Oldies but Goodies

About Oldies but Goodies
Sometimes old books can get a little lost in blogland among the piles of ARCs and new releases. So every week on a Sunday, we're going to be focusing on an old favourite - a book that was published at least 5 years ago and deserves to be recognised.

How to Participate
If you would like to participate, please feel free to leave a comment with your favourite Oldie but Goodie or leave a link to a blogpost you've done on the topic using the Mr Linky at the bottom of the post.

THIS WEEK'S OLDIE BUT GOODIE:

Title: Dead Until Dark

Author: Charlaine Harris

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Copyright: 2001

Pages: 292

Synopsis: Don't think this is necessary but just in case you DON'T know what Sookie is all about....Sookie Stackhouse is just a small-time cocktail waitress in small-town Louisiana. Until the vampire of her dreams walks into her life-and one of her coworkers checks out....

Maybe having a vampire for a boyfriend isn't such a bright idea.

A fun, fast, funny, and wonderfully intriguing blend of vampire and mystery that's hard to put down, and should not be missed.

Why I love it: Okay so I only started reading Urban Fantasy last year but this was the book that made me fall in love with the entire genre. I know that every man and his dog has read the Sookie Stackhouse novels but when I realised that this book was initially published in 2001 I was astounded! Here I was thinking Charlaine Harris was some sort of overnight success but I couldn't have been more wrong! Obviously these books had gained a big following before I heard about them and the True Blood series has just spiked the popularity of these novels through the roof (that's how I was introduce to Bill, Sookie and *sigh* Eric).

I loved this novel for so many, many reasons. It was a little book that packed a big punch - I sped through the pages one afternoon, completely absorbed by how different it was to anything else I'd ever read. I loved how the author stuck to tradition for most of the vampire mythology and how Sookie was so unique and battled such hardship throughout the novel. She really was a girl I could cheer for! It had me laughing, crying and completely engrossed.

Whose Team are you on: There remains but one question for fans of this series - who do you want Sookie to end up with? Bill, Erik or Sam?

I sit on the Sam/Erik fence. I think that Erik is one hot vamp but could Sookie really have a future with him? She can't exactly grow old with him and Charlaine Harris has already said she will NEVER turn Sookie into a vampire. I also think for all of Erik's depth of character, he is still to flighty to give Sookie any sort of permanent commitment.

Sam......Sam is gorgeous and as loyal as the Collie he shifts into. I don't think Sookie and Sam have ever really had their day. I think he's the only character in the series that can actually offer Sookie a future and a chance at a normal life with a family of her own. For Sookie's sake, I hope that's who she ends up with.

Just for fun, there's a poll running on the sidebar where you can officially cast your vote :-)

The below video is an interesting video interview with Charlaine Harris where she discusses her writing process, the TV series and other cool things about the books. It's about 6 mins long:

True Blood the TV Series: The highly anticipated Season 3 premieres on 3 June 2010. I cannot wait! Didn't Season 2 end on such a cliff-hanger!

The big question fans of the TV Series are asking is will Erik and Sookie hook up in this season? **Please please please please please!** Alan Ball's official answer to this question is below:

'I can’t tell you if they’re going to get together, because that’s going to ruin the anticipation. But, if you’ve been following season two, he’s definitely been doing things to make her more vulnerable and more susceptible to him. And he does want her, he’s just not sure why. I think it’s deeper than just, “I want her because Bill Compton has her.” Although that’s part of it, because Eric is a total alpha-dog.'

What a tease! I'm thinking that means yes. Here's my favourite scene from Season Two...you know, the dream scene between Eric and Sookie (safe to play in public):

Book 10 - Dead in the Family: The official release date for the latest Sookie Stackhouse novel is May 2010. I can't believe this series is up to 10 books already!

For everyone who was hanging on the last word of Book 9 - Dead and Gone - this wait feels excruciating. If you can bear it, here's the link to the opening chapter of the next book in PDF format: Chapter One of Dead in the Family

PS A big congratulations to Alaine - Queen of Happy Endings who became a Grandma yesterday!

Visit Annie @ Reading, Writing & Ranting

Ruby's Slippers by Leanna Ellis

Series: Ruby’s Slippers

Genre: Christian Chick Lit

Copyright: 2009

Pages: 320

Rating: 3/5 Crowns

Synopsis: “Dottie Meyers, 35, is a real-life Dorothy Gale living with her little black dog on a small farm in Kansas that’s about to be hit by a tornado. Knocked unconscious by the storm, she awakes three months later at a recovery facility in California where her father, last seen when she was four, has left her a mysterious pair of ruby slippers.

But unlike The Wizard of Oz, this isn’t a dream, and the yellow brick road journey that Dottie and three friends are about to take from Los Angeles to Seattle in search of her dad will show the realities of a broken childhood. More importantly, everything connected to those sparkling red shoes will prove to Dottie that there’s only one true wonder worker behind the so-called curtain who can heal her wounds and prepare the heart for love.”

Review: Although I am not necessarily a “Wizard of Oz” fan, I thought the cover and premise of this book sounded cute and fun. The new idea of taking a commonly loved or known story and remaking it, or even writing a sequel to it, can be a novelty at times. This retelling of this iconic film is interesting, and fun to draw up the similarities as you read.

Told from Dottie’s point of view, we watch this woman of 35 (ironically my own age), drift into a seemingly life of retirement. She seemed much older than 35, and this is heightened after her accident when she is placed in a “recovery facility” that seemed similar to a retirement home. The first half of the book felt disjointed, and it was difficult for me to attach to many of the characters; however, once I reached her recovery point, and she had made friends and decided to hit the road in search of her father, I felt much more connected to the characters and their journey.

While slightly predictable, and characters that I didn’t always feel I understood or should care about, there is a cute, light-hearted story here as well. The romance is a tad syrupy for my taste, but I realize that might be what I was walking into, and should have realized it from the beginning. There is a sense of resolution in the story, so you do end feeling as if the book has come full circle, which is satisfying. Overall, I would say that the story is cute and entertaining, and although some characters, for me, were difficult to attach to, their comparisons from the film are fun to consider as you read.

Visit Becky at her blog One Literature Nut

Across Time by Linda Kay Silva

Genre: Adult Fantasy

Pages: 360

Copyright: 2007

Rating: 3.5/5 Crowns

Synopsis: Jessie Ferguson's life is going nowhere. She's tried drugs, alcohol, even sex to fill the void that has no name, but nothing seems to quench that dull ache that visits her nightly.

When she moves into a restored Victorian Bed and Breakfast, all of that changes the instant she hears a call from the past.

A call from her past.

A past life two thousand years ago from a place she knows nothing of, from a woman she's seen only in her dreams. It is a past that needs her, a past that has burst through the boundaries of time in order to ask for her help.

If you believe in soul mates, if you know you've had a past life, if you've ever wondered who you might have been long ago and who you might have loved, then join Jessie in the first of a series of adventures that takes her Across Time.

Review: Jessie Ferguson is what some people might consider a lost soul - to fill the void in her life she has turned to drugs, alcohol, and sex but nothing seems to ease the aching she feels deep within her soul. After all she has put her parents through, they feel the only alternative they have is to start over in a new town. Maybe a fresh start will be enough to help Jessie to shed the negativity that seems to surround her and give her a chance to lead a more normal life.

