Book Reviews: Demonica Books 1 through 4

I have very much enjoyed these stories. I just started the fifth story, but I thought I would write quick reviews for the first four and the mini-book. Thank you to Rheana, Jen, and Eli for helping me read all of these and your recommendations. I needed brain candy to distract me and these are fantastic for that.

Pleasure Unbound by Larissa Ione
A wonderful story which I read second. I made a mistake when I borrowed it from a friend. She lent me a book so I read it. I had no idea I had asked for the wrong book. So although I read it second, it was a great book. In Pleasure Unbound, you meet Eidolon, said Eye-duh-lawn, a demon doctor running an underground hospital for paranormal creatures such as himself. We also meet Tayla, a slayer, who's job is to put paranormals like Eidolon into the grave. It's a very fun Romeo and Juliet or Buffy and Spike kind of story. You meet Eidolon's brothers who are just as crazy, grumpy, volatile, and adorable as he is. I just love a big, burly, macho guy who turns into a puddle of goo because of his woman or a cute animal. Eidolon has all of that and more. Tayla is a wonderful sparring partner and I really enjoyed how tough she was and how she handled the brothers.

Desire Unchained by Larissa Ione
Desire Unchained was the book I accidentally read first because I got the names mixed up when I asked to borrow the books. So while I was reading it, my comments are all similar to "What the hell is going on?" But, think about it this way... there were a lot of plot points and world building pieces that have a lot of structure built around Eidolon and so when you read the second book staring his brother Shade, you can see why I was so confused. Shade is a wonderful character. He's gruff and angry, he's been tortured his entire life and when his sister is killed, he just can't cope with the emotional turmoil. He wants to kill or be killed and in walks Runa, a lethal werewolf and ex-girlfriend. Shade wakes up in a dungeon chained up next to his ex, whom the last time she was around, she was a sweet human he had just torn up emotionally. Now he sits beside her, a werewolf, not only is she pissed at him, but they're both very concerned because they're inprisoned by the person who wants them dead and who killed Shade's sister. This was an emotional story, but also very hot. Runa was a great leading lady. She's fierce and gives as good as she gets. I love that in a heroine.

Passion Unleashed by Larissa Ione
Oh, Wraith. Have I mentioned how much I love big ol' bad boys with hearts of gold? Wraith is that guy. He's big and mean and lethal. His life has been horrid, tortured from the moment he was conceived and kept in horrible conditions in such a miserable way. My heart broke hearing him explain his life before his brothers found him. Throughout the story, while Wraith is trying to help/hinder an apocalypse, we learn a little more about Wraith while he is with Serena a blessed human who is charmed with protection because she was chosen by God to protect part of Heaven. Unfortunately for Serena, Wraith needs her dead. I'm sure you can see where we're going. Serena needs to be safe, Wraith needs her dead, angels want to protect her, angels want to kill her,  demons want her dead, demons want her alive, all the while Wraith wants to hate her, but she's practically perfect and gives him a ration of shit that he doesn't want, but loves it. It's a really fun story and the ending is traumatic and shocking, but also awesome. I really liked this one a lot.

Eternity Embraced by Larissa Ione
This is a mini-story surrounding two Guardians or slayers. Andrea and Kaden. Kaden wakes up after a raid on a vampire nest and finds himself in a cell turned into a vampire. Bummer for him since his job is to kill demonspawn like himself now. He tries to figure out a way to help himself when his lover and fellow slayer comes to kill him. They promised each other they'd put the other out of their misery if this situation ever came about... unfortunately, he doesn't want to die, he kind of likes vampy-ness and Andrea doesn't want to kill him because she really loves him even though she promised him that it was just sex between them. Insert awesome, naughty, dirty story here. :)

Ecstasy Unveiled by Larissa Ione
Mmm... Lore. So Wraith is my number one demon, the others all have their greatness. Lore is in the top five :) He's grumpy and grouchy, he acts like everyone owes him a favor and most of all, he wants to keep his sister safe. Yeah, twin sister Sin. Fun name. So Lore feels like he needs a favor and owes favors left and right. This makes him a very complex character. Someone's paid him to kill the Demon brothers' human bestie, Kynan, but Kynan seems to have a guardian angel named Idess following him around and making Lore's hit much more complicated than it should. See where this is going? These are fun stories, but they are kind of predictable. Idess is badass and hot, fiesty and lethal, and pretty funny even though she has quite a chip on her shoulder and a very sturdy chastity belt in place. Lore is a sex demon who desperately needs to save his sister by killing a human who just doesn't seem to want to die. Lots of fun inside!

