes that captivate her audience and leave me on the edge of my seat the entire book length. Fans of Changeling the Dreaming might recognize this world and enjoy the books even more for it. I personally got into Changeling from reading Julie Kagawa's books. I even modelled a very succesful character after some of Ash's awesome traits.

The Iron Knight could almost be a stand alone book in it's independence from the rest of The Iron Fey series and I finally understand Julie Kagawa's insistence that The Iron Queen was the final of that saga. Do not misunderstand me on this though. My reading experience was far richer for the knowledge I carried with me. It helped me understand the dillemas he faced and the pain he carried with him. No stone in Ash's past is left unturned in this story and there will be some surprises in store for readers. Surprises that will bring the full poignancy, sorrow and regret of his past to fruition.

Above all The Iron Knight is a true fairy tale and it holds all the beautiful imagery, adventures and whimical elements of any one of the classics we all know and love. This fairy tale will keep these characters alive for many more years thanks to Julie Kagawa. Puck, Wolf and even Grim have much to thank her for.


Scheduled Publish Date 10/03/2011 

For Kate Bennet, surviving the car wreck that killed her parents means big changes and even bigger problems. As she begins to see auras and invisible people, Kate must learn to trust Patrick O'Donnell, a handsome Guardian, or risk her life being overrun with Demons. She soon realizes that both she and her heart are in big-time trouble.
Seers by Heather Frost is a great debut novel. She managed to completely engage me in Kate Bennet's world and portrayed her grief in a realistic and sensitive manner. Heather Frost makes it clear that she is comfortable in her writing style and it shows in the easy reading style she inspires.
Her characters are all well developed and endearing. I do believe that a large number of readers will be swooning over the wonderful character that is Patrick O'Donnell, and I have a strong feeling that he might just go down as one of the yummiest guys in YA right now.
All round this was a very solid and enjoyable book. There were some minor twinges that I think might just be a personal preference rather than a writing flaw, but I do feel that sometimes less is more and without getting too spoilerish here I think perhaps in one small instance too much detail was given.
The good news is that this was very obviously the start of a series and I am definitely looking forward to reading the rest of it. I will be sorely disappointed if Seers does not become a series.



Historical romance has never been my genre of choice, but when I came accross this book I was sucked in and wanted to read more, and I am very grateful that I took the plunge. I absolutely loved this book! I tend to find period novels stuffy and convoluted but shattered dreams was far from it. This story is about the true meaning of courage and what it meant to be different in a world when no differences were tolerated.
The Earl of Charfield is a wonderful example of a wonderfully rakish rogue who's world turns upside down when he meets the woman of his dreams. The true challenge will be convincing Lady Elyssa that she is every bit as perfect for him as he is for her.
There is a secondary love story wrapped into this wonderful novel that is every bit as sweet and readable as Brent and Elly's story, and it provides the premise for a good dose of suspense and intrigue in the mix.

