April 27, 2010

Guest Post by Tracy Cooper-Posey & a Giveaway

I'm happy to Have Tracy Cooper-Posey here today. Her historical Romance Diana by the Moon was re-released this year (you can read my review here) and she is here today to tell us why she loves Historical Romance. Please give her a warm welcome and be sure to check out the giveaway at the end of the post.


Why I Will Never Give Up My Historical Romances.

I first was drawn to historical romances because of two things. One was, absolutely, the dresses. A woman looks so much more womanly in some of the dresses she gets to swan around in, depending on which historical period you get to write in. And with her breasts and waist emphasized the way most of history seems to have made of point of outlining them, you can hardly blame heroes for wanting to slide their hands around a pulled in waist and peer down at an enticingly corsetted snow white — and usually heaving — bosom. Low rider jeans just don’t cut it in comparison.

This factor doesn’t always work, though. Lord knows, my heroine in Diana By The Moon seemed to go out of her way to look anything but enticing, but she certainly had her moments when Alaric was brought to an astonished halt, and those moments simply could not have happened in a contemporary novel. You don’t get long white gowns and crowns of flowers on a regular basis these days.

These days clothing is merely a form of personal expression, but what a woman wore had so much more meaning and implication back then. While I’m not a huge fan of Regencies, they’re a perfect example of how the wrong attire can utterly ruin a woman’s reputation in one disastorous outing.

The other point of historicals that I love that you can’t get in contemporary romances is the political/suspense storylines. Because the story is set in an historical time period, there will be historical events affecting the lives of your hero and heroine, and those events are usually dramatic and highly emotional. There are events and settings you can only get in the annals of history. Wars where the women were forced to stay and home and send their men to fight them, or where the war came to the women’s doorsteps while the men weren’t there to defend them. Periods in history when women were chattels and moved around political chessboards like strategic peices, to be married and sold off for political gain. Eras where superstition and religion ruled society or simply standing in the wrong place at the wrong time could cost you your personal freedom.

There’s so many delicious story possibilities throughout history when men can be really heroic and even women can be strong and brave, yet still melt into the arms of the men who come to love them (while wearing those gorgeous gowns, of course)...why would anyone want to give up stories woven around all those possibilities?

The historical romance market might be dying, but it’s not dead yet and I’m personally doing my best to keep it breathing, one book at a time.

Why do you love historical romances?

________________________________
Diana By The Moon

HISTORICAL ROMANTIC SUSPENSE
He is Arthur’s man. His duty is his life. She fears and mistrusts him. The only way they will survive is to work together.
Finalist, Emma Darcy Award.
___
Excerpt

