Meme Fun

Got tagged by Alice to do this meme:

You list the names of five fictional characters that begin with a particular letter. She gave me the letter 'G' So let see what I come up with:

Gaelen vel Serranris from CL Wlison'a Fading Lands: Biggest of the Bad boy fey. He was a completely wicked sense of humor, and the Fey need his superior skills if they are to survive the upcoming war.


Thanks to Alice's Choice of Demona, I had to pick Goliath: from the cartoon Garloyles. A guardian of the night and leader to the Gargoyles, minus Demona. He fights be keep his small clan free and happy as well as protect humans from Demona.

Gideon: From the Nightwalker series by Jacquelyn Frank. The eldest and strongest healer. Wasn't my favorite of the Nightwalker but he's name starts with G. Gildeon is the eldest of the remain demons and must find a mate in order to survive.



And who hasn't heard of about Gandalf, wizard extraodinaire from the Lord of the Rings Trilogy. He must out think Sauron and Saruman, the great evil and his minion, in order to keep Middle Earth out of the hands of evil. He does this with wisdom and great power and he uses those powers for good and betterment of all races.

Ghastek from Ilona Andrews Kate Daniel's series. A very creepy Master of the Dead, shepherding his little grotesqueries (vampires) all over Atlanta.
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I'm not quite sure how this works, but these are the rules if you would like to play.

1. Comment on this post and ask for a letter.
2. I will give you one.
3. Think of 5 fictional characters whose names begin with that letter, and post their names and your comments on these characters on your blog.

Review: Warrior

Title: Warrior

Author: Angela Knight

Published: July 2008

Genre: Paranormal/Futuristic Romance

Stand Alone/Series: Time Hunters #1

From the Author Site: Warlord Galar Arvid is sent to the twenty-first century to protect artist Jessica Kelly from a murderous time-traveling art thief. But Galar soon realizes that the situation is far more complicated and dangerous than he thought. He takes Jessica back to the Outpost, where she must learn to adapt to a strange new world – and her attraction to her handsome savior.

Review: This is the first in Angela Knight's new series Time Hunters. Its based in the world she created in Jane's Warlord (2004) and Warlord (2007, Jane's Warlord plus short Warfem). Based on a world were time travel is possible and has to be monitored by time traveling genetically engineered warrior cops who's mission is to keep people from the future from messing with the past. It's like that 1997's show TimeCop meet 2000's Andromeda (with the every so yummy Kevin Sorbo).

Galar Arvid, the son of the hero and heroine from Warfem, is a lead time enforcer with major relationship issues. His last significant other was a spy for the enemy and basically sleeping with him for information and for the thrill of sleeping with the enemy. So he hasn't been with anyone in a while and sees Jess as a quick lay as they're waiting around for the bad guy to be caught. Not the greatest way to start a relationship. He's a very alpha hero but a bit of the stick in the mud, I excepted him break out in grunted responses at any time. I think he was supposed to be the "brooding" hero, but I got more of the "ho-hum" feeling. No really zing in him.

Jessica Kelly was not my favorite of heroines. I guess after reading such great kick-ass alpha heroines (Ilona Andrews' Kate Daniels, Nalini Singh's Psy-Changlings, CL Wilson's Ellysetta etc.), Jessica Kelly left me wanting. She started out so promising (torched the bad guy in her first encounter) but then she just took a back seat. She forgives the hero for arresting and accusing her for espionage because he was "doing his job". Why not just lay down and let him walk all over her. I want a heroine who can take kick some ass and take some numbers. At least Angela Knight was equal when it came to Jess's reason for jumping into bed with Galar (basically he was really hot and she hadn't been with anyone in a while, guess they were both in it for lots of wild sex but no relationship).

I'd also come be expects some really steamy love scenes from Angela Knight, but was disappointed in that department as well. Still wondering what the hero and heroine ever saw in each other, other than a physical reaction. Big brawny hero meets poor wilting heroine just doesn't interest me much.

Keeper?: Maybe. We'll have to see how the next book is before making a final judgment.

Recommendation: Not the best Angela Knight I've read, but may be interesting enough for those who enjoyed Jane's Warlord (which in my opinion is much better) or Warfem.

