Title: A Taste of You
Author: Sorcha Grace
Publisher: Premier Digital Publishing
Publication Date: April 2013
Classification: Adult Romance Novel
Content: Sexual Scenes, Mature Content

Summary from Goodreads:

Beautiful and talented Catherine Kelly is starting over as a food photographer in Chicago. With her painful past buried over 2000 miles away, she’s focused on her career and is hungry for little else. Until she meets a wealthy bachelor with arresting blue-grey eyes filled with enough tragedy to match her own. William Lambourne is a gourmand who takes great pleasure in food and in women. He’s rich, powerful, and gorgeous — and as talented in the kitchen as he is in the bedroom. From the moment they meet, William is determined to discover the perfect recipe to unlock Cat’s resolve, awaken her senses, and make her his own. He urges Catherine to step out from behind her camera and fully taste all that life has to offer, stirring an appetite in her she never knew she possessed – and it’s one only he can satisfy. As Catherine begins to fall for the stormy-eyed billionaire, she knows she must reveal her own dark secrets. But first, William must win Cat’s heart to ensure their pasts don’t undo them.

My Thoughts:

Lately I keep pushing adult books to the side for teen stories because I just can’t seem to find an adult romance that will blow me away. I find that the genre is slowly becoming one I’m starting to regret reading. The sex in these type of books use to be amazing, sensual, and erotic to read about but it seems authors lately are toning down these books. Making the sex scenes very dull or repetitive. I’m happy to say that while this book did struggle in certain areas that the sexual scenes felt pretty real and not over the top. They seemed pretty perfect for this contemporary book.

I have to say that when the book started I really wanted to like Catherine, she was suffering from a loss in her life and I wanted what was best for her. I wanted her to step up to be a strong woman who could handle her fears and her past. I know how hard it is to handle past mistakes or wish so much that you could change the past so I was right there on that emotional level with her, at least in the beginning. I also did like William from the beginning because I knew he was going to be one of those control freaks who knew what he wanted and was going to try to fight for it.

As the story went on I have to say that Cat and Will did get on my nerves just a little. During their relationship there were so many ups and downs that it started to make my head spin. It seemed every time that Will did something Cat wanted to second guess she would get all freaked out about it and throw a hissy fit. I can see getting upset at a few of the things he did but you can’t throw a fit over every little drop of water that was spilled from the glass. Some of the little things were things that Cat should have let go. Choose your battles, fight for the important things, not the petty things.

Overall, I did like this story at times because Cat and Will could be great together whenever they were in the middle of one of those juicy sex scenes. I just wish they were able to work better together outside of the bedroom.

Title: Lover Eternal (Black Dagger Brotherhood #2)
Author: J.R. Ward
Publisher: Signet Eclipse
Publication Date: March 7th, 2006

Goodreads Summary:
In the shadows of the night in Caldwell, New York, there’s a deadly turf war raging between vampires and their slayers. There exists a secret bound of brothers like no other-six vampire warriors, defenders of their race. Possessed by a deadly beast Rhage is the most dangerous of the Black Dagger Brotherhood.

Within the brotherhood, Rhage is the vampire with the strongest appetites. He’s the best fighter, the quickest to act on his impulses, and the most voracious lover-for inside him burns ferocious curse cast by the Scribe Virgin. Owned by this dark side, Rhage fears the time when his inner dragon is unleashed, making him a danger to everyone around him.

Mary Luce, a survivor of many hardships is unwittingly thrown into the vampire world and reliant to Rhage’s protection. With a life-threatening curse of her own, Mary is not looking for love. She lost her faith in miracles years ago. But when Rhage’s intense animal attraction turns into something more emotional, he knows that he must make Mary his alone. And while their enemies close in, Mary fights desperately to gain life eternal with the one she loves..

My Thoughts

If you got the chance to read my review of Dark Lover last week you already know how much I loved it. After finishing the first book in the series I couldn’t wait to dive in to this one. I must say that I loved this one just as much as the first and I can’t get enough of the Black Dagger Brotherhood. I will admit that I am obsessed. Even with everything that is going on in the book and all the point of views and stories everything still managed to get all tied together nicely. I don’t know how J.R. Ward does it but in both Dark Lover and Lover Eternal there are so many characters, she keeps the old and throws in some new characters, and the story is told from multiple points of views yet it doesn’t annoy me, I don’t get confused, and I just love it all.

“Fortunately for Rhage, there was an endless stream of women more than happy to oblige his needs. And sweet Jesus, the guy had them. Didn’t drink. Didn’t smoke. But he ran through the ladies like nothing Butch had ever seen.”