“There was definitely a child standing on the wall, sir.”
Alaric nodded. “Yes.”
“And the fields have been tilled recently,” Griffin added.
“Badly,” added Rhys, ever the cynic. “Look at those rows! I could plow a straighter furrow blind drunk with a poxy bull in front of me.”
“You know that from experience, of course.” Griffin grinned.
Rhys swiped at him with his fist but Griffin had already moved his horse out of the older man’s reach.
Alaric smiled at their banter, then turned his concentration upon the villa ahead and the hill behind. The peak was a rocky plateau thrusting out of the tree line. It was perfect for his needs.
He looked back at the villa. He’d have to cajole the owner into cooperating.
Rhys pushed his horse level with Alaric’s and nodded toward the villa. “Looks Roman.”
“Yes.”
“Course, round these parts you couldn’t throw a stone without hitting a Roman.”
“True.”
“You want to explain to me what Arthur had in mind, sending you of all people in among the thickest congregation of Romans in Britain? Mithras!”
“Arthur knows what he’s doing. He doesn’t explain himself to me.” Alaric looked straight into Rhys’ eyes. “And that’s the last time I allow you the freedom to question Arthur’s orders. Clear?”
Rhys looked away. After a moment he nodded his grizzled head. “Clear,” he said roughly. “I apologize.”
Alaric clapped him on the back. “Good man.”
They reached the gateway. “They aren’t afraid of much. No gates!” Griffin commented.
“They had gates all right,” Rhys said dryly. “And they’ve had their share of trouble too.” He spat on a pile of discarded timber and iron as they passed by. “Those gates were breached by a battering ram or I’m the son of Lucifer.”
Their horses’ hooves echoed flatly in the deserted yard. As the rest of the company filed in Alaric looked around. The courtyard was about a hundred and fifty paces a side. An ancient gnarled oak skulked in the front corner. In summer it would spread welcome shade but now it hunched darkly against the iron-gray sky, dripping tears from an earlier shower.
“Sir!” Griffin whispered, drawing Alaric’s attention. The boy nodded toward the house proper, lining half of the yard. Ten paces from the graceful columns bordering the tile verandah stood a young girl. Her huge eyes were wide with shock.
“She looks ready to bolt at the slightest noise,” Rhys said quietly.
“Where is everyone else?” Griffin asked, puzzled.
“Scattered,” Alaric replied. “If they’ve had trouble before, they’ll be wary about armed men approaching them.” He looked behind him. “Stay here,” he told his men. “If we panic her we’ll never find the rest of the household. Griffin, Rhys, come with me.”
He slid down from his horse and threw the reins to one of the men. Griffin and Rhys followed him.
Alaric moved toward the girl. Closer, he saw that fear kept her pinned down—pure terror. There was no curiosity at all.
“We mean you no harm,” he called out as he reached her. He lowered his voice. “Where are your kin, child?”
She gave no answer. From between her legs urine trickled and puddled at her feet.
Rhys gave a snort of disgust. “For Mithras’ sake, we’re not going to eat you, girl!”
At the sound of Rhys’ gruff battle-roughened voice, the girl’s eyes rolled up and she fell to the ground in a tired, boneless heap.
“Dear god!” Griffin whispered, horrified. “You’ve killed her!”
Rhys cleared his throat. “I did no such thing!”
“It’s all right. She’s simply fainted or some such thing.” Alaric pushed his sword aside and crouched down to check the girl was still breathing. In repose her face was irresistibly beautiful. Flawless, as only a child’s could be before life stamped its lines and markers.
Before his reaching hand made contact there came a piercing, alarming cry from inside the house. It was a war cry.
Alaric leapt to his feet as Rhys and Griffin both drew their swords.
From the far corner of the verandah came a tiny man in trews and tunic, a knife in his upheld hand, his face contorted with rage. He raced along the verandah, leapt onto the dirt and ran toward them. Alaric knew he was protecting the child—he thought they meant the girl harm.
He was almost upon them before Alaric thought to draw a weapon, so astonishing was the idea that this little person would attempt to attack fully armed soldiers.
Griffin and Rhys stepped in front of him. When the man leapt, Griffin, the taller, caught his knife hand and Rhys, the heavier, buried his elbow in the man’s stomach, snapping him over and pushing the wind from him.
And a long tightly bound skein of hair swung over and brushed the dirt.
“Hell’s hounds…it’s a woman!” Rhys gaped at the woman hanging between Rhys’ and Griffin’s grip on her arms. She was trying to draw in air with temporarily stunned muscles, her head hanging down.
Rhys and Griffin looked accusingly at Alaric, their expressions both guilty and defiant at once. Alaric knew what they were thinking. How could you let us hurt a woman like this?
Alaric pondered on what to do. The woman had plainly meant him harm and she had been armed too. As he wavered, she breathed in noisy jerks and that decided him.
“Rhys, sit her on the ground. Griffin, move the little one out of the damp air.”
Rhys lowered the woman until she was seated while Griffin picked up the unconscious child and took her under the verandah roof.
Alaric crouched in front of the woman. She leaned on one hand, holding the other to her chest. Prudently, he kept his hand on his knife hilt.
“Don’t fight to breathe,” he told her. “Relax and it will come. If you fight, it will take longer.”
She understood, for her shoulders lowered as she followed his instructions. Her breath immediately eased. It shallowed but drew easily.
“Stay seated,” he advised her. “You’ll be dizzy for a moment or two.”
She nodded, keeping her head lowered.
“We’re friend, not foe…you understand?”
Again, the nod.
“Where is everyone else?”
“Hiding,” she said, her voice low.
“I need to speak to the head of the household. Who owns this estate? What is his name?”
“The owner’s name is Diana, daughter of the late Marcellus Aurelius.” She looked up then. She had eyes the same deep blue hue as the sky late in the evening, the blue rimmed with black. Eyes startling in their strange coloring. She looked straight into his. “You speak to me.”

_________________________

To buy Diana By The Moon, click here.


