Mel's bookshelf: all en-US Mon, 16 Dec 2024 01:33:45 -0800 60 Mel's bookshelf: all 144 41 /images/layout/goodreads_logo_144.jpg <![CDATA[No-Drama Discipline: The Whole-Brain Way to Calm the Chaos and Nurture Your Child's Developing Mind]]> 40873423 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER •The pioneering experts behindThe Whole-Brain Child—Tina Payne Bryson and Daniel J. Siegel, theauthor of Brainstorm—now explore the ultimate child-raising discipline.

Highlighting the fascinating link between a child’s neurological development and the way a parent reacts to misbehavior, No-Drama Discipline provides an effective, compassionate road map for dealing with tantrums, tensions, and tears—without causing a scene.

Defining the true meaning of the “d� word (to instruct, not to shout or reprimand), the authors explain how to reach your child, redirect emotions, and turn a meltdown into an opportunity for growth. By doing so, the cycle of negative behavior (and punishment) is essentially brought to a halt, as problem solving becomes a win/win situation. Inside this sanity-saving guide you’ll discover

� strategies that help parents identify their own discipline philosophy—and master the best methods to communicate the lessons they are trying to impart
� facts on child brain development—and what kind of discipline is most appropriate and constructive at all ages and stages
� the way to calmly and lovingly connect with a child—no matter how extreme the behavior—while still setting clear and consistent limits
� tips for navigating your child through a tantrum to achieve insight, empathy, and repair
� twenty discipline mistakes even the best parents make—and how to stay focused on the principles of whole-brain parenting and discipline techniques

Complete with candid stories and playful illustrations that bring the authors� suggestions to life, No-Drama Discipline shows you how to work with your child’s developing mind, peacefully resolve conflicts, and inspire happiness and strengthen resilience in everyone in the family.

Praise for No-Drama Discipline

“With lucid, engaging prose accompanied by cartoon illustrations, Siegel and Bryson help parents teach and communicate more effectively.��Publishers Weekly

“A lot of fascinating insights . . . an eye-opener worth reading.��Parents

“Insightful . . . The ideas presented in this latest book can actually be applied to all of our relationships, as it will help us in many circumstances to be able to calm down, have empathy for another person, and then communicate in a constructive way about our concerns and proposed solutions. What works to help children learn and behave better might also help our world’s leaders and large groups of people get along better, as many of us adults failed to develop these mindsight skills as we were growing up and we tend to sabotage our relationships with others as a result. Whether you are a parent, a teacher, or just a person who wishes to learn to get along better with others, you may find some valuable insights in No-Drama Discipline.��Examiner.com

“Wow! This book grabbed me from the very first page and did not let go. Daniel Siegel and Tina Payne Bryson explain extremely well why punishment is a dead-end strategy. Then they describe what to do instead. By making the latest breakthroughs in brain science accessible to any parent, they show why empathy and connection are the royal road to cooperation, discipline, and family harmony.�—Lawrence J. Cohen, Ph.D., author of The Opposite of Worry


From the Hardcover edition.]]> 290 Daniel J. Siegel 0345548051 Mel 5 But no: parenting is tricky. You think you know but you don’t. You think you know yourself and your limits, you think you know how discipline works� and then you have kids and you see yourself act and feel in ways you didn’t know you had in you (good and bad) and in stead of feeling in control you’re surviving from one day to the next.

In come Siegel and Bryson. They explain what discipline really is, they talk about the 3 C’s, mind sight, shark music, parenting with intent. And they make it so that you totally shift your state of mind!

It actually made parenting easier for me. It made me have better understanding and patience, it made me stop wanting to control and dominate, it made me parent in the moment (not reacting out of fear for the future). And although I slip up sometimes I can honestly say what I do most of nowadays is parent with intent.

THANK YOU Siegel and Bryson!

On a side note: I read that some people were unhappy with Bryson’s reading part. She does seem to have a teeny vocal fry going on but imo she did fine. The reason why I needed a few seconds to readjust to every new chapter with her has not so much to do with Bryson and it does with Siegel.
This man has such a cool and calming voice� he would make anyone next him look bad.]]> 4.26 2014 No-Drama Discipline: The Whole-Brain Way to Calm the Chaos and Nurture Your Child's Developing Mind
author: Daniel J. Siegel
name: Mel
average rating: 4.26
book published: 2014
rating: 5
read at:
date added: 2024/12/16
shelves:
review:
This book should be made mandatory for every parent in the world. I mean it. Before becoming an parent I thought it would come naturally to me. I thought I’d be able to regulate myself most of the time since I’m a product of a loving marriage and very okay parents. I thought I knew myself and my triggers enough to anticipate problems.
But no: parenting is tricky. You think you know but you don’t. You think you know yourself and your limits, you think you know how discipline works� and then you have kids and you see yourself act and feel in ways you didn’t know you had in you (good and bad) and in stead of feeling in control you’re surviving from one day to the next.

In come Siegel and Bryson. They explain what discipline really is, they talk about the 3 C’s, mind sight, shark music, parenting with intent. And they make it so that you totally shift your state of mind!

It actually made parenting easier for me. It made me have better understanding and patience, it made me stop wanting to control and dominate, it made me parent in the moment (not reacting out of fear for the future). And although I slip up sometimes I can honestly say what I do most of nowadays is parent with intent.

THANK YOU Siegel and Bryson!

On a side note: I read that some people were unhappy with Bryson’s reading part. She does seem to have a teeny vocal fry going on but imo she did fine. The reason why I needed a few seconds to readjust to every new chapter with her has not so much to do with Bryson and it does with Siegel.
This man has such a cool and calming voice� he would make anyone next him look bad.
]]> <![CDATA[Eight Nights (Eight Nights #1)]]> 5583696
They hide their attraction during Hanukkah celebrations, but behind closed doors, Lucas and Nate can't keep their hands (or mouths) off each other. Nate's only looking for a bit of holiday fun, and amazing sex with a hot virgin definitely fits the bill.

Yet as the candles burn, Nate and Lucas begin to realize eight nights will never be enough.

Next Daybreak]]> 63 Keira Andrews 159632595X Mel 0 to-read 3.57 2007 Eight Nights (Eight Nights #1)
author: Keira Andrews
name: Mel
average rating: 3.57
book published: 2007
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/12/09
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Somebody Killed His Editor (Holmes & Moriarity #1)]]> 6542216
Holmes & Moriarity, Book 1

Thanks to an elderly spinster sleuth and her ingenious cat, Christopher Holmes has enjoyed a celebrated career as a bestselling mystery writer. Until now. Sales are down and his new editor is allergic to geriatric gumshoes.

On the advice of his agent, he reinvents his fortyish, frumpy, recently dumped self into the sleek, sexy image of a literary lion, and heads for a Northern California writers conference to try and resurrect his career. A career nearly as dead as the body he stumbles over in the woods.

In a weirdly deja vu replay of one of his own novels, he finds himself stranded in an isolated lodge full of frightened women and not a lawman in sight. Except for J.X. Moriarity, former cop and bestselling novelist. The man with whom he shared a one-night stand okay, maybe three long ago. The man who wants to arrest him for murder.

A ruthless, stalking killer, or a hot, handsome ex-lover. Which poses the greater danger? It s elementary, my dear Holmes!"]]> 272 Josh Lanyon 1605045853 Mel 0 to-read, e-book, m-m 3.99 2009 Somebody Killed His Editor (Holmes & Moriarity #1)
author: Josh Lanyon
name: Mel
average rating: 3.99
book published: 2009
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/09/26
shelves: to-read, e-book, m-m
review:

]]> On the Down Low 34442715
Nick feels out of his league -- he's young, he's white, he's gay, and he's desperately looking for a chance to spend some time alone with De'Andre. As much as he hates to admit it, that man is fine.

When Tyrone finally introduces them, De'Andre seems just as interested.]]> 0 J.M. Snyder 1935753339 Mel 2 e-book, m-m 2.40 2007 On the Down Low
author: J.M. Snyder
name: Mel
average rating: 2.40
book published: 2007
rating: 2
read at:
date added: 2024/09/26
shelves: e-book, m-m
review:
A nice short story with some very hot moments, but the slang was too much. It felt like some gangsta-parody.
]]> <![CDATA[A Red-Tainted Silence (Red-Tainted Silence, #1)]]> 3212989
Denial denial denial.

Damn, I was good at that. But I was going to have to get good at trust and acceptance, if I wanted to keep him.

Publisher's Note: This book is a homoerotic love story. It contains sexual acts that may be offensive to some readers: male-male sexual practices.]]> 515 Carolyn Gray 159632340X Mel 0 to-read, m-m 4.00 2006 A Red-Tainted Silence (Red-Tainted Silence, #1)
author: Carolyn Gray
name: Mel
average rating: 4.00
book published: 2006
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/09/23
shelves: to-read, m-m
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Nicholas (The Lords of Satyr, #1)]]> 8136599 HE HAD SWORN TO TAKE A PROPER WIFE.
HE HADN'T BARGAINED ON MEETING HIS MATCH.

Nicholas looks very much like what he is--the handsome, successful heir to a vineyard in Tuscany. But Nicholas is much more, for he is one of the last in an ancient line of satyr men. And the dying king of ElseWorld wants him not only to marry, but to wed one of the king's own daughters--a half-human, half-faerie woman unaware of her heritage. Nicholas won't shirk his duty to produce heirs to guard his race's legacies, but he never plans to make his bride his only lover. A satyr's sexual hunger and sensual skills are legendary. One woman will never satisfy him.

Or so Nicholas believes until he meets Jane. As spirited as she is fey, as beautiful as she is innocent, she is nevertheless determined to make her new husband hers alone--and she's eager for him to teach her every deliciously carnal secret he knows.

]]> 337 Elizabeth Amber 075822639X Mel 0 3.51 2007 Nicholas (The Lords of Satyr, #1)
author: Elizabeth Amber
name: Mel
average rating: 3.51
book published: 2007
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/09/21
shelves: e-book, erotica, menage, to-read
review:

]]> Lions and Tigers and Snares 33795781 25 Vincent Diamond 1611520363 Mel 0 3.36 2007 Lions and Tigers and Snares
author: Vincent Diamond
name: Mel
average rating: 3.36
book published: 2007
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/09/20
shelves: e-book, free-stuff, m-m, own-to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Amityville Horrible (Otherworld Stories, #10.8)]]> 16118051 120 Kelley Armstrong 1596065656 Mel 0 to-read 4.04 2012 Amityville Horrible (Otherworld Stories, #10.8)
author: Kelley Armstrong
name: Mel
average rating: 4.04
book published: 2012
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/09/17
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[The Summons (Shadowlands, #0.5)]]> 12159562 20 Shona Husk 1402269099 Mel 0 to-read 3.76 2011 The Summons (Shadowlands, #0.5)
author: Shona Husk
name: Mel
average rating: 3.76
book published: 2011
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/09/16
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> Time after Time 6700483 344 J.P. Bowie 1608200574 Mel 0 to-read, e-book, m-m 3.74 2009 Time after Time
author: J.P. Bowie
name: Mel
average rating: 3.74
book published: 2009
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/09/12
shelves: to-read, e-book, m-m
review:

]]> April & Oliver 7012390 348 Tess Callahan 0446552070 Mel 0 to-read 3.54 2009 April & Oliver
author: Tess Callahan
name: Mel
average rating: 3.54
book published: 2009
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/09/12
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> Catching a Second Wind 1275414 280 Sean Michael 1934166928 Mel 0 to-read 3.75 Catching a Second Wind
author: Sean Michael
name: Mel
average rating: 3.75
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/08/07
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Around the World in Eighty Days]]> 54479 252 Jules Verne 014044906X Mel 4 3.95 1872 Around the World in Eighty Days
author: Jules Verne
name: Mel
average rating: 3.95
book published: 1872
rating: 4
read at:
date added: 2024/08/07
shelves:
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Snare (Channeling Morpheus/Sweet Oblivion, #7)]]> 6550506
The return of the jacket comes with a a new cell phone from Michael’s parents. Surprisingly, Wild Bill encourages Michael to keep the phone. After all, Michael wouldn’t want to be the only twenty-one-year-old in the world without one. Seems innocent enough. Right?

But you never know where an innocent gift will lead. Michael worries the phone may be some shiny bait, meant to lure him closer to his family, and then, college. Everyone seems intent on getting Michael to enroll, but he’s busy looking to catch a vampire…]]> 84 Jordan Castillo Price 159596388X Mel 4 erotica, e-book, m-m Snare was another story from Michael's POV and, while I have to admit that I like being in Bill's had just a tad bit better, it was good to be privy to Michael's thoughts and feelings again. Because despite of what he did last book, it's clear that he loves and appreciates Wild Bill. The two of them are just such a perfect team.

I'm interested to see where the story is going. JCP just takes this series an extra mile by her overarching sub plots: causes and workings of vampirism, Michael's condition, the effect of further transitions on on our happy couple's future -bit by bit the puzzle pieces are starting to fit together....
Another JCP thing is the somewhat dry and resigned relay of events by the character. It just works for me every time. That and those funny details like the crazy (poor) pygmy goat.
Onto the next one!]]> 4.20 Snare (Channeling Morpheus/Sweet Oblivion, #7)
author: Jordan Castillo Price
name: Mel
average rating: 4.20
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2011/09/03
date added: 2024/08/07
shelves: erotica, e-book, m-m
review:
Snare was another story from Michael's POV and, while I have to admit that I like being in Bill's had just a tad bit better, it was good to be privy to Michael's thoughts and feelings again. Because despite of what he did last book, it's clear that he loves and appreciates Wild Bill. The two of them are just such a perfect team.

I'm interested to see where the story is going. JCP just takes this series an extra mile by her overarching sub plots: causes and workings of vampirism, Michael's condition, the effect of further transitions on on our happy couple's future -bit by bit the puzzle pieces are starting to fit together....
Another JCP thing is the somewhat dry and resigned relay of events by the character. It just works for me every time. That and those funny details like the crazy (poor) pygmy goat.
Onto the next one!
]]> <![CDATA[The Warlord Wants Forever (Immortals After Dark, #0.5)]]> 6388558
She eludes him for five years, but he has finally chased her to ground and stolen the jewel which commands her, giving him absolute power over her. While he possesses it, he can make her do anything, and he plans to in order for her to experience firsthand the agonizing, unending lust she'd purposely subjected him to for half a decade. Yet when Wroth realizes he wants more from her and frees her, will she come.

Note: First published in the 2006 anthology, Playing Easy to Get.]]> 163 Kresley Cole Mel 4
Myst is playing bait in a vampire dungeon when Nikolai, as general of a vampire rebel group, frees her. Nikolai is immediately intrigued by Myst. She however tries to play Nikolai like she does every man. When they find out Myst is Nikolai’s Bride, she does the worst thing imaginable for a vampire: she leaves him.
Five years without a Bride (and with no outlet for all that sexual tension building up) is torture for poor Nikolai. And so when he finds Myst and gets hold of a magical chain that binds her to his will, the tables are turned and the game is on.

Romance, steamy love scenes and lots of humor; this first story sets the tone for the Immortal After Dark series.
]]> 4.04 2006 The Warlord Wants Forever (Immortals After Dark, #0.5)
author: Kresley Cole
name: Mel
average rating: 4.04
book published: 2006
rating: 4
read at: 2009/11/20
date added: 2024/08/07
shelves: short-stories-anthologies, pnr
review:
The Warlord Wants Forever is the first in the Immortal After Dark series by Kresley Cole. The story features the eldest of the Wroth brothers, Nikolai, and the most beautiful Valkyrie of them all: Myst the Coveted.

Myst is playing bait in a vampire dungeon when Nikolai, as general of a vampire rebel group, frees her. Nikolai is immediately intrigued by Myst. She however tries to play Nikolai like she does every man. When they find out Myst is Nikolai’s Bride, she does the worst thing imaginable for a vampire: she leaves him.
Five years without a Bride (and with no outlet for all that sexual tension building up) is torture for poor Nikolai. And so when he finds Myst and gets hold of a magical chain that binds her to his will, the tables are turned and the game is on.

Romance, steamy love scenes and lots of humor; this first story sets the tone for the Immortal After Dark series.

]]> A Perfect Match 6644774
Sports reporter Mitch MacKinnon is stuck writing an expose about a local dating service, and no amount of foot-dragging or complaining will get him out of it. When he gets a look at the sexy blonde owner, things start looking up. He d love the chance to date Juliette Lowell a time or two. But he s here to dish the dirt that ll be his ticket to a big-time newspaper; a relationship is the furthest thing from his mind.

Juliette s got Mitch pegged from the word go he s an overgrown jock who wouldn t know a true emotion if it was wrapped in pigskin. Delicious dimples and killer brown eyes aside, the man is incredibly infuriating. All she needs is one chance to prove she can find a perfect match for anyone. Even him.

Then her foolproof database spits out the results. Mitch s perfect match? Juliette. If she s right, Mitch will have to eat his words and the story that ll take him to the top.

This title contains hot, sweaty couch dancing; long, slow, hot, wet kisses that last three days, and toe-curling romance. "]]> 216 Shelley Bradley 1605040126 Mel 0 not-to-read 4.00 A Perfect Match
author: Shelley Bradley
name: Mel
average rating: 4.00
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/08/07
shelves: not-to-read
review:

]]> Get What You Need 9278594 78 Janey Chapel 1615816445 Mel 0 3.74 2010 Get What You Need
author: Janey Chapel
name: Mel
average rating: 3.74
book published: 2010
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/07/23
shelves: to-read, e-book, m-m, erotica, to-get-asap
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer, #9)]]> 41064275 Cassie Palmer, chief seer of the supernatural world, faces her biggest challenge yet--her own allies!

Cassie Palmer has been chief seer of the supernatural world for a little over four months. In that time, she's battled two gods, fallen in love with two men, and confronted the two sides of her own nature, both god and human. So it's not surprising that she currently finds herself facing two adversaries, although they have a single purpose: to wipe out the supernatural community's newest fighting force, leaving it vulnerable to enemies in this world and beyond. To prevent catastrophe, the vamps, mages, and demons will have to do the one thing they've never managed before and come together as allies. Cassie has the difficult task of keeping the uneasy coalition intact, and of persuading her own two opposing forces, a powerful mage with a secret and a master vampire with a growing obsession, to fight at her side. She just hopes they can do it without tearing each other apart.]]> 544 Karen Chance Mel 0 to-read 4.22 2019 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer, #9)
author: Karen Chance
name: Mel
average rating: 4.22
book published: 2019
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2022/01/22
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> Mann of My Dreams 8456761 NOTE: MoMD has been removed by the author from her online site, pending publication. A revised series under the new title, Spy vs. Spook will be published by Dreamspinner, with the first novel, Houseboat on the Nile, available now.

What starts out as curiosity on the part of a senior special agent of the very covert Washington Bureau of Intelligence and Security becomes a series of mind games when the DD of Operational Targeting he's intrigued by learns of it and becomes curious himself.]]> 624 Tinnean Mel 0 4.21 2012 Mann of My Dreams
author: Tinnean
name: Mel
average rating: 4.21
book published: 2012
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2021/02/06
shelves: e-book, m-m, free-stuff, own-to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Parking Lot Hero (Vic and Matt Book 5)]]> 21623191 A Vic and Matt Story

It's the weekend of the Super Bowl. Vic is looking forward to a quiet Saturday with his lover, but Matt has organized a party at their place for the big game and a trip to the grocery store is in order to stock up on drinks and chips.

At the store, they run into Mrs. Kowalewsky, their landlady. When a trio of ruffians terrorize the feisty old woman in the parking lot, Vic finds the superhero in him called to action.

This fast-paced, sizzling hot short story is offered for free as a sample of my work and to introduce readers to my superhero characters, Vic and Matt.]]> 19 J.M. Snyder 1935753223 Mel 3 free-stuff, m-m, e-book 3.28 2009 Parking Lot Hero (Vic and Matt Book 5)
author: J.M. Snyder
name: Mel
average rating: 3.28
book published: 2009
rating: 3
read at:
date added: 2021/01/26
shelves: free-stuff, m-m, e-book
review:

]]> Fall 21829535 Alex Draven 1452322988 Mel 4
Fall is a short story with m/m aspects. It's not your everyday m/m read and that's what I liked about it. I liked the fact that the main characters were centaurs, I liked the bits and pieces of background and I liked that the events unfolded in a realistic pace.

I agree with other reviewers that the story was difficult to follow at times. The author gives away bits of pieces of the puzzle as the story progresses and I had to go back and reread some parts in order for them to make sense the second time around. But we never get to see the full puzzle. The world stays a bit of a mystery and the ending raises more questions than it answers.

Nevertheless, this short story got me very curious about the author's other work and isn't that the whole purpose of short freebies like these? Mission accomplished on my account! A 4-. ]]> 2.81 2010 Fall
author: Alex Draven
name: Mel
average rating: 2.81
book published: 2010
rating: 4
read at: 2011/06/18
date added: 2021/01/23
shelves: e-book, free-stuff, m-m, short-stories-anthologies
review:
Pet is a centaur. He lives alone in an old slaughterhouse, is fed up with his life and fills his days with drinking and smoking. When a young centaur shows up at his doorstep, Pet wants the boy gone. But the youngster is very determined, and -slowly but surely- he finds a way into Pat's home and life.

Fall is a short story with m/m aspects. It's not your everyday m/m read and that's what I liked about it. I liked the fact that the main characters were centaurs, I liked the bits and pieces of background and I liked that the events unfolded in a realistic pace.

I agree with other reviewers that the story was difficult to follow at times. The author gives away bits of pieces of the puzzle as the story progresses and I had to go back and reread some parts in order for them to make sense the second time around. But we never get to see the full puzzle. The world stays a bit of a mystery and the ending raises more questions than it answers.

Nevertheless, this short story got me very curious about the author's other work and isn't that the whole purpose of short freebies like these? Mission accomplished on my account! A 4-.
]]> Adagio 478526 235 Chris Owen 1934081035 Mel 0 m-m, e-book, paused Thank you Indigene :) 3.77 2006 Adagio
author: Chris Owen
name: Mel
average rating: 3.77
book published: 2006
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2020/09/12
shelves: m-m, e-book, paused
review:
Thank you Indigene :)
]]> <![CDATA[I Will Find You: Solving Killer Cases from My Life Fighting Crime]]> 40210515 Detective Lt. Joe Kenda, star of the wildly successful crime documentary series Homicide Hunter: Lt. Joe Kenda, shares his deepest, darkest, and never before revealed case files from his 19 years as a homicide detective. TV viewers and readers alike are fascinated and horrified by abhorrent murders. They crave to know the gory details of these crimes, and seek comfort in the solving of the most gruesome. In I WILL FIND YOU, DETECTIVE LIEUTENANT JOE KENDA reminds us that cases like these are very real and can happen even in your backyard.

