Insane Hussein's Book Shelf

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Vengeful hero, cry-baby heroine. Her three-year-old son and her 19-year-old deaf sister. He forces her to become his mistress in exchange for his paying for her son's life-saving heart surgery.

Throw in his shit-faced coward of a brother and it's all that and some.

I give this 2 stars for the "milk of life" phrase. If not for that, it would've been 1 star.

The blurb is deceptive--he only asked he to marry him toward the end of the book, about the time she gave birth to their baby. Also, heroine's mother was a subplot that never was fully formed.

Heroine is whiny brat and hero is kinda wimpy.

Adrian Mitchell is a powerful angel leading an elite Special Ops unit of Seraphim. His task is to punish the Fallen-angels who have become vampires-and command a restless pack of indentured lycans. But Adrian has suffered his own punishment for becoming involved with mortals- losing the woman he loves again and again. Now, after nearly two hundred years, he has found her-Shadoe-her soul once more inhabiting a new body, with no memory of him. And this time, he won't let her go.

This is the first of the Renegade Angels series by Sylvia Day.

I postponed writing this review because I felt that I needed to reread it several times (with some gaps between readings) due to the hero's hypocrisy and the fact that I am adding pseudo-spoilers this time around, because spoilers must be added in for me to say what I need to say.

So, Adrian is a Sentinel (commander of all angels on earth) and is the baddest bad-ass of the earthbound angels, who watch over earth and mete out punishment of the vampires while keeping the lycans in line and as their foot soldiers.

Basically, the Fallen are, as the blurb states, angels who have become vampires because they mated with humans. The lycans are also somewhat in that category, though their punishment was to become lycans (infused with demon blood) rather than vampires, and be indentured to the Seraphim forever and ever, amen.

And we have Lindsey Graham, the modern-day reincarnation of Shadoe, the Nephalim whom Adrian mated centuries ago. However, Lindsey proves to be something of a challenge when she doesn't immediately fall in with Adrian's plans to keep her bundled in cotton and protected from all evil, including her father, Syre, who is the original Fallen angel-cum-vampire. Yes, he is. And apparently he wants to transform Shadoe into a full-fledged vampire, so she can be like dear ol' dad.

Read the rest of this review at Insane Hussein Reviews...

This was SO GOOD

Needs resolution with her mother and stepfather.

3.5 stars. Review on http://fictionvixen.com soon!

Blurb:

Too much of a good thing…
With her long ponytail and sparkling green eyes, Tessa Donovan looks more like the girl next door than a businesswoman—or a heartbreaker. Which may explain why Detective Luke Asher barely notices her when he arrives to investigate a break–in at her family's brewery. He's got his own problems—starting with the fact that his partner, Simone, is pregnant and everyone thinks he's the father.

Tessa has her hands full, too. Her brother's playboy ways may be threatening the business, and the tension could tear her tight–knit family apart. In fact, the only thing that could unite the Donovan boys is seeing a man come after their "baby" sister. Especially a man like Luke Asher. But Tessa sees past the rumors to the man beneath. He's not who people think he is—and neither is she.

We see some interesting characters in this new series by Victoria Dahl about three siblings who inherited their family brewery while still in their teens when their parents unexpectedly died.

Tessa is a twenty-seven year old woman helping her two brothers run their family brewery, working primarily in the public relations aspect for their business. Eric, the oldest brother, is the primary business man and Jamie, the youngest brother, runs the bar.

Luke is a thirty-one year old man who moved back to the area after his divorce and tries to rebuild his life. He's a great guy and is also a police detective. However, there are some bad rumors about him, like how he was his partner's baby daddy, that he can't really shake, nor really cares to, until he meets Tessa when he's assigned to investigate the break-in at the brewery. They're attracted to each other but it seems that her brothers don't care for him and his "reputation" and the rumors.

When the brewery is broken into, Tessa finds out what Jamie's done to a business deal that had the means to make or break the brewery and she rages at him, telling him to stop being so immature and think of the family for once. However, not all is as it appears. No one knows who would break into the brewery and that particular adventure is actually very intriguing. I certainly would not have expected the villains as, well, the villains.

I really loved Luke. I thought he was the stronger of the pair, with knowing where he is and that he's much more grounded. He was also much more likable than Tessa. He wasn't acting like a prima donna nor was he being a whiny brat when he deals with people nor in his thoughts. Also, Luke is hot, which helps a lot.