From the start of page one I was excited and happy to be reading. Where most of th focus was put on Wrath and Beth in Dark Lover this is Rhage’s story. Rhage constantly needs some sort of release. Whether he gets it through a fight or through sex he has to have it or things can get bad rather quickly. Fortunately for him he is part of the Brotherhood so fights are inevitable and no girl would ever say no to him. Unfortunately, Rhage really wants more. He wished he knew what it would feel like to settle down with a women worthy enough and I felt bad for him. Everyone just assumed he loved the lifestyle he had to live. No one stopped to think that maybe he really hated it.

“She wasn’t anything like the females he went for. And she held his attention like a marching band.”

Then he meets Mary and his release issues become even more of a problem. From the first moment he met her he wanted her. For some one look is all they need but its Mary’s voice that catches his attention. He can’t get enough of it and he decides he has to know her.  Even when forbidden to do just that he doesn’t back off and continues to push forward.

“He closed his eyes. God, he’d give anything just to hear her say his real name once. And he wanted…damn, he wanted her naked in his bed, her head on his pillow, her body between his sheets.”

Mary is human and has no idea what Rhage or the other brother are. Rhage is supposed to stay away from her for this specific reason. Mary doesn’t welcome his advances with open arms and actually tries quite hard to push Rhage away which some would think would make it easier for him to follow his orders but he was no quitter.

Mary has a weight on her shoulders that she isn’t able to get rid of and she is accustomed to dealing with it on her own. She doesn’t let people close and she can’t fathom why someone like Rhage would even want to try and get close. She is definitely attracted to him but she believes she is just an average women, nothing very special, that comes with a burden. She doesn’t deserve his attention yet he keeps coming around just confusing her further.

Both Rhage and Mary had things to deal with that they thought would scare the other away. Mary sometimes wanted to be closed off completely but Rhage kept trying to get closer. But as Mary began to let down her guard a little Rhage’s walls went up and Mary would retreat again. This infuriated me at times and made me feel really bad for the both of them. They both were really great and caring people that owed it to themselves to let someone else in yet they just didn’t seem to know how.

Overall, great second book to the series. It was everything I hoped it would be. I still love the brothers, the lessers and Omega are still as creepy as always (more intriguing as well though), and all the little parts of other characters stories leave me wanting more. I just love how all the characters seem to have so much going on in their pasts and in their heads and I just want to know everyone’s story. The end of Lover Eternal has me going AHHH I need the next one!

Title: Unbroken
Author: Laura Hillenbrand
Publisher: Random House
Publication Date: Nov 2010
Classification: Adult Non-Fiction Novel

Summary from Goodreads:

On a May afternoon in 1943, an Army Air Forces bomber crashed into the Pacific Ocean and disappeared, leaving only a spray of debris and a slick of oil, gasoline, and blood.  Then, on the ocean surface, a face appeared.  It was that of a young lieutenant, the plane’s bombardier, who was struggling to a life raft and pulling himself aboard.  So began one of the most extraordinary odysseys of the Second World War.

The lieutenant’s name was Louis Zamperini.  In boyhood, he’d been a cunning and incorrigible delinquent, breaking into houses, brawling, and fleeing his home to ride the rails.  As a teenager, he had channeled his defiance into running, discovering a prodigious talent that had carried him to the Berlin Olympics and within sight of the four-minute mile.  But when war had come, the athlete had become an airman, embarking on a journey that led to his doomed flight, a tiny raft, and a drift into the unknown.

Ahead of Zamperini lay thousands of miles of open ocean, leaping sharks, a foundering raft, thirst and starvation, enemy aircraft, and, beyond, a trial even greater.  Driven to the limits of endurance, Zamperini would answer desperation with ingenuity; suffering with hope, resolve, and humor; brutality with rebellion.  His fate, whether triumph or tragedy, would be suspended on the fraying wire of his will.

In her long-awaited new book, Laura Hillenbrand writes with the same rich and vivid narrative voice she displayed in Seabiscuit.  Telling an unforgettable story of a man’s journey into extremity, Unbroken is a testament to the resilience of the human mind, body, and spirit.

My Thoughts:

Sometimes, a human being can live more in one life than most of us could ever do in a hundred. These are the stories that we as human beings crave. The unbelievable true stories that can define an era of history. If any of you are aware of my own interests, you might know that I am a student of history and it is also my intended career path. I am fascinated by the true stories which come from the most desperate of times as they can truly define the human spirit. I came across this book one day during my many trips to my local Barnes and Noble and was instantly in awe of its premise. There are boundless books relating to World War II and since they are so plentiful, many of them get lost in the shuffle. What is the saying….if you have read one, you have read em all? Something to that effect, I’m sure. But this book stood out as the war was actually a backdrop to this story and it was instead a man, a legendary man (in my own opinion), that stood at the forefront. Louis Zamperini.

