The Eternal Rose by Gail Dayton

Last week was, for the most part, not a good week. However, dee and I were pumped to get one piece of most excellent news, and that is Dee & dee will be quoted in Kristan Higgins next book, CATCH OF THE DAY. If you'll remember I picked Higgins' debut novel FOOLS RUSH IN as my Best Book of 2006. I have lost count of how many copies of FRI I have actually purchased and sent to people, and how many people I've recommended the book to that I saw buy it. It's that good. So, to be quoted in the next book from such a talented author is just...well, it's just too darn cool. And finally, before I get started, Sewicked, I still have not heard from you with your address for the contest win. Please e-mail me your addy so that I may get that to Michele. If I don't hear from you by weeks end I'll have to pick a new name. And now, without further ado...

THE ETERNAL ROSE by Gail Dayton
(BCC)

Six years ago, the demons behind the rebellion in Adara were defeated, and Kallista Varyl was named the new Renine. Now, finally, word has come that her abducted family members might be found in the homeland her mate Obed abandoned. She packs up the family for a state visit, but disaster strikes: One of the godmarked is murdered, leaving Kallista devastated. But there are children to rescue, slaves to free, and the wicked working of demons to set aright. A ninth godmarked must be found to make the magic whole - but Kallista will need more than magic to heal her this time.

This is the final book of The Compass Rose Trilogy, so when I sat down to read it, I was nervous that I would be lost (as I had not read the other two books). Let's just say I was pleasantly surprised that that was not the case. In fact, Dayton's writing is so solid that I fell immediately into the story and lost myself in the world.

It was another pleasant surprise to find that the fact I read the BCC and the publishers literature that accompanied the book did not take away from the story in any fashion. The BCC is spot on and not at all misleading and for the first time in a long time I promptly forgot it while I read.

Kallista Varyl is the Reinin, Ruler of all Adara and she is also Chosen by the One, Godstruck. With her nine godmarked, all members of her ilian, she rules the country by day and searches for demons at night. Unfortunately, since peace has been the order of the day for so long, Kallista has let her magical muscles relax, so that when trouble comes calling, Kallista is not expecting it.

When a demon escaped them last, he rode out of town in the body of one of their ilian, and she was pregnant with child. Now, it appears, the demon is ready to toy with them again. Just after death spells are found in the palace, a messenger arrives from Obed's homeland, and brings a picture of a boy who could only be the child of their lost family member.

Kallista, the rest of her ilian, all of their children, and several guards set off to make the long and dangerous trip to Daryath. A place where ilian are unacceptable, and the offense of belonging to such a family is an offense that could be punishable by death. Once there, they find the town riddled with demon stink, and know that first and foremost they want to rescue their missing family, but then they will have to do battle with the demons.

But, the demons aren't quite that easy to find, and when negotiations for the child and mother end in murder, Kallista and her ilian find themselves one ilian and godmarked short, and with his loss comes the lessening of their magic and without a ninth godmarked they stand no chance against the very old, very evil demon that is polluting the city with hate.

The Eternal Rose is a fast-paced page turner, and I found it almost impossible to turn away from Kallista and the rest, as they try to free their lost son who has been serving as a slave, in a court that bring an entire new meaning to the term "custody battle", fight demons, try to free slaves, protect their children, and try to deal with the loss of a very beloved ilian.

There was only one thing that made me stop and say "hmmmm" in the entire book, and that had to do with a very, awwww, steamy part that left me scratching my head at the impossibility of the act. Other than that, Kallista and her family touched me deep with the amount of love they held for one another. I felt as if I knew these people, and I, for one, very much enjoyed my time spent in their world.

If you are an inspiring Fantasy writer, The Eternal Rose, is a must read. Dayton is a master at world building and she does it without ever breaking pace. She managed create a world so very different from our own, but also make the people in it so real. Or if you are just a reader looking for a great book to take you away for a while, this book is for you. I'm going to have to order the first two books in the trilogy now, as I did not want to leave Kallista and the Adarans behind and I'm willing to bet you'll find yourself doing the same!

Take Care

Nimaur's Loss by Camille Gabor

Guess what I got? Go ahead, guess! I just picked up THE UNFORTUNATE MISS FORTUNES by Jennifer Crusie, Eileen Dreyer, and Anne Stuart! That's what! I'm stoked. I plan to read it today, and I'm pretty sure dee has it as well, so I think we will be able to work out a joint dish on that one!! Today is the third day in a row that we've had rain, sucky for the kids, good for my posting. So without further ado...


Nimaur's Loss by Camille Gabor*
(BCC)


daughters of magic


Ninianee and Erianthee, the noble daughters of Vildecaz, possess quite different talents. Pretty, charming, Eri can craft entertainments out of thin air; captivating and energetic Nini can communicate with animals. But Nini's true talent must be kept secret: during the full moon, she is transformed into an animal - and never knows if she'll be predator or prey.