What really irked me about this novel, and gave this a three star rating, was Tessa's inability to let her brothers figure out how to live their lives without interfering all the damn time, trying to avert and/or resolve fights and disagreements before they could *gasp* do so on their own. She's really all up in their faces about that and it really took from the book. I felt as if she was an immature eighteen-year-old girl instead of the adult twenty-seven year old she really is.

She's always after her brother, Jamie, about his behavior, but she never manages to realize she's being a hypocrite at the same time. I understand that she wants to keep the status quo and keep her family all there, but to never have been confronted by her brothers about it was kinda beyond me. I mean, they never clued in that that was what she was doing.

I was really happy that Luke even got in her face about that, essentially telling her to grow the hell up. ((I would quote that, but it's an ARC, so can't. I will when the book is released.)) It made me intensely happy, though he did do so toward the end of the story.

Eventually, the bad guys get caught and Tessa does own up to her fears and goes forward with her life to include Luke into her heart and share her fears and hopes for their future.

I really wanted to say more, but then that would include spoilers. Augh!

Four ultra-sexy stories by four great authors, with one theme.

Who's undercover?
Shane Madison - Dead sexy private eye posing as a Strippendale's dancer
Tucker Lamb - Smooth as butter former conman posing as nerdy professor
Saffron Burton - Sensual food critic posing as just another customer
Katrina Killian - Brazenly sexual cop posing as a gang member

I loved the stories in this anthology and I couldn't get enough. I have to say, Conned, by Chloe Cole was my favorite. Wow, that was intense and I need Tucker in my life with his mastery of ice! I think you're going to find that these shorts are sweet, sassy and so much fun.


Consumed by Dee Carney:

Ok, I gotta admit, a curvy chick who gets the sensual cooker chef dude is already zinging through my brain. I freaking love it.

August Jaeger is a chef at a famous, award-winning restaurant and his dishes are to come for. He sees Saffron in his restaurant and is suspicious of her motives for being there… Well, she does have a secret, but it is not the one he expects...

Saffron Burton is a food journalist and she's come to Chef August Jaeger's restaurant to find out what he's dishing up for Restaurant Week. When they meet, sparks fly, as do the moans she makes when she tastes his food. She's interested and horny and wants more--from August. More of him and what he can give her.

Son, their heated exchange soon flares brighter and hotter as they explore their passion, with an explosion that might rock their budding foundation.

This was a good short and I loved how August lusts after Saffrons curves. I also love how she revels in her curves. This is one self-assured woman. Definitely a good story to read when you're in the mood for something steamy.


Conned by Chloe Cole:

A sexuality professor and a chemistry professor. Sparks fly! I liked this story immensely. Will science prevail or will human emotion… or both? The principal characters, Cricket Malloy and Tucker Lamb are attracted to each other. She brings out Tucker's latent sexuality and he brings out her tenderness. As they seem to be on a path of lustily, happily forever after, it seems Tucker's past might have caught up with him. I distinctly liked the way the characters developed and opened up in this story. They were not afraid to show their emotions nor let their beliefs be broken down. Especially their belief in themselves, as individuals, as well as a couple. It was sexy and steamy. And you don't want to miss Tucker's knowledge of ice.


Conquered by Cari Quinn:

Ok, I gotta say, a male stripper who can't dance but ends up getting the girl anyway? Total win in my book.

Shane Madison is a stripper. Well, not really. He's a fresh PI undercover on assignment for a skeevy client. He's dancing at a strip club to maintain his cover while he tries to gather evidence. That's where he meets his mark, Emma Donegan.

Emma is a serial monogamist and she just does not do one night stands. So, why, then is she so ready to drop her panties, turn her tail up and take a wild, one-night ride with a stripper who can't dance? She's attracted to him. She's finally letting herself be her self. I love that Emma came out of her shell to find happiness in Shane's arms.

This was a steam-the-glass story full of sexiness, hot male strippers in g-strings and mistaken identities that I adored and laughed aloud while I read their interactions. It also made me sweat a little. *fans self*

Convicted by Dee Tenorio:

What's a girl to do when shit hits the fan and all her hard work is about to go kaboom? She goes to the man she loves to save him from the mad, bad, dangerous man and his goons. Katrina "K.K." Killian is on an undercover assignment that just gets blown to all kingdom come and her incredibly sexy hero, Cade Evigan, is in mortal danger too.

