Friday 56: Naked by Megan Hart

The Friday 56 is hosted by Storytime with Tanya:

Rules:
* Grab the book nearest you. Right now.
* Turn to page 56.
* Find the fifth sentence.
* Post that sentence (plus one or two others if you like) along with these instructions on your blog or (if you do not have your own blog) in the comments section of this blog.
*Post a link along with your post back to this blog.
* Don't dig for your favorite book, the coolest, the most intellectual. Use the CLOSEST.

I'm currently reading Naked by Megan Hart. The 5th sentence is short so I'm doing the whole paragraph:


I shifted the plastic bags in my two fists and led the way up the stairs to my own door, unlocked it and pushed it open. "Thanks. You can put the box over there on the dresser at the foot of the steps."

Review: And One Last Thing... by Molly Harper

From the Publisher's website:
"If Singletree's only florist didn't deliver her posies half-drunk, I might still be married to that floor-licking, scum-sucking, receptionist-nailing hack-accountant, Mike Terwilliger."

Lacey Terwilliger's shock and humiliation over her husband's philandering prompt her to add some bonus material to Mike's company newsletter: stunning Technicolor descriptions of the special brand of "administrative support" his receptionist gives him. The detailed mass e-mail to Mike's family, friends, and clients blows up in her face, and before one can say "instant urban legend," Lacey has become the pariah of her small Kentucky town, a media punch line, and the defendant in Mike's defamation lawsuit.

Her seemingly perfect life up in flames, Lacey retreats to her family's lakeside cabin, only to encounter an aggravating neighbor named Monroe. A hunky crime novelist with a low tolerance for drama, Monroe is not thrilled about a newly divorced woman moving in next door. But with time, beer, and a screen door to the nose, a cautious friendship develops into something infinitely more satisfying.

Lacey has to make a decision about her long-term living arrangements, though. Should she take a job writing caustic divorce newsletters for paying clients, or move on with her own life, pursuing more literary aspirations? Can she find happiness with a man who tells her what he thinks and not what she wants to hear? And will she ever be able to resist saying one . . . last . . . thing?
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I love Ms. Harper's "Nice Girls Don't" books. Her characters are fresh and funny with the paranormal twist thrown in to make them "keepers" for me. When I heard she was writing a contemporary I was thrilled. And One Last Thing... did not disappoint! I was drawn in from the first page and loved every minute I spent reading this book.

The main characters were endearing and the kind of folks I'd love to hang out with in real life. Lacey Terwilliger is witty and funny, even in the face of the betrayal of their marriage vows by her husband. Her e-mail newsletter was hysterical and became one of those stories you have to look up on Snopes.com to see if it is really true. This was not a "woman scorned publicly embarasses her husband and makes him pay" kind of book. I mean, yeah, that did happen, but there was so much more. And One Last Thing... was snarky and smart and very well written. And the romance - Oh!!! Her hunky neighbor, Lefty Monroe is delicious. Monroe is just the right mix of aloof and adorable, sexy and sensible. The chemistry between Lacey and Monroe sizzles.

Reading this book, I felt like I was there with Lacey, watching her work out her emotions and try to get past the pain of betrayal. I wanted to help her sort out her feelings for Monroe. I wanted to have drinks with her brother. I wanted to meet Monroe's parents. I wanted to tell off her cheating husband and his bimbo secretary (see, I'm still a little emotional!). Lacey and I could be besties, I just know it!!!

This is exactly the kind of book that made me fall in love with Contemporary Romance. I found myself noting quotes of great scenes on almost every page. I'm currently looking at elementary schools for my kids in Ms. Harper's district so I can move in next door - yup, I've officially graduated from fangirl to stalker.

My rating:

This book was provided to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

I'm baaaaack......

We got in LATE last night. I'm tired, sick, and have to go to work.

Funnest. Wedding. Ever.

I haven't had time to even go into our camera (battery died halfway through reception) but here's a taste:

The bride and groom dancing to the El Mariachi song from the movie Desperado (yes, they had a real Mariachi Band at the reception!):

Hope you all had a great week!