Both sisters must play their parts in protecting Vildecaz from political machinations - and their father from his rival, the perfidious magician Yulko Bihn. As noble heiresses, Eri and Nini can never be sure any man's attentions are genuine. But when intrigue and a mysterious disappearance imperils all, they must decide who to trust - and who to love.


*Author has no website. Clicking name will take you to her Juno Books author page that has a short bio of the author.


This is not going to be an easy dish to do, but I'm gonna try. Why, you ask, is this going to be difficult? Well, first off the actual story takes up only 181 pages of the 239 page book. This is followed by a 24 page excerpt of the next book. Then, there is a 22 page Glossary topping it all off. Also, this book, IMO, isn't really a novel. It's more of an introduction (a very long one) to a novel. There is no clear goal, no clear motive behind their worries, and there is most definitely not a conclusion. In fact, it ends with an ill disguised cliff hanger, that belongs on the screen, but not in books. With books I want resolution! I think all readers want a resolution of some sort, and this one disappoints in that area greatly.

When I first began reading Nimaur's, I'll admit, I was lost as could be. I couldn't pronounce names, I had no idea what time frame we were supposedly in, I didn't know what or where any of the places they were speaking of were, I had no idea what the titles meant, and I had no clue about some of the clothing and food they were wearing/consuming.

Truth be told, not being able to pronounce names was OK, because I got to use my imagination. But everything else made reading slow as my mind tried to make sense of the goings on. It was clear that this was not a book set in the near past, and it was clear that in the world this author had created that magic was the norm for many people. And as I continued reading and became more familiar with my own pronunciation key, I actually started to enjoy the book.

And then... I noticed that it didn't appear to be going anywhere. This is when I checked to see how much longer the book was going to last and discovered the glossary and excerpt. As the BCC suggests, Eri's talent is producing "Shadowshows" and this is where she uses the spirits to tell a story. The spirits appear to be there, I was imagining it to be something like a holographic play. Nini's talent is to talk to animals, and then every full moon she turns into one herself. There is no rhyme or reason to the animal she will become, so indeed, she never does know if she will be a predator or a docile prey.

While I enjoyed Eri's talent, and could see how it was used in this book, Nini's talent confused me. She called upon the animals to come to her aid once and that was useful, but the shape-shifting was confusing. Why does she need to keep it a secret? Why, besides the fact that it puts her family in a bind, does she shift in this particular book?

Nimuar is the girls' father, and after much reading I was able to realize that their unexpected guest, Yulko Bihn had cheated somehow in a magical dual with him, and he lost most of his magic and mind. He's searching for something called Agnith's Treasure, but I'm still unsure of what it is or why he (and everyone else) seems to want it so badly.

Each girl has an old flame show back up and they don't seem to be able to make up their minds whether this is good or bad. The relationships are not clear as to why these men were no longer in the girls' lives. I could tell that Nini's man had said he was leaving and then did not. So the Romance aspect of this is pretty much nil. Lots of telling not showing.

I kept going from annoyed to enjoyment in the book, but ultimately annoyed would have to be my finally assessment. Mainly for the no real clear plot or resolution aspect. The premise of the book is imaginative, and other than a rather annoying habit of info dump and unnecessary scenes, the author has a rather unique voice.

I can't really recommend you buy this book, but I won't dissuade you either, as if the next book end up in your TBR pile, you are going to have to read this one to understand anything. Plus, there were a few parts where I actually did enjoy the reading.

Take Care

Matters of the Blood by Maria Lima

WOW! I apologize for being silent the last couple of days. The weather here has been absolutely NUTS! Tornado's, flooding, and tons of lightning. Needless to say, the computers in my house have been silent most of the week-end. We're in for more, which is just oh so much fun! Hopefully, the river will hold and not flood out our town. Though The Hubs said it was banking this afternoon. YIKES! Anyway, if I don't here from the winner of last months FAB contest by tomorrow at noon, I will be drawing a new winner from the entries, so Ali, please contact me at deeanddeedish at sbcglobal.net so that I can get your snail mail addy to R.L.. Otherwise, stay tuned for a new name tomorrow. Also, don't forget to do your part and enter this mini contest. And now that all that's out of the way...

MATTERS OF THE BLOOD by Maria Lima
(BCC)

Keira Kelly, half-breed descendant of a powerful supernatural family, has to live apart from her clan and among humans in the Texas Hill Country. When she experiences a prophetic vision that foretells the vicious murder of her human cousin Marty, she vows to determine the truth. Soon, Keira begins to uncover long-concealed secrets, and risks alienating everyone she knows - from her former lover, Sheriff Carlton Larson, to the enigmatic Adam Walker, who's become so much more than just an acquaintance...