Katrina and Cade have a tumultuous relationship. She doesn't want to hurt him and he can't stay away from her brand of trouble. The depth of emotion is like that elephant in the room--you simply can't ignore it nor do you want to miss what happens next. Let's just say, it involves promises of doing laundry as a labor of love forever and ever amen.

Congratulations, ladies, on a job well done! And I hope there are many more great stories to come from you all!

Good god, the heroine spends more time lamenting her size than going after what she wants. She even sees fat jokes in every aspect of life.

I'm not a small girl, but damn, even I don't spend that much time obsessing over my weight.

The first romance novel I'd ever read (at eleven years old) and I'm still in love with this. Thank you, Kathleen Woodiwiss for introducing me to the world of romance novels. I love you.

R.I.P. Kathleen Woodiwiss!!!

Review coming soon on the blog. Holy cow pie, y'all!

Review posted at Insane Hussein Reviews: http://bit.ly/DBTOReview

FIRST OF ALL, TEN THINGS YOU MUST KNOW ABOUT THIS BOOK:

1. *THRASHFLAILALLTHEANGRYFACES* (took that from Jess's twitter status: http://bit.ly/gzGsDj)
2. ZOMGZ I NEEDZ TEH NEXT BOOK NAOW!!!!!!!
3. Chaz is an ass.
4. Some other dude who is very integral in Shia's life is a bigger ass.
5. SNAKES, BEARS AND CROWS, OH MY!!!
6. <3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!<br/>7. People be trippin', yo!! FORREALZ!!
8. Amazingly awesome!
9. MUCH WINE CONSUMPTION
10. READ THIS BOOK AS SOON AS IT'S AVAILABLE!!!

Deceived By The Others (hereafter referred to DBTO) is the third installment of Jess Haines' H&W Investigations series with this book that made me flail and thrash in anger. There may have been spittle, y'all! Forrealz. I don't know how my brain didn't go esplodey!! Five stars all the way for DBTO and Jess for a freakin' awesome story that made me react in ways that I never do to a story. This is the book that got the best worst-good reactions from me, cuz it is AMAZINGLY AWESOME!!! I cursed Jess, I cried from laughter and I was pissed cuz yes, Chaz is an ass and a dog. A hairy beast who is an asshat. Literally (you know this from the previous two books).

Shia goes off with her hairy-scary-howls-at-the-moon-toss-him-a-Milkbone-and-a-razor boyfriend, Chaz. He's a douchenugget asshat extraordinaire, but hey, Shia likes that, until THINGS GET HAIRY!!!

So ok, they go off into the woods and she's all surrounded by strange peoplez and his band of dawgs who will all celebrate being hairy beasts and howl at the moon. You know, to see if she can "handle" it. Hey, man, give a dawg a bone. Or in this case, a tempting non-dawg named Shia.

But when they get up to the woods, strange things start to happen. Think Blair Witch Project, but without the witch. Or the camera crew. Replace all with werewolves tied to the full moon, y'all. Shia and Chaz are getting threatening notes and their not-so-quite love shack is getting ransacked. Of course, it must be some super sinister dude or perhaps it's the teenaged werewolves hanging around. Or maybe it's something even more diabolical, like when you go to the salon and they use the wrong dye color (ladies, you know what I'm talkin' about!).

Shit hits the fan (not literally, duh) and Shia learns some disturbing things which make her go "OMGWTFBBQ!!!ELEVENTY!!11!!!!!!! I need to take care of me first OMGHOWWHYWHAT!!!" Can't blame her, either. See what happens when your boyfriend is a dog (literally). So she gets all "het up" (that's ghetto for pissed off) and she's all "fuck this shit" and she leaves those mangy critters with her mind still spinning and she's still all WTF YO.

In case you're wondering, yes, Royce is in this installment (what, Jess knows what I like--YEA THAT'S RIGHT) as are characters from the previous two books AND I'm all OMGWTFBBQ cuz I can't reveal more without giving away spoilers and I can't do that. Maybe I'll give you a spoiler the day DBTO is released.......

But, my recommendation is this: Buy this book and you won't regret it. You'll curse Jess, maybe perform some voodoo on her cuz you're most likely gonna have the same reactions as I did AND I finished this in ONE SITTING IN ONE DAY!!! Yes, cuz this book is THAT awesome. Forrealz yo.

The third in the Demonslayers series, Starfire gave us a great story of love, redemption and revenge.