Don’t forget to leave me a comment! I love to chat!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Giveaway
Tracy offers your choice of one of her backlist to one lucky commenter (you can take a look at those here).
To enter just tell us:
Why do you love historical romances?
or
Why you don't.
Open to everyone and the giveaway will end on Sunday, 2. May.
I will draw the winner on Monday when I get back home from my classes.
Good Luck everyone!

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Test for Backposting!

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April 26, 2010

Review: Diana by the Moon by Tracy Cooper-Posey

Description:
Diana -- a fiery kitten of a Roman woman, who hides a terrible past, and struggles to lead her people on a desperate quest for survival against famine and Saxon raids, unable to trust anyone.

Alaric -- proud Celtic warrior and trusted lieutenant to the upstart British leader, Arthur, who must overcome his hatred of Romans if he is to fulfill Arthur's ambitions in the north.

A haunting tale of two lives touched by the coming of King Arthur, and two hearts & souls struggling to come together against odds as great as those against Britain itself. Only together will they survive, or else be sundered...forever.

Review:
I received this book as a review copy from the author and I have to admit I was not sure if I would like it at all. My skepticism is rooted in my prejudices concerning historicals. I'm super critical with those and often only expect the typical clichés. Yeah, I know that this totally wrong and there are good ones out there but that's what I think before I start reading one. I just can't seem to find a positive attitude concerning this genre and yes it makes is even harder for this genre to earn my praise. But enough about me and back to the book at hand.

The story is about Diana, a Roman girl living in Britian around King Arthur's time. Her life was hard to say it nice. Nightmarish horrible would describe it more accurately. The story starts with a big bang, a really bad one. I felt so bad for Diana and her sister Minna and I wasn't sure if I could stand reading more of this story. I know that this time was rather harsh but I'm always not very comfortable reading about war and even worse rape. I'm a wimp and I know it but these are things I just can't stomach. I don't want to say to much just it's not described directly so it was more bearable for me. I really felt for the girls and I wanted a HEA for them.

Alaric is a warrior at heart. He also had a rough past and has his own prejudices to battle. He is send to Diana's property on Arthur's command and he's not very happy about that. He wants to fight for the cause of freeing Britain and unite them. He's headstrong and knows how to give orders but he has to learn to be a little more sensitive around Diana.

The lovestory between this two developed rather slow. I noticed that I really got impatient with this. I wanted them to just accept that they want each other but they both are way too stubborn for that. The whole relationship is rather tame through the whole book and this disappointed me a bit but it could be that I'm just getting greedy smut-wise. I loved the way Tracy handled the whole rape thing. It felt real and I would have hated it if she would have handled it differently.

The plot was okay but I have to say nothing exceptional. It was entertaining the whole time but I think a little twist here and there would have made it so much more. One thing I found rather surprising was that all the characters talked normal. No strange old accent, they just said everything the way people talk today. It's not that I miss that but I was something I expected of a historical or is that me and my prejudices again? I was aso a bit disappointed with the end. I wanted it to be more of a HEA as it was.

All in all I enjoyed Diana by the Moon. It exceeded my expectations and was heart-wrenching from the start till the end. A thoughtful book  that really handled this topic adequately.


To learn more about Tracy and her books please visit her website here.


Read other reviews @goodreads. Buy the book @Ellora's Cave


Tracy will be here tomorrow with a guestpost and a giveaway. So be sure to come over!

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April 18, 2010

Winner of Eva's Last Dance by Teal Ceagh

Just came back in from a birthday party and I remembered that I promised to draw a winner today. So actually it's already Sunday here but I won't tell anyone....or perhaps I just did. LOL

So without further babbling here is what Mr. Random.org told me:

There were 15 items in your list. Here they are in random order:

Minx
mrybelle
Cheryl
flchen1
Christine
Esther
Robin K
annalisa
Stella Price
mbreakfield
tetewa
supernatural
skyla11377
Cathy M
Fiction Vixen

Timestamp: 2010-04-17 21:53:29 UTC

Okay that just made me laugh! See posting Gargoyle stories seems to impress the master of randomness.
Congrats hon. Will try to catch you on twitter!

