Book Review: Seducing the Vampire by Michele Hauf

 

Seducing the Vampire by Michele Hauf
Genre: Paranormal Historical Romance
Pages: 384
Acquired: 09/30/11
Book of Your Shelf? No
Why I read it: NetGalley
Series: No

Think Snow White meets vampires, werewolves, and France. Three of my favorite things and one of my favorite fairy tales growing up (I went through 3 copies of the Disney movie). Our fair princess is played by the blood born vampiress, Viviane LaMourette. Now blood born vampires are rare, and females even more so. So enter the evil queen (errr king in this case), Constantine de Salignac, the local vampire tribe leader who will have Viviane or else no one will! Prince Charming is played by quite an unusual character, a half werewolf half vampire named Rhys Hawkes, who just happens to be half-brother to Constantine. Now remove the 7 dwarfs, unless I totally missed something, and we have our main characters.

The story itself takes us back and forth between present time and the time of Marie Antoinette's court in France. We first meet Viviane on her way to visit her patron in France where she meets Rhys for the first time and Constantine presses her to become his. Fearing for her independence should she choose to be with Constantine, Viviane tries to delay giving him a decision and ends up falling for Rhys. When Constantine finds out, saying he is mad would be the understatement of the century. He sets out for revenge.

In the present time, Rhys hears a myth of a "Vampire Snow White" in the sewers of France. The timing and description of the fair vampire maiden reminds him of Viviane, thought lost to him for all this time. He immediately takes off to France to try and find her (Prince Charming to the rescue).

The story's jump between time periods was well written. There was never any confusion when you started a section as to which time you were in now. There was a lot of action, but it never got too overwhelming or confusing with too much going on all at once. This was a great read.

4/5

His Lady Mistress by Elizabeth Rolls
Genre: Romance, Historical Fiction
Pages: 304
Acquired: 09/19/11
Book of Your Shelf? No
Why I read it: Free NOOK Book
Series: Harlequin Historicals

Verity Scott has lost everything...literally. Her mother died years ago and now her father has committed suicide, which means all his worldly goods are forfeit and he will be buried in an unmarked grave. As Verity is mourning and trying to figure out what to do Max Blakehurst, an old friend of her father's, comes as assists her in honoring his grave in what little ways they can. The young Verity instantly associates this man with safety, security, and love. But he is gone in the morning and she is sent to her Uncle's to live.

A couple years later and Verity no longer exists. Her uncle's family has changed her name and taken her in, not as a relative but a very poorly treated servant. When Max shows up to visit the family he doesn't recognize her but is instantly fascinated by her. He decides to "help" her by offering to set her up as his Mistress. Once her true identity comes to light and scandal is about to set in, he decides he must to the right and proper thing by marrying her.

I was very surprised by how much I enjoyed Verity. Many times in Harlequin Historicals the leading lady is a bit washed out, ready to fall into the arms of whatever man is nice to her. Not Verity. She insists on certain things being her way and when it all seems to be falling apart, she's not afraid to up and leave Max in London.

Max, on the other hand, drove me INSANE. He was very wishy-washy, constantly changing his mind about whether or not he loved Verity, trusted Verity, wanted Verity, would treat Verity with respect. He seemed to be apologizing for something every chapter. If I had been Verity I think I would have had enough long before the end of the book. Some of the things he said to her were positively awful.

If Max had been slightly more compassionate and likeable, this book would have been great. He was too much the villain at times for me to ever like him, which significantly lowered my enjoyment of the book.

2/5

Book Review: The Fairy Godmother by Mercedes Lackey

Genre: Romance, Fantasy

Pages: 496
Acquired: 6/20/11
Book of Your Shelf? No
Why I have it: NetGalley
Series: Tales of the Five Hundred Kingdoms (1)

The Five Hundred Kingdoms continually live the fairy tales. It is part of the magic that holds the realms together. Elena was destined to follow in the footsteps of Cinderella, but her prince was just a baby so the fairy tale went wrong. The magic of the realm built up around her until her kingdom's godmother takes her in as an apprentice. Her life is filled with directing the magic to make her realms a better place and keepp the evil ones away. Throughout it all she makes brave and very inventive solutions to keep the tales alive but under control. At least until she breaks with tradition and takes an unruly prince under her wing. She is determined to make him a better person, but the fairy tales have another idea altogether.

