Immortal Danger Contest!

Nope, not my own contest (yet) but keep your eyes out next month, I may just have a little paranormal treat for one lucky winner... Until then, here is another contest going on at an author's blog. What are you waiting for? Go and join in on the fun! Click on 'Enter Today' which will take you to Cynthia's Blog where all the juicy details on how to enter are located. Good luck!

What Did I Receive?

I'm very happy-- for the second time in a month, I'm able to post a (short) list of books I received! True, it may not be as many as some bloggers receive, nor as often, but still, it is more than enough to make me very happy! And thankful, of course. Thank you Hachette Book Group for the books! Below are five book I've received today: 2 were from Hachette, 2 were books I bought myself (just thought I'd post them here as well) and the last one, though I did receive from Hachette, I will not be keeping because it's a duplicate of one they sent out 3 weeks ago. I've contacted Renee (the lady in charge of this area of the company) and I'm prepared to ship it back. IF she says "No, you can keep it" then I may be having a giveaway soon.... *hint, hint*. Keep checking back for updates about it. Okay, on to what I received!

Title: Seducing a Scottish Bride

Author: Sue-Ellen Welfonder

Publisher: Hachette Book Group

Summary:

Gelis MacKenzie is one of the most desirable heiresses in all the Western Highlands. She is the youngest and much adored daughter of the indomitable Black Stag of Kintail, Duncan MacKenzie, who was the hero of Welfonder's novel DEVIL IN A KILT. Unfortunately, Gelis has been branded unmarriageable, but not for lack of masculine interest. No matter how lofty the ancestry, how deep the purse, or how mighty the sword arm, nary a one of her suitors is good enough for her father. Although he loves Gelis fiercely and knows he must someday see her settled and wed, Duncan isn't quite ready to let her go.

But now Duncan has received an offer for Gelis's hand in marriage that he is honor-bound to accept-and it comes from the worst possible quarter. The suitor, Ronan MacRuari of Castle Dare, is the last man Duncan MacKenzie would wish for a son-in-law. Known as the Raven, Ronan is the scion of a dark clan that has been marked by a deadly curse.

Ronan and Gelis are instantly attracted to one another, but they are immediately estranged. Ronan's last two wives have died abruptly and he doesn't want to see his vivacious newly-wed Gelis suffer the same fate, so he distances himself from her as much as possible. In the meantime, Ronan searches for the Raven Stone, a fabled treasure that he believes holds the power of the curse over his clan. But Gelis has fallen in love with her new husband, and she's determined to help him. Though Ronan doesn't know it, Gelis also has the gift of second-sight, and she has seen a future in which she is destined to help redeem her cursed husband

Title: Trouble in High Heels

Author: Leanne Banks

Publisher: Hachette Book Group

Summary:

Sorry, I couldn't find one on B&N and I'm a bit lazy (and busy) to try typing my own after only skimming the back cover blurb! But when I do my review later on, there will be a summary! Title: Highland Outlaw *Bought myself Author: Monica McCarty Series: Cambell Trilogy, Book 2 Summary: Handsome and dangerous, Patrick MacGregor is a wanted man, possessing the tough, tenacious spirit of his outlawed clan. He will stop at nothing to save his people from destruction, even if it means marrying Elizabeth Campbell, the daughter of his worst enemy. Yet the flaxen-haired beauty disarms him from the start. Her sweet, unspoiled softness touches the cold depths of his ravaged soul–and makes him want much more than revenge. Inside the shy and dutiful Lizzie is a passionate woman longing to emerge, a woman ready for love. So when the piercing emerald eyes and searing kiss of a stranger spark in her a desperate hunger, she surrenders to Patrick’s glorious seduction–unaware that his daring deception has just found its one and only chance for redemption: a love more powerful than hate. Title: Dark Victory *Bought myself Author: Brenda Joyce Series: The Masters of Time, Book 4 Summary: A dark, ruthless Highlander, the Black Macleod has refused his destiny. His life is revenge for the massacre of his family. His enemies' insults—that he is a man of stone—only amuse him. But fate is impatient, and when a woman from another time dares to summon him, he cannot resist her powers—or her.… A schoolteacher by day, Tabitha Rose uses her magic to protect others by night. When the vision of a dark Highlander, bloody and burned, appears to Tabby, she knows she has been called to help him, no matter how frightening he might be. But what Tabby doesn't expect is to be taken against her will to his dark, violent time. And when evil begins to stalk her, she realizes she must fight for far more than his destiny—she must fight for her love.…

