Hiatus and Changes

Hey All,

Rio and I are working out some changes and differences. We may be moving. We may part ways.

Either way, one of us will still continue to review, it just may not be here.

Thanks,
Izzy

Herbivore Thursday #1

Me and my guy are vegetarians.... so these are an all time favorite in my house!

Portobello Burgers

Serves: 2

Prep Time: 15 mins

Idle Wait Time: 1-4 hours

Cook Time: 10-15 mins

Ingredients:

• 2 Hamburger Bun Sized Portobello Caps
• 1-2 Cloves Garlic (minced)
• 2-4 Tablespoons Vegetarian Worcestershire Sauce (without anchovies)
• 2 Tablespoons Olive Oil
• 1 Teaspoon Oregano (dried)
• 1 Teaspoon Basil (dried)
• Blue Cheese or Gorgonzola Cheese (amount to taste - can be subbed with other cheese)

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to broil on high.
2. Clean Portobello Caps, remove gills (if desired) and stems. Make several punctures with a fork on the topside of the cap.
3. While the oven is preheating, combine Worcestershire Sauce, Olive Oil, minced Garlic, Oregano, and Basil in a large enough dish for both Portobello Caps to lay flat.
4. Put cleaned Portobello Caps in Worcestershire mixture and spoon mixture over both caps. Allow the caps to marinate top side down in mixture for a minimum of 1 hour. Keep the mixture that is left over once they are done marinating.
5. Broil Portobello Caps top side down for 5 mins.
6. Flip Caps and broil for another 5 mins.
7. Flip Caps once more and fill "stem side" of Caps with cheese (use as much cheese as you would like!) - broil on LOW until cheese is melty to your liking. 
8. Dress your burger how ever you would like. I recommend tomato, lettuce and onion.

Tips:

Keep and eye on the caps while they are in the oven. Make sure they don't dry out. If you notice them drying out, use the reserved marinating mixture to moisten the caps. 

Maybe Monday #1

So... I was traipsing through Amazon.com's Kindle Store and found a few interesting free books.

These are books neither of us have read but are contenders for our Maybe pile.

---

Song of the Fairy Queen
Written by Valerie Douglas

Publication Date: June 22, 2009

Amazon Description:

It's said of Fairy that if you're in dire need and you call their name they'll come. With his castle under siege and young son in his arms, High King Oryan couldn't be in more dire need. With only his High Marshal, Morgan, and a handful of Morgan's men at his back, he has only one direction left to run...up. And only one ally to whom he can turn. Kyriay, the Queen of the Fairy. 

*****

"Laughed, worried and cried at the last battle scene. A pleasure to read. The struggles and triumphs as the The Fairy and the Crown come together to battle and survive. A touching story that will have the most hardened individuals believing in the power of The Fairy and in the power of sacrifice and love.
Read this story.This is definitely a keeper on my Kindle." The Blue Lady

---

The Dark God's Bride (Book 1)
Written by Dahlia Lu

Publication Date: July 19, 2012

Amazon Description:

An ancient god on a destructive path of vengeance...


Imprisoned by the Archangel Lucifer ages ago, Summit, the Dark God, wanted nothing less than equivalent retribution. After breaking free and successfully retaining some splintered shards of his sanity, Summit set out to confront Lucifer. The Archangel was nowhere to be found. He has, however, left behind his most coveted mortal bride. The Dark God stormed into Hell to capture Lucifer's one and only weakness, but inadvertently abducted the wrong female - his own.
A reluctant heroine...
As a mortal raised among the demons inside a floating castle in Hell, Amara's life is not exactly what you would call normal. When she finds herself abducted by a half-mad god, who mistook her for the woman who brought her up, Amara chooses to hide her identity to protect her foster mother at the risk of her own life.

---

To Kill a Warlock (Dulcie O'Neil #1)
Written by H.P. Mallory

Publication Date: July 3, 2010

Amazon Description:

From New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, HP Mallory, Comes: To Kill A Warlock:

The murder of a dark arts warlock. 
A shape-shifting, ravenous creature on the loose.
A devilishly handsome stranger sent to investigate. 
Sometimes working law enforcement for the Netherworld is a real bitch.

Dulcie O’Neil is a fairy. And not the type to frolic in gardens. She’s a Regulator—a law-enforcement agent who monitors the creatures of the Netherworld to keep them from wreaking havoc in the mortal world. 