An excerpt from Laura Landon's website

Their horses raced neck and neck. Brent moved Danza closer, determined to do whatever it took to protect her. He focused his gaze on the vision beside him and she looked at him. Their gazes locked and he was struck by the most remarkable sensation he’d ever experienced. Her face was more perfect than that of an angel. Her features more delicate. Her cheeks were a rosy-hued pink, flushed from the excitement of the race. 
She pursed her lips to evidence her determination. But it was the color and shape of her eyes that speared through him. His breath caught and for just a fraction of a second, his heart skipped a beat. Her eyes were huge, big and round and colored a brown so dark they seemed black. Brent knew the excitement of the race had turned them dark and a certainty flashed through his mind that they would be this same color at the height of passion. Except, it wasn’t the size of her eyes or the rich color that caused him such hesitation, but the expression in them when she looked at him. She spoke to him with only a look. But she wasn’t sending him a message. Or a plea for help.
She was daring him to race her.
She issued her challenge with a gleam in her eyes. Her confident expression defied him to ignore her.
“Bloody hell,” he may or may not have said out loud. He wasn’t sure. All he knew was that she seemed to know the instant he accepted her challenge because...
...she smiled.
Together they raced toward the hedge that blocked their path, the great and mighty Arabians enjoying the challenge of charging across the field together. Brent had never felt this great a sense of exhilaration in his entire life. He didn’t think his blood had ever rushed through his veins as fast or furiously as it was doing right now. Together, as one, the riders and their horses neared the hedge. Without hesitation, they took the initial leap that lifted their front legs from the ground. In the same breath their powerful rear legs gave a mighty push that propelled them through the air.
As one, they cleared the hedge.
Time stood still. It was as if he, the beautiful woman beside him, and the two magnificent horses beneath them were suspended in mid air. As if time halted and every exhilarating emotion he’d ever experienced came back to revisit, only a hundred times more intensely. And still he soared through the air, the height of excitement continuing to build within him.
Together their horses reached the apex of their jump, then held. For what seemed a thousand remarkable seconds they were frozen in time. Then, with a euphoric rush, they began their descent.
Their landing was smooth, almost as perfect a conclusion as the journey. Nothing could compare with what he’d just experienced.
The hedge was behind them now and ahead of them a thick grove of trees formed a barrier to the meadow clearing. He sensed the woman slow her horse and followed suit.
They both galloped a short distance farther, giving their horses a chance to recover their wind, then she stopped and he pulled alongside her.
She turned to him, her huge, dark eyes shining with excitement, her cheeks colored even deeper, her full lips open to give him the most exuberant smile he’d ever received. And she spoke, her voice so deep and rich he knew if he ever fell under her spell he’d be lost forever.
“That was marvelous!” she said with more unbridled enthusiasm than he’d heard from a woman in his whole life. “You were marvelous! Your horse was marvelous! Oh, I haven’t enjoyed anything so much in...forever!”
Brent stared at her in wide-eyed wonder and a rush of molten heat surged to every part of his body. He felt as if he’d been struck by something more powerful than lightning. She was without a doubt, the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen. Being near her, listening to her voice, seeing the excitement in her eyes, drowning in such a wide, inviting smile, affected him like he’d never been affected before.
“I was marvelous?” he asked, unable to believe she’d complimented him. “You matched me stride for stride. You took that hedge as if it were nothing more than a bump across the road.”
He leaned back in his saddle and looked into her face. Never before had he met anyone who possessed such grace, such beauty, such daring. It was as if she were an extension of the horse beneath her. “That was the most expert horsemanship I’ve ever witnessed. Where did you learn to ride like that?”
She blessed him with another open smile. The laugh that followed sent him soaring through the heavens.
 Brent thought of the one stipulation the Marquess of Fellingsworth had made – that Brent woo their recluse sister away from her knight in shining armor without breaking her heart.
He wanted to laugh. There wasn’t a chance in hell he could possibly be attracted to Fellingsworth’s sister. Or that he would allow her to become attracted to him.
Not when he’d just met the most perfect woman on earth.

Every one of my close friends knows that I have read an insane amount of books since February! I am talking well into triple digits here. I have read dozens of really out of this world books and some not so wonderful. Luckily I have read msny more wonderful than not so wonderful books. Of all these books though there are four that have stood out as the best of the best of my year so far and I would like to shout their praises from the rooftops in the hopes that more people will discover these AMAZING and captivating tales.

The one that started it all! I was not reading much before February when one day I was in the grocery store and saw The Iron King by Julie Kagawa and popped it into my basket. I promptly retuned to the store the very next morning and bought the sequels. Four days later I had finished The Iron Queen and realised I had just read one of the best books EVER! The entire Iron Fey series is great but The Iron Queen is the book that goes firmly into my top four list.

Acheron is part of the Dark Hunter series by Sherrilyn Kenyon and absoluetly hands down the best and most important book of the series.  Acheron is by far my favourite literary hero of all time. His story is heart breaking and heart warming. I honestly do not have enough words to describe my love and passion for this book and the books series that goes with it and I doubt I ever will.

