Essential Seduction by Nikki Soarde

Essential Seduction by Nikki Soarde

Year Published: 2009

My Rating: 4 stars

pages

I was sent this book for review by Debra @ reviewyourbook

David Metcalfe is good with people, actually he is so good especially with women that he started seducing women for a living by helping the police catch some bad guys.. Until an attack landed him in the hospital which made him rethink his way of life.

He was then approached by his close friend Stevie, asking for his help in rescuing her only daughter from a new cult that she believes will only betray her. So for David to ensure getting close to the colony of this cult the plan is to seduce the cult founder's lonely daughter Thea.
But then David's feelings for Thea get in the way and he is between rescuing Stevie's daughter and betraying Thea.

This was a very enjoyable and fun book, with hot erotic scenes!!! The characters were engaging and charismatic with a touch of humor.. I loved David and Thea. they were great together. Such chemistry!!

It was the first time I read a book by this author but I'm hooked with this book and I will definitely check out her other books.. I just loved her writing style :)

So if you like a romance with some erotica tossed in, don't miss this book ;)

Quotes I enjoyed from the book:
She had said that it was as if he smiled with his whole heart. As if, in those unguarded moments she could see all of him. As if a little piece of his soul leaked out and shone through his eyes, making him seem absolutely real and absolutely vulnerable all at once. He didn't know if that was true or not, but he knew he liked it.
And he also realized very early on in his life that he would be an idiot if he didn't take advantage of it.

"It wasn't what you were doing that's funny. It was the way you reacted to getting caught."

She sighed. "No. You're right. I don't. I already made that decision. I guess I just wanted to hear somebody else say it"
"You want me to say it again?" A few thousand times? I've got all night."

Heart Storm by Liane Gentry Skye

Heart Storm by Liane Gentry Skye

Year Published: 2009

3 Stars

82 pages

This was a short story from an anthology called Secret Volume 27 given to me for review by Debra from reviewyourbook.com

I'm reviewing this because I might not finish the book, but if I do I might add the stories to this post!

Lieutenant Byron Burke lost his family to a merciless killer that slaughtered them one night when he was not home three years ago. He caught sight of the killer but couldn't catch him.. The killer with black eyes, soulless like a shark's!
When one day he goes surfing and gets caught in a storm Serenia rescues him. Serenia is a mermaid on a mission but when she saw Byron in trouble she had to make a detour to save his life.
When he wakes and finds a beauty checking him out he thinks he is in a dream!
Then trouble finds them and it's a fight for their lives as well as their love.

I liked the story although I'm not into mermaids.. all I know of mermaid land is The Little Mermaid and Splash :)


Quotes I enjoyed from this book :

Relief sluiced over him, the muscles in his shoulders unknotting. Perhaps he would not need to engage the land-walker after all.

The hormones that rendered a mermaid’s body supple enough to enjoy painless birthing also gentled the way for her to shift comfortably between her two forms unless she became landlocked by her breeding moon. Mermen, on the other hand, enjoyed no such advantages.

“Rennie,” he began, dragging a hand through his mussed hair. “I came out here a lost man, chasing the past. Swallowing audibly, he turned away and rattled out a sigh. When his gaze captured hers again, she saw that his eyes shone with wetness. “Instead of the past, I found my future,” he rasped, catching a stray tendril of hair between his fingers and tucking it behind her ear. “you have saved me in ways I didn’t know I needed to be saved.”

“Forgive me,” he said, pressing his lips to the crown of her head. “you don’t have to say it. Not now. Not ever. you’re free…”

“I understand now. And I swear to you, when you open your eyes, the sun will be shining and you will be free to love anyone your heart desires.”

Those eyes, so black. Soulless. Like a shark’s.

Desire Unchained by Larissa Ione

Desire Unchained by Larissa Ione

Year Published: 2009

My Rating: 5 stars

416 pages

This is the second book in the Demonica series.

This time it's the story of the second brother the paramedic Shade. When he wakes up chained in a dark dungeoen with his human ex-girlfriend Runa he thinks he is dreaming.. Since she discovered his betrayal almost a year ago and ran away from the scene broken hearted and hurt she encountered a life altering situation which almost kills her. Now almost a year later she comes back to seek revenge only to be caught by a nightmare in disguise.

Now she is mad as hell with him and the situation that she is in because of him, plus this emprisonment!!

When they are forced to life-bond by their crazy captor that is seeking revenge on the most highest level. They are faced with a bond that seals their fates and emotions they can't seem to help avoid, Shade is forced to endure a curse that will fade him away! But will Runa help him or avenge her shattered heart.