I loved Elena. She was just the right mix of bold and confident with an underlying insecurity and doubt that she is good enough to perform her new role as godmother. She rises to the challenge and succeeds in ways she never quite thought possible. She is surrounded by a host of mythical creatures, each with its own unique personality and part to the story. The romance was definately there, but in a way that made it part of the story instead of the point of the story. I'm going to have to keep my eyes out for the others in the series.

4/5

Book Review: Butterfly Swords by Jeannie Lin

Butterfly Swords by Jeannie Lin

Genre: Romance
Pages: 288
Acquired: 5/20/2011
Book of Your Shelf? No
Why I have it: NetGalley
Series: Harlequin Historical

Princess Ai Li is doing the unthinkable. She is running away from the mam she is supposed to marry. A marriage that was arranged by her father, her actions could bring shame to her entire family. But she has good reason for doing so. She has discovered that her future husband played a part in the slaying of one of her brothers. Thankful that she has smuggled her trusted butterfly swords along with her, she fights free of her entourage and tries to make her way home.

Ryam is a barbarian, begging for scraps as he tries to return to his military base after an attack that nearly killed him. He comes upon Ai Li defending herself against far greater numbers and decides to help her. This one decision changes both of their lives forever. As they make their way back to the capital and Ai Li's family, they gain each other's trust and respect, and not just in swordplay.

The two face nearly impossible odds on their journey to the city and find themselves willing to do anything for the other. I loved both characters and the way they interacted was nearly perfect. There were a few occassions that the plot stalled for a few pages, but it generally to help the reader understand some aspect of the culture and took off again as soon as it could.

3.5/5

Book Review: Carrie Pilby by Caren Lisner

Carrie Pilby by Caren Lissner

Pages: 250
Acquired: May 5, 2011
Book of Your Shelf? No
Why I have it: NetGalley
Series: No

Carrie Pilby has always been a bit different. She is a child prodigy that graduated college before most of us would even start it. Her hobbies include reading the dictionary, debating morals with herself (and others if she can), and sleeping in her New York apartment. Carrie has a hard time relating to the people around her. She just doesn't get them, and they just don't get her. She's unhappy and alone, although good luck trying to get her to admit it.

Carrie is a fantastic character. She readily admits that she just doesn't understand people. She knows it's because of her childhood and intelligence. With the help of her psychologist, she sets up a list of things to do by New Year's that will help her open up to other people and relate to them better.

I was a bit surprised to see this was a Harlequin. There is a bit of romance in the story, but it is definitely on the back burner of the story. At center stage is Carrie and the odd group of people she ends up finding herself involved with. They are all very unique and I could see the good, as well as the bad, in all of them. They were the perfect characters to contrast the various aspects of Carrie's personality.

There were no fast paced action sequences or sudden turns of events, but the story moved along like a gentle stream that was very relaxing with just enough ripples to keep things interesting. Carrie's struggles were written in a way that anyone could find a piece of her to relate to.

5/5

Book Review: Her Dearest Sin by Gayle Wilson

Her Dearest Sin (Harlequin Historical) by Gayle Wilson

5. Her Dearest Sin by Gayle Wilson
Genre: Historical Fiction, Romance, Harlequin
Pages: 304
Acquired: 2001ish
Book of Your Shelf? Yes
Why I have/read it: Part of a large collection I received as a gift, TIOLI
Series: Harlequin Historical, Sinclair Brides (3)

Pilar and Sebastian Sinclair meet on very strange circumstances. She is trying to steal his clothes so that she can run away from her guardian/fiance. Needless to say, since we are just starting the story, she gets caught, he gets accused of trying to help her, and her guardian Julian Delgado is very angry.

Sebastian and Pilar meet later, of course, and all sorts of crazy things happen. All of which make Julian even more upset. (Julian is not very nice.)