Hell Ben by Heather Killough-Walden is a book that I fall in love with over and over again! I have now reread it several times as I have done with all four of these books. The characters in Hell Bent are out of this world and I hold them dear to my heart. The story is everything I want from a good story and more.

Discovering the works of Poppet has been one of the best things I have done in a very long time. Her books are all out of this world and ensure a journey into a whole new world. I have read and loved every one of her books but her book Dusan is the book that I absolutely fell in love with, Never have I been taken on a journey quite like the one Dusan took me on. The storyline was so incredibly origional and alluring it sucked me in and I doubt I ever fully came out of that world.

The common elements in all these books is strong and kickass female leads and male leads that are just as strong and maybe even a bit more kickass. More importantly is the fact that even though these characters are strong and kickas they are just as flawed. The flaws they carry mould them into the wonderful characters that they are and they wouldnt be a shadow of themselves without their wonderful and delicious flaws.

I advise everyone reading this to beg, borrow or steal the time to read these books this year. I am very certain that you will not be disappointed.




The Hunt is the long anticipated fourth and final installment of Heather Killough-Walden's Big Bad Wolf series! These books have gained quite a serious following and for good reason.
As a fan of the Big Bad Wolf series myself I have found myself falling head over heels in love with all the characters from all four books. The female leads are all strong kickass characters that every girl loves to read about and the Alpha Males are strong, sexy and protective as hell of their mates.
The Hunt did not disappoint, I was given all the jam packed action and intensity that the other books gave me and more. I was most definitely on the edge of my seat the entire way through and I loved every minute of it. In fact I sit here typing this review at 5:15 am after pulling an all nighter reading because I honestly could not put it down.

I do have one major disappointment about this book and that is that it is the final. I am sad we do not get to hear more about these characters that I have come to love. There had better be some serious twitter account stealing going on! I want wedding announcements, Birth announcements and more we're pregnant news :)
Thank you Heather for being such a wonderfully interactive author that gives us fans all the voyeurism we crave.


Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

•Grab your current read
•Open to a random page
•Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
•BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
•Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Our host site is
Should Be Reading

My Teasers are from Gemma Rice's Blindsided



“I'm sorry I didn't catch your fall. You were the star in my sky, and I didn't pay attention when you became a shooting star. You are too beautiful to watch. I stood by while you plummeted, and you broke apart when you fell.”
Rice, Gemma (2011). Blindsided (Kindle Locations 4147-4149). Night Publishing. Kindle Edition.

Three thousand galaxies die in the silent rebirth of our solar system.
Rice, Gemma (2011). Blindsided (Kindle Locations 4152-4153). Night Publishing. Kindle Edition.