This was such a book that was hard to put down.. Shade is so adorable in that hunky hot kind of way..

It was so action filled that it was amazing.. twists and turns when you least expect it.. I loved it.. Every time I think ok it's everything is fine now something turns up that makes me sitting on the edge of my seat!! I would highly recommend this book to any paranormal/romance reader .. it is so passionate that it leaves you smiling..

I'll be picking up the third book soon to see what happens with the third brother Wraith :) God they are so hot!! I just can't wait :)

Quotes I liked from the book..

“There’s so much evil in him, Paleshadow,” she’d told Shade once, using the nickname he’d never hear again.

Wraith snorted. “Cowards. Seriously. Who brings a gun to a knife fight? That’s cheating.”

God, this felt good. He slid Wraith a glance. “This isn’t like, vampire gay, is it?”Wraith snorted and shot him the finger.

“You hated me so much that you wanted to bring down me and the hospital.” The tone of his voice became gentler. “Not that I blame you.”

He might be a demon, but he was also a paramedic, and the desire to save lives was almost as strong as his drive to have sex.With Runa. His mate.Fuck.

Shade?”

“What? I didn’t cuss.” Way to sound guilty, idiot.

“For the love of all that’s unholy, stop it. Stop being so fucking nice. You should hate me.”

You can’t truly hate someone you’ve loved. You can only hurt.

Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. Fool me thrice… I end up dead.

“I will bear this pain for you,” he swore. “If one of us has to bleed, it will be me. It’ll always be me.” There was nothing he wouldn’t do for her, he knew that now.

The angel wheeled away, and when Runa made to give chase, Shade grabbed her by the scruff. “Down, girl. They’re almost impossible to kill. Let him go.”

Wraith jerked Kynan closer, taking long, powerful pulls as though trying to ingest as much nourishment as possible before his meal was taken away.

Wraith sat forward in his chair, propping his forearms on his spread knees. “’Sup, buddy.”Buddy? Kynan blinked again. He wasn’t at UG. He was in the Twilight Zone.

The first book was Pleasure Unbound by Larissa Ione

Other reviews:

The Reader by Bernhard Schlink

The Reader by Bernhard Schlink

Year Published: 1995

My Rating: 3 stars

224 pages

Distance: New York, New York = 6383.1 miles/ 10272.5 kilometers

First of all this is an Oprah book for those who don't know! I didn't realize it when I started it, but while I was already in the middle of the book.

The story is set in Germany post WWII. It starts with Michael Berg a 15 year old boy getting sick while on his way home, a lady sees him, cleans him up and takes him home. When he is better his mom tells him to go thank the lady so he does.. Only to see her in an unappropraite position. When Hanna sees him, he runs away, only to visit her again a couple of days later. He helps her bring up coal to her apartment and gets dirty in the process so she offers him a bath.. Then they kind of fall for each other and begin an affair for a while. He started reading to her before their ritual bath and roll in the hay!

Then one day she disappears with absolutly no trace!

Eight years later, he is attending a trial since he is studying law and one of the defendants is no other than Hanna!

He attended every single day of the trial.. trying to understand what has happened.. and happening in his life.. and during this time he discovers a secret she has been trying to hide from him and the whole world even if hiding it would give her a harder prison sentence.

When she is sentenced, he starts to read to her as he used to but through tapes he sends to her..

If I write more than that I will spoil the story so I'll stop here..

It took me awhile to write this review because of my mixed opinions about it, I liked the first part of it but the trial was boring, with too much details that didn't seem to add to the story.. The "Kid's" emotions were quite explainable, since she was his first love and the affair kind of "scarred" him for any other relationships because he was always comparing the other women with her.. but I didn't understand why he did not reveal her secret to help her or even talk her into revealing it herself!

The end was ok but I wanted a better ending! I can't say I hated the book, I liked it but that was it.. not a favorite nor a recommendation to anyone.. but I want to see the movie to compare ..

It's right there with Beloved and Atonement for me..! Well maybe a teeny bit better :)

Pleasure Unbound by Larissa Ione

Year Published: 2008

My Rating: 5 stars

416 pages

Distance: Williamsburg, Virginia = 6632.4 miles / 10673.8 kilometers

This is the first book in the Demonica series.

Tayla is a demon slayer, trained and deadly. When she got wounded and her partner killed when engaged in battle, she was admitted to Underground General or UG for short. A hospital specializing on treating demons and underground creatures.

