Terra Nova Premiere Review SPOILERS

I realized that I wanted to review some stuff I watch (also, I'm bored and have lots of free time since the hubs is at a training class this week in a city 6 hours from here) so here goes:

So, I really wish I would have written a blog post for this show before it started, because I have some mixed feelings about the synopsis I read about it. But after watching this series premiere, I do have to say I am hooked to watch the next episode and possibly more episodes in the future. The whole premise of humans living alongside dinosaurs just makes me happy. Jurassic Park has remained one of my favorite movies since that epic night roughly 18 years ago when my parents took me to watch it in the theatre and I became the talk of the patrons...for my terror was apparent, but I love that terror and by the end of the movie I cheering with all other satisfied patrons over the movie experience we just shared.

***~SO STOP READING NOW IF YOU DON'T WANT TO READ SPOILERS ABOUT TERRA NOVA~***

So, it starts with the human race on Earth 100 years in the future (may be more, I was engrossed), and what scientists predict now has basically happened. The sky is a shade of thick greyish brown, no trees. People must wear filtering masks when out of their oxygen controlled housing units. The super rich have the opportunity to live in domes where the engineering has made parts of earth livable, but it isn't somehing that appeals to the Shannon family. Jim Shannon played by Jason O'Mara is a cop turned criminal since he and his wife decided to have a 3rd child (population control is made apparent in the first few minutes as investigators knock on the door of the family's apartment saying they have reports of criminal activity, the family hides the child, Zoe Shannon played by Alana Mansour). Jim Shannon gets put in jail and his family goes on without him. He is in prison for 2 years of his 6 year sentence when his wife, Elisabeth Shannon played by Shelley Conn gets word that she has been recruited to go Terra Nova, but she can only bring her two legal children, Josh Shannon played by Landon Liboiron and Maddy Shannon played by Naomi Scott. The recruiters won't let her bring Zoe. She visits Jim in prison and gives he a filter mask with some sort of laser hidden inside of it so that he can escape. As the family is leaving you see Josh saying goodbye to a girl about his age and you get the feeling they were in love. Then, as the family is cleared, you are seeing bits of Jim heading towards the compound where the time travel happens. He meets with an unknown man and retreives a large bag in which you realize is holding little Zoe. I felt very attached to this family from the start because I can't say that if these circumstances were in my way, my family would find a way to do exactly what the Shannon family did. As the family is walking across a bridge that apparently leads through the portal of time travel, the security team notices that something is wrong due to some video footage from a few minutes earlier and approaches Jim asking him to step out of the line. At this point, Elisabeth exchanges bags with Jim so that she is now carrying the large bag. Jim tells them to keep going and steps out of line to speak with the security officer. This goes on with the family getting through the portal and Jim punching the officer in the nose and jumping through the portal into a jungle. Everyone in this scene is having breathing problems and there are medical professionals and security teams all around the group of settlers who have just passed through the portal. A security member sees Jims gun and immediately reacts, this part is  a little chaotic as people are yelling and Jim and Elisabeth are still suffering the effects of time travel all while trying to get Zoe out of the large bag.

From here, the security team is just more anxious to get everyone to the settlement compound that is called Terra Nova. So, they lead the group through the perimeter gate which to my dinosaur infested mind thinks is insufficient. I mean, come on. Dinosaurs! Anyway, the travelers get a small speech from Commander Nathaniel Taylor (my maiden name, lol) played by Stephen Lang. Elisabeth and Jim are escorted to the commanders office where a giant dinosaur skull serves as the legs to his desk (I do believe I have found my next 'I Want That' item). They discuss Elisabeth's profession which turns out is basically doctor, given that she is an -ologist in a ridiculous amount of fields of medicinal and biological studies. Commander Taylor lets them know that Elisabeth would be a great asset to the settlement and sends her on her way. Short and sweet, he tells Jim that he doesn't give a crap about the population laws of the future, cause this place is different and assigns him to agricultural duties. The family gets escorted to their new living quarters and there is a level of tension and awkwardness as the family hasn't truly been together in two years. This scene ends with our first peek at the first dinosaurs of the show. CGI brachiosaurs (sp?) eat leaves from Zoe's hands over the fence. The CGI was not bad at all. Higher caliber than Sci-Fi Channel, yet not as good as the CGI yoda in the newer Star Wars movies. (Sorry, I had to throw my all time favorite movies out there in this post...just had to)

After this commercial break, it appears to be the next day and the parents go off to their duties and the children go to orientation. Maddy is super educated on all things Terra Nova so she spouts off some information about a statue she sees of the probe that was sent through the time fracture before Terra Nova was formed. Josh is bored and pissed off about leaving his giflfriend behind and takes off to explore. Josh meets another teenage girl Skye played by Allison Miller and she intrigues him enough to follow her. He meets a few other teens and they go OTG (outside the gate). Teens have to find some way to break the rules, it's just how they are. Haha...I know not all teens do, but in my experience, A LOT do. 

You get to see Jim at work in this area of the show, and he is just assigned to chopping weeds off the gate...he encounters a giant centipede-like bug and falls off the fence in terror. He laughes and gets back to work. Elisabeth is shown working and she has to remove what looks like a ginormous tick off of some dudes back. So, basically the bugs are huge there. Bleh!

From here, you see Josh hanging out with the other teens and Skye shows him some strange markings on some rocks by a waterfall. They look geometric he says. They go find a stash of moonshine and end up sitting down by some pond to cut up more fruit for the moonshine distiller. Inside Terra Nova, Elisabeth's life is threatened by a prisoner who was injured in which a security member says in a sixer (All members of the sixth pilgrimage turned against Terra Nova and are now living out in the jungle). Jim ends up saving Commander Taylors life by apprehending the sixer before he points a gun in his direction. After this, Commander Taylor takes Jim on a ride outside the gate and tells him he has earned a spot in security. On their way back, sixers lead some carnisaurs towards Terra Nova and Commander Taylor has to divert the dinos attention. After that, they confront the sixers inside the gate and end up giving them their bad guy that tried to assassinate Cmdr. Taylor and some medical supplies. They leave but steal the power cells of the teens transport on their way out. They are hit by Slashers (type of dino with serated tail that they can whip), and are stranded.

The teens make it back to their vehicle and realize their power cells are gone and notice the sixer vehicle close by. They investigate and get ambushed by Slashers and jump inside the sixer vehicle. At this time, you see Cmdr. Taylor speaking with Jim about footage of Josh leaving the compound. They form a search party and head outside the gate to find them. They find the teens, save their lives and get them back to Terra Nova.

The show ends with some interesting twists that will have me anxiously waiting for next week. It turns out that Skye is kind of an adopted daughter of Cmdr. Taylors and he makes sure she stayed away from the waterfalls because he claims the Slashers live there. Then you see the leader of the sixers sitting on the rocks with the markings talking with one of her fellow sixers. Their dialogue here really impressed me. The leader of the sixers Mira played by Christine Adams says that Cmdr. Taylors missing son is the culprit behind the markings on the rocks and he does it to show his father that he knows the truth. Then she says the truth is that Terra Nova basically isn't what the settlers think it is. They believe it is the same planet, same time as what they were told, but in a different time stream so that things that happen while they're their won't impact the future in any way, but she basically stomps that into the ground by saying Terra Nova is the same time stream and the reason is to change the future in some way. They do not let you know in what way they wish to change the future, but now you know they're messing with the past to change the future.