I really liked Pilar, and she was written in a way that allowed to reader to understand her actions even when they seemed to go against what she should do. Sebastian on the other hand, was a bit of an arrogant fool...at first. He slowly changes and learns and becomes a better man.

Not too bad for a Harlequin. The story and setting were very interesting without too many hot and heavy scenes.

3/5

Book Review: Dragon's Knight by Catherine Archer

Dragon's Knight (Harlequin Historical) by Catherine Archer
Genre: Romance

Pages: 297
Acquired: 2001?
Book of Your Shelf? Yes
Why I have it: Part of large collection received as gift
Series: Brotherhood of the Dragon Book 2

Aislynn Greatham's brother has gone missing. He left many weeks ago on a strange mission and no one has heard word from him since. Desparate to find him Aislynn writes to one of his best friends , Jarrod Maxwell, to see if he would be willing to help. The two of them, along with a family knight for chaperone, strike out on the slimmest of clues to try and find where her brother has gone.

Aislynn Greatham is a "typical" medieval daughter to me. Obedient to her father in just about everything. Betrothed and happy about it for a political reason. She didn't seem to have much to her at first. She never really has too much more to her character, but a hidden strength and love for her family is revealed as she travels with Jarrod to find her brother.

Jarrod Maxwell has a grudge against the world. An illigitimate child of a noble and a war camp follower, he feels that the world does not accept him and that he has no place, other than that of friend to Aislynn's brother. He jumps at the chance to help his best friend and tries his best to deal with the sister that has been sent along with him. Jarrod was a fantastic character. He grows and develops with every page. He changes from a cold, hard man to a man that has learned to love and forgive by the end of the story.

The story seems to be a typical romance. Boy meets girl. Girl and boy don't like each other. Something dramatic happens and they fall in love.

2/5

Book Review: The Nymph King by Gena Showalter

The Nymph King (Atlantis) by Gena Showalter

The third book in the Atlantis series. This time we are brought into the lives of the nymphs, briefly introduced in Jewel of Atlantis. A race of man-like creatures that no woman (of any type) resist. They have taken over one of the portals from the dragon-men, and raided the surface (Earth) for women. Apparently, nymphs grow weak if they don't have sex a few times a day. Most of the women come willingly, except for Shaye. The nymph king, Valerian, instantly feels a bond to her and wants to claim her as his own, but one of his warriors has the same idea.


Meanwhile, the dragon-men want their portal and castle back and are planning on launching a full scale attack to kick the nymphs out. Then out of nowhere one of the gods (think ancient Greek) appears and starts meddling with things.

Back with the nymphs, Shaye is slowing losing her resolve to fight against the attraction she feels for Valerian. I enjoyed both the characters of Shaye and Valerian. They were constantly evolving as they learned more about eash other and how best to get along. The supporting characters, both nymph human and other, were developed perfectly for the role they played.

Until the very end I thoroughly enjoyed the book. Then things sort of fell apart...or fell together as it may be...just a little too neatly. It seemed as if she had written her characters into a place she couldn't get them out of.

4/5

Book Review: Jewel of Atlantis by Gena Showalter

Jewel of Atlantis by Gena Showalter

The second book in the Atlantis series. Atlantis is a world hidden below the ocean by the gods to contain all of their creations before the humans. The only way in is to discover one of two secret portals...guarded by men that can change into dragons and are ordered to kill all who try to come in.


Grayson James has managed to sneak through these fearsome guardians (not sure how) in search of the mythical Jewel of Dunamis. A jewel that has the power to tell the future, read minds, and separate lies from truth. His company wants to get the jewel before some government can get ahold of it and use it to their advantage during a war. Now, this reason seemed a little far fetched, because if no one can get to Atlantis to retrieve the jewel, then how can they use it? But, OK, I went with it.

Grayson soon realizes that the Jewel of Dunamis is not a gem, but a beautiful woman that is being held against her will by the demoms (one of the many creatures living in Atlantis), to take advantage of her gifts. This being a romance, sparks fly when they meet and Grayson must find a way to rescue her and keep her with him always.