All of these books are in the vein of Black Dagger Brotherhood and the like. Paranormal elements, romance, erotica, mystery, and thriller elements weave in and out of fun, dark, fast paced stories.  I really enjoyed these stories and they kept my mind busy. I think the best part, beyond the hot lemons and fun action scenes, is that there is a great deal of world building involved and an incredible amount of research and planning that Larissa put into these stories. She's built a demon world, but she's also laced in so many religious tidbits and historical facts that it's almost believable that there are humans running around that are actually demons. If they look and love like the Demon brothers, bring it on :)

I'll review number six, Sin's book, Sin Undone, as soon as I finish. I'm looking forward to learning about the sister no one ever though could exist. She's full of piss and vinegar and that's always nice to see!

Friday Five and a Vlog.

I've been hiding out a lot lately, but I was told I should keep this up, whether I'm happy or sad, I should keep up my blog, so here goes Friday Five this second week of February.

1- It's been a hard few weeks. A lot of upheaval and stress. Work and home life are both very stressful right now, but I'm reading the Demonica series by Larissa Ione which is keeping me fairly sane. Pretty much the only thing right now.

2- The other thing keeping me sane is beta-reading. My two beta clients who've been keeping me busy. Nicole and Michelle, who keep sending me work. Also, my friend Season has sent me her manuscript to beta which I'll be starting this weekend. It's good to work.

3- My husband is leaving soon for basic training, he'll be gone a few days next week for pre-leave meetings, then he'll get his official leave date. Being alone for six months is very scary.

4- Sometimes, it hurts to know you aren't good enough for people you love. I've been struggling with it a lot lately... not being able to keep every one happy as well as myself. I try very hard to do everything and end up with nothing. I'm trying to focus on myself right now, so that's a lot of why I'm not as visible and not posting or reviewing as much. I am going to force myself to write this weekend and write up book reviews for the books I've read over the last two weeks.

5- Today, I took the day off due to a very bad night last night. My night involved raw sewage leaking and men at Walmart screaming at me after I defended a homeless man they were berating. Not a good night.
I was planning on taking the afternoon off any way because it's Love of Reading week and the elementary school I had taught at asked me to come read. Yesterday night gave me an excuse to take an entire day off. My first personal day in two years.
I was trying to figure out what to read to the munchkins, some who are now in third grade I had when I taught Kindergarten! I found this incredible book about Jane Goodall, Me... Jane by Patrick McDonnell of Mutts fame. The kids loved it and we had a good talk about conservation which made me miss teaching so very much.
The best part of the day though, was reading my favorite book Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day by Judith Viorst. I read it four times to four different classes. Many of them were kids I had taught in Primary and they remembered our jokes and our chants. It was perfection. It made me miss teaching and it made me long for parenthood, but it was bittersweet. I love children and I love working with them every day. I may never be able to have my own children, but being with those kids everyday is such a blessing and I am not teaching the little ones right now, but I know I'll go back in some capacity. I just hope it's sooner rather than later.
In honour of my day with the cute ones, I decided to read you all the best cure for a bad day. I hope if you are having a bad day, it helps.
Mom says, some days are just like that... even in Australia.

Vlog a la Julie :)

Here is my vloggy vlog with questions from Julie over at BookHookedBlog! Please beware of cursing, fighting cats, and me looking a hotmess. You get what you get :)

The questions:

1) Show us or tell us about the most valuable book in your collection - either for monetary or sentimental value.

2) What are your literary pet peeves?

3) What is your favorite non-book literary possession?

4) Show us/tell us about where you usually read.

5) Give up a literary confession - something you do that would drive other readers nuts.

6) What book/genre is your guilty pleasure?

7) Describe your biggest fangirl moment relating to books.

8) What book have you reread the most times?

9) How many books do you own?

10) Show us/tell us about how your books are organized.

Do one and post a link to me!

Monday, What are you reading?