Hasta la vista...baby!!!

By the time you read this, hubs will be done yelling at me to get off the computer and into the car!

Yup – it’s vacation time – that time of year when you’re stuck in the car with the ones you love, desperately trying not to kill them.

We’re off to see my brother and his lovely fiance' tie the knot, and do some touristy things in Mexico.

I don’t think I’ll have internet access, so I’ll see you all next week!!!


(Aaaannnndddd I screwed something up and lost all my buttons, so I guess I'll be re-collecting bloggy buttons when I return...grrrr!)

Review and Twitter Party: Linger by Maggie Stiefvater

From the author's website:

This is the story of a boy who used to be a wolf and a girl who was becoming one.

Just a few months ago, it was Sam who was the mythical creature. His was the disease we couldn't cure. His was the good-bye that meant the most. He had the body that was a mystery, too strange and wonderful and terrifying to comprehend.

But now it is spring. With the heat, the remaining wolves will soon be falling out of their wolf pelts and back into their human bodies. Sam stays Sam, and Cole stays Cole, and it's only me who's not firmly in my own skin.

________________________

I recently succumbed to all the rave reviews and read Maggie Stiefvater's Shiver; it blew me away (review here). I was thrilled when I received a copy of the 2nd book in the trilogy, Linger, for review. For some reason, it took me a bit to get into Linger, but once I did I was hooked. I'd say Linger has two storylines going on: Grace and Cole.

Linger picks up a few months after Shiver left off - Grace and Sam are still together and things are pretty much in a routine. Grace goes to school, Sam works, and at night the sleep together in Grace's room, unbeknownst to her parents, and Isobel is now a part of their small circle of friends.

Grace has started getting headaches and then fevers and nosebleeds; which would be a regular part of life except that she's never been sick before. She feels strange, and is pretty sure she knows what the problem is - she has the same strange scent as the dead wolf she found in the woods. Sam is starting to accept the fact that he has a future, and won't acknowledge that Grace is sick. Together they spend a large part of the book ignoring it. Grace and Sam finally admit to each other that there is a problem, and the solution is iffy at best.

As far as Cole's story - I didn't like Cole at first. He was self-absorbed and irritating. As the story progressed and he spent time with Isobel, I began to like him a bit more. It's weird how two egocentric characters could bring out sympathy in each other. I'll be curious to see how (if?) both of their characters grow in the next book.


Linger felt a bit more fragmented then Shiver, but I think this may have been the author's intention. One of the things I liked about Shiver was that Ms. Stiefvater titled the chapters as temperatures, conveying the sense of urgeny in the story. In Linger, that's not an issue anymore; it's almost like instead of urgency you feel almost a sense of resignation? defeat? inevitability? at both Grace's illness and Cole's attempts to escape his demons.

So, all in all, I enjoyed Linger very much. I love the way Sam thinks in lyrics and poetry; it's one of my favorite facets of the book. Although the events at the end of the book were not a surprise to me, the way the book ended was a surprise - and now I am anxiously awaiting the third book, Forever (out in July 2011).


I enjoyed Linger and give it 4 out of 5 fleur-de-lis:


This book was provided to me free of charge by Scholastic in exchange for an honest review.

____________________

• 
  Join Linger author Maggie Stievfater and Kristi of The Story Siren for a Twitter party Thursday, July 22, between 8:00 and 9:30 p.m. EST!
  
  ~Be sure to follow Maggie @mstiefvater and Kristi @thestorysiren before the party!
  
  ~Join the fun! No one expects you or your tweets to be perfect; we’re just happy you made it to the party!
  
  ~Anyone who tweets during the party using #Linger is entered to win a limited edition Linger tank top!
  
  ~Watch for questions from @thestorysiren and win awesome prizes including an iPod Touch, Maggie’s artwork and gift cards!
  
  ~To join the party, you can use our official party tweetgrid or just search #Linger on Twitter.
  
