Pushing her Boundaries
Mmmm mmmm mmmm! Is all I can say for the book “Pushing Her Boundaries”. DAYUM!! A very exciting, intoxicating and erotic quick read, you will love every minute of it!! You can check out my review at http://thetbrpile.weebly.com/reviews.html and enter for you chance to win a E-Copy of Julia Barrett’s Pushing Her Boundaries!!!
Breathless Nights Interview with Keith and Virginia
The two individuals that I interviewed, I just have to say I was laughing my ass off the ENTIRE TIME. Very funny, very synced, and highly energetic. As co-authors of the website www.breathlessnights.com and collaborators on a few novels, I, Harley am overjoyed to introduce everyone to Virginia and Keith!!
Harley: How was it that the two of you came to be co-authors for your Breathless Night website and the collaborations all of us get to enjoy and read?
Virginia: We met on Arena. Keith had some rather nice erotic writing on his profile and I commented on it.
Keith: And we started with very short, non-erotic exchanges on her wall. Mostly fantasy/poetic stuff
Virginia: That was at a time when you could have status messages up. Then Keith started the first erotic story.
Keith: I think the pool boy was the first…first day of summer…but it started slowly.
Virginia: And we only wrote about 100 words or so each to start with. But the writings got more erotic and the passages got longer. And then we started on proper short stories
Keith: From about 50 word posts to 1000+ word posts.
Virginia: And it was in about September that Keith came up with the idea of the site.
Harley: When writing with each other do you find it difficult to write together on one piece or are there times when you agree to disagree?
Virginia: Most of the time we sort of know what each other is going to write
Keith: Wait? She has been telling me she is right all along, am I allowed to disagree?
Virginia: Hahaha. Noooo…You are not!!!
Keith: LOL. No, it depends…when we are writing something short, it usually doesn’t matter much. We just adjust accordingly.
Virginia: We are really quite in tune with each other’s writing and have a good idea what each other would like.
Keith: We don’t always agree, but we always find a way to make it work. We are both comfortable saying “Hey, you need to change that”.
Virginia: Yes we are.
Keith: But that took some trust…just like editing, we edit much of our stuff together.
Virginia: And we do not take offence at any criticism from each other…
Keith: It takes trust not to be hurt when the other wants to change a sentence or paragraph or chapter!
Harley: On your website there are sections of both of your guys’ poetry, did either of you have any influence that introduced you into reading and also writing in this genre?
Keith: Well, for me, I have done some poetry since high school. But it is mostly born out of emotion. My first poem about the space shuttle that exploded, I have done others about family and friends but I have started to try to pull the emotions more in the last year or two, sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t. But I do enjoy the poetry, maybe more than writing sometimes. Nothing that I can say really influenced me more than just a raw expression of emotion…when its right it comes out like a hose.
Virginia: I have not done much poetry, got into it in high school, thanks to a wonderful ‘English’ English teacher…started only again a couple of years ago, I have reams of poetry that is not on the site….but I am mostly into American Indian themes…
Harley: American Indian themes? Any particular reason?
Virginia: Yes, just something that happened in my past to influence me…many moons ago…
Keith: She and I both seem to have this spiritual side that we both feed on. It’s certainly something we have in common.
Virginia: Yes it is. Tantric showed that.
Harley: While trying to get thoughts out of your head, do you use a certain scent, music or picture to help inspire you from beginning to end?
Keith: Oh no, you unleashed the beast with picture talk!
Virginia: Excellent! The novel we are writing, there is only one picture that I have in my head.
Keith: I like music. I nearly always have something on while I am working, either writing or work. Jazz, new age, fusion, electro, house, DMB, etc…
Virginia: Yes I do too….mostly opera and a little jazz and blues.
Keith: I find personally my “visual” is more a feeling…I like to get the scene in my head in an experiential way…
Virginia: Yes I tend to agree….A lot of our joint writings; the feelings come from the last persons post…you get some idea as to what they are feeling and it just comes pouring out.
Keith: Yes, in some ways it’s harder to write together, but in some it’s easier…you can feed off the energy of the last post. Often we write each other into a “pickle” so to speak…makes it fun (sometimes hard) to get out of
Virginia: Oooh yes. Now those are fun stories we leave a real twist for each other to figure out…makes us think.
Harley: Now I read on your site “An RP a Day Keeps the Boredom Away”. As you say you both write each other into a rock and a hard place so to speak do either of you actually RP on any social sites?
Keith: So, for me…I don’t do the RP’s.
Virginia: The only RP really is the writings we have done….with Curse of the Crocodile and Girls Just Wanna Have Fun. I flirt like mad. But do not RP. Do not have the time.
Keith: We have done some…but I find the really short ones not to be too much fun.
Harley: Is it just an aspect you have tried and didn’t like or for other reasons?
Virginia: I prefer…I think Keith is the same, to have a decent length post. I hate one liner’s.
Keith: for me at least, the short exchanges are a bit too much like just trying to have virtual sex and not very interesting to me.
Virginia: There is no feeling there.
Harley: The more detailed the post the better.
Virginia: Yes…and the longer the better
Keith: And, I think we have both found, people tend to get emotional when doing things like that
Virginia: Yes it can cause problems.
Keith: We like to keep it to writing as opposed to having virtual sex.
Virginia: and that is something we both steer away from
Keith: Even if it still gets you hot as hell
Harley: When an idea “sparks”, is the old “pen to paper” method more your style or do you fire the computer up and start typing away?
Keith: Almost never pen and paper…I can’t read my own writing!
Virginia: All three…including a little recorder I carry everywhere.
Keith: I have typed things into notes on my iphone or even recorded short voice memos.
Virginia: Yes I do that. But mostly just leap onto a keyboard.
Harley: Ok so with the novel you both are working on is there any deets you can share to get us all revved up waiting for the release date?
Keith: ruh roh
Virginia: Hehehe
Keith: hum…
Virginia: Yes indeed…Hum…Not really. Except to say it’s highly erotic…Great story line…
Keith: Actually…I would say, for the stuff we have done…while it is erotic…it is really a great story and NOT especially erotic.
Virginia: No it’s not an erotic novel but has got quite a few extremely good scenes.
Keith: It’s a novel, that has a number of very erotic scenes, some funny, some sexy, and some very serious.
Harley: It has the theme of the exoticness but the book is not solely based on sex.
Keith: No, the book is NOT based on sex the characters are over sexed and they deal with the stress by having…or trying to have sex.
Virginia: Well she has a lot.
Keith: We are about 15 chapters into it. It might make a better movie than book…we will see.
Harley: Have you guys already been talking with publishers or are you thinking of self publishing?
Keith: Truth told we have 2-3 other novel started…
Virginia: Yes already discussed with publishers…and with movie director…Yes we do. One which is about 8 chapters done and one which is just started
Harley: Are we looking forward to a release date in the near future?
Keith: Eventually…sooner than 2014. I hope this year…we will see.
Virginia: None of the “we will see”…This year…..for def!!!
Keith: Yes, we do other things in between to keep the juices flowing so to speak
Virgina: Oh we plan on keeping you entertained…
Keith: Harley, What is your fav bit of either mine, hers or ours you have read?
Harley: Actually to tell you the truth I LOVED the bit on the RP collaboration you have on the site. Just because as an RP-er myself I felt that it spoke the truth about what actually happens in the world of RP. Also I just read Releasing Tension. Yeah let’s just say I had some good dreams the night I read it!!!
Virginia: LOL
Keith: LOL! Great!
Virginia: The RP was a good idea
Keith: We enjoy doing RPs if we have the right chemistry and the posts are longer…and need to find the time.
Virginia: Haha…yes indeed
Harley: Within the vast aspects in the erotic genre, do either of you prefer to write along specific guidelines or is it “no holds barred”, whatever comes to mind you will write about?
Virginia: Usually the restrictions though are due to the restrictions people try to put on others. No holds barred.
Keith: Well…be careful with that statement… As humans, we have things we don’t like and won’t do…we respect each other on that…but our boundaries are very broad.
Virginia: But then we know each other’s likes and dislikes and stay within those guide lines.