Then she meets Eidolon who is her treating doctor and also a demon, she is torn by her forever hatred of demons and all her beliefs, but she can't seem to stay away from him. Well neither could he, since he is going through a very critical stage in his life.

While fighting their emotions and their physical bounderies they are faced by yet another enemy threatening both their worlds. Will they unite body and soul??

The tension between Eidolon and Tayla is perfect, and the sibling quabbles between Eidolon and his brothers Shade and Wraith are just great! Plus there were surprises that took me off guard!

Although the book was a bit hard for me to get into, because of the new terminology of some things like the Aegis, Seminus and the S'genesis as soon as I got the hang of it, it felt like second nature.. well I know that sounds creepy.. but hey maybe I'm a half-breed :) BTW I just love the word Incubi ;)

Anyways, after that I was so engrossed in the story, the pages flew and I was sucked in their world.. it was such a good book that I would highly recommend it to any paranormal lover like me, specially if you are into Angel, Buffy or ER, because it's kind of a mixture of them all.. just WONDERFUL!!!

And believe it or not, not all demons are evil ;)

Quotes I enjoyed from the book ..

“You wouldn’t want to get blood all over that shiny rubber floor.”

“It hoses off.”

“Because that species comes out at Halloween and eats-"

“Vegetables.”

“What?”

“Her particular breed. They’re vegetarians. They mainly raid farmers’ fields in the fall because they like gourds.” Still holding her phone in one hand, he dumped his tray of bloodied tools into a nearby container with the other. “Your Aegis buddies slaughtered innocent younglings that would have grown up to do nothing worse than suck the guts out of a few pumpkins.”

“Oh, gag. I drank your blood. Why did I do that? And why do you keep a scalpel in your drawer?” She narrowed her eyes at him. “Most guys keep condoms there.”

“What’s your true form?”

“This is it.”

She gaped. “Your species looks like Playgirl models? It’s not fair.”

“What’s not?”

“You. You’re a demon. Evil should look… evil. Ugly. Wouldn’t hurt if you smelled bad, either.” Heck, she’d be happy if he just didn’t smell good. The air around him smelled faintly of spiced dark chocolate and man, making her mouth water and her libido kick into high gear.

The air-headed twit shook her head as if Tay had been serious. “Nurse Allen. I brought food, but you can’t eat until Dr. Eidolon removes the restraints.” She smiled, revealing shiny fangs. “Obviously, the restraints are necessary, seeing how your kind are merciless murderers and all.”Tayla stared.

“Pot, meet kettle.”

“Thanks, Nancy. I’ve got it. Go home. We’ll see you tomorrow.” The masculine voice shivered through Tayla like a forbidden pleasure. Vodka for the alcoholic. Cheesecake for the dieter. Orgasm for the monk. “Hello, Tayla.”

“Hey, Dr. Evil.” She didn’t look. What if she’d dreamed up his good looks? What if he had horns, hooves, and porcupine quills?

Other reviews..

Kasey or Karen @ Kesey's View

Joely @ Joely Sue Burkhart

Virginia @ Bitten By Books

Vicky @ Vampire Genre

Better Off Read


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The Darkest Fire by Gena Showalter

Year Published: 2008

My Rating: 2 stars

83 pages

Distance: Oklahoma School, Oklahoma = 7600.8 miles / 12232.2 kilometers

This is a prequel to the Lords of the Underworld series, so I thought I'll start the series with reading this short book to see if it grabs my attention..

Kadence is a goddess, who is some kind of warden to hell and Geryon is the Gaurdian of hell.. For hundreds of years he has been guarding it not leaving his post, while she visits daily to check that everything is ok.

They secretly fall in love with each other, then are forced to test that love if it's true or just some infatuation.

Nice love story but I wasn't really excited about demons and lucifer and gods/godesses.. Vampires and Werewolves are fine by me but this was just too much.. there love for each other was sweet but the rest of the story was not really likeable .. I just felt guilty reading it! Can't really put my finger on the exact reason but in general.. So I was not really comfortable, but I wanted to see what happens in the end. The end was not what I expected so that was another letdown.

I was feeling like some curse will fall on me anytime while reading it.. too dark :)

Now I'm skeptical about even reading the next book! I might check some more reviews to see if it's somewhat different, hopefully better!

Quotes from the book ..

"He shook his head, positive he had merely imagined the words. In all their centuries together, they had never spoken, never deviated from their routine. As the Guardian of Hell, he ensured the gate remained closed until a spirit needed to be cast inside. That way, no one and nothing escaped-and if they tried, he rendered punishment. As the goddess of Oppression, she fortified the physical barrier with only a touch. Silence was never breeched."