When a warlock is murdered and Dulcie was the last person to see him alive, she must uncover the truth before she’s either deported back to the Netherworld, or she becomes the next victim. 

Enter Knight Vander, a sinfully attractive investigator sent from the Netherworld to work the case with Dulcie. 

Between battling her attraction to her self-appointed partner, keeping a sadomasochistic demon in check, and fending off the advances of a sexy and powerful vampire, Dulcie’s got her hands full. 

As the body count increases, Dulcie finds herself battling dark magic, reconnoitering in S&M clubs and suffering the greatest of all betrayals. 

If you enjoyed this book, consider signing up for my email distribution list to learn when new books are released! Just visit my website: www.hpmallory.com and click the "contact" tab.

---

Crux (Southern Arcana #1)
Written by Moira Rogers

Publication Date: March 3, 2009

Amazon Description:

To find her destiny, she must trust him with her life…and her heart.

Southern Arcana, Book 1

Jackson Holt makes a decent living as a private investigator in New Orleans, home of one of the largest underground supernatural populations in the United States. He and his partners have never met a case they couldn’t crack…until a local bar owner asks him to do a little digging on her newest hire.

New Orleans is the fourth destination in as many months for Mackenzie Brooks, a woman on the run from a deranged stalker. After all, any man who shows up on her doorstep claiming to be her destined lover has more than a few screws loose. But crazy doesn’t explain why he always finds her no matter how far she runs.

When her well-meaning boss puts a PI on her case, Mackenzie comes face to face with the incredible truth: magic is real, and whatever spell has kept her hidden and separate from the paranormal world is rapidly deteriorating.

With time running out, she has no choice but to trust Jackson as he struggles to uncover the truth of her past—and her destiny.

Line Up #1

So - we've taken a short break to get our heads on straight after a hectic couple of weeks for the both of us. In that time, we've also gotten ourselves a little more organized. We've set some weekly goals, the main one being - We want to post at least two reviews per week. Sunday will be our Weekly Line Up.

Here's what we've got going on this week:

---

Deception (The Vedeine Saga #1)

Written by Ashley Strachan
Reading Source: Author 

Book Description:

With such a fine line between good and evil, how can Amelia find her way in a world that she knows so little about?

After a near death experience, nineteen year old Amelia Powell was changed into a Vedeine. A demon.

Leaving the only home she has ever known in Canada, she is sent to live with others of her kind, in Portland, Oregon. 

Once there, she discovers that things are completely different - absolutely nothing like the woman explained.

And as she uncovers the lies and deception, Amelia begins to truly understand what she has become… and the amazing abilities that she now possesses.

DECEPTION takes you deep into the world of Vedeines (pronounced Ved-EEns), building up the relationships between those in the upper echelon.

---

The Coffee Shop
Written by Lauren Hunter
Reading Source: Author

Book Description:

If Derrick thought experiencing alternate timelines and glimpses into the future was strange, then he had no idea it was about to get a whole lot more strange.

When Derrick Sloane meets Annie Maddock and falls madly in love, he believes he's met the girl of his dreams. Only he then awakes to discover she is exactly that...nothing more than a dream. Disheartened, he goes to the first coffee shop he can find. There he meets Annie. She is at the same table, reading the same book, and he fast realizes his dream has shown him his own future. But when a misstep alters that perfect future he tries to fix it, every attempt only making it worse. 

Dreaming the future can be a nightmare when you see what's coming...but should you still try to change it?

Small Hiatus - But We're Back!!!

As you may have noticed, we took a small hiatus from the blog. I just finished up a grueling summer semester of college, and Rio, well Rio is newly married... can you really blame her for taking some time off when the opportunity presents itself?

So here are some updates:

Reviews Requested and Upcoming:

1. Deception (The Vedeine Saga #1) by Ashley Strachan
2. The Coffee Shop by Lauren Hunter
3. The Visitor's Room by E.H. James
4. Laura by E.H. James
5. Daughter of Hope (Siaris Quartet #1) by Joanna Fay

Shadow Sight Giveaway:

Winners:

Shadow Sight e-book: Katherine A.

Signed Post Card: Tim G.

Private Eye Sticker: Barbara B.

Blog Tour and Upcoming Giveaway:

I'm participating in the Jennifer L. Armentrout Summer Blog Tour - hosted by K-Books

For that I'll be reviewing and gifting a copy of Tempting the Best Man by J. Lynn to the winner of a giveaway. The contest is open to those of you who have the ability to receive gifted e-books from Barnes and Noble (Nook) or Amazon (Kindle). 