Reading is Cool! I don't need to tell you chicks that, and dudes if there are any out there :)

So what am I reading right now?

How gorgeous is that cover?

I just started Camille by Tess Oliver on Sunday, and it's wonderful! I was initially drawn in by the cover, so beautiful! And the title. The name Camille has always been one of my most favorite names of all time.

Camille is a girl in England, I'm guessing it's around the turn of the century but it's never said, but that's my guess. And Camille lives with Dr. Bennett and they hunt werewolves. Already intrigued, no? And one night while they're out a hunting, a boy gets bit while they're trying to save him from a werewolf. Enter Nathaniel Strider, a Scottish rogue with a penchant for thieving and charming. He's naughty and adorable and about to become a werewolf. Unless, a certain young lady and her doctor guardian can decipher her father's journals and save Nathaniel from becoming their next target!

Go get it! It's on Amazon right now for .99! :D

Indie Books Giveaways and Sale! Thanks @attackofthebook!

Saw this and had to share :)

Go check out Indie Books this weekend!

This Labor Day weekend is an ebook lover’s dream come true!

Over 100 authors, over 130 titles, all priced to 99 cents as part of a Labor Day weekend sale to remember.

It is the first annual Indie Book Blowout! 

Book Review: Ransome's Honor by Kay Dacas @kayedacus A fun period story that leaves you wanting more.

What a fun read.

It was a great period fic. Lots of gloves and manners and protocol. It was nearly twenty chapters before there was even a chaste kiss and it was perfect. I really enjoyed all of the characters. I wish we had seen more of William during the beginning of the book, but overall he was a good male protag.

I think Dacus does the era a great justice, keeping historically accurate with the women's rights at that time as well as the culture of post-war England.

I'm actually very much looking forward to reading the next in the series. :) I was disappointed that the book ended so quickly. I really wanted to see more of William and Julia. We spent the entire book waiting for them to get it all figured out and when they finally do and you can see how happy they are.... we're done. So now, I must go in search of the sequel!

I would recommend this to my historical fiction/romance girls. Excellently written and fun too!

Have you seen @mstiefvater's animated book trailer for Scorpio Races?

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=tojCn2Y41ig]

 

I can't wait to read this!

Maggie's giving away doodled ARCs on her site also, go check out Words on Words to see how you can grab one!

 

Book Reviews: TLC by @barbaradelinsky & A Perfect Stranger by Danielle Steele ~ Campin' Reads!

TLC by Barbara Delinsky was an impulse buy when I bought The Stud. One of the best impulse buys ever. I really liked it a lot!

Yes it's a romance novel, but I loved the underlying story. The dynamic, the love-hate relationship between Karen and the male protag, Brice, is quite fun. It has it's emotional parts along with the fun snark and witty banter. You guys know how I love my snark and wit!

TLC is a story about a girl named Karen who is a grad student. We begin the story with her visiting an elderly woman in an assisted living home. At first the assumption is it's a family member but we soon find out that Karen is a woman riddled with guilt and taxing herself so much she falls very, very ill. In walks Dr. Brice... he's cocky, rude, self-righteous, and anti-social.

And it's on! :)

A Perfect Stranger is another Danielle Steele novel. I say it that way because... well, it's just another novel. I didn't fall in love with either of the characters. I felt awfully for Alex the entire length of the story. Raphaella is beaatiful and kind and practically perfect in every way... there are times when your heart jerks for her and you wanna take her home and keep her safe, but then again, there are some times when you just wanna smack the crap out of her! Who at 32 years old would let their father say those things to them? Or let their mother boss them atround in that way??? It's just insane.

The premise was good... lovely girl trapped in a marriage that her family wanted her in, she was swept away at 18 years old, and you just can't handle things when you're super young and overly sheltered. It makes sense she'd go off and marry the guy even if he was 44 years older, I can buy that.

But I was overwhelmed by the first 20 pages of Alex complaining that his wife of two years left him and then we hear more of Raphaela has been practically imprisoned her entire life by the life of luxury and riches and body guards and chauffeurs. It was kind of disconcerting to say the least! Their romance is a lovely one even if it's fraught with drama and angst... although, by the third or fourth ( I lost count ) reconciliation, I was a little over it.Also, there was entirely too much clothing description. It was hard to believe that Alex, a 30-something lawyer would care that his girlfriend is wearing snake skin shoes from Gucci. Even if he lives in San Fran! :)

The ending was sweet, but again, it was lacking. I really wanted more. It was just kind of like, "Okay, and now we're done." And after the huge intro of angsty stuff in the beginning, I really wanted more to go on at  the end.

