Recent Reads

Four Books And A Movie

I’ve been a bit scarce lately and I haven’t really meant to be but I’ve been reading some great books lately and since it’s been quite a while since my reading mojo has been this strong, I’ve just been going with it. Normally my ‘thought’s are longer then these, but I’m behind so I’m going to have to do my best to be succinct – and I’m sure failing miserably!

Book #1

Branded by Fire by Nalini Singh

Why this one: I’ve really enjoyed this series and it was a given that I would read the next book when it came out

Steam Level: Best have a glass of COLD water with you when you read this one!

Blurb: When a brilliant changeling researcher is kidnapped, DarkRiver sentinel Mercy, a cat, and SnowDancer lieutenant Riley, a wolf, must work together to track the young man—before his shadowy captors decide he’s no longer useful. Along the way, the two dominants may find that submitting to one another uncovers not just a deadly conspiracy, but a passion so raw that it’ll leave them both branded by fire.

My Thoughts: You can tell a book has hold of me when I go to the lengths I went to, to read Branded by Fire. I took it to Washington DC with me. I was hoping it would keep my mind busy during the terror of flying. It didn’t work during the take off and landing; I don’t think anything can do that. But I was quite content during the flight while reading it. I kept it in my purse at all times and took it out whenever I had a spare moment to read. I was reading it when a rather nice man came up to me while I was sitting outside the hotel and only reluctantly put it down. And this for a guy – talking to me!! I had it with me when Wendy, Rosie and I finally made it to the Library of Congress after a very long walk *g* and decided I would rather sit outside – where it was hot – and I don’t like hot – and read Branded by Fire then walk even more whilst touring the Library. I read it while waiting for the airbus at the airport and was almost disappointed when the bus showed up. And I finished it that night despite wanting to do nothing more then head for bed.

What I enjoyed about this one is it’s a changeling/changeling match so we didn’t get too much into the Phys net storyline. I still find that confusing even after all these books. I really liked the fact that Mercy was such a strong heroine. While I still enjoyed them quite a bit, in a couple of the previous books the somewhat physical helplessness of the heroines got to me a bit. But in this one Mercy is more then capable of holding her own against Riley.

I’m loving this series and this one is no exception. I think it’s my favourite so far!!

Grade: 4.5 out of 5

Book #2

Bound By Your Touch by Meredith Duran

Why this one: I adored her first book, The Duke of Shadows. When I read it, I knew it was special and this is an author who I want to read more of. She was on my list of books to get in DC and get it I did!

Blurb: Silver-tongued Viscount Sanburne is London’s favorite scapegrace. Alas, Lydia Boyce has no interest in being charmed. When his latest escapade exposes a plot to ruin her family, she vows to handle it herself. Certainly she requires no help from a too-handsome dilettante whose main achievement is being scandalous.

But Sanburne’s golden charisma masks a sharper mind and darker history than she realizes. He shocks Lydia by breaking past her prim facade to the woman beneath . . . and the hidden fire no man has ever recognized. But as she follows him into a world of intrigue, she will learn that the greatest danger

Steam Level: *blinks eyes* I can’t remember – how can that be? But I do know the whole book was very satisfying so it must have been a good temperature

My Thoughts: It took me a while to get to her first book, The Duke of Shadows. I’d had it on the TBR pile and when I finally read it, wondered why I took so long!

I didn’t wait with this one.

Though Bound By Your Touch didn’t have quite the angst level of Duke of Shadows, I still enjoyed it immensely. Lydia was a prickly kind of heroine and as long as they aren’t overdone, I really enjoy a bristly heroine. After a brief and aborted shot at love when the man she had loved asked her for her sisters hand in marriage, Lydia pretty much dedicated herself to her father’s work. He was an Egyptologist who spent most of his time abroad while Lydia managed his affairs at home. However this is all threatened when she is giving a lecture of his work and is rudely interrupted when Sanburne breaks into the meeting and takes over with his own agenda. He has, to put it mildly, a strained relationship with his father. These two are brought together when he lords it over his father that he has a true piece of history and Lydia exposes it as a fake.

I love the relationship between these two characters. Sanburne is almost an Adonis and Lydia is described as only fair in looks, especially next to her more beautiful sisters, but to Sanburne, looks are unimportant. He finds her beautiful and that’s that.