The name doesn’t sound familiar to you? Well fear not, as even in my years of study, I too was not aware of such a name. But then I cracked open this gem of a book and the name Louis Zamperini shall forever be etched in my memory, and in my heart, for his story is truly one of legend. Louis Zamperini came from humble beginnings, born in the early 20th Century and was a rebellious youth. He was inclined to get into trouble and cause a ruckus but it was through his brothers urging that he found his calling; long distance running. And this man could run. He was a machine on the track and was well on his way of breaking the 4 minute mile barrier in record time, considering his minimal years of training compared to other runners. His story grew more and more exceptional with each passing page and eventually, we found him at the Berlin Olympics where he became a guest to the leader of the Third Reich, the Fuhrer himself, Adolf Hitler. To say that was a surreal experience would be an understatement I’m sure. But this is but only the introduction to our grand tale. 1939– The beginning of World War II. December 7th, 1941– Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Not long after, Louis Zamperini’s world would forever be changed. He was to be drafted into the Army Air Corps.

Some might say this is when the story began to pick up, but I wholeheartedly feel as though the story took off running within the first pages and never looked back, much like Zamp (as he is affectionately called). What made this book so enticing and enthralling was its quick pace and hits of true, hard reality. At any moment, our own fragile life can shatter. Zamperini’s life did just that when during a rescue mission out over the Pacific, his plane crashed and he was stranded out in the ocean, teaming with sharks, for 42 days. 42 days with minimal food rations (which were then eaten by a delirious crew member) and very little water. He had to use his own wits about him to survive, which included catching rain water for a solution to his problems. Zamperini had been shot at during the early parts of his stay in the war and had endured the loss of some of his friends in the Pacific Theatre, but nothing could have prepared him for those long and arduous 42 days at sea. The current pushed his raft about and he and his crew members thought they were to be rescued, Well they were, but by the most unlikliest and unwelcome of people. With the dye of the raft staining his skin, his weight dropping ever so dramatically and his own mind losing its vigor from the heat and desolation, he and his crew members found ‘rescue’ from the Japanese forces. Louis Zamperini’s life would never be the same again.

Laura Hillenbrand really makes its a point to change the tone of the story from one of biography (Zamperini’s early days) to a sweeping narrative (his crash and internment in Japanese POW Camps) and does so with ease. Flawless and without a hitch, Hillenbrand captures the deep and overwhelming emotions that Zamperini experienced, and does so with pristine clarity. Zamperini had a hand in this book and rightfully so; this is his legacy. Right now, I am holding my tongue in describing all of the events which unfolded for the next few years of Louis Zamperini’s life as it would ruin the grand scale of the story at large. I can say one thing for certain; if you do not feel something for this man by the time you are finished with this book , then head to the doctor immediately as I believe you have no heart. When a story is true but seems fictional, it is a story worth telling. Zamperini’s own accounts of his life compliments Hillenbrand’s epic writing. A rainbow of emotions are conveyed through words, written on pages.

Even though this book might seem like a destitute read, it does have its happy ending, but that seems obvious since Zamperini helped in its creation. The gloom and doom times of this read are highlighted by bits of humor, as it would seem humor can be found even in hell. I especially got a kick out of soem of the pranks the prisoners would brazenly pull on the Japanese officers but found sadness in their eventual repercussions. And each prolific officer is given a nickname by Zamperini which makes them easy to recognize, but none are more important than Zamperini’s personal tormentor; The Bird. He might be one of the most powerful villians I have read about in the war, one in which most people have never heard of. Hillenbrand makes a point to document his story as well, as the Bird’s life interweaves in the later years of one Louis Zamperini. Everything comes full circle in this book, and that is why it is a gem.

The discussion of the later years of Zamperini’s life can be taken in many ways; alcoholic. Desperate. Selfish. Afraid. But who wouldn’t act in such a way if they had been under such duress for many a year? But it was his finding of God that turned his life around. Through all the trials and tribulations of his internment, Louis Zamperini vowed to never be broken. “They will not break me”. That line was uttered quite often throughout the book and turned out to be the absolute truth. I cannot imagine a person who loves history not reading this book. It should be required reading in schools as it hold many life lessons which would prove to be invaluable. Some might say Louis Zamperini is making a living off his war time experiences; I say to hell those people. They had not lived his life and if they had, they would want to tell their tales and rightfully so; this story needs to be told. I was impressed by the scope and scale of this instant classic. Like all good things, everything dies, but Louis Zamperini will live on forever, thanks in part to this wondrous book. His story shall be told long after our generation is in the history books.

This book cannot be rated in terms of hearts or skulls. It can only be classified as a must read.