Joe Kenda investigated 387 murder cases during his 23 years with the Colorado Springs Police Department and solved almost all of them. And he is ready to detail the cases that are too gruesome to air on television, cases that still haunt him, and cases where the killer got away. These cases are horrifyingly real, but the detail is so mesmerizing you won't be able to look away. Chapters include:


"Every City has an Underbelly" where beautiful cities experience deadly violence "I Talk to Dead People" where Kenda reveals his approaches to crime scene investigation "Honey I'm Home, Don't Mind the Blood" where detective work is brought home "Crimes I Can't Talk about on TV" where Kenda shares the most gruesome, macabre or complex cases



The tales in this book will shockreaders like the best horror stories. This is true crime at its finest, divulging insights into the actions, motivations, and proclivities of nature's most dangerous species.


p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Times; -webkit-text-stroke: #000000} li.li1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Times; -webkit-text-stroke: #000000} span.s1 {font-kerning: none} span.s2 {font: 14.0px Baskerville; font-kerning: none} ul.ul1 {list-style-type: disc}]]> Joe Kenda Mel 4
I don’t own a tv myself but when I’m at my parents� place I’m known to watch Investigation Discovery all day. I love true crime programs and Homicide Hunter is one of my favorite shows especially with Lt. Joe Kenda dead panning just about everything.

So when I came across this book on Audible I couldn’t have been happier. I was expecting Kenda to tell a couple of crime stories from beginning to end and have the listener go on a chase with him as a sort of anecdotal whodunit. So when the first chapter started about his mom and dad and the fact that he didn’t grow up in a loving household I was a bit baffled. But my initial surprise turnend into appreciation. Kenda tells you a lot about his crimes but also about himself, how his job has affected him, what it cost him- and what it cost his family.
Years of working as a homicide detective, to be confronted day in and day out with the things people do each other out of greed, jealousy, anger and sometimes sheer stupidity takes a toll.

Kenda (as some other reviewers point out) can sometimes come across as surly, righteous, prejudiced, insensitive and distant, but I guess that’s what happens after years as a homicide detective.
Having Kenda explain this, together with the sheer dedication he had to finding the bad guy is very interesting.

And so it turned out the crime parts (and some bits are very gruesome and stick with you, be warned) and the personal parts turned out to be equally engaging.

Other than that: Joe Kenda is a great narrator and (together with his ghostwriter D. Wesley Smith, whom he talks about in the acknowledgements) a good story teller.

(*note: The book isn’t very tightly structured; it’s anecdotal, sometimes repetitive (at times literal repetitions- editor slip up I guess) which I can imagine could be a bit annoying in book form. I’d definitely advice audio.)]]> 4.22 2017 I Will Find You: Solving Killer Cases from My Life Fighting Crime
author: Joe Kenda
name: Mel
average rating: 4.22
book published: 2017
rating: 4
read at: 2019/11/24
date added: 2020/01/12
shelves:
review:
Audiobook review:

I don’t own a tv myself but when I’m at my parents� place I’m known to watch Investigation Discovery all day. I love true crime programs and Homicide Hunter is one of my favorite shows especially with Lt. Joe Kenda dead panning just about everything.

So when I came across this book on Audible I couldn’t have been happier. I was expecting Kenda to tell a couple of crime stories from beginning to end and have the listener go on a chase with him as a sort of anecdotal whodunit. So when the first chapter started about his mom and dad and the fact that he didn’t grow up in a loving household I was a bit baffled. But my initial surprise turnend into appreciation. Kenda tells you a lot about his crimes but also about himself, how his job has affected him, what it cost him- and what it cost his family.
Years of working as a homicide detective, to be confronted day in and day out with the things people do each other out of greed, jealousy, anger and sometimes sheer stupidity takes a toll.

Kenda (as some other reviewers point out) can sometimes come across as surly, righteous, prejudiced, insensitive and distant, but I guess that’s what happens after years as a homicide detective.
Having Kenda explain this, together with the sheer dedication he had to finding the bad guy is very interesting.

And so it turned out the crime parts (and some bits are very gruesome and stick with you, be warned) and the personal parts turned out to be equally engaging.

Other than that: Joe Kenda is a great narrator and (together with his ghostwriter D. Wesley Smith, whom he talks about in the acknowledgements) a good story teller.

(*note: The book isn’t very tightly structured; it’s anecdotal, sometimes repetitive (at times literal repetitions- editor slip up I guess) which I can imagine could be a bit annoying in book form. I’d definitely advice audio.)
]]> <![CDATA[The Return of the King (The Lord of the Rings, #3)]]> 2151424
In the third volume of The Lord of the Rings trilogy, the good and evil forces join battle, and we see that the triumph of good is not absolute. The Third Age of Middle-earth ends, and the age of the dominion of Men begins.]]> 544 J.R.R. Tolkien Mel 5 4.55 1955 The Return of the King (The Lord of the Rings, #3)
author: J.R.R. Tolkien
name: Mel
average rating: 4.55
book published: 1955
rating: 5
read at:
date added: 2018/12/05
shelves:
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Tales of the Otherworld (Otherworld Stories, #2)]]> 6539105 bestselling author Kelley Armstrong has bewitched audiences with her Otherworld series of supernatural thrillers. Now, in this new collection of shorter fiction, some of Armstrong's most tantalizing lead characters appear alongside her unforgettable supporting players, who step out of the shadows and into the light.

Have you ever wondered how lone wolf Clayton Danvers finally got bitten by the last thing he ever expected: love? Or how the hot-blooded bad-girl witch Eve Levine managed to ensnare the cold, ruthless corporate sorcerer Kristof Nast in one of the Otherworld's most unlikely pairings? Would you like to be a fly on the wall at the wedding of Lucas Cortez and Paige Winterbourne as their eminently practical plans are upended by their well-meaning friends? Or tag along with Lucas and Paige as they investigate a gruesome crime that looks to be the work of a rogue vampire?

Now devotees of the Otherworld can share these special moments with some of their favorite characters - as well as discovering deeper insights into the lives of some of the lesser-known players. But even readers new to the Otherworld universe will find much to love in these seven tales of friendship, adventure, and enduring romance. For when the superhuman men and women of the Otherworld set their minds to a task, they do so with fierce passion and an undivided sense of purpose that make them, in the end, very much human.

Contents:
Rebirth
Bewitched
Birthright
Beginnings
Expectations
Ghosts
Wedding Bell Hell
The Case of El Chupacabra]]> 387 Kelley Armstrong 0553807889 Mel 4 short-stories-anthologies Industrial Magic and with a mysterious -possibly mythical- murder investigation as a backdrop, it tells us the stories of Sean and Lucas; two Cabal sons, both struggling in their own way to fit the mold they are raised (and expected) to fit. Like Beginnings it was one of the longest stories of the Tales of the Otherworld anthology, and like Beginnings I would have been willing to buy a book with just either of those stories.
I liked the plot but this story was more character driven and it showed us great insight in Sean and made me love Lucas and Paige even more together.
4,5 stars]]> 4.25 2010 Tales of the Otherworld (Otherworld Stories, #2)
author: Kelley Armstrong
name: Mel
average rating: 4.25
book published: 2010
rating: 4
read at: 2012/08/28
date added: 2018/11/02
shelves: short-stories-anthologies
review:
Set two years after Industrial Magic and with a mysterious -possibly mythical- murder investigation as a backdrop, it tells us the stories of Sean and Lucas; two Cabal sons, both struggling in their own way to fit the mold they are raised (and expected) to fit. Like Beginnings it was one of the longest stories of the Tales of the Otherworld anthology, and like Beginnings I would have been willing to buy a book with just either of those stories.
I liked the plot but this story was more character driven and it showed us great insight in Sean and made me love Lucas and Paige even more together.
4,5 stars
]]> <![CDATA[Dragon's Claw (Dorina Basarab, #4.5)]]> 41639151
Everyone knows that vampires are hard to kill. But when Dory Basarab is called to a crime scene in a smelly basement in Queens, she discovers that that may no longer be the case. Somebody has developed a new weapon, a vamp killer, and left her plenty of clues to follow. One of them leads her to the other side of the world, and to a city like no other, where the paranormal is normal and where death stalks the streets. Can she defeat a clever killer before he kills again, and on an unprecedented scale?]]> 215 Karen Chance Mel 0 to-read 4.40 2018 Dragon's Claw (Dorina Basarab, #4.5)
author: Karen Chance
name: Mel
average rating: 4.40
book published: 2018
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2018/09/03
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> Hoe reis ik solo? 3354570 192 Irene Herbers 9020975641 Mel 5 favorites
Dit jaar, as we speak zelfs, op mijn 34e, maakte ik mijn eerste echte soloreis. Ik was weleens alleen op vakantie geweest, maar dan wel met de wetenschap dat ik genoeg vrienden en kennissen op bepaalde plekken had die ik kon optrommelen voor een leuke tijd als ik daar zin in had. Maar zo helemaal in je eentje weg, zonder iemand bekends, in een totaal onbekend land en dan óók nog met mijn richtingsgevoel (ik noem het: anti-talent, ik verdwaal nog net niet in mijn eigen huis) ... dat was toch hele andere koek.

Dus dan was het toch wel heel fijn dat ik dit boek bij me had. Ik was erg opgelucht te lezen dat alle zorgen die ik had, maar niet hardop durfde te uiten (ik ben toch al 34 en verder heel zelfstandig en een vrouw van de wereld en alles...) erin beschreven waren. Van (on)veiligheid, tot ziek zijn, van ongemakkelijke situaties tot vrienden onderweg, van alleen eten tot de mooiste momenten, alles kwam aan bod. Grappig, interessant, maar vooral heel herkenbaar.
Echt een heel fijn boek wat zowel een steun als een duwtje in de rug voor me was.

En zo was het dan toch een beetje, dat ik het idee had dat ik toch niet helemaal alleen op reis was...]]> 3.56 2008 Hoe reis ik solo?
author: Irene Herbers
name: Mel
average rating: 3.56
book published: 2008
rating: 5
read at: 2015/11/30
date added: 2018/07/16
shelves: favorites
review:
Ik kan niet anders zeggen dan dat dit boek gewoon een erg lief boek is.

Dit jaar, as we speak zelfs, op mijn 34e, maakte ik mijn eerste echte soloreis. Ik was weleens alleen op vakantie geweest, maar dan wel met de wetenschap dat ik genoeg vrienden en kennissen op bepaalde plekken had die ik kon optrommelen voor een leuke tijd als ik daar zin in had. Maar zo helemaal in je eentje weg, zonder iemand bekends, in een totaal onbekend land en dan óók nog met mijn richtingsgevoel (ik noem het: anti-talent, ik verdwaal nog net niet in mijn eigen huis) ... dat was toch hele andere koek.

Dus dan was het toch wel heel fijn dat ik dit boek bij me had. Ik was erg opgelucht te lezen dat alle zorgen die ik had, maar niet hardop durfde te uiten (ik ben toch al 34 en verder heel zelfstandig en een vrouw van de wereld en alles...) erin beschreven waren. Van (on)veiligheid, tot ziek zijn, van ongemakkelijke situaties tot vrienden onderweg, van alleen eten tot de mooiste momenten, alles kwam aan bod. Grappig, interessant, maar vooral heel herkenbaar.
Echt een heel fijn boek wat zowel een steun als een duwtje in de rug voor me was.

En zo was het dan toch een beetje, dat ik het idee had dat ik toch niet helemaal alleen op reis was...
]]> <![CDATA[Green but for a Season (Captive Prince Short Stories, #1)]]> 31814812 Green but for a Season is the first of a series of four Captive Prince short stories. It follows the relationship between Jord and Aimeric and is set during the events of Prince’s Gambit.]]> 24 C.S. Pacat 0987507346 Mel 0 not-sure-about-this 3.75 2016 Green but for a Season (Captive Prince Short Stories, #1)
author: C.S. Pacat
name: Mel
average rating: 3.75
book published: 2016
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2017/08/13
shelves: not-sure-about-this
review:

]]> <![CDATA[The Summer Palace (Captive Prince Short Stories, #2)]]> 33230173 "When all this is over, we could take horses and stay a week in the palace..."

Set after the events of the Captive Prince trilogy, The Summer Palace is a story about Damen and Laurent. It's an epilogue of sorts to the Captive Prince series.]]> 30 C.S. Pacat 0987622307 Mel 0 to-read 4.43 2017 The Summer Palace (Captive Prince Short Stories, #2)
author: C.S. Pacat
name: Mel
average rating: 4.43
book published: 2017
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2017/08/13
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Full Moon Rising (Riley Jenson Guardian, #1)]]> 172764
Luckily Riley has two willing partners to satisfy her every need. But she will have to control her urges if she’s going to find her brother�.Easier said than done as the city pulses with frenzied desire, and Riley is confronted with a very powerful–and delectably naked–vamp who raises her temperature like never before.

In matters carnal, Riley has met her match. But in matters criminal, she must follow her instincts not only to find her brother but to stop an unholy harvest. For someone is doing some shifty cloning in an attempt to produce the ultimate warrior–by tapping into the genome of nonhumans like Rhoan. Now Riley knows just how dangerous the world is for her kind–and just how much it needs her.]]> 372 Keri Arthur 0553588451 Mel 3 Full Moon Rising left me confused. I’m not sure how to rate this book: I’m torn between a 2 and a 3 star rating.
There’s one thing I am pretty sure about, though: miss Keri Arthur sure loves her heroine. Maybe she had a very strict and conservative upbringing or maybe she was an extremely insecure and overweight wallflower during puberty. Whatever the reason, it seems like she’s been living out her fantasies through her protagonist.

Riley Jenson is fan-ta-bu-lous, apparently. She is the center of attention, loved and lusted after by everyone, because she’s pretty, sweet, tough and smart. She proves the latter within the first chapter of the book by wearing 6 inch heels on the job in stead of 8 inch heels, because those are ‘easier to run with�. Atta girl!

Other than that, quite frankly, she didn’t make very well thought out decisions. What she did do, however, was run around semi naked (or completely naked) throughout more than half of the book. The other half she was having sex. And doing stupid things. Mostly simultaneously.

Writers being head over heels with their protagonists are a big no-no for me. Another thing I don’t like is bad and/or illogical world building. Riley's world seemed really interesting in the beginning. There were several supernatural communities and the fresh take (well, maybe not so ‘fresh�) on vampires was nice. But as the book progressed and we learned more about the world Riley is living in, things stopped making sense.

My biggest peeve being the whole ‘moon craze� thing. While it was the perfect means for having Riley prance around naked and horny for most of the time, it did take away the credibility. Whatever your beliefs, there’s no denying that natural selection ensues that a species� traits is based on survival, not the opposite. Having werewolves follow their sexual instinct for a week per month (in which they lose all morals, control and not to mention: common sense) is a sure way to get a species extinct within no time. Still, in Arthur’s world, werewolves have been around for centuries. In relative secrecy even, until recently.
Another thing that seemed illogical was the fact that the different species of the supernatural community didn’t know much about each other, even basic stuff like general powers and longevity.

The secondaries in the book were pretty one-dimensional. The scary vampire, the asshole boyfriend and of course: Quinn. Quinn’s hotness is pretty much shoved down our throat but by the end of the book, I can’t really say I’m interested to read more about him.

In spite of all my ranting, I can say that the writing in general was pretty okay. But due to my annoyance with Riley and the lack of logic, I couldn’t really enjoy the book. But since this is a first in the series: I’ll be mild and round up my rating to three stars.]]> 3.91 2006 Full Moon Rising (Riley Jenson Guardian, #1)
author: Keri Arthur
name: Mel
average rating: 3.91
book published: 2006
rating: 3
read at: 2010/03/10
date added: 2017/08/05
shelves:
review:
Reading Full Moon Rising left me confused. I’m not sure how to rate this book: I’m torn between a 2 and a 3 star rating.
There’s one thing I am pretty sure about, though: miss Keri Arthur sure loves her heroine. Maybe she had a very strict and conservative upbringing or maybe she was an extremely insecure and overweight wallflower during puberty. Whatever the reason, it seems like she’s been living out her fantasies through her protagonist.

Riley Jenson is fan-ta-bu-lous, apparently. She is the center of attention, loved and lusted after by everyone, because she’s pretty, sweet, tough and smart. She proves the latter within the first chapter of the book by wearing 6 inch heels on the job in stead of 8 inch heels, because those are ‘easier to run with�. Atta girl!

Other than that, quite frankly, she didn’t make very well thought out decisions. What she did do, however, was run around semi naked (or completely naked) throughout more than half of the book. The other half she was having sex. And doing stupid things. Mostly simultaneously.

Writers being head over heels with their protagonists are a big no-no for me. Another thing I don’t like is bad and/or illogical world building. Riley's world seemed really interesting in the beginning. There were several supernatural communities and the fresh take (well, maybe not so ‘fresh�) on vampires was nice. But as the book progressed and we learned more about the world Riley is living in, things stopped making sense.

My biggest peeve being the whole ‘moon craze� thing. While it was the perfect means for having Riley prance around naked and horny for most of the time, it did take away the credibility. Whatever your beliefs, there’s no denying that natural selection ensues that a species� traits is based on survival, not the opposite. Having werewolves follow their sexual instinct for a week per month (in which they lose all morals, control and not to mention: common sense) is a sure way to get a species extinct within no time. Still, in Arthur’s world, werewolves have been around for centuries. In relative secrecy even, until recently.
Another thing that seemed illogical was the fact that the different species of the supernatural community didn’t know much about each other, even basic stuff like general powers and longevity.

The secondaries in the book were pretty one-dimensional. The scary vampire, the asshole boyfriend and of course: Quinn. Quinn’s hotness is pretty much shoved down our throat but by the end of the book, I can’t really say I’m interested to read more about him.

In spite of all my ranting, I can say that the writing in general was pretty okay. But due to my annoyance with Riley and the lack of logic, I couldn’t really enjoy the book. But since this is a first in the series: I’ll be mild and round up my rating to three stars.
]]> <![CDATA[Zombie's Bite (Dorina Basarab, #0.1)]]> 28001867 116 Karen Chance Mel 4
I love Cassie, but Dory's books are my favorite. Zombie's Bite is a prequel to the series and it has the typical Karen Chance ingredients: action packed, great characters and lots of humor.

A great read! Oh how I miss Dory!]]> 4.18 2015 Zombie's Bite (Dorina Basarab, #0.1)
author: Karen Chance
name: Mel
average rating: 4.18
book published: 2015
rating: 4
read at: 2017/06/15
date added: 2017/08/02
shelves: e-book, free-stuff, short-stories-anthologies
review:
I bought this short story on Amazon only to find out it was available for free on Smashwords...-but I don't care: I loved it! It's been a while since I've visited Chance's world of vampires and mages and demons and all other beings that go bump in the night. This short reminded me of why I totally love her books; this was so much fun!

I love Cassie, but Dory's books are my favorite. Zombie's Bite is a prequel to the series and it has the typical Karen Chance ingredients: action packed, great characters and lots of humor.

A great read! Oh how I miss Dory!
]]> More than Just a Good Book 8125977
Note: This was originally a short story. A full novel-length version of Mark and Scott's story is now available.]]> 18 Sloan Parker Mel 3 e-book, m-m, free-stuff 3.67 2009 More than Just a Good Book
author: Sloan Parker
name: Mel
average rating: 3.67
book published: 2009
rating: 3
read at: 2011/04/24
date added: 2017/07/08
shelves: e-book, m-m, free-stuff
review:

]]> <![CDATA[A Companion to Wolves (Iskryne World, #1)]]> 2678273 A Companion to Wolves is the story of a young nobleman, Isolfr, who is chosen to become a wolfcarl -- a warrior who is bonded to a fighting wolf. Isolfr is deeply drawn to the wolves, and though as his father's heir he can refuse the call, he chooses to go.

The people of this wintry land depend on the wolfcarls to protect them from the threat of trolls and wyverns, though the supernatural creatures have not come in force for many years. Men are growing too confident. The wolfhealls are small, and the lords give them less respect than in former years. But the winter of Isolfr's bonding, the trolls come down from the north in far greater numbers than before, and the holding's complaisance gives way to terror in the dark.

Isolfr, now bonded to a queen wolf, Viradechtis, must learn where his honor lies, and discover the lengths to which he will to go when it, and love for his wolf, drive him.]]> 320 Elizabeth Bear 076535778X Mel 0 e-book, to-read, m-m 3.79 2007 A Companion to Wolves (Iskryne World, #1)
author: Elizabeth Bear
name: Mel
average rating: 3.79
book published: 2007
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2017/06/30
shelves: e-book, to-read, m-m
review:

]]> <![CDATA[The House at Cobb End (Cassandra Palmer, #5.1)]]> 13060029 10 Karen Chance Mel 0 to-read 3.93 2011 The House at Cobb End (Cassandra Palmer, #5.1)
author: Karen Chance
name: Mel
average rating: 3.93
book published: 2011
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2017/06/15
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Ride the Storm (Cassandra Palmer, #8)]]> 24663516 The New York Times bestselling author of Reap the Wind returns to the “fascinating world�* of Cassie Palmer.

Ever since getting appointed the chief seer of the supernatural world, Cassie Palmer has been playing catch up. Catch up on the training she missed being raised by a psychotic vampire instead of at the pythian court. Catch up on the dangerous world of supernatural politics. Catch up on the powerful, and sometimes seductive, forces trying to mold her to their will. It’s been a trial by fire that has left her burned.

But now she realizes all that was just the warm up.

Ancient forces that once terrorized the world want to return, and Cassie is the only one who can stop them. But to win, she needs help: from a friend lost in time, from a secretive lover, from every supernatural group that has ignored her up until now. And with the vampires and fey preparing to wage war across two worlds, Cassie's time is running out ....]]> 597 Karen Chance 110198998X Mel 0 to-read 4.10 2017 Ride the Storm (Cassandra Palmer, #8)
author: Karen Chance
name: Mel
average rating: 4.10
book published: 2017
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2017/06/15
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Lover's Knot (Dorina Basarab, #3.5)]]> 28103894 134 Karen Chance Mel 0 to-read 4.08 2017 Lover's Knot (Dorina Basarab, #3.5)
author: Karen Chance
name: Mel
average rating: 4.08
book published: 2017
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2017/06/15
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Shadow's Bane (Dorina Basarab, #4)]]> 24104482 Half-human, half-vampire Dorina Basarab is back—and facing her biggest challenge yet in the next urban fantasy in the New York Times bestselling series.

Dorina Basarab is a dhampir—half-human, half-vampire. As one of the Vampire Senate’s newest members, Dory already has a lot on her plate. But then a relative of one of Dory’s fey friends goes missing. They fear he’s been sold to a slaver who arranges fights—sometimes to the death—between different types of fey.