To Jessie, nothing sounds worse than leaving sunny California to go live in dreary, foggy Oregon. Who would want to live in a town where everything seems to move so slow and everything seems about 10 years behind the times? Even though her parents and brother seem excited at the prospect of running a Victorian B & B, she has a hard time feeling anything but angry and depressed - who moves their daughter when she is about to start her Senior year in high school, no matter what she may have done in the past?

Jessie's life is about to turn around in a major way, all thanks to the town "crazy" Madam Ceara. At first, Jessie isn't sure what to make of her, especially after it seems as if she truly is the psychic she proclaims to be. But after seeing a door that mysteriously vanishes and reappears in her house, she turns to the one person who may be able to help make sense of some of this. What Madam Ceara tells her is shocking, and would make most people shake their heads in disbelief. But Jessie has faith that not only is Madam Ceara right about the "magic" of the door, but also right when she tells Jessie that following the advice she gives will drastically change her life, even if it endangers it at the same time.

Linda Kay Silva has written a thought provoking story, that leads you down a path not traveled often. Open your mind and heart, and pick up this fantastic read that will be sure to evoke thoughts and emotions that may have been buried deep within you.

Visit Tracee @ Review from Here

Twenties Girl by Sophie Kinsella

Genre: General Fiction

Copyright: 2009

Pages: 435

Rating: 4 1/2 Crowns

Synopsis: Lara Lington has always had an overactive imagination, but suddenly that imagination seems to be in overdrive. Normal professional twenty-something young women don’t get visited by ghosts. Or do they?

When the spirit of Lara’s great-aunt Sadie–a feisty, demanding girl with firm ideas about fashion, love, and the right way to dance–mysteriously appears, she has one last request: Lara must find a missing necklace that had been in Sadie’s possession for more than seventy-five years, and Sadie cannot rest without it. Lara, on the other hand, has a number of ongoing distractions. Her best friend and business partner has run off to Goa, her start-up company is floundering, and she’s just been dumped by the “perfect” man.

Sadie, however, could care less.

Lara and Sadie make a hilarious sparring duo, and at first it seems as though they have nothing in common. But as the mission to find Sadie’s necklace leads to intrigue and a new romance for Lara, these very different “twenties” girls learn some surprising truths from each other along the way. Written with all the irrepressible charm and humor that have made Sophie Kinsella’s books beloved by millions, Twenties Girl is also a deeply moving testament to the transcendent bonds of friendship and family.

Review:
I read Confessions of a Shopaholic last year and fell in love with Sophie Kinsella's light and breezy style. I wasn't sure if Twenties Girl would be as funny as the Becky Bloomwood books because so much of the hilarity is tied up in Becky's character but as it turns out, I had nothing to worry about. This book had me giggling from page one and as I progressed through the pages, there were many parts that gave me a good belly laugh!

I can't recommend this book enough if you're looking for something to pick you up. The concept is original, the characters are unforgettable and even though the plot isn't incredibly suspenseful I still found myself unable to stop reading for the sheer pleasure of it. There is just something about Sophie Kinsella that I absolutely love and I think that her characters get themselves into the most absolutely embarrassing of situations. They frequently humiliate themselves and the reader gets a free pass to laugh at them as they dig the hole deeper...and deeper.

Although this book on the surface seems to be about a missing necklace, it really has so much more to it. It's worth reading simply for the information you learn about twenties fashion and lifestyles! It's fun, it's light but it makes an impression. I really think it's a book you can't go wrong with.

It's worth noting that I listened to some of this novel on audio and read other parts of it. The audio book is absolutely brilliant and the voice artist is amazing. The accents she puts on are fantastic and just make the characters come alive.

Twenties Girl really did cement my status as a Sophie Kinsella fan and I think just like Marian Keyes she'll be one of those authors I turn to when I really need a smile.

Check out the trailer below:

Visit Annie @ Reading, Writing & Ranting

PS - HAPPY AUSTRALIA DAY!

Handle with Care by Jodi Picoult

Genre: General Fiction

Copyright: 2009

Pages: 477

Rating: 5 Crowns

Book Synopsis: Every expectant parent will tell you that they don't want a perfect baby, just a healthy one. Charlotte and Sean O'Keefe would have asked for a healthy baby, too, if they'd been given the choice. Instead, their lives are made up of sleepless nights, mounting bills, the pitying stares of "luckier" parents, and maybe worst of all, the what-ifs. What if their child had been born healthy? But it's all worth it because Willow is, well, funny as it seems, perfect. She's smart as a whip, on her way to being as pretty as her mother, kind, brave, and for a five-year-old an unexpectedly deep source of wisdom. Willow is Willow, in sickness and in health.

Everything changes, though, after a series of events forces Charlotte and her husband to confront the most serious what-ifs of all. What if Charlotte should have known earlier of Willow's illness? What if things could have been different? What if their beloved Willow had never been born? To do Willow justice, Charlotte must ask herself these questions and one more. What constitutes a valuable life?

Emotionally riveting and profoundly moving, Handle with Care brings us into the heart of a family bound by an incredible burden, a desperate will to keep their ties from breaking, and, ultimately, a powerful capacity for love. Written with the grace and wisdom she's become famous for, beloved #1 New York Times bestselling author Jodi Picoult offers us an unforgettable novel about the fragility of life and the lengths we will go to protect it.

Book Review:

One of my favourite things about Jodi Picoult's writing is that she knows how to take a social issue and put a spotlight on it. Her books are the sort of books that should be discussed around the dinner table with your family. Handle with Care was no exception, in fact, in my opinion it was outstanding. In many ways it reminded me of My Sister's Keeper, I guess because the storyline featured a troubled daughter and a child that needed a lot of attention and special care.

As with any Picoult novel there are many diverse and interesting characters that keep the story moving along. This book in particular tugged at my heart strings and had me crying quite a bit in the first chapter until I got swept away with the story and adjusted to the emotional tone of the book.

The basic plot is that during a scan to find out the sex of her baby, Charlotte discovers her baby girl has OI (osteogenesis imperfecta). This is a crippling disease that causes bones to break extremely easily. As a parent, you can only imagine how difficult this would make the life of your family and your child. After a disastrous trip to Disneyland Sean (husband/father) takes the family to visit a lawyer. They do not get the news they expect but rather find out that they can sue their OB/GYN for wrongful birth. The only problem with this is that their OB/GYN happens to be Charlotte's best friend Piper. Piper's daughter is also best friends with their eldest daughter Amelia. So you can imagine the turmoil that comes into their lives when Charlotte decides to go ahead with this course of action.

The book is written in first person with every chapter telling a different characters perspective. That is, everyone except Willow's (who is the child with OI in the story), the reason for this is that every character is telling their feelings and story to Willow. I loved the way in which this book is written, I enjoyed reading so many different perspectives. Now I have read a few different reviews of this book and a lot of readers didn't like the ending of the book. I personally have come to expect these types of endings with Picoult novels but I guess for me it just served to remind me that life can change in the blink of an eye and that all you can do is make the most of every moment because none of us know what the future holds.