Title: Supergods
Author: Grant Morrison
Publisher: Spiegel & Grau
Publication Date: July 2011
Classification: Adult Novel

Summary from Goodreads:

From one of the most acclaimed and profound writers in the world of comics comes a thrilling and provocative exploration of humankind’s great modern myth: the superhero

The first superhero comic ever published, Action Comics no. 1 in 1938, introduced the world to something both unprecedented and timeless: Superman, a caped god for the modern age. In a matter of years, the skies of the imaginary world were filled with strange mutants, aliens, and vigilantes: Batman, Wonder Woman, the Fantastic Four, Iron Man, and the X-Men—the list of names as familiar as our own. In less than a century, they’ve gone from not existing at all to being everywhere we look: on our movie and television screens, in our videogames and dreams. But what are they trying to tell us?

For Grant Morrison, arguably the greatest of contemporary chroniclers of the “superworld,” these heroes are powerful archetypes whose ongoing, decades-spanning story arcs reflect and predict the course of human existence: Through them we tell the story of ourselves, our troubled history, and our starry aspirations. In this exhilarating work of a lifetime, Morrison draws on art, science, mythology, and his own astonishing journeys through this shadow universe to provide the first true history of the superhero—why they matter, why they will always be with us, and what they tell us about who we are . . . and what we may yet become.

My Thoughts:

History; Noun, — the study of past events, particularly in human affairs. I am a lover of history, so much so I decided to make a career out of it (I aim to be a teacher at a junior/community  college). History not only tells of past events but can accurately depict trends, which in itself can foretell the future. To understand the past is to appreciate the present and to be mindful of the future. But history is not my only passion in life. If one has been paying attention to me on this blog for even the briefest of moments, they would be able to realize one thing in particular; I am a nerd. I have such an affinity for comic books. This love for comic books helped to spurn on my wishes to read at an early age; comics fascinate me. Comics captivated my ADHD mind just as history satiates my thirst for knowledge. Take one look at a comic book and most people are drawn in because of the artwork. It is not until one reads a grand comic book that the importance of a storyline comes into play. My love of history and my love of comic books are actually interrelated and now. this entire monologue of mine comes full circle; a storyline. Life is just one big over arching plot line, with certain deviations from what was expected. Twists and turns litter the landscape of one’s life. That is supremely fascinating, so when I came across a book penned by one of comics premier writers detailing the storyline of life and comics, I thought to myself this was a must read. I did so, only to be disappointed.

Grant Morrison is an author I have mixed feelings about. His run on Superman was fresh, especially for a character that I found to be stale after years of recycled storylines (save for J. Michael Strazcynski’s ‘Grounded’, which I will save for a later date). His story, Arkham Asylum: A Serious House on Serious Earth (which became the best selling graphic novel of all time) was one of the most awe inspiring and mesmerizing tales I have read in comics. Grant Morrison has been recognized for the deconstruction of the modern day superhero as his ideology of how the new age of superheroes in the 80′s and 90′s were too cheesy and needed to be ‘kicked in the ass’, to paraphrase a part of Supergods. I have mixed emotions about him, however, due to his run with the X-Men. His ‘New X-Men’ run was just so strange to me, especially considering how the X-men will always have a special place in my heart because they were the first comic book I ever picked up. His interpretation on the characters seemed so off base for me and out of touch with who they really were (something he even admitted later on in SuperGods). I suppose his other work, including Doom Patrol, 2000AD and Animal Man seem to give off more mixed results as well but they did not disturb me as much as his work on X-Men. Grant Morrison is a realist in an unrealistic world. That alone can be a recipe for unprecedented success. I admire his efforts and decided to give his book ‘SuperGods’, which was supposed to be an analysis of Superheroes, a shot. I can’t say my time was wasted, but I can say for certain that his views are slanted and biased, which led me to doubt his actual credibility.

I pose one question to you all; who is the most prolific comic book creator of all time?

Answer? — STAN LEE. Spider Man, Thor, Silver Surfer, Iron Man, X-Men, the Hulk and countless others were created from this man, whose mind seems to be a venerable house of ideas itself (Marvel’s nickname for their company). So if one were to analyze the superhero, some credit must be given to the complex, layered and essentially flawed characters of the Marvel Universe, correct? Yes, I said flawed, as these characters dealt with issues such as racism, sexism, xenophobia, and acne (I am looking at you SpiderMan). Well it seems that their inherent nature of being flawed and complex does not sit well with Mr. Morrison. His proclivitiy to glorify anything DC irked me to no end. I am not discrediting the importance Superman in the world of comic book mythology, as he is perhaps THE comic book character; arguably the most popular and the most significant. However, is the best? Is Batman? I am not going to give my own opinion of who is the best superhero as this is not the topic at hand. What is, is the analyzation of the superhero and what they can really tell us about humanity. According to Mr. Morrison, it would seem as though anything from Marvel is pointless and insignificant compared to the awesome might of DC Comics. He attempts to give some credit at certain instances, but then contradicts himself and seems to tout the importance of any DC character (I believe at one point he even complimented Aquaman, which should have been my first clue as to where this was going). I did some research of my own and analyzed Grant Morrison whilst I read his book. During his time writing this book, he was working and continues to work for DC Comics. RED FLAG. He is biased. This was supposed to be a book used to analyze the superhero and detail what these characters can tell us of our own humanity. It would seem instead this is a love letter to his employer, possibly his attempt at getting a raise. I do not mean to be harsh in my views of Mr. Morrison but I cannot help but feel as I do. It was a clear and blatant slap in the face to anything related to the resurgence of the modern day comic book, which is attributed to Marvel’s success.