His gaze bore into her. “I once swore that were I ever lucky enough to regain my soul, I would never, for any reason, trade it again. I have just realized that I would willingly trade it for you, Kadence. So yes, I want to do this.”

Sincerely Yours by Rebecca Goings

Year Published: 2005

My Rating: 5 stars

58 pages

Distance: Distance: Hillsboro, Oregon = 7684.1 miles / 12366.4 kilometers

I bought this ebook from Champagne Books for $1 and it's worth every penny!

I've always had trouble with books that have people going out to war, it's not that I have had anyone go to war or even anyone in my family in the military. It's just I feel so sad when I imagine young youths going out to face the horrors and traumas of war, that no one should face. My heart goes out to them for leaving their countries, families, friends and loved ones to fight for something thier countries believe in. I truly wish that all countries consider living in eternal peace with each other and spare humanity from wars and it's outcomes! Peace for Humanity please!

That said I'll get on with my review, I just had to say that before.. so ..

Sincerely Yours is a short story filled with love and emotions that just overwhelmed me!

Sabrina is having some martial problems with her hubby and while she is sitting with her grandparents she is thinking of how their love for each other has never ceased in all these years.

So her grandmother decides to show her a scrapbook containing some letters from when she and her husband were corresponding during WWII and that was before they got married. Actually they were only penpals at the time but both had strong feelings for the other that they did not show.

The letters start out friendly, then effectionate then comes the declaration of love.. Over the year that her grandad was at war they have been faithfully writing to each other the most romantic letters!

I just loved this book to pieces!! It was so romantic and emotional! I could feel for both of them!

A must for romantics anywhere :)

Some random quotes from the book that I enjoyed ..

“I’ve learned never to take anything for granted,” I heard my granddad say. “Grab a hold of what you love and never let go. I knew a good thing when I fell in love with your grandmother. I caught her then so many years ago, and she’s still right here in my arms.”

“Life is what you make of it, and so is your love,” Grandmother breathed. “If you love that young man, Sabrina, then tell him every day. Hold his hand at every opportunity and never let him get away.”

"You cannot possibly know how much it means to me for you to have thought of me enough to send me this rose. "

"I want to hold on to you and never let you go. I want so badly to be in your heart, Danny, the way you are in mine. "

"I know I promised you that I’d be coming home, but I’m not so sure now. The horrors of this war are too real to think that they’ll never happen to me. That kind of thinking is exactly what kills men every single day. "

"There is no other woman in this world that I love more than you, right now, at this moment. Sweetheart, you’ve been inside me this whole time I’ve been here, and I thank you for your gentleness and caring.Even if I don’t come back to you, Kat, even if I’m killed in action, just like Bruce Morgan or Craig Bryerson, know that I love you with ever fiber of my being, with every breath that I take."

Burn by Anne Rainey (Linda Ingmanson)

Year Published: 2009

My Rating: 4 stars

106 pages

Distance: Connecticut, USA = 6274.3 miles / 10097.4 kilometers

I read the review for this book at Cindy's Blog and it caught my interest so I went and bought and read it.. Check out Cindy's review ..

Ally and Blake were highschool sweethearts and the only man Ally loved. Then he went and broke her heart by leaving to New York. Ten years later he reappears and wants to start where they left off. But this time Ally has Heather to help her out ;)

Can he mend her broken heart and make her overcome her pride or will she give him the cold shoulder.. Steamy scenes not for the faint hearted!

I simply adored this book :)

A quote I liked in this book..

"You're my sweet angel, Ally. Your blonde hair looks like a halo framing your face." He paused a moment, just staring, then said, "What we're about to do ... It's different, Ally. I've been with girls, you know that, but with you, it's just different, that's all."

"I'm scared, Blake."

He stroked my face and smiled. "I know, but I'll make it real good for you, baby. I'll make it memorable for both of us."

Other points on view about this book :)

Cindy Reads Romance

A Girl's Guide to Vampires by Katie MacAlister

Year Published: 2003

My Rating: 5 stars

384 pages

Weight: 7 ounces = 0.4375 lb.

This is the first book in the Dark Ones series.