The final book I received, which is a duplicate, was Desire Unchained by Larissa Ione. I've already read (and reviewed) this one, and loved it of course. Now, like I said before, if Hachette Group is okay with me keeping it anyway *doubtful, but we will see* then I will probably use it as the prize for my first ever Contest. Exciting, huh? Well, I promise to update as soon as I know for sure.

Until Next Time,

~TBQ~

REVIEW: "Seeing Red"

Title: Seeing Red

Auhor: Susan Crandall

Rating: 3.5 stars

Summary (from B&N.com): Ellis Greene remembers very little about the night of her cousin Laura's murder, but she does recall the face of the murderer. Ellis was the key witness to the crime, and her testimony helped put Hollis Alexander in jail for a long time. With Hollis behind bars, Ellis should feel safe, but the memory of that awful night still haunts her. Determined to free herself from the fear of being attacked like her cousin, Ellis has become an expert in self defense. However, when Ellis hears that Hollis has been paroled, she feels like a helpless teenager again--and she isn't the only one who notices that he's free.

Laura's boyfriend Nate was one of the prime suspects for her murder. After the court case, many still believed that Nate was guilty and he left town to reinvent himself. Now, fifteen years later, he has returned to protect Ellis from suffering the same fate as her cousin. As soon as Ellis and Nate see one another, sparks fly. But Ellis hasn't let herself fall for a man in a long time, and she isn't sure whether she can trust Nate. As Laura's murderer zeroes in on Ellis as his next target, she must fight to stay alive while she finally discovers her true feelings about Nate.