I basically expressed most of my thoughts about the happenings in the show in my synopsis, but I still want to touch on a few of my favorite things. In the beginning, Jim brings home a brown bag secretly as he walks to his apartment. What is inside the bag is what tells you how bad off the planet is other than the shots you get of the dying planet. An orange is in the bag and the famil is so delighted when they see it, it makes you sad and for me, I craved an orange. There are many other ways they were able to show how bad the planet had become...Zoe later on in Terra Nova says, "Are those clouds?" A five year old girl that has never seen clouds before. And in the end, Zoe gets very scared when she walks outside the house to see a huge grey/white ball in the sky. She thinks it is going to crash into them and they explain that it is the moon and that it hasn't been visible on Earth since the parents were very young children.

Now, before, I really had a problem thinking that they would send people back in time to a period before the mass extinction of the dinos, meaning humans would go extinct when that happened also, but they threw me when they explained that the time fracture, which is what they travel through, was accidentally discovered and they had no idea what time period it would take them to. Also, they explain that it is same planet, different time stream meaning that nothing they do will affect the future. I became okay with this idea after that was explained, but after the last few minutes of the show, I am right back where I started...So, they did go back in time to the same time stream they were in anyway. I really don't know where this is going to go, but I will be watching, because well...I love Sci-Fi and dinos, time travel and futuristic weapons.

Tune in to Terra Nova Mondays at 8pm PST on FOX.

It's Been A While...

So, you know that song in the 90's that starts off, "It's Been A While"? Well, please play this song over and over in your head as you read this blog post. It will be somewhat short, but that is the song that was playing in my head as I wrote it. LOL

Basically, It has been a loooooooooo o to the infinity power since I have blogged and I'm at a point where I'm not exactly sure what I really want to blog about anymore. I'm basically anonymous to some people when it concerns my private life, but there are things I would like to share, so I may share things about my personal life from time to time.

I coupon a lot so I've been thinking of sharing some of my scores and ways that I coupon to maximize my savings seeing as how I coupon in California at this current time and there is no way that I could get an $800 grocery bill down to $6.00...it's just not possible in this state. I have been able to get $400 worth of groceries for $150.00 which is still pretty daamn good in my book. Anyway, it's hard in California, but I find a way to do it to maximize my savings and stock up on things we need around the hizzle.

I just completed my first college course, so I am geared up for that, but since this community is poverty-striken, the college I attend has a system of priority sign-ups. It really gripes me because since I am paying for my own education and not receiving any financial aid at all, I get last priority. The funny thing with this is the ones that get free college here, as I know from seeing it with my own two eyes, only register in the classes to get their free money, then never attend or drop, but by the time they are able to drop and still get the money, I am SOL at even having a chance to get into the class. I won't go into how screwed up this is for someone like me at this time, but it just really sucks. I do have options if I want to travel for every class, but that is not possible at this time, so I just have to work at getting into the classes...Oh, I figured that nursing would be the fastest and easiest career to choose at this point since I have waited so long to choose. I find living people disgusting (Would much rather be my first choice career since high school: Forensic Pathologist, but that would take up to 12 years or more), the though of enimas, catheters, and complaining drives me nuts, but I can put stuff aside if the money is decent and actually move on to a more fitting career with the education I will get in nursing. I'm not going with an accelerated course, so hopefully, moving on later in my career will be easier.

There's the writing thing that has sorta taken the backburner at this time...every time I sit down to write, I go blank. I have a novel that is nearly complete sitting in my files that I just haven't been able to go back and finish. I have several started (4 or 5 chapters written) and I can't seem to push myself to get going on those, but I would like to very soon which may happen with a family move scenario that is currently in the works.

Reading...well, I've been able to push myself to get through some novels lately, but not my normal pace. It's strange that for so long I was reading 3 to 5 novels a week and just all of a sudden stop. Well, I figure that I just got burnt out on it and needed a break, but the strange thing is, I can't get that routine back. Things around the house occupy my time differently now and it's difficult to get there again when it comes to reading.

I've been thinking of reviewing products that I try just for fun, a way to get myself writing something again. If I have to start small, then start small and work my way up to finishing that ever-elusive middle of the book on my number one novel.

Been home-schooling the kidlet, not as consistent as I'd like, but better than what most kids get. The reason for this is because he is preschool age, yet in the poverty-striken community I live in, preschool is only for the poor or super rich as the mixture in this area is mostly from those two classes. Nothing for the middle class, so we are left with nothing and my trying to figure the best way to prepare him for kindergarten next year. And with that the terror strikes as I know that he will be whisked away by tiny little brats soon...LOL I know not all kids are brats, but if you knew my personality, I'm just THAT way. Anyway, I do believe that I have at least instilled the want to learn in him and started him on the correct path to be above average in school. I would love to have him reading before he starts and well, I can definitely see that happening in the next year so yay!

My family might be moving if all goes well. I wouldn't state where to or why or how since only those close to me should know since my private life takes a more private stance when it comes to blogging, but it's something we have wanted for a while now and I believe the next step for our family.

Let's see what else...Oh, I'm on a dieting program with a Nutritionist and so far I have lost 12 pounds. I do believe I am on the right track for excellent loss in the next 6 months, and the fact that I am currently kicking my own ass with P90X is helping. Tony Horton, I hate you, but I thank you as well. :)

I really don't know what else to touch on at this current time, only that very soon, I will be posting more book reviews and who knows what else the future of this blog holds. I may even start posting some writing, since I don't think it will ever go anywhere in the world. LOL

My First Mixed Drink Post: My Own Creation...The Tropical Depression

The Tropical Depression

Okay, so here will be my first post on mixed drinks...I'm new to this and I have no idea what the people want, if anyone will read this, or what format would best suit this type of post, so here goes...Make comments if you want more information on this post or for future posts about mixed drinks.



(Note: There is an ingredient missing in the picture of this mixed drink...sadly, it is due to my haste in getting shoved off of the Space Mountain ride at Disneyland that I left my Nikon camera with all of my families photos of Disneyland and meeting my new nephew in the bag of the ride. Whoever took it is a douche and I don't even care about the camera anymore, I can get a new one, but I can't remake those photos...It was my sons first trip to Disneyland and all we have is one photo of him with Mickey. We had many photos of him at Disneyland and all I would really want is for that damn SD card to be mailed to me or downloaded to a computer and emailed to me. Anyway, I have everything the person would need to actually make the camera work, the software for the puter, the battery charging pod, and the transfer cable. Of course, you can get these anywhere, but I'm going to sell them on ebay and see who buys them! Mwah hahahaha! Hopefully, I can at least get my pictures back! Also, I am sorry about the poor quality of this photo as I had to take it with my cell phone camera.)