As Dory investigates, she and her friends learn the slavers are into something much bigger than a fight club. With the Vampire Senate gearing up for war with Faerie, it’ll take everything she has to defeat the slavers—and deal with the entirely too attractive master vampire Louis-Cesare....]]> 616 Karen Chance 0451419065 Mel 0 to-read 4.21 2018 Shadow's Bane (Dorina Basarab, #4)
author: Karen Chance
name: Mel
average rating: 4.21
book published: 2018
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2017/06/15
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Updating Pritkin (Cassandra Palmer, #5.3)]]> 23007024
It is relatively free of spoilers, but because of one important issue, should be read after Hunt the Moon.]]> 10 Karen Chance Mel 0 4.02 2015 Updating Pritkin (Cassandra Palmer, #5.3)
author: Karen Chance
name: Mel
average rating: 4.02
book published: 2015
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2017/06/15
shelves: short-stories-anthologies, to-get-asap, free-stuff
review:

]]> Shitty Beer 33232666 23 Karen Chance Mel 0 3.92 2015 Shitty Beer
author: Karen Chance
name: Mel
average rating: 3.92
book published: 2015
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2017/06/15
shelves:
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Adventurer (Otherworld Stories, #5.1)]]> 10417512 Available free online

Adventurer is a short story about "Silent Kenneth", the shaman of the interracial council.]]> 6 Kelley Armstrong Mel 4 short-stories-anthologies Stolen) but I loved the little peek into his mind. Kenneth's matter-of-fact tone was endearing and funny, as where those Tinkerbell images in his head.
My favorite bit:

"It is said among shamans that each is paired with his or her perfect spirit guide. A system that Kenneth suspected had broken down the day he’d come into the world. Perhaps another shaman had been born at the exact same moment, and the Creator—distracted by something more pressing, like an earthquake or angel uprising—had misassigned the ayamis. Somewhere right now, there was probably a shaman CIA agent being parachuted into enemy territory, accompanied by an ayami who’d really rather be napping."]]> 3.73 2005 Adventurer (Otherworld Stories, #5.1)
author: Kelley Armstrong
name: Mel
average rating: 3.73
book published: 2005
rating: 4
read at: 2012/08/31
date added: 2017/02/24
shelves: short-stories-anthologies
review:
This was surprisingly entertaining! I couldn't remember Kenneth at all (apparently he was in Stolen) but I loved the little peek into his mind. Kenneth's matter-of-fact tone was endearing and funny, as where those Tinkerbell images in his head.
My favorite bit:

"It is said among shamans that each is paired with his or her perfect spirit guide. A system that Kenneth suspected had broken down the day he’d come into the world. Perhaps another shaman had been born at the exact same moment, and the Creator—distracted by something more pressing, like an earthquake or angel uprising—had misassigned the ayamis. Somewhere right now, there was probably a shaman CIA agent being parachuted into enemy territory, accompanied by an ayami who’d really rather be napping."
]]> <![CDATA[Lover Unleashed (Black Dagger Brotherhood, #9)]]> 8492319 Number-one New York Times best-selling author J.R. Ward's thrilling new novel in the Black Dagger Brotherhood series.

Payne, twin sister of Vishous, is cut from the same dark, seductive cloth as her brother. Imprisoned for eons by their mother, the Scribe Virgin, she finally frees herself - only to face a devastating injury.

Manuel Manello, M.D., is drafted by the Brotherhood to save her as only he can - but when the human surgeon and the vampire warrior meet, their two worlds collide in the face of their undeniable passion. With so much working against them, can love prove stronger than the birthright and the biology that separates them?

18 hours and 37 minutes.]]> 512 J.R. Ward 0451233166 Mel 2 2011, e-book Why? Because I feel that the loyal fans got screwed over. The way Ward just blatantly rewrites history, disregards her own world's rules and has characters act completely out of character... It's insulting really!

I’ve been looking forward to this book like crazy. Eventhough I wasn’t interested in Payne and Manny’s story at all. In fact: I was fully expecting to hastily flip through the Payne/Manny bits, just to get to the good stuff: V’s downward spiral and the Qhuinn/Blay drama. At the end though: the love story between Payne and Manny was the best part of the book. And that’s saying something.

If this book emphasizes one thing, it is that Ward needs a new editor. Sure, the current one cries and raves about everything Ward says. But I thought an editor’s job was to actually, oh I don’t know� edit? Correct mistakes? Make sure the story flows well? Secure continuity in characters, actions and events? Check the time line?
Nope, no such thing. But hey: I bet she’s great at nodding her head.

Basically, Lover Unleashed is two big story lines and three mini story lines put together.
The two bigger story lines revolve around Payne & Manny and V, Jane & Butch. The three mini story lines are about Qhuinn & Blay, the Band of Bastards and about the next Fallen Angels book Jose de la Cruz and his new partner.

(Minor spoilers from here on:)

The good:
- Manny: before this story I was simply not invested enough to care about what happened to the guy. Over the course of this book, however, I grew to really like him. Ward described him as ‘a metrosexual motherfucker� but he’s really a regular alpha guy who’s not afraid to let his lady have the limelight.
- The Band of Bastards: I loved the itty grittiness of them. Xcor is really intriguing, Zypher needs a long way to be redeemed (somehow that’s sexy) and Throe, what can I say: I wish my friend Tara hadn’t called dibbs cause I wants him!
- Butch: I just love Butch.

The bad:
- Vishous' downward spiral: spelled C-O-N-T-R-I-V-E-D to me. The angst was completely forged and supported only by out of character actions by both Jane and Vishous. Plus: the whole thing was based on a faulty premise: the mating ceremony between V an Jane supposedly not having taken place. Say what?!?
- The Butch story line: yes I love Butch, but I can’t get over the fact what a missed chance this was for Ward to write more about our favorite ex-human with his chipped tooth (which mysteriously turned into a capped tooth in this book�). In a story which features Vishous, Manny and Jose de la Cruz, you’d expect more about him! And I’m not even going to mention the missed opportunity concerning the V/Butch quality time. Such a waste�
- Payne: ‘the female warrior�. Right� Payne is what Xhex haters would want her to be: a tough chick disguised in a Chosen package. We are told she’s tough and she holds her ground. We just don’t really see it. Also: this Payne didn’t resemble the girl we met in Lover Avenged. She felt more like Marissa or Cormia. Only with dark hair.
-Layla: like Payne, there was a change of character in Layla. Ward decided to give her a backbone this book. It just doesn’t match her behavior from last books... or this book, really. I feel like it’s an attempt from Ward to make us like Layla. Mission failed on my account.
- Jane: okay now, I’ll admit; I’m not the biggest Jane fan. I have problems with her status as Super Shellan and I get annoyed by the way Ward just needs to drive the point home (again and again) about how smart Jane is. And well.. in this book we were told (again and again) how smart the super doc was. Too bad she didn’t actually show it in her behavior.
- the blending POVs: maybe it’s me, maybe it’s due to all the Wardisms, but all the inner POVs are starting to sound alike. Open up a random chapter and it’s almost impossible to differentiate who’s talking or thinking anymore.
- the ending: if felt rushed and unfinished. Twenty pages is too short to wrap up five story lines!

The ugly:
- No John Matthew. At all. I missed him.
- The Jose de la Cruz and Thomas DelVecchio story line: I found it really interesting� right up to the point where I realized it didn’t serve any purpose in expanding Butch’s or the Bastards� story line. It’s just one big infomercial for the next Fallen Angels book.
- The castration of Xcor: here we have an intriguing, morally ambiguous hero with lots of potential. And Ward turns him into a sap near the end of the book. Why?!?
- The revelation of what Qhuinn saw on the door of the Fade: if this is going where I think it’s going, then I’m seriously considering a series boycott. One word: ridiculous.

The hysterical:
- The Wardisms: is it me or are they getting worse each book? The number one Wardism for this book has to be ‘going/getting vertical�. Another favorite word: ‘kibitzer�. There was also lots of extrapolation going on.
- Ehlena: she was the Super Extra. I think she was mentioned over forty times in the book. She didn’t utter one word though.
- Manny’s perpetual hard ons: We get it: he’s excited. But it got a bit silly towards the ending�

Now, I’ll be the last to say that the BDB series has always been perfect. It’s a bit over the top, sometimes silly, riddled with continuity mistakes. But until now Ward managed to compensate all this with great story telling, excitement and entertainment.
This time around I just didn't feel it. The main story line was okay, but the secondary story lines were either contrived (V/Jane/Butch), lacking of any substance (Qhuinn/Blay) or completely unnecessary (De La Cruz/Veck).
It’s still good for the genre, but it’s certainly my least favorite in the BDB series. A mere 2,5 stars.]]> 4.27 2011 Lover Unleashed (Black Dagger Brotherhood, #9)
author: J.R. Ward
name: Mel
average rating: 4.27
book published: 2011
rating: 2
read at: 2011/04/12
date added: 2017/02/08
shelves: 2011, e-book
review:
Lover Unleashed is the tenth book in the Black Dagger Brotherhood universe and it’s about Payne and Manny finding love. To me, it’s also� a huge disappointment.
Why? Because I feel that the loyal fans got screwed over. The way Ward just blatantly rewrites history, disregards her own world's rules and has characters act completely out of character... It's insulting really!

I’ve been looking forward to this book like crazy. Eventhough I wasn’t interested in Payne and Manny’s story at all. In fact: I was fully expecting to hastily flip through the Payne/Manny bits, just to get to the good stuff: V’s downward spiral and the Qhuinn/Blay drama. At the end though: the love story between Payne and Manny was the best part of the book. And that’s saying something.

If this book emphasizes one thing, it is that Ward needs a new editor. Sure, the current one cries and raves about everything Ward says. But I thought an editor’s job was to actually, oh I don’t know� edit? Correct mistakes? Make sure the story flows well? Secure continuity in characters, actions and events? Check the time line?
Nope, no such thing. But hey: I bet she’s great at nodding her head.

Basically, Lover Unleashed is two big story lines and three mini story lines put together.
The two bigger story lines revolve around Payne & Manny and V, Jane & Butch. The three mini story lines are about Qhuinn & Blay, the Band of Bastards and about the next Fallen Angels book Jose de la Cruz and his new partner.

(Minor spoilers from here on:)

The good:
- Manny: before this story I was simply not invested enough to care about what happened to the guy. Over the course of this book, however, I grew to really like him. Ward described him as ‘a metrosexual motherfucker� but he’s really a regular alpha guy who’s not afraid to let his lady have the limelight.
- The Band of Bastards: I loved the itty grittiness of them. Xcor is really intriguing, Zypher needs a long way to be redeemed (somehow that’s sexy) and Throe, what can I say: I wish my friend Tara hadn’t called dibbs cause I wants him!
- Butch: I just love Butch.

The bad:
- Vishous' downward spiral: spelled C-O-N-T-R-I-V-E-D to me. The angst was completely forged and supported only by out of character actions by both Jane and Vishous. Plus: the whole thing was based on a faulty premise: the mating ceremony between V an Jane supposedly not having taken place. Say what?!?
- The Butch story line: yes I love Butch, but I can’t get over the fact what a missed chance this was for Ward to write more about our favorite ex-human with his chipped tooth (which mysteriously turned into a capped tooth in this book�). In a story which features Vishous, Manny and Jose de la Cruz, you’d expect more about him! And I’m not even going to mention the missed opportunity concerning the V/Butch quality time. Such a waste�
- Payne: ‘the female warrior�. Right� Payne is what Xhex haters would want her to be: a tough chick disguised in a Chosen package. We are told she’s tough and she holds her ground. We just don’t really see it. Also: this Payne didn’t resemble the girl we met in Lover Avenged. She felt more like Marissa or Cormia. Only with dark hair.
-Layla: like Payne, there was a change of character in Layla. Ward decided to give her a backbone this book. It just doesn’t match her behavior from last books... or this book, really. I feel like it’s an attempt from Ward to make us like Layla. Mission failed on my account.
- Jane: okay now, I’ll admit; I’m not the biggest Jane fan. I have problems with her status as Super Shellan and I get annoyed by the way Ward just needs to drive the point home (again and again) about how smart Jane is. And well.. in this book we were told (again and again) how smart the super doc was. Too bad she didn’t actually show it in her behavior.
- the blending POVs: maybe it’s me, maybe it’s due to all the Wardisms, but all the inner POVs are starting to sound alike. Open up a random chapter and it’s almost impossible to differentiate who’s talking or thinking anymore.
- the ending: if felt rushed and unfinished. Twenty pages is too short to wrap up five story lines!

The ugly:
- No John Matthew. At all. I missed him.
- The Jose de la Cruz and Thomas DelVecchio story line: I found it really interesting� right up to the point where I realized it didn’t serve any purpose in expanding Butch’s or the Bastards� story line. It’s just one big infomercial for the next Fallen Angels book.
- The castration of Xcor: here we have an intriguing, morally ambiguous hero with lots of potential. And Ward turns him into a sap near the end of the book. Why?!?
- The revelation of what Qhuinn saw on the door of the Fade: if this is going where I think it’s going, then I’m seriously considering a series boycott. One word: ridiculous.

The hysterical:
- The Wardisms: is it me or are they getting worse each book? The number one Wardism for this book has to be ‘going/getting vertical�. Another favorite word: ‘kibitzer�. There was also lots of extrapolation going on.
- Ehlena: she was the Super Extra. I think she was mentioned over forty times in the book. She didn’t utter one word though.
- Manny’s perpetual hard ons: We get it: he’s excited. But it got a bit silly towards the ending�

Now, I’ll be the last to say that the BDB series has always been perfect. It’s a bit over the top, sometimes silly, riddled with continuity mistakes. But until now Ward managed to compensate all this with great story telling, excitement and entertainment.
This time around I just didn't feel it. The main story line was okay, but the secondary story lines were either contrived (V/Jane/Butch), lacking of any substance (Qhuinn/Blay) or completely unnecessary (De La Cruz/Veck).
It’s still good for the genre, but it’s certainly my least favorite in the BDB series. A mere 2,5 stars.
]]> <![CDATA[Otherworld Secrets (Otherworld Stories, #4)]]> 23398746 The next Otherworld anthology from #1 New York Times bestselling author Kelley Armstrong...

More than a decade after Kelley Armstrong first opened the doors to the Otherworld, fans are still clamoring for more. In response to their demands—and to coincide with the Syfy Network show based on the series—Plume has signed up three Otherworld anthologies, each of which revolves around a different theme. The second in the trilogy, Otherworld Secrets, features fan-favorites such as Cassandra, Savannah, and Adam in rare and neverbefore- published short stories—plus a brand new novella. Fans old and new will flock to this mystery-themed volume to discover the deepest secrets of this captivating world.]]> 416 Kelley Armstrong 0452298350 Mel 4
*This story can be found in the Blood Lite anthology. ]]> 4.17 2015 Otherworld Secrets (Otherworld Stories, #4)
author: Kelley Armstrong
name: Mel
average rating: 4.17
book published: 2015
rating: 4
read at: 2012/09/15
date added: 2017/02/02
shelves:
review:
Jaime is always entertaining. Combine her with Savannah and you know satisfaction -and loads of humor- is guaranteed.

*This story can be found in the Blood Lite anthology.
]]> <![CDATA[Demon from the Dark (Immortals After Dark, #9)]]> 7098304 A DANGEROUS DEMON SHE CAN'T RESIST . . .Malkom tormented by his sordid past and racked by vampiric hungers, he's pushed to the brink by the green-eyed beauty under his guard.A MADDENING WITCH HE ACHES TO CLAIM . . .Carrow hiding her own sorrows, she lives only for the next party or prank. Until she meets a tortured warrior worth saving.TRAPPED TOGETHER IN A SAVAGE PRISON . . .In order for Malkom and Carrow to survive, he must unleash both the demon and vampire inside him. When Malkom becomes the nightmare his own people feared, will he lose the woman he craves body and soul?]]> 430 Kresley Cole 1439123128 Mel 3 pnr Despite the premise in all the books being the same (boy and girl realize they are fated mates and have to deal with that–the hard and sexy way) the stories don't feel repetitive. Cole usually manages to give a new twist to each plot, coming up with something fresh and making her reader invest in her new couple.
It didn’t work for me this time.

Let me say: I feel guilty about giving it only 3 stars. But I just couldn’t round it up to a full 4, because that way the book would get the same rating as the books about the Wroth Brothers and the Woede. And frankly: those books were better than this one.
It’s hard to pinpoint an exact reason. Cole just seemed a little less inspired for this book. Even though the plot was original, it was rather silly and I had a hard time connecting with the characters, especially Carrow.

The good:
-The hero, Malkom Slaine, turned out to be one of Cole’s most interesting heroes. This ‘vemon� with a tormented past and serious trust issues (I was getting a Zsadist vibe) was the epitome of a growling and overbearing man. He made Lachlain MacRieve seem like a pussy cat and that’s saying something. Needless to say I loved him.

-Carrow is incarcerated with a lot of other immortals and it was great to see so many familiar faces. Regin, Lothaire, Uilleam, Lanthe, Thronos� It seemed like a lot of further books being set up and it got me very curious (especially the itty bits we got concerning Regin, Lanthe and Nïx).

The ‘meh�:
-In the previous books, we caught a few glimpses of Carrow as Mariketa’s best friend with the party hardy attitude. This book we get to meet her up close and personal and learn that she’s actually really vulnerable and empty on the inside. It’s a lesson hard to miss because it pretty much gets shoved down our throat on every occasion.
Besides that, Cole used a little witch named Ruby as a less than subtle plot device to keep the pressure on Carrow whilst making her grow up fast. It was too much and the sentence “But I have someone to take care of now� got annoying after the twentieth time.

-Because of Malkom and the way the book started, I felt Cole could make this story really deep and dark. Sadly she lost focus along the way and did the worst thing imaginable: she turned up the sap-level! And this took the bite out of her usually feisty stories.

The bad:
-The gathering in the House of Witches, near the very end of the book, was a compilation of inconsistencies, out of character displays and plain silliness. I won’t go into detail as to not spoil anything, but: bleh!

All in all, Demon for the Dark was a case of: ‘almost but not quite�, for me.
Still: the book is entertaining (it’s Cole!) and left me wondering about the upcoming stories. I just hope I’ll like them more.
3,5 stars]]> 4.43 2010 Demon from the Dark (Immortals After Dark, #9)
author: Kresley Cole
name: Mel
average rating: 4.43
book published: 2010
rating: 3
read at: 2010/08/15
date added: 2016/12/18
shelves: pnr
review:
Demon from the Dark is the tenth book in the immense popular Immortals After Dark series by Kresley Cole. The series is popular for good reason: the combination of snarky heroines and brooding heroes makes for great entertainment. The stories are always engaging, funny and sizzling.
Despite the premise in all the books being the same (boy and girl realize they are fated mates and have to deal with that–the hard and sexy way) the stories don't feel repetitive. Cole usually manages to give a new twist to each plot, coming up with something fresh and making her reader invest in her new couple.
It didn’t work for me this time.

Let me say: I feel guilty about giving it only 3 stars. But I just couldn’t round it up to a full 4, because that way the book would get the same rating as the books about the Wroth Brothers and the Woede. And frankly: those books were better than this one.
It’s hard to pinpoint an exact reason. Cole just seemed a little less inspired for this book. Even though the plot was original, it was rather silly and I had a hard time connecting with the characters, especially Carrow.

The good:
-The hero, Malkom Slaine, turned out to be one of Cole’s most interesting heroes. This ‘vemon� with a tormented past and serious trust issues (I was getting a Zsadist vibe) was the epitome of a growling and overbearing man. He made Lachlain MacRieve seem like a pussy cat and that’s saying something. Needless to say I loved him.

-Carrow is incarcerated with a lot of other immortals and it was great to see so many familiar faces. Regin, Lothaire, Uilleam, Lanthe, Thronos� It seemed like a lot of further books being set up and it got me very curious (especially the itty bits we got concerning Regin, Lanthe and Nïx).

The ‘meh�:
-In the previous books, we caught a few glimpses of Carrow as Mariketa’s best friend with the party hardy attitude. This book we get to meet her up close and personal and learn that she’s actually really vulnerable and empty on the inside. It’s a lesson hard to miss because it pretty much gets shoved down our throat on every occasion.
Besides that, Cole used a little witch named Ruby as a less than subtle plot device to keep the pressure on Carrow whilst making her grow up fast. It was too much and the sentence “But I have someone to take care of now� got annoying after the twentieth time.

-Because of Malkom and the way the book started, I felt Cole could make this story really deep and dark. Sadly she lost focus along the way and did the worst thing imaginable: she turned up the sap-level! And this took the bite out of her usually feisty stories.

The bad:
-The gathering in the House of Witches, near the very end of the book, was a compilation of inconsistencies, out of character displays and plain silliness. I won’t go into detail as to not spoil anything, but: bleh!

All in all, Demon for the Dark was a case of: ‘almost but not quite�, for me.
Still: the book is entertaining (it’s Cole!) and left me wondering about the upcoming stories. I just hope I’ll like them more.
3,5 stars
]]> The Fortune Quilt 962671
Convinced it's the quilt's fault, Carly races down to the small artists' community of Bilby, Arizona, to confront its maker, and ends up renting a cabin from her. Carly even starts to enjoy her reimagined life, until her old life comes calling. Now Carly has to decide what parts of each world she wants to patchwork in...and how much she's willing to leave to fate.]]> 272 Lani Diane Rich 0451220277 Mel 0 to-read 3.84 2007 The Fortune Quilt
author: Lani Diane Rich
name: Mel
average rating: 3.84
book published: 2007
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2016/10/30
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[No Humans Involved (Women of the Otherworld, #7)]]> 862350
It’s the most anticipated reality television event of the season: three spiritualists gathered together in one house to raise the ghost of Marilyn Monroe. For celebrity medium Jaime Vegas, it is to be her swan song—one last publicity blast for a celebrity on the wrong side of forty. But unlike her colleagues, who are more show than substance, Jaime is the real thing.

Reluctant to upstage her fellow spiritualists, Jaime tries to suppress her talents, as she has done her entire life. But there is something lurking in the maze of gardens behind the house: a spirit without a voice. And it won’t let go until somehow Jaime hears its terrible story. For the first time in her life, Jaime Vegas understands what humans mean when they say they are haunted. Distraught, Jaime looks to fellow supernatural Jeremy Danvers for help.

As the touches and whispers from the garden grow more frantic, Jaime and Jeremy embark on an investigation into a Los Angeles underworld of black magic and ritual sacrifice. When events culminate in a psychic showdown, Jaime must use the darkest power she has to defeat a shocking enemy—one whose malicious force comes from the last realm she expected. . . .

In a world whose surface resembles our own, Kelley Armstrong delivers a stunning alternate reality, one where beings of the imagination live, love, and fight a never-ending battle between good and evil.