The point of a review is (usually) to enlighten fellow readers about how wonderful a book is. It's also meant to bring free advertising, sorta speak, to the publisher/author of that book. That being said, it is really hard for me when I have to sit down and write a review about a book that, well, didn't quiet make it to my 'favorite' pile. Unfortunately, this is one of those very reviews. Seeing Red was one of the four books I received from a publisher a few weeks ago. Although romantic suspense novels are not my usual reading of choice, I figured I'd give it a try-- Hey, I'm willing to try anything once, plus the cover was interesting, and the story sounded promising. When I started it, I had hoped that it would be quick and fast-paced, like a good mystery/suspense novel. However, the story started out slow, a bit too much for my taste, and I don't think that it ever really reached the pace that I was hoping for. Like I said before, I hate writing a negative review, but at the same time, I have to be honest, since it's not a summary, it's my opinions that make up the review. Keep in mind, when I do write a negative review, I try to make it known that while I may not have enjoyed that particular book, that doesn't necessarily mean that EVERYONE else has to put it on their 'Never Read' list. It could be that I just wasn't in the mood for that specific genre of book, and I was a bit harsh on my rating. In theory, it should be easier to pinpoint what went wrong in a book that would cause the reviewer to give it a bad rating, right? Wrong. Or, at least that's what it's like for me. I find it easier to point out all the positive, good things about a book. Sometimes it's more difficult to explain why a book failed to hold my attention. Again, this is one of those times. Seeing Red wasn't a horrible book (believe me, I've read much, much worse!), but it also didn't meet my expectations either. It was an 'okay' book, nothing really stood out about it that screamed 'Amazing!', but it wasn't so boring or terrible that I couldn't finish it or threatened to torture it just so I would never have to look at it again. I simply felt like there was no real passion between the characters. I kept thinking, "It'll get better, I just have to give it time", but even after I finished the book, there wasn't one character that I wanted to revisit. I don't know about you, but after I've finished a really good book, the story, the characters, stay with me for days, months, years even, and I want to know more. This time, I couldn't even begin to tell you what went on between half the characters or what happened for most of the book. When I closed the book, it's almost like everything I'd just spent three days reading...left. Again, it's not that the writing or story was horrible, but it just doesn't stick with you after you are done. But maybe it's just me... Maybe if I've known that, though it's called a 'romantic suspense', Seeing Red is really more of a straight forward mystery kind of book, I could have enjoyed the story line a bit more, without the conflicting expectations. The romance was so sparse, I could have put it on a 3 by 5 card, and what was there was very G-Rated. Not that there's anything wrong with that, I've read some tame romances that were just as wonderful as some of the more erotic ones, but it was more than just the lack of sex scenes in this one that disappointed me. I'm still not sure how Nathan and Ellis got together-- I didn't really see the connection, nor did I believe in it. And aren't both of those suppose to be main points in a romance? Once again, I can't say that this was the complete fault of the author-- I've heard more than a few rave reviews about this book. It might very well just be me. Sometimes, even the most well written books in history have still failed to win over the love of all the readers of the world... On the positive side, the story did pick up considerably towards the last half of the book. Not quiet enough to wow me, but more than enough to make me realize that the book wasn't a total waste of time. It had it's fair share of action and excitment at times, and while following the perverted plans of Hollis, I felt a shiver fear and disgust (not a bad thing, at least when you are reading a mystery). I wasn't bored out of my mind, but I wasn't captivated either. Again, maybe if the author had played up one genre more than the other, or worked a bit more on tying the two together seemlessly, my review could be different? If it had been a total mystery, with no romance thrown in, would my opinion change? Or if she'd worked on the main characters developments and the way their love blossomed in the story instead of focusing so much of the time on the crimes? Maybe. 3.5/5 STARS! I can't repeat it enough times: Seeing Red wasn't a complete flunk, and if you thought about reading this book, or you've read her previous books and enjoyed them, then give this one a try. Maybe check it out from the library first, but even if you buy it, it's not a waste of money. It's simply, in my view, a mediocre romance novel. Maybe her other books are much better, and maybe I'd enjoy them, I don't know. One day, I might try another book of Crandall's, and my opinion could change. But until then, I've still got to put this one aside. It's going on my shelves (as some would call it, a 'keeper'), because it's not bad enough to warrant being thrown out. But if/when I wish to trade some of my books at the used bookstore, I hate to say it, but Seeing Red may just be on the top of my (small) pile to go.

Until Next Time, ~TBQ~

REVIEW: "Marked by Passion"

Synopsis from B&N.com:

Out of the blue one day Gabrielle Sansouci Chin receives an ancient scroll that she discovers she was destined to protect. Her possession only means one thing...her father is dead. Gabe has no idea how she is going to balance her new responsibilities as a Guardian with being a painter by day and a bartender by night. Having just been contracted for her new 'Enter the Light' series, Gabe tries to handle it all. But it seems like her luck has run dry when she's ill-trained to take her proper place as guardian, having a dry spell at painting, and for some reason can't help but fall for Rhys Llewellyn, the sexy Brit who offers his help in more ways than one...

A new paranormal voice has hit the market, one that is sure to only get even better as the years go on! And instead of focusing on vampires, like (as others say/complain) a lot of the paranormal romances have been, Kate Perry's Guardians of Destiny Series focuses on a new aspect, a mix of old Asian lore and magic.

Marked by Passion provided a fresh new read, and one that kept me reading from morning to night just to finish! Not many books have that affect one me. Oh sure, I READ from the time I get up in the morning until I fall asleep at night (Excluding breaks, work, etc, of course), but all those hours of reading are not always on the same book. But this time, I didn't want to pick up either one of the other two novels I was working on at the time-- my full attention was focused solely on Gabe's life and sexy encounters with Rhys. (Two words: British Accent!)