  ~Ask Maggie questions or chat with other partygoers—just use the tag #Linger in all of your party tweets! (This is added automatically in TweetGrid.)
  
  ~Please don’t post any spoilers and don’t forget to pay attention to the time zones, the party starts at 8:30pm EST.

Does this blog design make my butt look smaller?*

*It does, doesn't it?

Just a quick post to show off my new look - I think it's pretty fab if I do say so myself!

Parajunkee is a miracle worker!!! If you heard any thumping or groaning over the last few days, no your house isn't haunted, that was Parajunkee banging her head against her desk and groaning, because I promise you I am no html master and peppered her with a gazillion questions :) I know she's pretty well-known for her dark looks, but I think she did a fabulous job with my requests - light and uncluttered.

Thank you Parajunkee for my fabulous new look!

Third Time's a Charm....(new Shiver winner!!)

I did not hear from the previous winner of the copy of Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater, so I've picked again:

Christie (The Fiction Enthusiast)

Please contact me at bookaddictpatti at cox dot net with your mailing address to claim your book!

Congratulations!

Review: Crimson Moon by J.A. Saare

From the author's website:
Trueblood vampires. Those set apart from commons by right of blood. Graced with extraordinary abilities such as telepathy, clairvoyance, and precognition - they are the most powerful and feared among their kind. The secret lies within, a legacy evolving from the truest form of magic, and their living bloodlines are the key.

An average routine morning is exactly what twenty-year old Emma Johnson hopes to avoid when she visits Joe’s Café for a steaming cup of coffee and freshly made donuts. She’s jaded by her small town, the community that has ostracized her, and the empty house that symbolizes what her life has become; a hollow shell. Yet things are not entirely as they appear, and Emma is about to discover she isn’t the normal girl she once believed.

After she is rescued from a horde of demonic bloodthirsty creatures by Caleb, the most captivating and enigmatic person she has ever met, she struggles to accept the unimaginable truth he imparts. That he has been dispatched by the Father she has never known, a powerful vampire from the house of DeViard, to see her safely home. For Caleb is also unique, a werewolf procured to protect the invaluable royal bloodlines from harm.

Soon, the undeniable connection Emma and Caleb share evolves beyond mere attraction into something more substantial. But their time together is short lived, forced to an end when she is sent to the trueblood vampires that claim her as one of their own.

________________________________

I recently read Dead, Undead, or Somewhere In Between by J.A. Saare and thought it was pretty good (even if I was less than enthusiastic about the ending - my review is here). Right after I finished, I won a copy of Crimson Moon (which I believe is Ms. Saare's first published book?) from Fiction Vixen.

I loved this book!!! I couldn't put it down - I stayed up until midnight reading, read through lunch at work and started reading as soon as I got home again!

Emma is an easily likeable character - curious and not afraid to ask questions but not annoying at all. She is not strong or kick-ass, especially not compared to the creatures she suddenly finds herself surrounded by, but she's smart and adapts quickly to her new situation.

Caleb is absolutely delish! He's just the kind of male character I like - strong, sexy and posessive, but not obnoxiously so - he's got a sweet and sensitive side too. He did make one decision that I didn't agree with, but he did rectify the issue so I can't stay mad at him :)

The secondary characters in this book were also enjoyable - Caleb's friends Derek and Sarah were a fun couple (maybe they'll get their own book? *hinting @J.A. Saare). And on the vampire side Trent was great - at first I didn't want to like him but he slowly won me over with his persistence and attitude.

Crimson Moon is almost like two books in one - the first half is Emma's escape from the zombie-type kidnappers and her blossoming relationship with Caleb, the second half is her journey to meet her father and the events that unfold while she's there. The end of this book was very, very satisfying. My frustration with a certain character was wiped away by the Epilogue.

I give Crimson Moon by J.A. Saare




Many, many thanks to Fiction Vixen and Ms. Saare for giving away this book!!

Be A Smutty Researcher!!!