Rating: 2.5 of 5

ARC Review: King of Sword and Sky

Title: King of Sword and Sky

Author: C. L. Wilson

Published: October 2008

Genre: Fantasy Romance

Stand Alone/Series: Tairen Soul Book 3
Book 1: Lord of the Fading Lands
Book 2: Lady of Light and Shadows

From the Author Site: Returning to the Fading Lands with his Celierian truemate, Rain discovers a dissension among the most powerful members of his own council. As the Eld plot their next deadly strike, Ellysetta struggles to master her powerful magic and discover how to save the tairen, while Rain confronts open challenge to his rule and prepares to lead the Fey army to war.

Review: Thanks to the love C. L. Wilson herself, I got a autographed ARC! I have been just dying to read this ever since I finished Lady of Light and Shadow and excerpt found on C.L. Wilson's site. The only horrible thing is that I have to wait nearly a Year before the next installment of Rain and Ellysetta's story. How will I survive?!!

Okay if you have not read Lady of Light and Shadow and you don't want spoilers... read no further.....

**************SPOILERS AHEAD****************

So at the end of Lady of Light and Shadow we find out that Ellie's a very powerful Fey. In fact, she is the first female Tairen Soul ever! This book picks at the point of Ellie's arrival at Teleon, fortress that guards the entrance to the Fading Lands. Here she must say good bye to her family and take the huge life altering step into the Fading Lands.

The whole Fey world is turned upside down with Ellysetta's arrival into the Fading Lands. First Galen vel Serranis, the former dahl-reisen, walks through Faering Mists without a problem and returns to the Fading Lands much to the dismay and distrust of many Fey. Then Ellyseta approached, touches and heals the rasa, the oldest warriors of the Fey whom the other shei'dalin are not willing to touch. And if that was not enough, Rain makes Galen a chatok, warrior mentor, and demands that the others learn from him.

The evil that is the Eld, led by the nasty villain every, The High Mage of Eld, Maur is ramping up war. He just has to get his nasty grubby hands on Ellie so that he can prolong is nastiness for centuries to come. We also get to see just how evil he is and begin to root for a long and painful death for him. There is NOTHING that would be bad enough. He should be the definition of EVIL.

Ahh... what to say without spilling the beans on the story-line. Okay here's what we find out:

* Tairen are very very straight foward. (I luuuurrve Steli)

* The High Mage of Eld is really, really evil and very nasty guy. Okay so we knew that already, but this takes his evil a bit further into the abyss. And we also get to learn a secret of the Eld.

* More than wild sex was in Ellie's weave at the royal banquet.

* The Fey have political problems too.

* The reason the Tairen kitlings are dying.

* Lorelle and Lillis have a BIG secret.

And don't just take my word for it, check out the PowerPuff Girls review: Blossom, Buttercup and Bubbles!

Keeper?: Yes! Yes! Yes! And Its mine all mine...

Recommendation: You just HAVE to read this book. If you are only going to read on book this year. You just HAVE to pick this one. You will not be dissapointed. The series is wonderful and I totally love it.

Rating: 5! Ah... Perfect

JUST ADDED: Check out CL Wilson's blog and wins lots of really cool Fading Lands loot while we count down the days until King of Sword and Sky is released!!

Review: Heart Fate

Title: Heart Fate

Author: Robin D. Owens

Published: September 2008

Genre: Fantasy Romance

Stand Alone/Series: Celta Heart Mates, Book 7
Book 1: Heart Mate
Book 2: Heart Thief
Book 3: Heart Duel
Book 4: Heart Choice
Book 5: Heart Quest
Book 6: Heart Dance

From the Author Site: With Lahsin D'Yew's husband giving chase after she runs from an abusive marriage, she finds sanctuary in a secret garden, where she meets Tinne Holly. Though he is her HeartMate, he cannot tell her, and her troubled past prevents her from trusting any man. Pretending to find her by chance, Tinne helps her through her Second Passage. But when the truth is revealed, can she forgive his deception, and learn to trust in her destiny?

Review: Robin D. Owens is really starting to bother me. Not sure if I'll actually buy the next one new. She is getting her storyline facts incorrect or is changing them on a whim. And Robin really needs to fire her proof reader, there are an inexcusable number of typos. As far as the actually story goes, its okay, typos and ever changing facts aside. Certainly not my favorite book in the series, and if this downward trend continues with the mix up of facts previously laid out and the high number of typos, she's falling off the must buy list.