Ahh, gotta love the short BCC. I'm telling you, I much prefer the short and sweet stuff. No room to mislead. Just enough info to either hook me or not. In this case, it was definitely just right to get me curious enough to read on. That and this incredible first line, "I know the dead and the dead know me."

Keira Kelly does indeed come from a powerful supernatural family, "the clan" is made up of were's, necromancers, seers, and so much more. Each member goes through "The Change" in which they come into their power. No one is sure exactly what supernatural talent they may eventually end up with, but while it is happening they can experience many changes.

"Meet Keira Kelly: not-so-a-child prodigy...Likes: old movies, good books, and great wine. Trained as: "escort," temporarily on leave. Talents: clairvoyance, farseeing, necromancy - a lovely smorgasbord of supernatural powers and things that go bump in the night. I left off shapeshifting, since that would overkill to state the obvious."

Keira is Changing, and with her clan in Canada, where she likes them just fine, she is a bit worried that no one will be there to guide her, she's also a bit relieved that no one will be there to guide her. But when her (freak of nature) cousin, the totally human Marty, turns up dead, while she's supposed to be babysitting him, and she's had visions of it happening things are about to really get interesting in Keira's life.

In MATTERS , the cast of characters is vast. There is Bea, her best friend since childhood. Carlton Larson, ex-boyfriend and now sheriff. Adam Walker, a man - scratch that - vampire, that she had flirtations with during a few years spent living in England. Adam is now the owner of the newly re-opened Wild Moon ranch. When two deer end up dead in a most unsettling way, and Marty following, Keira can't say she's exactly upset when her brother Tucker shows up.
With all of the above, townspeople acting strange, and vampires out the Wild Moon trying to abstain from hunting, Keira has her hands full trying to find out who killed her cousin on her watch.

I'll admit, there was so much going on at first that I was a little lost. But Lima's writing is solid and enjoyable, and soon all the new characters and facets of Keira's life became clear and made the book almost impossible for me to put down. There were many twists and turns throughout the book, and just when I thought I had the whole thing figured out - WHAM! - Lima surprised me and proved me completely wrong.

Matters is a rather dark book, but Lima has a great sense of humor and was able to balance the two very well. If your looking for paranormal that has a great mystery element added in, MATTERS OF THE BLOOD is for you. There were several small copy editing mistakes, nothing dramatic, but enough to definitely be noticed, and if it weren't for those, I would have been asking Lima to be a FAB pick, I enjoyed the book that much. I can only hope that eventually, Lima will continue Keira Kelly's tale, this is one book I'd love to see made the first of a series.

Take Care

The Scent of Shadows and The Taste of Night - Double Dish

I'm going to do a double review today, sort of like I did with the Sweet Magnolia books. There are two reasons for this: I am behind on my dishes and want to catch up and also because once you've heard all about the first you are going to want to rush out the get them, so I may as well do a double whammy right now. Also, be sure to scroll down or click here to see the winners of this months FAB contests. And click here to support a great author and enter a contest. So, without further ado...

THE SCENT OF SHADOWS: The First Sign of the Zodiac by Vicki Pettersson
(BCC)

When she was sixteen, Joanna Archer was brutally assaulted and left to die in the Nevada desert. By rights, she should be dead.

Now a photographer by day, she prowls a different Las Vegas after sunset - a grim, secret Sin City where Light battles Shadow - seeking answers to whom or what she really is...and revenge for the horrors she was forced to endure.

But the nightmare is just beginning - for the demons are hunting Joanna, and the powerful shadows want her for their own...

THE TASTE OF NIGHT: THE SECOND SIGN OF THE ZODIAC

(BCC)

Equal parts Light and Shadow, Joanna Archer must fulfill a destiny she never wanted. Once a photographer and heiress to a casino fortune, she is now dedicated to the cause of good...but susceptible to the seductions of evil.

A deadly virus is descending on Las Vegas - a terrifying plague unleashed by the powerful overlord of the Zodiac's dark side: Joanna's father. Chaos and panic grip Sin City as agents of Light fall prey to the terrifying epidemic. Death reigns supreme - and Joanna stands at dead center of an epic and terrible war long foretold, the last hope of a damned world.

But first she must somehow conquer the malevolence that grows all around her...and within.

These BCC's are actually pretty good. These books are so jammed packed (in a totally good way) with twists and turns, that I most certainly have to give my props to the writers of these two BCC's.

Have you ever in your life read a comic book and wondered if it was real? Or perhaps you watch one of the movies made from a comic book and wish it was real. If that's the case, these books are for you. Joanna Archer, casino heiress, and daughter to one of the nastiest (and most successful) casino owners in Las Vegas is the polar opposite of her sister Olivia. When Joanna was sixteen, she was brutally attacked while trying to save her sister and left for dead. In what can only be described as every woman's nightmare, Joanna miraculously survives. However, she is never the same again.