Keith: And we have experimented along many of them. Actually…the one we are working on now…we call it “Kinky” but it’s Ariana’s falls from grace on BN…That well let’s say push one of our boundaries…
Harley: When I was looking through Breathless Nights website a thought struck me. Most people like to keep their inner most sexiest and naughtier thoughts locked away in either their head or a journal. Do either of you have those very thoughts only to keep them to yourselves or do us lucky fans of your erotic website get to see what drives you to write your stories?
Virginia: Mine just comes pouring out….I guess ….
Keith: Well, if you read releasing tension…that is about as personal as it gets. But I will say I have kinky thoughts that I don’t write about…but not many.
Virginia: I have kinky thoughts and usually write about most of it…there is not much I have not covered in my own novel.
Harley: Now I know that we have touched on this topic earlier but would there be any advice you can give other writers who are also collaborating an erotic piece on how to keep it more on a “professional” level versus allowing the emotions to take over the piece at hand?
Keith: I think emotions taking over a piece of work is not the real issue, it is the relationship between the writers.
Virginia: Well emotions are a piece of work.
Keith: I think mutual respect is the key.
Virginia: Yes…I agree….
Keith: Also, very clear communication of expectations and agreements. And when things are not going right, communication of issues and open problems. Also, giving each other a bit of space when needed, but also pulling for communication when required…and the key is knowing the difference. As with any relationship…you will never succeed without communication and respect… Maturity… I have seen so much drama just because of immature people…greed, needy, wanting people…Just need to have a certain level of maturity about the whole relationship.
Virginia: I think you covered that nicely.
Harley: I will tell you guys I know of a lot of people who would envy the relationship you both have!! The dynamics with both of your personalities are just amazing to say the least!!
Keith: Thank you. She is a blessing.
Virginia: So is he…
Keith: Thank you
Virginia: No thank you! Keith is an extraordinary guy….he is kind and patient, and needs to be with me…but has stuck with me and my spelling issues….
Keith: It keeps us chuckling…
If you are not a follower and or a fan of Keith and Virginia’s websitewww.breathlessnights.com I highly encourage you to sign up ASAP! Get your asses movin to their site right now! Their collaborated stories will have you “breathless” and needing more! Not to mention if you are as excited about their novels as I am, you will know exactly when and where you can purchase your very own copy as soon as they post it. I’m sure if you ask pretty please, with whipped cream and cherries they would give you all the deets on where to send your copies to get autographed! ~Wiggles brows~
A very, very special thank you goes out to Keith and Virginia for allowing me the time to do this interview!! I had an incredible time!! I can’t think of anyone else I would have rather interviewed!! Much love to you both and good luck with all of your future endeavors!!
Harley: How was it that the two of you came to be co-authors for your Breathless Night website and the collaborations all of us get to enjoy and read?
Virginia: We met on Arena. Keith had some rather nice erotic writing on his profile and I commented on it.
Keith: And we started with very short, non-erotic exchanges on her wall. Mostly fantasy/poetic stuff
Virginia: That was at a time when you could have status messages up. Then Keith started the first erotic story.
Keith: I think the pool boy was the first…first day of summer…but it started slowly.
Virginia: And we only wrote about 100 words or so each to start with. But the writings got more erotic and the passages got longer. And then we started on proper short stories
Keith: From about 50 word posts to 1000+ word posts.
Virginia: And it was in about September that Keith came up with the idea of the site.
Harley: When writing with each other do you find it difficult to write together on one piece or are there times when you agree to disagree?
Virginia: Most of the time we sort of know what each other is going to write
Keith: Wait? She has been telling me she is right all along, am I allowed to disagree?
Virginia: Hahaha. Noooo…You are not!!!
Keith: LOL. No, it depends…when we are writing something short, it usually doesn’t matter much. We just adjust accordingly.
Virginia: We are really quite in tune with each other’s writing and have a good idea what each other would like.
Keith: We don’t always agree, but we always find a way to make it work. We are both comfortable saying “Hey, you need to change that”.
Virginia: Yes we are.
Keith: But that took some trust…just like editing, we edit much of our stuff together.
Virginia: And we do not take offence at any criticism from each other…
Keith: It takes trust not to be hurt when the other wants to change a sentence or paragraph or chapter!
Harley: On your website there are sections of both of your guys’ poetry, did either of you have any influence that introduced you into reading and also writing in this genre?
Keith: Well, for me, I have done some poetry since high school. But it is mostly born out of emotion. My first poem about the space shuttle that exploded, I have done others about family and friends but I have started to try to pull the emotions more in the last year or two, sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t. But I do enjoy the poetry, maybe more than writing sometimes. Nothing that I can say really influenced me more than just a raw expression of emotion…when its right it comes out like a hose.
Virginia: I have not done much poetry, got into it in high school, thanks to a wonderful ‘English’ English teacher…started only again a couple of years ago, I have reams of poetry that is not on the site….but I am mostly into American Indian themes…
Harley: American Indian themes? Any particular reason?
Virginia: Yes, just something that happened in my past to influence me…many moons ago…
Keith: She and I both seem to have this spiritual side that we both feed on. It’s certainly something we have in common.
Virginia: Yes it is. Tantric showed that.
Harley: While trying to get thoughts out of your head, do you use a certain scent, music or picture to help inspire you from beginning to end?
Keith: Oh no, you unleashed the beast with picture talk!
Virginia: Excellent! The novel we are writing, there is only one picture that I have in my head.
Keith: I like music. I nearly always have something on while I am working, either writing or work. Jazz, new age, fusion, electro, house, DMB, etc…
Virginia: Yes I do too….mostly opera and a little jazz and blues.
Keith: I find personally my “visual” is more a feeling…I like to get the scene in my head in an experiential way…
Virginia: Yes I tend to agree….A lot of our joint writings; the feelings come from the last persons post…you get some idea as to what they are feeling and it just comes pouring out.
Keith: Yes, in some ways it’s harder to write together, but in some it’s easier…you can feed off the energy of the last post. Often we write each other into a “pickle” so to speak…makes it fun (sometimes hard) to get out of
Virginia: Oooh yes. Now those are fun stories we leave a real twist for each other to figure out…makes us think.
Harley: Now I read on your site “An RP a Day Keeps the Boredom Away”. As you say you both write each other into a rock and a hard place so to speak do either of you actually RP on any social sites?
Keith: So, for me…I don’t do the RP’s.
Virginia: The only RP really is the writings we have done….with Curse of the Crocodile and Girls Just Wanna Have Fun. I flirt like mad. But do not RP. Do not have the time.
Keith: We have done some…but I find the really short ones not to be too much fun.
Harley: Is it just an aspect you have tried and didn’t like or for other reasons?
Virginia: I prefer…I think Keith is the same, to have a decent length post. I hate one liner’s.
Keith: for me at least, the short exchanges are a bit too much like just trying to have virtual sex and not very interesting to me.
Virginia: There is no feeling there.
Harley: The more detailed the post the better.
Virginia: Yes…and the longer the better
Keith: And, I think we have both found, people tend to get emotional when doing things like that
Virginia: Yes it can cause problems.
Keith: We like to keep it to writing as opposed to having virtual sex.
Virginia: and that is something we both steer away from
Keith: Even if it still gets you hot as hell
Harley: When an idea “sparks”, is the old “pen to paper” method more your style or do you fire the computer up and start typing away?
Keith: Almost never pen and paper…I can’t read my own writing!
Virginia: All three…including a little recorder I carry everywhere.
Keith: I have typed things into notes on my iphone or even recorded short voice memos.
Virginia: Yes I do that. But mostly just leap onto a keyboard.
Harley: Ok so with the novel you both are working on is there any deets you can share to get us all revved up waiting for the release date?
Keith: ruh roh
Virginia: Hehehe
Keith: hum…
Virginia: Yes indeed…Hum…Not really. Except to say it’s highly erotic…Great story line…
Keith: Actually…I would say, for the stuff we have done…while it is erotic…it is really a great story and NOT especially erotic.
Virginia: No it’s not an erotic novel but has got quite a few extremely good scenes.
Keith: It’s a novel, that has a number of very erotic scenes, some funny, some sexy, and some very serious.
Harley: It has the theme of the exoticness but the book is not solely based on sex.
Keith: No, the book is NOT based on sex the characters are over sexed and they deal with the stress by having…or trying to have sex.