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

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April 15, 2010

A Review, an Interview and a Giveaway


Hey all!
My classes started again for real this week and I have to admit I'm a bit stressed. Hopefully I just need a bit time to adjust to being a student again. I only had 2 free weeks but I kind of got into the staying up late and sleep in till after noon. I will try to find kind of posting schedule again. Just need to find the time somewhere.
I did a review of The Devil's Playground by Jenna Black at Book Lovers INC. So as you can see I was not THAT lazy. Here the link.
We also have an interview and giveaway with Maya Banks up(still running till Saturday). You can read and enter it here.


Hope you all have a great day!

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April 9, 2010

GuestPost by Teal Ceagh & a Giveaway

Please welcome today Teal Ceagh also known as Tracy Cooper-Posey. Her new book, Carson's night, was released this month and she is here to talk about why she chose Gargoyles to play an important rule in this book. She also has a little surprise for you at the end so stay tuned. Give Tracy a warm welcome


Gargoyles as heroes? Werewolves are bad enough.


Even when I was running a separate site for Teal Ceagh and, as I mentioned somewhere else, being myself “with the volume turned up,” one of my enduring themes on www.TealCeagh.com was vampires vs. werewolves. Even then, werewolves came a poor second.

I tried very hard to give the furry ones a fair go. I invited a lot of lycanthrope-inclined authors to guest with me and try to explain why fuzz was better than fangs. Tielle St. Claire and Katie Allen stepped up to the challenge, but I confess I’ve never seen the appeal.

Lately there’s been murmurings that vampires must just finally wither and die in the popularity stakes. My agent nearly fell off her chair when an editor said she wasn’t taking any more urban fantasy on board for just now, recently. That’s almost scandalous. Is this a hint that the time of vampires is coming to an end?

The more interesting question is, if it is, what would we vampire authors all write about, if they were to die out at last?

I put this question to my husband when we were idly sitting about musing over the fanged creatures who have supplied so much material for my books in the last couple of years. As Carson’s Night is about 1) vampires, 2) demon hunters and 3) gargoyles, and the gargoyles were his idea in the first place, he suggested, with his chest puffing up, that I use gargoyles as my next fantasy heroes.

Ugh. Eeewwww. I mean, gruesome.

He just blinked at me while I dry heaved. He didn’t get it at all. He pointed out that there was a really, really good series that had been done in the early eighties where the gargoyles had been the good guys. True, it had been animated, but I was writing novels, so that wasn’t a problem. The series had had character stars like Jonathan Frakes and Marina Sirtis from Star Trek: The Next Generation supplying the voices, even.

And while I stared at him, he rattled on enthusiastically about how these really cool gargoyles had gone around save the world as we know it, and how I should write these books using gargoyles as good guys and heroes…

Have you ever really looked at gargoyles? There’s no way you can pretty them up to even look pettable, let alone sexy. I write erotic romance. I’m good, but I’m not that good. There’s no way I could pull off a story about a human and a gargoyle that would even begin to sound convincing.

There’s a reason I haven’t tackled a werewolf story yet…I don’t think I could write one that would ring true. The thing about erotic romance is, if the author isn’t one hundred percent authentic it shows immediately. In normal romances, you get away with a certain amount of tongue-in-cheek because you’re not that intimate with the reader. But in erotic romance, you’re right up there, with no clothes to hide behind, so you’d better be open, honest and unquestionably the real deal, or you’ll hit the wall inside three paragraphs.

So while I’m sure there’s a really, really smart and creative author out there who will figure out one day how gargoyles can be used as the next generation’s romantic hero, I don’t think it’s going to be me.

But I do wonder what we’re all going to write about when vampires are finally persona non grata. What do you think will be the next big thing in fantasy?
___________________
Carson’s Night by Teal Ceagh
It’s August 1977 in New York City and the weird sculptor Moss Alex Meinhardt lies dead at the foot of an ugly gargoyle he’s half-completed. Natalia Grey’s demon hunter father is also dead, and his new partner, the astonishingly sexy Carson Connors, can’t remember how it happened.
Carson isn’t sure what role he has played in Natalia’s father’s death, but after one look at Natalia, he does know that guilty or not, he’s doomed.
Natalia must take up her father’s sword and her heritage as a demon hunter and figure out what happened this night, for the gargoyles Meinhardt carved have life they should not have without the help of dark forces she and Carson must defeat—once the gargoyles have risen, of course. But the night is hours away yet…