Anyway, back to the drink...I probably won't be doing much research with this sort of thing as what I will buy and put together should be found at any liquor/grocery store...and be somewhat cheap in regards to alchohol, as we know can run incredibly expensive for the good stuffs.

This one, I named about four different times (settled with Tropical Depression) and when mixed correctly creates a very depressing shade of grey. (Most would call it depressing, I call it refreshing as I love storms)

So, here's what I used and the recipe on how to make this cheap, yet delicious drink that I truly enjoy.

What you need:

An 8oz. glass

A fashionable bendy straw

Ice cubes

A bottle of Boone's Farm Blue Hawaiian ($2.99-$4.00)

A bag of Malibu's Rum Punch ($16.00-$18.00)

A bottle of Jose Cuervo's Non-Alcoholic Margarita Mix ($8.00-$12.00)

A bottle of Cranberry-Pomegranite Juice ($2.00-$4.00)

(All prices are dependent upon where you'd shop.)

I used an 8oz. highball glass to mix this drink.

How to mix it:

Fill the glass with 3-4 ice cubes.

Add 2oz. of Boone's Farm Blue Hawaiian.

Add 1oz. of Malibu Rum Punch (Not Pictured).

Add a half shot of Jose Cuervo's Non-Alcoholic Margarita Mix.

Fill the remaining space with Cranberry Pomegranite Juice (My choice is Ocean Spray, but the store was out, so I settled for Langers. Ocean Spray's 100% Juice is the best choice.).

Put a fashionable bendy straw in the glasss and use it to stir.

Voila, a cheap, yet delicious drink for those hot summer days when all you want is a lovely storm...on the beach.
And...the great thing about this drink is that I didn't get any sort of hangover or icky feeling the next morning after downing about four of these after a very stressful day. How awesome is that?

You're Invited to The Romance Reviews Site Grand Opening Extravaganza!

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Kat Martin, Beth Kery, Susan Lyons, Madison Blake, Ashley March, Karen Rose Smith, LK Rigel, Gini Rifkin, Sandra Edwards, Grace Elliot, Suzanne Barrett, Jessica Chambers, Maeve Greyson, Sable Hunter, Josie Arlington, Tanya Stowe, Laura Tolomei, Kristen Painter, Renee Rearden, Elaine Cantrell, Susanna Ives, Amy Corwin, Keta Diablo, Suzette Stone, Suzanne Tyrpak, TL Schaefer, Monique Martin, Kari Gregg, Susan Meier, Laura Moore, Susan Roebuck, Kathy Carmichael, Brita Addams, KT Grant, Winslow Eliot, Ingela F. Hyatt, Jan Scarbrough, Victoria Blisse, Sharon Buchbinder, PG Forte, Bronwyn Storm, Patricia Preston, Alice Gaines, Cate Rowan, Ann Tracy, Marr Joan, Beth Erickson, Tara Lain, Terri Reid, L.J. McDonald, Lucinda Brant, Eden Baylee, Hayley B. James, Jason W. Chan, Pat Amsden, Elle James, Linda Mooney, Beth Trissel, Viviane Brentanos, Morgan Rice, Rita Hestand, Mahalia Levey, LK Below, Gale Stanley, Sarah J. Bradley, Joanne Troppello, Rhonda L. Print, Pamela Jackson, Jenny Schwartz, Mary Manners, Eve Silver, Jennifer Crusie, T.C. Archer, Jocelyn Modo, Sloan Parker, Kerri Williams, Stacey Espino,  Heather Matthews, Marcia James, Cherie De Sues, Savannah Chase, Simone Eden, Lauren Fraser, Annie Nicholas, JoAnne Kenrick, E.D. Walker, Rachel Haimowitz, HP Mallory, Suzanne Rock, Andrea Speed, Elle Amery, Nichelle Gregory, Eden Bradley, Shermaine Williams, Berengaria Brown, Tina Donahue, Taryn Kincaid, Red Haircrow, Virginia Cavanaugh, Hailey Edwards, Elle Druskin, Rachel Brimble, Frances Pauli, Nancy J Cohen, Tarah Scott, Em Petrova, Heather Wardell, Cara Marsi, CJ Archer, Mary Eason, Skhye Moncrief, Jana Richards, Jill James, Alison Chambers, LoRee Peery, Gail Pallotta, Alison Henderson, Nicki Greenwood, Alianne Donnelly, Tiffany Ashley, Michael Davis, Gem Sivad, Stacy Juba, Tory Richards, Darcia Helle, LaVerne Clark, Sibel Hodge, Ashley Ladd, Jennifer Labelle, Elaine Hopper, Victoria Howard

My Review at The Romance Reviews Site: Wicked Intentions by Elizabeth Hoyt

Link: http://www.theromancereviews.com/viewbooksreview.php?bookid=307

Title: Wicked Intentions

Author: Elizabeth Hoyt

Rating: 5 Stars

Publisher: Grand Central Publishing

Release Date: August 2010

Genre: Historical Romance

Lord Caire doesn't care about anyone or anything, although when Mrs Dews catches his eyes late one night on the dirty, crime-riddled streets of St. Giles, an idea strikes. He could use Mrs Dews to help him get information to solve a crime that happened very close to him, as close as anyone could have ever gotten.

Lord Caire, or Lazarus, petitions Mrs Dews to help him navigate the streets of St. Giles in order to find the brutal murderer of his mistress, Marie. She was the only one that even came close to being someone that Lazarus cared about. Mrs Dews accepts only because Lazarus promises to help her find a patron to contribute to the foundling home that she and her brother, Winter, run. Mrs Dews lives in the foundling home on Maiden Lane in St. Giles and, in order to save some of the children she takes care of, she has learned to find her way around St. Giles.

The only catch is that it will be a perilous mission to find the killer. The streets of St. Giles are very dangerous and there is a rumor floating around of a masked phantom that stalks people in the night and disembowels them. Also, they have to go at night as that's when the bad people come out to play. After visiting a few of the most scandalous places in St. Giles, they come up with very little evidence and only one suspicious person.

It's time for Lazarus to take Mrs Dews to an event in order to help her find a patron for the foundling home. He accompanies her to a musical evening but Mrs Dews feels she doesn't belong amongst this class of people. She meets Lazarus's mother who is not the picture of nice. She is rather rude! However, once the piano starts to play, Mrs Dews is totally absorbed in the music.

This is the first real intimate moment between the two mains as Temperance (Mrs Dews) grips Lazarus's hand, closes her eyes and feels the music. Lazarus hasn't seen anything like this before and is mesmerized by her. As the pages flip by, the reader is taken into the investigation and the danger heats up, as they get closer to the killer. We learn about the main characters' pasts as their love story unfolds. There is an injury which has Temperance taking care of Lazarus and this helps to move their romance forward. There are a few sticky situations and as much action as any action novel, only better, because it is set in a time that most of us can only dream about.