Virginia: Well she has a lot.
Keith: We are about 15 chapters into it. It might make a better movie than book…we will see.
Harley: Have you guys already been talking with publishers or are you thinking of self publishing?
Keith: Truth told we have 2-3 other novel started…
Virginia: Yes already discussed with publishers…and with movie director…Yes we do. One which is about 8 chapters done and one which is just started
Harley: Are we looking forward to a release date in the near future?
Keith: Eventually…sooner than 2014. I hope this year…we will see.
Virginia: None of the “we will see”…This year…..for def!!!
Keith: Yes, we do other things in between to keep the juices flowing so to speak
Virgina: Oh we plan on keeping you entertained…
Keith: Harley, What is your fav bit of either mine, hers or ours you have read?
Harley: Actually to tell you the truth I LOVED the bit on the RP collaboration you have on the site. Just because as an RP-er myself I felt that it spoke the truth about what actually happens in the world of RP. Also I just read Releasing Tension. Yeah let’s just say I had some good dreams the night I read it!!!
Virginia: LOL
Keith: LOL! Great!
Virginia: The RP was a good idea
Keith: We enjoy doing RPs if we have the right chemistry and the posts are longer…and need to find the time.
Virginia: Haha…yes indeed
Harley: Within the vast aspects in the erotic genre, do either of you prefer to write along specific guidelines or is it “no holds barred”, whatever comes to mind you will write about?
Virginia: Usually the restrictions though are due to the restrictions people try to put on others. No holds barred.
Keith: Well…be careful with that statement… As humans, we have things we don’t like and won’t do…we respect each other on that…but our boundaries are very broad.
Virginia: But then we know each other’s likes and dislikes and stay within those guide lines.
Keith: And we have experimented along many of them. Actually…the one we are working on now…we call it “Kinky” but it’s Ariana’s falls from grace on BN…That well let’s say push one of our boundaries…
Harley: When I was looking through Breathless Nights website a thought struck me. Most people like to keep their inner most sexiest and naughtier thoughts locked away in either their head or a journal. Do either of you have those very thoughts only to keep them to yourselves or do us lucky fans of your erotic website get to see what drives you to write your stories?
Virginia: Mine just comes pouring out….I guess ….
Keith: Well, if you read releasing tension…that is about as personal as it gets. But I will say I have kinky thoughts that I don’t write about…but not many.
Virginia: I have kinky thoughts and usually write about most of it…there is not much I have not covered in my own novel.
Harley: Now I know that we have touched on this topic earlier but would there be any advice you can give other writers who are also collaborating an erotic piece on how to keep it more on a “professional” level versus allowing the emotions to take over the piece at hand?
Keith: I think emotions taking over a piece of work is not the real issue, it is the relationship between the writers.
Virginia: Well emotions are a piece of work.
Keith: I think mutual respect is the key.
Virginia: Yes…I agree….
Keith: Also, very clear communication of expectations and agreements. And when things are not going right, communication of issues and open problems. Also, giving each other a bit of space when needed, but also pulling for communication when required…and the key is knowing the difference. As with any relationship…you will never succeed without communication and respect… Maturity… I have seen so much drama just because of immature people…greed, needy, wanting people…Just need to have a certain level of maturity about the whole relationship.
Virginia: I think you covered that nicely.
Harley: I will tell you guys I know of a lot of people who would envy the relationship you both have!! The dynamics with both of your personalities are just amazing to say the least!!
Keith: Thank you. She is a blessing.
Virginia: So is he…
Keith: Thank you
Virginia: No thank you! Keith is an extraordinary guy….he is kind and patient, and needs to be with me…but has stuck with me and my spelling issues….
Keith: It keeps us chuckling…
If you are not a follower and or a fan of Keith and Virginia’s websitewww.breathlessnights.com I highly encourage you to sign up ASAP! Get your asses movin to their site right now! Their collaborated stories will have you “breathless” and needing more! Not to mention if you are as excited about their novels as I am, you will know exactly when and where you can purchase your very own copy as soon as they post it. I’m sure if you ask pretty please, with whipped cream and cherries they would give you all the deets on where to send your copies to get autographed! ~Wiggles brows~
A very, very special thank you goes out to Keith and Virginia for allowing me the time to do this interview!! I had an incredible time!! I can’t think of anyone else I would have rather interviewed!! Much love to you both and good luck with all of your future endeavors!!
The Lottery
~Grins~ Well if that wasnt a stupid question right? OF COURSE you want to win a free E-Copy of The Lottery, written by Alexandra O’Hurley. Let me tell you guys somethin. I reviewed this book (you can check the review out at the link below) and holy mother of Zeus the heat rating was off the charts! Now what in the hell are you all waiting for go to the link, read the review and get your name in the proverbial hat for your chance to win!!!!
http://thetbrpile.weebly.com/reviews.html
http://thetbrpile.weebly.com/reviews.html
Lover Unleashed
Title: Lover Unleashed
Author: JR Ward
Publisher: New American Library, a division of Penguin Group(USA) Inc.
Price: $27.95 at Borders
ISBN-10: 0451233166
ISBN-13: 978-451-23316-5
Review done by: Harley
“Payne, twin sister of Vishous, is cut from the same dark, warrior cloth as her brother: A fighter by nature, and a maverick when it comes to the traditional role of Chosen females, there is no place for her on the Far Side… and no role for her on the front lines of the war, either.
When she suffers a paralyzing injury, human surgeon Dr. Manuel Manello is called in to treat her as only he can- and he soon gets sucked into her dangerous, secret world. Although he never before believed in things that go bump in the night- like vampires- he finds himself more than willing to be seduced by the powerful female who marks both his body and his soul.
As the two find so much more than an erotic connection, the human and vampire worlds collide … just as a centuries old score catches up with Payne and puts both her love and her life in deadly jeopardy.”
~Takes a deep breath~ Hello to all in the PNR, Urban and Erotica realms. It is such a pleasure of mine to actually be doing a book review on the woman that I hold in “Goddess” status. JR Ward is the ultimate writer (as far as I’m concerned) when it comes to taking a person out of their own reality and not only putting but allowing others to be a part of hers. Two years ago when I picked up the Blackdagger Brotherhood series I was like yep it’s gonna be just like any of the other vampire series’ that I have read. Boy howdy was I ever so wrong about that. As I know this is a review on Lover Unleashed, I am going to give a little back story as well.
Picking up Dark Lover I was blown away at the detail and surreal like way Ward introduced the Brothers and their enemies, the Lessers, as she saw them in her mind. I literally ate up the whole series (at this point it ended with Phury’s book) within a matter of two weeks. To most that doesn’t mean anything. But when you read six books in a matter of a couple of weeks it means to those of us who are so in love with the Brothers that we are addicts. I am a proud cellie when I say there was not a day that I wasn’t late for work, skipped out on birthdays and outings just because no one could pry the books out of my hands. If they even tried I literally growled and chomped my mouth at them letting them know they will get bitten by a rabid, Brother hungry woman and that they risked the chance of losing a limb.
Now with blowing through the Brotherhood series as I did I was in much anticipation for Wards next masterpiece. In the waiting period of a year I had read the series over six times, (yes I know I need help). I can at least admit that I have a BDB problem and will willing start a support group just so all of us cellies can come together to talk about our favorite Brothers, favorite couples, favorite moments and whatever other favorites we may have. (Of course Vishious is my favorite brother and my favorite scene was when he had Jane in the bathroom against the counter telling her she will come when he tells her. Swoon moment right there)
As time went on I grew even fonder of Ward’s writing style and the way she so expertly brought each and every character to life (even the Lessers). As favorite books in the series go, of course my man V’s book is at the top of my list. And yes you guessed it since he is my favorite his sister, Payne, well her book ranks in at number two. There were so many things going on in Lover Unleashed that it just kept me turning page after page. As I heard from the message boards and I do believe on Ward’s Facebook page that Lover Unleashed is by far the longest book in the series (and I thought Lover Mine was long). Regardless the page count I devoured the book within three days.