It wasn't a bad story, but it was a little long for the amount of story you get. I gave it 2.5 stars.

Book Review: The Stud by @BarbaraDelinsky Super fun with super swimmers! :)

So I picked this book up out of guilt. Strange, right? You're curious, yes? You think, "But Becca, you never read books out of pressure!? (see Harry Potter) What on Earth are you speaking of?!"

Okay, see what happend was that a twit on a fic site that I frequent decided to take The Stud and rearrange some things and add new names and call it her original idea. (Insert appalled face here.)

I bought into it. Not okay. Fanfiction is okay because you give credit to the author for being made of awesomesauce and then you play in their wake. You don't take something from someone else and say, "Look at how wicked original and awesome I am!" Like I said, twit. (Insert foot tapping and scowl face here.)

So, chagrinned, I went out in search of this book when I found out that this happened. I looked high and low and  come to find out, it was out of print!

Thankfully, my Shangri La, Bookman's, a book reseller, happened to have one very old copy of it.

I read this bad boy in one sitting. This story grabbed me by the uterus and kept me entertained. That's fairly impressive, I'd say. Yes, this is your typical romance with the heaving bosoms and panting breaths.... but she's an independent businesswoman and he's an Indiana Jones wanna-be!

Here's the summary from GoodReads: Jenna McCue wants a baby and chooses an ideal man to be her sperm donor--but he wants the whole package: sex, love and forever.

How could that NOT be entertaining!? No, seriously, this was a very fun, light read. Great locations, lovely descriptions, some angst, lots of lemon, and witty snark (always a must with me) and overall, it didn't drag or make me wish it would hurry-the-hell-up! I actually enjoyed Jenna and Spencer a lot.

It's nice to see a romance "girl book" that didn't have a wilting laurel kind of girl as the lead. Jenna can take care of her own... she just needs some good swimmers! And I must admit, Spencer is a fun character.

He reminded me of Michael Douglas' character in Romancing the Stone.

And I think Jenna is a touch of Diane Keaton from Baby Boom.

Yes, I'm a child of the Eighties... don't judge me!

Overall, this was a great fluffy beach/lake read. I would recommend to anyone who is looking for something a lil' smutty and squishy with just the right amount of "Awww!"

Great giveaway for @naturallysteph's Lola and Anna!

Go check it out and tell thenerdswife I send you! :D
http://www.stumbleupon.com/su/1RGHbj/thenerdswife.com/2011/07/stephanie-perkins-signing-and-giveaway.html

You could win this:



or this:



:D

Book Review: Forever by Maggie Stiefvater @mstiefvater (Yeah, my lip is still quivering.)

It hurts.
Maggie made me cry. A lot. This book took a lot out of me. A lot! I think I cried four times while reading it and before you ask, no, I'm NOT PMSing!

The way Maggie writes is poetry, not just when she's quoting poetry from Rilke or when Sam is singing. She writes fluidly.

There are scenes in this book invovling pain, abuse, and death, but it's poetic. The beauty of poetry is that it can show you angry, painful, hate-feuled words but they roll off your tongue and swirl around you creating an image.

Something can be awful, but beautiful. And beauty isn't always clean lines and soft colors. Sometimes it's wolves locked in a struggle for dominance, sometimes it's parents who love but don't know how to show that love, sometimes it's choosing life even if you have to give your own life for that of another's.
Maggie shows us this in Forever. Life is all about choices, minutes, moments. Sometimes you make the right step, sometimes you screw it all up. Sam, Grace, Isabel, Cole, Beck, Tom Culpepper, The Brisbanes, even Shelby... they're all integral, whether loved or hated, whether large or small, they all mattered.