Selyn is one of the Forgotten Ones, a whole class of female warriors who were the reason why the Lemurians were so successful in wars past. Now, they are tossed aside and left to become miners... Essentially forgotten by the Lemurians who consider themselves "upper class". However, the Forgotten Ones haven't forgotten, nor have they forgiven.

Dawson is a really cool man who brings his compassion and knowledge of life and healing to his story of true love. He's a good man, with a good heart. He's also Selyn's chance at bringing the Forgotten Ones out of their bonds of slavery and true love and the freedom that it brings.

I really liked the story between these two, especially as Selyn overcomes her obstacles and learns to love while learning to trust a man. I felt that this was a great way to bring all the players to the front.

It made me think about how I'd feel if I were forgotten, abandoned to a life of misery and servitude. I knew I wouldn't like it one bit and I was angered for their sake. I wanted to go right up to Alton's father and strangle him slowly and mercilessly for his ineptitude as a leader and as a man.

Now, it was a bit slow in certain areas, but I plunged right on, and saw the characters develop. I also got to read about them kicking ass and taking names, which is always a good thing, as I do so love a kick-ass heroine (and hero!)!

All in all, I felt that the story, while slow at times, was strong and the most emotional of all the Demonslayers books.

I thank Ms. Douglas for this great read and I hope to see these wonderful characters in the future (HINT HINT, KATE).

I really disliked this heroine. :-/

BLURB:

Twice the Cowboy: Manuel Santos Fuentes was not the type of cowboy Jess Graff was used to. From the moment they met during the El Paso International Rodeo, Jess wanted the Charro. When Manuel is injured during El Paso de la Muerte, Jess seizes the opportunity to get his vaquero into bed. But cross-cultural misunderstandings and family feuds threaten to destroy their relationship before it really starts. Can two men from wildly different backgrounds overcome hatred and jealousy and learn to trust in each other?

Twice the Ride: Saddle up for the much anticipated sequel to Twice the Cowboy! The story of Jess and Manuel continues. A Rodeo, a wedding and an uncle with attitude... Jess tries to negotiate his way through Manuel's family and feelings. It isn't easy for the cowboy to deal with a culture he doesn't really understand. And it isn't easy to trust, for either of them. Misunderstandings mix with Manuel's machismo and Jess' bravado to tear at the still fragile underpinnings of their relationship. Can their bond survive a weekend with Manuel's family?

Why don't I start out by saying that I truly loved this series? I did. I've been a fan of gay erotica for quite some time now and this two-part series only further confirmed that this is a genre to read.

We meet Manuel Fuentes in Twice the Cowboy. ((Yes, the title is indeed indicative of its storyline--couldn't you tell?)) He's a hot, spicy Mexican cowboy out to win as many rodeos as possible and to conquer the heart of the one man he knows he'll love forever: Jess Graff. Jess, a hard-working man, also is a rodeo cowboy. He's also whitebread America ((my interpretation)). And gay. And so totally in love with Manuel.

We also meet Manuel's uncle, a homophobe and a jerk. Oh, and Manuel's horse, Mango. I love that the horse's name is Mango, it's so adorable. ((The horse, Mango, is important in Twice the Cowboy.))

What I really liked most about this series is the chemistry between Manuel and Jess. They know who they are and they know what they can bring to the table, yet they're shy and sweetly romantic. And they burn up the sheets like no one's business. You can feel the emotions and the conflicts and family loyalties that divide a man from his family and bring the two heroes together. Buchanan did a very good job of making us aware of the cultural divides and the love that Manuel and Jess have and feel for each other. It's almost tangible in its own way. They find their own way to love and a pseudo happiness. I say pseudo happiness only because there are a few somewhat unresolved issues and feelings and that is clearly shown through Buchanan's writing. This is what the sequel, Twice the Ride, ((again, indicative of its title, yes?)) brings to the forefront.

In Twice the Ride, Buchanan brings us back to Manuel, Jess ((well, they're the heroes, duh)) and Manuel's family. We are brought to all the resolutions needed from the prequel and I was not disappointed. I LOVE resolutions. If they can't be had in the original story, then they'd best be clearly resolved in a follow-up. And that's where Buchanan excelled in this, the category of my heart's love and joy, definitive resolutions. ((Most people who know me know I love resolutions, dammit.)) Throw in the rodeo, a wedding and lots of sex and resolution and hope for a happy future, and you get Twice the Ride.

This series is a must-read and is definitely a re-read for me!