Reading about Payne and getting to know her for the strong, no holds barred, I will kick your ass up and down the sidewalk female that she is, I was ecstatic when I got a couple of chapters in when Manny was brought to her and he also showed that “do not fuck with me” attitude. Match made in Heaven. When he stood up to Vishious in the corridor and did not back down I was all bug eyed. Shocked to shit that V held back and didn’t plow the guy down. And this is the part of the book that my heart really started to bleed for V. I instantly fell in love with Payne when she was introduced inLover Avenged. To be able to take down Wrath was a helluva feat to be able to do and she did it with such a deadly grace and killer skill that you had to know when her secret was out about being V’s sister you just got all warm and tingly inside.
The questions that rose in my head at the time were definitely answered in Lover Unleashed. Was she going to be as deadly as her brother? Just raises a hand, lit it up and poof be gone are their enemies. As she was imprisoned by the Scribe Virgin was she going to have the sadistic tendencies V had while he was imprisoned under the Bloodletters strong hold? Would she become one of the “brothers” and fight alongside them in the ever waging war?
Even though these questions were answered and I absolutely fell head over heels for this book there are still a few aspects that didn’t strike my fancy. One of them being that to me Qhuinn seemed to have lost his “hardassness”. He was one of my favorite characters in the other books as he did his own thing, he was, as was put in his words in Lover Unleashed, the “odd” man out, but he also had shown his strong and dominant side. Now don’t get me wrong Qhuinn is still one of my favs, but to me, even with as lost as he was in this book, he kinda lost points on being whinny. Male on male action does not do a thing for me and for him to be pinning over a male he should have kicked his cousin’s ass over just made me feel like he is becoming weak. I am not too sure if there will be a Qhuinn/Blay book released but I think there was talk about a novella. To be perfectly honest I highly doubt I will pick it up and read it as soon as it hits the shelves.
Another thing that bothered me was as this was a book about Payne and Manny (and there were a lot of parts of them together in the book) to me, Lover Unleashed seemed to have been split in half with Vishious and Jane. Not that I mind because I love me some V but I am not a fan of Jane and well she lost her “alphaness” in this book. Jesus Christ woman go claim your man and get on with getting it done! That was what I was yelling throughout the whole book when she was too busy crying on Butch’s shoulder.
Now as for Butch, DAMN! You have to give that man props (even though he is a Boston fan)!! He knew exactly how to handle Vishious even when he didn’t know exactly what to do. He scored major mojo points with me.
For those of you who have not read, are only half way into the book or have yet to turn the pages fast enough to get to the end, I will only touch upon the fact that when V was in Manny’s office and the word “Brother” came to his mind….I WAS RIGHT!!! Hehe. For those who have finished you will know and understand what I am speaking of, the said “I WAS RIGHT”, you just had to have had a feeling all along of who Manny actually was. Or maybe not. Maybe for those of us who feign for the Brothers as much as I do only picked up on the subtle hint of who he was when you thought back to Butch’s book.
As this review is to be about Payne and Manny there was just too many aspects to touch upon. Although I do feel like the romance between the two of them was steamy/hot to begin with, it kinda fizzled out when the deed was done. Literally the foreplay was hotter than the actual deed. I wanted to see how Payne would have handled her Man(ny) in the bedroom.
As many of the fans/cellies/WARDen followers that I have heard from, read messages of, or even just glanced over their spoiler notes, the afore mentioned lack of Payne/Manny getter done action seems to be the highest disappointment.
Before I make this review any longer than what it needs to be, I will stop here and now. For those of you who have yet to finish the book…Get your ass off the computer and go pick it up, finish it, revel in, love it, and cherish what Ward has given to us. Personally I was not disappointed in the book as few others that I know were. But then again, when you are as addicted as I am to the Brothers you kinda don’t get too disappointed in anything they do.
Author: JR Ward
Publisher: New American Library, a division of Penguin Group(USA) Inc.
Price: $27.95 at Borders
ISBN-10: 0451233166
ISBN-13: 978-451-23316-5
Review done by: Harley
“Payne, twin sister of Vishous, is cut from the same dark, warrior cloth as her brother: A fighter by nature, and a maverick when it comes to the traditional role of Chosen females, there is no place for her on the Far Side… and no role for her on the front lines of the war, either.
When she suffers a paralyzing injury, human surgeon Dr. Manuel Manello is called in to treat her as only he can- and he soon gets sucked into her dangerous, secret world. Although he never before believed in things that go bump in the night- like vampires- he finds himself more than willing to be seduced by the powerful female who marks both his body and his soul.
As the two find so much more than an erotic connection, the human and vampire worlds collide … just as a centuries old score catches up with Payne and puts both her love and her life in deadly jeopardy.”
~Takes a deep breath~ Hello to all in the PNR, Urban and Erotica realms. It is such a pleasure of mine to actually be doing a book review on the woman that I hold in “Goddess” status. JR Ward is the ultimate writer (as far as I’m concerned) when it comes to taking a person out of their own reality and not only putting but allowing others to be a part of hers. Two years ago when I picked up the Blackdagger Brotherhood series I was like yep it’s gonna be just like any of the other vampire series’ that I have read. Boy howdy was I ever so wrong about that. As I know this is a review on Lover Unleashed, I am going to give a little back story as well.
Picking up Dark Lover I was blown away at the detail and surreal like way Ward introduced the Brothers and their enemies, the Lessers, as she saw them in her mind. I literally ate up the whole series (at this point it ended with Phury’s book) within a matter of two weeks. To most that doesn’t mean anything. But when you read six books in a matter of a couple of weeks it means to those of us who are so in love with the Brothers that we are addicts. I am a proud cellie when I say there was not a day that I wasn’t late for work, skipped out on birthdays and outings just because no one could pry the books out of my hands. If they even tried I literally growled and chomped my mouth at them letting them know they will get bitten by a rabid, Brother hungry woman and that they risked the chance of losing a limb.
Now with blowing through the Brotherhood series as I did I was in much anticipation for Wards next masterpiece. In the waiting period of a year I had read the series over six times, (yes I know I need help). I can at least admit that I have a BDB problem and will willing start a support group just so all of us cellies can come together to talk about our favorite Brothers, favorite couples, favorite moments and whatever other favorites we may have. (Of course Vishious is my favorite brother and my favorite scene was when he had Jane in the bathroom against the counter telling her she will come when he tells her. Swoon moment right there)
As time went on I grew even fonder of Ward’s writing style and the way she so expertly brought each and every character to life (even the Lessers). As favorite books in the series go, of course my man V’s book is at the top of my list. And yes you guessed it since he is my favorite his sister, Payne, well her book ranks in at number two. There were so many things going on in Lover Unleashed that it just kept me turning page after page. As I heard from the message boards and I do believe on Ward’s Facebook page that Lover Unleashed is by far the longest book in the series (and I thought Lover Mine was long). Regardless the page count I devoured the book within three days.
Reading about Payne and getting to know her for the strong, no holds barred, I will kick your ass up and down the sidewalk female that she is, I was ecstatic when I got a couple of chapters in when Manny was brought to her and he also showed that “do not fuck with me” attitude. Match made in Heaven. When he stood up to Vishious in the corridor and did not back down I was all bug eyed. Shocked to shit that V held back and didn’t plow the guy down. And this is the part of the book that my heart really started to bleed for V. I instantly fell in love with Payne when she was introduced inLover Avenged. To be able to take down Wrath was a helluva feat to be able to do and she did it with such a deadly grace and killer skill that you had to know when her secret was out about being V’s sister you just got all warm and tingly inside.
The questions that rose in my head at the time were definitely answered in Lover Unleashed. Was she going to be as deadly as her brother? Just raises a hand, lit it up and poof be gone are their enemies. As she was imprisoned by the Scribe Virgin was she going to have the sadistic tendencies V had while he was imprisoned under the Bloodletters strong hold? Would she become one of the “brothers” and fight alongside them in the ever waging war?
Even though these questions were answered and I absolutely fell head over heels for this book there are still a few aspects that didn’t strike my fancy. One of them being that to me Qhuinn seemed to have lost his “hardassness”. He was one of my favorite characters in the other books as he did his own thing, he was, as was put in his words in Lover Unleashed, the “odd” man out, but he also had shown his strong and dominant side. Now don’t get me wrong Qhuinn is still one of my favs, but to me, even with as lost as he was in this book, he kinda lost points on being whinny. Male on male action does not do a thing for me and for him to be pinning over a male he should have kicked his cousin’s ass over just made me feel like he is becoming weak. I am not too sure if there will be a Qhuinn/Blay book released but I think there was talk about a novella. To be perfectly honest I highly doubt I will pick it up and read it as soon as it hits the shelves.