I really enjoyed a lot of the tensions between Atlantean races the author allowed to spring up throughout the story. From dragon men, mermaids, gorgons, minotaurs, demons and vampires, they all had reasons for wanting the jewel in their hand and their reactions to her were unique and real. I enjoyed her character very much, while I found Grayson a little dull. It was a great read to follow up the first book, Heart of the Dragon, and parts of the storyline stem directly from the events that ended the first in the series (which I have found is unusual in romance series).

3.5/5

Book Review: Wings in the Night Park 1 by Maggie Shayne

A collection of novels and short stories about vampires falling in love (see Msg 107 for review of first in series). Overall pretty good stories, but I wouldn't recommend reading them all together like I did. They start to get a little predictable. I'm going to wait a little bit before diving into the rest she wrote.

3/5

Book Review: The Drifter by Lisa Plumley

The Drifter (Harlequin Historical Series) by Lisa Plumley

Miss Julia Bennett needs a husband...and quick. The published etiquette author has been given a chance to interview for a new column on the east coast...the only problem is that she's on the west coast and her father will not allow her to go until she is married. With the interview date looming before her, Julia tracks down her last chance, the bounty hunter Graham Corley.

Graham is a wandering man, a drifter - and nothing could surprise him more that Julia's outlandish proposition. A proposition to act as a fiance, even get married so that she can convince her father to allow her to travel back east. Neither quite know what they are really getting into when they agree to their strange bargain.

Julia is a priss...a priss of the worst sort. She is the person that quotes her own books - Miss Julia's Behavior Books - to people so they know how to act correctly. She is well educated and is seen as the odd one in her little town. Meeting Graham will shows her a side of herself that she doesn't realize exists, and even begins to enjoy. I began to truly enjoy her as she grows and throughout the story into a new and happier person.

Graham is you standard bounty hunter. He never stays anywhere longer than he must, and looks forward to his time on the road...until he meets Julia. He enjoys being able to tease her about her prim and proper ways and does everything he can to bring her out of her shell.

I enjoyed this story much more than I initially thought I would. I disliked the characters at first, but as they grew I began to like them very much, as does the town they live in.

3/5

Book Review: The Bride Fair by Cheryl Reavis

The Bride Fair (Harlequin Historical Series)


This story takes place in a Southern town shortly after the Civil War...a town under Union occupation still. The hostilities between the Union army soldiers and the residents is high. That doesn't keep the mothers from trying to marry their daughters off to the ranking officers. With too few men, and too many women, the city is often referred to as a bride fair.

One young lady of marriage age is Maria Markham. Maria's two brothers and her fiance were killed in the war, and her father is quite ill. To help keep the house running they board the highest ranking Union officer in their house, a Colonel Max Woodard. Max has no nice feelings for the town. This is the town where he was kept as a prisoner of war, watching hundreds of his fellow soldiers die, nearly dieing himself. While Max is a fair leader, not allowing his men to take advantage of their situations, he holds no love for the town at all.

I loved the characters in this book. Max and Maria were both so hard headed about things, it reminded me of so many I know today. The prejudices on both sides were fascinating and added an element of danger to the story that was always lingering in the background. Reavis did a fantastic job of setting the stage for Max and Maria.

There were numerous twists and unexpected turns throughout that led up to a perfect ending. Not only must Max and Maria fight to find their own happiness, they are both fighting the strict customs and codes of the times. This would have to be one of my favorite romances so far.

4/5

Book Review: Twilight Phantasies by Maggie Shayne

I picked this up as my first book on my new Nook ereader because I somehow got my hands on book 12 in this series and wanted to at least read the first one before reading number twelve. I found it for waaaay to much money online or 2.99 in electronic format...so electronic it was!


Twilight Phantasies is the story of a very special woman named Tamara. Tamara works for a top secret government agency that tracks and studies people with "unusual" abilities. He guardian also works for this agency tracking a vampire named Eric Marquand. Tamara's guardian is quite fanatic in his belief that all vampire's are inherently evil and should be destroyed or made weak so he can study them.