Leontine over at Leontine's Book Realm is spreadin' the Smut over the next two weeks (hey - is that a fortnight?) - l@@k what she's got going on:




SMUTTY RESEARCHERS AT PLAY giveaways:

July 19th: Column - A gal and her smut + the grand 'Research the Smut' Giveaway: a 30 dollar Gift Certificate to any e-book store I can buy a GC

July 20th: Guestblog - Smutty approved book characters by KC from Smokinhotbooks Giveaway: Copy of The Darkest Lie send to you by the author (For US only)

July 21st: My first time story & an excerpt + Giveaway: a novel from Joey W Hill's backlist send to you by the author.

July 27th: Guestreview - Lorelei James, Raising Kane by Janna from Erotromreader + Giveaway: E-copy giveaway of a Rough Rider novel by choice.

July 28th: Guestblog - A guide into the smut by @Ferishia + Giveaway: A copy of Demon’s Fire send to you by the author.

July 30th: Interview with R.G Alexander about her upcoming release, Possess Me + Giveaway: $ 10,- Gift Certificate to Amazon given by the author.

The rules for each giveaway:

 You can assume each giveaway is international unless states otherwise. Author’s have been extremely generous but even their generosity has limits sometimes!

 Every [meaningful] comment you make on a blogpost with a giveaway attached will be an entry to that particular giveaway. So if you make 3 comments, you will be entered 3 times.

 I will announce all winners to each giveaway on August 4th, you are personally responsible for contacting me with your snail mail or e-mail information.
___________________________

Oh, Leontine - you know I am so there! Who can resist the smut?!?

Random (Twilight Saga) Thoughts

When I went to meet some LA/TX blogger peeps in June, I decided the best way to kill three hours in the car would be to listen to Twilight on audiobook. Since then, I've continued to listen when I'm in the car and am now on Breaking Dawn.

Couple of thoughts:

---> If Bella had decided to ditch Edward, or Edward had died *gasp*, or something else had happened to ensure Bella and Edward didn't get together, would Jacob have imprinted on Bella? Since Bella/Edward wouldn't be together there would be no Renesmee. Would whatever "magic" that affects the wolves' imprinting have known that fate had changed and act accordingly?

---> I've said this before but can't help thinking it again: Every time I get to the tent scene, when Jacob comes back and kisses Bella "for realz", I think about Renesmee growing up, and Jacob telling her "You kiss better than your mom." *ewwwww!*

--->There was a very funny parody on livejournal that two girls did about a year ago and I can't remember where it was. They did parodies of Edward keeping a chart of Bella's breaths at night, Edward requiring starch in the laundry and having a "swear jar", Emmett taking Renesmee to Best Buy and playing video games, but I can't remember much else. Did anyone else ever see this?

Pieces of Happily Ever After Winner!

The winner of my giveaway of Pieces of Happily Ever After by Irene Zutell is:




Ashley!

Congratulations! Please e-mail me at bookaddictpatti at cox dot net with your mailing addy so I can get this out to you!

If I do not hear from Ashley by Friday I will pick another winner.

I got nothin'....oh - maybe....nah,... nothin'.

Not in a reading funk, exactly - but things are so busy around here I'm not getting much reading done. I've been reading the same two books for a week - a week!!! Anyone who knows me knows that's unheard of.

I'm going on vacation next week - my last unmarried brother is getting married - yay! The bride is a lovely young lady who originally hails from Mexico, so the wedding is going to be in Texas (where her mother and sister live) and the reception will be in Mexico (so her extended family can celebrate). I'm looking forward to this vacation, although I don't think there will be much relaxing - it's a 12 hour drive (driving with hubs and 3 kids will make it feel like a 12 DAY drive, LOL) and we're breaking it up into two days - 6 hours to Houston, where we'll spend the night with my brother and SIL (in their new house!), then we'll all drive the remaining 6 hours to the wedding destination.We'll stay 3 days, then split the drive home again.

The whole family is in the wedding party, so I'm hoping we'll get some nice family photos while we're there. My poor kid #3 - we don't have any pictures of her on the walls (she's 3, soon she'll start noticing!) All I can say at this point is I hope Mexico has enough tequila, 'cause I'm going to need a lot!!