It is fathers day today and as I do every year on this day I think about you. Well really I think about you far more often than that but this time of year especially. I think about you because yes it is fathers day after all and it is traditional to think of ones father on this day, but also because fathers day has always been my reminder that it is your birthday in a few days. Of course you had no way of really knowing that I was thinking of you this time every year. Our communication skills were never that great. This seems to be an inherited defect which I got a double dose of from both sides of the family tree. I should probably hang a sign saying correspondence not part of my genetic make up, if you would like to keep in touch with me you're going to have to initiate it. It has never been for lack of wanting to communicate. Communication is a little like a library book for me. I take one out and I am all excited about it. Filled with the resolution that this time I am really going to get that library book back as soon as I finish reading it which I do usually within a day or two of taking it out. Then life happens and I go shoot I should take that book back and of course I don't and it becomes a niggling little worry in the back of my mind until some strange compulsion comes over me that prevents me from even attempting to take the library book back because it would just be too much. The thought is actually overwhelming. Eventually a year or two later I say to myself well this is ridiculous it is just a library book, it is not that hard to do. So I don my dark classes and sheepish grin, take the damn library book back, pay my hundred dollar fine and skulk away into the darkness saying I will never use the library again...I will buy all my books from now on until next time. It was a while ago that I had one of those breakthrough moments where I realised that this is ridiculous, you are my father and we need to talk more. By this time I had lost a number somewhere along the line and I only had your work number for the hardware store which I called. When I asked for you the person on the line sounded uncomfortable and said you did not work there anymore. Months after that Lorraine found me on Facebook and told me the news that you were gone. I am not going to go into the emotions I went through when I found out but it was a pretty bad time for me and really I had nobody to talk to about this, no funeral to go to and no closure. Honestly I am still processing it all. I am not sure I will ever get over the processing phase. I know we loved each other madly but I do not know why we did what we did. What made us the way we are. Now I am left with the memories good and bad. The bad memories are mostly the times without you when I wondered what I had done wrong and why I was not good enough. There are many good memories though and things that you gave me that I will always have in my heart. They are the very special us memories that nothing can take away. Starting with the letters you sent me as a child. I wish I still had them, I loved the little pictures you used to draw for me, they were amazing and awesome and I carry them in my mind and heart, seeing them clearly as day even though Its been about 30 years since I saw them last. Sandton City will always be a place that reminds me of you and our special trips to Brittan's sweets to buy Halva. I will always think of you when I see a red grape Liquifruit, wooden bowls, avocado's, brocolli, Milo, Monis grape juice, Postum, Golfers, joggers, squashers, Staffies named Rufus, Rinkaals snakes,Yoga, Simon and Garfunkel, Margherita pizza and Spaghetti Napoli. It really isnt much when you compare it to a lifetime of knowing each other but it is what I have along with Braagies bregies, brixton bregies and Golliwog.
One day I hope that we will get out reunion in another world where the only thing that will mater will be the love we had for each other.
Until then Dad I love you, Happy Fathers Day and Happy Birthday.

Golliwog

Photobucket

It is Tagalong Friday! This is an 18 and older event.

What is everyone reading right now?
I am about to start Shinobi by Sessha Batto and I am pretty excited about it because I have heard some really good things.http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/64681



Death is sad, love is agony.

Max was her next job. She got his name just before he died and it was for her to lead his soul to heaven. She was a Bringer.

Then Max started pleading (as they often do), but not for himself, for his son, James.

Would she look after him, would she comfort him as he grieved for the loss of his father? James was a sensitive young man. He would take his father's death very hard.

Well, Bringers don't do that sort of thing; their exclusive role is to usher souls to heaven. They are not allowed to get involved in earthly affairs.

However, when she saw James, she felt something she had never felt before – an emotion, a shock.

She was a Bringer. Bringers do not have emotions.

Yet she couldn't help herself. She found herself being drawn inexorably towards James and his life, against every instinct she had ever had, against every law of the universe.

And she fell in love.

For a Bringer, that is a terrifying fall.



Lucyna is a Bringer! She lives an emotionless existance performing her duties of guiding the newly released souls to The Light. Then she meets Max who's tearful entreaty to watch over his son reaches a place in her heart that she never knew existed. Her journey of self discovery that follows leads her down paths that she never expected to a conclusion that she could never have predicted.

I truly loved this book and give it my highest recommendation. It is poignant, soulful and heart wrenching. There is nothing better than reading a debut novel and being completely blown away by how amazing it is.This story had a wonderfully unique concept that kept me enthralled the entire length of the novel. The characters were soulful and endearing. I hurt when they hurt and I laughed when they laughed. There was a nice twist that actually caught me by surprise which is not easy to do. This book actually kept me guessing much of the way through.

In a genre that is not known for it's realism there is a very realistic element to the story. Every day essentials were not taken for granted and while I do not usually care one way or the other I found this quite refreshing since it improved the story instead of making it clunky. Samantha Towle has a wonderfully easy style to her writing and I am truly looking forward to hearing more from her.

If there ever was a cautionary tale it would be this one! When I was growing up I reached an age right around 11 or so when my friends and I started taking interest in the darker things in life. Things to which we had previously been blinded. We talked in hushed whispers of playing glassy glassy, saying bloody mary 3 times in front of a mirror and experimenting with Tarot. We told ghost and occult stories, the more gruesome the better and we revelled in any subject remotely mysterious. One day having gotten wind of my sudden interests my mother sat me down for a talk. I have never forgotten her words that day and I have stuck by them my entire life. She told me that only people who open themselves to evil influences can be invaded by them and that playing with the occult is an invitation to any entity to take control of our lives.