This book was supposed to be an introspective look into the modern day superhero; instead it read as a propaganda laced diatrabe filled with one sided notions on the importance of DC and Grant Morrison himself. The beginning of the book itself was well thought and seemed to be more on point with the general basis for his original premise for ‘SuperGods’. He detailed the historical significance of what the superhero has had on the world at large and I found that to be enthralling. If the book stayed more centered on that, I might have actually enjoyed this book, however, that was not to be. Somewhere out of left field, he began to slowly but surely overhype DC as a company and insert his own biased opinions where they were unnecessary. This was a bitter pill to swallow as rarely did I agree with his viewpoints. I am not the type of person to clamor for someone I agree with in all instances; I love a good debate and a fun amount of strife in my life. It seems to add that bit of zest one would normally do without which leads to a rather banal existence. I love to get riled up and can argue a point but in a civil manner. This book ruffled my feathers and did nothing to attest to my civility. I was on the verge of screaming at this book because of its propensity to launch into a one sided, biased diatrabe. Grant Morrison is an odd individual but this book was not odd; it was frustrating. Read if you wish but be aware of the not so subtle knocks made against Marvel. If you can overlook those giant glaring issues, then perhaps this can be an enjoyable book for you. I could not, but to each their own.

Title: Beautiful Bastard
Authors: Christina Lauren
Publication Date: February 12th, 2013
Publisher: Gallery Books
*Review Request

Goodreads Summary:
An ambitious intern.
A perfectionist executive.
And a whole lot of name calling.

Whip-smart, hardworking, and on her way to an MBA, Chloe Mills has only one problem: her boss, Bennett Ryan. He’s exacting, blunt, inconsiderate—and completely irresistible. A Beautiful Bastard.

Bennett has returned to Chicago from France to take a vital role in his family’s massive media business. He never expected that the assistant who’d been helping him from abroad was the gorgeous, innocently provocative—completely infuriating—creature he now has to see every day. Despite the rumors, he’s never been one for a workplace hookup. But Chloe’s so tempting he’s willing to bend the rules—or outright smash them—if it means he can have her. All over the office.

As their appetites for one another increase to a breaking point, Bennett and Chloe must decide exactly what they’re willing to lose in order to win each other.

Originally only available online as The Office by tby789—and garnering over two million reads on fan fiction sites—Beautiful Bastard has been extensively updated for re-release

My Thoughts

I have sat down a couple times to try to write this review and as soon as I think I have my thoughts together, my fingers on the keyboard, I draw a blank on where to even begin. I was really excited to get to read Beautiful Bastard. I am on campus all day four days a week so I would sit and wonder if any mail came while I was away. I swear I drove my cousins crazy asking them if I got any mail. It was the first thing I asked when I came through the front door lol. Anyways, once I got my hands on it and started reading it was hard to put down and I flew right through it. I had a couple issues with it but Beautiful Bastard was still highly addicting and I become irritated when people would try to talk to me while I was trying to finish it. No joke! I tried my hardest to block everything out while reading only stopping to return to the real world when I absolutely had to.

I totally know what I liked and disliked about Beautiful Bastard but while thinking about writing this review I couldn’t help but think how perfectly Alexa already explained everything. I swear I felt exactly the same way she did. So instead of giving you pretty much the exact same review please check out Alexa’s review of Beautiful Bastard if you haven’t already.

Beautiful Bastard had some great characters (I really liked Chloe), steamy scenes, and definitely had me turning page after page. Although, in my opinion, it wasn’t devoid of flaws it was still an addicting read and I am looking forward to reading more of Christina and Lauren’s work. Their second book Beautiful Stranger is actually out already so I am looking forward to reading that!

Find the Authors Here!