Oh - please check this post - I still have two unclaimed books that I'll repick on Friday if I don't hear from you *eyeballing EYRE and CASS * !!!! Send me an e-mail at bookaddictpatti at cox dot net so I can get your book out to you!!!

Super Saturday = New Winners!!

I didn't hear from the previous winners, so I've picked new Blogaversary winners - that's lucky for:

Shiver:
Cass
Touched by an Alien with signed swag:
pattepoilue
Signed copy of Infinity:Bookaholic (Jessica)
Fortunate Harbor:Eyre
Congratulations winners! You have until Thursday to contact me at bookaddictpatti {at} cox {dot} net or I will announce new winners on Friday.

Review: Dead, Undead, or Somewhere In Between by J.A. Saare

From the author's website:
One bad corpse can ruin your whole day. No one knows that better than Rhiannon Murphy. She’s left behind the flash and sass of Miami for the no-nonsense groove of New York City, eager for a clean slate and a fresh start. A bartender by trade, a loud mouth by choice, and a necromancer by chance; she’s managed to keep her nifty talent hidden from those around her – until now.

The deliciously good-looking vampire Disco knows her secret, and when he strolls into her bar to solicit help investigating the mysterious disappearances of his kind from the city, she discovers he’s not the kind of person that appreciates the significance of the word no.

But in a world where vampires peddle their blood as the latest and greatest drug of choice, it’s only a matter of time before the next big thing hits the market. Someone or something is killing vampires to steal their hearts, and unlike Rhiannon, this isn’t their first stroll around the undead block.
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Rhiannon Murphy is a bartender who has an unusual talent - *cue weird kid whispering* she sees dead people. Even within that talent though, she is special...she can see the "twice-dead", or vampires who have died again.

Someone or something is killing vampires, and sexy vampire Disco appeals to Rhiannon to help. She doesn't want to get involved with vampires, but Disco tells her it's an offer she can't refuse. As Rhiannon gets more involved in the mystery, she also gets more involved with Disco. And my-oh-my do they are hot, hot, hot. I loved the scene where he marked her.

Disco introduces her to Ethan McDaniel (who she calls Goose), who is also a necromancer, but he cannot see the twice-dead. He's agreed to teach her about her gift and assist her in finding out whats happening to the vamps. I liked the student/teacher relationship Rhiannon has with Goose, he was as calm and cool as Rhiannon was tense and closed

There's a nice mix of plot, sexytime, and action, and it was well-written. The story moved along and kept me interested; I didn't have the urge to skim forward to the next scene. I had a bit of trouble at the beginning trying to figure out who was who and how Rhiannon initially got involved with vamps, but after I went back and re-read it I was okay. My only real complaint was the ending. I didn't like it, I don't usually enjoy books in that type of setting. My hope is the author has a way out of it...

I give Dead, Undead, or Somewhere In Between 4 stars.


Note: I don't know about the kindle version, but if you get the paperback version there are some typos - such as calling Ethan - Nathan, and switching conscience for conscious. I know this is not the author's fault.

Review: Good in Bed by Jennifer Weiner

From the back cover:

For twenty-eight years, things have been tripping along nicely for Cannie Shapiro. Sure, her mother has come charging out of the closet, and her father has long since dropped out of her world. But she loves her friends, her rat terrier, Nifkin, and her job as a pop culture reporter for The Philadelphia Examiner. She's even made a tenuous peace with her plus-size body.

But the day she opens up a national women's magazine and sees the words "Loving a Larger Woman" above her ex-boyfriend's byline, Cannie is plunged into misery...and the most amazing year of her life. From Philadelphia to Hollywood and back home again, she charts a new course for herself: mourning her losses, facing her past, and figuring out who she is and who she can become.
____________________________________


I picked up this book on a whim, I saw it at B&N in the sale aisle but didn't buy it. I went back later and it was already gone - then I saw it on Paperback Swap and said "what the heck".