Another thing that bothered me was as this was a book about Payne and Manny (and there were a lot of parts of them together in the book) to me, Lover Unleashed seemed to have been split in half with Vishious and Jane. Not that I mind because I love me some V but I am not a fan of Jane and well she lost her “alphaness” in this book. Jesus Christ woman go claim your man and get on with getting it done! That was what I was yelling throughout the whole book when she was too busy crying on Butch’s shoulder.
Now as for Butch, DAMN! You have to give that man props (even though he is a Boston fan)!! He knew exactly how to handle Vishious even when he didn’t know exactly what to do. He scored major mojo points with me.
For those of you who have not read, are only half way into the book or have yet to turn the pages fast enough to get to the end, I will only touch upon the fact that when V was in Manny’s office and the word “Brother” came to his mind….I WAS RIGHT!!! Hehe. For those who have finished you will know and understand what I am speaking of, the said “I WAS RIGHT”, you just had to have had a feeling all along of who Manny actually was. Or maybe not. Maybe for those of us who feign for the Brothers as much as I do only picked up on the subtle hint of who he was when you thought back to Butch’s book.
As this review is to be about Payne and Manny there was just too many aspects to touch upon. Although I do feel like the romance between the two of them was steamy/hot to begin with, it kinda fizzled out when the deed was done. Literally the foreplay was hotter than the actual deed. I wanted to see how Payne would have handled her Man(ny) in the bedroom.
As many of the fans/cellies/WARDen followers that I have heard from, read messages of, or even just glanced over their spoiler notes, the afore mentioned lack of Payne/Manny getter done action seems to be the highest disappointment.
Before I make this review any longer than what it needs to be, I will stop here and now. For those of you who have yet to finish the book…Get your ass off the computer and go pick it up, finish it, revel in, love it, and cherish what Ward has given to us. Personally I was not disappointed in the book as few others that I know were. But then again, when you are as addicted as I am to the Brothers you kinda don’t get too disappointed in anything they do.
Shades of Midnight
Title: Shades of Midnight
Author: Lara Adrian
Publisher: Dell mass market, division of Random House
Price: $7.99 at Borders
ISBN-13: 978-0-440-24526-1
Review done by: Harley
“Something inhuman is stalking the frigid Alaskan wilds, leaving unspeakable carnage in its wake. For bush pilot Alexandra Maguire, the killings stir memories of a horrific event she witnessed as a child and evoke in her the inexplicable sense of otherness she has long felt but never fully understood . . . until a darkly seductive stranger with secrets of his own enters her world.
Sent from Boston on a mission to investigate the savage attacks and stop the slaughter, vampire warrior Kade has his own reasons for returning to the frigid, forbidding place of his birth. Haunted by a secret shame, Kade soon realizes the stunning truth of the threat he faces–a threat that will jeopardize the fragile bond he has formed with the courageous, determined young woman who arouses his deepest passions and most primal hungers. But in bringing Alex into his world of blood and darkness, Kade must confront both his own personal demons and the even greater evil that could destroy all he holds dear.” .
Lara Adrian has hit another homerun with Shades of Midnight. In my opinion besides Date and Tegan’s books, Kade’s book is one of my favorites. Now mind you at first when I started reading the Midnight Breed series it was right after I read the Blackdagger Brotherhood by JR Ward. Like many people I found that the two series were almost the same. The character developments were so similar it was almost like reading a second series of the brothers.
While waiting for Shades of Midnight to be released I took the much needed time to reflect on the series while digging deeper for the differences in the two series. It has been almost a year since Shades of Midnight has been released but I finally sat down and read it. From the very beginning it drew me in and I got sucked into the realm of the “Order” once more.
While reading Kade and Alex’s story I got the warm and fuzzies all over! With Kade being a six and a half foot breed warrior, with his dark spiky hair and tantalizing silver eyes, Kade was forced back to the frozen tundra of the Alaskan wilderness to put a stop to the deadly destruction of the Ancient while trying to reconnect with a family long lost, try and save a “un-fixable” twin brother and protecting a woman who is hiding a dark secret.
Just an average “all in a days work” right? Nope not for this warrior. Falling hard for Alex he soon finds out that she is one of the Breeds most coveted women. As a Breedmate Alex has her own “talents” but does not know how special she really is and why she is so drawn to Kade. From the moment she spotted him, the newest stranger in Harmony, Alaska is strangely exotic to her senses and quickly lowers her defenses. With a heartbreaking past of her own she confides in Kade her deepest secret, her deepest fear and of what she thinks has happened to the dead in Harmony.
Kade, torn by honoring the Order and his duties as a warrior and claiming the woman he has fallen madly in love with, he decides it is time to show her exactly who he is. Even if it does evoke harsh emotions from her past. His only fear? Losing Alex.
I can go on and on about this book and all the reasons why you need to read it, but trust me, Kade will do things to you that you only dreamed of! He is on the ultimate list of true ALPHA males! What are you waiting for? Get ya ass to the bookstore and pick up this series. Devour but savor this warrior, for he is in my opinion a very strong male of worth!!
Author: Lara Adrian
Publisher: Dell mass market, division of Random House
Price: $7.99 at Borders
ISBN-13: 978-0-440-24526-1
Review done by: Harley
“Something inhuman is stalking the frigid Alaskan wilds, leaving unspeakable carnage in its wake. For bush pilot Alexandra Maguire, the killings stir memories of a horrific event she witnessed as a child and evoke in her the inexplicable sense of otherness she has long felt but never fully understood . . . until a darkly seductive stranger with secrets of his own enters her world.
Sent from Boston on a mission to investigate the savage attacks and stop the slaughter, vampire warrior Kade has his own reasons for returning to the frigid, forbidding place of his birth. Haunted by a secret shame, Kade soon realizes the stunning truth of the threat he faces–a threat that will jeopardize the fragile bond he has formed with the courageous, determined young woman who arouses his deepest passions and most primal hungers. But in bringing Alex into his world of blood and darkness, Kade must confront both his own personal demons and the even greater evil that could destroy all he holds dear.” .
Lara Adrian has hit another homerun with Shades of Midnight. In my opinion besides Date and Tegan’s books, Kade’s book is one of my favorites. Now mind you at first when I started reading the Midnight Breed series it was right after I read the Blackdagger Brotherhood by JR Ward. Like many people I found that the two series were almost the same. The character developments were so similar it was almost like reading a second series of the brothers.
While waiting for Shades of Midnight to be released I took the much needed time to reflect on the series while digging deeper for the differences in the two series. It has been almost a year since Shades of Midnight has been released but I finally sat down and read it. From the very beginning it drew me in and I got sucked into the realm of the “Order” once more.
While reading Kade and Alex’s story I got the warm and fuzzies all over! With Kade being a six and a half foot breed warrior, with his dark spiky hair and tantalizing silver eyes, Kade was forced back to the frozen tundra of the Alaskan wilderness to put a stop to the deadly destruction of the Ancient while trying to reconnect with a family long lost, try and save a “un-fixable” twin brother and protecting a woman who is hiding a dark secret.
Just an average “all in a days work” right? Nope not for this warrior. Falling hard for Alex he soon finds out that she is one of the Breeds most coveted women. As a Breedmate Alex has her own “talents” but does not know how special she really is and why she is so drawn to Kade. From the moment she spotted him, the newest stranger in Harmony, Alaska is strangely exotic to her senses and quickly lowers her defenses. With a heartbreaking past of her own she confides in Kade her deepest secret, her deepest fear and of what she thinks has happened to the dead in Harmony.
Kade, torn by honoring the Order and his duties as a warrior and claiming the woman he has fallen madly in love with, he decides it is time to show her exactly who he is. Even if it does evoke harsh emotions from her past. His only fear? Losing Alex.
I can go on and on about this book and all the reasons why you need to read it, but trust me, Kade will do things to you that you only dreamed of! He is on the ultimate list of true ALPHA males! What are you waiting for? Get ya ass to the bookstore and pick up this series. Devour but savor this warrior, for he is in my opinion a very strong male of worth!!