Sam Roth will always be one of my favorite book boyfriends. Maggie makes dreamy lovely boys who are filled with love and self doubt and kindness. Imperfectly perfect. You guys know that's my favorite.The shower scene I think was one of my most favorite scenes in this book because it reminded me so much of how my husband and I react to each other. Something I love about Sam and Grace is how real they are even though they're in this incredible, ridiculous, fictional clusterfuck. They take a moment when most of us would be curled into the fetal position crying and gave it humor and adorable-ness. She really does a great job of balancing the "WTF?" with the "Aw!" That's why I love Maggie so much!

Maggie built us a world. It started with Shiver and I promise you it doesn't end with Forever. Her world makes me happy and sad, wistful and kind of whiney. I hated turning that last page.

I will admit that I did skip ahead a few times trying to get to Grace and Sam. They just mean so much to me and I wish we could know more about them, now if they're safe, happy, together.

I'm going to refuse to believe anything less than that.

Book Review: The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by @michellehodkin I came, I read, I cried, I laughed, I recommend.

I love this book. Most of you who've followed me for a while know that I read this while I was betaing Mara for Michelle. I read this story so many times, I have parts of it memorized. One scene in particular, I won't mention it, but it still makes me all swoony-giggly-blushy. Yeah... I know. You'll know what I'm talkin' about when you read it. ;)

It is truly an intriguing, emotional, heart-thumping, complicated tale.

Our main character Mara is distressed, but she's no damsel looking for a white knight. Noah is gallant, but he's not sporting any shining armour.

Mara is my love. She is tough, smart, feisty, and will put you in your place, in more ways than one.

Noah will make you swoon. He's smart, snarky, sexy, and foreign.

Aren't those the requirements for a heartthrob? Give him a brain, a body, and a British accent and he's golden, yea?

I will brag about Michelle because she's my friend and I love her... I will brag about Mara because it's a damn fine story with suspense and pain, heart and humor.

This is a fantasy paranormal YA thriller and I hope you'll put it on your list. It's gonna freak you the hell out and you'll love it. Go check out www.michellehodkin.com to find out more about my girl Michelle.

Book Review: Linger by @mstiefvater She made me cry!

Oh, Maggie. The ending of this just killed me. I knew it was coming, but it didn't make it hurt any less.

I was so wowed, I immediately started reading Forever as soon as the ARC showed up, but Linger is still stuck in my head!

The constantly changing points of view were difficult, I found myself craving Sam and Grace, but Isabel and Cole are interesting to add to the mix. I just love Sam so much. And Grace is such a fantastic female lead. I guess I'm just attached to them.

As always, Maggie has taken us into a world we could never comprehend and made it simple and ours. You sympathize with Grace's need to be a part of something and her craving for Sam and his security and love. You can familiarize with Sam's desires for loving and protecting Grace, but his need to remain loyal to Beck and his pack. Also with Sam's reticence to be an alpha, to be the boss... when you're young you might crave adulthood, but when you're the one every one is turning to for guidance, it would be nice to shirk responsibility rather than be the one to blame when it all falls to pot. I just wanted to hug Sam and tell him everything was going to be okay, even if I knew it wouldn't be. I wish I could keep Grace and Sam in my pocket and make everything better for them... make them a perfect world where they can have it all.

It's a modern day Romeo and Juliet only instead of Montagues and Capulets we have naive human and wild wolf shifters. Both, just like in R+J, have their selfish desires and self preservation in their core, but both can be beautiful as well. This is what I love about Maggie's writing... she shows us the good with the bad, the feral with the humanity, the pleasure wrapped in the pain, the kindness hidden beneath the fear. It's beautiful.

I wanna be Maggie Stiefvater when I grow up.

Blog Hop Delight Giveaway! Signed copy of Evermore by @AlysonNoel Pls RT!

Looky what I got!

Not the hot girl, her book :)

I snagged this while I was at the Los Angeles Times Festival of books with some of my fellow nerdbloggers:

That's me, Crystal, and Angel.

Yeah, we're hangin' with dinosaurs. This is what happens when nerds don't have books.

Here's Tameka, Jess, Crystal, me, and Angel after meeting Alyson and Lisa McMann, too.

We also go hunting for John Green...

I met some amazing authors and they signed some of my books. Alyson signed this book just for YOU!

Would you like to win a signed copy of Evermore by Alyson Noel?