I think this book falls under the category "Women's Fiction", because it's not exactly a romance and not exactly "chick lit". What it is, is a very good read. I wasn't going to review this book, I read it just to read, but days later it's stuck with me.

The storyline is that Cannie is a plus-sized woman who's recently "taken a break" from her boyfriend of 3 years, Bruce. He gets a job at a Cosmo-type magazine, and writes a relationship column. His first column, titled "Loving a Larger Woman" causes Cannie to see red. (Honestly, where I can see how she might be a bit insulted, I thought it was a very insightful article. But I digress.) Soon after, his father dies, and they end up together after the funeral. Cannie has joined a weight-loss study, and during one of her appointments she finds out she's pregnant. Bruce doesn't exactly step up to the plate, and Cannie's story is one of perseverance and love of friends and family.

This story never got boring - I was constantly intersted in what was going to happen next. Between her lesbian mother's constant suggestions that maybe she "try the other team" and Cannie's snarky rants at her weight-loss doctor and her brush with Hollywood, her heartache at her father's rejection, and her pathetic ex-boyfriend. The storyline has highs and lows, but Cannie's wit and humor temper the sadness (okay, one scene had me crying...if you've read this book you know which one). But it does deliver a very satisfying HEA.

Here's the thing: I don't know what Jennifer Weiner looks like, but she "gets" what it's like to be an overweight woman, and how it affects every aspect of your life. I'm really, really impressed. Except for the "Daddy issues" she could have been pulling straight from my brain. As I skimmed the book looking for quotes, I realized it wasn't just one or two things, it's the nuances and the way Cannie communicates and views the people around her.

I really enjoyed this book for different reasons than I thought I would. My rating:

And yet another winner!

The winner of the ARC copy of Fortunate Harbor by Emilie Richards is:







Erika Lynn!!!



Congratulations! E-mail me by Sunday at

bookaddictpatti {at} cox {dot} net and I'll get that right out to you!



If I don't hear from the winner by Sunday another winner will be drawn.

Do I know you? Have we met before?

I gorged myself on Shelly Laurenston last month. I'd read a few of her "Pack" books (shapeshifters) previously and in June managed to get my hands on a few more. I'm usually a stickler for reading a series in order but apparenty these are very popular books and so I've been picking them up piecemeal.

The most recent book I read, "When He Was Bad" is actually two stories, one by Ms. Laurenston, and one by Cynthia Eden. Ms. Eden's story has Miranda Shaw as the heroine. She's a human who falls in love with a shapeshifter.

Here's where I'm confused: I thought Miranda Shaw was Mitch Shaw's sister? Mitch Shaw the lion. Am I wrong? Ms. Eden wouldn't write a story in the same book as Ms. Laurenston and use the name of one of Ms. Laurenston's characters, would she? (Okay, I just spent half a day meticulously going over Ms. Laurenston's website. I think Mitch's sister is Marissa, not Miranda. But still, that's pretty close, right?)

Which leads me to this: Do you have trouble keeping track of characters in a series? (Let's just not even mention Anita Blake, okay? I can't remember who's been where with her from one page to the next - with her books you'd need a diagram on those clear sheets so they can overlap each other)

Most series I'm okay, if it's the same basic characters recurring (for example, Charlaine Harris' Sookie books or Rachel Vincent's Shifter series). It's when the H/H switch in each book that I tend to get confused. Using Ms. Laurenston's books as an example, there's the lions (the Shaws, right?), the jackals, the wolves (the Van Holtz?), the wild dogs, the bears....I guess I should have read them all in order *sigh*, but I love these books and didn't want to wait!!! And each pack interacts with each other, so it's not like their in separate "worlds".

The other thing that gets me, obviously, is when the character names are similar. Don't give me an Alex, Aaron, and Andrew all in the same story. I just can't do it!!!!!!! I'm all "OMG, Yvette is sleeping with her boyfriend's cousin? No, wait, that isn't the cousin, it's the neighbor, no wait..oh, that IS her boyfriend. Oh, okay."