Tamara decides to go ice skating in the middle of the night, she can no longer sleep, and meets the very same man (vampire) that her guardian has been tracking and attempting to capture this whole time. She instantly feels the connection...it's as if their minds were somehow joined.

Needless to say, when her guardian finds out, trouble arises...in many many forms. I throughly enjoyed the story and the characters. The small side plots and characters only brought the main ones to life even more. I've purchased the next couple in the series and I hope they are just as good.

3.5/5

Book Review: Shades of Gray by Wendy Douglas

Derek Fontaine is running from his past and his family. He is going to claim the ranch in Texas that was given to him by his recently deceased uncle. He does not expect an overly warm welcome from the ranch hands, but when he stumbles into cattle rustlers and murder, he's definately in for more than he bargained for.


One of the unexpected things on Derek's new ranch is Amber. His uncle's housekeeper who has stayed on waiting for Derek to arrive hoping that he will allow her to stay. Amber is also running from her past and the nearby town that has shunned her unjustly.

As Derek struggles to bring the ranch back into operation, he develops a deep respect for Amber's hard work and dedication to his Uncle and the ranch. However, will his assumptions about her past tear them apart or bring them back together?

3/5

Book Review: Dark Seduction by Brenda Joyce

Dark Seduction: Book 1 of Masters of Time by Brenda Joyce

Once I started reading this, I thought for sure I wasn't going to like it. The overall story is about a group of super-men, called Masters, that are descendants of the old gods. Ok, so far not too bad, but there's a catch. One of their many powers is the power to mesmerize women and have their way with them (this is a romance), and if they lose control, or if they are just super evil bad guys, they can drain their sexual partner of life and use it to temporarily give them more power. This was the part that had me a little too wierded out...even for a paranormal story.


The saving grace....the characters and the story itself. Have you ever wondered what would happen if you dropped a modern day single and independant woman into the medieval ages? Well, I actually have, and this book dips right into all the what if's you could possibly ask for. As our leading lady Claire finds herself in the far far ago Highlands, she finds herself ordered around and considered as nothing more than eye candy and mother material. Claire, who is used to taking care of herself in the big city is constantly at odds with the super men Masters that are smothering her.

Our main man is also the primary smotherer (is that a word?). Malcolm is flabbergasted to find that Claire just won't meekly run off and do as he orders (yes orders) her to do. There are quite a few interesting arguments about time periods and what she should be allowed to do. Well, they were interesting at first and then they got a bit boring and repetitive.

So off our two mains go to hunt down the evil Master, that is actaully hunting them. There are a few twists and turns along the way, and we find more and more about the past of our two stars and how they are linked in so many more ways that you think at first. If you can get your mind over or around the 'I'm going to have sex with you, but I may steal your lifeforce' part of the book, you will find a great medieval romance along with a fascinating tale of fighting the not only the evil around you, but the evil within you as well.

3.5/5 (I havent decided if I'm going to continue the series or not)

Book Review: Heart of the Dragon by Gena Showalter

Atlantis exists! It is guarded by a race of shapeshifting dragon of unbeilevable fighting skill and hunkiness (even if they do sprout scales when provoked). Darius is the head man...er dragon, and is entrusted with guarding the portal that separates our world from his. His duty is to slay everyone that comes from our side and he takes his duty seriously, never letting any pass. Then one day Grace stumbles through and something changes. He breaks his sacred vow for the first time, intrigued by the fiery red head that dares to defy him.


But this isn't the only change heading towards Darius. As he runs around after Grace, trying to keep her from getting killed by the other dragonmen, he discovers that she isn't the only human in Atlantis after all. There is a second portal, guarded by his mentor and father-figure that becomes strangely silent, and suddenly Grace finds herself caught in the middle of a battle to save a world that most still think is mere myth and legend.

As Grace and Darius rush to save not only Atlantis, but all the people they hold dear, they find themselves plunged into a very heated romance. And wow...do I mean heated. This is not a book for any who blush easily. While the romance plays second fiddle to the fight for Atlantis, it is definately there and wants you to know it!

Grace is a fantastic female character. Not only is she not stick thin and model georgous, she actually has a head on her shoulders and isn't afraid to fight to get what she wants and protect those she cares about. It isn't suprising that Darius struggled to resist her.