Though this was Perry's first novel (for this series, at least), I never would have guessed. From page one, I was pulled into the story, and instead of being lost and confused for a few chapters, like you can be in some paranormal worlds, this one was instantly explained. Of course, Gabe wouldn't have even had to have dealt with this new life if her father hadn't been killed, and the sacred Scroll sent to her, but still. The characters were fairly strong, not weak and 2-D, and I enjoyed a lot of their witty banter and dialogue. The story just seemed to flow, and the characters (along with the relationships) evolved along the way.

Gabe, for example, wasn't some wimpy heroine, which I can't stand to have in a romance. Rhys was a good example of a gentleman. Sure, he gave her more than a fair taste of passion, enough to tempt her, but he held out, not only because of their growing affection (and eventual love), but also because he respected her. She use to be the kind of girl that didn't want commitment-- if she needed companionship, she'd date someone for a few weeks, maybe more for the occasional good relationship she found, and they'd both benefit from it, but she never wanted commitment from them, it was pretty much about sex. Rhys, I believe, realized this and wanted to show that they could have something more than that.

Of course, when they finally did get together, it was pretty steamy. Maybe not erotic romance material, but definitely not some tame excuse for a sex scene either! I think the best part of watching their relationship throughout the book was the sexual tension. Because he'd always refuse her, at least for the first 200 or so pages, their connection and sexual tension was so thick, you could cut it with a knife! This, of course, provided more than a few hot mini-scenes along the way, along with some interesting conversations between the two. To me, those things can sometimes be even better than the actual sex scenes, though don't get me wrong, the sex is (usually) a major element that I enjoy reading about,too.

Besides the romance, which was very well done, Marked by Passion also had a great plot line, fast-paced and interesting. Every time you'd think nothing more could possible happen, you'd be wrong. There was a bit of suspense, more than a few surprises, and the glimpse into the Guardians' world was enough to make me crave the next installment, which, sadly, will not be out until winter of 2010 (2010, can you believe it?!). As best-selling author, Jeaniene Frost, said in a review for Marked by Passion:

"A perfect combination of urban fantasy and romance!"

I second that, Jeaniene! That pretty much sums up the book in one short sentence, and I couldn't have said it better myself.

4.5/5 stars! I can't say enough good things about MP, it's simply a great paranormal romance, a new take from a genre that I've always loved, and I am anxious to read any future books from Perry, especially in this series! This one small taste of their world simple is not enough to whet my appetite, and I'm sure that you too will find that it applies to you after you've read the book. In my opinion, it might possible be on of the best 2009 debut paranormal series! Buckle up, and prepare for a fantastic ride with Gabe, Rhys, and all their friends and enemies!

Until next time,

~TBQ~

REVIEW: "Flirting with Temptation"

Title: Flirting with Temptation

Author: Kelley St. John

Rating: 4 stars

Summary:

Babette Robinson changes careers and lovers as easily as she changes hairstyles. But after losing her last job, she's beginning to see that her feather-to-the-wind mentality can be unsatisfying in the long run. She's been helping a string of friends solve their relationship problems, and when one pal points out to Babette that she could make a career out of curing people's romantic ills, she decides to dub herself "The Love Doctor" -- a match-mender-for-hire.

Living in Birmingham, Alabama, with its elite class of wealthy women, Babette has access to the ideal clientele, including the well-known Birmingham socialite Kitty Carelle. Having unceremoniously dumped her lover, Kitty now regrets her hasty decision and wants him back. Trouble is, the man Kitty seeks to recapture is none other than Jeff Eubanks -- Babette's ex! The carefree Babette of three years ago had written him off with a shrug, yet now she can't help remembering that he did give her the absolute best sex of her life...not to mention his charm, good looks, and brains.

To save her newfound career and prove she can stick with something--if not someone--Babette is determined to mend Kitty and Jeff's broken relationship, but Jeff has other plans. He was crazy about Babette when she suddenly bailed on their relationship, and after Kitty did the same he became convinced that no woman can ever commit. To prove his point, Jeff issues Babette a challenge: no flirting for a week, and he'll talk to Kitty. That is, if, after seven tempting nights on the beach with Jeff, it's still with Kitty that she wants him to reconcile.