I wish authors would put diagrams of their characters relationships/families on their websites. Just sayin'. (I've actually seen one author do this but of course it was a series I didn't care for, damn it!)

How do you keep them straight? Do you really care or do you just enjoy the book you're reading at the moment and not worry about the rest? Are there any series that you just can't remember who's who?

We have winneeeeerrrrrrsssss!!!!!!!

First I'd like to say thanks to everyone who entered - I enjoyed the comments very much :)

So, without further ado, here are the winners:

Shiver:
katsrus

Touched by an Alien with signed swag:
Cherry

Signed copy of Magic Bleeds:
Joanna

Signed copy of Crux:
Lea

Signed copy of Infinity:
SmashAttack


Congratulations winners! You have until Wednesday to contact me at bookaddictpatti {at} cox {dot} net or I will announce new winners on Thursday.

Update: Winners have until Friday to contact me or I will pick new winners on Saturday.

Don't forget - I'm still giving away a copy of Fortunate Harbor by Emilie Richards (enter here - ends today) and Pieces of Happily Ever After (enter here - ends July 12)!

June Wrap Up - again

(Whoops! Apparently I forgot to move the post to today, so it showed up as having been done a week ago. I don't know how to move it without losing the comments,so here it is again!)

Wow, June was a great reading month! I discovered a few new-to-me authors I'm currently stalking ;) Here's the rundown:

1. Touched by an Alien by Gini Koch (5 stars!)
2. The Hell You Say by Josh Lanyon (4 stars)
3. The Wolf Next Door by Lydia Dare (4 stars)
4. Masked by Moonlight by Nancy Gideon (2 stars)
5. Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater (5 stars!)
6. Necking by Chris Salvatore (4 stars)
7. Skin Game by Ava Gray (3 stars)
8. Fortunate Harbor by Emile Richards (3 1/2 stars)
9. Kiss of Death by Rachel Caine (3 stars)
10. Saving Francesca by Melina Marchetta (5 stars!)
11. The Beast in Him by Shelley Laurenston (3 stars)
12. The Mane Squeeze by Shelley Laurenston (4 stars)
13. Pieces of Happily Ever After by Irene Zutell (3 1/2 stars)
14. Jude in Chains by KZ Snow (4 stars!)
15. When He Was Bad by Shelly Laurenston/Cynthia Eden (3 stars)
16. Knight of Passion by Margaret Mallory (3 1/2 stars)


AND True Blood started again! Woo Hoo!! I'm so thrilled, although Vampire Bill is already getting on my nerves....

Also in June I traveled to Lake Charles to meet 3 other bloggers (my SIL Hannah, Cecile from All I Want and More, and Hell Kat from Paranormal Fantasies). We had a great time and I'm looking forward to seeing Cecile and Hannah again over Labor Day weekend for the Writers for New Orleans event - I contacted the New Orleans area bloggers I'm aware of, but if anyone else lives near New Orleans - think about going!!


Lastly, I received a couple of awards this month:

Julie over at Yummy Men and Kick Ass Chicks gave me an award - and a very cool award it is:


1. As with any other blog award, you should post it and mention who presented it to you along with a link to their blog. 2. You must then award it to 2 to 5 other bloggers that you have been following for some time and that you find inspirational to your blog. You may want to mention why you chose them, but it’s not necessary. (Feel free to award it to someone who has already won it. They should know how many people are inspired by their work. If you’ve won it before, you don’t have to pass it on again, but you should still mention who gave it to you.) 3. Contact these 2 to 5 bloggers and let them know that you have granted them the “You’re My Inspiration blog award”. (There may even be tears of joy involved…okay, maybe not.)
Who are my inspirational bloggers? There are so many but here are a few:

1. Blodeuedd - she reads such a varied selection of books, her reviews are interesting and she's always so friendly.
2. Cecile - Cecile has got to be the friendliest Book Blogger I've ever met! I don't think there's anyone in the community that doesn't smile when they hear her name.
3. ALPHA Reader - I'm not going to say anything about her because I think at this point I'm a borderline stalker. Okay, I will admit I wish I could write reviews like this chick - she's very, very good.
4. Parajunkee - Parajunkee is a NOLA blogger, so she's got that going for her, but aside from that she's very friendly and I love her helpful posts - I've made several improvements to my blog that I would not have been able to figure out without her.
5. Lea - Lea's got a great blog and I like her reviews. She's friendly with everyone, and Tori is adorable!


