After Dark Review of Taste Me by Tamara Hogan

I have added After Dark Reviews to my blog as a way of notifying you of a review of a book with Adult themes and scenes. From now on I will keep my reviews of all books I read that have explicit scenes in them for late night posts for those of you who prefer to avoid them or easy to find for those of you who seek them out ;)

Synopsis: "He Wants Her So Badly He Can Taste It...

Ever since their tempestuous fling years ago, incubus Lukas Sebastiani has known that siren Scarlett Fontaine was meant to be his. But when you're a sex demon with an insatiable desire, relationships are way more than complicated...

Her Siren Songs Bring Men to Their Knees...

Rock star Scarlett Fontaine desperately needs a break after a grueling tour. But with murder and mayhem surrounding her band, and the one man she never thought to see again put to the task of protecting her, life is going to be anything but peaceful...

Every encounter between them creates more turmoil-and heat-until Scarlett pushes Lukas to the boiling point, and unleashes forces that go way beyond anything she can hope to control..."

My Review: So this one came on recommendation from my parents, apparently the author went to high school with my father and they ran into each other at a reunion. This one started off kind of slow and confusing. But once the council and the different species were explained to Bailey things became a lot more clear and you could really dive into the book head first. I loved the suspense and the danger in the books, you know how close the danger is but the characters don't and the feel of that tension is fantastic. I loved the idea of sirens, it was an interesting take on the paranormal. I didn't really get too attached to the characters but I was rooting for them, I do really like Rafe and hope he is in the next book! I also really liked how the sex scenes didn't take over the book or distract from the story line.

My Rating: I think this one earns a solid Three Paws and I look forward to reading the next book in the trilogy.

Writing Wednesday

So Wednesday is my official writing update day. I have so many story projects going on and I need a push to get some done. So I will be trying to post each Wednesday about how my writing adventures are going (and I may need a swift kick in the pants by you guys sometimes).

Current Active Project:

The New Old Home

Everyone dreams of winning the lottery, but what would you do with that money? That is the question presented to Natalie, when she is at the lowest point in her life, she is presented with an opportunity to make any normal person's dreams come true, but all those winnings can't give her what she wants most.

Other Works in Progress:

Princess Bs - 32,131 words

A story about a woman, recently divorced and returned to her home town to figure out what is next. She encounters an old friend and spends a weekend with him and his daughters. Feelings that are long since buried are rising up again, but are her recent loss and his current life going to stand in the way of their happily ever after?

Tamlyn Marie's Grace - 12,072 words

Think Cinderella only with a matchmaker ;)

The Last Mountains - 15,352

A equine shapeshifting family is being hunted to near extinction and the young new leader must go against all her lessons and approach the elite council for aide. Will they help her? How will she keep her family's traditions and values alive, let alone her herd?

Night Rider - 17,229

Alice is a recent high school graduate who is a very accomplished competitive rider in Hunter/Jumper, Dressage, and Western/Rodeo. Her parents had arranged for her to attend a private college on the east coast geared specifically to equine professions. However, Alice wants to focus on her studies in English Literature. When she arrives at the college she hides her riding abilities, but can she keep her talent and love of horses hidden?

Other Ideas Plotting:

Bloodsoar's Story

A pegasus struggles through life, ejected from the herd, near capture by humans.

The Assassin's Assassin

A student learns what the school is really teaching and sets out to destroy those who support the program.

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So I still don't have any writing done because I am waiting for that ever important November 1st date! I can't wait! I have 10 chapters outlined and a bunch of research done, still plenty more to do but it should get me well over half way through the book.  So by next Wednesday you should see my word count increasing quickly!!  Good luck to all the other Nano participants this year!

After Dark Review of The Dragon Who Loved Me by G.A. Aiken

I have added After Dark Reviews to my blog as a way of notifying you of a review of a book with Adult themes and scenes. From now on I will keep my reviews of all books I read that have explicit scenes in them for late night posts for those of you who prefer to avoid them or easy to find for those of you who seek them out ;)

Yummmmy! Love love love the cover! As a confessed in the last After Dark review I have this thing for back and shoulders, and this cover really plays into that!

Synopsis: "I was raised for battle. And as the first daughter of a warrior family, I've earned my reputation the hard way. Yet now I fight alongside uncivilized male Northland dragons who think a female is only good for breeding and waiting back home in the cave. But it's the foolish and foolhardy who would try to stop me, Rhona the Fearless, from doing what I do best—destroying the enemies of my kind.

So the smartest thing wily barbarian Vigholf the Abhorrent can do for me is stay out of my way as we risk all on a deadly mission in enemy territory. I don't care if he's fascinated by me, even though he is as attractive as he is resourceful. He's having far too much fun putting me in difficult situations and testing my sense of duty to the limit. And I'm going to enjoy challenging his insufferable confidence, outwitting his schemes, and making him surrender in the wildest ways. . ."

My Rating: I really enjoyed this one, a great follow up to the Last Dragon Standing. It wasn't exactly what I expected, I love the fact that the some time had passed between the last book and this one and that we didn't have to read through a five year war before getting to this book. I adore the characters in this one, Vigholf and Rhona are such a match. I adore the children, they crack me up and I can't wait to read more about them as the grow up. I feel like Izzy's character took a little bit of a hit in this one, she is just becoming too similar to Annwyl. The story line was great, had you gasping at times in horror and other times in relief. I really can't wait to see what book comes next!

My Rating: This as a Four Paw book for me. I loved the pace, it really picked up from the previous book in the series.

Monday Reading List

Its Monday! What Are You Reading? is a weekly meme hosted by Shelia at Book Journey. Share what books you have finished in the last week, are currently reading and what might be coming up next!

What I Read Last Week:

Links will take you to my review

 

She Walks in Beauty by Lord Byron

The Last Dragon Standing by G.A. Aiken

If by Rudyard Kipling

 

 

Currently Reading:

Sabriel by Garth Nix - PB - on page 216 of 496

The Thief Lord by Cornelia Funke - PB - on page 18 of 348

A Clash of Kings by George RR Martin - on my Nook, page 20 of 1439

Taste Me by Tamara Hogan - Nook - on Page 30 of 384

Next Books to be Read:

Catundra by Stephen Cosgrove - Childrens/Bedtime stories

Holes by Lewis Sachar - Middle Reader/ 2011 Challenge

A Dream Within A Dream by Poe - Poetry/ 2011 Challenge

Divergent by Veronica Roth - Rhodie Readers Book Club

Poetry Pause: If by Rudyard Kipling

I am working in the poetry section of my own 2011 Reading Challenge. I had planned on posting the poems for you to join me in reflecting on them; however, I am not entirely certain on the copyright laws regarding some of the poets we will read. So to be on the safe side I decided to try to link you to the poem I will be reading.

Another option, if you are looking to purchase a book of poetry, I suggest Half Hours with the Best Poets (Barnes & Noble or Amazon)

This is a fantastic collection of poems, nearly all of my top poems are in this one book!

So the next poem is

 

If By Rudyard Kipling

The title link with take you to the poem

 

 

 

A brilliant poem to give us all something to strive towards. If only we could take on every trait and strength mentioned by Rudyard Kipling. I really hope several graduations use this as their motto because there is a lot of wisdom that will be needed written here. I also think that as adults that are pushed around in the working world that we need to read this and remind ourselves what we should actually be striving for in our lives.