From the Hardcover edition.]]> 621 Kelley Armstrong 0553588370 Mel 4 While filming for a tv show, Jamie finds out that the garden of the house were the filming takes place seems to be inhabitated by child ghosts. As the theory of human sacrifice for magical power gets further unraveled, Jamie needs all the help she can get.

This book can be read as a stand alone but readers might be confused by all the names brought up, because we see a lot different characters from Armstrong's world: Paige, Lucas, Savannah, Eve, Kristof, Hope, Karl and ofcourse: Jeremy.
Jamie has been infatuated with Jeremy for four years and it's really funny to see how the professional flirter turns into a 14 year old girl around the werewolf Alpha.

The reason I like Armstrong's Women of the Otherworld series is because we see her world from so many different perspectives. Granted: not every main character has the same depth or attraction. Elena is my favorite but a big reason behind that was the angst between her and Clay. I loved Eve Levine because of her humor and big mouth, while her relationship with Kristof and her need for Savannah portrayed her vulnerable side.
Jamie is a show girl who has tried to turn an unhappy life with an unloving and demanding mother in a meaningful and purposeful existence. She has strong powers but these do not always come handy in battle. This makes Jamie seem like the muddler who is always in need for protection. This book shows however, that Jamie is more than capable of handling her own.

A very good, entertaining and solid read by Kelley Armstrong.
]]> 4.19 2007 No Humans Involved (Women of the Otherworld, #7)
author: Kelley Armstrong
name: Mel
average rating: 4.19
book published: 2007
rating: 4
read at: 2009/09/06
date added: 2016/08/14
shelves:
review:
This is the seventh in Armstrong's Women of the Otherworld series, and this time we get to experience the action through Jamie Vegas' eyes.
While filming for a tv show, Jamie finds out that the garden of the house were the filming takes place seems to be inhabitated by child ghosts. As the theory of human sacrifice for magical power gets further unraveled, Jamie needs all the help she can get.

This book can be read as a stand alone but readers might be confused by all the names brought up, because we see a lot different characters from Armstrong's world: Paige, Lucas, Savannah, Eve, Kristof, Hope, Karl and ofcourse: Jeremy.
Jamie has been infatuated with Jeremy for four years and it's really funny to see how the professional flirter turns into a 14 year old girl around the werewolf Alpha.

The reason I like Armstrong's Women of the Otherworld series is because we see her world from so many different perspectives. Granted: not every main character has the same depth or attraction. Elena is my favorite but a big reason behind that was the angst between her and Clay. I loved Eve Levine because of her humor and big mouth, while her relationship with Kristof and her need for Savannah portrayed her vulnerable side.
Jamie is a show girl who has tried to turn an unhappy life with an unloving and demanding mother in a meaningful and purposeful existence. She has strong powers but these do not always come handy in battle. This makes Jamie seem like the muddler who is always in need for protection. This book shows however, that Jamie is more than capable of handling her own.

A very good, entertaining and solid read by Kelley Armstrong.

]]> <![CDATA[De wereld van Sofie. Roman over de geschiedenis van de filosofie]]> 2788041 De wereld van Sofie is een boek over de geschiedenis van onze westerse filosofie. Het geeft een onderhoudend en origineel beeld van de wereld van de eerste Griekse filosofen tot en met die van onze eigen tijd. Tegelijkertijd is het een spannende roman over twee ondernemende meisjes en een geheimzinnige briefschrijver. Over een speurtocht die tot antwoorden leidt die op hun beurt weer nieuwe vragen oproepen. Maar dat is niet erg: een echte filosoof blijft altijd vragen stellen.]]> 559 Jostein Gaarder 9026107110 Mel 4 nederlands 3.90 1991 De wereld van Sofie. Roman over de geschiedenis van de filosofie
author: Jostein Gaarder
name: Mel
average rating: 3.90
book published: 1991
rating: 4
read at:
date added: 2016/08/11
shelves: nederlands
review:

]]> Divergent (Divergent, #1) 8306857 In Beatrice Prior's dystopian Chicago, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue--Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). On an appointed day of every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives. For Beatrice, the decision is between staying with her family and being who she really is--she can't have both. So she makes a choice that surprises everyone, including herself.

During the highly competitive initiation that follows, Beatrice renames herself Tris and struggles to determine who her friends really are--and where, exactly, a romance with a sometimes fascinating, sometimes infuriating boy fits into the life she's chosen. But Tris also has a secret, one she's kept hidden from everyone because she's been warned it can mean death. And as she discovers a growing conflict that threatens to unravel her seemingly perfect society, she also learns that her secret might help her save those she loves . . . or it might destroy her.

]]> 487 Veronica Roth 0062024027 Mel 0 4.28 2011 Divergent (Divergent, #1)
author: Veronica Roth
name: Mel
average rating: 4.28
book published: 2011
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2016/05/27
shelves: to-read, to-get-asap, young-adult
review:

]]> <![CDATA[The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time]]> 3437 The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time is a murder mystery novel like no other. The detective, and narrator, is Christopher Boone. Christopher is fifteen and has Asperger's Syndrome. He knows a very great deal about maths and very little about human beings. He loves lists, patterns and the truth. He hates the colours yellow and brown and being touched. He has never gone further than the end of the road on his own, but when he finds a neighbour's dog murdered he sets out on a terrifying journey which will turn his whole world upside down.]]> 272 Mark Haddon 0099450259 Mel 0 own-to-read 3.87 2003 The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time
author: Mark Haddon
name: Mel
average rating: 3.87
book published: 2003
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2016/04/25
shelves: own-to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[So You've Been Publicly Shamed]]> 22571552 290 Jon Ronson 1594487138 Mel 0 to-read 3.91 2015 So You've Been Publicly Shamed
author: Jon Ronson
name: Mel
average rating: 3.91
book published: 2015
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2016/02/16
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[The Lies of Locke Lamora (Gentleman Bastard, #1)]]> 127455 Ocean's Eleven, and entirely enthralling...

An orphan's life is harsh � and often short � in the island city of Camorr, built on the ruins of a mysterious alien race. But born with a quick wit and a gift for thieving, Locke Lamora has dodged both death and slavery, only to fall into the hands of an eyeless priest known as Chains � a man who is neither blind nor a priest.

A con artist of extraordinary talent, Chains passes his skills on to his carefully selected "family" of orphans � a group known as the Gentlemen Bastards. Under his tutelage, Locke grows to lead the Bastards, delightedly pulling off one outrageous confidence game after another. Soon he is infamous as the Thorn of Camorr, and no wealthy noble is safe from his sting.

Passing themselves off as petty thieves, the brilliant Locke and his tightly knit band of light-fingered brothers have fooled even the criminal underworld's most feared ruler, Capa Barsavi. But there is someone in the shadows more powerful � and more ambitious � than Locke has yet imagined.

Known as the Gray King, he is slowly killing Capa Barsavi's most trusted men � and using Locke as a pawn in his plot to take control of Camorr's underworld. With a bloody coup under way threatening to destroy everyone and everything that holds meaning in his mercenary life, Locke vows to beat the Gray King at his own brutal game � or die trying...

]]> 499 Scott Lynch 0553804677 Mel 0 own-to-read 4.28 2006 The Lies of Locke Lamora (Gentleman Bastard, #1)
author: Scott Lynch
name: Mel
average rating: 4.28
book published: 2006
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2016/02/12
shelves: own-to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Dark Skye (Immortals After Dark, #15)]]> 18778872 Alternate Cover Edition for ASIN B00GKKTZZU

In this highly anticipated fifteenth novel in the Immortals After Dark series, #1 New York Times bestselling author Kresley Cole spins a sultry tale of a mighty warrior scarred inside and out and the beguiling sorceress with the power to heal him—or vanquish him forever.

Eternal Obsession
As a boy, Thronos, prince of Skye Hall, loved Lanthe, a mischievous Sorceri girl who made him question everything about his Vrekener clan. But when the two got caught in the middle of their families� war, tragedy struck, leaving Thronos and Lanthe bitter enemies. Though centuries have passed, nothing can cool his seething need for the beautiful enchantress who scarred his body—and left an even deeper impression on his soul.

Endless Yearning
Lanthe, a once-formidable sorceress struggling to reclaim her gifts, searches for love and acceptance with all the wrong immortal suitors. But she’s never forgotten Thronos, the magnificent silver-eyed boy who protected her until she was ripped from the shelter of his arms. One harrowing night changed everything between them. Now he’s a notorious warlord with a blood vendetta against Lanthe, hunting her relentlessly.

Can the heat of desire burn brighter than vengeance?
With their families locked in conflict and battles raging all around them, will Thronos and Lanthe succumb to the brutal chaos that threatens everything they cherish? Or will the fragile bond they formed so long ago spark a passion strong enough to withstand even the darkest doubts?]]> 432 Kresley Cole Mel 3 pnr
The Cole formula was unchanged; feisty heroine and broody hero find out they're mated and hilarity & hotness ensues. This time around the finding out happened way early in the lives of our main characters; during childhood. A period of tentative friendship is short lived before the drama and heart ache (and sporadic homicidal encounters) set in. Skip to a couple of centuries later and Melanthe and Thronos finally meet again.

Melanthe was a nice heroine. She's smart, she is feisty, she's funny and she's not too stupid or proud to see her own mistakes. The latter also goes for Thronos, who was an okay enough character but he couldn't really separate himself from the generic broody Cole heroes (except that he talks and thinks in actual sentences as opposed to monosyllables like the werewolves). I think I liked little Thronos better.

There was a strong message against slut shaming and pro feminism, which is cool. Cole's heroines have always been powerful women anyway, and if you think away the underlying message of only being able to be complete with a significant other, the whole thing is quite empowering, really . (I'm kidding, sorta. I know it's PNR.)

Cole loves to show us older characters and that's always fun. We get to see Sabine, Carrow, Rydstrom, Cadeon and Holly among others. Most importantly, Nix shows up and helps expand the Ascension arc and just be fabulous like she always is. (Btw: Nix should've totally ended up with Lothaire. I know, I'm still not over it.).

All in all a nice addition to a fun series. 3,5 stars]]> 4.42 2014 Dark Skye (Immortals After Dark, #15)
author: Kresley Cole
name: Mel
average rating: 4.42
book published: 2014
rating: 3
read at: 2016/02/06
date added: 2016/02/10
shelves: pnr
review:
The Immortals After Dark series is my guilty pleasure, my comfort food in times of need. Cole always manages to give me a good combination of engaging, sexy and funny. This was no exception.

The Cole formula was unchanged; feisty heroine and broody hero find out they're mated and hilarity & hotness ensues. This time around the finding out happened way early in the lives of our main characters; during childhood. A period of tentative friendship is short lived before the drama and heart ache (and sporadic homicidal encounters) set in. Skip to a couple of centuries later and Melanthe and Thronos finally meet again.

Melanthe was a nice heroine. She's smart, she is feisty, she's funny and she's not too stupid or proud to see her own mistakes. The latter also goes for Thronos, who was an okay enough character but he couldn't really separate himself from the generic broody Cole heroes (except that he talks and thinks in actual sentences as opposed to monosyllables like the werewolves). I think I liked little Thronos better.

There was a strong message against slut shaming and pro feminism, which is cool. Cole's heroines have always been powerful women anyway, and if you think away the underlying message of only being able to be complete with a significant other, the whole thing is quite empowering, really . (I'm kidding, sorta. I know it's PNR.)

Cole loves to show us older characters and that's always fun. We get to see Sabine, Carrow, Rydstrom, Cadeon and Holly among others. Most importantly, Nix shows up and helps expand the Ascension arc and just be fabulous like she always is. (Btw: Nix should've totally ended up with Lothaire. I know, I'm still not over it.).

All in all a nice addition to a fun series. 3,5 stars
]]> Teahouse 10387381
Status:
Chapter 01-05: Complete
Chapter 01-05 Backstory: Complete
Chapter 06 & Backstory: Complete Rough
Chapter 07: Incomplete/Discontinued (completed in summary)
Summaries for each story/couple: Complete (posted in 4 parts)

Note: Some extra and more explicit content is not available online.]]> 225 Emirain Mel 3 "So far so (very addictive and) good..."

This has been my review for the past few years. Or rather, my status, because Teahouse, a yaoi web comic, was a WIP—a Work in Progress. Was, because that is no longer the case, and hasn't been the case for a while now. The duo that is Emirain announced at the end of 2014 that they decided to stop the series due to real life responsibilities. So the Teahouse project has come to an end!

I must say I'm rather late finding this out, like: a YEAR late, since I was never part of the on line Teahouse community and, after an initial addictive spell of checking every week, would only pop in on the site every few months. There were a few hiatuses before, so it shouldn't have been a huge surprise, but I was still kind of shocked. The writers had planned out extensive scenario's but we'll never get to see those realized in print. Not in pictures anyway.

BUT the ladies were great enough to write out a summary of all major story lines, Axis & Rhys, Rory & Reed, and of course: Linneus and Atros, to the end () so we get to see how all the major characters will fare.

All in all, it was an enjoyable ride for as long it lasted.
3,5 stars

]]> 4.12 2012 Teahouse
author: Emirain
name: Mel
average rating: 4.12
book published: 2012
rating: 3
read at: 2016/02/09
date added: 2016/02/09
shelves: e-book, m-m, on-line-fiction, graphic-novel
review:
"So far so (very addictive and) good..."

This has been my review for the past few years. Or rather, my status, because Teahouse, a yaoi web comic, was a WIP—a Work in Progress. Was, because that is no longer the case, and hasn't been the case for a while now. The duo that is Emirain announced at the end of 2014 that they decided to stop the series due to real life responsibilities. So the Teahouse project has come to an end!

I must say I'm rather late finding this out, like: a YEAR late, since I was never part of the on line Teahouse community and, after an initial addictive spell of checking every week, would only pop in on the site every few months. There were a few hiatuses before, so it shouldn't have been a huge surprise, but I was still kind of shocked. The writers had planned out extensive scenario's but we'll never get to see those realized in print. Not in pictures anyway.

BUT the ladies were great enough to write out a summary of all major story lines, Axis & Rhys, Rory & Reed, and of course: Linneus and Atros, to the end () so we get to see how all the major characters will fare.

All in all, it was an enjoyable ride for as long it lasted.
3,5 stars


]]> Wood (PsyCop, #3.2) 28932515
The shelves aren’t for the cannery—Vic would never manage to sneak cheap pressboard and veneer past Jacob’s watchful eyes. Jacob’s Uncle Leon, however, is nowhere near as fussy. And since he’s only got one arm, he’ll need help putting together his new treasure.

It’s no surprise to find the instructions baffling and convoluted…but were they always so disturbingly dirty?

This PsyCop interlude is a cute, sexy romp that will delight readers who’ve enjoyed the series through PsyCop #3, Body and Soul.]]> 18 Jordan Castillo Price 1935540823 Mel 0 to-read 3.94 2016 Wood (PsyCop, #3.2)
author: Jordan Castillo Price
name: Mel
average rating: 3.94
book published: 2016
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2016/02/09
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> Memento (PsyCop, #6.2) 27393518 Seasons change, and so do fashion trends. But in this heartstring-tugging PsyCop short, what’s beneath the clothes matters most.Do clothes make the man? Jacob Marks cuts an impressive figure in his tailored suits, but Victor Bayne is another story. Nowadays, Vic does his ghosthunting in off-the-rack blazers, polyester blend slacks and cop shoes with nonskid soles. But back before he was a PsyCop—or even officially psychic—he rocked combat boots and a beat up biker jacket…and lots and lots of punk T-shirts. When he finds a faded tee in the back of a drawer, he’s eager to lob it in the trash. Jacob, however, finds himself waxing sentimental about Vic’s younger, more carefree days.This steamy 5000-word PsyCop short in Jacob’s voice takes place after PsyCop #6, GhosTV. THE PSYCOP SERIES#1: Among the LivingWhat good is being a psychic detective if your murder victims aren't talking? #2: Criss CrossMysterious messages from Lisa lead Vic on a wild ride. #2.1 Striking SparksAndrew's got cold feet about his upcoming wedding. He figures a palm reading is just the ticket.#2.2 Many Happy ReturnsIt's the holiday season at SaverPlus, and customers have become incredibly demanding. #3: Body & SoulThree missing people. No bodies. No ghosts. At least the case gets Vic out of an awkward family dinner.#4: SecretsIs someone watching Vic's every move, or is he imagining things? Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean they're not out to get you.#5: Camp HellVic delves into his repressed memories of Camp Hell and dredges up more than he bargained for.#6: GhosTVLisa's gone missing, and Vic and Jacob head to PsyTrain for some answers. #6.1: In the DarkHalloween is supposed to be fun. #7: Spook SquadVictor has been avoiding the exorcism he owes the FPMP. Now it's time to pay up.]]> 22 Jordan Castillo Price 1935540815 Mel 0 to-read 4.07 2015 Memento (PsyCop, #6.2)
author: Jordan Castillo Price
name: Mel
average rating: 4.07
book published: 2015
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2016/02/09
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Hunt the Moon (Cassandra Palmer, #5)]]> 8926959
But someone is dead-set against Cassie becoming Pythia, and will go to any lengths to stop the coronation ceremony from happening - including making sure that Cassie is never born.

Now, Cassie has to save herself - and the world, if she can find the time…]]> 419 Karen Chance 0451413075 Mel 3 3,5 stars
Hunt the Moon is the fifth in the Cassie Palmer series by Karen Chance and boy, was it a long wait or what? Anticipations and excitement were running high and I couldn't wait to start reading the book and immerse myself in Chance's elaborate world with attention to detail, neck breaking action and rich characters.

Maybe it was the high expectations but I couldn't help being a bit disappointed. Don't get me wrong: it's a well written story in typical Chance pace, prose and humor. But it also felt a bit different. Partly in action (there was quite a bit of down time in this book) and partly in character. I felt both Cassie and Pritkin changed in this installment.

General critique by Cassie haters is that she is TSTL and self absorbed. I have never felt it was true until this book. Cassie has always been a character who felt responsible for all those around her, but this time around she just randomly set out doing things without heeding the consequences, acting snappy and rude along the way, and being really slow on the uptake a few too many times.

The biggest change, though, was in Pritkin. Don't get me wrong: I have waited for ages for him to open up and show more of himself. But, like one of my GR friends said, it was too fast too soon. I almost didn't recognize him in some parts. When did he get so talkative and... fun?
Fortunately the Cassie and Mircea scenes still felt like old times.

In general though: the book was well written, entertaining and fun. And the love triangle: oh my! I thought Chance handled it in a most satisfactory way. There is no resolve, but the story isn't milked out. There is progression and change, but at the end, Cassie is still as confused as ever.
So are the readers, I presume, because Chance makes it impossible for us to choose! Both men are wonderfully complex. They are attractive and mysterious, warm and closed off, honorable and flawed. (I'm still Camp Pritkin though).

All in all: a story worth the wait and I can't wait to find out what happens next book. I just hope to dear God it doesn't take another 18 months to come out!]]> 4.25 2011 Hunt the Moon (Cassandra Palmer, #5)
author: Karen Chance
name: Mel
average rating: 4.25
book published: 2011
rating: 3
read at: 2011/06/16
date added: 2016/02/07
shelves:
review:

3,5 stars
Hunt the Moon is the fifth in the Cassie Palmer series by Karen Chance and boy, was it a long wait or what? Anticipations and excitement were running high and I couldn't wait to start reading the book and immerse myself in Chance's elaborate world with attention to detail, neck breaking action and rich characters.

Maybe it was the high expectations but I couldn't help being a bit disappointed. Don't get me wrong: it's a well written story in typical Chance pace, prose and humor. But it also felt a bit different. Partly in action (there was quite a bit of down time in this book) and partly in character. I felt both Cassie and Pritkin changed in this installment.

General critique by Cassie haters is that she is TSTL and self absorbed. I have never felt it was true until this book. Cassie has always been a character who felt responsible for all those around her, but this time around she just randomly set out doing things without heeding the consequences, acting snappy and rude along the way, and being really slow on the uptake a few too many times.

The biggest change, though, was in Pritkin. Don't get me wrong: I have waited for ages for him to open up and show more of himself. But, like one of my GR friends said, it was too fast too soon. I almost didn't recognize him in some parts. When did he get so talkative and... fun?
Fortunately the Cassie and Mircea scenes still felt like old times.

In general though: the book was well written, entertaining and fun. And the love triangle: oh my! I thought Chance handled it in a most satisfactory way. There is no resolve, but the story isn't milked out. There is progression and change, but at the end, Cassie is still as confused as ever.
So are the readers, I presume, because Chance makes it impossible for us to choose! Both men are wonderfully complex. They are attractive and mysterious, warm and closed off, honorable and flawed. (I'm still Camp Pritkin though).

All in all: a story worth the wait and I can't wait to find out what happens next book. I just hope to dear God it doesn't take another 18 months to come out!
]]> Coraline 2808945 their little girl. They want to keep her forever!

Coraline must use all of her wits and every ounce of courage in order to save herself and return home.]]> 162 Neil Gaiman 0061649694 Mel 3 3.93 2002 Coraline
author: Neil Gaiman
name: Mel
average rating: 3.93
book published: 2002
rating: 3
read at: 2015/12/05
date added: 2016/02/07
shelves: young-adult, childrens-teen-books
review:
This was a cute little story, a fairytale for the not so little. It was entertaining, and funny too at times, but I was expecting to be blown away--what with the 'it's so scary'-blurb and the high ŷ reviews. In stead it was just very okay.
]]> <![CDATA[Special Forces - Veterans (Special Forces, #3)]]> 7927995
Special Forces - Veterans is the third and last cycle of the Special Forces epic, which consists of three cycles and about a million words. The first cycle is Soldiers and the second one is Mercenaries (in two parts).

This print version is the original version of Special Forces, as it was edited at the time of first publication on Marquesate’s website. The Veterans cycle was published between November 2008 and April 2009. This is the only version that is authorised by Marquesate.

This print version of Special Forces is strictly non-profit and print cost only. The paperback of this original version is available from Lulu:

The ebook version is available for free download, and the original chapters remain as a free read on Marquesate’s website: ]]> 573 Aleksandr Voinov Mel 3 e-book, m-m, free-stuff Special Forces series and it’s the final part of Dan and Vadim’s story. Unfortunately: it wasn’t the ending this series deserved.
Don’t get me wrong: this is not a bad book. And it breaks my heart to give it 3,5 stars, but Veterans just did not come up to the standards of the previous three books. It didn’t show the same level of enthusiasm, attention to detail, depth or nuance as the rest of the series.

My major problem was that Veterans felt like an epilogue. A mellow epilogue. There was a lot of telling in stead of showing which decreased the intensity of the story and it seemed like a lot of loose ends needed to be tied in any way possible. To me, the rawness and honesty of the Special Forces series got lost.
In this series full of extremes, the authors always still managed to maintain some nuance and a vast amount of gray. Actions and characters were layered and often (morally) ambiguous.
This time some things were overdrawn, black and white, out of left field or downright over the top. The story just felt a little rushed and unfinished at times.