The descriptions of St. Giles in this book had me shivering, hoping that I'd never ever have to step foot in a place like that, though craving the danger, as a rush, alongside a handsome, smart-talking, quick-witted man such as Lord Caire. I was able to picture the small city streets and alleyways with ease because, in my opinion, Elizabeth Hoyt is a master of all facets of writing. The descriptions of the twisted, ugly scoundrels, that walk the streets and sit in the gin bars, really grossed me out but added to the danger of the whole situation that Temperance and Lazarus get themselves involved in.
The romance in this story is sizzling but the tension between the two mains from the beginning is excruciating. It's there, but it is very slow building. Lord Caire speaks to Temperance in ways that no man has ever dared to speak to her before. In some novels the woman would be disgusted, but Temperance feigns the disgusted act, though his words are taunting and, though she didn't want to admit at first, arousing. She hides an embarrassing secret about her past, one that makes her feel the need to atone for the rest of her life. Something that makes her believe she should never again enjoy the company of a man. Lazarus holds his own secret, deep in his past, which makes him believe he is a monster. Through working together, they gradually divulge their secrets to one another and eventually learn what it takes to get past certain things that would make a person feel undeserving of happiness.

This book was such a fun and interesting read. I have always enjoyed Elizabeth Hoyt's writing and will continue to enjoy it in the future. The next book in the series is Notorious Pleasures set to release February 2011 and I cannot wait to read it. The first chapter was included at the end of this novel and it seems like a great read that will have the reader blushing every other paragraph. With Wicked Intentions, Ms Hoyt has set up a whole mystery with the masked phantom. I can't wait to find out who it is, even though I already have my own assumptions as to who is hiding behind that mask. She has also set up a whole new series that will have this reader purchasing the books as they come out, preordering as a matter of fact!

My Review at The Romance Reviews Site: Seducing the Duchess by Ashley March

Link: http://www.theromancereviews.com/viewbooksreview.php?bookid=769

Title: Seducing the Duchess

Author: Ashley March

Rating: 5 Stars

Publisher: Signet Eclipse

Release Date: October 2010

Book Genre: Historical Romance

Ever wonder about that couple in historical romance books where they seem to have married for convenience, the man off to see his mistress all the time, and the woman acting the harlot? This book gives you a look at one of those non-main character couples. And wow, was it awesome!

Philip Burgess, Duke of Rutherford, wed his wife, Charlotte, simply for revenge against his once best friend—her brother—for stealing his fiancée. Though he tried to act the part of not falling for Charlotte, it is clear that he did and a few years into their marriage, he decides that he is ready to love her the way she should be loved, the way he can love her. Only problem is, she is hurt from his betrayal, the fact that he acted as though he loved her, then told her it was all for revenge, so she acts the harlot, out late nights at clubs adorned in very revealing dresses, sitting on the laps of other higher class men. So, with this problem, Philip does the only thing that he thinks will make a difference; he kidnaps her, in front of a whole room full of men and takes her to his estate out in the country.

At the estate, it becomes a battle as very soon, both characters realize that they still do love each other, but there were just major obstacles to overcome in the way. The entrance of a key character, Philip's ex-fiancée, adds some spice to the story with some acting shows with Philip in front of Charlotte. Finally, Philip gives up on the games and decides that Charlotte means too much to him. All the while, he had made a proposition to Charlotte to grant her a divorce if she lets him try to woo her for the duration of three months. In the end, Philip has to make a choice to set his love free if she is to love him back.

The descriptions of the countryside, a harvest festival, and the manor that are in the story were my favorite. They were so vivid and I could picture them exactly as they were written. The romance in this story is awesome. Most wouldn't be interested in a story that involves forgiveness, but the romance in this story was very interesting to me in the fact that the hero and heroine were already together at the start of the book. It was such a different take on a romance and I felt like I was there with the characters trying to whisper in their ears to just get over themselves and be together! The author did a wonderful job of conveying each character's emotions, because I felt them as I read them as well.

The situations in this book were extremely believable given the time period that this book is written in. It was very interesting to read the story of ‘that' couple from other historical romance books. I would always wonder how those other characters would fare and how their lives were led. Fortunately, this story seemed to turn out way better than any of those than I would imagine. It ended up being a wonderful and beautiful love story of falling in love again, forgiveness, and what love can repair in any relationship.

I would definitely recommend this book to anyone that enjoys a great historical romance read full of wit and funny situations, but also those that like a good romantic read. I will definitely be anxiously awaiting anything that Ashley March turns out in the future.

My Review at The Romance Reviews Site: Damaged Cargo by Sandra Sookoo

Link: http://www.theromancereviews.com/viewbooksreview.php?bookid=231

Title: Damaged Cargo

Author: Sandra Sookoo

Rating: 5 Stars

Publisher: Purple Sword Press

Release Date: September 2010

Genre: Erotic Fantasy Romance, Romantic Science Fiction/Futuristic, Steampunk Romance

Those who enjoy a strong, independent, cold-as-ice female lead, an equally arrogant and sexy male lead, and plenty of science fiction space adventure will love this novel.


While at port in Nazurlara, Space Pirate and Captain of the Wraith Orchid Emma runs smack dab into Tarik Vartouth who has troublemaker written all over him. Tarik is the Premier's son and is sick of the oppression that the Premier has bestowed upon the people with genetic testing programs that include death as a consequence if you can't turn out a "perfect" child. Tarik is a part of the Underground Resistance bent on killing the Premier and taking back the planet. All they need is a ship and since Tarik has met Emma, he has decided to commandeer the Wraith Orchid. Once on board, he gets to know icy Emma and her crew and realizes they run as a family, even though some may not know it, and it twinges in his guts that he has to take over the ship. But what lies ahead of him when he decides the time has come to take command of the ship?

The romance in this story was very tense and took a while to bloom, though I did like being up-to-date with some of the minor characters' love lives and their pasts. I really liked that Emma has a really hard time trusting anyone, not just because she has been betrayed before, but for the simple fact that if she lets anyone in, they may not be there forever; loosely translated, she has lost so many important people in life that she just doesn't want to go through it again. Though Tarik almost forces his way in, you can see Emma slowly trust him and use him to let some of her past go. It's a beautiful budding romance, even though, at times, they seem to hate each other. What's really awesome is that Tarik seems like the perfect rebuttal for all that is Emma and Emma intrigues the hell out of Tarik.

I loved loved loved the setting of this novel. Space is so fun and I love when authors create their own worlds, with their own political system and everything. It's so fun to escape into the world that Sandra Sookoo has created, because not only is it futuristic and unlike anything we could imagine living in, it's full of adventure and danger and the whole galaxy has decided to go back to the customs of the Victorian era. How cool is that? I really loved reading about the Wraith Orchid also, because it is very hard to picture a spaceship, but the author did an excellent job in presenting it so that the reader would be able to picture it in their mind.

I would definitely recommend this book to those that love science fiction, as I am an avid science fiction reader and writer in my spare time. There's just something about reading a science fiction novel that butters my bread! A word of warning though to those who have issues with violence as there is plenty of that in this novel. This reader will definitely be on the lookout for more books by this author.