They are a case of opposites attract. Lydia refuses to hear anything bad about her father, even when the evidences starts coming in that he might not be the ethical person she’s always believed him to be. Sanburne, on the other hand, hates his father and has made it his life’s work to become an embarrassment to the family name. If he had a few too many ‘woe is me’ moments, well, that just made him more interesting and one of the final scenes more interesting.

The dialogue between them is wonderful; I love a book with well written banter between hero and heroine and if you do too, this is one to get!

What stands out for me about Ms. Duran’s books is her writing. It’s almost lyrical in nature and follows in the mode of some of my favourite authors, Laura Kinsale, Jo Goodman. I don’t know how to put it other then she writes ‘rich’. And richly written books are too far and few between these days! I had barely finished when I knew I’d have to add her next one, Written on Your Skin to my pile and read it soon!

Grade: 4.75 out of 5

Book #3

The Fire King by Marjorie M Liu

Why this one: I received an ARC and it just ‘called’ to me. After the success of Branded by Fire, I was in the mood for another Paranormal.

Steam Level: Can a book be considered steamy when there is no “love” scene? Why, in this case I think it can.

Blurb: Long ago, shape-shifters were plentiful, soaring through the sky as crows, racing across African veldts as cheetahs, raging furious as dragons atop the Himalayas. Like gods, they reigned supreme. But even gods have laws, and those laws, when broken, destroy.

Zoufalstv. Eptoivo. Asa. Three words in three very different languages, and yet Soria understands. Like all members of Dirk & Steele, she has a gift, and hers is communication: That was why she was chosen to address the stranger. Strong as a lion, quick as a serpent, Karr is his name, and in his day he was king. But he is a son of strife, a creature of tragedy. As fire consumed all he loved, so an icy sleep has been his atonement. Now, against his will, he has awoken. Zoufalstv. Eptoivo. Asa. In English, the word is despair. But Soria knows the words for love.

My Thoughts: I read the first book in Marjorie M Liu’s Dirk and Steel series, Tiger Eye and loved it and didn’t read any more of the series. Now I’m wondering why on earth not???

I was curious going into this book how it would work since it’s book 7 in the series and the only previous one I had read was the first. I have a few minor questions, but overall, I had no trouble following the story.

Karr was a creature from thousands of years ago. A Chimera, a result of two different kinds of shape shifters whose kind had been hunted and killed. But they fought back and Karr was a Warlord of the Chimera who had asked to be killed when he did something unforgiveable. But instead of dying, he was in some kind of suspended animation, coming back to life when his tomb was uncovered. The leader of Dirk and Steele sends our heroine, Soria, to where he is being held as she has a knack of speaking every language out there and is probably the only one who can communicate with this person from centuries past. But it seems that while there might be any Chimera left on earth, there are still shape shifters and they have more then a passing interest in Karr. He and Soria must outrun them to hope to keep Karr alive.

I really enjoyed this book! It didn’t bother me not having read the intervening books. I do have some of them and you can bet I’ll be tracking them down.

Karr is my favourite kind of hero. Tortured, noble, alone; he has awakened in a time he knows nothing about and is truly a lost soul. But as a Warlord of his former tribe, he is strong and nicely alpha/

And I found the character of Sonia to be quite interesting. She had wounds of her own – physically as well as emotionally. She is still adjusting to the fact that she lost her arm from almost the shoulder down. I don’t know if this was brought up in a previous novel or not, but it’s finally explained how she lost it. She is still feeling quite a few phantom pains from it and dealing with everyone reactions to her. But Karr is probably the only person she feels safe with.

I mentioned earlier that there is no real love scenes between these two but there is A Lot of chemistry and I didn’t feel the lack of a consummated love scene. They came pretty close a few times and it was still pretty steamy.

Grade: 4.5 out of 5

Book #4

Don't Tempt Me by Loretta Chase

Why this one: I read Nath's review and it intrigued me enough and it's been while since I've read Loretta Chase and she is one of my auto buy authors that I moved this one up.

Blurb: Spunky English girl overcomes impossible odds and outsmarts heathen villains.

That's the headline when Zoe Lexham returns to England. After twelve years in the exotic east, she's shockingly adept in the sensual arts. She knows everything a young lady shouldn't and nothing she ought to know. She's a walking scandal, with no hope of a future . . . unless someone can civilize her.