I also had trouble recognizing the characters in the beginning. Partly because of slight changes in writing style and partly because of some out of character actions.
I understand that times have changed and the men’s change in age and lifestyle validates changes in thoughts and behavior, but the shift -to me- was very sudden.

So, it took me a while to get used to the new feel of the book, but once I did, I really did enjoy the story. Dan and Vadim are such phenomenal characters and it was great to be part of their journey in life, in a stage where they’re getting ‘old and decrepit�, as Dan put it.
We revisited a lot of old characters and met some new ones, which all served its purpose in the development of the characters of the men and their relationship.
And eventhough I have the unreasonable wish for Dan and Vadim to stay young forever (as in their Soldiers time), there’s no denying growing older becomes them.

It was truly exhilarating to be able to follow 25 years in the lives of Dan McFadyen and Vadim Krasnorada, and it is with an ache in my heart that I say goodbye to them.

Prayer beads, energy bars, boots, scars, blades, and a bullet.

And so ends the story of Dan and Vadim.
]]> 4.30 2010 Special Forces - Veterans (Special Forces, #3)
author: Aleksandr Voinov
name: Mel
average rating: 4.30
book published: 2010
rating: 3
read at: 2010/11/30
date added: 2016/02/05
shelves: e-book, m-m, free-stuff
review:
Veterans is the fourth book in the epic Special Forces series and it’s the final part of Dan and Vadim’s story. Unfortunately: it wasn’t the ending this series deserved.
Don’t get me wrong: this is not a bad book. And it breaks my heart to give it 3,5 stars, but Veterans just did not come up to the standards of the previous three books. It didn’t show the same level of enthusiasm, attention to detail, depth or nuance as the rest of the series.

My major problem was that Veterans felt like an epilogue. A mellow epilogue. There was a lot of telling in stead of showing which decreased the intensity of the story and it seemed like a lot of loose ends needed to be tied in any way possible. To me, the rawness and honesty of the Special Forces series got lost.
In this series full of extremes, the authors always still managed to maintain some nuance and a vast amount of gray. Actions and characters were layered and often (morally) ambiguous.
This time some things were overdrawn, black and white, out of left field or downright over the top. The story just felt a little rushed and unfinished at times.

I also had trouble recognizing the characters in the beginning. Partly because of slight changes in writing style and partly because of some out of character actions.
I understand that times have changed and the men’s change in age and lifestyle validates changes in thoughts and behavior, but the shift -to me- was very sudden.

So, it took me a while to get used to the new feel of the book, but once I did, I really did enjoy the story. Dan and Vadim are such phenomenal characters and it was great to be part of their journey in life, in a stage where they’re getting ‘old and decrepit�, as Dan put it.
We revisited a lot of old characters and met some new ones, which all served its purpose in the development of the characters of the men and their relationship.
And eventhough I have the unreasonable wish for Dan and Vadim to stay young forever (as in their Soldiers time), there’s no denying growing older becomes them.

It was truly exhilarating to be able to follow 25 years in the lives of Dan McFadyen and Vadim Krasnorada, and it is with an ache in my heart that I say goodbye to them.

Prayer beads, energy bars, boots, scars, blades, and a bullet.

And so ends the story of Dan and Vadim.

]]> <![CDATA[Kings Rising (Captive Prince, #3)]]> 17158532 Damianos of Akielos has returned.

His identity now revealed, Damen must face his master Prince Laurent as Damianos of Akielos, the man Laurent has sworn to kill.

On the brink of a momentous battle, the future of both their countries hangs in the balance. In the south, Kastor's forces are massing. In the north, the Regent's armies are mobilising for war. Damen's only hope of reclaiming his throne is to fight together with Laurent against their usurpers.

Forced into an uneasy alliance the two princes journey deep into Akielos, where they face their most dangerous opposition yet. But even if the fragile trust they have built survives the revelation of Damen's identity � can it stand against the Regents final, deadly play for the throne?

]]> 385 C.S. Pacat 174348495X Mel 3 m-m Overall, I give a 3,5 for the book and a 4,5 for the series as a whole, but I'm rounding it down to a 3 because I don't think it deserves 4 stars.

Let me make it clear, I LOVE this series. When a series I love nears its ending, I always get nervous. I want the author to end it with a book that does justice to the series.
My wish was to get more of what made the previous books so great: superb characterization and a great, layered plot; a tentative relationship turning slowly into a beautiful love story, all on a backdrop of lies, schemes and battles- with new surprises and threats around every corner.

Yes, Damen and Laurent are wonderful characters and we got some good quality time with our men and saw their relationship deepen, which was beautiful. But otherwise this book was more... straightforward. The plot seemed simplified, the tactical play only skin deep. It lacked the finesse and nuance the last books had. In stead, in some parts, there was exaggeration to a degree that it became silly ([spoilers removed]), and great emphasis on trivial matters, which seemed to leave less space for the really relevant. And, because of the limited tactical play in this book, sheer luck played a bigger part than it should have.

Another issue was the editing. There were quite some passages that I had to reread in order to get a good layout of the situation. Also: a problem with spacing (paragraphs or dialogue about separate subjects stuck to each other, but that might be a fault in the Kindle version).
I'd normally give it a pass, had it not been professionally edited this time, with a generous time schedule.

With all of this said, it might seem like I didn't like this book. But I liked it a lot, even loved it. There were some really great parts.
The first 30% is TO DIE FOR. The tension, the dialogues; fun and heartbreaking and intense!
It dragged a bit after that and picked up steam past the halfway part. And even though I missed the extra oomph, it was entertaining nonetheless.

The last quarter of the book was excruciating, exciting and frustrating. I could see the issues[spoilers removed] but I made myself whistle past the absurdity and randomness. The excitement and emotion overruled everything else. It was the end of a journey with Laurent and Damen, and I really wanted to just soak them up for one last time.
*sigh*

All in all, not as good as it could've been, and that makes me sad. ]]> 4.42 2016 Kings Rising (Captive Prince, #3)
author: C.S. Pacat
name: Mel
average rating: 4.42
book published: 2016
rating: 3
read at: 2016/02/03
date added: 2016/02/05
shelves: m-m
review:
This one was hard to rate. Oh, how I wanted to give it 5 stars, how I wanted to unequivocally love it. Sadly, I didn't like it as much as I had hoped. This book could've been superb, but it didn't seem to aim for that.
Overall, I give a 3,5 for the book and a 4,5 for the series as a whole, but I'm rounding it down to a 3 because I don't think it deserves 4 stars.

Let me make it clear, I LOVE this series. When a series I love nears its ending, I always get nervous. I want the author to end it with a book that does justice to the series.
My wish was to get more of what made the previous books so great: superb characterization and a great, layered plot; a tentative relationship turning slowly into a beautiful love story, all on a backdrop of lies, schemes and battles- with new surprises and threats around every corner.

Yes, Damen and Laurent are wonderful characters and we got some good quality time with our men and saw their relationship deepen, which was beautiful. But otherwise this book was more... straightforward. The plot seemed simplified, the tactical play only skin deep. It lacked the finesse and nuance the last books had. In stead, in some parts, there was exaggeration to a degree that it became silly ([spoilers removed]), and great emphasis on trivial matters, which seemed to leave less space for the really relevant. And, because of the limited tactical play in this book, sheer luck played a bigger part than it should have.

Another issue was the editing. There were quite some passages that I had to reread in order to get a good layout of the situation. Also: a problem with spacing (paragraphs or dialogue about separate subjects stuck to each other, but that might be a fault in the Kindle version).
I'd normally give it a pass, had it not been professionally edited this time, with a generous time schedule.

With all of this said, it might seem like I didn't like this book. But I liked it a lot, even loved it. There were some really great parts.
The first 30% is TO DIE FOR. The tension, the dialogues; fun and heartbreaking and intense!
It dragged a bit after that and picked up steam past the halfway part. And even though I missed the extra oomph, it was entertaining nonetheless.

The last quarter of the book was excruciating, exciting and frustrating. I could see the issues[spoilers removed] but I made myself whistle past the absurdity and randomness. The excitement and emotion overruled everything else. It was the end of a journey with Laurent and Damen, and I really wanted to just soak them up for one last time.
*sigh*

All in all, not as good as it could've been, and that makes me sad.
]]> <![CDATA[Shadow's Claim (Immortals After Dark, #12; The Dacians, #1)]]> 12988016 #1 New York Times bestseller Kresley Cole introduces The Dacians: Realm of Blood and Mist, a new paranormal series following the royal bloodline of Dacia, a vampire kingdom hidden within the Lore of the Immortals After Dark. Shadow’s Claim features Prince Trehan, a ruthless master assassin who will do anything to possess Bettina, his beautiful sorceress mate, even compete for her hand in a blood-sport tournament� to the death.


HE WON'T BE DENIED...

Trehan Daciano, known as the Prince of Shadows, has spent his life serving his people—striking in the night, quietly executing any threat to their realm. The coldly disciplined swordsman has never desired anything for himself - until he beholds Bettina, the sheltered ward of two of the Lore’s most fearsome villains.

SHE’S BOUND TO ANOTHER...

Desperate to earn her guardians� approval after a life-shattering mistake, young Bettina has no choice but to marry whichever suitor prevails—even though she’s lost her heart to another. Yet one lethal competitor, a mysterious cloaked swordsman, invades her dreams, tempting her with forbidden pleasure.

A BATTLE FOR HER BODY AND SOUL

Even if Trehan can survive the punishing contests to claim her as his wife, the true battle for Bettina’s heart is yet to come. And unleashing a millennium’s worth of savage need will either frighten his Bride away - or stoke Bettina’s own desires to a fever pitch.... ]]> 481 Kresley Cole 1451650051 Mel 0 not-sure-about-this
Very curious about blooded Trehan. Although I must say I'm even more curious about bisexual Mirceo....]]> 4.25 2012 Shadow's Claim (Immortals After Dark, #12; The Dacians, #1)
author: Kresley Cole
name: Mel
average rating: 4.25
book published: 2012
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2016/02/04
shelves: not-sure-about-this
review:
Cole plugged this spinoff in Lothaire's book and I must say: I'm intrigued!

Very curious about blooded Trehan. Although I must say I'm even more curious about bisexual Mirceo....
]]> <![CDATA[Untouchable (Immortals After Dark #7.1)]]> 16145662 Kresley Cole 1442363452 Mel 3
In Untouchable we witness Murdoch “man-whore� Wroth and Danielle the Ice Maiden (and Valkyrie) fall in love. People who’ve never read a book of the IAD-series might not like the story. The romance is sweet and hot –even while the heroine is literally untouchable- but the action part of the plot is a little thin and one might get confused with Cole’s Lore creatures and their rules, ideas and relationships.

For an IAD-fan however, this feels like coming home. The story evolves over a period of time and we return to several moments and conversations from the previous books in the series, this time from Murdoch’s POV. The cherry on the cake is the epilogue, in which we witness Christmas Eve with all the Wroth brothers and their females. (*sigh*)

As always, Cole delivered an entertaining, sexy and fun story. She combines just the right amount of drama and humor, never taking herself too seriously.

3,5 stars (since it's a short)]]> 4.04 2009 Untouchable (Immortals After Dark #7.1)
author: Kresley Cole
name: Mel
average rating: 4.04
book published: 2009
rating: 3
read at:
date added: 2016/02/04
shelves: pnr, short-stories-anthologies
review:
This story is like an Immortals After Dark-megamix! Except for the Woede, we see (or hear about) just about everyone in the series! And it was so much fun to catch up.

In Untouchable we witness Murdoch “man-whore� Wroth and Danielle the Ice Maiden (and Valkyrie) fall in love. People who’ve never read a book of the IAD-series might not like the story. The romance is sweet and hot –even while the heroine is literally untouchable- but the action part of the plot is a little thin and one might get confused with Cole’s Lore creatures and their rules, ideas and relationships.

For an IAD-fan however, this feels like coming home. The story evolves over a period of time and we return to several moments and conversations from the previous books in the series, this time from Murdoch’s POV. The cherry on the cake is the epilogue, in which we witness Christmas Eve with all the Wroth brothers and their females. (*sigh*)

As always, Cole delivered an entertaining, sexy and fun story. She combines just the right amount of drama and humor, never taking herself too seriously.

3,5 stars (since it's a short)
]]> <![CDATA[Captive Prince: Volume Two (Captive Prince, #2)]]> 17158513
Forced to hide his identity, Damen finds himself increasingly drawn to the dangerous, charismatic Laurent. But as the fledgling trust between the two men deepens, the truth of secrets from both their pasts is poised to deal them the crowning death blow . . .]]> 216 C.S. Pacat Mel 5
This second volume takes us out of the palace walls and into the field. Whereas the first book was more a slave story, this one feels like a historic novel.
Loved the attention to detail, loved the atmosphere and the setting. And I loved how the intrigue and the ploys further unraveled. Border conflicts, opposing fractions, violent raiders, aggressive mercenaries... they all have a place in the cat and mouse game between Laurent and the Regent.
So does Damen, who, while trying to follow his own plans, is sucked in by the games, the fights—and Laurent.

I loved how these boys—despite their distrust, their hate, their reluctance—slowly, gradually and inevitably grew closer. This was unresolved sexual tension at its best!
Which led to beautiful quotes like these: "It felt, in all the lies between them, as if this was the only true thing."

Oh how hard this wait will be!!!]]> 4.37 2013 Captive Prince: Volume Two (Captive Prince, #2)
author: C.S. Pacat
name: Mel
average rating: 4.37
book published: 2013
rating: 5
read at: 2013/08/28
date added: 2016/02/02
shelves: m-m, e-book, free-stuff, on-line-fiction, favorites, wip
review:
In my review of book #1 I predicted that I would hate this book. I was right, I do. Because the better the book, the harder the wait, so yeah, there you go: now I'll have to be subjected to an unlimited time of torture; waiting for the third book to come out. Ugh.

This second volume takes us out of the palace walls and into the field. Whereas the first book was more a slave story, this one feels like a historic novel.
Loved the attention to detail, loved the atmosphere and the setting. And I loved how the intrigue and the ploys further unraveled. Border conflicts, opposing fractions, violent raiders, aggressive mercenaries... they all have a place in the cat and mouse game between Laurent and the Regent.
So does Damen, who, while trying to follow his own plans, is sucked in by the games, the fights—and Laurent.

I loved how these boys—despite their distrust, their hate, their reluctance—slowly, gradually and inevitably grew closer. This was unresolved sexual tension at its best!
Which led to beautiful quotes like these: "It felt, in all the lies between them, as if this was the only true thing."

Oh how hard this wait will be!!!
]]> <![CDATA[What I Was Doing While You Were Breeding]]> 18373272 Kristin introduces readers to the Israeli bartenders, Finnish poker players, sexy Bedouins, and Argentinean priests who helped her transform into "Kristin-Adjacent" on the road–a slower, softer, and, yes, sluttier version of herself at home.]]> 291 Kristin Newman 0804137609 Mel 0 3.84 2014 What I Was Doing While You Were Breeding
author: Kristin Newman
name: Mel
average rating: 3.84
book published: 2014
rating: 0
read at: 2015/12/20
date added: 2015/12/21
shelves:
review:

]]> <![CDATA[The Magpie Lord (A Charm of Magpies, #1)]]> 17730586 A lord in danger. A magician in turmoil. A snowball in hell.

Exiled to China for twenty years, Lucien Vaudrey never planned to return to England. But with the mysterious deaths of his father and brother, it seems the new Lord Crane has inherited an earldom. He’s also inherited his family’s enemies. He needs magical assistance, fast. He doesn't expect it to turn up angry.

Magician Stephen Day has good reason to hate Crane’s family. Unfortunately, it’s his job to deal with supernatural threats. Besides, the earl is unlike any aristocrat he’s ever met, with the tattoos, the attitude... and the way Crane seems determined to get him into bed. That’s definitely unusual.

Soon Stephen is falling hard for the worst possible man, at the worst possible time. But Crane’s dangerous appeal isn't the only thing rendering Stephen powerless. Evil pervades the house, a web of plots is closing round Crane, and if Stephen can’t find a way through it—they’re both going to die.


Warning: Contains hot m/m sex between a deeply inappropriate earl and a very confused magician, dark plots in a magical version of Victorian England, family values (not the good kind), and a lot of swearing.]]> 200 K.J. Charles 1619215764 Mel 0 m-m, to-get-asap, to-read 4.10 2013 The Magpie Lord (A Charm of Magpies, #1)
author: K.J. Charles
name: Mel
average rating: 4.10
book published: 2013
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2015/09/26
shelves: m-m, to-get-asap, to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[On Pluto: Inside the Mind of Alzheimer's]]> 20344857
Alzheimer’s is the sixth leading cause of death in the U.S.—and the only one of these diseases on the rise. More than 5 million Americans have been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s or a related dementia; about 35 million people worldwide.

Greg O’Brien, an award-winning investigative reporter, has been diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's and is one of those faceless numbers. Acting on long-term memory and skill coupled with well-developed journalistic grit, O’Brien decided to tackle the disease and his imminent decline by writing frankly about the journey. O’Brien is a master storyteller. His story is naked, wrenching, and soul searching for a generation and their loved ones about to cross the threshold of this death in slow motion. On Inside the Mind of Alzheimer’s is a trail-blazing roadmap for a generation—both a “how to� for fighting a disease, and a “how not� to give up!]]> 240 Greg O'Brien 0991340108 Mel 0 to-read 3.86 2014 On Pluto: Inside the Mind of Alzheimer's
author: Greg O'Brien
name: Mel
average rating: 3.86
book published: 2014
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2015/08/20
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[The Making of Blind Men: A Study of Adult Socialization]]> 5075886 159 Robert A. Scott 0878556877 Mel 0 to-read 3.67 1981 The Making of Blind Men: A Study of Adult Socialization
author: Robert A. Scott
name: Mel
average rating: 3.67
book published: 1981
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2015/08/04
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> Trust the Focus (In Focus #1) 22663603
As an aspiring photographer, Justin can think of no better way to honor his father’s memory than to scatter his ashes at the sites he held sacred. And there’s no one Justin would rather share the experience with more than Landry.

But Justin knows he can’t escape forever. Eventually he’ll have to return home and join his mother’s Senate campaign. Nor can he escape the truth of who he is, and the fact that he’s in love with his out-and-proud travel companion.

Admitting what he wants could hurt his mother’s conservative political career. But with every click of his shutter and every sprinkle of ash, Justin can’t resist Landry’s pull. And when the truth comes into focus, neither is prepared for the secrets the other is hiding.]]> 222 Megan Erickson 0698194624 Mel 0 to-read, m-m, to-get-asap 3.91 2015 Trust the Focus (In Focus #1)
author: Megan Erickson
name: Mel
average rating: 3.91
book published: 2015
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2015/03/24
shelves: to-read, m-m, to-get-asap
review:

]]> Dead After Dark 3262139
Shadow of the Moon by Sherrilyn Kenyon
Angelia has fought her entire life to make herself strong. Now, with her patria under fire, she has to protect her people from Fury and his werewolf clan. Vowing to bring him to justice, Angelia sets out alone... until the hunter becomes the hunted, and the only way for her to survive is to trust the very wolf she's sworn to kill.
NOTE: This story has been re-released in the Dark Bites anthology

The Story of Son by J.R. Ward
Claire Stroughton is a beautiful lawyer who would rather spend the night with a legal brief than the man of her dreams. Then a routine client meeting turns dangerous--and deeply sensual--when she is held captive by a gorgeous man with an unworldly hunger...

Beyond the Night by Susan Squires
When Drew Carlowe returns home to win back a lost love, he is quick to dismiss rumors that his estate is haunted by a stunning young ghost...until one passionate encounter leaves him mystified--and aching for more.

Midnight Kiss Goodbye by Dianna Love
Trey McCree possesses an insatiable desire for Sasha Armand--and supernatural powers that could endanger her life as a human. But when they team up to stop an evil warlord, Trey discovers that Sasha can do way more than drive men wild...]]> 373 Sherrilyn Kenyon 0312947984 Mel 3
Shadow of the Moon � Sherrilyn Kenyon 1 star

Aaargggh what can I say? I'm really trying hard but miss Kenyon is doing a damn good job to make me NOT love her.
The story started out great. I liked the premise, I liked the bantering between the two clans. But then it all went downhill...
I want to tell Miss Kenyon two things:
First of all: when writing a short story for an anthology, make sure your world is explained so that non-followers of your series (yes miss Kenyon, they do exist) understand what the hell you're writing about.
Second: please don’t take your readers for morons! The hero and heroine go from love to hate in about two seconds. She tried to kill him twice, stood by while he was being tortured and calls him 'a filthy animal' every other sentence, but one good meal with the scary werewolf (...or whatever the hell they may be)- clan and she wants to mate and bond with him. What?!?!


The Story of Son - J.R. Ward 3,5 stars

This story made me realize how much I appreciate Ward's male POVs . The fact that she writes the BDB stories mainly from the point of view of tougher than tough males gives the stories an edge. It doesn’t get overly romantic or sappy. I was very much missing that edge here.
And please: somebody has to tell this woman not to write epilogues! She tends to sap out when she does them. And this one must be the sappiest of them all! It was just too perfect, too cheesy, too everything! I almost needed a bucket�

Beyond the Night � Susan Squires 3 stars

This was an okay story. There were a few things I wasn't all that keen on. I don't like the writer's take on vampirism (a parasite-like creature called The Companion). I also couldn't appreciate the sudden change of heart in the hero. He was fighting for his love and his revenge for fifteen years and he was over it in pretty much one day. This being said it was a nicely written cute little story.

Midnight Kiss Goodbye � Dianna Love 2,5 stars

Note to author: please don’t try to stuff all that world building involving several Celtic and Hindu Gods into so little pages, it tends to get confusing.
The story started out okay but soon it got annoying. If I ever read the words ‘trembling little body� again, I’m going to throw up. God, the male POV was such a sap! The heroine (a.k.a. the trembling little body) wasn’t much better: she was a walking talking add for TSTL.
The only person I liked in this story was Lucien Solis. He was arrogant, rude, grumpy but had something really interesting buried underneath that hard exterior. (Totally made me think of Pritkin *sigh*). The story gets an extra star just for Lucien. ]]> 4.11 2008 Dead After Dark
author: Sherrilyn Kenyon
name: Mel
average rating: 4.11
book published: 2008
rating: 3
read at: 2009/12/16
date added: 2015/03/22
shelves: short-stories-anthologies, pnr
review:
Dead After Dark is an anthology with four PNR short stories by Sherrilyn Kenyon, JR Ward, Susan Squires and Dianna Love. Here’s my review for all the stories:

Shadow of the Moon � Sherrilyn Kenyon 1 star

Aaargggh what can I say? I'm really trying hard but miss Kenyon is doing a damn good job to make me NOT love her.
The story started out great. I liked the premise, I liked the bantering between the two clans. But then it all went downhill...
I want to tell Miss Kenyon two things:
First of all: when writing a short story for an anthology, make sure your world is explained so that non-followers of your series (yes miss Kenyon, they do exist) understand what the hell you're writing about.
Second: please don’t take your readers for morons! The hero and heroine go from love to hate in about two seconds. She tried to kill him twice, stood by while he was being tortured and calls him 'a filthy animal' every other sentence, but one good meal with the scary werewolf (...or whatever the hell they may be)- clan and she wants to mate and bond with him. What?!?!