Check back soon for my review and details on the giveaway.

We've Got a Winner!!!

Congratulations to Tim G. of Indiana!

Tim won the Signed Shadow Sight Post Card!

Corralled by Lorelei James

Corralled
Written by Lorelei James

Reading Source: Library
Series: Black Top Cowboys
Book #: 1
Genre: Adult, Erotica, Romance
Rating:


Lanie Capshaw has been working the rodeo circuit as a med tech. Not only has she been working out sore muscles for a couple of cowboys, but she's been rubbing out some stiff joints for two cowboys in particular: bullfighter, Hank Lawson and bull rider, Kyle Gilchrist. Caught two timing the unknown to her, best friends, Hank and Kyle approach Lanie with an offer that is too good to refuse.

Hank and Kyle are both unwilling to give up Lanie Capshaw without a fight. When they find out that Lanie has been hitting the sheets with both men, the come up with a plan to see which man Lanie will ultimately choose. They propose to share her, in every way possible. Through this wild ride, Lanie learns which man can really satisfy all her desires.

This book is erotic gold. You get one on one, two on one, vanilla sex, rough sex, sweet gentle love and tender, heartfelt moments. This is the female equivalent to the infamous male "spank bank." What is surprising that despite all of the hot, raunchy, taboo, yummy, orgasmic sex, the plot is still believable to the extent of the "hey, this could happen, maybe, I hope..." kind of believable. Yes, there is romance and the much enjoyed Happily Ever After ending. I really enjoyed this book, and will probably read it again, if not just for the sex scenes.

Body Movers by Stephanie Bond

Body Movers
Written by Stephanie Bond

Reading Source: Library
Series: Body Movers
Book #: 1
Genre: Murder Mystery, Light Romance
Rating:


Carlotta Wren's life is far from perfect. Abandoned by fugitive parents when she was barely an adult and left to fend for herself and her young brother, she's had a rough go of things. Shortly after her parents jump bail, Carlotta's long-time-boyfriend-future-husband, Peter Ashford, leaves her due to the scandal. For the first time, she is truly alone and struggling to survive.

Fast forward ten years, Carlotta and Wesley (her younger brother), have survived into adulthood and are still struggling to survive. Wesley has not been a saint, despite all that Carlotta has sacrificed to make sure they were able to make it this far. Now, Wesley owes a couple of loan sharks a lot of money, but that's not all. While working for commission at Neiman Marcus, Carlotta learns that Wesley has been arrested for hacking into the court computers. The arresting officer, Jack Terry, has also just re-opened her parents case and is showing signs of a take no prisoners attitude, both socially and professionally.

In an effort to help pay off his debts to loan sharks and now the courts, Wesley gets a job moving bodies to the morgue and funeral home with former Hot-Doctor, Cooper Craft. On a night when Wesley needed a ride to a body moving job, Carlotta gets pulled into the fray buy an untimely death, Peter's wife was murdered, and detective Jack Terry isn't so sure that Carlotta didn't have something to do with it.

Generally, I enjoyed the book. I'm hoping as we go along, Carlotta and Wesley gain some common sense. Some of the hang ups and decisions they made really got under my skin. However, I did enjoy the plot and characterization enough to order the next book in the series from the library. I'm a sucker for "love triangles," or in this case, a "love rectangle."

First Grave of the Right by Darynda Jones

First Grave on the Right

Written by Darynda Jones

Reading Source: Library
Series: Charley Davidson
Book #: 1
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Rating: 4.5 Stars

Amazon Book Discription:

Charley sees dead people. That’s right, she sees dead people. And it’s her job to convince them to “go into the light.” But when these very dead people have died under less than ideal circumstances (i.e. murder), sometimes they want Charley to bring the bad guys to justice. Complicating matters are the intensely hot dreams she’s  been having about an Entity who has been following her all her life...and it turns out he might not be dead after all. In fact, he might be something else entirely.This is a thrilling debut novel from an exciting newcomer to the world of paranormal romantic suspense.

My Review:

I loved this book. I can't wait to read the next book in the series. I am forced to preface my review with an outside fact: I am addicted to Stephanie Plum books. That being said - First Grave on the Right is like Stephanie Plum with paranormal activity and then some.