My Review at The Romance Review Site: Veronica by Louisa Trent

Link: http://www.theromancereviews.com/viewbooksreview.php?bookid=406

Title: Veronica

Author: Louisa Trent

Rating: 3 Stars

Publisher: Loose Id

Release Date: September 2010

Book 4 of Blooming Companions

Book Genre: BDSM, Erotic Romance, Historical Romance, Steampunk Romance

This novella is jam-packed with fetishes of the strange quality to those who are considered "normal". All in all, it will still send your pulse racing at certain times, and others, not so much.

First off, I just wanted to say that this novella was very well written and the romance that ensues within is very sweet near the end. That said, this novella was just not very enjoyable for me. Though I do hope that others give it a chance if it's something they would prefer.

Veronica Cooper is a blooming author. Already the spotlight of many tabloids, her debut novel, an erotic detailing of things she would love to do, is a hit. She is part of a free love movement and would do anything to live out some of the fantasies that she has created in her mind. In her haste to do these, she becomes the lover of an Irish longshoreman who is just out for a meal ticket. An attempt at blackmailing her father goes awry, so Veronica Cooper's lover gives up the details of their whereabouts to a local tabloid journalist on a day that Veronica intends to stoke her exhibitionist tendencies.

After becoming a ruined woman once the news hits the streets, Veronica finds that the only person there to help her back into her writing ways is Talbot Bowdoin. Talbot has a gnarled leg from the war and loves to tinker with mechanical things. He even has a basement in his estate where he has a plethora of self-made devices specifically for pleasure. Talbot has a few strange fetishes and once he proposes marriage to Veronica's father and he accepts, Talbot and Veronica's adventure begins.

Delighted that his new young wife is eager to please and adventuresome, Talbot finds that his detachment from the pleasures of the "real' flesh is slowly drifting away as his love for his new wife grows.

I really liked the setting of this novella. I love historical, so I chose to read this upon seeing that it took place in the late 1800s Boston. There were some strange goings on in this novella that turned me away for a day or so, but that is how it is when you read something that just may not be up your alley. I really thought that the lead man was very cold as the lead female describes on various occasions, but that is his trait and to change that would change the story, but the way he was cold was also a bit odd for me. I was taken by surprised and shocked numerous times, so if you like a novella that doesn't leave anything out and might very well scare you, this one is it. The dialogue in this novella had a hard time keeping my focus. I may have had my mind on other things, but I felt like the people speaking to one another weren't speaking to one another, but as if they were talking to walls. It was strange to put it that way, but the emotional bond just isn't there until very late in the story, and the reader is wondering for pages and pages when the connection will be made. In my opinion, this story would be wonderful if the reader is into the things that this book touches on. For me, it's not one of my to-read again novellas.
I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone who is sensitive to explicit sexual encounters of the BDSM/fetish type, as it wasn't for me. I usually enjoy BDSM reads, but this one just wasn't for me. If a reader is sensitive to harsh language and graphic scenes, pick up something else. Nevertheless, it was an enjoyable read and I will be looking forward to more stories by the author.

My Review at The Romance Reviews Site: Resurrecting Charlie's Girl by Debra Kane

Link: http://www.theromancereviews.com/viewbooksreview.php?bookid=426

Title: Resurrecting Charlie's Girl

Author: Debra Kayn

Rating: 3 Stars

Publisher: Breathless Press

Release Date: March 2010

Book Genre: Action/Adventure Romance, Contemporary Romance, Erotic Romance, Romantic Suspense/Mystery

A delightful romance with a dark side, showing the reader what a tormented abused woman must go through in order to move on and find love again.

Charlise decides that the time has come to move on again. She has been running from her abusive ex-husband for a while now and only staying in places for short amounts of time. The day she is leaving The Ridge, a shot rings out and her ex-husband, Jared Blatwell, has shot her boss. He takes her captive, walking her towards his car in the parking lot with a gun to her back. Charlise doesn't want to go back to the life that Jared had given her. Too many horrible memories. Her heart jumps a beat when she sees Tom, a private detective for the G.P.I. Company coming towards her to thank her for some extra blankets she provided him with the night before. She doesn't want to get this innocent man killed, too many people have lost their lives because of her ex-husband. Just when she thinks she has saved Tom's life, she falls to the ground, Jared's heavy body on top of hers; Tom has her in his arms in an instant and is running toward the cabin that he shares with his working buddies.

On the run with Tom is changing Charlise, and though she is still afraid that Jared will turn up at any minute, Tom is helping her feel a little more at ease. He teaches her to fly a kite, and she starts to relax just a bit. But when Jared makes an appearance yet again, Charlise realizes that she should have never relied on someone else for her safety. She has endangered him and lost money and clothing that she had ready to go for these such incidents. On the run together, a love blooms that neither expect. It's sweet and Tom vows to do whatever it takes to keep Charlise safe and recover from the torment that Jared has put her through. Everywhere they go, Jared finds them. Charlise decides that the only way to end it all is to take matters into her own hands.

I like the setting of this novella. It was constantly on the move which was exciting. The dialogue was short but to the point, which I didn't mind at all. It kept the reader tuned in to what was continually going on around and between the characters. I really liked that this novella focused on something that a lot of women go through in their lives. It is a very sad and serious topic, but the recovery is the best part to read about, and I'm so glad that this story ended the way it did. One small thing I would advise the author to do is to have someone go over it for grammar mistakes, as I caught quite a few. It wasn't anything that would deter this reader from reading, but others are a bit more picky.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a story of moving on in instances where there seems to be nowhere to go. I'm very glad that I got a chance to read this novella as it has educated me in the issue that takes place. I will be looking forward to reading more books by this author.

Resurrecting Charlie's Girl, in my opinion, deserves another 0.5 rating, which would make it 3.5 stars.

My Review at The Romance Reviews Site: Fit to be Tied by Kate Willoughby

Link: http://www.theromancereviews.com/viewbooksreview.php?bookid=262

Title: Fit to be Tied

Author: Kate Willoughby

Rating: 5 Stars

Publisher: Liquid Silver Books

Release Date: September 2010

Book Genre: BDSM, Contemporary Romance, Erotic Romance

A jaw-dropping novella about being tied up ‘correctly' and how one bad experience can turn a person away from the world of BDSM. Well, until that person meets up with an old high school flame (who's incredibly hotter than he was then) and hopes to continue something they started way back when.


Sadie likes to move around, to the point where she has a map of the United States that she keeps with her, marking off the states that she has lived in for more than five days. One such odd job takes her to Los Angeles where her friend employs her help to manicure a garden for a butterfly exhibit at a museum. It is at this museum that she sees Max, a boy she knew in high school whom she never got to close the deal with in the back seat of his car, because she had wanted to fit in with the other girls and therefore snubbed him by calling him names.

Thinking to apologize for calling him a scrawny nerd, she approaches him and notices that he has lost his glasses, he's tall, broad-shouldered, muscled and gorgeous! He's a bug expert, so she enlists his help with a tarantula that she just purchased for a job on a movie set. It's not moving and Max joins her at her friend's house later that night to tell her that the tarantula is molting and she could borrow one of his from his extensive tarantula collection. While they're at Sadie's friend's apartment, the woman's boyfriend comes home from Iraq for four days. Max offers Sadie his house for the time being and off she goes to stay with him.