Djinn is the story the quirky, endearing and vivacious Cindy who embarks on a horrifying and twisted journey the day Sasha her favourite book store owner hands her a book more mysterious than she has ever had the pleasure of laying her hands on before. Cindy who has a penchant for anything occult especially if it is in the form of an ancient tome instantly knows that this book is incredibly special. This book that seems to live up to the name Djinn right off the bat. At this point in the book I was honestly rooting her on, open the book, open the book. Who doesnt want their very own genie in a book that can make their every wish and dream come true? But it seems there are entities out there that do not want Cindy to succeed and will do anything in their power to prevent her from the magic of he Djinn and so starts a ride so dark and hard I was left breathless and shaking at every turn in the story. This was probably one of the most intense, scary and heart breaking books I have ever read and I honestly cannot wait to pick it up and read it all over again just to catch the lil bits I might have missed. If you are familiar with Poppet's unique and heart pounding style of writing then you will not be disappointed in any way shape or form. This is probably one of her best works yet. If you are unfamiliar with her work then Hold on enjoy the ride of a lifetime.

When I am in the mood for a quick and indulgent read I usually grab the closest romantic comedy I can find. (Brit-Chick-lit if at all possible) So that is all I was expecting from this novel. What I got was entirely different! First of all this is no quickie romance, at 496 pages it is definitely a full length novel. A novel that managed to play out the wonderful stories of the supporting characters beautifully without detracting in any way from Miranda's story. The story of the wonderfully kind hearted, quirky and over the top Miranda who shares her lunches with a homeless man and dotes on her elderly land lady. Her kind hearted nature triggers a sequence of events that lead us on a journey of comedy, romance, wicked revenge, heart break and love that I loved every rip roaring moment of.
Jill Mansell has an uncanny ability to make you care for every single character in her novel. There was a tragedy mid way through this book that affected me so deeply I almost feel as if it was a true story. Three days after finishing the book and my heart still twinges whenever I remember this scene and for that alone this book will go down as one of my favourites of all time. Even without that though this was still a wonderful book that I enjoyed every moment of.

TG

Would you care for a book with what is at first a strong heroine, turned lukewarmly submissive with a negligible rebellious streak? Hmm, I didn't see the change coming at first, and so I read through anyway.

The premise of Dawn's The Charmer was brilliant. A woman transported randomly into an alternate land where all the men cannot help but lust for her. Unfortunately, she has eyes for only one. Her original capturer, Keilor.

Through some meet and greets, she finds out her best friend, whose name turns out to be Rihlia, is really a princess or something who was lost to the human world. They just found her now, and she was arranged to be married to Jayems, which makes for a wonderfully unexplored secondary romance.

Why did they just find her now? Technical stuff, you wouldn't understand. Right, and why did you bring our wonderful main character Jasmine who is clearly human and not one of your kind there? Well, Rihlia wanted to say goodbye. If your eyebrows raised at that one, you're with me. Granted, the best part comes later.

Since Jasmine's nature as a human Charmer has been revealed, she is now forced to stay. And the only way to subdue her Charmer ways is to find her a mate who will have lots and lots of sex with her.

Ok, you had me at sex. And so the pages continued turning.

I ended up liking Dawn's story a lot more than I thought I would, but I wasn't impressed. I kept thinking the book would end, but then some new element would pop up and it would continue for fifty more pages. The plot was sporadic, the character's mostly disappointing and the more I reflect on it, the more I think she could have been a lot clearer with her storyline. It's a good diversion, but it's not an epic romance of any sort. The writing was good but not astounding.

Dawn's Charmer was a solid read that doesn't have me itching to go buy the other books in the series. It doesn't light a fire under my butt to keep going, keep reading until she's told me all the tale there is to spin. So, I'm going to call this book a diversion, but nothing more. You will spend time reading it, and if there's not anything else to watch on TV, you'll enjoy it.