Excerpt


Carson Connors heard the murmur and flicker of light that meant the return of the vampires and stretched his shoulders and neck. They ached from being held in the same position for so long, forced that way by his wrists, which were bound by rope that was secured to a wall strut. The rope wasn’t cruelly tight, but firm enough to keep him contained at this end of the warehouse. He didn’t blame Sherwood for such a precaution. If it had been him, Carson would have done the same because under these circumstances he was a risk. Perhaps now they could sort this out. He glanced over to approximately where Peter Grey lay, a black shadow in the dark and unformed guilt touched him again.
What had happened here tonight?
No matter how he probed or tried to recall the events of the night, nothing came. No memories formed. There was simply nothing there, no associations to provoke the next event in the chain. He’d broken sweat trying to bring forth the memories and…nothing.
That produced sweat of its own.
He watched the light draw closer. So who was it the two vampires had rushed out to bring in as a consultant on this? Some heavyweight hunter? Peter James Grey had been one of the best and Carson himself was no slouch—he’d been building his reputation in the field, anyway—and couldn’t think who Nicholas Sherwood would be able to scare up in the greater New York area in late August at a moment’s notice that would be able to help the great Nick Sherwood figure this out.
The two reached him and Carson could feel his heart seize and his cock stir. Sweet Jesus, his mind murmured as he stared at her. She was quite simply beautiful, with perfect symmetry. Her face was heart-shaped, her eyes a stunning sea green with dark lashes and strong dark brows, and pillow-soft lips the color of apricots. Her skin was flawless. He had the insane urge to taste it, to slide his tongue along those cheekbones and nibble the corner of her jawline and that slender neck rising out of the Dark Side of the Moon tee shirt. Full breasts lifted the tee shirt and the belt pulled the jeans in around a waist that looked like he could put his hands around it. Indecently long legs hid beneath flared jeans. He’d have those off her. Very soon.
Then he realized with an almost painful start of awareness exactly where his thoughts and gaze were. He dragged, pummeled, tore his gaze back up to her face. Licked his lips.
She was staring at him. Her lips were parted softly and she was breathing quickly. Knowledge…awareness…it was there in her face. She saw exactly what he was thinking. It was as clear as if she had spoken. And she was not offended. She wanted it.
His excitement spiked again. He clenched his fists, feeling the rope chafe and his cock and balls throb painfully. He was suddenly hot, way too hot. He’d do anything to be able to take off his coat, the coat of his trade.
He made himself look at Nicholas Sherwood. “I can’t remember what happened, but I know I didn’t cause Peter Grey’s death.”
She flinched and suddenly he realized who she was. Grey’s daughter. The genetic traits were there, once you looked past her beauty. Grey’s strength was there in her stubborn jawline, her clear-sighted way of looking. And her green eyes. This was why Sherwood had brought her in. The inherited business. He looked at her. “You must believe me,” he told her.
“We’ll find out,” she assured him.
He was impressed. It would have been easy enough for her to simply believe him, to trust her instinctive reaction to him, but she wouldn’t allow herself to do that. She would trust only evidence because she knew she was vulnerable right now.
She hefted the sword on her shoulder and let the point drop to the concrete to rest. “Do you know who Moss Alex Meinhardt is?” she asked.
“Sure.” He shrugged. “He’s that weird sculptor nut who carves giant gargoyles.” “Gargoyles,” Nicholas breathed. He looked up at the roof. “And it’s dawn.” He put the lantern down abruptly and reached into his coat. “And the demon brings them to life.”
“What demon?” Carson asked.
There was a low, reverberating swoosh overhead. Then another.
He pulled out a knife and sawed through Carson’s bonds, freeing his hands. “No time.”
“I’ll get Damian,” the girl said.
“No, I’ll get him. I have no need of light. You take Connors and the lamp. Get your father’s body. Take all of them back to my apartment. It’s warded against the demon.” And abruptly Sherwood was gone, leaving the girl and her long sword apparently in charge.
There was another low swoosh overhead, then a more alarming sound, the crash and tinkle of glass and wood breaking as a roof caved in.
“Come with me,” the girl said. She picked up the lantern and began to run.
Carson threw off the last of the rope and followed and despite the knowledge that there were giant gargoyles pouring into the building, that his partner lay dead and he didn’t know why or how, that a demon was on the loose and bent on mischief and that two vampires were seriously pissed at him for all of the above, he only seemed to be able to focus on the sweet sway of her ass as she ran and how much he want to cup his hands around each cheek.
He knew that no matter how tonight’s events played out, he was doomed anyway.
_______________________

To buy Carson’s Nightclick here.