Charley is special. So special that she remembers the day she was born. Well she is the Grim Reaper, what can you really expect. Her ability to see the departed has led her to live a life of crime solving - that's why she's a Private Eye. Along with the help of her Uncle Bob, a detective, and a league of merry ghosts and side characters, Charley sets out to solve a murder chase involving 3 lawyers who were all killed the same night. Mix in the sultry dreams Charley has of a mysterious shadow showing her what the night is really for, and you've got one snarky, paranormal, mystery, urban fantasy book you won't want to put down.

I loved it. There is not much more I can say. The only thing that kept it from a 5 star review - I wasn't always feeling the humor. Don't get me wrong. This was a great book that made me laugh out loud more than once, I just believe that there is a time and a place for snarky humor. Other than that, it was wonderful. Similar to Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum novels, yet so unique. I'll be reading the entire series as if it were my job.

Fantasy Lover by Sherrilyn Kenyon

Fantasy Lover
Written by Sherrilyn Kenyon

Reading Source: Library

Series: Dark Hunter

Book #: 1

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Rating:

Julian of Macedon was imprisoned in a book for invading Alexandria - that's right, Alexandria... Because of his.... impropriety.... he is destined to live out eternity as a sex slave. He had a difficult "mortal" life, but living in the dark seclusion of the book isn't living at all.

Grace Alexander is a sex therapist... without a sex life. For her birthday, Grace has been gifted with an ancient book that is said to house a Greek Sex Slave - all she has to do is say his name three times, and then all of her pent-up-sex-energy can be expelled.Julian of Macedon has been trapped in a book for over 2,000 years. For one month, he can be released from the book to service the needs of the woman who summons him. Only this time is different. Grace is the one woman who can break the curse that has kept Julian a prisoner. 

I enjoyed this book, but the only reason I have read it more than once is for posterity's sake. When I re-read a book that is in a series, I have to read the whole series. The story itself is unique, and I love Grace and Julian. My favorite part of the book is the supporting characters though. They add to the story and keep it going. Unlike most books, there isn't a lot of world building. My thoughts are, this may have been a stand alone book originally. The books to follow are worth the read.

Shadow Sight by E.J. Stevens

Shadow Sight
Written by E.J. Stevens

Reading Source: Author (ARC)
Series: Ivy Granger
Book #: 1
Genre: Urban Fantasy, Mild Paranormal Romance
Rating:



Ivy Granger is far from average. At a young age, she learned that through her touch she could learn about the person, or people, who have been in contact with that item. These aren't idle visions - these are visceral, bone wrenching visions. To outsiders, it would seem that her ability would be a gift. To Ivy, a life with the 'gift' of psychometry  has been torture. Being able to touch even the simplest item, like a pop-tart wrapper, has caused Ivy to isolate herself. She keeps few close to her, namely Jinx her best friend, and Kaye, a bad-ass warrior witch. In light of her 'gift,' Ivy and Jinx have gone into the Private Eye business.

Approached by the Kelpies to find something very dear to them, Ivy and her marry band of 'others,' are sucked into a major threat against the town of Harborsmouth. It is up to Ivy to find what the Kelpies treasure in order to save her community.

I loved reading this book. There was a lot of detail, but given that it is the first book in a series that can only be expected. With the amount of information that is provided, I can only assume that each book hereafter will be detailed and entertaining. It is difficult for me to go into any great detail about the plot itself without giving away key points. The foreshadowing throughout the book is wonderful. Too often I find myself wondering why I am reading a book at all, when I feel as if I am blind through the majority of the story. Not here. Ivy is a complex character who is still growing up. Because of her gift, she has sheltered herself - locked herself away from personal relationships and friendships. By the end of Shadow Sight, you get the feeling that the next book will be another point in Ivy's life where she will be pitted against her fears once again, and will  be all the stronger for it.

Between the 'creepies' and the dynamic between Ivy and Jinx, I couldn't have been more tickled, but then, at the end we are thrown for a loop - I can't wait to read the next book in the series and see what Ivy does with the strings that are daintily, and quite nicely left open.

I giant THANK YOU to E.J. Stevens for giving me another book with lots of monsters (both scary and cute) to run around in my imagination!