If you are a fan of Jodi Picoult then I can tell you that Book 17, House Rules, is due for release in March 2010. The synopsis for this book is below and was taken from Jodi Picoult's website.

HOUSE RULES is about Jacob Hunt, a teenage boy with Asperger’s Syndrome. He’s hopeless at reading social cues or expressing himself well to others, and like many kids with AS, Jacob has a special focus on one subject – in his case, forensic analysis. He’s always showing up at crime scenes, thanks to the police scanner he keeps in his room, and telling the cops what they need to do…and he’s usually right. But then one day his tutor is found dead, and the police come to question him. All of the hallmark behaviors of Asperger’s – not looking someone in the eye, stimulatory tics and twitches, inappropriate affect – can look a heck of a lot like guilt to law enforcement personnel -- and suddenly, Jacob finds himself accused of murder. HOUSE RULES looks at what it means to be different in our society, how autism affects a family, and how our legal system works well for people who communicate a certain way – but lousy for those who don’t.

Visit Alaine at her blog The Queen of Happy Endings

The Sunday Post

This Week's Genre: General Fiction

This Week's Permanent Reviewers: Queen of Happy Endings, Princess of the Past and Lady of Literature

This Week's Ladies in Waiting: Becky @ One Literature Nut and Christina @ Insert Book Title Here

Current Giveaway: Win an audible credit for a book of your choice!

About Oldies but Goodies
Sometimes old books can get a little lost in blogland among the piles of ARCs and new releases. So every week on a Sunday, we're going to be focusing on an old favourite - a book that was published at least 5 years ago and deserves to be recognised.

How to Participate
If you would like to participate, please feel free to leave a comment with your favourite Oldie but Goodie or leave a link to a blogpost you've done on the topic.

THIS WEEK'S OLDIE BUT GOODIE:

Title: Suzanne's Diary for Nicholas

Author: James Patterson

Genre: General Fiction

Copyright: 2001

Pages: 304

Synopsis: Katie Wilkinson has found the perfect man at last - but one day he disappears from her life, leaving behind only a diary for her to read.

The diary is written by a woman named Suzanne and is addressed to her new baby boy, Nicholas. In it she pours out her heart about the joy he has brought her. As Katie reads this moving story, she realizes that the man she's fallen in love with is Suzanne's husband, Nicholas's father. She reads on, filled with terror and hope as she struggles to understand what happened and whether her new love can survive.

Written with Patterson's perfect pitch for emotion and suspense, this novel captures beautifully the joys of a new family. This is an unforgettable story, at once heartbreaking and full of hope.

Why I loved it: This has to be my first choice because every year or so something will lead me to remember this book and the characters in it. Like the ghosts of friends long past they flicker on the edge of my mind and beckon me back to the pages of their world. This was the very first book I ever read that so bravely and openly wrote about tragedy and finding meaning in the darkest moments of life. I guess you could say it was my first encounter with what it means to grieve and isn't that an incredible testament to the power of fiction? As a teenager who led a blessed and normal life, this novel was so powerful that it was able to give me my first glimpse into the loss that must one day touch us all. For the teenage mind especially, there is no downside to being able to put yourself in somebody else's shoes and by inserting itself into your imagination, good fiction does that like nothing else possibly can.

Like a Nicholas Sparks novel, the plot is touched by tragedy and is almost guaranteed to have you reaching for the tissues by the end but it has an undercurrent of hope that carries you through. Over the years, I have recommended this book to others and bonded with those who have already read it. I haven't yet a person yet who hasn't been touched by this story.

In 2005, this book was turned into a movie starring Christina Applegate. There isn't a trailer I can show you that won't give everything away but the movie is great also if you want to hire it!

Find it @ Amazon for $7.99 or Book Depository for $7.19 (free postage worldwide).

Visit Annie @ Reading, Writing & Ranting

Our Hart by Lloyd Lofthouse

Series: Sequel to My Splendid Concubine

Genre: Historical fiction

Copyright: 2009

Pages: 281

Rating: 4/5 Crowns

Book Description:
Our Hart, Elegy for a Concubine is the sequel to the award-winning historical fiction novel My Splendid Concubine, and this second book shows Robert Hart in action as he becomes the "Godfather of China's Modernism." Hart not only became famous as Inspector General of Chinese Maritime Customs, but he was behind the building of China's railroads, postal service and schools. Hart arrived in China in 1854 from Ireland and by 1908 had made his indelible mark on Chinese society. The Ch'ing Dynasty called him "Our Hart."

Review: It only takes a few pages before the reader realizes how much Robert Hart loves and is devoted to China and its people. Hart was one of the few people the Chinese Empire trusted, because Hart actually put China and its interests first, at a time when foreign powers were vying for control of this newly discovered land. Hart felt China was being used and abused, which she was, and it was his duty to right the wrongs that had been committed against China, especially the consequences of the Opium Wars.

Hart was successful because he took the time to learn Chinese culture, traditions, and how they communicated with each other. He learned how Chinese society worked. Hart's love for China was due in large part to his love for his concubine Ayaou. Hart's respect and devotion for China grew as his respect and devotion grew for Ayaou. She knew how important her lover's work was, and helped Hart in his endeavors by educating him in Chinese behavior and communication. Ayaou also kept Hart in touch with what the public was saying in the tea houses. Public opinion has and always will be very important.

Unfortunately, Hart's work often kept him from Ayaou and he always regretted and felt sadness at not being able to spend more time with her. Ayaou knew how important Hart was to China, and would always encourage him to keep at his activities, assuring him she would be fine.

This story was enjoyable because of Robert Hart himself. Here is a man who helped a struggling new-born nation find itself in the face of many foreign invaders. It was a very courageous thing to do. The story includes many descriptions of Chinese cities and towns, and I did feel as though I was right there in the story. I feel like I now know a bit more about life in 1850's China. The characters are all quite interesting, and my only complaint, unfortunately has to do with Hart himself. He does have a lot of self doubt, and it's understandable. But after a few successes you would think he would become more confident. He did a little bit, but he would get a little whiny from time to time, and it irked me. Other than that, the book was quite good.

If you would like to know more about China or this book please check out the book's website for more information.



Thanks to

from Jenny Loves to Read for this review!

My Lady Judge by Cora Harrison

Genre: Mystery

Series: Mysteries of Medieval Ireland Series #1

Copyright: 2008

Pages: 320

Source: St.Martin's/Minotaur

Rating: 5/5 Crowns

Synopsis: The Burren on the western seaboard of Ireland was then, in the year of 1509, as it is now, a land of stony fields and swirling mountain terraces. The people of the kingdom lived peacefully by the ancient Brehon laws of their forebears.

On the first eve of May hundreds of people from the Burren climbed the gouged-out limestone terraces of Mullaghmore Mountain to celebrate the great May Day festival, lighting a bonfire and singing and dancing through the night, then returning through the grey dawn to the safety of their homes.

But one man did not come back down the steeply spiralled path.

His body lay exposed to the ravens and wolves on the bare, lonely mountain for two nights . . . and no one spoke of him, or told what they had seen.