Cheers,
Jay

I have noticed in the past few months a distinct change in perception towards the Twilight series. There are still the Twihards out there and while I was never truly a Twihard I did love the series which came out in a time when I really needed the distraction. I will forever be indebted to Stephenie Meyer for saving me my dignity as my husband walked out the door on my marriage. While I could have been crying and begging for him to stay I was instead deeply ensconced in the world of Breaking Dawn on a beautiful and bright Island with Bella and Edward.

It has occurred to me that the rise and fall of the literary publics esteem for Twilight mirrors the relationship I had with my husband in a few ways. (Stay with me now, I know this is odd)

When we first met Twilight we met a story that was fresh and new, filled with promise. As we got to know Twilight and its world we fell in love with the story and its characters. Then Twilight grew in popularity it seemed that everybody loved Twilight. People raved about Twilight to the highest of highs. More people read the books and loved them. Our esteem for Twilight grew and grew and before we knew it Twilight was placed on a pedestal so high few others could touch it. We hero worshipped this literary wonder, extolling its virtues to the highest of highs. There Twilight remained until finally our interests waned and we looked to other sources of entertainment. We realised that there were other wonderful works out there and some that were every bit as good or even better than Twilight. Then the inconcievable happened. Twilight fell.
The problem with being on a pedestal so damn high is that the fall is so much longer, harder and more brutal. People began ripping the works to shreds, claiming it drivel and literary incompetence. Over time people have begun to view it with disdain that it does not deserve. It seems the books have falled further down than they should have as anything put on too high of a pedestal will.
Twilight always has been and will always be a nice book series with good characters. A book with the ability to transport its readers out of their lives into a world of hope and promise they might not have in their own. Nothing more, nothing less. You might or might not figure out how this analogy might fit into marriage but unfortunately it does. So I leave off with this small piece of advice. Don't let anyone put you on a pedestal! Keep it real and the magic will last forever the way it is supposed to.

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading.

Anyone can play along! Just do the following:
Grab your current read
Open to a random page
Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You
don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

Share the author and perhaps a link to the book so that folks can add it to their own TBR lists.
Link to the book:
http://www.amazon.com/The-Chosen-Soul-ebook/dp/B002YX0NX0/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1307428954&sr=1-1

Don't forget to pop over to the host site below.
http://shouldbereading.wordpress.com/2011/06/07/teaser-tuesdays-june-7/

Here are my teasers from The Chosen Soul by Heather Killough-Walden

For the first time in his life, real fear gripped Loki. Not a fear for his safety or his sister’s, but fear for all of life, itself. He feared for existence. He had the horrible, bone-chilling sensation that it was about to end and that there was nothing he could do about it.
Killough-Walden, Heather (2009). The Chosen Soul (Kindle Locations 3799-3801). Unknown. Kindle Edition.

She opened her eyes and gazed up at him. His molten mercury gaze held hers, penetrated her core, and scorched her soul.
Killough-Walden, Heather (2009). The Chosen Soul (Kindle Locations 3999-4000). Unknown. Kindle Edition.

Ok so they are definitely longer than a sentence but it was an AWESOME book and it deserved a nice lil teaser to go with it.