Comment below, you'll be entered once. If you retweet this on twitter w/ my @BooknerdBecca attached, you'll be entered twice! And if you follow my blog, you'll be entered yet again!

For each entry your name will be placed into this man's hat.

And he and the cute dog, shall pick out a winner :)

Bella's wicked excited! So get on down to the comment button!

<3

BnB

&

Go check out the others!

Book Review: Sean Griswold's Head by @lindseyleavitt Two thumbs up! Good thinkin' too!

This was a good story. Better than good... it was real. I'm not sure if that will make sense, but it's a real, good, fun story.
I kept forgetting to write my review and I found several hours of sitting in ICU gave me some time to reflect on things I hadn't taken care of like this.

Sean Griswold's Head is a great story for many... it would be a great talking point for the young ones. A great way to bring up tough topics like diseases and mortality, things that younger folks don't really contemplate at all until they're faced with it.

Now that I've been sitting in an ICU hospital room with my mom, I think I appreciate Lindsey's book even more.

When I first started reading I thought it had a good Sloppy Firsts kind of vibe, I loved the language and slang, the quick pace, all of it meshed well together. Now that it's been a bit and I'm staring at tubes and talking to nurses and smelling that disgusting over-clean smell, it makes you really think and take stock.

Just like Payton, many of us, myself included, kind of just take stuff for granted... you assume it's all well and good when no one tells you it is not well and good.

Naivete can be a good thing, but it can also be not at all good. Payton comes to this realization, but she kind of has to hit every branch as she falls out of the Real Life Sucks Tree.

I was completely head over heels for Sean.. he's a good male protag. He reminds me of the perfect sitcom boyfriend. I also loved the sarcasm. Snark is hot people. Payton and Sean have a fun dynamic.

I wasn't thrilled with Jac, the BFF, she was a little much for me. There were a few times I would've tied her by her braids to the Real Life Sucks Tree and whacked her with a wiffle bat or something, but that's okay... we all have a friend like that right?
Some of the topics in SGH can be tough to get into, but it's done so well. It can really make you think though. At least it did for me.

Lindsey did, yet again, a great job making real-life fiction fun and also a learning moment. It's nice to be entertained and get a good message. Very after-school special minus the gross outfits and poor acting. :D

I highly recommend and can't wait for more from Lindsey.

Wildfire ARC Giveaway by fellow book blogger @CValdezMiller

Go check out her beautiful blog and you can enter to win an ARC of Wildfire by Karsten Knight.

Yes, I am shamelessly plugging not only to get Carolina more traffic, but I kinda want this ARC :D Double dipping yea?

Carolina's Book Blog

Tell her I sent you !

Here's the summary of Wildfire:

Summary: Ashline Wilde is having a rough sophomore year. She’s struggling to find her place as the only Polynesian girl in school, her boyfriend just cheated on her, and now her runaway sister, Eve, has decided to barge back into her life. When Eve’s violent behavior escalates and she does the unthinkable, Ash transfers to a remote private school nestled in California’s redwoods, hoping to put the tragedy behind her. But her fresh start at Blackwood Academy doesn’t go as planned. Just as Ash is beginning to enjoy the perks of her new school—being captain of the tennis team, a steamy romance with a hot, local park ranger—Ash discovers that a group of gods and goddesses have mysteriously enrolled at Blackwood…and she’s one of them. To make matters worse, Eve has resurfaced to haunt Ash, and she’s got some strange abilities of her own. With a war between the gods looming over campus, Ash must master the new fire smoldering within before she clashes with her sister one more time… And when warm and cold fronts collide, there’s guaranteed to be a storm.

Sounds like a winner <3 And you gotta love a hot park ranger yes? :)

The Scorpio Races by @mstiefvater A lil' sneaky peek!

Maggie was awesome enough to share the prologue to her new book The Scorpio Races. If you've not had a chance to peruse, please do so here.

I have to say I was sucked right in! As always Maggie creates a little nook in the world that makes you wanna go see what's happening... very voyeuristic but not... I mean, we're invited to look, so it's not dirty.

Everyone knows I would read a remake of the dictionary if Maggie told me to do so, but honestly, I was a little worried when she told us about the premise of TSR. Flesh eating pony, what?

I'm all ready ready already. Let's bring on the freaky ass horses and the brave/stupid people who ride them! I'm freaked out and intrigued and I know it's gonna be awesome :)

Bring it, Maggie!