House and Garden by Deb Victoroff

House and Garden
Written by Deb Victoroff

Reading Source: Author (ARC)
Genre: Science Fiction, Horror, Short Story
Rating: 3.5 Stars

Amazon Book Description:

Elise, a socially awkward professional single woman finally buys a piece of real estate – a house with a garden – which she feels she can shape to her own desires. Her need to control her surroundings, her fatal flaw, will never be directed to a human partner. Instead she turns her energy toward taming nature.

She feels the dislike of the townsfolk toward the city people who keep buying up the countryside only to domesticate it to city tastes. Are they behind the creeping dangers that assault her at every turn? Or is there some larger malevolent force in play?

An odd-looking real estate agent has sold her the parcel after the previous owners have abruptly abandoned the house, a bungalow with a creepily over-grown garden. As Elise attempts to weed and groom her property, it seems to fight against her. Bugs bite her, thorns pierce her, gardening tools are ripped from her hands and mysteriously disappear.

My Review:

I find that science fiction, often times, makes the best short stories. This one, in particular, was enthralling. The premise of the story was chilling - turning something that everyone has, a yard, into a playground for an unknown force that is assumed to be 'evil.' Buying a home, working in your yard, and playing with your dog should not be something that is normally suspenseful. Within this story, I find that the best part happens to be the subtle hints of paranormal activity that is found in the details. The ending was appropriate for the genre and length, which is sometimes the most difficult part of a short story. A common misconception is that short stories are easier to write because they are short. That simply is not the case. In having a story be purposefully short, the author must have good overall balance within the story. Too much detail and the story becomes cumbersome, too little and it is uninteresting. House and Garden was balanced very well. The detail provided was descriptive enough to keep the reader engaged, but vague enough to allow the imagination to fill in the blanks and make the story larger that it actually was.  This was a very entertaining quick read.

My thanks to Deb Victoroff for the chance to read a thoroughly entertaining story that has made me even more fearful of my shrubs than I already was!

How to Flirt with a Naked Werewolf by Molly Harper

How to Flirt with a Naked Werewolf
Written by Molly Harper

Reading Source: Library

Series: Naked Werewolf

Book #: 1

Genre: Light Paranormal Romance

Rating: 



This was a fun, entertaining, light read where a lonely werewolf and a love-child of hippies learn to accept themselves in the harsh climes of Alaska. Mo is the daughter of Hippies - clingy hippies, that want to control her dietary habits for the sake of her colon. Deciding to get away from the strangle hold - Mo moves to Grundy, Alaska. As a result of being in the right place at the right time, Mo begins working as a short order cook. Her new boss become her best friend in the small town, and things start falling into place for Mo. Until Cooper, a surly, dark haired wilderness guide, shows up naked on her doorstep with a bear trap on his foot. Before conking out, Cooper tells her not to be afraid no matter what she sees. The next thing she knows, she's curled up with a large black wolf with Cooper's eyes.

This was a great quick read. There was humor, suspense, mystery, self-actualization, family squabbles, hippies, revenge, and forgiveness. You'd think with all that it would be crowded - but it was quick and very fun. I grabbed this book because I had read Molly Harper's Jane Jameson series. Everything I have read so far has been quick and fun - a great lazy day book. I'll probably end up reading this again.

Darkness Dawns by Dianne Duvall

Darkness Dawns

Written by Dianne Duvall

Reading Source: Library
Series: Immortal Guardians
Book #: 1
Genre: Paranormal Romance, Vampires
Rating: 4 Stars

Amazon Book Description: In this dazzling, sensual novel, Dianne Duvall beckons readers into a world of vampires, immortals, and humans with extraordinary gifts. . .where passion can last forever, if you're willing to pay the price. . .

Once, Sarah Bingham's biggest challenge was making her students pay attention in class. Now, after rescuing a wounded stranger, she's landed in the middle of a battle between corrupt vampires and powerful immortals who also need blood to survive. Roland Warbrook is the most compelling man Sarah has ever laid hands on. But his desire for her is mingled with a hunger he can barely control. . .

In his nine centuries of immortal existence, no woman has tempted Roland as much as Sarah. But asking her to love him is impossible--when it means forfeiting the world she's always known, and the life he would do anything to protect. . .

My Review:

I really enjoyed this book. I knew what I was getting into with this though. I'm a serial series-reader. The first books are always the roughest book in the series, what with all the need to provide background for the world. I have to give anyone who comes up with a "new world" at least  3 stars - it's not easy to build a back story for not just a couple of characters, but an entire species!