Spending her nights photographing the rarely seen Las Vegas back alley's, Joanna hugs the shadows and hopes to one day find the monster that attacked her and exact some revenge of her own. But just twenty four hours before her twenty-fifth birthday Joanna has a blind date with a madman, is rescued by her first love that she hasn't seen since her attack, and hits a crazy homeless man. After yet another assassination attempt on her life, that ends with her sister being slain, Joanna learns that she is no ordinary human and is the daughter of the most powerful being in the Shadow organization and her mother was an agent for the Light.

In Pettersson's new Zodiac series, Joanna finds herself half Light and half Shadow. There has been a prophecy foretold that she will be the one to balance the Zodiac, but both sides want her for their own, and with her the demons from her past haunting her, Joanna just isn't sure she can control the Shadow in her well enough to be on the side of Light like she wants. Reverting to the "manuals" which are found in a comic book store, Joanna must learn of her past if she is to see a future. She must leave behind her old life in order to survive and protect humanity, but revenge is a hard thing to put down, and Joanna has carried her hatred and lust for revenge for so long that those that want her help the most can't even fully trust her.

With so many twists and turns, Pettersson kept me up way past bedtime just so I could finish these books. I gulped them up, and am almost sad of that, since it will be awhile I'm sure before the next one is released. Joanna Archer is an amazing character, one you genuinely feel for. Pettersson has made Joanna and her comic book world so real, so touching, and so action packed that you won't want to miss a page.

Sci-Fi lovers will LOVE these books. Paranormal fans that want something just a little different will LOVE these books. In fact, there is a little something for every genre reader packed inside these wonderfully written books. Dig in and let me know what you thought of them. I know I'm hooked and hope that there are many more to come.

Take Care

The Strangeling - Saskia Walker - ADULT REVIEW

Hello, Lovelies! before I start dishing on this book, I want to offer a big CONGRATS! to the winners of this months FAB contests. I'm searching high and low for next months FAB pick and I'm sure dee is doing the same. In the meantime, stay tuned for some great dish and dee's "Hometown Hero Week" coming up shortly. And now, without further ado...

THE STRANGELING by Saskia Walker
(BCC)

One woman alone holds the power...
...to undo the hundred-year-old curse of a deathless army. Maerose, a beautiful and resilient maiden, must repel this evil horde by mating with a man of faith - on Samhain Eve, at the gates of hell. Unleashed, the girl's dormant magic can save the world. But a demonic madman hungry for power threatens to doom them all...

This is the kind of BCC I like. Short and to the point. This kind of BCC leaves little room to misguide the reader to what the pages within contain, and I like that. As I've said before, if more publishers would adopt the less is more approach with the BCC's, I'd have less fodder, but readers would be happier.

When two fierce armies battle it out for the Strangeling (a mystical forest) they destroy each other, but as they lay dying, they agree they would have been much stronger fighting together than against. With that agreement, a curse was set. In one hundred years, the armies would rise again as demons, and rule the world. As their battle draws to an end, one of the elders of Western Tor, Amelia, sees what is to come, and that a maiden, who will come of age when the curse is to come to pass, will have the power to stop it from happening. "She is the heart of the Strangeling,...The daughter of Beltane." "She carries the spirit of summer in her every footstep...and she has the power to undo the curse..." And basically, she has to mate with a man of faith to break the curse.

All of the above information is given to us in the form of a Prologue, and really, you know how I feel about those. I did enjoy reading the prologue, but it was unnecessary. Everything we learn there is told in bits and pieces throughout the book. So while I did enjoy reading it, I think the pacing of the book would have been better without it.

When Maerose is kidnapped from the river while bathing, she finds herself held captive by a madman, Veldor. Initially thinking him an elder, she is doubly confused as to why he is being so cruel. After chaining her to the wall, Veldor makes sure that Maerose understands that he will make her his, and he will use her for his own gain of power.

When Bron senses that Maerose has been taken from Riversbend, he knows right away who is to blame - his once good friend Veldor. Both Bron and Veldor were raised by the elders at Western Tor, both taught how to use the magic that nature provides. They both studied the scrolls that told of the battle at the Strangeling. And they both knew either one of them could be the man of faith that would mate with Maerose on Samhain Eve.

Reaching deep into his magic, Bron rescues Maerose, and explains her destiny as written by the scrolls. But as Maerose and Bron get to know one another and Bron teaches her about his magic and the magic locked inside of her, Veldor also plans. Will Maerose and Bron be able to get to the Strangeling safely and overcome the evil below the earth as well as the evil that is Veldor's heart and desire for power? Will love and faith win? Or will all be be lost to a curse that was never meant to be broken?

