Happy Mother's Day

I hope you're all thinking about your loved ones today, because whether they're with us or not, the Moms in our lives are the BEST! 

Image from The Daily Contributer

Big Bad Beast by Shelly Laurenston

When it comes to following her instincts, former Marine Dee-Ann Smith never holds back. And this deadly member of a shifter protection group will do anything to prove one of her own kind is having hybrids captured for dogfights. Trouble is, her too-cute rich-boy boss Ric Van Holtz insists on helping out. And his crazy-like-a-fox smarts and charming persistence are making it real hard for Dee to keep her heart safe...Ric can't believe his luck. He's wanted this fiercely independent she-wolf from day one, but he never expected teamwork as explosive as this. And now is his last chance to show Dee what she needs isn't some in-your-face Alpha male - but a wily, resourceful wolf who'll always have her back in a fight...and between the sheets. 

~~

You probably won't believe me but I've had to physically hold myself away from the computer to not write this review too quickly. I love Shelly Laurenston. I just do. And like with most of her latest releases, I finished this book and immediately started reading it again because it was so much fun. I literally couldn't help it. There was nothing else on my shelf - besides possibly Beast Behaving Badly - that I wanted to read. But I wanted  my review to have some reflection. I wanted to give myself time to think and consider and know what I want to say about this book so I didn't find myself frantically TYPING IN ALL CAPS BECAUSE THE BOOK WAS GOOD THERE WAS NO OTHER WAY TO EXPRESS MY LOVE FOR IT. 

Oh. [[cough]] Excuse me. I didn't mean to do that. 

After some careful reflection I'm able to say that this book definitely continues Laurenston's series is the best way possibly. Why? Because no matter what else is happening, these books are incredibly character driven. While Ric and Dee might be the central figures in this particular book we still get to see all the couples and friends that we've fallen in love with before. Plus, not only are we just seeing them, we're getting to see different facets of their personality because it's NOT all about them. For example, I couldn't have loved Lock more after his and Gwen's book. I wanted my personal Lock and if I'd had the money/science to genetically create one of my own, I probably would be sitting in his kitchen eating ice cream right about now. But here? He was a bit of a dick toward Bo and it wasn't always the most fun to read. But it was real. Bo can be a total OCD ass and as much as Blayne brings him into the social circle he can still be a little crazy - which makes it understandable that Lock wouldn't be able to take it all the time with a smile on his face.

Still, to go back to Dee and Ric: greatness. After seeing him circle around her in the past couple books it was simply terrific to seem him finally be able to switch roles and bring Dee after him. As unassuming as he can be on the outside he is still one of those 'wily' Van Holtz's and what he wants, he really does get. It's not selfish though, even if what I've just said makes it sound like it. Ric really does love Dee and wants her to be the happiest little assassin she can be. Which usually involves lots of food and lots of sex. Who's gonna complain about that?

True enjoyment of this book definitely comes after reading the whole series, so keep that in mind if you're picking this up as a stand alone. Each of the characters are just so much more vivid if you know what makes them tick. And of course while I'd LOVE for these to be released in mass market, because my wallet cries a bit at the trade paper size, I consider them totally worth the $15.

Overall Feeling - Thumbs up!

Series - 4)  The Mane Squeeze 5) Beast Behaving Badly 6) Big Bad Beast

April in Review

April has been a bit frayed along the edges. It jumped from winter to summer with a dash of spring in the middle - which was waaaay unfortunate - and I've been trying to get a handle on myself. I have to say that quarter life crisis is hitting me hard, and right now I'm perpetually feeling like I think too much. About everything. And everyone. I guess I can count my blessings in that I notice when I'm thinking too much about something and try to pick up a book or watch an old favorite movie (Fifth Element anyone?) to distract myself.

On the book front there have been some really good releases. Thuman, McGuire, Koch - the books just kept a coming each was (mostly) more spectacular than the last. I didn't review them all but there please take a look at my list below and do some Googling - I know you won't be disappointed.

And just in case you were living under a rock, William & Kate got married. And her Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen dress was the BOMB. I didn't get up at 4am EST to watch anything live, but I totally gave in and watched clips on CNN and my little overly romantic heart got such a kick out of hearing their vows to each other (plus I cheered a little at no 'obey' in the ceremony). Anyway to get back to the dress:

T.H.E. B.O.M.B.