The attraction was heavy from the moment they met again and being in the same house together doesn't take that away. They hook up almost immediately and living the few days with Max, Sadie learns that he is into BDSM. After a bit of coaxing by Sadie, Max agrees to show her his lifestyle choice and the adventure begins.

This was a truly interesting story. The blurb hooked me, as geeky guys are always interesting, but a geeky man that is manly is even more interesting. The dialogue was fun and sassy. I couldn't stop reading as the interactions between Max and Sadie were so intriguing and fun, and they were truly two great characters for each other. I learned about the world of BDSM, something I had never known about before and this story was very informative in that area. This novella was written very well, I was engaged from the moment I started reading to the very last word.
I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone who is sensitive to explicit sexual encounters, BDSM, or a few curse words, but other than that, it was a very enjoyable and fun read and I will definitely be looking forward to more stories by the author.

Today's the Day

Well folks, today is the day that I have decided to get my act together and start blogging again. On top of blogging again, I have decided to catch up on the posting of my reviews, write on my WIP that is so close yet so far away freom being finished, first draft-wise. And also, to start paying attention to everything that I would like to be involved in on the internet. Over the last few months, I have had no drive to be on the computer, to read, to write, to do much of anything that involved the computer. I think I had just been on it so much that I was tired of it, I needed some time away. My husband just finished his first vacation of this year, so I am ready to get to work on the computer. So, for the next month, that is how long I have before my husband has another vacation, I will be active as much as possible on the computer...maybe that's a good thing and maybe that's a bad thing, but only time will tell. Hopefully, I can get a few reviews posted today. Oh, and for those that have followed my blog, I am adding a new feature. It's just my own silly ideas when it comes to drink mixing. I do this on a regular basis, not like I'm an alchy or anything, but I do enjoy a drink every so often. I create different concoctions all the time and I plan on sharing them...Also, with my gluten-free lifestyle, I've decided to share recipes on that as well. I have been considering getting a new blog for those things seperately, but for now, the one blog will do. I mean, reviews, drinks, and food...it can't get any better than that! :)

Improved! My son singing 'Fette's Vette' by MC Chris

Wow...Long Time, No Posts...What Gives?

So, all of my fans and friends out there that follow my blog (Cause there's so many of you) have probably been wondering where the heck I have been....Or if not, just read and see why I haven't been posting, if you're at all interested and be ready, because once the new year starts, I will be catching up on all of my blogging. I have a ton of reviews to add to my blog, so stay tuned.

Life

Been planning a ton of things over the last few months such as: bday party, family vacays, holiday gifts, and various special events that I have been the busiest I have been in years, since I quit my job to move to a different city. The hugest thing lately is that I may possibly be moving again to a city that no one int heir right mind would ever want to live in...jk, but seriously. I will make a post as soon as I find out if we are moving or not and let you in on all the crazy details. LOL

NaNoWriMo

So, I tried NaNoWriMo 2010. I tried it and I failed it. In 2009, I was gung ho for it and blasted way ahead super early, but this year, I was busy with other things and only got to roughly 12k words.So, with that said, I am also happy because I got a start on my second novel in my series that I am currently writing the first novel in. Again, with that, I'd like to let all the NaNoWriMo participants that didn't finish their novel know that they did a great job and tried their best and if you didn't win, hey, at least you got something written that may fuel you to finish that novel. To those that won, CONGRATULATIONS! You did something truly amazing last month and I hope that you get it published someday!


The Romance Reviews

I've been writing a bunch of reviews for The Romance Reviews Site lately and been reading a lot to write those reviews, so I've been a bit busy in the immerse-myself-in-reading-and-not-listening-to-anyone field. My husband is annoyed, my son is annoyed and just wants me to play The Avengers with him. But I find the time for them when I'm not up late reading and writing reviews for this awesome, fantastic site where you can find reviews on just about any kind of romance that exists. Check it out: The Romance Reviews. I tried to make the link at the side work to take you to my reviewers profile ont he website, but unfortunatel,y I'm not getting it, so here's the link: Paigeray23 Romance Reviews.

Reading

As you read above, I've been busy reading a bunch of books for The Romance Review Site and a few others of my own that I purchased recently. I also won a copy of Scoundrel by Zoe Archer that I am itching to get my hands on and devour. I also picked up a few other books, but not many that I am able to get to for now. I will be able to start on many new books in the new year, but only when time allows.

 

Writing

I am really belting away at my current novel right now. I was surprised that with failing NaNo, I've been super-charged to finish this novel that I had been told by one person would be a great book once it was finished. So, what's the point of finishing it if only one person said it would be great? Because, I'm being very secretive about it at this point because someone special told me to be and also, because the two people that I would trust to read it are busy themselves and haven't found the time for it. Right now, I am almost at 60k words which is a feat for me because I usually peeter out at around 40k, just a middle of the book issue that I have had with everything that I have ever written. So, what I did was skipped ahead to the parts that I knew what I was going to write and I wrote what I thought and that's where my higher word counts have come into play. So, now I need to go back and type in the middle of the book leading up to the climax and the ending which is already written. Yay me! After a loooooong time with no writing, almost a month, it was such a great feeling to be able to just sit at the laptop one day and write like a madwoman.




Well, that's it everyone, I won't be blogging anymore this year, partially to focus on my writing, but also to focus on the other things you just read about, if you felt like reading it. LOL

Happy Holidays(Or insert your celebration here) and Happy New Year!!

My Review on The Romance Reviews Site: Fire Burn and Cauldron Bubble by H.P. Mallory

Title: Fire Burn and Cauldron Bubble
Author: HP Mallory



Publisher: Smashwords
Release Date: July 2010
ISBN: 2940011812651
Book 1 of Jolie Wilkins Series
Book Genre: Paranormal Romance, Urban Fantasy

Rating: 5 Stars

View it here: http://www.theromancereviews.com/viewbooksreview.php?bookid=203

The author of this book should be asking her readers, “Are you not entertained?!” and in response getting the sound of screams and cries asking for more of that wonderfully entertaining entertainment that she wrote in this novel.

Jolie Wilkins is your average run-of-the-mill psychic, at least she thinks so. She doesn’t know how truly powerful she is until desire dressed in slacks and a sweater walks through her door with the name of Rand. The gorgeous Rand turns Jolie’s life into an upheaval of messes, only they’re messes that would’ve been unavoidable at some point anyway because, as she soon finds out, she is the object of desire for many beings of the Underworld, dangerous or not.

