Trip to the library...

Took my little guy to the library after school and I grabbed a few books for myself as well.

Here's what came home with me:

Body Movers by Stephanie Bond
The Last of the Red-Hot Vampires by Katie MacAlister
A Place of Hiding by Elizabeth George
The Hourglass by Barbara Metzger
American Diva by Julia London
Sloppy Firsts by Megan McCafferty
The Sacred Bones by Michael Byrnes

Book Challenge: Fall Into Reading

I found out about this reading challenge via Mad's House. It sounds like fun, so I signed up for it. The challenge starts on September 23rd and ends on December 21st.

I'll be working on my list. I have a huge amount of books in my TBR that I've wanting to read but never get around to reading them, so I may be adding them to my list.

You never know it may just be what I need to cure my slump.

Slump

It's been a while since I read a book, the last book I read that I actually enjoyed was my re-read of The Bride by Julie Garwood. I've tried everything that I can think of, but nothing is helping. So, I'm back to re-reading my favorites, and I'm hoping that The Higlander's Touch by Karen Marie Moning will help me out. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

VMAs

Once upon a time I used to watch the VMAs, I loved them. So I decided to take a quick look and this is what I saw.... Ok, let's just say that I won't be watching again... what a joke! What the heck has happened to Britney Spears?!

Comfort Reading...

It's one of those days, rainy and gloomy, definitely a day to stay inside and read a good book. Although I'm already reading two books, they're not all that interesting at the moment, not the books fault, I'm just a moody reader.

So, I decided to visit one of my favorites books again, The Bride by Julie Garwood. I first read this book back in 1994, I was taking a break from exams and needed a little pick me up, and my roommate suggested The Bride. I was hooked from the first page, I loved the book. When I got a chance I bought my own copy and I still re read it any chance I get.

It's my comfort read, you can say... What's your comfort read? What's that one special book that you go back to when you feel the need to visit old friends?

RIP

"Above all, I am an opera singer. This is how people will remember me."
Luciano Pavarotti (1935-2007)

Simon's Passion...

I have a thing for tortured heroes and Simon does not disappoint. Here's the blurb for The Secret Passion of Simon Blackwell by Samantha James:

A cruel twist of fate changed Simon Blackwell's life irreparably. A man of intense passions, he resolved to deny his emotions and desires forever, taking refuge in the wilds of the moorlands and shutting himself off from the world. But on one extraordinary night, on a rare trip to London, the unthinkable occurs. An intoxicatingly beautiful stranger stirs the sensuous hunger he has sworn to resist. Simon Blackwell believed that no woman could tempt him.

No woman . . . save Annabel McBride.

Annabel knows nothing of Simon's secret pain. But one irresistible kiss plunges her into marriage with a man she scarcely knows, a man who hides a shattered past. She can feel the blistering heat of the fire that smolders within this exquisitely handsome man, making her yearn for much more than the union in name only he has promised her.

But Simon dares not love again—for fragile love can be lost in an instant. And now Annabel must find a way to open his heart to the most glorious risk of all . . .

As I mentioned earlier, I'm a huge fan of the tortured hero theme, and that's mainly the reason I picked up this book. I enjoyed Simon, the hero, he suffered a major loss that plagues him, but he meets Annabel. It's hate at first sight for Annabel but Simon is curious about her... Let's just say that they marry hastily and soon Annabel discovers that Simon wants a marriage in name only, but she has other ideas on the matter.

I enjoy the setting, the characters but there were times where just wanted to yell WTF!!!! And for that reason alone that I'm giving the book a 3.5 out of 5.

Rate: 3.5/5, Library book.

Quote of the Day

"A room without books is like a body without a soul."
Cicero (106 BC - 43 BC)

Quote of the Day

"Women want men, careers, money, children, friends, luxury, comfort, independence, freedom, respect, love, and three dollar pantyhose that won't run."

Phyllis Diller (as quoted in Woman's Almanac, 1977)

There's Something About Mary....

Another installment of the dark vampire series, Black Dagger Brotherhood by J.R. Ward.

Here's the blurb for Lover Eternal:

In the shadows of the night in Caldwell, New York, there’s a deadly war raging between vampires and their slayers. And there exists a secret band of brothers like no other - six vampire warriors, defenders of their race. Possessed by a deadly beast, Rhage is the most dangerous of the Black Dagger Brotherhood...

Within the brotherhood, Rhage is the vampire with the strongest appetites. He’s the best fighter, the quickest to act on his impulses, and the most voracious lover—for inside him burns a ferocious curse cast by the Scribe Virgin. Possessed by this dark side, Rhage fears the times when his inner dragon is unleashed, making him a danger to everyone around him.

Mary Luce, a survivor of many hardships, is unwittingly thrown into the vampire world and reliant on Rhage’s protection. With a life-threatening curse of her own, Mary is not looking for love. Her faith in miracles was lost years ago. But when Rhage’s intense animal attraction turns into something more emotional, he knows that he must make Mary his alone. And while their enemies close in, Mary fights desperately to gain life eternal with the one she loves…

You've already heard my spiel on how these books feel dark, gothic like, and something out of a Robert Rodriguez movie. OMGosh, I'm amazed on how addicting it can be... I really enjoyed this book, probably a little more than the first book of the series Dark Lover. The setting is dark (of course!), the characters are dark (of course!, they're Vampires) and main two, Rhage and Mary are great together.. Rhage is willing to do whatever it takes to keep her safe and well, and Mary is able to soothe him, something that no one else is able to do. We're also introduced to a few more characters: Bella, a female Vampire that has a thing for Z.; John Matthew a boy that is mute, who hasn't "turned" yet; O, a lesser that truly is a mental case, he just gives me the creeps.

Over all it was a great read, but I do have one complaint... At times I found the dialog repetitive. I really cannot stand "Do you feel me?", and I believe there were few in the book. Just a minor complaint...


Rate: 4.5/5, Keeper Shelf

August - Month In Review

Best of the Month:

Austenland by Shannon Hale (4.5/5) General Fiction; Regency Reenactment; New Author; Library Book;

Her Royal Spyness by Rhys Bowen (4.5/5) Historical Mystery; set in post WWI England; Series: # 1, Her Royal Spyness; Library Book; Added to shopping list;

Me And Mr. Darcy by Alexandra Potter (4/5) General Fiction; set in New York and England; New Author; Library Book;

Dark Lover by J.R. Ward (4/5) Contemporary Romance; Paranormal: Vampire; set in Caldwell, New York; Series: # 1, Black Dagger Brotherhood; Keeper Shelf;

Darcy's Story by Janet Aylmer (4/5) Historical Fiction; set in England; New Author; Library Book;

Tangled Up In You by Rachel Gibson (4/5) Contemporary Romance; set in Truly, Idaho;


Honorable Mentions:


Morning Comes Softly by Debbie Macomber (3/5) Contemporary Romance; Mail Order Bride; set in Montana; Library Book;

Death at Sandringham House by C.C. Benison (2.5/5) Contemporary Mystery; set in England; New Author; Series: # 2, Her Majesty Investigates; Library Book;

The Guy Not Taken by Jennifer Weiner (2.5/5) General Fiction; Short Stories; Library Book;

Quote of the Day

"Carry out a random act of kindness, with no expectation of reward, safe in the knowledge that one day someone might do the same for you."

Princess Diana (1961-1997)