I'll admit - I was surprised by how much I enjoyed STRANGELING. It isn't an OMG I cannot put this down kind of book but it is a very entertaining read. Walker creates a very believable world of magic and love. A world where magic is real but used by few. Walker made Maerose a very strong woman, yet at the same time very naive, and it was impressive how she could be both but not make me want to scream.

I also have erotica on my labels and I did so because the sex scenes in this book are very explicit. HOT, but very explicit. Very well written, but once again very explicit. And here is where I tell you that I am an absolute nerd. I'm reading these scenes (and there are a'plenty) and when the POV is Maerose, although the context was far from funny, I found myself giggling. I really did feel like a child at times. And this is NOT the author's fault. With the time frame of the book, the words used had me feeling like a kid caught reading momma's steamy Harlequins. Here's an example of what I mean, "Your teats are full with passion. Touch them for me."

But, STRANGELING is so much more than erotica or magic. At it's heart, STRANGELING shows how believing in ourselves and taking a chance really can pay off. There were also some very quotable moments in the book, and I just wanted to share one of those with you. "The best a couple can do is be strong for each other, if one of them is weak. Each one of us lives life like the ebb and flow of the tides, sometimes waning, sometimes fierce. Ultimately, though, one person cannot be strong all the time; in a couple, or a chain, they will always be strong." Even if the rest of the book would have been a stinker (which is definitely was not), the poetic way Walker weaved those words was enough to make the book a good read.

If you are looking for a straight Romance, you'll be very disappointed in THE STRANGELING. However, if you want a very well written, Erotic Fantasy, this books for you. I know I sure enjoyed it, and hope you will too.

Take Care

Beyond The Hedge - Roby James

Hey there! Sorry for my silence lately, I have had (and still have) the head cold from hell. I'm back though, with a TBR pile that's growing. Hopefully, I'll be able to really start hitting the reviews pretty heavy in the next few days. Just a heads up, my FAB pick, Richelle Mead will be here with me starting the 21st for an entire week! I'm so pumped. Richelle's debut novel Succubus Blues will be out March 6, and this book is absolutely FABulous. No other words for it. Well, there are, but I'll get to those on the 21st. Not only is the book a total FAB, so is Richelle, so I'll be doing a full on FAB! So, read up on Richelle, and get ready for a great week. Then, the first week of March I'll kick off my FAB pick, Atlantis Rising by Alyssa Day. Trust me, these two authors are unbelievably great! And now, without further ado...

Beyond The Hedge by Roby James
(BCC)
Love.
Magic.
Trust.

When corporate executive Jennifer Paul stumbles across the mystical boundaries of Clipton Magna, a time-lost land from the era of King George III, she finds herself conversing with a talking cat, taking advice from an owl, and fighting an undeniable attraction to Jeremy, the handsome heir to the local lord. This magical realm is beautiful and its people warm, but Jennifer is a twenty-first-century career woman who's itching to make her mark in the "real" world - our world. She wants to go back.

But the strange rules and odd spirits that rule Clipton Magna bind Jennifer more closely than she knows. Her decisions - to stay or go, to love or not - threaten to alter the fate of this enchanted oasis, and just might affect the modern-day world in unexpected ways as well...

This BCC actually summarizes the basic plot of the book very well, and when I read it, I was really looking forward to reading this book. I mean, doesn't that just sound like a great read? And then I read the book, and whoo-boy. Although the BCC is not misleading when it comes to the story, it is misleading because the tone of the BCC does not match the tone of the book.

Since the BCC does do such a good job of explaining the book, I won't go into to much detail in my wrap-up. Basically, on a short trip to see her Aunt for the holiday, Jennifer takes a wrong turn only to be stopped by a very large hedge. When her dog, Dragon, chases a cat through the hedge, Jennifer runs after him. But when she finally catches him, there is no sign of the hedge, and she can't seem to find her way back to her car.

Jeremy comes to fetch her, and takes her back to the Manor House. On the horse ride Jennifer tries to get information about where they are and why the surroundings were so different then they should be, only to be treated with short non-answers. Figuring she was just having a bad day, Jennifer accepts the bed offered for the night with the intention of getting out the first thing in the morning. Only, when they reach the Manor, Jennifer encounters a talking cat and passes out. When she awakes the next morning, her clothes have been replaced with clothing from the 1800's, her hair has grown to an extremely long length, and whenever speaking to someone other than Jeremy, she is unable to say what she wants.

Soon, Jennifer also encounters a talking owl, and still cannot get straight answers to her questions. She finds out that in order to figure out how to get out of Clipton Magna, she must sleep with Jeremy. But as soon as she decides to do just that, Dragon's start coming to life from drawings, threatening the existence for Clipton Magna, in order to better fight the dragons, the Owl gives her some magic to help fight them, and when the time finally comes for Jennifer to go, she does, but has she truly made the right decision?