Flirting with Temptation, one of the books that I recently received from a publisher (see my last post for my happy ranting!), was a pleasant surprise. As I've said many times before, I'm not usually into contemporary romances, chic lit, whatever tag you want to place on the books. My shelves are filled with mostly paranormals and historicals, and that's about it. When I venture into the 'other' genre of romance, it's not very often that I find myself enjoying the book. This is one of those rare ones that I found to be a fairly pleasant read.

Although the characters were not my favorite (For one, I had a problem with the heroine's name being "Babette". No offense to the author, who came up with it, or to any ladies out there with that name, but it just didn't quiet cut it for me. It reminded me of Babette, the neighbor from the TV series Gilmore Girls, and every time I'd see the name in the book, well, it just kind of ruined the 'sexy' effect for me), they were not horrible either. I just wish that we had been able to connect a bit more with them through the story, especially Jeff and Babette. It seemed like we found out only the bare minimum about them, and that was it. Of course, most of the people introduced in this book gave me a good chuckle now and then, but still, nothing very deep.

The story line was okay: not my usual thing (kind of tame, but, again, it's because contemps are not my usual cup of tea), but I didn't outright hate it. It had it's moments, and it gave the book a nice, lite feeling. I know that some think that 'lite' is a bad thing in a book, especially a romance, but that's not true. For the most part, when I say that a story was 'lite', I mean it in a good way. It's not heavy or complicated, and for some readers, that's just the kind of story they want. For others, it's a nice reprieve, a treat after a long hard day, or after a long stream of (choose your favorite genre and put it here). It's carefree, funny, and sexy.

While the romance may not have been the 'awe' factor that I have found in some of my all-time favorite ones, it was still very nice and sweet. (Rekindled love between separated lovers... Sigh. Brings back old memories, right?) The sex scenes were a bit few and far between (not always a bad thing, of course...) but the few (brief) ones that were in the book were nicely done. Not scorching, like an erotic romance, but not too mild either. I wish there had been a bit more, but the point of Jeff and Babette's story was to prove that, in the end, they had more than just "great sex" in their relationship, so I understand the reason behind the author's decision.

There are more than a few witty remarks in the book, and I chuckled at a few. Over all, it's a great, fast-paced romance. Perfect for warming up with during the mid-winter blahs, but also a good choice for poolside reading during the summer.

4/5 STARS! Kelley writes a wonderful contemporary, a sweet and funny take on a 'Love Doctor' and her story. I read it over Valentine's weekend, and it was a refreshing break from all of the fantasy world romances I've been reading, so I'm sure that it will prove to be a satisfying read for others as well.

Until Next Time,

TBQ

What Did I Receive?

I never thought this day would come... But it has! What day is that, you may be asking? Well, I'll enlighten you, shall I? (If you can't tell, I am just a wee bit excited, if that clues you in any!) From the first day I started this blog, I dreamed of it one day becoming as grand as a lot of my favorite blogs that I visit: a place where readers come to visit and chat, to read my reviews and rambles and just have fun. But not only that, I dreamed of a day when I too would be able to post and say 'Hey, look what I won/received to read!'. And I am proud to say that that day has finally arrived! Yes, my friends, today I received a big brown package on my doorstep. And what should be inside of that wonderful box? Why, four newly released romance novels for me to review! Now, if I had bought this books, well, it wouldn't be quiet so big of a deal for me. But no, these books came to me...FREE OF CHARGE. I won't go into details, but to briefly explain, I contact a publisher and asked if they would be interested (and kind enough!) to send a few books my way to review. I wasn't expecting a reply back, little loan one that said anything besides 'Sorry, but no!', so you can imagine my surprise when the very next day, someone answered back and said that they had a few books that were either coming out or that had just came out and wanted to know if they could send them my way. Needless to say, I wrote back quickly with my answer: YES! So here is the first of (I hope) many posts showing what books I received to review this week. I realize that this may be a fluke, at least until I get a bigger following, etc, on here where more publishers would be willing to send free books my way, but still, it's a step up, even if it's only a small one! What I Received:

Flirting With Temptation by Kelley St. John (Chick Lit)

Babette Robinson changes careers and lovers as easily as she changes hairstyles. But after losing her last job, she's beginning to see that her feather-to-the-wind mentality can be unsatisfying in the long run. She's been helping a string of friends solve their relationship problems, and when one pal points out to Babette that she could make a career out of curing people's romantic ills, she decides to dub herself "The Love Doctor" -- a match-mender-for-hire.