The Story of Son - J.R. Ward 3,5 stars

This story made me realize how much I appreciate Ward's male POVs . The fact that she writes the BDB stories mainly from the point of view of tougher than tough males gives the stories an edge. It doesn’t get overly romantic or sappy. I was very much missing that edge here.
And please: somebody has to tell this woman not to write epilogues! She tends to sap out when she does them. And this one must be the sappiest of them all! It was just too perfect, too cheesy, too everything! I almost needed a bucket�

Beyond the Night � Susan Squires 3 stars

This was an okay story. There were a few things I wasn't all that keen on. I don't like the writer's take on vampirism (a parasite-like creature called The Companion). I also couldn't appreciate the sudden change of heart in the hero. He was fighting for his love and his revenge for fifteen years and he was over it in pretty much one day. This being said it was a nicely written cute little story.

Midnight Kiss Goodbye � Dianna Love 2,5 stars

Note to author: please don’t try to stuff all that world building involving several Celtic and Hindu Gods into so little pages, it tends to get confusing.
The story started out okay but soon it got annoying. If I ever read the words ‘trembling little body� again, I’m going to throw up. God, the male POV was such a sap! The heroine (a.k.a. the trembling little body) wasn’t much better: she was a walking talking add for TSTL.
The only person I liked in this story was Lucien Solis. He was arrogant, rude, grumpy but had something really interesting buried underneath that hard exterior. (Totally made me think of Pritkin *sigh*). The story gets an extra star just for Lucien.
]]> Owning Wednesday 11755751
Wednesday is released by Vincent, her long-time Master, only to find herself in a new, much more emotionally intense BDSM relationship with Daniel. But is Vincent really out of her life forever? Can Wednesday bear the intimacy of her new lover's demands? The three soon find themselves in an uneasy and sometimes downright contentious love triangle.

Wednesday wants to submit to Daniel, but self-protective impulses and bad memories make their budding relationship a constant struggle. In a world of passion, promises, and power exchange, Wednesday and her lovers must come to understand the difference between being “owned� and loved.

Publisher's This book is a substantially re-edited, revised version of a book of the same title previously released elsewhere, and contains explicit sexual content, graphic language, and situations that some readers may find Anal play/intercourse, menage (m/f/m), strong BDSM theme and elements.]]> 382 Annabel Joseph 160737952X Mel 0 to-read, erotica 3.75 2009 Owning Wednesday
author: Annabel Joseph
name: Mel
average rating: 3.75
book published: 2009
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2015/03/11
shelves: to-read, erotica
review:

]]> Spook Squad (PsyCop, #7) 18333332
Once Jacob surrendered his PsyCop badge, he infiltrated the Federal Psychic Monitoring Program. In his typical restrained fashion, he hasn’t been sharing much about what he actually does behind its vigilantly guarded doors. And true to form, Vic hasn’t asked. In fact, he would prefer not to think about the FPMP at all, since he’s owed Director Dreyfuss an exorcism since their private flight to PsyTrain.

While Vic has successfully avoided FPMP entanglement for several months, now his debt has finally come due.]]> 318 Jordan Castillo Price 1935540661 Mel 2 e-book, m-m 4.30 2013 Spook Squad (PsyCop, #7)
author: Jordan Castillo Price
name: Mel
average rating: 4.30
book published: 2013
rating: 2
read at: 2013/09/10
date added: 2014/11/15
shelves: e-book, m-m
review:
Might bump this up to 3 stars after a reread, but for now disappointment prevails. :(
]]> Gentlemen's Game 13453330 Lichen Craig 1466175974 Mel 2 e-book, menage, m-m I had some minor and major issues with both style and contents.

Concerning style: I’m not a big fan of omniscient third person narrative. And I thought there was a lot of telling instead of showing in the beginning. But my main problem was the prose. Whereas another reader described the author's style as 'poetic' I think of it more as flowery. Combined with the formal speech of the characters I sometimes felt like I was reading a historical -had it not been for the occasional mentioning of cars, phones and laptops. That same formal speech made some conversations come off as contrived and lacking an emotional intensity where most needed. (Saying: “It has troubled me greatly that you might fail to realize my concern and affection for you. � when being confronted with the outrage of a friend, doesn't sound very realistic (or current for that matter). )

Concerning contents: I felt the story was unbalanced and lacked nuance.
The blurb talks about the journey of the main character, Greyson Foster, and how his life changes as he gets tangled up in the lives of 3 fortunate men, Jack Miles in particular. But what the book really is about is the rape scene which happens around 60% of the book. I felt like everything else I had read up to that point was a plot device to get the rape to play out. The insta-love between the two characters, the evil ex-wife with no redeeming qualities, the soap opera-esque sudden battle over kids who haven’t been in an unhealthy environment for years (complete with PI's and talkshows) and the way it got resolved for no apparent reason.... It was all a set up to that scene.

I was expecting a slowly unfolding relationship between the Grey and Jack. Friendship, tentative romance, expectations, manipulations and trouble in paradise. But the men pretty much fell for each other upon meeting one another. There was little reflection into how two supposedly straight men would want to be together, despite the overabundance of internal monologues in the beginning. I felt like as a reader you were hardly allowed to question the sanity of the two characters because both were described as perfect. Beautiful Greyson with his quiet modesty but strong resolve and powerful Jack with his incredible wit and charm.
There seemed to be nothing wrong with both characters, which, to me, made the rape come out of left field. Yes, Jack was going through a difficult time, yes he had trust issues, but the lack of forewarning and the way he unleashed his demons left me baffled.

The rape scene, as horrible as it was, was one of the best parts of the book. The writing was simple but to the point and it was easier to get immersed in the emotions of Grey. The pain, the humiliation, the despair. It was palpable and horrifying.
Which made me all the more angry for how the author resolved the issue.

[spoilers removed]

As it was, the more I read, the more respect I lost for the characters. The foursome are described as a group of supportive old friends (mind you: Grey was a part of it for about 3 months) but I found a lot of their actions to be selfish and oppressive. Grey and Jack lost their charm along with their minds. And at the end I felt like the kids got the shaft.

Gentleman's Game left me drained and frustrated. 2 stars.]]> 4.00 2012 Gentlemen's Game
author: Lichen Craig
name: Mel
average rating: 4.00
book published: 2012
rating: 2
read at: 2012/02/25
date added: 2014/11/15
shelves: e-book, menage, m-m
review:
Well... I wanted to like this book. I appreciated the author's effort to handle difficult subjects like infidelity, ménage and rape. But the end result left me confused and with an array of conflicting thoughts and emotions- with indignation predominating.
I had some minor and major issues with both style and contents.

Concerning style: I’m not a big fan of omniscient third person narrative. And I thought there was a lot of telling instead of showing in the beginning. But my main problem was the prose. Whereas another reader described the author's style as 'poetic' I think of it more as flowery. Combined with the formal speech of the characters I sometimes felt like I was reading a historical -had it not been for the occasional mentioning of cars, phones and laptops. That same formal speech made some conversations come off as contrived and lacking an emotional intensity where most needed. (Saying: “It has troubled me greatly that you might fail to realize my concern and affection for you. � when being confronted with the outrage of a friend, doesn't sound very realistic (or current for that matter). )

Concerning contents: I felt the story was unbalanced and lacked nuance.
The blurb talks about the journey of the main character, Greyson Foster, and how his life changes as he gets tangled up in the lives of 3 fortunate men, Jack Miles in particular. But what the book really is about is the rape scene which happens around 60% of the book. I felt like everything else I had read up to that point was a plot device to get the rape to play out. The insta-love between the two characters, the evil ex-wife with no redeeming qualities, the soap opera-esque sudden battle over kids who haven’t been in an unhealthy environment for years (complete with PI's and talkshows) and the way it got resolved for no apparent reason.... It was all a set up to that scene.

I was expecting a slowly unfolding relationship between the Grey and Jack. Friendship, tentative romance, expectations, manipulations and trouble in paradise. But the men pretty much fell for each other upon meeting one another. There was little reflection into how two supposedly straight men would want to be together, despite the overabundance of internal monologues in the beginning. I felt like as a reader you were hardly allowed to question the sanity of the two characters because both were described as perfect. Beautiful Greyson with his quiet modesty but strong resolve and powerful Jack with his incredible wit and charm.
There seemed to be nothing wrong with both characters, which, to me, made the rape come out of left field. Yes, Jack was going through a difficult time, yes he had trust issues, but the lack of forewarning and the way he unleashed his demons left me baffled.

The rape scene, as horrible as it was, was one of the best parts of the book. The writing was simple but to the point and it was easier to get immersed in the emotions of Grey. The pain, the humiliation, the despair. It was palpable and horrifying.
Which made me all the more angry for how the author resolved the issue.

[spoilers removed]

As it was, the more I read, the more respect I lost for the characters. The foursome are described as a group of supportive old friends (mind you: Grey was a part of it for about 3 months) but I found a lot of their actions to be selfish and oppressive. Grey and Jack lost their charm along with their minds. And at the end I felt like the kids got the shaft.

Gentleman's Game left me drained and frustrated. 2 stars.
]]> <![CDATA[January First: A Child's Descent into Madness and Her Father's Struggle to Save Her]]> 12453610 January First is the extraordinary story of a father's fight to save his child from an extremely severe case of mental illness in the face of overwhelming adversity.

At six years old, Michael Schofield's daughter, January, was diagnosed with one of the most severe cases of child-onset schizophrenia that doctors had ever seen. In January's case, she is hallucinating 95 percent of the time that she is awake. Potent psychiatric drugs that would level most adults barely faze her. January, "Jani" to her family, has literally hundreds of imaginary friends. They go by names like 400-the-Cat, 100 Degrees, and 24 Hours and live on an island called "Calalini," which she describes as existing "on the border of my world and your world." Some of these friends are good, and some of them, such as 400, are very bad. They tell her to jump off buildings, attack her brother, and scream at strangers.

In the middle of these never-ending delusions, hallucinations, and paroxysms of rage are Jani's parents, who have gone to the ends of the earth to keep both of their children alive and unharmed. They live in separate one-bedroom apartments in order to keep her little brother, Bohdi, safe from his big sister—and wage a daily war against a social system that has all but completely failed them. January First is the story of the daily struggles and challenges they face as they do everything they can to help their daughter while trying to keep their family together. It is the inspiring tale of their resolute determination and faith.]]> 304 Michael Schofield 0307719081 Mel 0 work-related, to-read 3.86 2012 January First: A Child's Descent into Madness and Her Father's Struggle to Save Her
author: Michael Schofield
name: Mel
average rating: 3.86
book published: 2012
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2014/11/15
shelves: work-related, to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Reap the Wind (Cassandra Palmer, #7)]]> 18627947
For one thing, her friend isn't lost, his soul is, and she must hunt for it through the ages in different versions of himself. For another, Cassie is stuck traveling with Pritkin's father, the only one who can reverse Pritkin's curse . . . and an irascible demon who is high on Cassie's list of least-favorite people. And third, the guardians of the timeline don't want anyone mucking about with it � even a Pythia like Cassie � and especially not when she's dragging a powerful demon along!

What's a poor Pythia to do?

Well, if that Pythia is Cassie Palmer, it's to carry on anyway. And in between flitting about through time, to also stop the return of an ancient and very vengeful god. And to find out the startling truth about her parents. And to sort out a few things with her charming, evasive, and completely maddening vampire lover. And you thought your week was packed!]]> 514 Karen Chance 0451419073 Mel 0 to-read, to-get-asap 4.04 2015 Reap the Wind (Cassandra Palmer, #7)
author: Karen Chance
name: Mel
average rating: 4.04
book published: 2015
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2014/11/15
shelves: to-read, to-get-asap
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Community Service (Broken Mirrors, #3)]]> 17155003 Never forget what you are.

Broken Mirrors, Book 3"

The King is dead, long live the King. And, uh, could you float him a couple bucks?

Life as the only human sorcerer isn t all it s cracked up to be for James Black, the Lightning Rod. Between gremlins in the closet, paladins crashing through skylights and working spells in a storage locker, hunting a body-hopping spirit is a welcome distraction. If only he didn t have to partner with a Coyote.

After being punted to the curb by his roommate (with benefits), things are looking dire for trickster Spencer Crain, until an old friend offers him a shot at a big score scamming the best of a vampire. Thing is, he ll have to work with his worst enemy to pull it off.

With lives in the balance, James is learning the hard way what being a sorcerer really means and that he picked a hell of a time to quit smoking. Spencer is faced with the choice between his future and his friends. Yeah, like he s never seen "that" movie before

This is a work of urban fantasy containing arguments for and against Dungeons & Dragons, a closeted My Little Pony fan, awkward flirting, switching POVs, heist-movie logic, and a Dwarf who can t hold his liquor.]]> 287 Vaughn R. Demont 1619214482 Mel 0 to-read 4.14 2013 Community Service (Broken Mirrors, #3)
author: Vaughn R. Demont
name: Mel
average rating: 4.14
book published: 2013
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2014/11/15
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> Darkfever (Fever, #1) 6863668 "My name is MacKayla, Mac for short. I'm a sidhe-seer, one who sees the Fae, a fact I accepted only recently and very reluctantly.

My philosophy is pretty simple—any day nobody's trying to kill me is a good day in my book. I haven't had many good days lately. Not since the walls between Man and Fae came down. But then, there's not a sidhe-seer alive who's had a good day since then."

When MacKayla's sister was murdered, she left a single clue to her death, a cryptic message on Mac's cell phone. Journeying to Ireland in search of answers, Mac is soon faced with an even greater challenge: staying alive long enough to master a power she had no idea she possessed—a gift that allows her to see beyond the world of man, into the dangerous realm of the Fae.

As Mac delves deeper into the mystery of her sister's death, her every move is shadowed by the dark, mysterious Jericho…while at the same time, the ruthless V'lane—an alpha Fae who makes sex an addiction for human women—closes in on her. As the boundary between worlds begins to crumble, Mac's true mission becomes clear: to find the elusive Sinsar Dubh before someone else claims the all-powerful Dark Book—because whoever gets to it first holds nothing less than complete control of both worlds in their hands.]]> 349 Karen Marie Moning Mel 3 I'd never had any desire to save the world. Decorate it? Yes. Save it? No. Until a short time ago, I'd been a small-town girl with small-town dreams and perfectly content with my lot in life. Then someone had crapped on my world and forced me out of my happy little hole..

A lot of ŷ friends have been urging me to read this for ages. "It's a wonderful series!" they exclaimed. "You'll love it!". Besides that I heard a lot about those excruciating cliffhangers and that sexy Barrons guy (who I was to imagine as ).
Well sure: anything for the happiness of my GR friends.

As I was getting closer to actually starting the series people started to back out a little. "The first book isn't the best of the series" I was told and "Mac might get on your nerves". Many apparently didn't start liking Mac until (much) later on in the series and chances were that I might find her really annoying, dense and the pinnacle of an ignorant American in Europe.
Safe to say I started this book with reservations. I was expecting to vehemently hate Mac, to roll my eyes at almost everything she'd say or do and to rant about it all along the way.

No such thing.

I was pleasantly surprised with the story. Darkfever is a very decent UF novel and a good start for the series. Moning's writing style is smart and engaging. The plot pretty much was an introduction to the world but it flowed well and was captivating. The world building was interesting and I'm very much intrigued (and attracted) by Barrons.
But most important of all: I didn't hate Mac. It would be a stretch to say I love her, but I'm liking her. Sure she's vain and sure I was rolling my eyes at the descriptions of her 'long blond hair' and her 'sunkissed legs' and 'firm breasts' and all that pink. And sure she didn't always do the most smart thing imaginable. But what redeemed her in my eyes is that she owned up to it all. How to chastise a girl for being conceited and ignorant if she admits to it herself?

There were a few things I wasn't too happy with. Parts of the story were very cliché, what with the cryptic messages and the hidden clues and all. It didn't start annoying me until the very ending in a scene that I couldn't help visualize as anything but a sequence from a children's fantasy movie. The ending overall felt rushed and all over the place which I thought was a waste.

That being said: this book left me wanting more and promises the high quality excitement my GR peeps have been raving about all along. I’m curious to find out more about Barrons, to see how Mac version 2.0 handles herself and to see what the story will bring.

A very promising start to a series: 3,5 stars.
]]> 4.04 2006 Darkfever (Fever, #1)
author: Karen Marie Moning
name: Mel
average rating: 4.04
book published: 2006
rating: 3
read at: 2011/02/05
date added: 2014/11/13
shelves:
review:
I'd never had any desire to save the world. Decorate it? Yes. Save it? No. Until a short time ago, I'd been a small-town girl with small-town dreams and perfectly content with my lot in life. Then someone had crapped on my world and forced me out of my happy little hole..

A lot of ŷ friends have been urging me to read this for ages. "It's a wonderful series!" they exclaimed. "You'll love it!". Besides that I heard a lot about those excruciating cliffhangers and that sexy Barrons guy (who I was to imagine as ).
Well sure: anything for the happiness of my GR friends.

As I was getting closer to actually starting the series people started to back out a little. "The first book isn't the best of the series" I was told and "Mac might get on your nerves". Many apparently didn't start liking Mac until (much) later on in the series and chances were that I might find her really annoying, dense and the pinnacle of an ignorant American in Europe.
Safe to say I started this book with reservations. I was expecting to vehemently hate Mac, to roll my eyes at almost everything she'd say or do and to rant about it all along the way.

No such thing.

I was pleasantly surprised with the story. Darkfever is a very decent UF novel and a good start for the series. Moning's writing style is smart and engaging. The plot pretty much was an introduction to the world but it flowed well and was captivating. The world building was interesting and I'm very much intrigued (and attracted) by Barrons.
But most important of all: I didn't hate Mac. It would be a stretch to say I love her, but I'm liking her. Sure she's vain and sure I was rolling my eyes at the descriptions of her 'long blond hair' and her 'sunkissed legs' and 'firm breasts' and all that pink. And sure she didn't always do the most smart thing imaginable. But what redeemed her in my eyes is that she owned up to it all. How to chastise a girl for being conceited and ignorant if she admits to it herself?

There were a few things I wasn't too happy with. Parts of the story were very cliché, what with the cryptic messages and the hidden clues and all. It didn't start annoying me until the very ending in a scene that I couldn't help visualize as anything but a sequence from a children's fantasy movie. The ending overall felt rushed and all over the place which I thought was a waste.

That being said: this book left me wanting more and promises the high quality excitement my GR peeps have been raving about all along. I’m curious to find out more about Barrons, to see how Mac version 2.0 handles herself and to see what the story will bring.

A very promising start to a series: 3,5 stars.

]]> <![CDATA[Starfighter Chapter 2 (Starfighter, #2)]]> 13356825 69 Hamlet Machine 1938926021 Mel 2 4.17 2012 Starfighter Chapter 2 (Starfighter, #2)
author: Hamlet Machine
name: Mel
average rating: 4.17
book published: 2012
rating: 2
read at:
date added: 2014/11/12
shelves: e-book, free-stuff, graphic-novel, wip
review:
Meh... Don't get what the fuss is about.
]]> <![CDATA[Slave to Sensation (Psy-Changeling, #1)]]> 7179268 Dive into a world torn apart by a powerful race with phenomenal powers of the mind—and none of the heart . . .

In a world that denies emotions, where the ruling Psy punish any sign of desire, Sascha Duncan must conceal the feelings that brand her as flawed. To reveal them would be to sentence herself to the horror of “rehabilitation”—the complete psychic erasure of everything she ever was . . .

Both human and animal, Lucas Hunter is a Changeling hungry for the very sensations the Psy disdain. After centuries of uneasy co-existence, these two races are now on the verge of war over the brutal murders of several Changeling women. Lucas is determined to find the Psy killer who butchered his packmate, and Sascha is his ticket into their closely guarded society. But he soon discovers that this ice-cold Psy is very capable of passion—and that the animal in him is fascinated by her.

Caught between their conflicting worlds, Lucas and Sascha must remain bound to their identities—or sacrifice everything for a taste of darkest temptation . . .]]> 334 Nalini Singh 0575095660 Mel 0 own-to-read 4.03 2006 Slave to Sensation (Psy-Changeling, #1)
author: Nalini Singh
name: Mel
average rating: 4.03
book published: 2006
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2014/10/29
shelves: own-to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Raphael (Vampires in America, #1)]]> 6398385
Powerful and charismatic, Raphael is a Vampire Lord, one of the few who hold the power of life and death over every vampire in existence. Thousands call him Master and have pledged absolute loyalty on their very lives. But when, in a brazen and deadly daylight attack, a gang of human killers kidnaps the one female vampire he'd give his life for, Raphael turns to a human investigator to find his enemies before it's too late.

Cynthia Leighton is smart, tough and sexy, a private investigator and former cop who's tired of spying on cheating spouses and digging out old bank accounts. When Raphael asks for her help in tracking down the kidnappers, Cyn's happy to accept. But she soon realizes her greatest danger comes not from the humans, but from Raphael himself.

Battling Russian mobsters and treacherous vampires, and betrayed by those they trusted, Cyn and Raphael find themselves fighting for their lives while caught up in a passion of blood and violence that is destined to destroy them both.]]> 248 D.B. Reynolds 1933417471 Mel 0 own-to-read 3.93 2009 Raphael (Vampires in America, #1)
author: D.B. Reynolds
name: Mel
average rating: 3.93
book published: 2009
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2014/10/10
shelves: own-to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[A Fluffy Tale 2: Warm and Fuzzy]]> 10769339 157 Ann Somerville Mel 0 to-read, e-book, m-m 3.55 2011 A Fluffy Tale 2: Warm and Fuzzy
author: Ann Somerville
name: Mel
average rating: 3.55
book published: 2011
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2014/09/05
shelves: to-read, e-book, m-m
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Just My Luck (Coletti Warlords, #1)]]> 6697518
Her crappy luck puts her on the alien freaks- most wanted list and lands her in one of their prison cells. Her roommate? A very hungry vampire. Okay, Talree's really a Coletti Warlord who decides to make her his mate. Kaylee's definitely not willing but isn't strong enough to fight him off and now he owns her mind, body and soul.

She'll admit the sex is hot and the bossy jerk has agreed to save Earth from annihilation. The bad news is, Warlords aren't benevolent do-gooder types and there is a price for his help: the women of Earth.