In this new world, vampires are indiscriminate killers and immortals are the one's charged with protecting the humans. You see - vampires and immortals have something in common, they are both the victim of a virus that caused their altered state. The only thing is, immortals were born different - they have a special power, sometimes small, sometimes great, but special nonetheless. When a hunky, naked man is staked, stabbed and strung out to die, Sarah can't sit back and let another living creature die. Welding not but a shovel, Sarah rescues Roland, a powerful immortal. Little does she know that Roland is an immortal, and that saving him will thrust her right in the middle of a mysterious revenge plot against Roland.

Roland is a powerful, yet anti-social  immortal. With a difficult past, both when he was mortal and after he changed - Roland is reluctant to trust anyone. Sarah is different for some reason and Roland is compelled to keep her safe. The only problem is, he has no idea who is seeking revenge against him.

The back story of the Immortals and Vampires is a little vague so far. We know that it is a virus, and that there is no cure. However, we don't know what the oldest immortal, Seth, knows - but it is hinted that we might learn this in the future. Plus we are left with a few other open-endings. They are tasteful cliff hangers, which I appreciate. This story is told in it's entirety - but, the stories of others remain open. The characters were built up to be not only supportive of the main characters, but to give us generalities about them to lead into the next stories.

I can't wait to get the next book from the library. This is a series that I will probably end up buying.

Death's Daughter by Amber Benson

Death's Daughter

Written by Amber Benson

Reading Source: Library
Series: Calliope Reaper-Jones
Book #: 1
Rating:



I was initially cautious to read this book. Amber Benson was an actress on Buffy the Vampire Slayer. I know what you're thinking... "OMG - Is this chick not a Buffy Fan???!!!" Well it's not that I'm not a Buffy Fan (lot's of negatives in that one... sorry...), but I never got into the show. I was into sports and boys and reading books.... I've never really gotten into TV at all. So that being said... on to the good stuff.

I read this book a little bit ago, so it's not going to be very detail oriented.

Calliope Reaper-Jones is your average 20 something trying to live and work in New York City - once you take away the fact that she's Death's daughter. That's right - she's the Grim Reaper's daughter. Long (not too long - but entertaining) story short - Callie has put a forgetting spell on herself so that she can be normal. One bite out of a healthy muffin, and her Dad's assistant broke the charm. Her Dad has been kidnapped and now it is up to Callie to save Death, Inc from the Devil's protege, Daniel. Callie must become Death - to do so, she is in a race against Daniel to complete 3 tasks in order to get the powers of Death, and keep her family immortal, oh yeah - and she has to find out what happened to her father.

Overall, I thought this was a pretty entertaining story. It was a little "valley girl" at times and the romance was a little trite, and all together weird. It was an original concept and at times incredibly amusing. I enjoyed the secondary characters quite a bit, and found that a lot of the humor was contingent on them. I've since read the second book in the series, and intend on reading the third one. This story in particular I listened to on the way to work - that being said - I've heard some complaint on the number of italicized words, but since I did not "read" it, I cannot speak to it. I can say that I may not have enjoyed the book as much if I didn't get to hear it the way Ms. Benson intended the tone to be. She did a very good job on the narration.

The Ice Queen by Alice Hoffman

The Ice Queen

Written by Alice Hoffman

Reading Source: Library
Genre: Fiction, Deep Meanings
Rating:  5 Stars

Amazon Book Description:Be careful what you wish for. A woman who was touched by tragedy as a child now lives a quiet life, keeping other people at a cool distance. She even believes she wants it that way. Then one day she utters an idle wish and, while standing in her house, is struck by lightning. But instead of ending her life, this cataclysmic event sparks a strange and powerful new beginning. After the lightning strike, the chill in her spirit starts to have physical manifestations. She feels frozen from the inside out, and everything red looks as colorless as snow. Hearing of a fellow lightning-strike survivor - a man who was apparently dead for forty minutes, then simply got up and walked away - she goes in search of him. Perhaps Lazarus Jones, as he is known, can teach her to live without fear. He turns out to be her perfect opposite, a man whose breath can boil water and whose touch scorches. As an obsessive love affair begins between them, both hide their most dangerous secrets - what happened in the past that turned one to ice and the other to fire. And everyone in her fragile network of friends and family will be drawn into the conflagration of their joining. Alice Hoffman has written a magical story of passion, loss, and renewal. With a spareness and immediacy that only a master could achieve, she illuminates the bonds and mysteries that connect mother and daughter, sister and brother, woman and man.