And when Mara, a woman appointed by King Turlough Don O’Brien to be judge and lawgiver to the stony kingdom, came to investigate, she was met with a wall of silence.

Review: The amazingly talented Cora Harrison, a veteran novelist for children, steps into the adult sphere w/ an alluring historical novel that will knock you breathless w/ her vivid imagery.

Harrison has created an empowering heroine w/ the delightful, energetic & lovable Mara.

Harrison delivers the goods w/ an unparalled mystery set in a medieval kingdom off the spectacular coast of Ireland.

Mara is Brehon (a medieval Irish judge) of the Burren, appointed to this distinguished position by the King himself, following the death of her father many years prior. Aside from the duties of Brehon, Mara also runs an area law school. Whew! How do we spell busy? M-A-R-A!

Harrison does a phenomenal job @ delving into the very core of human nature in this remarkably electrifying novel! Mara really was spot on w/ her sleuthing skills. I found myself holding my breath @ times while she was on the "hunt" for the culprit.

Harrison presented the clues & facts but I was still left speechless. Brava, to the awesome Harrison for pulling me in, hooking me all along & making me feel my adventure was more than I dared to dream. What an adrenaline rush it was for me, as I furiously turned the pages. WOW!!!

Thank you, Ms. Harrison!

Harrison's prose is rich, beautiful & extremely well written. I loved My Lady Judge & will be reading the rest in this incredible series!

Check out Cora's terrific website here!

Grab a copy of My Lady Judge:

Amazon

Amazon UK

Visit Diane @ her blog The Book Resort

The Kingmaking by Helen Hollick

Genre: Historical

Copyright: 2009 Sourcebooks (first published 1994)

Pages: 592
Book Rating:

Book Description: A novel of Arthur as he really was.

In the first book of this exciting trilogy, author Helen Hollick brings to life Arthur Pendragon as he really might have been. Leaving behind the fairy-tale element of Merlin's magic and the improbable existence of Lancelot, Hollick instead transports the reader to the early years of Britain circa 455 AD and tells the Arthurian legend in a solid and believable way.

For one, Arthur does not pull a sword from a stone using superhuman strength; rather, he is named heir to Britain (if he can win it from the tyrant Vortigern) while standing near a "hallowed stone, the symbol of a warrior's strength and the chieftain's right of leadership." Later, a sword won in battle signals his place as Britain's King.

This is a story of harsh battles, secret treasonous plots, and the life-threatening politics of the dark ages of early Britain. Intertwined through it all is the often-tested love of Arthur and Gwenhwyfar (Guinevere in Welsh - her name as it really would have been) as they struggle to survive and conquer to see Pendragon become King.

Review: Helen Hollick is a master with words; she completely draws a scene using only letters and punctuation that can stun a mind completely. She turned King Arthur into a human being with hopes, dreams, feelings. She gave him the same trials and tribulations any other man in the Dark Ages would have faced and she did it with amazing fan fare.

The characters in this book are so real the reader can practically reach out and touch each and everyone of them. The reader feels each and every emotion the characters progress through as well as everything they don't show; the reader is situated in the characters' minds and can see everything. Arthur and Gwenhwyfar are perfectly portrayed and expertly crafted in true Arthurian Legend style.

The plot starts a bit slow and then warms up as the book moves forward. Towards the middle of the book is where the plot starts to thicken and gets even better then, before long you won't be able to tear yourself away from the pages. Everything about this book is amazing, and the best part is, this is only the first of three.

Countess of Shadows
Visit Monica at her blog The Bibliophilic Book Blog

The Winter Mantle by Elizabeth Chadwick

Genre: Historical Fiction

Copyright: 2002

Pages: 512

Rating: 3.5/5 Crowns

This was another fast paced work of wonderfully blended history and fiction from Elizabeth Chadwick. It is the true story of Waltheof of Huntington, an English lord held hostage by William of Normandy, and his Norman bride Judith, William's niece. After finally marrying the woman of dreams, Waltheof realizes that she is not as wonderful as she originally appeared. After many turbulent years of marriage and children, Judith eventually makes a decision that seals Waltheof's fate. As their daughter grows, she desperately wants to avoid the situation her parents ended up in.

This is a wonderfully written book with great descriptions and details and good character development. Chadwick really excels at making the past come alive for the reader in her descriptions of all things in the medieval world. There really are no "villains" in the story, just some really annoying and arrogant people (Judith's mother for one). Waltheof is honorable and quite likeable though his one weakness, his inability to think before he acts, lands him in trouble again and again. Judith starts out as a character I could feel a bit sorry and cheer for because of what she puts up with from her mother. She appears to be a loving, kind hearted girl who just wants to find love - until she and Waltheof marry. This is where my rating on the book began to drop. Once married, Judith morphs into a horrid person I wished Waltheof would slap. Her constant arrogance over her Norman blood being better than Waltheof's English really made me dislike her. It was hard for me to comprehend how someone could change so drastically and so quickly. After her roll in Waltheof's downfall I had absolutely no pity or sympathy left for her. At this point I was a bit confused because the story switches and focuses on Waltheof and Judith's daughter, Matilda. While this was a complete change and not what I was expecting from the book, I enjoyed the whole episode dealing with her marriage to get away from her mother (and I liked seeing Judith get what was coming to her). It was interesting to see how she matured and tried to avoid the mistakes her mother made.

This was a good story, as usual, from Elizabeth Chadwick but not one of my favorites. The change in Judith's character was a huge swing that left me scratching my head a bit. The chemistry between her and Waltheof was so wonderful to read about in the beginning but then it just disappeared. I really loved reading about Waltheof and hated the way he was treated by the woman he loved. The switch in the focus of the story was a bit of a shock as well, though Matilda's story was interesting to read. Those two issues though are what brought my overall rating down on this book.

You can find Robyn at her blog The Lady Gwyn's Kingdom

The Boleyn Wife by Brandy Purdy

Genre: Historical Fiction

Copyright: 2010

Pages: 327 (includes Reader's Guide)

Rating: 2.5/5 Crowns

Source: ARC provided by the author

Synopsis: Shy, plain Lady Jane Parker feels out of place in Henry VIII's courtly world of glamour and intrigue--until she meets the handsome George Boleyn. Overjoyed when their fathers arrange a match, her dreams of a loving union are waylaid when she meets George's sister, Anne. For George is completely devoted to his sister, and cold and indifferent to his bride. As Anne acquires a wide circle of admirers, including King Henry, Jane's resentment grows. But if becoming Henry's queen makes Anne the most powerful woman in England, it also makes her highly vulnerable. And as Henry, desperate for a male heir, begins to tire of his mercurial wife, the stage is set for the ultimate betrayal. . .Encompassing the reigns of four of Henry's wives, from the doomed Anne to the reckless Katherine Howard, The Boleyn Wife is an unforgettable story of ambition, lust, and jealousy, of the power of love to change the course of history, and of the terrible price of revenge.