Jolie and her best friend, Christa operate a small psychic business in Los Angeles after escaping what they deemed the boring miserable life in Spokane Washington. Business is going awry. One night, Jolie meets a ghost hanging out in her reception area, and he says that someone has sent him. Jolie is flabbergasted as she has never seen a ghost before. Her visions are sporadic and when the beautiful Greek godlike man Rand (complete with a sexy English accent) comes in one afternoon wanting a reading, Jolie’s heart flips and flops. He sets up appointments for three consecutive readings all on the same weekday at the same time. The first time she meets with him, she sees one small vision, but not enough to keep him coming, or so she thinks. He comes on all three meetings and on the last one, asks her to go to dinner with him. She accepts and he confesses to her that he is a very powerful warlock. Jolie can’t believe it at first, but he shows her a few things to prove what he is and eventually share a business proposition with Jolie in which she would have to travel with him to Chicago. After a few probing questions about the task she would face should she go, she agrees, with the promise of a lot of money to help her and her friend Christa out.

Once in Chicago, Rand, Jolie, and Christa spend a night on the town and enjoy themselves. The sexual tension between Rand and Jolie start from the very beginning, but become more heated while in Chicago. However, they have to get down to business. Rand had been hired to find out who killed a man named Jack, who was shot in the head back in the 1920’s. His ghost is the one that had visited Jolie at her shop. He was shot in the back of the head, so he never knew who killed him. Jolie’s job is to travel back in time via her mind and watch it happen. Only when she does, she sees who killed him and freaks out while in the vision and grabs on to Jack just as he is dying. When she wakes up back in the now with Rand and Christa, there is another addition to their party. It’s Jack the ghost and he is no longer a ghost. Jolie has brought him back to life and doesn’t know how she did it.

As it seems that the job is done, Christa and Jolie go back to Los Angeles with nothing more from Rand until one day a striking woman walks into the shop looking for Jolie. This woman was Jack’s daughter and is a very powerful witch. She invites Jolie to her house for a party, promising that Rand will be there. Jolie wavers for a bit and finally decided to go. She goes and meets a debonair vampire named Sinjin and is sitting with him on a bench learning things about the party and the beings present when Rand spots her.

He is angry and storms over to the two. He takes Jolie aside and lets her know that her coming to this party was not something she should have ever done. That coming to this party she has sacrificed any tie that she ever had to having a normal life. Everyone knows that she is very powerful now and word has spread like wildfire about her special ability to bring back those who have died. Bella, the witch who invited Jolie to the party, wants to claim her as her own and be her Protector, as they say in the Underworld. Rand will not have it and gets challenged to a witch-style duel, with the winner winning the chance to be Jolie’s Protector and teach her the ways of life for a witch. It is very intense and though very badly injured, Rand comes out the winner and Jolie is in despair as she learns that she has to move to England and leave everything she knew behind.

Upon going to England, life changes drastically. Jolie learns more and more about the Underworld and meets several interesting beings. The tension mounts and the real danger rears its ugly head, throwing Jolie into a world like nothing she could have imagined, even after learning of the existence of vampires, werewolves, and warlocks.

The descriptions of the various places are wonderful. I loved a certain few that are part of my fairy tale fantasies, especially a major description when Jolie gets to see the massive house and area that Rand lives in. It all sounds so extraordinarily beautiful and the precise choice of words were like music to my ears, I wanted to be in the book! Along with the descriptions, I love how the author used so many things from today’s world in her metaphors. I found myself cracking up, thinking, ‘that is definitely something I would say or think.’ Some of these metaphors were very odd, but in a way that fit with whole strangeness of the situation. Again, I really loved the metaphors, they made the story pop and I will remember so many of them forever as they were very relatable to me. Anyone reading this story will find themselves laughing very often.

The romance in this story is hot! By hot I mean, the tension is incredible and not with just one main set of hero and heroine. Let’s see, the heroine and several heroes. Hehe! But it isn’t distasteful in any way. It lets the reader know that the beings of the Underworld are very very attuned to their own sexual needs. The banter that goes on between several of the heroes and heroine is comical, in the sexual tension department. The paranormal creatures have no qualms speaking of the desires towards the heroine and she begins to tire of it, never knowing that she was worth it, or at least, never feeling as though she was worth it. After becoming the most powerful witch in the world, she assumes that’s just part of the gig. I found myself rooting for each one of the men at the various places in the book where they were strong characters. Though, the overall person a reader would root for would be the one who feels the most love toward Jolie and Jolie feels the most love towards as well. The author did a wonderful job describing some of the sexiest men that I have ever read in a book. Blend an English vampire who speaks with the dialect of the 1800’s, a handsome ghost who’s afraid of life, a flirty werewolf pack leader, a Scottish fairy with flowing locks of golden hair, and an angst-ridden warlock fighting his feelings. Keep your fans out! Sigh!

The situations in this book weren’t believable in the sense that they would ever happen in real life, but in the sense that they would happen in the urban fantasy world, totally believable. Also, all the conversations that take place, and the tensions between the characters are super believable. I have never read a romance novel that is written in first person and I have to say that I really liked it. Even though we didn’t get to see anything in any other characters’ point of view, the author did an excellent job conveying their facial expressions--the slump of their shoulders and any trait that could just almost give away what they were feeling, but still not quite, without letting the character seeing it happen. Strange, I know, but awesome! I’d say talent! I’ve heard a lot of people say that they don’t like books where all of the characters seem to be salivating over one main character…I had no problem with that in this book. Even though it seems as though every creature she meets wants her, the author was still able to make Jolie very humble, yet smarty enough to combat it. Given her situation, you can figure it out that it’s not just her that they want, though they all still want a piece of her. Don’t all men want someone they’re attracted to?

This book was such a fun and interesting read. I loved the new and fresh take on all the beings of the Underworld all while still keeping a firm grip on the ideas of these beings through myths and legends. It was very entertaining; I was laughing, despairing, and shaking my fist at different parts of the story. I became so involved with the characters as if I was there in the story with them, whispering in their ears to do this or that. I read this book in two sittings and could hardly function on anything else until I came back to it time and time again. I dreamed about it, it was so prevalent on my mind! I just have to say to the author, ‘Bravo, I’m oh-so-in-dire-straights hooked. When the heck is the next book in the series coming out!?’

Yes, you did sense a bit of attitude, but in my defense it was only in the sense of ‘I need to know more about these characters as soon as humanly…er, or Underworlderly possible!’

Thank you, H.P. Mallory for such a wonderful and fun book. I can’t wait for more!

(FCC: This book was free from the author/publisher for the purpose of obtaining a review.)

OH! And check this out! H.P. Mallory is holding a contest on her blog where you, yes you, could be a character in her upcoming novel, 'Toil and Trouble', which is set to release January 1, 2011. What an exciting contest. To enter go to http://urbanfantasyauthor.blogspot.com/2010/10/contest-become-character-in-my-next.html and do the tasks to get yourself entered.

The Romance Reviews Site Review by Me: The Rookie by Liz Crowe

Title: The Rookie
Author: Liz Crowe

Publisher: Breathless Press
Release Date: September 2010
ISBN: 9781926771694
Book Genre: Contemporary Romance, Erotic Romance
Rating: 4 Stars

This short story is smoking with sexual tension from the moment the two main characters meet. The reader finds herself rooting for them to 'hook-up'.