The basic story line of this book is wonderful. I loved the idea of the book. That a magical place existed out of our time, made because a Prince fell in love with a woman that was not suitable for his station. The imagination of the author is vast, the writing and actual story-telling of the author, however, is what killed the book for me.

Written in Third Person, solely from Jennifer's point of view, Beyond may have the HEA, but it lacks the bonding with the characters that I require to truly enjoy my Romances. What's more, I didn't particularly like Jennifer. She constantly put down other women in a move to make herself feel superior. "Unlike many other women in business, she did not need the trappings of success from Cartier, Prada, or Ferragamo in order to be seen as fit for the executive role, but she did use them, with some pleasure, to make an even more emphatic statement." I read that, and wondered how the heck this woman knew that those "many other women" needed those things? Could they simply not use them for pleasure as she did? Or, was she lying to herself? There were many statements along those same lines from this gal, and it bothered me quite a bit.

Then, there was the fact that Jeremy fancied himself in love with her, when they barely spoke and when they did, it was nothing about either one of them personally, but about how she could get out of Clipton Magna. There were too many passages that just didn't fit. It was if the author was trying far to hard to make us believe that Jennifer and Jeremy were bonding. For instance, there is this part where Jennifer thinks she likes the comforting sound of Jeremy's voice, and I was thrown, because I hadn't actually read where they had conversed much at all. You see, I actually need to see the interaction between the main characters, not just be told it has happened.

The word choices also threw me. There were times when Jennifer's thoughts were just as they should be, coming from a woman of the 21st century, and other times, they were very old fashioned. I realize that she is taken to a place not of this century, but that shouldn't have changed who she was or her language. It was just very confusing. For instance, there is this sentence, when Jennifer gets dressed in her new daytime attire, "Jennifer caught a glimpse of herself in the cheval glass and thought that she looked like nothing so much as a Barbie doll." I'll admit, I had no clue what the heck this meant. I had to ask people to explain it to me. I absolutely abhor feeling stupid when I read a book. Don't get me wrong, I don't mind a book that makes me think, just not about what the meaning behind a simple descriptive sentence. And then, later in the book, Jennifer thinks this, "...if she was that hot for the sight of flowers." See, there really is no consistency in Jennifer's thought/speech patterns.

The pacing of the book was slow. I'm talking snail pace, until about Chapter 10, and it only speeds up for a few chapters, until we're back at the slower pace. But the pacing problems could just be because I really didn't like Jennifer, and being in her perspective the entire time made it harder to get into.

This is a JUNO BOOKS release, and Juno states this, "Juno publishes fantasy featuring strong female characters in richly imagined contexts that include romantic or erotic elements." And they are right, this book is very high on imagination with a nice high-concept fantasy element. But Jennifer was not what I would consider a strong female. She was self-centered and thought too much of herself, that she simply made herself look insecure and weak. She gets her HEA, but I'm not so sure I wanted her to. I wanted her to get her comeuppance, and learn a little humility.

I'm still not ready to give up on Juno's books. They have great story-lines, but the copy editing needs to be given close attention, as does the tendency towards info-dump that slows the pace.

Take Care

Jade Tiger - Jenn Reese

Hello, Lovelies! I apologize, I meant to have this review posted far sooner, however the ice we are covered in is messing with my internet connection and it just didn't happen! Before I get to it, I just want to remind everyone that we are on MySpace and having a total blast, so be sure and check us out and all the great authors we have added as friends! Also, next Monday dee will launch her FAB pick, so look forward to some great reviews, interviews and another contest! And since I'm so late in posting, without further ado I present to you my review of-

Jade Tiger by Jenn Reese
(BCC)

Shan Westfall - half-Chinese, half-American, one hundred percent kung fu badass - is on a mission to recover five mystical jade animals before they fall into the wrong hands. Fifteen years ago, Shan's mother led a secret society of female martial artists sworn to protect the small but powerful sculptures. Then the Jade Circle lost four of the five animals during a murderous attack on their sanctuary - and Shan's destiny was sealed.

Now an adult and the protector of the remaining figure, a jade tiger, only Shan can recover the jade crane, snake, leopard, and dragon. Joined by geeky archaeologist Ian Dashell, her quest for the statues takes her on a dangerous trek across three continents.

But when Shan finally confronts the man who destroyed her past...
can she possibly succeed where her mother failed?

As for the BCC, this one isn't too far off the mark. As is true in most cases, it isn't entirely accurate but doesn't shy too far from truth to really irritate me, as you know has been the case before. So, I won't really spend anytime on it. It does do a really good job of giving the reader a clue to the plot within the pages, so I think I may have to give it a thumbs up.