Don’t forget to leave me a comment!  I love to chat!


*~*Giveaway*~*

Tracy offered to give a copy of Eva's Last Dance to one lucky commenter.
All you have to do is ask Tracy a question

or 

tell us your opinion about her post.

Giveaway ends next Friday, April 16th.
(winner will be announced that weekend)

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April 8, 2010

Review: Succubus Shadows by Richelle Mead @Book Lovers INC

Hey all!

Just wanted to drop a message that my Review of Succubus Shadows by Richelle Mead is up at Book Lovers INC.

Here's a link.

Hope you all have a great day!

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April 7, 2010

Review: Carson's Night by Teal Ceagh

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

carsonsnight_msr Description:


It’s August 1977 in New York City and the weird sculptor Moss Alex Meinhardt lies dead at the foot of an ugly gargoyle he’s half-completed. Natalia Grey’s demon hunter father is also dead, and his new partner, the astonishingly sexy Carson Connors, can’t remember how it happened.

Carson isn’t sure what role he has played in Natalia’s father’s death, but after one look at Natalia, he does know that guilty or not, he’s doomed.

Natalia must take up her father’s sword and her heritage as a demon hunter and figure out what happened this night, for the gargoyles Meinhardt carved have life they should not have without the help of dark forces she and Carson must defeat—once the gargoyles have risen, of course. But the night is hours away yet…

Review:
I received this book as a review copy from the author and was really curious about what Teal has come up with.
First thing I noticed was that this book is really short. My ARC copy has only around 60 pages and I was not sure how much I would like that. You know, I really love a good backstory and all the build up in a relationship: like developing trust and the morphing from simple attraction to love. I was not completely disappointed in that area but I won't say that it was perfect either. I think a few more pages would have made this book so much more.

But let me start at the beginning.



Tally is a demon hunter and the first thing we learn about her is that her dad has been murdered. It's a rather harsh start for a book but I won't tell you too much about it. As I mentioned it's a short book and I always feel like I'm already giving away too much. Tally is a strong woman but she is not afraid to show her emotions. I found that rather astonishing for a demon hunter. I'm not sure if it's such a good trait for someone who's life depends on being strong and hard to read.


On the other hand we have the mysterious Carson who's her dads Partner and was found by his corpse. Tally is suspicious about him at the start but her immediate attraction to him pushes her reservations into the background. I found that rather odd. I'm not sure if I could muster any attraction for the guy I'm accusing of being responsible for my dad's death. He could look like Hugh Jackman all he wants and I wouldn't care.
One leads to the next and we get some muy calliente scenes. This part was really hot and I have to say I forgot all the above mentioned problems at that point. *wink*

 

 



The story around the murder is nicely woven and the solution at the end was okay. I found one thing a bit odd on the way but I can't tell you what without spoiling the book.
All in all Carson's Night is an entertaining Paranormal Romance with a gripping plot and a hot relationship.



To learn more about Tracy(that's Teal's real name) and her books please visit her website here.


And Tracy will be her on Friday with a guestpost and a giveaway. So be sure to come back on Friday.
Buy the ebook from Ellora's Cave

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April 5, 2010

Review: Dear Sir, I'm Yours by Joely Sue Burkhart

Description:

This professor’s final exam includes a spanking.
There’s no house restoration too challenging for Rae Jackson, a.k.a. “The Fix-It Lady”. There’s no fixing the past, though. Like the day she left college. A semester of flirting with her English professor ended when he spanked her to the best orgasm of her life. Afraid of her own eager willingness to comply with the sexy dom’s commands—no matter what—she fled.
Yet not even five years can dim her memory of his masterful touch.
Conn never forgot the one student who gave him a big fat “F” on the greatest test of his life. After all these years, he’s still haunted by his uncharacteristic loss of control. When he finds the very object of his shame—and desire—crawling around under his grandmother’s house, he swears to do anything to win Rae’s trust.
Rae finds herself helpless against Conn’s slow seduction. Exactly the way she likes it. Instead of poetry, this time she learns the erotic pleasure to be found in bondage…and submission to the sexiest professor alive.
Warning: Explicit sex, spanking, light bondage, a crazy old lady who talks to ghosts, and one lethal pink parasol.