Review: In The Boleyn Wife we are given possible answers to the question “what was Jane Rochford thinking” when she not only gave damning evidence against her husband and sister-in-law, but later when she helped the king’s fifth wife commit adultery. As Jane tells her own story, we see the idealistic young girl’s fantasies of marital bliss turn from disappointment to bitterness and ultimately, to an all-consuming hatred. Purdy does a pretty good job of getting inside Jane’s head and we feel Jane’s pain and heartbreak as she realizes who really holds her husband’s affection. At times I felt sorry for her; at times I wanted to wring her neck!

Overall, I enjoyed Purdy’s writing style and found it engaging and entertaining, finishing the book in a couple of days. She does take substantial liberties with historical facts and includes most of the lies and myths that evolved about Anne. She also throws in a couple of incidents for which (as far as I know) there is no historical basis at all. Although these make for interesting reading (and I give her credit for being creative), I hope the final version of the book includes some kind of author’s note or information detailing what is fact and what is not.

The first person narration caused me some problems. Although this choice perhaps let us get inside Jane's head a little more, this benefit is quickly outweighed by the need to have Jane in the right place and the right time – hiding behind trees or tapestries, looking through keyholes and making mad dashes to someone’s room in order to hide in the cupboard – far too many times to be believable. It became too convenient and too contrived and often just silly.

Then there are the sexual references. Now I don’t mind a little bit of good sex in a book especially if it adds to the development of a character or the story line. And while I don’t like it all flowery and purpley, I also don’t like for it to sound like something you would overhear in a high school locker room. Purdy takes the latter approach and it’s often pretty coarse. There are a couple of instances (one in particular involving a jar of honey) that I thought were unnecessary and added absolutely nothing to the story other than perhaps providing shock value and “sex for sexes sake” – neither of which I appreciate. Sadly, this along with the first person narration issues detracted from what otherwise might have been a pretty good book.

The Boleyn Wife will be released in the US on January 26, 2010 and in the UK as The Tudor Wife by Emily Purdy in April. It should also be noted that the book was previously published under the title Vengence is Mine.

Visit Daphne at her blog Tanzanite's Shelf and Stuff

The Sunday Post

Hi all

Welcome to another week at Royal Reviews! This week we're going back to our roots and one of our favourite genres - Historical Fiction.

We have Daphne - Contessa of History, Monica - Countess of Shadows, Diane - Moody Countess, Robyn and our guest reviewer Jenny Girl from Jenny Loves to Read. From a new take on a well-known Tudor story to a retelling of the Arthurian tale, our first Historical Fiction week of the year is packed with great reviews.

If you've signed up for the Historical Fiction Reading Challenge this year then be sure to watch this space for the next week!

Fallen by Lauren Kate

Genre: Young Adult Fantasy

Series: Fallen #1

Copyright: 2009

Pages: 452

Rating: 5/5 Crowns

Book Synopsis: There's something achingly familiar about Daniel Grigori.

Mysterious and aloof, he captures Luce Price's attention from the moment she sees him on her first day at the Sword & Cross boarding school in sultry Savannah, Georgia. He's the one bright spot in a place where cell phones are forbidden, the other students are all screw-ups, and security cameras watch every move.

Even though Daniel wants nothing to do with Luce--and goes out of his way to make that very clear--she can't let it go. Drawn to him like a moth to a flame, she has to find out what Daniel is so desperate to keep secret . . . even if it kills her.

Dangerously exciting and darkly romantic, Fallen is a page turning thriller and the ultimate love story.

Book Review: I can hardly find the words to express how much I loved this book! It was brilliant! Whilst I know there have been mixed reviews about it, I didn't see the same flaws others did and was utterly captivated by this story. I can understand if some of the ideas of the novel might be uncomfortable for readers with strong Christian views but even then I would think you'd have to wait to see how the story progresses. This was my first fallen angel fantasy novel and it won't be my last. I really enjoyed reading this new sub-genre of fantasy.

Luce is a 17 year old girl sent to reform school for something she didn't do or have any control over. There she mets Daniel and whilst he treats her badly she has this overwhelmingly strong attraction to him that she does not understand. There are often shadows around her, they frighten her and throughout the story you're waiting for them to do something awful to her. There are many unanswered questions in this book, like what happened to Trevor, but that's what a good series does, leaves you hanging!

This book is described as 'dangerously exciting and darkly romantic'. The 'dangerously exciting' I agree with, but I don't think it's 'darkly romantic'. I would describe it as a love created in the heavens, to me it was deeply romantic and it took my breath away. This book has made it to one of my all time favourite reads it was that good and believe me books don't make it to my list easily.

With all the mixed reviews, it seems as though people love this book or hate it - I think you should read it and make up your own mind. Personally, I loved it so much I think it's one of those books that everyone should read. I highly recommend this novel, it is also suitable for teens 12 and over.

For more information about Lauren Kate check out her website. The next book in this series Torment is due out this year. Purchase Fallen from Amazon as a Hardcover, Kindle or Audio book.


Visit Alaine at her blog The Queen of Happy Endings

Runemarks by Joanne Harris

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Mythology

Copyright: 2008 (hardcover, Knopf edition)

Rating: 4.5/5 Crowns

Book Description: Seven o’clock on a Monday morning, five hundred years after the end of the world, and goblins had been at the cellar again. . . . Not that anyone would admit it was goblins. In Maddy Smith’s world, order rules. Chaos, old gods, fairies, goblins, magic, glamours–all of these were supposedly vanquished centuries ago. But Maddy knows that a small bit of magic has survived. The “ruinmark” she was born with on her palm proves it–and makes the other villagers fearful that she is a witch (though helpful in dealing with the goblins-in-the-cellar problem). But the mysterious traveler One-Eye sees Maddy’s mark not as a defect, but as a destiny. And Maddy will need every scrap of forbidden magic One-Eye can teach her if she is to survive that destiny.

Book Review: For most readers Harris should be familiar because of her novel Chocolat, made into a moving starring the yummy Johnny Depp. I admit that part of the reason I picked up Runemarks was half because it was an interesting sounding fantasy based around Norse Mythology and half because it was written by the author of a movie I love. I'm a little shallow at times, I admit this. In the end however the fact that this is an enchanting and enthralling fantasy is what kept me glued to the pages.

Before you even begin the story itself there are half a dozen pages to give you a detail accounting of the world, the people and the geography. It helps if you are versed in Norse mythology as well, this is a story about what happens after Ragnarok (ie: the end of the world and the rebirth of that world). The world that is born is one afraid of magic and imagination, deeply religious and prejudiced against anyone who has a 'Ruin-mark'. Our heroine, Maddy, has one such 'ruin-mark' and its brought her nothing but grief and trouble for as long as she can remember.

Through Maddy and her journey Below we see the folly of humans and Gods alike, how both can be blind to the bigger picture, but can still redeem themselves in the end. From different perspectives we hear how the world ended and how it was reborn and what truly caused the calamity. We meet with well known Norse deities--Odin, Freyja, Loki--and magical beings such as trolls and goblins. The novel itself is splintered into several 'parts' as Maddy's journey goes along.

This novel reminded me very much of the old time 'epic' stories such as The Odyssey and The Neverending Story. Maddy fought monsters and Gods and humans and magical beings--all for the importance of a greater quest then she herself understood at first. Fate is at stake in this book and the question becomes who's Fate exactly? I recommend this book to anyone who has even a passing interest in Norse mythology or wants to read a tale full of spirit, adventure and a little bit of a morality tale sprinkled throughout.