The Immortal Highlander
Title: The Immortal Highlander
Author: Karen Marie Moning
Publisher: Bantam Dell
(A division of Random House inc. August 2004)
Price: $7.99 at Borders
ISBN-13: 978-0-440-23756-3
Review done by Harley
“BEWARE: LEATHALLY SEDUCTIVE ALPHA MALE OF IMMENSE STRENGTH AND DARK EROTICISM. DO NOT LOOK AT HIM. DO NOT TOUCH HIM. DO NOT BE TEMPTED. DO NO BE SEDUCED…”
Product description from KarenMarieMoning.com
“With his long, black hair and dark, mesmerizing eyes, Adam Black is Trouble with a capital T. Immortal, arrogant, and intensely sensual, he is the consummate seducer, free to roam across time and continents in pursuit of his insatiable desires. That is, until a curse strips him of his immortality and makes him invisible, a cruel fate for so irresistible a man. With his very life at stake, Adam’s only hope for survival is in the hands of the one woman who can actually see him.
Enter law student Gabrielle O’Callaghan, who is cursed with the ability to see both worlds: Mortal and Faery. From the moment she lays eyes on this stunning male, Gabby is certain of one thing: He could be her undoing. Thus begins a long, dangerous seduction. Because despite his powerful strength and unquenchable hungers, Adam refuses to take a woman by force. Instead he will tease his way into Gabby’s bed and make her want him just as he wants her.
Now, no matter how hard Gabby tries to avoid him, Adam is everywhere, invisible to all but her—perched atop her office cubicle in too-tight jeans, whispering softly from behind the stacks of the law library, stealing her breath away with his knowing smile…all the while tempting her with the promise of unimaginable pleasure in his arms. But soon danger will intrude on this sensual dance. For as Adam’s quest to regain his immortality plunges them into a world of timeless magic and the deadly politics of the Faery queen’s court, the price of surrender could be their very lives. Unless they can thwart the conspiracy that threatens both mortal and Faery realms…and give them a shot at a destiny few mortals ever know: glorious, wondrous, endless love…”
Even from the above caption from Karen Marie Moning’s, The Immortal Highlander, I couldn’t bring myself to feel the intense pleasure of the Highlands. I know, I know, everyone loves Adam Black because of his dark, brooding and very sexual side, but me? Nope nothing. Maybe because I was still riding the Dageus wave of ultimate ALPHA, ultimate sex appeal, or just the ultimate Highlander, but to me this book lacked the warm and fuzzies I have felt throughout reading this series.
As I am sure I will get berated for my review (which is fine), for me The Immortal Highlander felt like it was written in a hurry. Written, so to speak, with the lack of gusto or concern for the characters like in the previous Highlander books. I don’t know if Moning’s “magic wand” was spent after writing The Dark Highlander but I was not a fan of Adam’s book. With too much push-pull of the lack of back story and the heroin, Gabrielle O’Callaghan, being (in my opinion) to “alpha” for her own good, I feel it took away from Adam’s character.
Adam Black, being a Prince of the Fae, was hyped to the point that I was excited to start reading his book. Once I started I was disappointed. I thought there would have been more back story on himself other than just his “curse”, other than the most sexual tension I have read in a book (which actually turned me off by the time they got to the down and dirty), and I would have thought there would be more action in the book considering how favored he was by the Queen of the Fae, Aoibheal.
Even sitting here now I am finding it hard to write this review all because there really wasn’t anything memorable in this book to write about. As Gabby was a “Sidhe-seer”- meaning she could see fairies, she found Adam lounging on a bench in front of her law office late one night. With his curse, he was trying to search for someone, anyone to help him get a hold of his half fae son, trying to get to the queen to let her know enough was enough with this whole feeling human thing. Being stripped of his immortality and feeling more and more human by the day he was trying desperately to get back to Aoibheal to gain his “freedom” of the human world back. Only was it when he found and fell for Gabby did he start to feel all the more human and actually liked it. Giving him “feelings” all Fae were known to not possess.
After being found by an enemy of his, Adam and Gabby “sift” from place to place weaving a web of magic to try and throw the enemy off kilter. Yet to be found in the threshold of their “sexual conquest” by Darroc, which in turn making them have to sift again and end up on sacred ground in Scotland.
Going to the MacKeltar’s castle, which is warded by the Queen herself, they were safe until he got a hold of his queen, told her about Darroc’s treachery and then was sent on his merry way in baiting Darroc so the queen could properly punish him.
In short I would say get the book as it does belong in a wonderful series, but don’t get your hopes up with falling in love with Adam. Looks can be deceiving and so can Adam.
Author: Karen Marie Moning
Publisher: Bantam Dell
(A division of Random House inc. August 2004)
Price: $7.99 at Borders
ISBN-13: 978-0-440-23756-3
Review done by Harley
“BEWARE: LEATHALLY SEDUCTIVE ALPHA MALE OF IMMENSE STRENGTH AND DARK EROTICISM. DO NOT LOOK AT HIM. DO NOT TOUCH HIM. DO NOT BE TEMPTED. DO NO BE SEDUCED…”
Product description from KarenMarieMoning.com
“With his long, black hair and dark, mesmerizing eyes, Adam Black is Trouble with a capital T. Immortal, arrogant, and intensely sensual, he is the consummate seducer, free to roam across time and continents in pursuit of his insatiable desires. That is, until a curse strips him of his immortality and makes him invisible, a cruel fate for so irresistible a man. With his very life at stake, Adam’s only hope for survival is in the hands of the one woman who can actually see him.
Enter law student Gabrielle O’Callaghan, who is cursed with the ability to see both worlds: Mortal and Faery. From the moment she lays eyes on this stunning male, Gabby is certain of one thing: He could be her undoing. Thus begins a long, dangerous seduction. Because despite his powerful strength and unquenchable hungers, Adam refuses to take a woman by force. Instead he will tease his way into Gabby’s bed and make her want him just as he wants her.
Now, no matter how hard Gabby tries to avoid him, Adam is everywhere, invisible to all but her—perched atop her office cubicle in too-tight jeans, whispering softly from behind the stacks of the law library, stealing her breath away with his knowing smile…all the while tempting her with the promise of unimaginable pleasure in his arms. But soon danger will intrude on this sensual dance. For as Adam’s quest to regain his immortality plunges them into a world of timeless magic and the deadly politics of the Faery queen’s court, the price of surrender could be their very lives. Unless they can thwart the conspiracy that threatens both mortal and Faery realms…and give them a shot at a destiny few mortals ever know: glorious, wondrous, endless love…”
Even from the above caption from Karen Marie Moning’s, The Immortal Highlander, I couldn’t bring myself to feel the intense pleasure of the Highlands. I know, I know, everyone loves Adam Black because of his dark, brooding and very sexual side, but me? Nope nothing. Maybe because I was still riding the Dageus wave of ultimate ALPHA, ultimate sex appeal, or just the ultimate Highlander, but to me this book lacked the warm and fuzzies I have felt throughout reading this series.
As I am sure I will get berated for my review (which is fine), for me The Immortal Highlander felt like it was written in a hurry. Written, so to speak, with the lack of gusto or concern for the characters like in the previous Highlander books. I don’t know if Moning’s “magic wand” was spent after writing The Dark Highlander but I was not a fan of Adam’s book. With too much push-pull of the lack of back story and the heroin, Gabrielle O’Callaghan, being (in my opinion) to “alpha” for her own good, I feel it took away from Adam’s character.
Adam Black, being a Prince of the Fae, was hyped to the point that I was excited to start reading his book. Once I started I was disappointed. I thought there would have been more back story on himself other than just his “curse”, other than the most sexual tension I have read in a book (which actually turned me off by the time they got to the down and dirty), and I would have thought there would be more action in the book considering how favored he was by the Queen of the Fae, Aoibheal.