Review:
As always I'm totally biased all thing concerning Joely so be prepared for my rave.
I read DSIY for the first time last summer after reading a fabulous review by Pearl. I started with the free prequel Letters (you can find that one here) and I was hooked from the start. What makes this book so special to me is all the emotion Joely put into this book.  How did she do that? I think I have to explain that in detail.

Rae is a strong woman afraid to lose herself in a man, especially Conn. She lived through a really bad marriage and still fights the consequences this left behind. She didn't see Conn for 5 years but she always thought of him. She wrote him many letters, explaining how she feels and what happened in her life. She never send one of them and I can so understand why. It's hard to bare your soul to someone else and Rae doesn't want to be that vulnerable. I adored every single one of her letters. Reading them feels like grabbing Rae's diary and taking a long deep look into her soul. The letters are so raw and heartfelt that I sometimes felt like intruding into her personal space. But nosy me doesn't mind that. *wink*


Conn on the other hand has a goal the moment he lays his eyes on Rae again: making it work this time. He is such a wonderful character: caring, loving and dominant with capital D. Conn knows what he wants. But even more than that he knows what he doesn't want: to hurt Rae or to make her run again. He is determinant to do everything what needs to be done to make Rae understand what he, his attraction to her and his sexual preferences are about. He takes his time to make her see the difference between submission and losing herself is. He shows her what kind of power a submissive holds over her Dom. I think this books describes this relationship in such a loving way that you just can't close your eyes against it.

The relationship buildup was lovely and spiked with a joke here and there and even some pop quizzes to lighten the mood. I loved how they both acted around each other when the first insecurities where diminished. I could see the adoration in Rae's eyes and I could feel the temperature rising when Conn saw his love.


The scenes between the sheets came after a rather long really hawt wait but they totally made up for that. And OMG the poetry was gorgeous. I would have never thought that something like that could be that sizzling.

I also enjoyed reading about the wonderful side-characters. Ms. Belle the more or less crazy lady who talks to her dead husband and solves murder cases in her free time or the math professor with love for swordplay.

All in all Dear Sir, I'm Yours is one of the best books I read in 2009 and it's already on my all time favorites pile. The love story is sweet, thoughtful and heartbreaking in the right mix with witty conversations, laugh-out-loud moments and scorching hot one-on-one encounters. You could never understand what's the gist of BDSM is? Read this book and you will get at least a fundamental understanding of it. Highly recommended read!

To learn more about Joely and her books please visit her website here.


We also have an interview with Joely @Book Lovers, INC today. You also get a chance to win a signed copy of Dear Sir, I'm Yours there.
And Joely will come over for a little surprise visit to The Geeky Bookworm this week too.

The Connagher Series:
1. Dear Sir, I'm Yours: reviews @goodreads, dual review with pattepoilue & me @BookLoversINCbuy ebook @BooksOnBoardbuy paperback @amazon (release tomorrow)


2. Hurt Me So Good(Victor's book): TBD 2010

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April 2, 2010

Review: Original Sin by Allison Brennan

Description:

Haunted by chilling memories of demonic possession and murder, Moira O’Donnell has spent seven years hunting down her mother, Fiona, whose command of black magic has granted her unprecedented control of the underworld. Now Moira’s global search has led her to a small California town that’s about to become hell on earth.
Tormented by his own terrifying past and driven by powers he can’t explain, ex-seminarian Rafe Cooper joins Moira’s dangerous quest. But Fiona is one devilish step ahead. Hungry for greater power, eternal youth, and stunning beauty, the sorceress is unleashing upon the mortal world the living incarnations of the Seven Deadly Sins.
Together with a demonologist, a tough female sheriff, and a pair of star-crossed teenagers, Moira and Rafe are humanity’s last chance to snatch salvation from the howling jaws of damnation.