My Review: 

When I picked up this book, I was expecting something totally different. After all, I had searched for "paranormal romance," I guess I didn't include 'special quirks due to natural disaster' as paranormal activity. That is my only real gripe with this book, and it's not even something the author did, it was my library's fault.... After reading the description of the book (as you can also read above...) I was intrigued. I borrowed the book anyway. By no means did I expect to find a new "favorite" book.

Notes:

• I find myself wanting to summarize the entire book for you - I loved it that much. Here is my compromise: I will warn you that I may say something to giveaway an important point - but I am trying not to. I just love this book and cannot help but to gush like a crazed fan girl. 
• The narrator is never named, therefore I view her to be the namesake of the book. So I will refer to her as "the Ice Queen" rather than some ambiguous title.  

This book was deep and though provoking. It deals with death and it makes it beautiful. Every stage of grief is covered, not in a short period of time, but throughout the course of the Ice Queen's life. Being struck by death at a very young age has shaped her core self, and has caused a coldness to consume the Ice Queen. After being struck by lightening, she has a physical manifestation of the mental limitations she has placed upon herself. The mental limitations are subconscious to her "adult self" but were most likely purposeful by the "child self".

As the Ice Queen grows in age, her mental limitations become second nature and therefore, are not noticeable to her. The people who care for her deeply, namely a Police Captain and the Ice Queen's grandmother, can see that  she is not "living" and try urging her to drop her barriers. However, she simply cannot see the problem. Then tragedy strikes twice in a short period and she is forced to see her mental barriers as physical manifestations.

The growth and emotion in this novel are fantastic. This is the kind of book that forces you too look at a subject that is often misunderstood and feared. It makes it into something that is still a tragedy, but that can be seen as a blessing. I helps provide an image of the "big picture" -- the cycle of life and rebirth.

And the Winner Is...

Barbara B. from KS.

Barbara is the lucky winner the Shadow Sight Private Eye Sticker!

Congratulations Barbara!!!

"Welcome to Harborsmouth, where monsters walk the streets unseen by humans…except those with second sight. 

Whether visiting our modern business district or exploring the cobblestone lanes of the Old Port quarter, please enjoy your stay. When you return home, do tell your friends about our wonderful city—just leave out any supernatural details. Don’t worry—most of our guests never experience anything unusual. Otherworlders, such as faeries, vampires, and ghouls, are quite adept at hiding within the shadows. Many are also skilled at erasing memories. You may wake in the night screaming, but you won’t recall why. Be glad that you don’t remember—you are one of the fortunate ones. If you do encounter something unnatural, we recommend the services of Ivy Granger, Psychic Detective. Co-founder of Private Eye detective agency, Ivy Granger is a relatively new member of our small business community. Her offices can be found on Water Street, in the heart of the Old Port. Miss Granger has a remarkable ability to receive visions by the act of touching an object. This skill is useful in her detective work, especially when locating lost items. Whether you are looking for a lost brooch or missing persons, no job is too small for Ivy Granger—and she could certainly use the business. We can also provide, upon request, a list of highly skilled undertakers. If you are in need of their services, then we also kindly direct you to Harborsmouth Cemetery Realty. It’s never too early to contact them, since we have a booming “housing” market. Demand is quite high for a local plot—there are always people dying for a place to stay." 

Slight Delay

I'm a little behind due to Midterms!

I will announce the Winner of the Shadow Sight Private Eye Sticker tonight!!!!

New Reviewer = Changes

Hey all,

With school being so consuming for me, I've asked my friend Riona to help me out with contributing to the site. She's been away from the book scene for a while... she was recently married and spending time with the  new hubby.... so no one can really blame her for disappearing for while...

Who knows when she'll be posting, but when she starts, we will be discussing changing the name of the site...

Since I'm new to the blogosphere - changing the name at this point won't be too drastic. After all, variety is the spice of life and all that jazz....

See ya!
Izzy

Seduced By Shadows by Jessa Slade

Seduced By Shadows 

Written by: Jessa Slade

Reading Source: Library
Series: Marked Souls
Book #: 1
Genre: Adult Paranormal Romance
Rating:


At first, I was reluctant to select this book -- I had never really read a "demon romance" before. However, I picked it up anyway, not wanting to be a book snob... and I made the right choice. This book has an whole new world that I've never seen in a book before - granted I haven't read the entire genre... but I've read quite a few.