Tiger starts with a Prologue, Hunan Province, China Sanctuary of the Jade Circle Sixteen Years Ago, the fateful day Shan and her father are forced to leave the Sanctuary of the Jade Circle. We see the day through a child's eye, as she is forced to leave behind her mother to save her own life. Shan leaves the sanctuary feeling unsure of what her future will hold and angry that she didn't get to stay and fight alongside her mother. And as you know, prologues aren't my favorite things. But the prologue in Tiger actually lends to the story and is written in a way that sucked me right into the story and had me eager to read the rest.

That said, the prologue states it was sixteen years ago, yet a few chapter later, after the NOW starts, the book says it happened fifteen years ago. Now I understand if that sounds like a small thing to take offense at, but unfortunately, this reader likes the facts to add up. So when I got to the contradiction, I actually stopped reading to see if I had made the error, and my reading pace was slowed. I found myself looking for other contradictions and that made it far harder for me to simply enjoy the book.

Shan Westfall is indeed, as the BCC suggests, a "kung-fu badass". In the years that followed her escape from the sanctuary, Shan studied martial arts and honed her fighting skills so that when the time came she would be ready to take back the remaining jade animals. When she happens to see an article in a magazine that features a picture of a professor with the jade crane sitting behind him, Shan knows the time has come.

Sneaking into the university at night, Shan finds that some one has beat her there and is not only looking for the statues but has hurt an innocent man in the process. Ian Dashell, archaeology professor watches through near unconsciousness as his savior appears in the form of a beautiful woman, who is as lethal with her body as she is lovely.

Once the intruder is gone, Shan learns that the crane is not at the school, and if she'll entrust Ian with the story behind the crane and why it is so important, he will take her to it. But it isn't just the crane Shan needs, and it turns out that Ian may know where another of the jade statues is, and with the bad guys hot on their trail, Shan, Ian, and Buckley (Ian's friend that was pictured in the magazine article) set off to get the jade statues before they fall into the hands of the same people who killed her mother.

It is apparent throughout the book that Reese obviously knows her martial arts. The fight scenes in the book are written in a way that have you on the edge of your seat with descriptions that have you actually envisioning the fight. I do so love a kick ass heroine, and Shan is definitely that. I enjoyed the chase to reach the animals and I enjoyed the action and descriptions of the various fight scenes.

The book however, does not move at the pace in which it starts. Reese throws in a very stilted, unbelievable romance between Ian and Shan, that many times had me wanting to yell at Shan for her stupidity at getting so easily distracted. She has spent her entire life wanting to get these statues, and is very close to achieving that goal, but she allows herself make-out sessions in the woods , while the bad guys get a head-start on her? I just didn't believe it. As focused as Shan supposedly is, I just cannot buy her falling in love in the short space of time she spends with Ian.

The basic premise of the book is intriguing, and well worth the read. But I think Reese missed an opportunity for a great series here. But by having Shan find all of the animals by the end of the book it simply felt rushed, and Shan coming to terms with who her mother was, and her own self worth felt much like the romance - unbelievable.

Tiger is Reese's debut novel, and with time, I think she'll become a name to watch for. There were definite POV problems, instead of alternating, we get the first scene from Ian's and then go to Shan and only Shan until the last couple of chapters. I wouldn't have minded only having Shan's voice if it would have started that way, but it didn't and Ian deserved a voice. For now, I can say that while there were definite aspects of the book that just didn't sit well with me, the action and mythology of the Jade Circle, made it worth my time to read.

Take Care

Knight of Darkness - Kinley MacGregor

Hello, Lovelies! I want to start by giving a big shout out to Dee , who finished NaNo (no easy feat) and then celebrated by reading erotica - You GO, Girl! I'm snowed in here and you would think I would take advantage by reading and catching up on all my reviews I need to post - You would think wrong. I have spent the last couple of days fighting stir-crazy kids and re-reading my favorite Crusie's . Okay, and I spent most of today in the kitchen making bread (not that yucky bread machine kind, thankyouverymuch - REAL homemade bread) and homemade chicken noodle soup, with homemade noodles and everything. I will be eating well tonight! The food is the only reason I can stand the winter. I'll be heading to the mall tomorrow and upon my return, I shall have tons of books to read, and therefore, review. I still have a few I need to read here at home, but I really want these others, so I'm gonna read them first. And now, without further ado...

Knight of Darkness by Kinley MacGregor
(BCC)

Welcome to the darkest side of Camelot...

For centuries, I've been the assassin for the infamous Merlin, even though the woman who birthed me sits at the right hand of our enemy, Morgen leFey. Now both my mother and Morgen have decided that its time I take my place on their side of this conflict.

Normally, telling them no wouldn't be a problem, except for the fact that the good guys I protect think that I'm an even worse demon than the ones we fight. Hmmm, maybe their right. I have to say that I do enjoy maiming anyone who gets in my way.