That's really all I have to say about that :)

Black Out by Rob Thurman

Lover Unleashed by J.R. Ward

How to Flirt with a Naked Werewolf by Molly Harper

Late Eclipses by Seanan McGuire

Alien in the Family by Gini Koch (x2)

Alien Tango by Gini Koch

Cast in Chaos by Michelle Sagara

The Search by Nora Roberts

Burning Lamp by Amanda Quick

Navarro's Promise by Lora Leigh

Dreams of a Dark Warrior by Kresley Cole

The Seduction of His Wife by Janet Chapman

Wedding the Highlander by Janet Chapman

Real Men Last All Night by Lora Leigh, Lori Foster, Cheyenne McCray,& Heidi Betts

Loving the Highlander by Janet Chapman

Big Bad Beast by Shelly Laurenston (x2)

Savage Nature by Christine Feehan

Rush of Darkness by Rhyannon Byrd

Fired Up by Jayne Ann Krentz

Books Read/Reviewed:

21/14**

**Ok I have to admit that a lot of these reviews were from previous months on my blog, but look at that comparison! It still makes me happy :)

Oh! I also debuted Book 1 of The Adventures of Dana! Definitely check it out!

Can YOU guess the right answers?

A friend of mind just posted a link to a quiz on Sporcle: 

"Can you name the most common occupations of heroes in Harlequin Romance books?"

And it was a lot of fun while also infuriating! I totally take offense at some of these answers because (without spoiling your chances) there are at least two other popular choices that should have made this list! And the fact that while sometimes if you guess the right related word it'll give you the occupation, others wouldn't do the same - even if I was generally referring to the same thing.

So yeah - definitely take your chances and let me know how it goes! I'm ashamed to say that I only got 5/10 right >.<

 

Image from The Odd Girl

Who can resist the llama?!

Ok, I'm aware that Alpacas and Llamas are not the same. But you know what? These guys are adorable and I'm putting them up anyway! Especially since I don't think I even thought about llamas before Fiction Vixen starting posting about them intermittently, and now whenever I see llamas or llama-like things I can't help but be distracted! So this one's for you Sophia!

So cute!

Still cute!

I've decided to name this little one Vixey in Fiction Vixen's honor. Isn't she adorable?! Plus the attitude is totally there - plushie or not. 

Teaser Tuesday (5/3)

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

* Grab your current read
* Open to a random page
* Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
* BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
   * Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

"What was it like to fuck someone that size? Could you be smothered? Especially when he wasn't some skinny basketball player type but nearly 400 pounds of muscle. God what if he died on top of her? Would Blayne be able to drag herself out?"

--pg __, Big Bad Beast by Shelly Laurenston

Savage Nature by Christine Feehan

When Saria Boudreaux finds a dead body in the Louisiana bayou near her home, her first instinct is to go to the police.  But there’s a problem--it looks like the victim may have been killed by a big cat, and her brothers are all shape-shifting leopards.

Sent to investigate by the land’s owner, leopard shifter Drake Donovan is ready for anything—except the insatiable hunger that rocks him when he meets Saria.  Deep in his soul he knows that she is destined to be his mate.  Torn between protecting her brothers and finding the truth, Saria treads warily around the powerful shifter.  Yet as they venture deep into the mysterious bayou on a hunt for the killer, Saria finds herself longing for Drake’s touch and the sweet release of surrender…

~~

I think over the past few hundred posts it's probably become pretty obvious that I don't like giving 'eh' reviews. I want books to be fabulous and fantastic, especially when they're by authors I love. Unfortunately this book made me do it :(. There's just this one problem I have with a scene near the beginning of the book that affected my ability to enjoy most of what came afterward.

  

**Minor Spoilers Ahead**

We're introduced to Saria (how do you even say that anyway?) and she's clearly a strong female character. Independent, adventurous, willing to go out and do all the 'big girl' stuff that her 5 brothers might not want her to do - she's determined to make her own way in life. Thus when she stumbles upon a leopard kill in the bayou and she's concerned that one of her brothers might have done it, she doesn't back away from that possibility; she contacts Jake Bannaconni and hopes to get someone out there to help her figure things out. What she get's Drake and while on the surface it seems like a good idea, it doesn't quite jive for me as a reader.

Why? Because at meeting Drake Saria goes immediately against character and becomes willing to not only jump in the sack with Drake, but believe everything he's telling her. It made absolutely no sense. I like the reincarnated mates in this series. I like that the guy sees the woman (let's not talk about the going into heat thing) and knows that he's immediately attracted to her and almost loves her. What I don't get here is that usually Feehan has a strong woman character who's at least initially suspicious of this connection. Especially when they're already established as someone who's had to make their own way against very long odds. Why doesn't Saria have some of that to her? It immediately shook me and even when we got a look at great characters from previous books plus a decent murder mystery, I just couldn't get over it.

So this book gets an 'Eh'. It's not bad really, but I have to say that if you're someone like me who loves strong female characters, Saria's personality inconsistencies are more than a little annoying.

Overall Feeling - Eh.

Series - 1) The Awakening 2) Wild Rain 3) Burning Wild 4) Wild Fire 5) Savage Nature