Darius is a lean mean fightig machine...with the additional abitilities you would commonly associate with dragons as well. While his character is hard and ferocious, we occasssionally are allowed glimpses into the inner-Darius and can easily see why Grace would fall head over heals for him.

This is the first book in the Atlantis series by Gena Showalter and I have the next two sitting in my filing cabinet drawer (I ran out of room on the TBR shelf) and I can harldy wait til their turn comes up to read more about this fascinating new world, Atlantis.

4/5 (would have been more, a bit too steamy in places for me)

Book Review: A Marriage By Chance by Carolyn Davidson

A Marriage By Chance by Carolyn Davidson

Chloe Biddleton has a quite a suprise coming with JT Flannery show up on her ranch. He's recently acquired the rights to half her ranch...winning them from her scalawag of a brother in a game of cards. It would be an understatement to say that the Chloe, who has been running the ranch since her father's death, is furious. As the two are trying to get used to their new business arrangement a gang of cattle rustlers show up and starts stealing thieves from several of the ranches in the area...including Chloe's precious Double B. And the suprises keep coming...along with a marriage proposal.


I loved Chloe. She was outspoken and not afraid to voice her opinions. She fights tooth and nail to maintain her place as co-owner of the Double B. JT is a gentleman all the way. A gentleman that sees his future finally lined up before him when he wins the rights to half the ranch. He's ready to settle down and he thinks Chloe will be the best part of it.

The romance takes second stage to the daily goings on at the Double B Ranch, which is why I enjoyed this story so much. The characters interact in a very real way and their emotions come off the page very well. This book was a great read.

4/5

Book Review: Wicked by Beth Henderson

Lilly Renfrew has just witnessed a murder. She doesn't care it if was "just" a prostitute...to her it is still another human being. A small gasp betrays her and the murderer realized he's been watched leading to a chance through the Barbary Coast area and directly into Deegan Galloway's arms.

Deegan has been bored...he wants adventure, and when the little wren, Lilly, stumbles into his arms trying to escape from a man chasing her, he is quick to oblige. Once he hears her story he decides to join in the hunt for the murderer.

While this is labeled a Romance, and it does have a few steamy scenes in it, it was more of an action/mystery in my opinion. The hunt for the murderer leads to all manner of unusual circumstances and list of highly unlikely suspects. The author does a wonderful job of keeping the true bad guy's identity a secret until almost the very end, which I admire a lot.

Lilly and Deegan are both wonderful characters that are struggling to realize who they really are underneath. Their journey together is fun to follow and I truly enjoyed watching them become who they really were.

3/5

Carpetbagger's Wife by Deborah Hale

I had to stop reading this book about 2/3 of the way through.  I really really tried to finish it, but there were too many "oh woe is me" moments from both the hero and the heroine.  It seemed to me that half the story she was whining about falling in love with a yankee, and he was whining about falling in love with her.   On to the next book...I'm sure it'll be better.

1/5 stars

Gold Rush Bride by Debra Brown

Kate Dennington is an Irish immigrant with a big problem on her hands. She arrives in America expecting to help her father, only to arrive too late and find him dead. Not only that, but she is stuck in a frontier town with no oney, no house and no way home. Her only hope lies in Will Crockett (such a great Western name I think). Will he help her, or will her plans blow away in the wind?

I admire the way Debra Lee Brown really brought the west to life. The situations in the book revolved around problems that really did exist in the "wild wild west". It showed a time where women were though little of, and immigrants even less...and if you were a female immigrant...well you were pretty much nothing. This is not just a romance, but a story of people considered lower for no reasonn but their gender and race, stood up to the status quo and made a change. It wasn't easy, but what was back then? If it had been easy then I would not be giving this book 4 stars.

A book worth reading for the historical part. While there was a definate romance (it is a Harlequin after all), the way I read it almost put the romance as secondary to the story line. There were still sections that were typical of Harlequin romances it seems, or at least the ones I've read recently. But this was definately one of the better ones.

4/5 stars