Tinne Holly was not my favorite hero. Sure his life hard; he lost a baby, getting a divorce, has to face scandals because of it and deal with a nosy overly helpful family; but he doesn't need dwell on it so much. Of course dwelling on it allows him to spend time with his Heart Mate, Lashin, at First Grove. Also he does seem happy that his Heart Mate is free of her horrible marriage. He spends way too much time on the past no enough look ahead.

Lashin Rosemary Burdock D'Yew is really young. At just seventeen, she was married (to someone old enough to be her grandfather... Yuck!), majorly abused and totally unsure of who she is as a person. I found her to be a much more believable heroine than I found Tinne to be a hero. Of course, most people don't get over years of abuse in a matter of month like she does so that was a bit harder to get.

I enjoyed the Turquoise House bits about the storyline. How the house is becoming and living, sentient being. It was quite cute that for a part of the story it decided to take on the voice of a child with a lisp. And of course the Fams are always fun.

Keeper?: Yes, because I'm a series junkie.

Recommendation: Only if you are reading the series. As a stand alone, its okay. Something to pass the time but not some you just have to read.

Rating: 3

Review: The Storm

Title: The Storm

Author: Jean Johnson

Published: September 2008

Genre: Fantasy Romance

Stand Alone/Series: Sons of Destiny, Book 6
Book 1: The Sword
Book 2: The Wolf
Book 3: The Master
Book 4: The Song
Book 5: The Cat

From the Author Site: First, his most heavily guarded refuge is breached. And now, the worst of all crimes against Rydan of Nightfall: Rora, a pesky, privacy-invading foreigner, likes him and won’t leave him alone! Rydan knows he’s as appealing as a rosebush stripped of its blooms, so why does she persist? Any normal maiden should be seeking less thorny company than his.

But Rora isn’t normal. She alone sees the secret of what torments Rydan. And only she can persuade him to put it right before it destroys him. But Rora has her own secret as well—one of such vast power that other mages have killed in order to possess it. It once drove Rora and her sisters into exile, and, in the wrong hands, its power could annihilate their world. In the right hands, it could change her and Rydan’s fate forever.

Review: Jean Johnson takes us back to the world of the Sons of Destiny. After the disappointment of The Song and The Cat, I was a bit weary to getting this book, but I was pleasant pleased with this book. Although it was not the complete page turner The Sword and The Master were, it was still a very pleasant read.

This is the story brooding brother #6, Rydan aka the Storm, and the twin sister, Rora, from The Cat. About 3/4 of the book was re-telling of events that occurred in The Cat, but from the view point of Rydan and Rora. Although Jean did put a preface in the book explaining that viewpoints are different, I still found it a bit annoying that some of the scenes and dialog were completely different than that found in The Cat. The detailed oriented reader may also find it a bit annoying, but the story is captivating enough and continues to hold the readers interest.

In this book we find out what keeps poor Rydan embracing the night and keeping others at bay. The brooding hero tries to keep Rora at arms length, but she persists on bothering him and keeps gets past his wards and into his protected lair. Rydan's moodiness is a good foil of Rora seemingly endless good spirits.

Rora is must less annoying that her twin Mara. But I did find her endless cheer a bit distracting, but it fit her philosophy of being calm and accepting of things that could not be changed. I did like how she used the excuse of "helping" Rydan with his problem when in reality she was chasing him and the fact she does her research on the curse and Rydan, in particular, before putting her plans into action.

The overall storyline did not seem to progress very far. We get more of the particulars of the Patron god choosing but that's about all. In addition, there is a bit foreshadowing at the end that lines up the last two books in the series. And if you haven't gotten enough of the Sons of Destiny series, head on over to Jean Johnson's homepage to read the story "extras".

Keeper?: Yes

Recommendation: Yes. I have been really enjoying the series.

Rating: 4

Have Taken Nalini Hostage...

In honor of the release of Hostage to Pleasure, I and my fellow partner in crime (Alice) have taken the One and Only Nalini Singh hostage, but we'll give her back... promise... *wink*


This is a bit late but come over to the DIK Island and check it our interview (she'll be with us until Sat.)!



Also thanks to Alice (who got it from Christine)...