Lisa's day starts off as any other, only bad. She's out of coffee and her cat has vomited all over her bedroom rug! The day just gets worse when she realizes that she has to have a rookie sales rep tag along with her for the day. As she is getting coffee at her place of business, the rookie corners her and he is not what she expects. GQ model status, Trent radiates sheer male sexuality and the electric torch or tingly tension between them is a lot to take in first thing in the morning.

Having dealt with these kinds of men before, Lisa is certain that she can get over the pull of desire that this man has bestowed on her with a mere look and a touch. She straightens herself constantly, but just can't get over the breathless thoughts that brew through her mind when she looks at him, or the burn deep in her thighs of anticipation. Working together for the day tends to be a lot more pleasurable for Lisa than she thought and a shocking revelation is made at one last stop of the day.

I really like the setting of this short story. It is very interesting as it takes place in the world of breweries. I love the extra descriptions of the strange 'beer geek' types of beers. Made me want to crack open a strange and tasty beer as I read. I really like that the reader gets to know Lisa's personality as the story is told somewhat through her perspective and she seems like a strong woman who knows what she wants. There isn't much dialogue but, as this is a short story, there are only so many words the author has room to work with. In my opinion, the she does a wonderful job with the elements of a short story, creating a lovely mix of everything that makes a delightful evening's read.

I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone who is sensitive to explicit sexual encounters or a few curse words. Otherwise, it was a very enjoyable read and I will be looking forward to more stories by this author.
 
(FCC: This book was free from the author/publisher for the purpose of gaining a review.)

How Awesome - I Won an Award



Woohoo! I won an award. I just love blog awards and I just love all of the fantastic blogs and people I meet online through blog awards. I want to thank Mandy at Mandy's Escape for giving me the 'One Lovely Blog' award. She has a great site about books and reviews and I got lost when I looked around it, there was so much cool stuff. Check it out! Now it's time to spread the joy to other book lovers.


Rules:

1. Accept the award. Post it on your blog with the name of the person who has granted the award and his or her blog link.

2. Pay it forward to 15(or whatever you can get together) other bloggers that you have newly discovered or followed for a while.

3. Contact those blog owners and let them know they've been chosen.


So, this award gets passed on to the following great blogs:

1. Into the Mind of Jaimey Grant

2. Journey of KgB

3. Murder Me

4. Such a Pretty Idea

5. My Life as a Teenage Novelist

6. Ask Sella: Free Advice on Life and Fiction

7. Romance, Old School

8. The Answer

9. Dangling on the Edge of In(Sanity)

10. Goddess of the Corn

11. Hopping Thoughts

12. Off the Mark and Roaming

13. Rita's World

14. Tink's Blog

15. JaysDesign Jewelry (Just because I love the jewelry, and he's a great stalker to Jaimey Grant, and maybe I wanted to see this frilly girly award on his blog, I know that Jaimey will be the one to put in on there anyway. LOL)



HAPPY READING!

My Review on The Romance Reviews Site: Evil's Witness by Autumn Jordan

Check out my review here:

The Romance Reviews Site

ISBN 1601547358

Genre: Contemporary Romance, Romantic Suspense
(c) June 2010, Wild Rose Press
Autumn Jordan's Website
Rating: 4 Stars

Available at Wild Rose Press (ebook), (print).

This book has it all! From murders to lust and tension in their most extreme forms, to traitors and backstabbing, mystery and action-packed suspense, drama and high emotions, depression and happiness, and a hot romance strung throughout.

Agent John Dolton is an emotionally distressed FBI agent. His problems contain heartbreaking stories of loss in his personal life and in his career. He is assigned to a new case in which the Department of Treasury trucks are being hijacked and the cargo stolen. An unfortunate event at one of these heists gives him the very fortunate opportunity to meet Ms. Stephanie Boyd and her two adorable children who witnessed the heist and consequently, had spent the night in hell.

The absolute horrible thing about the particular heist that Stephanie and her kids witnessed is that it hits close to home. Gene, Stephanie's ex-husband, is somehow involved in this hijacking plot, and the Zosimosky family (the bad guys) wants Stephanie and her children dead when it was known that they were witnesses. After escaping the heist, Stephanie goes straight to the local police department where Agent Dolton comes to question her later that morning. There is instant attraction between them and even a dose of fear as Stephanie gives the details of her horrific night. Stephanie is clearly on edge and scared for her and her children's lives, and Agent Dolton can see it.

Stephanie knows that she can identify the man who was obviously in charge of the heist that she witnessed. She informs Agent Dolton and he decides to transport Stephanie and her children to a safe house. The transport goes awry and Agent Dolton knows that someone has leaked the information of the transport to the wrong people, those who are out to get Stephanie and her kids. Stephanie escapes a near deadly shoot out in a parking lot and agrees to meet John later at a new location.

Things go well for a while at the safe house, but as the story progresses and Stephanie goes through files and files of pictures of possible suspects, Agent Dolton starts to figure out that some things just don't add up and he's not sure how the Zosimosky family is getting the information about him and the family he has to protect. As John's personal story comes out, the romance starts to unfold.

The romance is very apparent as the characters of Stephanie Boyd and John Dolton interact. Stephanie is the first woman to cause a rise in John since his wife. Given that they are living through traumatic experience after traumatic experience together, the tension mounts and mounts and mounts until finally Stephanie is tired and wants to forget about it all. It is a beautiful love story that happens very fast, not that that counts against it, but given the whole situation, it is very believable. Agent Dolton and the children even have a love story that grows as the story progresses. It is very cute and the reader will be rooting for the story to be resolved in a way that they can all be together as a happy family.

The descriptions of the places that the characters go to are short, but worded perfectly so that you get the full effect. They were shown, not told to the reader, so the reader doesn't get bored reading a whole page full of unimportant descriptions. The characters actually spoke about their surroundings and the details flowed marvelously, creating an eerie mountain highway at night, a cabin by a lake with a view to die for, and a quaint small town. Even the descriptions of the characters and smaller settings were woven throughout the story with attention-grabbing prose.

The dialogue in this book was very well-written and thought out. I felt as though I was right there with the characters listening to them talk. It takes extreme talent to master dialogue, especially given that some of them happen during periods of intense stress and plenty of suspense.

As far as reccomendations go, everyone should give this book a go. I read it in two sittings; I just didn't want to put it down. Any contemporary romance reader who reads this book will love it and be asking Autumn Jordan, "When are we going to get more books from you?"


Note according to FTC Guildlines: This book is provided courtesy of publisher/author.



Book Summary:

The Zosimosky Files

Elementary school nurse Stephanie Boyd's ordinary world changes forever when she and her children witness a blood bath. To escape the wrath of the Russian Mafia, she has no choice but to help the FBI uncover the Mafia’s mole inside the U.S. Treasury. While on the run with the handsome agent who is willing to die for them, Stephanie learns the meaning of self-sacrifice and love.

Agent John Dolton's only break in solving the case that cost him everything is a couple of kids and a beautiful woman. But keeping his witnesses safe seems impossible when their every move is foreseen by their enemy. Within weeks, Stephanie and her children soften the loner’s heart and John allows himself to let go of his all-consuming sorrow.

This time John vows not to fail to protect the family he loves.