Thanks to Lexie from Poisoned Rationality for this review.

Radiant Darkness by Emily Whitman

Genre: Young Adult Fantasy

Pages: 352

Copyright: 2009

Rating: 2/5 Crowns

Synopsis: Persephone lives in the most gorgeous place in the world. But her mother's a goddess, as overprotective as she is powerful. Paradise has become a trap. Just when Persephone feels there's no chance of escaping the life that's been planned for her, a mysterious stranger arrives. A stranger who promises something more—something dangerous and exciting—something that spurs Persephone to make a daring choice. A choice that could destroy all she's come to love, even the earth itself. In a land where a singing river can make you forget your very name, Persephone is forced to discover who—and what—she really is.

Review: Radiant Darkness is a retelling of the Greek myth of Persephone being kidnapped by Hades, Lord of the Underworld. I've always been a fan of fairy tales and myths being retold, but this one disappointed me greatly. It had a lot of chances to be explored to its full potential, yet time and time again the story just fizzled out.

The main subplot of Persephone's relationship with her mother, the goddess Demeter underlies the story. Persephone has been living under the dominating Demeter's shadow for a long time, and her actions are more of a reaction as compared to a pro action. This could be a reason why she seems so innocent and downtrodden. However, her Mary Sue-ish tendencies just seem to encompass the story, and her naivete seems more like denial which took up more than half the book.

The supposed hero in this case in Hades. We're led to believe that he's the reason why Persephone chose to leave her home, but he's more of a caricature than a believable character, with little to no personality being shown. What is shown is his lust for Persephone, which is to be taken for lurrveee because that's what we're told.

While it is well written, that is one flaw which irritated me: that we're told what happens rather than shown. I would say that this is an easily forgettable story with a lackluster ending, but I'm still seething over the unrealised potential of the story.

The Truth About Forever by Sarah Dessen

Genre: Young Adult

Published: 2006

Pages: 400

Rating:





Book Description:

In The Truth About Forever, when asked how she is coping with her father's death, invariably seventeen year old Macy Queen's answer is "fine," when nothing could be further from the truth. In actuality, she is drowning in grief while maintaining a flawless façade of good grades and unblemished behavior. Though she feels lost when her boyfriend heads to "Brain Camp" for the summer, she finds herself a job with the quirky Wish Catering crew, and meets "sa-woon"-worthy Wes, whose chaotic lifestyle is in direct opposition to her own. As the two share their stories over the summer, Macy realizes she can no longer keep her feelings on ice. Though it feels like her future ended with her dad's death, Macy's learns that forever is all about beginnings. Dessen charts Macy's navigation of grief in such an honest way it will touch every reader who meets her.

Book Review:

I've now enjoyed 3 Dessen novels, Along For The Ride, Just Listen, and The Truth About Forever would have to be my favourite. I don't read a lot of contemporary YA so I do have to remind myself when reading Dessen's stories that these are not action-packed, page turning YA fiction. All 3 books have followed a similar theme; addressing a serious subject matter in a very realistic, real-life manner that is relatable for teens and older readers alike. My only complaint is I could have done without the overuse of some corny dialogue like "sa-woon" and "donneven" but that could be due to the fact I'm a few decades past my teen years :-)

When Macy's father suffers a massive heart attack and dies, Macy squashes down all her emotions, and locks up her grief and guilt behind a rigid wall of perfection that her mother approves of. Dessen gives us an insightful look at a young woman keeping up a pretense of a happy life, pleasing everyone except herself and the lengths someone grieving can go to to protect themselves from actually feeling. "Anyone can hide. Facing up to things, working through them, that's what makes you strong."

The Truth About Forever is another character driven novel but the refreshing thing about this one is the injection of fun provided by the characters of the chaotic and quirky Wish Catering company. I really loved what owner Delia, and staff Kristy, Bert, Monica & Wes brought to the story and the lightbulb they turned on for Macy. Wes and Macy's  friendship was really sweet and there were some very perceptive conversations between the two of them which I loved. With the help of her new friends and the blossoming love between her and Wes, Macy finally realises the moment you are living now is your forever.

"Life can be long or short, it all depends on how you choose to live it. it's like forever, always changing. For any of us our forever could end in an hour, or a hundred years from now. You can never know for sure, so you'd better make every second count. What you have to decide is how you want your life to be. If your forever was ending tomorrow, is this how you'd want to have spent it?"

Honest, hopeful and far from depressing, The Truth About Forever left me with a smile on my face.

Visit Sarah Dessen's website and blog to find out more about this wonderful author.

Visit Teddyree at her blog The Eclectic Reader

The Sunday Post

Hi all

Up this week on Royal Reviews is one of our favourite genres - Young Adult Fiction. This week Empress of Good & Evil, Queen of Happy Endings, Duchess of the Dark and Maharani of Mayhem & Mysteries will deliver a bevy of reviews from across the YA genre.

Competition Winner Announced:

Freda from Freda's Voice!

Congratulations Freda. We hope you enjoy Soulless by Gail Carriger :-) If you entered but missed out, please be sure to enter our January competition - there are some great picks up for grabs.

How's everyone going with the challenges they've signed up for this year? Have you started yet? Made lists? I'm feeling pretty motivated as I've finished one book that will count for both the Historical Fiction and Ebook Challenge (the review will be up here in the next few weeks). Those of you doing the YA Challenge should really enjoy this week!

Hidden Fire by Jo Davis

Series:Firefighters of Station Five, #3

Genre: Romance

Copyright: 2009

Pages: 287

Rating: 3.5/5 Crowns

Book Synopsis: Julian Salvatore has earned his reputation as a ladies' man, but chasing women is also a way to outrun a terrible secret. Then he meets defense attorney Grace McKenna, a beautiful ice-queen more than willing to give Julian her body, even if he can't seem to melt her heart...

But when a series of murders rocks Nashville, Julian is targeted by the killer. As he comes face to face with demons, he and Grace must race to uncover the terrible truth-or become the next victims...

Book Review:Hidden Fire by Jo Davis is book 3 in the Firefighters of Station Five Series and this romantic suspense is all about Julian Salvatore, the Latin lover with a chip on his shoulder and the woman of his dreams …… staring Grace McKenna. Grace is the stunningly beautiful and brilliant lawyer who holds her attraction to Julian close to her heart; she isn’t the type of woman to let a ladies’ man like him play with her heart and play her as a fool.

What Julian wasn’t planning was his past that he has so desperately tried to bury has all but come knocking on his door. Shocked, angry and fearful for Grace’s safety as well since she now seems to be in the thick of it, representing the same man who has cause so many years of nightmares. Their relationship of lack thereof has always seems a little hostile, a battle of wheels of sorts. Grace hold’s her heart very close and knows that if she lets Julian in, he will be the end of her. Something about the fundamental and carnal heat these two generate just in having a heated conversation you know the sparks are going to fly once they open up to each other and let the passion that they both feel take over. Unfortunately the suspense of the story takes over the love story for these two, with such individually dynamic characters it was difficult to feel a real connection emotionally for them as a couple. The love scenes making were lifeless and leaving me with a cold feeling.