PS- if you haven't seen this vid of the "Sharpie Guitar" go check it -

I'd like to know 1- can I have this? 2- was the bottom of your hand black when you finished? :D

Book Review: The Claiming of Sleeping Beauty by A.N. Roquelaure aka @AnneRiceAuthor

The Claiming of Sleeping Beauty was a lovely shock to the system for me. It was phenomenally written by a psuedonymed Anne Rice.

A beautiful languid, lovely prose all the while describing harsh, violent, erotic scenes. Sometimes I was reading, mouth agape. Other times I realized I was curled up in a ball, tucked all up as I read. All the while I was eager to read, eager to learn more of Beauty's journey or if her prince would be redeemed. I was wanton to know how, or even if, Beauty and her counterparts would rebel or escape, but then again, her alternatives were nothing. It was exciting and heartbreaking all at the same time.

You feel sad for Beauty, but then again you want her to keep going and be strong and prevail. I found myself thinking of things for her to do, how to escape her enslavement to the prince who freed her.

It's such a dichotomy. Freedom from sleep only to be bound in slavery. At what cost can you find true freedom?

Our Beauty is a spoiled, rich girl, idle and bored, although she loves her family and is always the epitome of well-bred princess. But then she's awakened after a hundred years of sleep and taken from everything she's ever known, enslaved by a prince and his mother, the queen, and kept in a violent atmosphere of debauchery and pain, pleasure and gluttony.

I was fascinated by the story beyond the obvious "erotic adventure" as the book touts on the cover.

Age old question... what is freedom? Am I to describe someone else's freedom? Should it be my version of freedom or theirs? Who's is right? If our Beauty and the other Prince and Princess slaves find freedom within their pain and captivity, through the actions and commands of others, is it still freedom?

Also, what is too much? My limits may be different from your limits? How do you know until you push past them and realize you've gone too far? This is what Beauty begins to learn.

At the end of the first book, you are left asking, "But what happens next?" and I eagerly picked up the second "Beauty's Punishment."

Now we find out what Beauty is really made of now that she's been ripped away from her captor prince and thrust into the village.

If you want to push your limits and really read a gorgeously written tale, I highly recommend The Claiming of Sleeping Beauty.
Not for the faint of heart.

Book Review: ARC of Tangled Past by Leah Braemel @LeahBraemel

I was interested in this story mainly due to it's poly relationship premise. I enjoy historical romances, but I don't always get into Westerns, this was a different kind of Western though. Although there were the fun cattle rustling, horse riding, dirty varment kind of stuff within the pages that you'd hope for within a Western Romance novel, Tangled Past also has an intricately woven romance story line that you normally don't see. It is unique and very well thought out.

Yes, it is a romance. There are flowery prose and professings of love, but there are two male main characters and they are vying for the love of our female lead, Sarah. They are also vying for each other as well as Sarah.

Jackson is rough edged and abrupt, but he's honest and loyal.

Nate is kind and sweet, but earnest and passionate.

I couldn't help but fall in love with both of them right along with our tough Sarah.

Sarah's life hasn't been easy and even though her tale is very realistic for this time period and sometimes hard to read about, you come to find her strength and drive very enduring and attractive. Nothing ruins a romance more in my opinion than a "wilting flower" as Miss Martha calls them, the wise sage in Tangled Past.

Leah does a lovely job of creating three distinct characters that bring three distinct pieces together into a beautiful relationship. Their connection reminded me of a symbol I have tattooed on my back, the Trinity Heart Celtic Knot. Where one piece ends, another begins so there is truly no end. I would have loved to have been able to read more, especially later in the story.

I did find several type errors that brought me out of the story a few times, but that's the beta in me. I'd love to give this story a once over before it's published to make sure it is grammatically correct and reads smoothly. This story is quite enjoyable and deserves to sparkle.

I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys historical romances, especially of the Western variety. I'm sure it's not easy setting this balance that you find in Tangled Past. Leah handles polygamy with care and it's not only emotional but beautiful and erotic. I would definitely like to read something from Leah again.

Thank you again to Carina Press for allowing me to preread their ARCs. I very much appreciate being given these opportunities!

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