Living in Birmingham, Alabama, with its elite class of wealthy women, Babette has access to the ideal clientele, including the well-known Birmingham socialite Kitty Carelle. Having unceremoniously dumped her lover, Kitty now regrets her hasty decision and wants him back. Trouble is, the man Kitty seeks to recapture is none other than Jeff Eubanks -- Babette's ex! The carefree Babette of three years ago had written him off with a shrug, yet now she can't help remembering that he did give her the absolute best sex of her life...not to mention his charm, good looks, and brains

Kill for Me by Karen Rose (Romantic Suspense)

Five teenage girls have been murdered. One survived, and only she can reveal the secrets of a disturbing ring of people who kidnap and sell teenage girls on the black market. But those responsible for the crimes will do whatever it takes to maintain her silence.

Susannah Vartanian and Luke Papadopoulos have both sworn to stop the murderers for their own reasons. Susannah, the sister of the hero in SCREAM FOR ME, suffers from a mysterious past that is connected to the sinister black market. Luke is an investigative agent and a computer expert who refuses to let another child predator get away.

Susannah and Luke are instantly attracted to each other, but their troubled pasts prevent them from immediately acting upon their feelings. The case will lead them to the shady realm of Internet chat rooms, where anyone can mask their identity. As Susannah and Luke draw closer to the criminals, they discover a chain of deception so intricate they don't know who to trust. Susannah and Luke find comfort in one another's arms, but the killers are ruthless and determined, and will take extreme measures to insure their anonymity and keep their business intact.

Marked by Passion by Kate Perry (Paranormal Romance)

In this sexy but frustrating paranormal romance, the ancient and powerful Chinese scroll of Earth couldn't have found a more unwelcoming new Guardian than Gabrielle Sansouci Chin, a San Francisco free spirit who tends bar to support her painting career. Unfortunately, her title is inherited, so upon her father's death she gets the scroll. In spite of a sudden infusion of scary, unfocused power, the appeals of her dead father's spirit and the arrival of sexy treasure-hunter Rhys Llewellyn, Gabe dodges responsibility until nearly the end of the book, repeatedly-and repetitively-ignoring clues about the danger closing in on her and the patently obvious machinations of the villain. Perry's breezy writing style and steamy love scenes may carry some readers along, but most will feel like they're driving a car that's stuck in first gear

Seeing Red by Susan Crandhall (Romantic Suspense)

When teen Ellis Greene's cousin Laura was kidnapped and assaulted, Ellis bravely defied family who wanted to blame Laura's impoverished would-be boyfriend, Nate, and testified against the real culprit, Hollis Alexander. Now out on parole, Hollis bribes journalist Wayne Carr into reinvestigating the case and attacks the emotionally fragile Greene family. Nate comes back to sleepy Belle Island, S.C., and is drawn to Ellis, now a schoolteacher who's unable to open up to her longtime boyfriend, Rory. Yet the chain of events is not as obvious as everyone once thought, and the discoveries Ellis and Nate stumble on are likely to get them killed. Crandall keeps the tale taut and twisty, drawing a persuasive picture of a family distorted by unhealed grief and unrevealed secrets

Wow. Pretty good haul, for my first time!

Thanks again, Hachette Book Group!

Also, just thought I mention that either tomorrow or early next week I am expecting two more books, both of them are ones that I won in contests this past week. (I must be having some amazing luck, winning two contests so close together! One thing's for certain, I doubt it will happen again for a loooong time!). Those two books are:

Eternal by Cynthia Leitch Smith (Young Adult Fantasy)

and

Ride the Fire by Pamela Clare (Historical Romance)

Thanks again, Cynthia and Barbara for hosting those contests!