Even sitting here now I am finding it hard to write this review all because there really wasn’t anything memorable in this book to write about. As Gabby was a “Sidhe-seer”- meaning she could see fairies, she found Adam lounging on a bench in front of her law office late one night. With his curse, he was trying to search for someone, anyone to help him get a hold of his half fae son, trying to get to the queen to let her know enough was enough with this whole feeling human thing. Being stripped of his immortality and feeling more and more human by the day he was trying desperately to get back to Aoibheal to gain his “freedom” of the human world back. Only was it when he found and fell for Gabby did he start to feel all the more human and actually liked it. Giving him “feelings” all Fae were known to not possess.
After being found by an enemy of his, Adam and Gabby “sift” from place to place weaving a web of magic to try and throw the enemy off kilter. Yet to be found in the threshold of their “sexual conquest” by Darroc, which in turn making them have to sift again and end up on sacred ground in Scotland.
Going to the MacKeltar’s castle, which is warded by the Queen herself, they were safe until he got a hold of his queen, told her about Darroc’s treachery and then was sent on his merry way in baiting Darroc so the queen could properly punish him.
In short I would say get the book as it does belong in a wonderful series, but don’t get your hopes up with falling in love with Adam. Looks can be deceiving and so can Adam.
The Dark Highlander
Title: The Dark Highlander
Author: Karen Marie Moning
Copyright: 2002
Price: $7.99 at Borders
ISBN-13: 978-0-440-23755-6
Review done by Harley
Hallo again lassies and lads, from the deep set hills of Scotland!! What a journey it has been reading about these Scottish warriors. YUM!! ‘Tis such a delight to have been immersed in the world of Dageus and Chloe! All I have to say is if you have yet to go get this series you must go and get it to read this book alone! With its strong pull of sensuality, sex appeal to leave you panting and with scenes that made me grab more than one tissue, I COULD NOT put this book down.
Dageus by far has my vote hands down for best Highland warrior. With his “dark curse” that he tries so hard to not let over take him, he allows his followers to feel his struggles to just keep an ounce of humanity. Struggling to keep the “dark forces” at bay, he finds his only way in salvaging what shred of decency he has left in the rougher kinds of sexual release. Living in the here and now in Manhattan he is bound and determined to search every ancient tomb of his heritage in hopes of finding a way of imprisoning the four thousand year old Dark Druids, otherwise known as the Draghar,who wish to take their century’s old revenge out on a civilization that was born before Christ.
Chloe Zanders, a young woman hell bent on learning everything there is to learn about history, especially anything that has to deal with Celtic artifacts/history, she was stunned (to say the least) when she was to deliver the latest tomb to Dageus’s penthouse. Low and behold she didn’t realize she was walking straight back into the sixteenth century without leaving the twenty-first. Perusing the penthouse she is transfixed by all of Dageus’s “artifacts”. Thinking she hit the proverbial jackpot, until she made her way to his bedroom. Little did she know that she really did hit the jackpot when she met Dageus, an “artifact” within himself. Holding her hostage after he learns of her constant curiosity and her knowledge of the ancient languages he fights with his inner voice that keeps saying “mine.”
With constant sexual tension between the two he becomes more protective over Chloe in turn bringing about the Draghar in full force. Does he find a way to release the evil that he houses? Can he find a way to save the world while making sure Chloe is safe and becomes his?
Like I have stated many times before, Ward is my idol but I do have to say while reading The Dark Highlander (in which I couldn’t put down and finished within a day), Karen Marie Moning hit a huge grand slam, slowly sneaking into “idol-hood” status with this New York Times best seller. Now don’t get me wrong Ward lovers, JR has a voice all in her own that will not and cannot be compared to anyone alive on this earth, but to understand fully what I mean when I say Moning is a Highlander goddess, with her works in this series. You will NOT be disappointed at all.
Author: Karen Marie Moning
Copyright: 2002
Price: $7.99 at Borders
ISBN-13: 978-0-440-23755-6
Review done by Harley
Hallo again lassies and lads, from the deep set hills of Scotland!! What a journey it has been reading about these Scottish warriors. YUM!! ‘Tis such a delight to have been immersed in the world of Dageus and Chloe! All I have to say is if you have yet to go get this series you must go and get it to read this book alone! With its strong pull of sensuality, sex appeal to leave you panting and with scenes that made me grab more than one tissue, I COULD NOT put this book down.
Dageus by far has my vote hands down for best Highland warrior. With his “dark curse” that he tries so hard to not let over take him, he allows his followers to feel his struggles to just keep an ounce of humanity. Struggling to keep the “dark forces” at bay, he finds his only way in salvaging what shred of decency he has left in the rougher kinds of sexual release. Living in the here and now in Manhattan he is bound and determined to search every ancient tomb of his heritage in hopes of finding a way of imprisoning the four thousand year old Dark Druids, otherwise known as the Draghar,who wish to take their century’s old revenge out on a civilization that was born before Christ.
Chloe Zanders, a young woman hell bent on learning everything there is to learn about history, especially anything that has to deal with Celtic artifacts/history, she was stunned (to say the least) when she was to deliver the latest tomb to Dageus’s penthouse. Low and behold she didn’t realize she was walking straight back into the sixteenth century without leaving the twenty-first. Perusing the penthouse she is transfixed by all of Dageus’s “artifacts”. Thinking she hit the proverbial jackpot, until she made her way to his bedroom. Little did she know that she really did hit the jackpot when she met Dageus, an “artifact” within himself. Holding her hostage after he learns of her constant curiosity and her knowledge of the ancient languages he fights with his inner voice that keeps saying “mine.”
With constant sexual tension between the two he becomes more protective over Chloe in turn bringing about the Draghar in full force. Does he find a way to release the evil that he houses? Can he find a way to save the world while making sure Chloe is safe and becomes his?
Like I have stated many times before, Ward is my idol but I do have to say while reading The Dark Highlander (in which I couldn’t put down and finished within a day), Karen Marie Moning hit a huge grand slam, slowly sneaking into “idol-hood” status with this New York Times best seller. Now don’t get me wrong Ward lovers, JR has a voice all in her own that will not and cannot be compared to anyone alive on this earth, but to understand fully what I mean when I say Moning is a Highlander goddess, with her works in this series. You will NOT be disappointed at all.
Kiss of the Highlander
Title: Kiss of the Highlander
Author: Karen Marie Moning
Copyright: 2001
ISBN: 978-0-440-23655-9
Review done by Harley
Hallo lassies and lads!! ‘Tis the time to shed some Scottish heritage into your beautiful world, even if I am four books late! Aye! I do love me some Highlanders, and since this is the fourth book in Karen Marie Moning’s, Highlander series, I canna stress enough to you all the necessity in getting this series and devouring every single aspect of these insatiable warriors from the past.
In Kiss of the Highlander we get to read upon the life of Drustan MacKeltar (swoon) and Gwen Cassidy. While Gwen struggles internally with her less than exciting life as a twenty-five year old living in Santa Fe working in a blue collar job so she does not have to revert to a life she is trying to veer away from, she decides to take a trip to Scotland. Only to find that the trip she was hoping to lose her valued virginity on was to be shared with none other than senior citizens. Talk about a “romp in the hay” damper.
After taking a hike along Scotland’s famous Loch Ness, Gwen falls in between a fissure in the mountain. Falling directly on top of an enchanted Drustan. Being “asleep” for over five hundred years, he is awaked with the feel of a wee lass on top of him. To find out how Gwen was able to awaken this six foot six, silver eyed, black silken locks that draped about his shoulders, warrior, I would suggest you take your ass to the nearest bookstore.
With a constant state of arousal when Drustan was around Gwen gave off more than enough sexual tension to fill a black hole in the universe. With Gwen being one of my favorite heroine’s with her saucy attitude, I was rooting for the lass to get what every woman desires. A chance to woo and be wooed by a man that could set more than one set of panties on fire!!
Drustan MacKeltar, a laird in his time trying to save his clan anyway possible, takes his chances on bringing Gwen, a lonely woman just trying to find love, back into his time. Was Gwen enough to bring him the security of what he needed? Was Drustan able to secure his bloodline and save his clan?
With the twists and turns in this book there are moments that have you grabbing the tissue box and hoping and praying their love lasts, even if bound to love in two different centuries. As the saying goes, “It’s better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all.”