Sera Littlejohn deals with death daily, she's an end of life councilor. Now she's dealing with it in her own life; Sera was seriously injured and subsequently handicapped by a car accident. And this isn't she's come close to death. Her past is the reason for her future, Sera Littlejohn is demon possessed.


Ferris Archer is part of a League of Warriors that fight the "bad demons." When he discovers that Sera is the newly possessed, he feels the need protect her, to warn her of her future. He's willing to keep her safe at all costs.


I really enjoyed this book. The characters are fun and detailed. The story-line is great! This was emotional, suspenseful, fresh and totally worth reading. I might even read it again.

Adjustments

I am in the process of applying structure to my reviews! Things will be changing slightly over the next few days!

What's in a review?:

• Book Title (Links to Good Reads book page)
• Book Author (Links to Good Reads Author Page)
• Reading Source (Library, Purchased, ARC/For Review)
• Series Information, if any
• Star Rating - 1 through 5
• Review
• Honest opinion of the book
• My feelings toward the book/character

The reviews themselves will vary depending on my mood. Some will be a summary of the plot and my over all feelings, others will be strewn with random tangents and metaphors.

I will not pull punches, but I will never be outright mean. If I do not like a book, I will explain why. If you do not agree with this policy, you should not request a review.

My Rating System:

Freaking Amazing. This is my new favorite book!

Awesome. I'll be reading this again.

Really Good. I might read this again.

Good. Fun/Entertaining Read.

OK. Worth reading.

Could be better.

Could be much better.

Did Not Enjoy.

Really Did Not Enjoy.

One Foot in the Grave by Jeaniene Frost

One Foot in the Grave 

Written by Jeaniene Frost

Reading Source: Library
Series: Night Huntress
Book #: 2
Genre: Adult Paranormal Romance
Rating:


This is the second in the Night Huntress Series.

Fast forward four years... Cat is now a special agent for a secret branch of the FBI. They focus on hunting down rogue vampires. She's now known as the Red Reaper and a lot of Vamps don't like her. Needless to say Cat's being hunted... that's right... by a Vamp that likes to collect "rare" objects.... and let me tell you - Cat's pretty rare. But wait! There's more... someone else is trying to kill her. Someone that knows who she was before she became the Red Reaper.

After running away from Bones four years earlier in an attempt to save his life and protect her mother she is forced back into the company of Bones in an effort to save her life.

Things start slowish - but everything is good in this book. I definitely would read Halfway to the Grave before reading this. You really need to know the back story to understand this book.

But let me say - Chapter 32. If you read the book you cannot disagree that that chapter is HOTT. Its the best sex scene I've read in a book ever... I've never wanted to be a leading lady so much in my life....

As I said above... the crazy who is hunting Cat is two fold... Ian - Bones' sire - is trying to lure her in to have her in his line as a rare sex object. And the one who is trying to kill her is her father! We learn here that Max (her father)not only scared the crap out of Justina (Cat's mom) after boffing her in the back of a car... [he told her (and I'm paraphrasing here) that he was demon spawn and that he was soulless.] but was also sired by Ian!

Halfway to the Grave by Jeaniene Frost

Halfway to the Grave 

Written by Jeaniene Frost

Reading Source: Library
Series: Night Huntress
Book #: 1
Genre: Adult Paranormal Romance
Rating:


I have to say this started off kind of slow in my honest opinion. However, once you really got into the book it was awesome.

Cat is a halfbreed. Half human, half vampire. Jaded by her mother's (Justina) view of vampires, she sees herself as half evil. In an attempt to get her mother's affection, she starts hunting vampires - at 16 years old!

I don't remember exactly how old she was when the book started... 22 maybe? but its around that time when she goes into an area bar to lure away her next kill. That's when she meets Bones - and this is when things get interesting...

She didn't get Bones away from the bar the first night... but did get another vampire, one that Bones, a vampire bounty hunter, was after. Unknown to Cat she was followed by Bones, who saw the whole episode. The next night she goes back to that same bar where Bones takes her up on her original "offer". Things don't go the way Cat would have expected with Bones, and she finds herself captive his Bones' "lair". This is where it REALLY gets good.

Bones trains Cat on how to kick serious Vamp Butt and the novel just progresses and gets better from there. Needless to say there is a romance between Cat & Bones - which is awesome.

I recommend this Author and series to anyone who likes Vamp books.