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Title: Chasing Mrs. Right (Come Undone #2)
Author: Katee Robert
Publisher: Entangled Publishing, LLC
Publication Date: March 28th, 2013
*Approved through Netgalley

Goodreads Summary: It was only supposed to last one night…Roxanne Stokes doesn’t believe in love. She does, however, believe in the sexy-as-sin stranger who literally knocks her off her feet in front of a nightclub. The chemistry sparking between them takes her breath away, and she’ll do anything to ease the pain in his eyes…until she realizes the handsome stranger is her best friend’s older brother who’s just come home from war.Ian Walser had no idea the gorgeous woman he slept with the night of his homecoming party was his little sister’s best friend—or that she’d be gone before morning. Roxanne’s touch soothes him in a way nothing else can, and he’s not ready to walk away from that yet. Not when spending time with her gave Ian a glimpse of everything he’s ever wanted. When his sister unwittingly pushes them together, he sees his chance. But convincing a woman who doesn’t believe in love that she’s his Mrs. Right might be harder than any mission Ian’s undertaken. Good thing this soldier likes a challenge…

My Thoughts

I really enjoyed Wrong Bed, Right Guy (first in the Come Undone Series) and was excited to continue the series. When I finished Wrong Bed, Right Guy I knew it was the first of the series but I couldn’t seem to find any information on the next book. Even though Ian was briefly mentioned here and there in the first book I was really hoping to get to know more about him. He was away in the army and when mentioned was brought up as being Elle’s overprotective brother. While perusing Netgalley I stumbled upon Chasing Mrs. Right and almost couldn’t contain myself. I requested it without reading the description and as I opened it up and read the first page I squealed in excitement that I was getting Ian’s story.

“…he wanted to soothe her in the same way she’d managed to soothe him. If that meant throwing on a suit of armor and riding off to slay some dragons, Ian was more than willing to do so.”

Oh sweet Ian. After returning home from the army he is pretty lost and on edge. People don’t understand how he is feeling and between his sister throwing him a coming home party he can’t relax at (all the people and the noise gets him panicky) and his mother pushing him to take a job at his fathers company he feels like he is going to lose it. A quick escape from his own party causes Ian to run into (literally) Roxanne. All of a sudden things don’t seem so bad. She relaxes him somehow and Ian doesn’t want to let that feeling go. If only he can stay close to her he might get through this. He has been through a lot. Things we don’t really get to hear too much about but are easy for the reader to imagine. After all of that Ian needed some peace in his life, space, and not people bugging him to decide what he was going to do now. When he is with Roxanne he gets that but it isn’t easy. She doesn’t want to let Ian in but there is no way he was letting her go and I loved that.

“But that’s enough serious talk. Let’s move on to something fun. What’s your favorite position?”

Where in Wrong Bed, Right Guy I wasn’t the biggest fan of Elle I absolutely loved her friend Roxanne. She is so forward and just cracks me up. She wasn’t easily made uncomfortable unless the topic involves serious feelings. She has major romance issues due to some bad experiences and her mothers history. When things get too serious she tries to change the subject from feelings to sex but she can’t help but get close to Ian. Roxanne definitely fights to not fall for him.The last thing she wants is to start believing it just might work.

I really loved the main characters in Chasing Mrs. Right. They were just about perfect and I loved how they interacted with each other. It was both sweet and funny. I also loved getting to see what  Elle and Gabe were up to through little glimpses. Ian still got his moments to be the protective brother. He definitely wasn’t a fan of Gabe being with his sister. And of course Nathan was around giving us a little more insight on what is to come in his life. He isn’t looking too good and I am excited to see the cause of this in August (Two Wrongs, One Right August 12th, 2013!) And I am totally missing something… Oh yes, it definitely had its steamy moments

“When his hands fell to her waist, Roxanne laughed. “Drive, Cowboy.”
“You can’t seriously expect me to drive while you’re doing that with your hips.”
She sucked on his earlobe, dragging her teeth over the sensitive skin. “Drive, or I stop what I’m doing.”
“Jesus Christ.” He maneuvered her to one side and took a deep breath that came out totally uneven. “Okay I can do this.”

Title: 2001 Space Odyssey
Author: Arthur C. Clarke
Publisher: Roc
Date: Sept 2000
Classification: Adult Sci-Fi Novel

Summary from Goodreads:

The dramatic novel of one of the most spectacular films ever produced.

My Thoughts:

Space is the final frontier. Space is the undiscovered country. Space is the place where no man….no one…has truly gone before. I may be utilizing a lot of Star Trek quotes, but Star Trek itself might owe a lot of its own existence to one novel in particular. As a matter of fact, the entire Space exploration/adventure genre of novels, games and movies owe its existence to one novel. These grand pieces of science fiction which I am referring to include Star Wars, Mass Effect, Firefly, Babylon 5 and many more. The one novel in question? 2001: A Space Odyssey.