Author: Karen Marie Moning
Copyright: 2001
ISBN: 978-0-440-23655-9
Review done by Harley
Hallo lassies and lads!! ‘Tis the time to shed some Scottish heritage into your beautiful world, even if I am four books late! Aye! I do love me some Highlanders, and since this is the fourth book in Karen Marie Moning’s, Highlander series, I canna stress enough to you all the necessity in getting this series and devouring every single aspect of these insatiable warriors from the past.
In Kiss of the Highlander we get to read upon the life of Drustan MacKeltar (swoon) and Gwen Cassidy. While Gwen struggles internally with her less than exciting life as a twenty-five year old living in Santa Fe working in a blue collar job so she does not have to revert to a life she is trying to veer away from, she decides to take a trip to Scotland. Only to find that the trip she was hoping to lose her valued virginity on was to be shared with none other than senior citizens. Talk about a “romp in the hay” damper.
After taking a hike along Scotland’s famous Loch Ness, Gwen falls in between a fissure in the mountain. Falling directly on top of an enchanted Drustan. Being “asleep” for over five hundred years, he is awaked with the feel of a wee lass on top of him. To find out how Gwen was able to awaken this six foot six, silver eyed, black silken locks that draped about his shoulders, warrior, I would suggest you take your ass to the nearest bookstore.
With a constant state of arousal when Drustan was around Gwen gave off more than enough sexual tension to fill a black hole in the universe. With Gwen being one of my favorite heroine’s with her saucy attitude, I was rooting for the lass to get what every woman desires. A chance to woo and be wooed by a man that could set more than one set of panties on fire!!
Drustan MacKeltar, a laird in his time trying to save his clan anyway possible, takes his chances on bringing Gwen, a lonely woman just trying to find love, back into his time. Was Gwen enough to bring him the security of what he needed? Was Drustan able to secure his bloodline and save his clan?
With the twists and turns in this book there are moments that have you grabbing the tissue box and hoping and praying their love lasts, even if bound to love in two different centuries. As the saying goes, “It’s better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all.”
Real Vampires Have More to Love
Author: Gerry Bartlett
Copyright: 2010
Price: $15.00 at Borders
ISBN-13: 978-0-425-23697-0
Review done by Harley
Real Vampires Have More to Love is the sixth installment in Gerry Bartlett’s, Glory St. Claire series. Glory, a vampire living in Austin, Tx, is not your typical vampire. Clocking in at a size 14 (size 12 if you ask Glory) she struggles with being an “overweight” vamp. Even though she personally struggles with her “weight issues”, she definitely flaunts her best assets. And has the guys trampling over their rolled out tongues to get a piece of good ‘old Glory!
In Real Vampires Have More to Love, Glory has just left the Los Angeles scene. Leaving behind her kick ass on again off again boyfriend Jeremy Blade (swoons) and Israel Caine (the smokin hot rocker). Glory heads back home to Austin to try and regain some form or normality. Joining her on the flight home is her shifter “bodyguard” Valdez, otherwise known as Rafe. Hellllllo hot stuff. Rafe has had a thing for Glory ever since he became her bodyguard; five long years of being trapped in the body of a black labradoodle not being able to shift due to contract reasons is a long time to swoon over someone.
With Glory’s best friend and fellow roommate Florence getting married, Glory ends up giving Florence’s old room to Rafe. Always taking all the hot water and prancing around in nothing but a towel showing off his scorching hot body, Glory soon feels the same effect towards Rafe as he does for her. Bada bing! We have sexual tension! Little does Glory know, Rafe holds a secret that he is pretty damn reluctant in telling her about. (Umm yeah if I saw my “lovers” eyes glowing red I think I would be all kinds of what the fuck. But hey that’s just me. Glory is over four hundred years old and has seen more than just some glowing red eyes.)
With a full plate on her hands, Glory has a hard time balancing her vintage clothing store, her crazy love life and managing to plan a bachelorette party for Florence. Who by the way has to have top notch everything. Hey they are vamps with all the money in the world, why not live in the lap of luxury right?
As the sexual tension builds between Rafe and Glory, there are all kinds of twists and turns in the story. With an ex-vamp hunter back from the dead, her centuries long lover flying in from Los Angeles, and ex-rockstar boyfriend wanting to get into your pants, an ex-wannabe boyfriend who wiped your memory clean and the leader of the EV’s pounding at your door, yeah I would say I would be a little stressed and a bit high strung. But Glory girl handled herself perfectly until one night she got a little visit from hell itself.
Battling the demon in “Vintage Vamps Emporium”, Glory was a little worse for wear. Leaving out the details so you can go pick this series up and read it, Glory’s body was not her own after the fight. And let me tell you, after the little demon incident there was a lot of laughs, cries, fights, and some downright hot as hell (pardon the pun) sex. Glory worked it out.
Since this is my first review on a series that most of you have probably read, please keep in mind that I am trying to give the deets without really giving the deets. I would definitely recommend this series if you are looking for a great laugh and a fab pick me up. Glory will have you laughing in no time with her smartass/sarcastic attitude.
All in all I give this book (and series) a three-quarter bucket rating!! Side note, the seventh book in this series, Real Vampires Don’t Wear Size Six will be releasing August 2, 2011.
Happy reading!!
~Hugs and kisses~
H!
Copyright: 2010
Price: $15.00 at Borders
ISBN-13: 978-0-425-23697-0
Review done by Harley
Real Vampires Have More to Love is the sixth installment in Gerry Bartlett’s, Glory St. Claire series. Glory, a vampire living in Austin, Tx, is not your typical vampire. Clocking in at a size 14 (size 12 if you ask Glory) she struggles with being an “overweight” vamp. Even though she personally struggles with her “weight issues”, she definitely flaunts her best assets. And has the guys trampling over their rolled out tongues to get a piece of good ‘old Glory!
In Real Vampires Have More to Love, Glory has just left the Los Angeles scene. Leaving behind her kick ass on again off again boyfriend Jeremy Blade (swoons) and Israel Caine (the smokin hot rocker). Glory heads back home to Austin to try and regain some form or normality. Joining her on the flight home is her shifter “bodyguard” Valdez, otherwise known as Rafe. Hellllllo hot stuff. Rafe has had a thing for Glory ever since he became her bodyguard; five long years of being trapped in the body of a black labradoodle not being able to shift due to contract reasons is a long time to swoon over someone.
With Glory’s best friend and fellow roommate Florence getting married, Glory ends up giving Florence’s old room to Rafe. Always taking all the hot water and prancing around in nothing but a towel showing off his scorching hot body, Glory soon feels the same effect towards Rafe as he does for her. Bada bing! We have sexual tension! Little does Glory know, Rafe holds a secret that he is pretty damn reluctant in telling her about. (Umm yeah if I saw my “lovers” eyes glowing red I think I would be all kinds of what the fuck. But hey that’s just me. Glory is over four hundred years old and has seen more than just some glowing red eyes.)
With a full plate on her hands, Glory has a hard time balancing her vintage clothing store, her crazy love life and managing to plan a bachelorette party for Florence. Who by the way has to have top notch everything. Hey they are vamps with all the money in the world, why not live in the lap of luxury right?
As the sexual tension builds between Rafe and Glory, there are all kinds of twists and turns in the story. With an ex-vamp hunter back from the dead, her centuries long lover flying in from Los Angeles, and ex-rockstar boyfriend wanting to get into your pants, an ex-wannabe boyfriend who wiped your memory clean and the leader of the EV’s pounding at your door, yeah I would say I would be a little stressed and a bit high strung. But Glory girl handled herself perfectly until one night she got a little visit from hell itself.
Battling the demon in “Vintage Vamps Emporium”, Glory was a little worse for wear. Leaving out the details so you can go pick this series up and read it, Glory’s body was not her own after the fight. And let me tell you, after the little demon incident there was a lot of laughs, cries, fights, and some downright hot as hell (pardon the pun) sex. Glory worked it out.
Since this is my first review on a series that most of you have probably read, please keep in mind that I am trying to give the deets without really giving the deets. I would definitely recommend this series if you are looking for a great laugh and a fab pick me up. Glory will have you laughing in no time with her smartass/sarcastic attitude.
All in all I give this book (and series) a three-quarter bucket rating!! Side note, the seventh book in this series, Real Vampires Don’t Wear Size Six will be releasing August 2, 2011.
Happy reading!!
~Hugs and kisses~
H!