And the really bad news is, Talrees' low-down conniving brother, Malik, has joined forces with the alien freaks and now Kaylee and Talree have to stop them from destroying both their worlds.]]> 356 Gail Koger Mel 1
The heroine is an immature, annoying, self assessed 'tough chick', who kept saying 'Omigod!' every other sentence. She happens to be the strongest psychic and telepath in the world, happens to come out of a family of warrior type men who happen to all be in high military positions and saving the planet. The hero is an uberpowerful vampire-like warrior. The hero and heroine and most of the secondaries are so strong mentally that they’re able to pop into each other’s head and communicate telepathically... It's all too much! There really is no room for nuances.

The story really didn't make much sense. I was confused half of the time where they were, why there were there and who they were fighting.
Furthermore, the 'relationship' between the hero and heroine suffered from a complete lack of build up or tension. He starts communicating with her telepathically which pretty much entailed him growling in her head. And no, it isn’t as sexy as it might sound. Then he decides he wants her and must claim her so he first has sex with her ‘mentally�. And some pages later they have sex the normal way. And then the bond is formed so she wants him too. This all happens in between fighting for their lives and talking to baby spiders, and everybody and their mother who popped into their head.

I stopped at 2/3 of the book because I couldn’t take it anymore. 1,5 star]]> 3.74 2009 Just My Luck (Coletti Warlords, #1)
author: Gail Koger
name: Mel
average rating: 3.74
book published: 2009
rating: 1
read at: 2010/03/18
date added: 2014/08/19
shelves: total-waste-of-my-time, did-not-finish, pnr
review:
I added this to my TBR pile because of the raving reviews. Frankly: I don't get the fuss. What was so great about it? It felt like the author was high as a kite one night and just decided to write down whatever popped into her mind and made it into this book.

The heroine is an immature, annoying, self assessed 'tough chick', who kept saying 'Omigod!' every other sentence. She happens to be the strongest psychic and telepath in the world, happens to come out of a family of warrior type men who happen to all be in high military positions and saving the planet. The hero is an uberpowerful vampire-like warrior. The hero and heroine and most of the secondaries are so strong mentally that they’re able to pop into each other’s head and communicate telepathically... It's all too much! There really is no room for nuances.

The story really didn't make much sense. I was confused half of the time where they were, why there were there and who they were fighting.
Furthermore, the 'relationship' between the hero and heroine suffered from a complete lack of build up or tension. He starts communicating with her telepathically which pretty much entailed him growling in her head. And no, it isn’t as sexy as it might sound. Then he decides he wants her and must claim her so he first has sex with her ‘mentally�. And some pages later they have sex the normal way. And then the bond is formed so she wants him too. This all happens in between fighting for their lives and talking to baby spiders, and everybody and their mother who popped into their head.

I stopped at 2/3 of the book because I couldn’t take it anymore. 1,5 star
]]> <![CDATA[The Fifth Elephant (Discworld, #24)]]> 797191
Now he has nothing but his native wit and the gloomy trousers of Uncle Vanya (don't ask). It's snowing. It's freezing. And if he can't make it through the forest to civilization there's going to be a terrible war.

But there are monsters on his trail. They're bright. They're fast. They're werewolves - and they're catching up.

The Fifth Elephant is Terry Pratchett's latest instalment in the Discworld cycle, this time starring dwarfs, diplomacy, intrigue and big lumps of fat.]]> 460 Terry Pratchett 0552146161 Mel 0 to-read 4.22 1999 The Fifth Elephant (Discworld, #24)
author: Terry Pratchett
name: Mel
average rating: 4.22
book published: 1999
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2014/08/10
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> Big Trouble 893731
In a few minutes, a chain of events that will change the lives of each and every one of them will begin, and will leave some of them wiser, some of them deader, and some of them definitely looking for a new line of work. With a wicked wit, razor-sharp observations, rich characters, and a plot with more twists than the Inland Waterway, Dave Barry makes his debut a complete and utter triumph.]]> 317 Dave Barry 0425178102 Mel 0 to-read 3.82 1999 Big Trouble
author: Dave Barry
name: Mel
average rating: 3.82
book published: 1999
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2014/07/27
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> The Curtis Reincarnation 7592014
One night Rebecca drags Jordan to a Tyler Curtis concert. Tyler is a notorious bad boy who treats his audience with contempt and sleeps with a different groupie every night, and Rebecca is determined to be tonight's groupie. Jordan is there under protest. At least he is until he meets the man beneath the crass, bad boy image. Will Jordan get to know the true Tyler or will Tyler's manager and a world wanting the man to match the image conspire against them?]]> 220 Zathyn Priest 1603705406 Mel 3 m-m, e-book Besides Tyler, I was also caught by surprise by the amount of mushiness in the story.
So, after rolling my eyes for the umpteenth time, I put the book away. To maybe read it again. Much, much later. Eventually.

Sooner than expected, the combination of a lazy holiday and an emotionally draining story instigated my need for some light reading and I picked up the book again. And this time around -because I was expecting an over the top, saccharine read- I actually did enjoy the story. Tyler eventually grew on me and in between a whole lot of sap, there is some snarky humor that I much appreciated.

So, all in all: an okay story. And I do hope Priest uses that snarkiness again, in a somewhat less sugary setting. ]]> 3.87 2008 The Curtis Reincarnation
author: Zathyn Priest
name: Mel
average rating: 3.87
book published: 2008
rating: 3
read at: 2011/05/11
date added: 2014/07/11
shelves: m-m, e-book
review:
When I first started this book I expected a slow blossoming romance between a gay boy next door and a suave rock star. Instead I got an insta-lovestory between a gay boy next door and one of the girliest characters I have ever come across in m/m romance. No, make that: any romance. Because Tyler Curtis was so sweet and innocent and naive... he makes Mary Sue look jaded! Seriously: it was really hard for me to picture him as a grown man who could pull off a cool rock star routine in stead of a 12-year old girl.
Besides Tyler, I was also caught by surprise by the amount of mushiness in the story.
So, after rolling my eyes for the umpteenth time, I put the book away. To maybe read it again. Much, much later. Eventually.

Sooner than expected, the combination of a lazy holiday and an emotionally draining story instigated my need for some light reading and I picked up the book again. And this time around -because I was expecting an over the top, saccharine read- I actually did enjoy the story. Tyler eventually grew on me and in between a whole lot of sap, there is some snarky humor that I much appreciated.

So, all in all: an okay story. And I do hope Priest uses that snarkiness again, in a somewhat less sugary setting.
]]> When Angels Fall 21586592
What's not so obvious is who Chemuel is, why he's down there, or what lies ahead for them in this short story about the transformative power of selfless love.]]> 46 Z.A. Maxfield 1466112514 Mel 0 3.88 2011 When Angels Fall
author: Z.A. Maxfield
name: Mel
average rating: 3.88
book published: 2011
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2014/07/11
shelves: own-to-read, e-book, free-stuff, m-m
review:

]]> Spoils of War 8358430 26 Aleksandr Voinov Mel 0 e-book, m-m, not-to-read 3.47 2010 Spoils of War
author: Aleksandr Voinov
name: Mel
average rating: 3.47
book published: 2010
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2014/07/07
shelves: e-book, m-m, not-to-read
review:

]]> American Love Songs 16166408
Jake può solo negare la sua attrazione per il goffo, dolce Parker, il più a lungo possibile prima che il desiderio di fare qualcosa a riguardo diventi impossibile da ignorare. Il problema è che Parker sa tutto dei modi da dongiovanni di Jake � e oh, sì, non è gay. O questo è quello che pensa Jake, fino a quando una serie di eventi permette una nuova, incoraggiante possibilità. Riuscirà a convincere Parker a superare il suo passato movimentato e a dargli una possibilità? O questa canzone d’amore svanirà prima ancora di cominciare?]]> 233 Ashlyn Kane 1613729200 Mel 0 4.06 2010 American Love Songs
author: Ashlyn Kane
name: Mel
average rating: 4.06
book published: 2010
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2014/06/30
shelves: to-read, e-book, m-m, to-get-asap
review:

]]> <![CDATA[MacRieve (Immortals After Dark, #13)]]> 8158992
A Beast In Torment

Uilleam MacRieve believed he’d laid to rest the ghosts of his boyhood. But when a brutal torture revives those ancient agonies and destroys his Lykae instinct, the proud Scot craves the oblivion of death. Until he finds her—a young human so full of spirit and courage that she pulls him back from the brink.

A Beauty In Chains

Seized for the auction block, Chloe Todd is forced to enter a terrifying new world of monsters and lore as a bound slave. When offered up to creatures of the dark, she fears she won’t last the night. Until she’s claimed by him—a tormented immortal with heartbreaking eyes, whose touch sets her blood on fire.

A Full Moon On The Rise

With enemies circling, MacRieve spirits Chloe away to the isolated Highland keep of his youth. But once he takes her to his bed, his sensual mate becomes something more than human, evoking his savage past and testing his sanity. On the cusp of the full moon, can he conquer his worst nightmare to save Chloe . . . from himself?]]> 358 Kresley Cole 1451649916 Mel 3
1. Oh my what a horrible cover! What is it with publishers ditching the headless torso covers for head shots? I want to dream up a hot head myself. One that earns the title of being Hot or Hotter!

2. "Her cunny wept for him." This made me laugh out loud and not in a good way because we were in the middle of a good sex scene. I didn't think it could get any worse after "weeping cores" (eh, Ward?) but Cole proved me wrong. No amount of sexy brogue can make that sound right.

Okay, so, the book. This thirteenth IAD book was about Uilleam MacRieve, one half of the MacRieve Lykae twins, aka Hot & Hotter.
Since no PNR is complete without a tortured hero Cole starts off the book by showing us what shaped poor Will MacRieve. More so than in past books this series of events played a huge part throughout the whole book. I liked the clash of old and new and the history repeating.

What I also liked was Will MacRieve, especially in the beginning. I've complained in reviews on earlier books about Cole's heroes changing from outspoken characters in gruffy werewolves who talked in monosyllables. Since Will is a gruffy werewolf to begin with, there was no such transition to speak of. And even though it proves a problem in the book, I liked that he wasn't head over heels, lovey dovey, saccharine after finding his mate.

Chloe was even better. I want to say this chick has got balls but that would be a soccer reference and the book was riddled with them. One or two are funny, but more gets annoying- and it got verra annoying.
Chloe, thank God, was not. She was strong and tough without being overly in your face. She was also pretty level headed and didn't resort to pettiness or self pity.

Besides the two main characters especially Munro showed a lot of potential. I also loved Rónan and his big mouth.

The story line, to be honest, wasn't intricate or super engaging. And it dragged on for a bit too long, as all of Cole's last few books do. I'd rather have a more compact and balanced book than have a story dragged out to fill the pages.
The last few chapters were the worst in the book in my opinion. Especially because of the [spoilers removed].

All in all, MacRieve was a pretty straightforward PNR book. Formulaic and a bit repetitive, but still entertaining like all of Cole's books, and definitely better than the last few.
3,5 stars]]> 4.28 2013 MacRieve (Immortals After Dark, #13)
author: Kresley Cole
name: Mel
average rating: 4.28
book published: 2013
rating: 3
read at: 2014/06/08
date added: 2014/06/08
shelves:
review:
Before engaging in any in depth musings on this book I need to get two things off my chest.

1. Oh my what a horrible cover! What is it with publishers ditching the headless torso covers for head shots? I want to dream up a hot head myself. One that earns the title of being Hot or Hotter!

2. "Her cunny wept for him." This made me laugh out loud and not in a good way because we were in the middle of a good sex scene. I didn't think it could get any worse after "weeping cores" (eh, Ward?) but Cole proved me wrong. No amount of sexy brogue can make that sound right.

Okay, so, the book. This thirteenth IAD book was about Uilleam MacRieve, one half of the MacRieve Lykae twins, aka Hot & Hotter.
Since no PNR is complete without a tortured hero Cole starts off the book by showing us what shaped poor Will MacRieve. More so than in past books this series of events played a huge part throughout the whole book. I liked the clash of old and new and the history repeating.

What I also liked was Will MacRieve, especially in the beginning. I've complained in reviews on earlier books about Cole's heroes changing from outspoken characters in gruffy werewolves who talked in monosyllables. Since Will is a gruffy werewolf to begin with, there was no such transition to speak of. And even though it proves a problem in the book, I liked that he wasn't head over heels, lovey dovey, saccharine after finding his mate.

Chloe was even better. I want to say this chick has got balls but that would be a soccer reference and the book was riddled with them. One or two are funny, but more gets annoying- and it got verra annoying.
Chloe, thank God, was not. She was strong and tough without being overly in your face. She was also pretty level headed and didn't resort to pettiness or self pity.

Besides the two main characters especially Munro showed a lot of potential. I also loved Rónan and his big mouth.

The story line, to be honest, wasn't intricate or super engaging. And it dragged on for a bit too long, as all of Cole's last few books do. I'd rather have a more compact and balanced book than have a story dragged out to fill the pages.
The last few chapters were the worst in the book in my opinion. Especially because of the [spoilers removed].

All in all, MacRieve was a pretty straightforward PNR book. Formulaic and a bit repetitive, but still entertaining like all of Cole's books, and definitely better than the last few.
3,5 stars
]]> <![CDATA[De eenzaamheid van de priemgetallen]]> 6298297 318 Paolo Giordano 902343496X Mel 0 own-to-read 3.67 2008 De eenzaamheid van de priemgetallen
author: Paolo Giordano
name: Mel
average rating: 3.67
book published: 2008
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2014/05/08
shelves: own-to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Child of a Dead God (Noble Dead Saga: Series 1, #6)]]> 1145177 "Any list of the best writers of vampire novels working today must include the dynamic duo of Barb & J.C. Hendee."
�Rambles

“A mix of The Lord of the Rings and Buffy the Vampire Slayer,�* the Noble Dead Saga has won legions of readers with its epic adventure, bloodthirsty evil, and imaginative characters. At last, long sought secrets will be revealed... and old scores settled.

For many months, Magiere and Leesil have searched for a forgotten artifact, even though its purpose has been shrouded in mystery. All Magiere knows is that she must keep the orb from falling into the hands of a murdering Noble Dead: her half brother, Welstiel. And now dreams of a castle locked in ice lead her south, on a journey that has become nothing less than an obsession...

Accompanying Magiere and Leesil are the sage Wynn; their canine protector, Chap; and two elven assassins-turned-guardians who must fight their distrust of this sister of the dead. For forces more powerful than they � some may even say fate � are rallying around Magiere, arming her for the conflict to come, because finding the orb may be just the beginning of the challenges that await her.

* New York Times bestselling author Kevin J. Anderson
"Interspecies distrust, grand ambitions, and the lure of dangerous secrets protected by the undead drive the action in this neat mix of horror with more traditional fantasy elements."
�Publisher's Weekly
]]> 407 Barb Hendee 0451461878 Mel 3
I was disappointed in this last book of Series 1 of the Noble Dead Saga. I ended up giving it 3,5 stars, which is a shame cause these series deserved a better ending.

Like always it took a little while for the action to pick up and the story to get interesting, but this time it took particularly long and only in the last 100 pages did I feel a connection with the characters and what was happening.

The Hendees have a tendency of being overly descriptive and telling rather than showing us what happens. This book was no exception. But with the end of the road nearing and the possibility of the clashing destinies of Leesil and Magière becoming reality, I had expected some fears, doubts... anything! The only ones who we did see being emotionally troubled were Hkuan’duv and Sgaïle, who aren't the most emotionally expressive to begin with.
Magière who -as the title implies- is pretty much the focus of this book, felt absent. So did Leesil, but afterall: these two are the main characters of this series. Not Chap, not Sgaïle and certainly not Wynn (and we get it: she is a sage and she is small, no need to repeat those facts every other sentence).
I really missed Magière and Leesil this book, I wanted to be in their heads, learn their thoughts and feel their feelings but none of that happened. I also would have loved to see more ‘together time� for Magiere and Leesil. We know that they love each other but we hardly see it, up until the end (and we get ONE kiss) .

*spoiler*
At the end, nothing actually is resolved. The big destinies and the possible new War coming up have not happened. Yet. Magière and Leesil’s quest isn’t over and they have to be on the move –again. Which means that they’ll most likely have another series or be part of Wynn’s series (Series 2) in the future. I am just not sure though if I can invest in another book.
]]> 4.08 2008 Child of a Dead God (Noble Dead Saga: Series 1, #6)
author: Barb Hendee
name: Mel
average rating: 4.08
book published: 2008
rating: 3
read at: 2010/02/08
date added: 2014/04/10
shelves:
review:
Once more with feeling, please?

I was disappointed in this last book of Series 1 of the Noble Dead Saga. I ended up giving it 3,5 stars, which is a shame cause these series deserved a better ending.

Like always it took a little while for the action to pick up and the story to get interesting, but this time it took particularly long and only in the last 100 pages did I feel a connection with the characters and what was happening.

The Hendees have a tendency of being overly descriptive and telling rather than showing us what happens. This book was no exception. But with the end of the road nearing and the possibility of the clashing destinies of Leesil and Magière becoming reality, I had expected some fears, doubts... anything! The only ones who we did see being emotionally troubled were Hkuan’duv and Sgaïle, who aren't the most emotionally expressive to begin with.
Magière who -as the title implies- is pretty much the focus of this book, felt absent. So did Leesil, but afterall: these two are the main characters of this series. Not Chap, not Sgaïle and certainly not Wynn (and we get it: she is a sage and she is small, no need to repeat those facts every other sentence).
I really missed Magière and Leesil this book, I wanted to be in their heads, learn their thoughts and feel their feelings but none of that happened. I also would have loved to see more ‘together time� for Magiere and Leesil. We know that they love each other but we hardly see it, up until the end (and we get ONE kiss) .

*spoiler*
At the end, nothing actually is resolved. The big destinies and the possible new War coming up have not happened. Yet. Magière and Leesil’s quest isn’t over and they have to be on the move –again. Which means that they’ll most likely have another series or be part of Wynn’s series (Series 2) in the future. I am just not sure though if I can invest in another book.

]]> <![CDATA[The King (Black Dagger Brotherhood #12)]]> 17703290 Long live the King...

After turning his back on the throne for centuries, Wrath, son of Wrath, finally assumed his father’s mantle—with the help of his beloved mate. But the crown sets heavily on his head. As the war with the Lessening Society rages on, and the threat from the Band of Bastards truly hits home, he is forced to make choices that put everything—and everyone—at risk.

Beth Randall thought she knew what she was getting into when she mated the last pure blooded vampire on the planet: An easy ride was not it. But when she decides she wants a child, she’s unprepared for Wrath’s response—or the distance it creates between them.

The question is, will true love win out... or tortured legacy take over?]]> 573 J.R. Ward 110160218X Mel 0 not-to-read
But I would like a summary about anything to do with:

- Qhuinn and Blay
- JM and Xhex
- Lash
- Butch
- V (especially Butch related)

Anyone?


*Edit 4/9 (spoilery for The King)

As I didn't want to put myself through the annoyance and pain of reading another BDB book again (it still hurts to dislike a book in a series you used to love) I found myself some designated readers. And thanks to them I know I made a good choice.

Because from what I get from their info, reviews and comments, is that reading the King felt like watching a Teen Mom episode; cringing at the sheer immaturity and the unnecessary drama, and feeling sorry for the baby on the way.
Also, the characters I used to love and wanted to hear about (as mentioned above) apparently were pretty much non existent.

So thanks, designated readers! Until next book? ]]> 4.32 2014 The King (Black Dagger Brotherhood #12)
author: J.R. Ward
name: Mel
average rating: 4.32
book published: 2014
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2014/04/09
shelves: not-to-read
review:
Not going to read this.

But I would like a summary about anything to do with:

- Qhuinn and Blay
- JM and Xhex
- Lash
- Butch
- V (especially Butch related)

Anyone?


*Edit 4/9 (spoilery for The King)

As I didn't want to put myself through the annoyance and pain of reading another BDB book again (it still hurts to dislike a book in a series you used to love) I found myself some designated readers. And thanks to them I know I made a good choice.

Because from what I get from their info, reviews and comments, is that reading the King felt like watching a Teen Mom episode; cringing at the sheer immaturity and the unnecessary drama, and feeling sorry for the baby on the way.
Also, the characters I used to love and wanted to hear about (as mentioned above) apparently were pretty much non existent.

So thanks, designated readers! Until next book?
]]> 1/27: An ICoS Anthology 20927491
Weeks after the last page of the In the Company of Shadows series, seven stories show glimpses of the lives of fifteen characters, scattered across the globe. In Ireland, an unexpected reunion takes a terrible turn. In Australia, the tides are changing while those involved never stop watching. In Mexico, fear brings uncertainty into a once strong relationship. And in the United States, worlds are about to collide.

1/27 answers the important question: What happens next?]]> 109 Ais Mel 0 on-line-fiction, m-m, to-read 4.35 2014 1/27: An ICoS Anthology
author: Ais
name: Mel
average rating: 4.35
book published: 2014
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2014/03/28
shelves: on-line-fiction, m-m, to-read
review:

]]> Zero Hour 11913047
Will runs the counter at the historic coffee shop, and when he talks, he sounds just like an old-time data feed. He's nothing like anyone Ernest has ever met—which isn't saying much—but still, something about him simply doesn't parse.]]> 240 Jordan Castillo Price 1935540262 Mel 0 3.90 2011 Zero Hour
author: Jordan Castillo Price
name: Mel
average rating: 3.90
book published: 2011
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2014/02/19
shelves: m-m, e-book, on-line-fiction, free-stuff, own-to-read
review:
I might be the odd one out here, but I'm not digging the PL Nunn cover. Not because it's a bad cover but because it's an almost generic m/m cover. I like JCP's own stuff much better. At least they're different!
]]> Magic Mansion 13597353

Ricardo Hart's career has sunk so low, he's resorted to shaking his moneymaker at bachelorette parties.


But there's a casting call for a new reality show called Magic Mansion that could change everything for these two gay stage magicians, one recovering from the loss of his partner, the other awe-struck by the presence of his idol. Each is poised for a critical second chance: at fame, and at love.


Who will win? Step into the Mansion, and find out....


(Gay Romance)]]> 341 Jordan Castillo Price Mel 3 Magic Mansion was initially published in the author's newsletter. The story about magicians entering a reality tv show appeared in each issue. In true reality tv-style, readers could vote for the characters they wanted eliminated. All this led to one of JCP's more elaborate works.
With Magic Mansion being as big a project as it is, I had very high expectations. To my surprise, the book wasn't as engrossing and captivating as JCP's usual stories.

Judging by the raving reviews, I'm the odd one out. I'm surprised myself because I have loved pretty much everything that JCP has published. Her stories, however short, always have great plots, a nice twist and superb characters. Unfortunately, this time around, I wasn't blown away.