Arthur C. Clarke’s stunning and illuminating vision of the future is presented in a grand scale in this genre defining novel. The novel itself created a movie which has stood the test of time and has been highlighted to be of historical importance by the Congressional Library. It has been preserved for its historical significance and rightfully so; it is a tale of a better tomorrow for all mankind. The legendary and visionary director Stanley Kubrick created this film with support from Arthur C. Clarke himself. It is perhaps one of the few movies I can think of which is as good as its literary originator and that is a profound compliment. I do not want to go in detail about how much I do love the movie, as it is one of my favorites, but I do want to stress to you all reading this the importance of viewing this movie after reading my review. So much so that I would like to include this clip from the opening of the movie, just to add a bit more depth to my review. The clip itself will provide a different scope to my review. It is that important to me for you all to be able to understand the true significance this novel had on the science fiction genre.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cWnmCu3U09w           This clip is the intro to the movie and exudes a sense of power and beauty.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xd3-1tcOthg                  This clip signifies the evolution of humanity and is our first step towards the stars.

It is hard to begin how to accurately depict such a deep prose which was written by a genius of science fiction. This novel is not long by any stretch, but its impact felt on the reader is undeniable. The novel depicts the past, present, and future of humanity. Now this may seem like an overused literary exploration, but to my knowledge, no one truly did it before and no one has done it better since. The past is depicted at the dawn of human history. It shows the first steps of mankind, from ape to man as they go from being so primitive, walking hunched and grunting to eventually using tools to kill, thus blazing the way for us (modern humanity) to exist. Sounds like something you might have heard about in school? Well in your studies, did you ever remember hearing about a black monolith making its presence known to early man, thus jump starting evolution? I thought not, but in 200: A Space Odyssey, that is exactly what happens. The beginning and end of the book are my favorite parts because of what they offer to the reader; a new perspective on us.

“My god…its full of stars!”–David Bowman

Arthur C. Clarke did not just write a science fiction book; he wrote THE science fiction book. At least it can be considered the premier science fiction book of the 20th century. It helped to redefine what the genre truly is and what it is truly capable of. This book speaks to our own human nature and as I stated, offeres a new perspective on us. The writing itself is masterful. Sometimes with a deep science fiction book, the writing can be a bit plodding as the terms are unfamiliar and the scenery is alien (no pun intended), but Arthur C. Clarke’s words are impactful and simple, which is a rare and difficult feat to achieve. I choose not to explain the details of the book, as if I were to do so, the grand voyage of this sweeping tale would be spoiled. Instead I must stress the importance of this book; reading this will change your entire perspective on how you fit into the universe. It is an understated book, so its true message are but subtle nuances and one must pay close attention for its full effect to be felt. If one is observant enough, by the climax of the book, a feeling of overwhelming pride and a renewed passion for life would be felt. Whether you are intrigued by the Moon-Watcher, perplexed by the actions of HAL-9000, or are astonished by the journey of David Bowman, anyone will be able to take something from this book and use that to enrich their lives.

Title: The Lady and the Highwayman
Author: Charlotte Davilla
Publisher: Entranced Publishing
Publication Date: April 2013
Classification: Adult Historical Novel

Summary from Goodreads:

Lady Elizabeth Bennington has the perfect life: she’s the daughter of an earl and betrothed to her childhood friend, William Hartley, the second son of a duke. But, when her sister’s indiscretion leads to an unplanned pregnancy, and the subsequent disgrace of Elizabeth’s entire family, her idyllic life is thrown into disarray.

First, her fiancé is prohibited from marrying her. Then she receives word that William has been killed by thieves. To top it all off, she gets abducted by a highwayman. Can Elizabeth find love again, and with the most unlikely of people?

My Thoughts:

Lately I have been trying to get back into historical romance novels and so I’m happy that I was given the chance to read this one.

I really liked this story right off the bat. The characters instantly came to life and I instantly really liked all of them. Elizabeth was a strong woman who had accepted her place in life, this is my favorite type of historical romance heroine. I just love when the female is too “old” by the standards of society in the past but yet that woman always knows more about life and has learned many things from being at the edges of all the society functions her whole life. I feel like these heroines are the best because they are not the young flowers who can so easily be wooed by the leading man. Speaking of leading men, William was a great character as well and I only wish that I had gotten to see even more about him before the book ended.

Ultimately the book was pretty short at about 50 pages but I still feel I got a great story and great characters out of it. I would recommend this story to someone who is looking for a good novella to mix it up between those long novels. I only wish that I was able to spend more time with the characters. I will certainly be keeping my eyes open for future books by this author.