Joy Randall's Top 5 Tips for Vampire Hunters:

1. Location, location, location. Remember, if you wouldn't be there, neither would a bloodsucker.
2. Trust your eyes. You know the handsome, annoyingly arrogant, self-assured man in the shadows with long hair and a cleft in his chin? He's your vampire.
3. No matter how tempting it might be, do not "accidentally" acquire a paper cut and suggest YOUR VAMPIRE kiss your finger to make it better.
4. From here on out, play it cool. Don't offer to accompany your prince of the night on the talk show circuit and whatever you do, don't offer him your heart.
5. And most of all, remember?being a vampire is nothing to laugh about.

Joy and Roxy and two American best friends, planning on going on a dream vacation to Europe together and hoping to find their soul mates on the way.

Before leaving for the trip they meet up with the witch Miranda to ask for the help of the goddess to find their soul mates.. Skeptic as she is Joy doesn't believe any of what Minanda has to say about finding a Dark One in her path that could be her soul mate.. since she does not believe in vampires as Roxy does..

So of they go to the Czech Republic, where they find the castle of their favorite Moravian Vampire series author CJ Dante next to the hotel they are staying in and plan to meet with him. Meanwhile a vampire fair is to start and they get to meet some of the fair people including Raphael the head of security, Christian who becomes a close friend, Arialle, Tanya, Dominic and Milos.

Then the visions start, so joy tries to blame them on the beer but they become more vivid and disturbing. Not knowing who is sending her these images and starting to believe there really might be a Dark One doing this to her, she starts investigating. Could it be the sexy gorgeous Raphael or the cool smooth Christian or fang face Dominic?

While doing so, a murder occurs on the fair grounds and Joy and the love of her life are on the list of prime suspects. But she knows who the murderer is so she is determined to prove to the police who he is and prove her lover innocent!

Although I read this book out of order since I read the second book in the series first I kinda knew who would be with who in the end, but I enjoyed it nevertheless.

The friendship between Joy and Roxy is so adorable and lovable! The love scenes are HOT! The guys are GORGEOUS! I LOVED it!!

I will be continueing in this series very soon!

Sex And The Single Vampire by Katie MacAlister

Year Published: 2004

My Rating: 5 stars

371 pages

Weight: 4 ounces = 0.25 lb.

This is the second book of the Dark Ones series. Actually I didn't realize that until after I finished it and was considering picking up the next in the series that I realized that I have started the series from book 2 and that I did not read book 1. I hate doing this but it was my fault, so now I HAVE to read book 1, I just have to!

Alegra Telford is a summoner from the USA travelling to London since there are a lot of ghosts and paranormal activity there and she has not been successful so far. Although she should be summoning ghosts she has not summoned anything yet and her boss is getting finicky and has already threatened her that if she doesn't change that she would be jobless.

Then she gets the hang of it and starts summoning ghosts here and there.

She meets with the famous CJ Dante, who claims that she is his Beloved, having trust issues of her own she panicks and tries to change his mind.

But love is something that can not be denied and they must unite for them to defeat a very mean demon or else get destroyed.

Will Alegra put her past behind her and trust Christian, or will she turn her back and go back to the USA?

I loved this book, it was fun, fast and so entertaining. I didn't even realize that I was reading the second book in the series since I didn't feel left out. The characters were funny and cute, spacially Christian friends Joy and Roxy they are such a pair you could laugh out loud at there bickering.

The only thing that I didn't really like was the name of the book.. It was the least attracting thing for me and what made me put off reading it for so long.. But now that I read it I don't mind it anymore :)

Now I'll go start the series proper and read the first book..

Dead To The World By Charlaine Harris

Year Published: 2004

My Rating: 5 stars

320 pages

Weight: 5.6 ounces = 0.35 lb.

This is the forth book of the Southern Vampires series featuring Sookie Stackhouse.

It seems this series just gets better and better, If it was possible to give more than 5 stars i would have done so.
Although I loved all the books in this series till now this is by far the best!

It starts with Sookie going back home from work at night when she finds a naked man running on the side of the road (well he is wearing Jeans but that's all), when whe stops to try to help him she is surprised to find that it is the vampire Eric!
It turns out he has no idea who he is, or what he is doing there.. so she takes hime home..
He is so much different when he is not himself, if you thought he was hot before he is even hotter now!! *fanning myself*
Then Jason goes missing..
A lot of events happen with some action thrown in..

Very highly recommended series :)

These are my reviews for the books I read from this series in order:
1. Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris
2. Living Dead in Dallas by Charlaine Harris
3. Club Dead by Charlaine Harris

Others points of view about this book.. :)
Alaine @ Alaine's Reading Blog
Kara @ World According to Books
Beth F @ Beth Fish Reads
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