Happy reading.
TG

When I read the Amazon reviews for Dusan I was skeptical! The reviews were good, better than good they were amazing so I decided to read and see for myself and what I found blew me away. Dusan belongs on the bestseller list of every bookstand the world over and more than deserves the praise bestowed on it so far. 
From the very moment Dusan wakes from his 25 year sleep I am on the edge of my seat wondering exactly who he is, what he is and how he fits into the grand scheme of things. The picture is not pretty to start with as the concepts of good and evil seem blurred and distorted and I begin to wonder about some of the intentions and motivations of our potential hero. When our heroine enters the picture she is a creature of purity and light. Seemingly innocent and untouched by society she is a fey creature bathed in esoteric moonlight. Enter Poppets wonderful mix of reverence intertwined with irreverent humour when Aine turns out to be all those things and more. She is a spitfire, willful and determined with a love for carnally delicious doughnuts native to the Portland Oregon area. This is the second book of Poppets that I have read now and I appreciate her ability to incorporate the location into the essence of the book giving it personal meaning to people that know and love the area. As the story progresses and unfolds so does the tension. The reader is still kept on edge and wondering as the concepts of life, death and the true meaning of mercy are explored. Poppet has created an incredibly rich background story transforming a simple concept that many paranormal authors are overplaying into something of substance and new meaning which gave me intense pleasure as I slowly unwrapped the treasured gift of this story.
I laughed and I cried from the edge of my seat the entire way through this book and now that I am done reading I cannot stop smiling as I relive every delicious moment in my memories. Poppet took me on a journey in which she gave and then took away again only to give it all back with so much more.
I have read some amazing books this year but Dusan is my book of the year. If you only read one book this year make it Dusan because to do otherwise would be a very great loss. This book is a very solid 5 out of 5

Dusan contains language and adult humor along with graphic violence but is otherwise a clean book.

TG

Ok, so with the movie coming out in theatres, it seemed to only be fair to give it a shot. I mean, normally I read paranormal romance, but with John Krasinski (The main reason I love The Office) making an appearance in the movie, I figured I'd go pop culture and read. After all, the book was only 5.99 at Walmart. What's six bucks (stupid tax)?

I was appalled, yet pleasantly surprised.

The central plot is that good girl Rachel has always lived in the shadow of best friend Darcy who lives a very charmed life. Darcy has the perfect look, a job that makes her happy, and while quiet Rachel is quietly turning 30, Darcy is preparing for the wedding of a lifetime with perfect fiancé Dex.

That is, until a very drunk Rachel has a very long night with Dex.

The story is just cliche enough to keep you happy, just unexpected enough to keep the pages turning, and just thought provoking enough to make you wonder what you'd do in Rachel's shoes.

I haven't seen the movie yet, but I can't wait to make the comparison to Emily Giffin's written work. Heaven knows, I'll probably be sorely disappointed, but that's just how it goes with film adaptations. Something has to get cut.

So back to the book, it was an interesting diversion and I'd say go ahead and give it a read. Don't pay more than six bucks for it though. It wasn't that good.

Cheerful reading,
Jay

Inbetween reading Strike and Blindsded I read some crappy romance that left me feeling cheated. My thoughts after reading it were that I really wished I could for once read a romance that was real, one that went beyond the contrived happy ever afters and told a real story in a real world where people are flawed.

"How would you react if you came home unexpectedly to find your boyfriend in bed with a pretty young blonde girl whose pink nails and sweaty palms are clamping his muscular back?Leanne is the one who found them and it's Andy who is using Trish as a trampoline.
What happens next? Will Leanne and Andy, share champagne in the bath, and kiss and make up?
Doesn't sound likely, but they do.
And to seal the reconciliation, Andy carves his love for Leanne on his chest.
Then Leanne finds out about Andy's relationship with another girl she has never heard of, Kate.
'Blindsided' is Gemma Rice at her most uncompromising, it's a love story which is climatic and dramatic.
Love is patient, love is kind, love is understanding. And love catches you when you fall."


As I was reading Blindsided it took me a while to realise that it was exactly the romance I had been looking for. It put me on edge and left me wondering where to look for comfort. It was gritty and dark but infused with moments of light and warmth and the ending was pure magic. The ending was beautiful and perfect and the most romantic I have read in my life. Most romances leave me wanting like a bad relationship. THis one left me fulfilled and whole like the most precious kind of love.

This book took me out of my comfort zone and gave me an entirely new one, I give it a solid 5 stars with no regrets.I took the time to look up the music of Douglas Bean that the author references and I was blown away. His music is wonderful and I am glad of the discovery.

TG


Note this is an adult book with adult themes. It contains language, sex, drugs and self mutilation.

1. Unemployment: I am calling this my little blessing in disguise. I will get to see my children more than I have in a very long time. Adding to that I could really use a break while I commence my job hunt.