At least until my mother gives me a simple choice: Join Morgen's circle of the Damned or see an innocent woman die. I'm all for saving the innocent, but Merewyn isn't as innocent as she seems. And she's none to fond of the fact that her fate is in my dubious hands. Personally I'm all for taking the easy way out, but leaving her to Morgen is rough, even for me. Now the only way to save both our lives is to face the evilist forces know - my mother and Morgen. And two people who know nothing of trust must learn to rely on each other or die: provided we don't kill each other first.

Varian duFey

Okay, about the BCC. As you can see, it is a "letter" written by the hero of the book. When I first started reading this author, it was to read her Dark Hunter books (written under the name Sherrilyn Kenyon), and I kinda dug the whole thing. Now, well, I think I've grown tired. Plus, it isn't all that great. He talks about his mother giving him a choice, actually, his mother never gives that choice, he comes to that conclusion all on his own. I don't know, this BCC just doesn't do it for me. Misleading but not really. They walked a fine line here.

Varian duFey is, just as suggested, an assassin for Merlin. He has never had any qualms about killing those that cross the knights of Avalon and their cause. The son of Lancelot and the Adoni Narishka. Born to a mother that hates him, and dropped at the doorstep of a father and step-mother that feel the same, Varian has never known what it is liked to be loved. To be touched with comfort instead of hate. His magick makes him lethal and he is feared not only in Avalon but in the depths of Camelot, a place where cruelty is the norm.

Merewyn of Mercia was once the most beautiful woman anywhere. Tired of the men that saw only her beauty and angry that her father picked a husband for her that was less than pleasing, Merewyn had an Adoni summoned. In exchange for her beauty, Merewyn would serve the Adoni until the end of one moon-cycle, and then she would be free. But the Adoni Merewyn made her deal with was the evil Narishka, and little did Merewyn know, but there is no light in Camelot, therefore, no moon cycle. Merewyn has been doomed to live life as an ugly hag, with looks so hideous, no one would ever look at her again unless it was in disgust.

When a Grail Knight is murdered on the orders of Morgen, Merlin sends Varian to investigate. The only of her Knights that can walk both Camelot and Avalon, Varian leaves to investigate and this is exactly what his mother and Morgen want. When Varian refuses to join them, Narishka puts a spell bracelet on him that dampens his powers and turns to torture. When nothing else works, Narishka exploits Varian's weakness of pity and transforms Merewyn back to the beauty she once was. In order to keep her looks, Merewyn has three weeks to turn Varian to Morgen's side, or spend the rest of her eternity in hag form being punished for the failure.

But Varian is a smart man. He sees the plan and although he enjoys the kindness Merewyn shows him while he is beaten, he will not jeopardize the grail and all that Arthur had tried to accomplish. "Here, let me guess at how all of this has played out. She told you to come in here and be nice to me...Show me mercy so that I will be bonded to you and grow to like you...But it won't work...Then she's going to give me a choice-join her and Morgen or watch you die by her hand...When that moment comes, I won't save you...Better you should die than those who protect the grail from Morgen. Just as I'm willing to die for my conviction, I'm willing to see you dead for it, too. That is a promise."

It is after this exchange that Merewyn offers to free Varian if her will protect her from the Adoni and take him with her. Enlisting the help of Blaise the mandrake, and one of the only persons to ever be kind to her in Camelot, Merewyn frees Varian, and they flee the castle in search of Avalon. But without his powers, Varian is almost as vulnerable as Merewyn, and they must learn to trust each other and Blaise if they are to survive.

Setting off to the Valley of No Return, the trio hopes to escape Morgen's army and find a way back to Avalon. In the Valley, they meet up with Merrick, Derrick and Erik, triplet, cast off lovers of Morgen. I think these guys were supposed to be comic relief, but I just didn't feel it. In the Valley there are many strange things and I think most of them are supposed to be comic relief. The Pit of Despair, for one, Merewyn falls in and starts droning on and on about her pathetic existence. Not very funny. I think it could have been, I just didn't like the way it was written.

I liked this book, don't get me wrong. MacGregor has an imagination that is rivaled by very few. The world she has created for this series is fabulous, her take on what happened after Arthur fell is nothing short of genius. The problem for me, I think, is that even though this is only the second book in the series, I'm already growing tired of the formula. Bad boy Knight with a heart of stone, meets seemingly innocent beauty, they fall in love and the bad boy is redeemed. I know that books in a series tend to follow the same formula, but I can't help but want different from time to time. I'll continue to follow the series, because I love getting lost in this particular fantasy world. Plus, I do love the HEA with a twist. And of course, there are the fantastic sex scenes MacGregor/Kenyon pens, those don't hurt one bit.

If you are fan of fantasy novels, you won't be disappointed. And if fantasy really isn't your cuppa, but you have always enjoyed the tales of The Round Table, I recommend these books. They are a fun time in a world and time far from ours. And though the ending is predictable, they will have a place in my re-read pile.

Take Care