Lucien de Grey, the Duke of Marchmont, is no knight in shining armor. He's cynical, easily bored, and dangerous to women. He charms, seduces, and leaves them--with parting gifts of expensive jewelry to dry their tears. But good looks, combined with money and rank, makes him welcome everywhere. The most popular bachelor in the Beau Monde can easily save Zoe's risque reputation . . . if the wayward beauty doesn't lead him into temptation, and a passion that could ruin them both.

My Thoughts: Oh My Goodness!! I LOVED this book. I thought I'd come out right off the bat and let everyone know this. This book has it all!

Lucien, after seeing everyone he loved die in his youth, the final straw being Zoe's disappearance, has decided that he won't feel anything. He's lost too much and as a result has become cold and aloof, a master of whit and everything one would detest in a hero. But the reader knows that's not his real character. He is dragged kicking back into feeling when Zoe returns to the bosom of her family and needs help in becoming a part of society again. He's wildly attracted to her and her innocent yet very seductive ways.

And Zoe - what a wonderful character she is!! She's a mix of innocence and sensuality. She knows what she wants - Lucien - and goes after him even though she's not quite sure she is ready to head back into a cage of 'marriage' after living so long in a harem.

There were many moments in this book that had me smiling and chuckling and when I close the cover, I couldn't help but think "Well Done Ms. Chase!!" While not quite up to the same level as my all time favourite by her, Lord of Scoundrels, this one comes very, very close! This one gets a real thumbs up from this satisfied reader!

Grade: 5 out of 5

And A Movie

I ordered a number of old movies from Amazon (real old *g*). I watched the first of the list just the other day.

Lady Chatterley with Jolie Richardson and Sean Bean

Why this one: I've been curious to see it for a while now

Steam Level: OK - *right, gulp* yup!!

Blurb: Those who believe British miniseries to be too proper and corseted may want to make an exception for Ken Russell's 1992, four-hour BBC adaptation of D.H. Lawrence's scandalous novel. Between the full frontal female nudity and empowering shed-rocking sex scenes, this is something for everyone to have a randy good time. To save you the bother of fast-forwarding, episodes two and three contain the very naughtiest bits involving the illicit affair between "loyal wife, good companion" Constance Chatterly (Joely Richardson) and Oliver Mellors (Sean Bean), gamekeeper to Constance's embittered, paralyzed husband (James Wilby). When he insists his wife take a lover and produce an heir to his fortune, he didn't have the lowly "wild man of the woods" in mind. Neither did Constance, but soon enough the woods are alive with the sound of heavy panting and frantic gropings up against trees. The production is impeccably mounted--no pun intended--and the performances (particularly by the daring Ms. Richardson) impassioned. Save for one dream sequence involving a black horse (a symbol of passion, one character helpfully explains), and the, at times, overheated musical score that threatens to overwhelm the lovers, Russell (Tommy, Altered States) holds his tendencies toward excess in check.

My Thoughts: First off - I didn't realize it was a four part mini-series from BBC so it was four hours long. I had a girlfriend from work over watching it with me and after the first love scene we looked at each other and thought his technique needed a bit of work - it was rather 'slam bang, thank you mam'ish. And then the second one - against a tree - well my girlfriend didn't think she'd ever want to try that. As for me - I'll keep it under consideration.

But he did seem to improve with time. And the frolicking in the rain scene was everything I promised her to entice her to come watch it with me.

All jocularity aside - it was a pretty good movie - mind you - no North and South - but I think I'll watch it again - only to further study the 'against the tree' scene (damn it - I couldn't put jocularity aside after all)

I thought Sean Bean did a good job of portraying the somewhat rough hewn Mellors and Jolie Richardson did a wonderful job of playing the sexually frustrated Lady Chatterley.

There was one scene that really 'got' to me - when Chatterley was describing how the lower class were - lower - and their soul purpose was to be on hand for the 'upper' class. He went on and on, meanwhile the servants were standing right there as if they didn't have any feelings of their own. He really was a grade A jerk and it made the ending even better after that.

I've only read the 'naughty' bits of the novel by D.H. Lawrence and that was when I was a very young and impressionable and 'exploring' the stuff that goes on between men and women.