2. My beautiful Daughter's 5th birthday and Epic Rapunzel Party on June 5th: Yikes I get to bake the cake and foot the bill :) this should be fun. Oh but she is so very worth it, she has been planning her Rapunzel party for almost a year now and it is going to be EPIC.

3. X-Men First class June 3rd: I love X-Men and I am definitely looking forward to this one.

4. Passion by Lauren Kate June 14th: Ok I am really looking forward to learning more about Daniel in this one. So I am hoping it is as much from his perspective as I suspect this book will be. The suspense is killing me here!!!!

5. Green Lantern June 17th: This is a good month for super heroes and I LOVE SUPERHEROES!!! The question is will Ryan Reynolds make a yummier DEADPOOL or Green Lantern? Its going to be tough since I am very particularly partial to DEADPOOL.

6. Last but oh so not the least Smokin Seventeen by Janet Evanovich June 21st: Ive read the synopsis for this one and it looks like its going to have EVERYTHING I love in a Stephanie Plum Novel....namely Joe Morelli and Ranger in all their HOTNESS!!! Add to that an old flame and this one is definitely going to be Smokin. Honestly Stephanie Plum is MY HERO, if she werent a lil bit o fiction I would make that woman my best friend and she would probably say oh brother another damn stalker.

From the moment I picked up the book I was hooked! Heather Killough-Walden has the rare ability to transform seemingly mundane scenes into moments of pure suspense and intrigue. I was so entranced by the relationship between Jack Thane and Annabelle Drake from that very first scene that I kept reading through the night till dawns early light when I finally finished the book, and it was one hell of a ride.
In order to truly enjoy the book it is best to appreciate it as a work of fantasy and just enjoy the ride. Those with puritanical views that are looking for a moral lesson should probably skip this one and head somewhere else. Now in real life my views may be a little on the puritan side but I enjoy my fantasy deep and dark so this book was definitely up my alley and Heather Killough-Walden delivered in spades. Her character development is wonderful and it was a breath of fresh air to discover the flaws built into the characters instead of the usual cookie cutter characters so often viewed elsewhere.
“Jack Thane is a man with a very big secret. For years, he has relied upon the skills and resources that came with this secret in order to protect the people he cares about, especially the young Annabelle Drake… the only woman he has ever loved.

However, now Jack’s past is catching up with him – and it’s after Annabelle. Suddenly, Jack has gone from the predator to the prey as he strives to keep Annabelle from the very deadly clutches of some of the most powerful people in the world.

Annabelle Drake’s best friend is a six-foot-two, blonde haired, blue eyed angel in black leather with a penchant for v-twin motorcycles and shoulder holsters stocked with reliable guns. He’s a man with a dark job, a quick mind, and a body capable of just about anything. He’s also off-limits as anything but a best friend… for so many reasons.

But when the forces that normally turn to Jack for their more covert problem solving needs suddenly turn on Annabelle, she has no choice but to turn to Jack for help. Annabelle finds that being under Jack’s protection means allowing him to get closer than she’d ever planned on letting him get… and that when it comes to dangerous; those who are out to get her have nothing on the man she’s with.”

The themes in this book are mature and there is a good smattering of adult language but other than that the book is clean. Much to the consternation of some of the reviews I have read. Usually I would be one of those as I hate a tease but I never felt a loss at the lack of a full on intimate scene. The book was too enjoyable, there was plenty of substance that held my attention and the intimacy between the characters transcended anything a mere sex scene could portray.
If you enjoy strong female characters, dark and dangerous men and sleek and powerful motorcycles then this book is for you. I give this book 5 out of 5. If I was concerned about the miniscule editing issues I noticed I might drop down to a 4.5 but this book was a Dollar and for that the author has given me an amazing experience that definitely deserves this 5.

So many books so little time! I cannot wait to share them with everyone. I have read some awesome books in the last couple months and some not so wonderful ones and I am looking forward to getting the reviews going.

Right now I am posting to nobody as we have as yet no followers but I think this will change soon so hello to all our future readers.

Happy Reading,
TG

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