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And Christine over at The Happily Ever After Blog gave me this award:



The Award Criteria: This award is awarded to those bloggers who: 1~post almost every day, if not every 2~reply to every comment that's posted 3~just down right LOVE blogging! The Award Rules: Share one extraordinary thing that's happened to you then pass this award to 5 Xxtraordinarly bloggers.

One extraordinary thing that's happened to me, hmmm...that's harder than it sounds! Okay, meeting my husband and having my wonderful children is a given. I'm going to go with something else and say - meeting all you wonderful Book Bloggers! I have a very reserved personality, and am therefore very shy, but being able to "meet" you all online - and talk about books, no less - is something I never would have imagined happening. It's very special to me.

And five bloggers I'm passing this on to:
1. Pattepoilue at One Book Away From Heaven
2. Sullivan McPig at Pearls Cast Before A McPig (I'll admit I'm a lurker but love the posts!)
3. Larissa at Welcome to Larissa's Bookish Life
4. Monroe at Monroe with a Twist5. Tynga over at Tynga's Reviews (she's always got something going on!)


Oh - how could I forget? June 13 was my one year blogiversary! I've done a few giveaways - the last one is ending today - and will announce those winners next week!

So, my June was awesome - how was yours?

Review: Knight of Passion by Margaret Mallory

Knight of Passion is not your typical boy meets girl, boy wants girl, heaving bosoms and flirtations ensue story.

As the story opens, Jamie and Linett are young an in love/lust with each other and have been able to arrange a tryst in an empty room in the castle. Jamie doesn't know Lynette has arranged for them to be caught so that she might escape her father's promise of her virginity to Sir Guy, a snake among men. Naturally Jamie is devistated by her deception and leaves.

Five years later, we meet Jamie again, on his way to the castle to offer his protection to the newly widowed young queen. He meets an old man who's Lady is in trouble. As Jamie steps in to assist, he realizes the Lady is Linette. He hasn't forgotten her over the years, but her betrayal still stings. Lynette is on her way to see the Queen - a good friend. Of course Jamie and Linette end up spending time together, which neither of them wants. Jamie wants to find a nice, well-behaved wife while he's at court. Linette wants revenge against the person or persons who swindled her grandfather when he got to senile to realize he was being cheated; his death left Linette and her twin brother destitute and alone.

Lynette and Jamie keep ending up together and act on their passion,which has not quelled during their time apart. They agree it's temporary but exclusive. In reality Jamie wants to marry Linette but knows he must broach the subject slowly, building up to it so as not to scare her off. Linette doesn't want to be controlled by a man - she is single minded in her need for revenge.

Linette is the angriest heroine I have ever read in a historical romance. I was just as upset as Jamie that she would not give up her revenge for his love. I wanted a HEA for these two so badly, and every time it seemed they would get together, some clue would come up and Linette would go chasing it, leaving Jamie behind. I will say this about Jamie - he was not some pushover who waited around once he realized where Linette's intentions lay. Once he decided Linette was not going to give up her revenge, his courtship of Agnes was quite funny. Not to worry, for those of you who need a HEA - Ms. Mallory does deliver!

The secondary characters were quite engaging - the Queen was a bit of a ditz but you couldn't help but feel badly for her situation. Jamie's squire Martin was adorable - I hope we get to see him in a future book!

I know this review has rambled a bit - I didn't even get to the devil worshippers or the political intrigue! And, I totally guessed the wrong villian :)

As angry as Linette was, and as frustrated as I was with Linette and Jamie's lack of communication, I did enjoy this book. I give Knight of Passion 3 1/2 out of 5 stars!

I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.