And let’s face it – a movie with Sean Bean running nekkid through a field just has to get good marks for that alone!

One thing that kept it from getting higher marks - the music!! Normally I like the musical scores in movies, but in this one, the music was too loud and to overly dramatic and too distracting!

Grade: 4 out of 5

Recent Read

Book 2 of 2009


Duke of Shadows by Meredith Duran

Why This One: I’ve had it for a while now and it was always on my TBR list. It finally made it to the top of the pile. And I know many have read and loved it.

Steam Level: While not nearly as hot as the last one, few are, it was still warm enough for me to enjoy

Amazon Blurb: From exotic sandstone palaces...

Sick of tragedy, done with rebellion, Emmaline Martin vows to settle quietly into British Indian society. But when the pillars of privilege topple, her fiancé's betrayal leaves Emma no choice. She must turn for help to the one man whom she should not trust, but cannot resist: Julian Sinclair, the dangerous and dazzling heir to the Duke of Auburn.

To the marble halls of London...

In London, they toast Sinclair with champagne. In India, they call him a traitor. Cynical and impatient with both worlds, Julian has never imagined that the place he might belong is in the embrace of a woman with a reluctant laugh and haunted eyes. But in a time of terrible darkness, he and Emma will discover that love itself can be perilous -- and that a single decision can alter one's life forever.

Destiny follows wherever you run.

A lifetime of grief later, in a cold London spring, Emma and Julian must finally confront the truth: no matter how hard one tries to deny it, some pasts cannot be disowned...and some passions never die.

My Thoughts: I don’t know why it took me so long to get around to reading this one!!! I love unusual settings in romance and I knew this would be one I would enjoy. Years ago I read M.M. Kaye and her wonderful India set books.

After surviving a horrific tragedy when the ship Emmaline Martin was sailing to India on sinks and she is the only survivor, she arrives in India and it’s apparent to her that she doesn’t fit in with the rest of English society. She doesn’t hold the same disdain for the people of India that so many of her fellow British residents do. Engaged since she was young to a Colonel in the army there, she is dismayed by his numerous peccadilloes. Then she meets Julian Sinclair and some excitement begins in her life. Julian is the heir to a dukedom, but still unaccepted in the exclusive society due to his Indian blood. But there is an attraction between Emmaline and Julian that can’t be denied. When mutiny erupts across the land, Julian takes her to safety and then must leave her to see to his Indian family.

And this is only the first part of the book. The second half takes place five years later back in England. Julian thought that Emmaline died in the mutiny and Emmaline thinks that Julian abandoned her. When Julian discovers her not only alive, the artist of a series of stunning and scandalous paintings of the rebellion, he also discovers that Emmaline is not the same hopeful yet innocent young woman he had fallen in love with.

Quite simply, I loved this book! I loved Emmaline and the sufferings she has endured. In the second half of the book, she is frozen inside, yet still full of passion and determined to hate Julian for his abandonment. When she discovers the truth; that he searched endlessly for her, she still holds him at arms length due to her actions while still in India. My heart broke for her in everything she went through.

I also enjoyed Julian though he was still a bit of a mystery. We didn’t learn much of him until later in the book.

The writing is powerful and it’s reminiscent of Shadow of the Moon by M.M. Kaye, a book I read and loved years ago.

I met Meredith Duran in SF, though I doubt she remembers me. Now I’m wishing that I’d read this book before I went so I could have gushed when I met her. But of course on the other hand, now it’s not long a wait for her next books!!

I know this is a book I’ll reread again!

Grade: 5 out of 5

Duke of Shadows of Meredith Duran

2008 has been a great year in books overall and as the summer is upon us I realize there are so many more releases to look forward to. Also, it seems historical romance has improved greatly this year and one such author who has contributed to this is Meredith Duran. Duke of Shadows is Meredith’s freshman effort and I hope she will not become a one hit wonder in the publishing world. Did you known she won at Gather.com where they held a contest for unpublished romance novelists? Meredith submitted the first chapter of Duke of Shadows there and won a publishing contract. Most of us have found Joanna Bourne to be our historical romance savior and I can say that Meredith Duran should be placed on the same pedestal. If you haven’t read Duke of Shadows, you should. This is a wonderful book with a different setting, two wonderful main characters and of course some very passionate love scenes.