Review:

I received this book as a review copy from Meryl L. Moss Media Relations, Inc. and started it in February. As you can see it took me forever to finish this one. Here are a few reason why I think this is not my kind of book:
1. The beginning of the book confused me. All the background information you get is scattered through the story line and I had problems trying to keep up. It felt like a bit too much from time to time. 
2. I don't really like Moira. Always a bad sign for a book. For me it felt like Ms. Brennan doesn't want us to like Moira or perhaps Moira is just not a person I would like. Moira doesn't even like herself. Perhaps it was just too dark for me.
3. This book is written out of so many POVs and it was way too many for me. I can live with 2 or 3 but here we have way too many for my taste. And I have to admit I didn't really like characters. Rafe was okay but his appearance was too late to save the book in my eyes.
4. I thought this book was categorized as paranormal romance but it's not really one. Not enough romance for my taste. I would call it urban fantasy if it would play in a bigger city. I'm not sure which genre it really is.

Okay now to the things I liked and enjoyed:
1. The mystical background was intriguing and I liked how Ms. Brennan created the world itself.
2. Rafe is wonderful character. I really enjoyed his part in the book. I wanted to figure him out and why all that stuff (won't say what cuz of spoilers and all) happened to him.
3. The end was thrilling and I devoured the last 100 pages or so.
All in all I was a bit disappointed that I didn't like the book as much as I thought I would. I read so many great reviews. But after all it's good that we don't all like the same things or this world would really be boring.

I would recommend this books to lovers of dark urban fantasy who like this genre even without a big romance in it.



To learn more about Allison Brennan and her books please visit her homepage here.

You can read other reviews of Original Sin @
GoodReads.


You can buy the book @BookDepository

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April 1, 2010

My March Reads

March was a fantastic reading months for me. Unfortunately not so good for writing review but I can always try to catch up. LOL As if that ever worked but I can at least tell myself I will.
This month I will try to restrain myself to a 140 character summary of each book. We will see how that works out.
Here's what I read:

1. Taking Care of Business by Megan Hart & Lauren Dane

I love these 2 authors and I enjoyed this book. I liked Kate's story best and Dixon is 1 of my BBFs now. I'm not usually a big fan of dirty talk but OMG this was fantastic. Great read to relax from exams.Hot!
2. No Reservations by Megan Hart & Lauren Dane

This one was even hotter than the first one. I enjoyed the girls together and I REALLY enjoyed them together with the boys. *wink*  A bit short but I can forgive that!
3. Death's Mistress (Dorina Basarab, #2) by Karen Chance


This one was a bit disappointing. Not enough Louis-Cesare for my taste. But the story was action packed and a thrilling ride from start to end!
4. Original Sin (The Seven Deadly Sins, #1) by Allison Brennan

 
This was no book for me. I took me forever to read! The story started really slow but the last 100 pages were okay. Didn't feel for the characters! Sometimes that just happens!

5. Tempted by Megan Hart (re-read)



I re-read this one cuz Naked (Alex's book) will be out this summer. I lurve this book ! he characters are real and I just couldn't put it down! Hot comfort read!
6. Dear Sir, I'm Yours (The Connaghers, #1) by Joely Sue Burkhart

I totally adore this book. Great characters, great poetry and heartfelt letters. I will write a full review for this one this weekend! Ohh, and I wrote a dual review with pattepoilue about it over @BookLoversINC
7. Moonlight Ménage (Lucani Lovers, #2) by Stephanie Julian

Great ménage book with a believable relationship and great researched background. A fast read that will leave you hot and in grace need of a cold shower! You can read my full review here.
8. Flash of Dark (Rebirth #1) by Sara Brookes

 
This book was a mix of paranormal urban fantasy with a hero that reminded me of Roarke. Fast paced read with a lot of action and internal struggle. Will write a full review soon.

9. Beauty and the Feast by Julia Rachel Barrett


This was one will make you hungry, and yes I'm the durty and the literal one. I devoured the pages in this one but perhaps it was a bit to much about eating for me. ;)
10. Colters' Woman by Maya Bank


This one was really not my cup of tea. Too fast in the relationship development and too slow in the story part. We have the perfect virgin again and I just couldn't enjoy it. I have a giveaway for this one here with my full review.
11. The Devil's Playground (Morgan Kingsley #5) by Jenna Black

 
This is the last book in the Morgan Kingsley series and that fact alone makes me so sad. I love this series! The book was fast paced again but in my opinion it definitely needs more durty demon action. Full review to come next week!
  
Okay I cheated a bit with 140 characters but this way I'm way faster with writing this post!

Hope you all had a great reading month too!

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