Julian has finally come to a point where he realizes what an all around jerk he has been, to his co-workers and to women with his lov'em attitude. But now isn’t the time to start a relationship with Grace, with the danger lurking around as the man who molested him as a teenager is now in Nashville conveniently just when a string of murders and missing persons is plaguing the city. Not to mention Julian seems to be having a string of “accidents”, the most recent being a hit and run almost killing him. During his recovery Grace starts to realize that he might just be worth a chance, but she is only willing to give him her body, not her heart. Never her heart. The two decide that they are going to try and figure out who is responsible for the murders as Julian was a witness to one of the kidnappings. A young college student who was drugged in a bar by a mysterious stranger and carried off in his car. In over their heads Julian is forced to call in backup from always reliable Six-Pack and his Chief Sean. It was fantastic to see the dynamics of the team come to life even further in this third installment especially the foreshadowing of Sean’s self destructive behavior coming to a head; ultimately he will have to make a choice to continue down deadly path or choose to live.

Watching the two together was a little anti-climactic, having eagerly anticipated this coupling from their first encounter in book one, and Grace’s constant indecisiveness became downright irritating. How a woman so strong willed and together be such an emotional wimp. Her character as a whole was always portrayed as a strong willed woman, a kicking butt and take names later type of woman. But although I thoroughly enjoyed her as a person, her loyalty to Julian in believing that her client and his family weren’t the upstanding citizens they claimed to be, when it came to love and passion I found her actions hard to swallow. Julian was the same, I loved his character from the beginning, and it was always so clear that Jo Davis had big plans for him as that Latin Lover who was so damaged that only a woman of great strength could get her hooks in him.

Although the suspense in pinning down the identity of the mysterious murderer had me guessing from the beginning, it was the catalyst behind me actually wanted to finish this book. I thoroughly enjoyed the challenge of the old fashioned who done it that hooked me from the moment I finished the first chapter. Would I recommend this book, yes I would, IF you were looking for a suspenseful story that will keep you on the edge of your seat. But if you are looking for a love story I found it lacking and left me feeling indifferent.



Thanks to Brande from Book Junkie for this great review!

Too Hot To Sleep By Stephanie Bond

Genre: Romance

Copyright: 2000

Pages: 224

Rating: 5 Crowns

Book Synopsis: THE DAYS WERE HOT...

Nurse Georgia Adams can't sleep - and it's got nothing to do with the local heat wave. She's got a lukewarm boyfriend, a nonexistent love life - and she's frustrated, really frustrated. So she decides to take the edge off by calling her boyfriend for a little phone flirtation--and a lot more! Only, she doesn't realize she's dialed the wrong number!

...BUT THE NIGHTS WERE SCORCHING

Police officer Ken Medlock can't sleep, either-his libido is in overdrive thanks to his sexy midnight caller. He's captivated by her voice - and when he meets and recognizes her the next day, he realizes he has to have her in his bed-not at the end of his phone line. But first he has to convince Georgia that her wrong number has turned into a very right connection...

Book Review: Scorching! Fiery! Searing! Blistering! Sizzling! How do we spell the incomparable Stephanie Bond's, Too Hot to Sleep? C-a-l-i-e-n-t-e!

Let me start off this review by saying, Stephanie Bond is one of my absolute favorite authors. She can write anything & it is juicy, riveting & difficult to put down. Bond's books are like chocolate ~ a delicious, wicked pleasure! I keep a stash of her books around for emergencies sorta like breaking the glass moments. Bond is definitely a must read author, an auto buy & the girl to go to when I am in a reading slump or just in a petulant mood.

Stephanie Bond is a gifted writer who not only has a way of making you fall in love w/ the hero -- Bond makes you ache to be the heroine.

Meet Nurse Georgia Adams. Georgia is in an apathetic relationship w/ her boyfriend. She definitely needs a dose of sultry to bring the sexy back. Georgia decides to take the advice of a friend & calls her lukewarm boyfriend late @ night & begins what she believes is a way to make their relationship pop... some harmless, tantalizing phone sex. What she doesn't realize is that her calls have been going to the wrong man. Uh oh! Can we say whoops?!

Enter sexy Officer Ken Medlock, Ken is awakened by a sensuous voice on the phone... a voice that's cooing to him that she isn't wearing panties. Ken is jolted wide awake by this juicy tidbit. He's extremely overwhelmed by this seductive call & is too bewildered to enlighten the smokin' femme fatale that she's dialed a wrong number. Let's not forget, he is absolutely loving every single moment of this mix up.

I don't want to ruin your fun @ reading this charming romance by giving away too much. I will say I would love a sequel... I am even willing to bribe the awesome Bond w/ delectable chocolates. *Hint*Hint*.

Bond's writing muscle simply radiates w/ her vivacious, intriguing & feisty characters. She is a genius @ displaying each character's viewpoint. Brava to Bond for making the heroine & hero easy to connect with. The sparks ignite & Georgia & Ken explode.

You definitely need to cool yourself down w/ ice water, the a/c or just head out in the frigid air to cool down. Trust me on this.

Too Hot to Sleep is definitely a must to have on your shelves.

Read an excerpt here! Check out Stephanie's website here.

Visit Diane @ her blog The Book Resort

Lord of Scoundrels by Loretta Chase

Genre: Romance

Copyright: 1995

Pages: 384

Rating: 5/5 Crowns

Book Description:
DETERMINED LADY

Tough-minded Jessica Trent's sole intention is to free her nitwit brother from the destructive influence of Sebastian Ballister, the notorious Marquess of Dain. She never expects to desire the arrogant, amoral cad. And when Dain's reciprocal passion places them in a scandalously compromising, and public, position, Jessica is left with no choice but to seek satisfaction...

LORD OF SCOUNDRELS
Damn the minx for tempting him, kissing him...and then for forcing him to salvage reputation! Lord Dain can't wait to put the infuriating bluestocking in her place -- and in some amorous position. And if this means marriage, so be it -- though Sebastian is less than certain he can continue to remain aloof...and steel his heart to the sensuous, head strong lady's considerable charms.

Review: Wow. I haven't had so much fun reading a romance novel in a long time. I absolutely loved this book.

If you like believable tortured heroes and witty heroines, good dialogue and a storyline that will keep you up till 5 in the morning, like it did me, then this is the book for you

Sebastian Dane had a horrible childhood - his mother left him, his father ignored him at best, and he grew up unloved and believing he was ugly. Classic symptoms for the cold hearted notorious rake he's turned out to be. There are a lot of references where he's called lord Beelzebub - I think that should explain a bit.

Jessica Trent has arrived in Paris to rescue her nitwit of a brother from the influence of Dain. He's ruining himself and the family finances trying to emulate the much richer Marquess. Things don’t turn out quite as Jess imagined them - she's falls in lust with him. Dain never deals with respectable women, he finds no point in wasting his time with them. However, Jess is an entirely different story. Thankfully, their attraction to each other doesn’t stop the witty repartee between the two.