Okay, okay, enough 'subtle' bragging/happy time for me. I've got to run, get dinner started, and while the meat's cooking, I'm going to hurry and finish my current read, Desperately Seeking a Duke by Celeste Bradley so that I can start on Flirting Temptation. Chick Lit/Contemporaries are not usually my type, as I've said before, but I figure that I'll start there. Expect a review for it sometime this weekend or, at the latest, next week.

Hope everyone has a weekend. Thank God Tomorrows Friday!

~TBQ~

REVIEW: "Desire Unchained"

Desire Unchained by Larissa Ione

Pages: 384

Series: The Demonica Series (Book 2)

Summary:

Though some of the black market killers have been put down, the threat remains, weakened, but growing stronger. When Shade is captured along with an ex-lover who blames him for a terrible betrayal, he is forced to confront dangerous emotions that, if acted upon, could result in a fate worse than death.

When I received my copy of Desire Unchained in the mail, I literally stopped, right on my doorstep, and did a dance. Yes, a dance! I know, that sounds so odd and childish, but ever since I read the first novel, Desire Unbound, last year, I've been hungry for more! And believe me when I say that Desire Unchained delivered on all accounts!

In the first book, we were dropped straight into Ione's world, modern Earth, except for we're not alone. Shapeshifters, Witches, Demons, Vampires, and all sorts of other fantastical characters live in our world. For the most part, humans know about them, but they still don't flaunt themselves. Instead, they stick to the "Underworld's" of the area, tunnels and such below the city or hidden from the humans. The hospital that Shade and his two other brothers founded exist in one such area, hidden from the prying eyes of humans.

While the plot line, the intriguing characters, and the complex story development are a great part of the book, it's not the only part that made my fall in love with the series. It's also the very intense, sometimes graphic, but always satisfying *no pun intended, of course!*, sex. Along with the equally tender romance. Don't get the wrong impression-- it's not ALL about the sex in their relationship, though that part is definitely a big part of it. Personally, I enjoy the more erotic touches like this in my romances, but I know that some do not. If you fall into the later category, I'm sure that you could still enjoy this book, even if you have to flip through a few scenes.

The romance is fantastic, but it's not the only element that sticks out. There's a plot to it, a point besides just watching the H/Hr have hot sex 24/7. The suspense and action makes the reading interesting, not just sexy. I'm anxious for the next book, not only to find out Wraith's fate and story, but also to see what more could happen in this compelling paranormal world that Ione has created. I promise you-- just when you think that you have the story 100% figured out, nothing could possibly surprise you, a new twist in the story pops out, keeping you on the edge of your seat until the very end. And even then, it will only let you go, but it won't leave you entirely. You'll still find yourself thinking about the story, the characters and the world, anxious to return to it, but upset that you have to wait until the next book to do so.

4.5/5 stars! I can't stop raving about this amazing book! Heck, not just this book, but Ione's entire series! They're sexy, passionate, mysterious, action packed, humorous... I could go on and on! In short, they have everything you could possible ask for in a romance! I can't wait for her future books-- Ione is definitely an automatic author in my book!


~TBQ~


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Because I've done so poorly at keeping up with a weekly 'what I've read' post, I've been thinking about doing a monthly one instead. If I do, I'll probably just post the covers of the books, my rating, and the summary for them from B&N.com, simply because writing little reviews about 2o or so books at time is a bit daunting, and hard to do when a person is busy like I am. However, if I do decide to do a monthly one, I will still do the occasional review, like this one. Mostly for new books, or ones I really loved, and any that I happen to receive through contests or from publishers. Sound good to everyone? I hope so, because I really feel bad about not sticking to my weekly one like I said I would....