Title: Star Wars Dark Force Rising
Author: Timothy Zahn
Publisher: Spectra
Publication Date: Feb 1993
Classification: Adult Novel

Summary from Goodreads:

The dying Empire’s most cunning and ruthless warlord–Grand Admiral Thrawn–has taken command of the remnants of the Imperial fleet and launched a massive campaign aimed at the New Republic’s destruction. With the aid of unimaginable weapons long hidden away by the Emperor on a backwater planet, Thrawn plans to turn the tide of battle, overwhelm the New Republic, and impose his iron rule throughout the galaxy. Meanwhile, Han and Lando Calrissian race against time to find proof of treason inside the highest Republican Council–only to discover instead a ghostly fleet of warships that could bring doom to their friends and victory to their enemies. Yet most dangerous of all is a new Dark Jedi, risen from the ashes of a shrouded past, consumed by bitterness… and scheming to corrupt Luke Skywalker to the Dark Side.

My Thoughts:

The second act of any trilogy is usually when things begin to break down for the heroes. This is very true in regards to the Star Wars mythos (Empire Strikes Back is a prime example of this). I had lofty expectations for this book, due to the stellar performance of ‘Heir to the Empire’, and I have to admit, I was a bit let down with Dark Force Rising. This is not to say it was a bad book, but I suppose its so difficult to follow up such a grand book such as Heir.

I did mention in my review for Heir that Luke Skywalker’s overall characterization suffered a bit as he was described to be somewhat of a sissy, for lack of a better word. I take great pleasure in stating this has been rectified. Luke Skywalker is supposed to be this riveting hero, capable of incredible power but it is not the power which defines him; it is his nobility and honor towards friends. His heroic deeds are highlighted in the Star Wars movies as well as in the Expanded Universe of Star Wars (in which this book takes place). In Heir he seemed weak and inefficient. His reluctance to accept his destiny as the first of the New Jedi was a bit annoying, as was his groveling about the final death of Obi Wan Kenobi. In ‘Dark Force Rising’, it would seem Luke snapped out of this funk and once again became the Jedi we all know and love. His confidence was restored, and the timing couldn’t have been better. With how ‘Heir’ ended, Luke would need to call upon all his mastery of the Force in order to assist his friends in their most troubling of times.

I did express how Dark Force Rising was a letdown to me compared to Heir but again, that is only because Heir was such a masterful work. It is a classic Star Wars Novel and following up such a grand piece is a hard, if not insurmountable task. What Dark Force Rising is, is essentially more of the same as Heir. It kept a consistent tone and pace which was established in Heir, while also throwing in a little more intrigue (the mystery of the Katana/Dark Force fleet, the role of the Bothan’s in possible Imperial involvment of Admiral Ackbar’s arrest, the clone dangers presented by Thrawn’s control of the Emperor’s cloning facilities on Wayland, and the increasing presence of the crazed clone Jedi Master Joruus C’Baoth). I do enjoy a bit of mystery, suspense and intrigue in my books and in that regards, Dark Force Rising delivered. However, just something about this particular book seemed off to me. A bit forced even. I believe I can place a lot of my problems with this book is the minimal appearances of Grand Admiral Thrawn. He was ‘there’ but just not ‘THERE’. He didn’t have as much of an explosive performance this time around. Although he appeared in plenty of chapters and pages throghout, he just did not seem to have much to do. He was scheming and plotting but overall, he was relagated to the sidelines. As with my issue with Luke in Heir, this too happened to be rectified in its climax, ‘The Last Command’.

A lot of this book was politics. Leia being delegated to seek peace and aid of the Noghri people whilst Han and Lando were venturing off trying to call upon old Corellian War Hero and former Republic Senator, Garm Bel Iblis to fight against Thrawn’s Empire.  A lot of talk with minimal action until the climax of this book, which was indeed very shocking and left powerful and lasting ramifications for the New Republic.

I will say that Mara Jade was expanded upon quite nicely and her character began to come together and the situation with the Noghri and their relationship with the Republic and Empire was interesting. I was very much inclined to hear what the Noghri had to say to the Lady Vader. Their reasons for serving the Empire with unflinching loyalty were flawed and it was a powerful moment when the truth as to why they ‘owed’ a life debt to the Empire was revealed.

Dark Force Rising was my least favorite book of the trilogy only because Heir set everything up and The Last Command put everything to rest; Dark Force Rising was just filler. It wasn’t bad filler. It was something akin to a store bought cake. If Heir and Last Command were cakes made by an actual bakery and during the middle of it all for Dark Force Rising, somehow you decided to buy a cake from the store; it just isn’t the same. Dark Force Rising left me wanting more of everything which is not necessarily a bad thing as it bode well for the Last Command. I believe that the powerful cliffhanger to Zahn’s books are his speciality as this book in particular leaves the reader hanging. Is the New Republic on the verge of collapse? Has Grand Admiral Thrawn succeeded when the Emperor and Darth Vader failed? These are some of the things the reader is left wondering upon the climax of this book.