The love story between the two characters was an almost generic insta-love story. I really liked how the concept of 'falling in love with your hero to realize he's just a regular guy' was handled. But other than that, the conflict was minimal and the "I love you"s came way too fast. Plus all that 'showering each other in kisses' definitely upped the saccharine factor.

Also: JCP's characters are usually multilayered and intriguing. Sadly, this time around I found both Ricardo and the Professor to be two dimensional, even though the latter showed some definite potential in the beginning of the book.

My main problem though, was that the story lacked bite. I don't want to say it's sappy, but Magic Mansion has a distinct mellowness to it that all the other JCP books (thankfully) lack. The only edge was in the reality tv setting, which I found to be both very original and entertaining. The reality contestants themselves sadly couldn't be used to their full potential. For instance: a character like Charity (the crazy ventriloquist with the scary dummy) could have provided some major snark, but was voted out by readers very early in the book. In stead, the ever crying, cheer leader girl, Sue, stayed on till the ending. What a waste.

All in all, an okay story with decent writing, but lacking the usual JCP superbness. 3 stars. ]]> 4.00 2012 Magic Mansion
author: Jordan Castillo Price
name: Mel
average rating: 4.00
book published: 2012
rating: 3
read at: 2012/10/03
date added: 2014/02/19
shelves:
review:
Magic Mansion was initially published in the author's newsletter. The story about magicians entering a reality tv show appeared in each issue. In true reality tv-style, readers could vote for the characters they wanted eliminated. All this led to one of JCP's more elaborate works.
With Magic Mansion being as big a project as it is, I had very high expectations. To my surprise, the book wasn't as engrossing and captivating as JCP's usual stories.

Judging by the raving reviews, I'm the odd one out. I'm surprised myself because I have loved pretty much everything that JCP has published. Her stories, however short, always have great plots, a nice twist and superb characters. Unfortunately, this time around, I wasn't blown away.

The love story between the two characters was an almost generic insta-love story. I really liked how the concept of 'falling in love with your hero to realize he's just a regular guy' was handled. But other than that, the conflict was minimal and the "I love you"s came way too fast. Plus all that 'showering each other in kisses' definitely upped the saccharine factor.

Also: JCP's characters are usually multilayered and intriguing. Sadly, this time around I found both Ricardo and the Professor to be two dimensional, even though the latter showed some definite potential in the beginning of the book.

My main problem though, was that the story lacked bite. I don't want to say it's sappy, but Magic Mansion has a distinct mellowness to it that all the other JCP books (thankfully) lack. The only edge was in the reality tv setting, which I found to be both very original and entertaining. The reality contestants themselves sadly couldn't be used to their full potential. For instance: a character like Charity (the crazy ventriloquist with the scary dummy) could have provided some major snark, but was voted out by readers very early in the book. In stead, the ever crying, cheer leader girl, Sue, stayed on till the ending. What a waste.

All in all, an okay story with decent writing, but lacking the usual JCP superbness. 3 stars.
]]> <![CDATA[The First Days (As the World Dies, #1)]]> 5364009 288 Rhiannon Frater 1438250800 Mel 0 to-read 3.99 2008 The First Days (As the World Dies, #1)
author: Rhiannon Frater
name: Mel
average rating: 3.99
book published: 2008
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2014/02/14
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Beyond the Highland Mist (Highlander, #1)]]> 743599
An alluring laird...

He was known throughout the kingdom as Hawk, legendary predator of the battlefield and the boudoir. No woman could refuse his touch, but no woman ever stirred his heart—until a vengeful fairy tumbled Adrienne de Simone out of modern-day Seattle and into medieval Scotland. Captive in a century not her own, entirely too bold, too outspoken, she was an irresistible challenge to the sixteenth-century rogue. Coerced into a marriage with Hawk, Adrienne vowed to keep him at arm's length—but his sweet seduction played havoc with her resolve.

A prisoner in time...

She had a perfect "no" on her perfect lips for the notorious laird, but Hawk swore she would whisper his name with desire, begging for the passion he longed to ignite within her. Not even the barriers of time and space would keep him from winning her love. Despite her uncertainty about following the promptings of her own passionate heart, Adrienne's reservations were no match for Hawk's determination to keep her by his side...]]> 400 Karen Marie Moning 0440244161 Mel 0 paused 3.96 1999 Beyond the Highland Mist (Highlander, #1)
author: Karen Marie Moning
name: Mel
average rating: 3.96
book published: 1999
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2014/02/10
shelves: paused
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Family Values (The Administration #7.1)]]> 9444607
Warrick asks Toreth to move in with him. Before that fully comes into question, Warrick's half brother, Tarin, is in a car accident. Toreth wonders if foul play in involved.]]> 213 Manna Francis Mel 3 m-m, e-book
Proper review to follow. Soon. Hopefully. ]]> 4.49 Family Values (The Administration #7.1)
author: Manna Francis
name: Mel
average rating: 4.49
book published:
rating: 3
read at: 2013/08/18
date added: 2014/01/14
shelves: m-m, e-book
review:
Hate on me all you want, I can't give this more than 3 stars.

Proper review to follow. Soon. Hopefully.
]]> <![CDATA[The Hell You Say (The Adrien English Mysteries, #3)]]> 6084545 215 Josh Lanyon 1596325828 Mel 5 The Hell you Say is the third book in the Adrien English Mysteries and I can say I now fully understand the obsession some people seem to have with this series.
Not that I didn't like the first two books, I did. But this one I LOVED!

I love Josh Lanyon's writing. It's witty and engaging. It evokes emotion without being overly dramatic. Adrien doesn't spell out his feelings or his heart ache for the reader. The angst, the pain, the loneliness... it's there, but it isn't overdrawn. And yet it's still very palpable and heart breaking. I really felt for Adrien in this book.
Besides that: I think I'm the odd one out, but I liked the mystery more than the previous book's mystery story line.

I understand other readers' comments about Adrien doing stupid stuff. But I don't agree.
Sure he's careless and he doesn't always make the most wise decisions, but it's needed for the story. We can't have Adrien sitting at home, being a good boy and waiting for the police to handle things. Same thing like we can't have Adrien having post traumatic stress disorder, regular nightmares, being in shock... what with the killed friends and the shootings, the death threats and intimidations he all had to endure. We simply wouldn't have a story if Adrien were to do what every other sensible person would do.

All in all, this was a great book (4,5 stars, rounding it up to 5) and I'm already on to the next! ]]> 4.20 2006 The Hell You Say (The Adrien English Mysteries, #3)
author: Josh Lanyon
name: Mel
average rating: 4.20
book published: 2006
rating: 5
read at: 2011/10/01
date added: 2014/01/11
shelves: m-m, e-book, favorites, fan-freakin-tastic
review:
The Hell you Say is the third book in the Adrien English Mysteries and I can say I now fully understand the obsession some people seem to have with this series.
Not that I didn't like the first two books, I did. But this one I LOVED!

I love Josh Lanyon's writing. It's witty and engaging. It evokes emotion without being overly dramatic. Adrien doesn't spell out his feelings or his heart ache for the reader. The angst, the pain, the loneliness... it's there, but it isn't overdrawn. And yet it's still very palpable and heart breaking. I really felt for Adrien in this book.
Besides that: I think I'm the odd one out, but I liked the mystery more than the previous book's mystery story line.

I understand other readers' comments about Adrien doing stupid stuff. But I don't agree.
Sure he's careless and he doesn't always make the most wise decisions, but it's needed for the story. We can't have Adrien sitting at home, being a good boy and waiting for the police to handle things. Same thing like we can't have Adrien having post traumatic stress disorder, regular nightmares, being in shock... what with the killed friends and the shootings, the death threats and intimidations he all had to endure. We simply wouldn't have a story if Adrien were to do what every other sensible person would do.

All in all, this was a great book (4,5 stars, rounding it up to 5) and I'm already on to the next!
]]> <![CDATA[Shattered Glass (Shattered Glass, #1)]]> 13420351
Austin—seems to have it all. At least on the surface. A loving fiancee. A future with the FBI and a healthy sized trust fund. He also has a grin and a wisecrack for every situation. But the smile he presents to everyone hides a painful past he’s buried too deeply to remember. And his quips mask bitterness and insecurity. Austin has himself and most of the whole world fooled. Until he meets someone who immediately sees him better than he sees himself.

As events unfold and Austin’s world unravels, he finds himself pushed into making quick life-changing decisions. But can he trust Peter or what’s happening between them when each meeting seems to be just a series of volatile reactions?]]> 360 Dani Alexander 1465850090 Mel 5 Maybe Peter was the answer. The problem and the answer. The answer without being a solution. Another tick in the inconsistent life of Austin Glass.

About a year ago, my friends LA and Tina started raving about a book that was just released. It was by a new author and it was self published. It was different, fun, engaging, well written, humorous—you name the complimentary adjectives, I heard them all.
Then, pretty much everyone started talking about Shattered Glass. It seemed the best thing since sliced bread and that got my alarm bells ringing.
I have this horrible tendency of disliking hyped books, and I thought this might be another one for that stack. So I pushed it to the back burner and devoted my time to other books in my insurmountable TBR pile... until my friend Lenore had the author send me a copy. You'd think that would make me immediately pick the book up and read, right? Nope. Waited another six months before doing so.

Turns out, I missed out on a whole lot of raving and squeeing along with my friends. In fact, the only good thing about me waiting this long is that I won't have to wait more than a year for the sequel. Although, honestly, waiting for even one week seems too long. I just want to be reunited with the characters as soon as possible!

Because Shattered Glass, ladies and gentlemen, was Superb. With a capital S, yes. I. LOVED. It.

The plot alone deserved a 4 star rating. There was a mystery/suspense story line which had me guessing till the end and which was handled in a very satisfying manner. And then there was the romance story line which was sweet and cute and frustrating and awkward and hot. And all of this goodness was weaved together intricately.
But what tipped the scales to a 5 star rating (because ŷ doesn't do tens) were two things: characterization and narration.

I LOVED Austin. He is arrogant, selfish, childish, inconsistent, obsessive, inconsiderate... But he's also brave, loyal and determined. And he is funny! His inner thoughts were to die for. If I wasn't grinning, I was laughing out loud. Austin Glass must be one of the most entertaining train wrecks in fiction history for sure.
I loved how flawed he was, but how I sometimes inadvertently just went with his flow, only to later realize he was being an asshole. I loved how he recognized his mistakes as the story progressed. And if he didn't, there was always someone else there to remind him.
Like Peter.

Oh, Peter Rabbit! It took me a while to warm up to him, but once I did... bunny slippers for the win!
Peter could have just been the lustworthy prettyboy. But no: he was never the passive recipient to Austin's interest(/obsession). Loved how he outsmarted and lectured Austin. How he figured him out and put it all out there when Austin's behavior called for it.

Next to the main characters, the secondaries were equally great: Luis, Darryl, Cai, Dave, Angel —even Desmond Glass... I was enticed by all of them. Just when you thought you had them figured out, they would surprise you. In good ways or bad...

I did have some minor issues. The way the whole [spoilers removed] was handled for one. Also: there were some editing glitches and a few parts were hard to follow. Most importantly: the ending could have used a few extra pages (because of all those important events happening at the same time) and I felt like some events needed more screen time. Then again: any excuse for more pages is a good one. I just couldn't get enough of Austin's voice.

All in all Shattered Glass singlehandedly destroyed my belief of all overly hyped books being overrated. Great writing, superb characterization, exquisite humor—an excellent read. 5 stars

Now where is that sequel? ]]> 4.03 2012 Shattered Glass (Shattered Glass, #1)
author: Dani Alexander
name: Mel
average rating: 4.03
book published: 2012
rating: 5
read at: 2013/02/16
date added: 2014/01/11
shelves: e-book, m-m, fan-freakin-tastic, favorites
review:

Maybe Peter was the answer. The problem and the answer. The answer without being a solution. Another tick in the inconsistent life of Austin Glass.

About a year ago, my friends LA and Tina started raving about a book that was just released. It was by a new author and it was self published. It was different, fun, engaging, well written, humorous—you name the complimentary adjectives, I heard them all.
Then, pretty much everyone started talking about Shattered Glass. It seemed the best thing since sliced bread and that got my alarm bells ringing.
I have this horrible tendency of disliking hyped books, and I thought this might be another one for that stack. So I pushed it to the back burner and devoted my time to other books in my insurmountable TBR pile... until my friend Lenore had the author send me a copy. You'd think that would make me immediately pick the book up and read, right? Nope. Waited another six months before doing so.

Turns out, I missed out on a whole lot of raving and squeeing along with my friends. In fact, the only good thing about me waiting this long is that I won't have to wait more than a year for the sequel. Although, honestly, waiting for even one week seems too long. I just want to be reunited with the characters as soon as possible!

Because Shattered Glass, ladies and gentlemen, was Superb. With a capital S, yes. I. LOVED. It.

The plot alone deserved a 4 star rating. There was a mystery/suspense story line which had me guessing till the end and which was handled in a very satisfying manner. And then there was the romance story line which was sweet and cute and frustrating and awkward and hot. And all of this goodness was weaved together intricately.
But what tipped the scales to a 5 star rating (because ŷ doesn't do tens) were two things: characterization and narration.

I LOVED Austin. He is arrogant, selfish, childish, inconsistent, obsessive, inconsiderate... But he's also brave, loyal and determined. And he is funny! His inner thoughts were to die for. If I wasn't grinning, I was laughing out loud. Austin Glass must be one of the most entertaining train wrecks in fiction history for sure.
I loved how flawed he was, but how I sometimes inadvertently just went with his flow, only to later realize he was being an asshole. I loved how he recognized his mistakes as the story progressed. And if he didn't, there was always someone else there to remind him.
Like Peter.

Oh, Peter Rabbit! It took me a while to warm up to him, but once I did... bunny slippers for the win!
Peter could have just been the lustworthy prettyboy. But no: he was never the passive recipient to Austin's interest(/obsession). Loved how he outsmarted and lectured Austin. How he figured him out and put it all out there when Austin's behavior called for it.

Next to the main characters, the secondaries were equally great: Luis, Darryl, Cai, Dave, Angel —even Desmond Glass... I was enticed by all of them. Just when you thought you had them figured out, they would surprise you. In good ways or bad...

I did have some minor issues. The way the whole [spoilers removed] was handled for one. Also: there were some editing glitches and a few parts were hard to follow. Most importantly: the ending could have used a few extra pages (because of all those important events happening at the same time) and I felt like some events needed more screen time. Then again: any excuse for more pages is a good one. I just couldn't get enough of Austin's voice.

All in all Shattered Glass singlehandedly destroyed my belief of all overly hyped books being overrated. Great writing, superb characterization, exquisite humor—an excellent read. 5 stars

Now where is that sequel?
]]> <![CDATA[A Perfect Blood (The Hollows, #10)]]> 10599805 New York Times bestselling author Kim Harrison returns to the Hollows with the electrifying follow-up to her acclaimed Pale Demon!

A Perfect Blood

Ritually murdered corpses are appearing across Cincinnati, terrifying amalgams of human and other. Pulled in to help investigate by the I.S. and FIB, former witch turned day-walking demon Rachel Morgan soon realizes a horrifying truth: a human hate group is trying to create its own demons to destroy all Inderlanders, and to do so, it needs her blood.

She's faced vampires, witches, werewolves, demons, and more, but humanity itself might be her toughest challenge yet.]]> 438 Kim Harrison 0061957895 Mel 0 to-read 4.38 2012 A Perfect Blood (The Hollows, #10)
author: Kim Harrison
name: Mel
average rating: 4.38
book published: 2012
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2014/01/09
shelves: to-read
review:
I don't care what happens, as long as there's lots of Trent in it.
]]> <![CDATA[Fantasy Lover (Dark-Hunter, #1)]]> 3331258
Grace Alexander doesn’t believe in much of anything. But when her “psychic� girlfriend talks her into performing the spell as a joke on her birthday, the last thing she ever imagines is it working. But work it does. Now, she finds an ancient Greek general in her living room and trapped in her life for the next month. Worse, they learn too late that part of the spell means Grace will lose her sanity should he return to his captivity.

Now it’s a race against time to free him. Something much easier said than done, since it was the ancient gods who cursed him to his fate. And the last thing they want is to see him go free of the punishment the gods believe he
deserves. It’s man against the gods, and a race against time.]]> 368 Sherrilyn Kenyon Mel 2 total-waste-of-my-time, pnr
Back in 2002, when this book first came out, it was probably fresh and exciting. But from then on a lot has evolved in UF/PNR-land and I think I've been 'spoiled' with good quality writing.

The writing was extremely simplistic, repetitive and annoying. The POV changing wasn't done well at all. The story was (I know: even for a PNR about a 2000 year old Spartan demi God) totally unrealistic. The characters as well as their actions were unbelievable.

Take for instance our heroine: Grace. Despite the fact that she was a successful sex therapist, she seemed to have little to no sexual knowledge (she kept talking about feelings she never knew that existed, both mentally and physically). She also kept bringing up personal and vulnerable topics with the hero while in the presence of others. Privacy anyone? Oh and the cherry on the cake was that this supposed sex therapist had her own untreated sexual trauma, a fact that makes you project your own problems on your patients and therefore makes you a bad therapist. The big trauma was that she was deflowered (at 24?) by some guy who didn't care for her. And 5 years later she was still all shaken up about it. Booo fucking hoo!

Argh, this book had me rolling my eyes constantly. The dialogues and inner monologues at times seemed to be competing for the prize of 'cheesiest lines ever'. If it wasn't for my compulsion to finish stuff I started and the fact that I wanted to know what the Kenyon-fuss was about, I would have thrown the book out. No, maybe ritually burnt it.

I'm told that the Dark Hunter series is good so I'm actually willing to spend money on the second book. I hope I won't be sorry...]]> 3.50 1999 Fantasy Lover (Dark-Hunter, #1)
author: Sherrilyn Kenyon
name: Mel
average rating: 3.50
book published: 1999
rating: 2
read at: 2009/10/07
date added: 2014/01/08
shelves: total-waste-of-my-time, pnr
review:
I couldn't wait to finish this book... but for all the wrong reasons. Even a 2 star rating seems generous.

Back in 2002, when this book first came out, it was probably fresh and exciting. But from then on a lot has evolved in UF/PNR-land and I think I've been 'spoiled' with good quality writing.

The writing was extremely simplistic, repetitive and annoying. The POV changing wasn't done well at all. The story was (I know: even for a PNR about a 2000 year old Spartan demi God) totally unrealistic. The characters as well as their actions were unbelievable.

Take for instance our heroine: Grace. Despite the fact that she was a successful sex therapist, she seemed to have little to no sexual knowledge (she kept talking about feelings she never knew that existed, both mentally and physically). She also kept bringing up personal and vulnerable topics with the hero while in the presence of others. Privacy anyone? Oh and the cherry on the cake was that this supposed sex therapist had her own untreated sexual trauma, a fact that makes you project your own problems on your patients and therefore makes you a bad therapist. The big trauma was that she was deflowered (at 24?) by some guy who didn't care for her. And 5 years later she was still all shaken up about it. Booo fucking hoo!

Argh, this book had me rolling my eyes constantly. The dialogues and inner monologues at times seemed to be competing for the prize of 'cheesiest lines ever'. If it wasn't for my compulsion to finish stuff I started and the fact that I wanted to know what the Kenyon-fuss was about, I would have thrown the book out. No, maybe ritually burnt it.

I'm told that the Dark Hunter series is good so I'm actually willing to spend money on the second book. I hope I won't be sorry...
]]> <![CDATA[Dark Lover (Black Dagger Brotherhood, #1)]]> 42899 The only purebred vampire left on the planet and the leader of the Black Dagger Brotherhood, Wrath has a score to settle with the slayers who killed his parents centuries ago.

But when his most trusted fighter is killed -- orphaning a half-breed daughter unaware of her heritage or her fate -- Wrath must put down his dagger and usher the beautiful female into another world.

Racked by a restlessness in her body that wasn’t there before, Beth Randall is helpless against the dangerously sexy man who comes to her at night with shadows in his eyes. His tales of the Brotherhood and blood frighten her. Yet his touch ignites a dawning new hunger one that threatens to consume them both…]]> 393 J.R. Ward 0451216954 Mel 3 pnr
"Six foot six he stood on the ground,
he weighted 235 pounds
But I saw that giant of a man brought down
to his knees by loooove."

A few dear ŷ-friends pressured me into reading this and I must say: I'm pleasantly surprised (3,5 stars).
An interesting and unpredictable plot? Not really. Cliché? Very. Romance and sex? At times the romance was almost sappy and the sex was good but I actually had expected it to be hotter (it's quality people, not quantity!).
But despite all of the above: I understand the attraction of the books! I liked this book. I might even be on the verge of loving this book. And I really liked Wrath. And I liked the rest of the boys. And I'm fascinated by Zsadist. And I want to read his book (#3). Fast. So I'm buying book #2 (about Rhage) while I'm at it. And I heard book #4 is about Butch. And I want to read that too.
Did I get addicted? Maybe. But I think I might know why.
It's because the Brothers are a girl’s fantasy come true. Cause doesn't every girl grow up fantasizing about a guy who is tough and cool but has a soft spot for you? Everybody's scared of him, except for you. Because he loves you. A lot. And no one else. Snapping somebody's neck while he's buying you flowers. *sigh* Meet the Black Dagger Brotherhood. ]]> 4.17 2005 Dark Lover (Black Dagger Brotherhood, #1)
author: J.R. Ward
name: Mel
average rating: 4.17
book published: 2005
rating: 3
read at: 2009/09/11
date added: 2014/01/08
shelves: pnr
review:
*channeling Johnny Cash *

"Six foot six he stood on the ground,
he weighted 235 pounds
But I saw that giant of a man brought down
to his knees by loooove."

A few dear ŷ-friends pressured me into reading this and I must say: I'm pleasantly surprised (3,5 stars).
An interesting and unpredictable plot? Not really. Cliché? Very. Romance and sex? At times the romance was almost sappy and the sex was good but I actually had expected it to be hotter (it's quality people, not quantity!).
But despite all of the above: I understand the attraction of the books! I liked this book. I might even be on the verge of loving this book. And I really liked Wrath. And I liked the rest of the boys. And I'm fascinated by Zsadist. And I want to read his book (#3). Fast. So I'm buying book #2 (about Rhage) while I'm at it. And I heard book #4 is about Butch. And I want to read that too.
Did I get addicted? Maybe. But I think I might know why.
It's because the Brothers are a girl’s fantasy come true. Cause doesn't every girl grow up fantasizing about a guy who is tough and cool but has a soft spot for you? Everybody's scared of him, except for you. Because he loves you. A lot. And no one else. Snapping somebody's neck while he's buying you flowers. *sigh* Meet the Black Dagger Brotherhood.
]]>