I don’t really want to give much away from this book - there are twists and turns I'd never imagined in a regency novel. I usually find the intelligent independent heroines pretty annoying. Jess, however, is very well written and a joy to read. I loved Dain from the beginning, even when he was a hopeless debauchee. Reading his reluctance to bed Jessica and fight against his feelings for her was a real treat and you'll love his transformation into a caring and loving husband.

This is my first Loretta Chase book, and I'll definitely be reading more. The story flows well and left no loose ends. It’s a bit like reading a mystery novel, where you don’t know what'll happen next. This one is a keeper for me. Now on to starting with the beginning of this series.

Karyn
Slip Carefully

Hot Spell by Michelle Rowen

Genre: Contemporary Romance with Paranormal Elements

Copyright: 2009

Pages: 224

Book Rating: 3.5/5 Crowns

Book Description: Everybody knows there’s no love lost between paranormal investigators Amanda LaGrange and sexy Jacob Caine. They can’t even stand being in the same room together….

Well, unless its an enchanted bedroom.

And they’re trapped there, at midnight.

And the sexual tension suddenly becomes too powerful to resist…

Then that bedroom gets really hot, really fast! But come morning, they still can’t keep their hands off each other. Are they cursed forever? If so, neither one’s complaining….

Book Review: First things first, 'Hot Spell' was indeed very HOT. This book practically steamed like a kettle it was so hot. The sensual scenes were believable, varied, sexy, and had a good undercurrent of emotion. The situation in which the main characters met and then later decided they were in love seemed a tiny bit off, but it could happen, if only in a rare situation, like having psychic abilities.

The plot moved along at a steady pace, there was enough intrigue, sensuality, and drama to keep the reader interested. There are ghosts, psychics, and enough characters introduction to start a whole 'Hot Spell' series.

The main character Amanda was a bit too hard headed for her own good, she didn't allow anyone to get into her heart, and that hurt her frequently, it is understandable though because of her childhood circumstances. Jacob was also hard headed in the fact that he wouldn't fight for what he wants (which is Amanda), it took a lot to get these two characters together, but it was a worthy ride.

This book was enjoyable, the sensuality threw it a cut above some other contemporary romance, Rowen writes with passion and genuineness through the whole story. Lets just hope she makes some sequels, I would love to see what happens to Patrick the empath.

Monica - Countess of Shadows

Visit Monica @ her blog:
The Bibliophilic Book Blog

Enslave Me Sweetly by Gena Showalter

Series: Alien Huntress - Book Two

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Copyright: 2006

Rating: 4 Crowns

Book Description: Eden Black walks among humans, protecting them from the murderous evil of other-worlders who abduct and enslave. And though she appears to be human herself, Eden is an alien, a Raka, distinguished by her golden hair and skin, and gifted with the ominous ability to kill without remorse -- and with total accuracy. That is, until the fateful night she has one shot to eliminate her target, a human slaver -- and misses.

"Failure" is not in Eden's vocabulary. Neither is "partner" -- but that's what she is forcibly assigned after recovering from her disastrous mission. A sexy, steely-nerved human agent, Lucius Adaire enjoys nothing more than sparking the fury -- and rousing the desire -- of the fiery female assassin too proud to admit defeat. Locked in an assignment they cannot afford to lose, Lucius and Eden find themselves bound in two high-stakes, heart-pounding games: the sensual web of kill or be killed, and the erotic dance of seduction.

Book Review: Gena Showalter is an author who has mastered the art of hooking the reader at the end of a chapter and propelling them into the next. I bought this book on Boxing Day and before I knew it I was well over 100 pages in and putting the other tome of a novel I was reading aside. I think part of the appeal is that the Alien Huntress novels offer something different to the stock standard paranormal romance because they are futuristic and derive from science fiction rather than horror. So if you don't mind a little bit of sci-fi then really give this a go.

Now I know the covers make it look like this is an erotica novel but I can let you know that while the characters are highly sexualised, the actual sex scenes won't curl your hair. They're well written and very good but don't seem to justify all the lingerie on the cover - the book is much more charcter driven then that. In fact I'm pretty sure there are only two love scenes all up...and the author makes you wait for them.

The characters in this novel - Eden and Lucius - are a great match. Admittedly, I don't think they are as memorable as Mia and Kyrin from book one however they're certainly still entertaining. Eden can still handle herself well and doesn't shy away from beating the crap out of anyone who stands in her way, she just isn't as first-class bitch like Mia. I'm not sure this is a book I'll remember the plot of for the rest of my life but I think if I saw it in 10 years I'd remember that I enjoyed it thoroughly (does that make sense?)

Really, this is a great pick for when you're in a reading funk or in between historicals. Gena Showalter will definitely entertain you. I'm looking forward to reading further books in this series. Has anyone read her Darkest series? Thoughts? I'm thinking of progressing to them next!

Giveaway Alert - January

This month on Royal Reviews we are giving away an Audio Book for any one who is participating in our Audio Book Challenge. The picture above are some of the amazing audio books available but you can select any audio book that you'd like from Audible.com if you are the lucky winner. One of my favourite genres to listen to on audio is Young Adult but there are so many wonderful audio books out there, go and check out Aubible.

HERE'S HOW TO ENTER:

1) Just leave a comment on this post with an email address for an entry ~ no email, no entry ~ and make sure you've signed up for the Audio Book Challenge to be eligible.

2) Competition is open to followers of this blog (if you're not a follower then click on the follow button in the right hand column.) No extra entries will be offered for tweets or posts this time around as the competition is restricted to challenge participants only.

4) Competition is open internationally.

5) Competition ends Monday 1st February 2010, winner will be announced on this blog in the Sunday Post that week.

Good luck!

Sunday Post

Hi Everyone

We hope you all had a wonderful holiday season and that you got lots of great books for Christmas! We've got an exciting year planned at Royal Reviews and to begin I'd like to introduce you to our new permanent reviewers:

Crystal from I Totally Paused
Daphne from Tanzanite's Shelf and Stuff
Karyn from Slip Carefully
Monica from The Bibliophilic Book Blog
Robin from The Lady Gwyn's Kingdom
Tracee from Review from Here

We'd also like to welcome back:

Christine from Romantic Crush Junkies
Diane from The Book Resort
Lexie from Poisoned Rationality
Liyana from Liyanaland
Teddyree from The Eclectic Reader
Alaine from Queen of Happy Endings
Annie from Reading Writing & Ranting

A big thank you to our reviewers from 2009 who have not continued on with us this year. You've contributed some fabulous reviews and we thank you for your contribution. A big thanks to:

Ana O from Miss Picky Column
Amy from Passages to the Past
J. Kaye from J. Kaye's Book Blog
Shonda from Texas Red

To kick things off for 2010 we're having a romance week featuring reviews by Moody Countess (Diane), Countess of Shadows (Monica), Karyn, Princess of the Past (Annie) and our Lady in Waiting/Guest Reviewer Brande from Book Junkie. So if you've signed up for our Romance Challenge, stay tuned for some great reviews that will hopefully give you some suggestions for your 2010 TBR pile.

2010 Wish I'd Read That Challenge Reviews

This challenge has been moved so please post your challenge review links here.

2010 Romance Reading Challenge Reviews

This challenge has been moved so please post your link reviews here.