Emmaline Martin has traveled all the way from England to be with her fiancé who is an officer in the British army and stationed in Delhi, India. Emma is still in major shock over the death of her parents. The ship she and her parents where on sunk and Emma was the only survivor. She is all alone and the British Colonists treat her like she has the plague. Her fiancé, who should be her rock to fall back on, is a major abusive ass. He really just wants her money and feels women should be seen and not heard. Emma is definitely not a woman who will stay quiet. I wouldn’t say she is that typical sassy and spunky heroine we usually read about, but rather a mature woman whose eyes hold so much within their depths.

Then one night at a party to honor her fiancé (Marcus), Julian Sinclair, who is Marcus’s cousin, notices Emma because she looks so bored. There is nothing extraordinary about her, but there is something he finds appealing. A simple phrase she mutters as he overhears her has him falling for her even though he doesn’t realize it at first. This happens right in the beginning where Emma is drinking a glass of wine and thinking she is alone, throws her wine into the bushes and says-“Pig swill.”

From that moment on, these two have a constant battle of wills and their conversations back and forth is a form of seduction and foreplay between these two. Emma is no wilting British miss as Julian assumes at first. Julian is not only a Marquess of the British realm but is of mixed English and native Indian descent caught in between both worlds. He would very much like to seduce Emma even though she is engaged to his dope of a cousin who Julian can’t stand. They form a shaky friendship where Emma, in turn finds the Marquess to be a strange yet at the same time a man who makes her feel alive for the first time since her parents’ death.

Before these two can really explore their passion for each other, the natives bring war upon the British and Emma is caught in the crossfire. Julian quickly comes to her rescue. And since these two have to rely on each other, their attraction for each other explodes. Julian realizes this is not some woman he can tally with. The scene where they first make love is all consuming and the words between these two are so very beautiful:

“I’m here,” he said into her ear as the tears came faster. “Emma, I’m here with you now. Listen to me: I will always be here.”
Always, she thought. He said “always,” but he had forgotten to say finally. Finally you are here. Thank God, finally at last.

Those few lines are very telling for what is about to come because Julian must leave Emma. Emma is changed forever because she first lost her parents and now found Julian, who told her he will be with her forever, and that she will never be alone again. He leaves her because he must and then they don’t see each other for another three years where Emma has undergone a radical change.

When these two see each other again, they are in England. Julian thought Emma was dead and when they meet, the emotions on his face show the hell he has gone through. Emma saw so much bloodshed and horror, that she still suffers and uses her pain to paint horrific paintings of her time in India as she waited for Julian to come back to her. They are no longer lovers or even friends.

The first part of the story when Emma and Julian are in India is amazing, but somewhat stalls during the second half in England. Someone is trying to kill Emma, but regardless of some lagging, Duke of Shadows still kept me hooked. This is quite an intelligent and emotional story of suffering and angst. The setting and characters are so different and fascinating that you will not want to take your eyes away from the page.

If this is a start of Meredith’s writing career, I can’t wait to be along for the ride!

4 out of 5 stars

Katiebabs (KB)

New Author To Look Out For?

I was looking around for future romance releases on Amazon. (yes, I have a love/hate relationship with the site that doesn't like my book reviews) and found new author- Meredith Duran. She has a book coming out in April called The Duke of Shadows.

Description:

Heartsick of scandal, betrayed by the one man who should have stood by her, Emmaline Martin has no interest in courting trouble. But when violence seizes the British colonies, she must turn for help to the one man whom she should not trust, but cannot resist: Julian Sinclair, the dark and dazzling heir to the Duke of Auburn.
In London, they toast Sinclair with champagne. In India, they call him a traitor. When Emma's life falls into his hands, Julian cannot imagine the lengths he will go to keep her safe -- or how love itself will become their greatest danger.
A lifetime later, in a cold London spring, Emma and Julian will finally confront the truth: no matter how hard one tries to deny it, some pasts cannot be disowned . . . and some passions may never die.

Want an excerpt?

Are there any new authors I should keep an eye on in the next 6 months? I am always looking for the next best thing. :)

Katiebabs

PS- Yet another half face naked chest cover! What a trend this has become. Look at that belly button. Snort.