The Ice Cream Cone Personality Test

• You are an incredibly modest person. You don't feel comfortable bragging about yourself... or even receiving complements.

• You have a wild reputation, but you're not as wild as you seem. You take risks, but only measured risks.

• You are a very open minded, liberal, and flexible person. You love many things. You tend to have tastes that range from down home to cosmopolitan.

• You are a natural multitasker. You feel alive when you're doing more than one thing at a time.

• You are a serious and contemplative person. You definitely do your own thing in life.

Take The Ice Cream Personality Test

Nalini Singh Takes Us All Hostage to Pleasure

Brought to you by the help of a very, very nice book fairy! You know who you are. *HUG*

Title: Hostage to Pleasure

Author: Nalini Singh

Published: September 2008

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Stand Alone/Series: Book 5 of Psy-Changling
Book 1: Slave to Sensation
Book 2: Visions of Heat
Book 3: Caressed by Ice
Book 4: Mine to Possess

From the Author Site: Separated from her son and forced to create a neural implant that will mean the effective enslavement of her psychically gifted race, Ashaya Aleine is the perfect Psy--cool, calm, emotionless...at least on the surface. Inside, she's fighting a desperate battle to save her son and escape the vicious cold of the PsyNet. Yet when escape comes, it leads not to safety, but to the lethal danger of a sniper's embrace.

DarkRiver sniper Dorian Christensen lost his sister to a Psy killer. Though he lacks the changeling ability to shift into animal form, his leopard lives within. And that leopard's rage at the brutal loss is a clawing darkness that hungers for vengeance. Falling for a Psy has never been on Dorian's agenda. But charged with protecting Ashaya and her son, he discovers that passion has a way of changing the rules...

Review: Nalini Singh's wonderful style again brings to life the Psy-Changling world as it is going through its revolutions and power struggles. We get to see more of the Psy Council's power struggles, the secret rebellion that is starting to become more public, the power and ruthlessness of the Human Alliance and the continuing relationship of the DarkRiver Leopards and SnowDancer Wolves. The Psy-Changling world is complex and continues to become more intricate keeping readers fascinated but not so complex that a new reader would get lost. Read more about the series at Nalini Singh's website.

Ashaya brings more humanity to the Psy, the love of a mother for her child, the struggle to keep those around her safe from her evil twin but also to keep her twin safe from the world. Ashaya is a delightful character, she is smart and sassy with an icy facade and an incredible mind. Ashaya is full of secrets and as we learn them one by one, she become an increasingly more interesting character. She has been a lone warrior fighting her secret war for a long time and when Dorian step into her life, she is forced to accept help in her battle. She also finds Dorian strangely fascinating, as she struggles to maintain her Psy facade.

Happy-go-lucky Dorian struggles with his internal demons and his need to keep those he loves from harm. Dorian is more than a pretty face, he's a trapped leopard, an over-achiever, and a man holding on to his sanity with his finger-tips. He has never gotten over the death of his sister at the hands of a Psy killer and his silent rage has pushed him to the borderline of becoming a rouge. When Ashaya enters his life, everything changes. He is helplessly attracted to her and his rage must battle his increasing attraction to the Psy doctor.

Amara is delightfully evil and that's all I'm going to say about her. Vasic, whom we have been told by the wonderous Nalini is a character to keep an eye out for, is supercool, mysterious and has a kick-ass Psy power.

This book is pivotal to the storyline. The Psy world is fracturing and unraveling along the edges as hinted in Mine to Possess. More and more Pys are loosing their cool. The Psy council is also changing, first with the introduction of Anthony Kyriakus (also the leader of the silent rebellion) to the council. Then some insight on Henry Scott. And the introduction of yet another Psy faction. We also get a glimpse of the Human Alliance, which up until down has only been referenced.

Nalini Singh once again delivers a great love story and keeps the on-going storyline moving along smoothly. The story in delightful with surprises and suspense up to the very end. The book is beautifully created with just the right amount of humor, romance and suspense to keep reader interested and completely satisfied to the end. It was a hard book to put down. Definitely a great page turner and you just couldn't wait to see what happens next. It also has a wonderful teaser into the next great Psy-Changling adventure.

Keeper?: Definitely

Recommendation: You MUST read this book.

Rating: 5 of 5