Eternal Grand Prize Giveaway Package

Again -- so many contest going on at once! WOW. Lol. Well, here's another one that may interest a few of you. It's for a teen fantasy novel, Eternal, along with various other prizes (see more info below). I personally love Smith's book *That may sound weird, but I can't say books: Eternal is her second one* and I am anxious to get my hands on Eternal, along with the third one in the series, which she is currently reading.

So head on over to the blog/site and enter. I hope the links all work, if they don't, I'm terribly sorry!!

Info:

Eternal Grand Prize Giveaway Package: in celebration of the Feb. 10 release of Eternal (Candlewick), author Cynthia Leitich Smith is giving away several prize packages, some including signed copies of the novel, tie-in T-shirts, finger puppets, stickers, guardian-angel tokens, and more! See details here.

Deadline midnight CST Feb. 9!

All Cynsational readers are eligible to win!

Cynsational Notes: Learn more about Eternal, check out the Eternal Readers' Guide (spoiler warning!). For those on MySpace, see my page, Tantalize Fans Unite! (a discussion group), and reader-originated character pages for Tantalize characters Quincie, Kieren, Ruby, and Brad, and the latest reader-originated page Tastefully Tantalizing

Pamela Clare Contest!

Wow--- so many contests so near each other! Here is yet another one I've found and that to let others know about. Again, it's not my contest, but I'm posting the information from the original blog, plus the link to the blog, below. Enjoy, and good luck! :D ~CONTEST~Since Pamela Clare happens to be such a sweet lady, she has given me the opportunity to offer one lucky reader autographed copies of both, Untamed & Surrender!! Just leave a comment on this post and you're automatically entered to win!! ~BONUS PRIZE~ Because Ms. Clare was so kind to offer these books, I would like to offer one as well :) Anyone who posts about this contest on their blog will automatically be entered to win the novel of their choice from Ms. Clare's backlist. All you have to do is let me know the when's and where's of the post! Contest ends February 10th. The winners will be chosen at random from the list of commenters and announced on Wednesday February 11th. Want to enter, or read the review about one of her newest books (not my review, Happily Forever After's)? Check out the link below: http://booklover125.blogspot.com/ Oh, and sorry that the pictures didn't show up for the books being offered, but they are on the blog linked above. TBQ

Anti-Valentine Day Contest!

No, I'm not holding the contest, but hey, who doesn't love a chance to win free books, right? Here's the basic information: Visit the blog (link below picture), save the pic to your computer then post it on your blog and link back to the original contest blog. Like always, leave a comment with both the website for your blog and your choices from the six books that you would like to receive if you won. Simple enough, right? For more details and information, and your change to enter, check out the link below! Good luck, girls!

CONTEST LINK: http://breezingthroughbooks.blogspot.com/2009/02/valentines-day-contest.html

TBQ

Possible ARCs to Come....?

(Possible) Wonderful news--- I may be receiving some pretty amazing ARCs and various books to review from a few publishing companies! If so, I will be putting aside some of the other books I am working on in order to read those ones and put up nice reviews for them-- not mangled and cluttered in with my 'read for the week' post that I've been doing lately, but on their own separate posts.

I'm excited! I've been wanting to make my blog more about advanced reviews, but I've had a hard time getting copies of books ahead of time. We'll have to see how it works out, and if it's going to be a semi-regular thing or not, but either way, I'm still very eager to get started!

I feel like my blog will have more of a purpose and be more informative, more entertaining, when I am providing reviews for books that are not yet out, compared to books that have been reviewed already hundreds of times across the blog-o-sphere (not that there is anything wrong with this either, but I hope you understand what I mean..)

I'll post and update if I do get the books, and if I do, I'm thinking of doing a 'What I got in my Mailbox' just to let you know what books you can be expecting reviews of in the near future. Sound good? I hope so!

Oh, and by the way, while I'm on the topic of posts and reviews, I do not believe that I am going to do a post on the books I read the last week of January. Sorry, but if you wish to know more about which ones I read, what they are about, and the rating I gave them, you can always check out my LT account, Shelfari account, GoodReads account, etc. I will, however, be posting next Sunday/Monday for the books I finished the first week of Feb.

Until next time,

~TBQ~