Winner of The Lost Saint ARC

First off,

happy release day of The Lost Saint!

Second,

CONGRATS to Jazz Sexton
who won The Lost Saint ARC and matching nail polish!

Reminder: Don't forget to enter the December GRaB by commenting on this month's book reviews!

BkRv: She's cheer captain, and I'm on the bleachers

Book Review /you wish / Mandy Hubbard

YA | Girls

First Line / People say I'm a glass-half-empty person. I guess they're right, because I've never understood why anyone would see it as half full, when clearly there's something missing. But then again, maybe that's because I spent last summer working at a diner, and a half-empty glass meant I was falling behind.











The What About / from the publisher

Kayla McHenry's sweet sixteen sucks! Her dad left, her grades dropped, and her BFF is dating the boy Kayla's secretly loved for years. Blowing out her candles, Kayla thinks: I wish my birthday wishes actually came true. Because they never freakin' do.

Kayla wakes the next day to a life-sized, bright pink My Little Pony outside her window. Then a year's supply of gumballs arrives. A boy named Ken with a disturbing resemblance to the doll of the same name stalks her. As the ghosts of Kayla's wishes-past appear, they take her on a wild ride . . . but they MUST STOP. Because when she was fifteen? She wished Ben Mackenzie would kiss her. And Ben is her best friend's boyfriend.

The Review / When Prada And Prejudice came out, I remember when Ms. Hubbard got excited when Taylor Swift did Love Story and how perfect it was for her debut novel. When I heard You Belong To Me, I could not help but wonder if it inspired you wish in a similar fashion. I mean, when you think about the love triangle between Kayla, best friend Nicole, and Nicole's boyfriend/Kayla's longtime crush Ben. Kayla who seems more tomboyish and outcrowd; Nicole who has undergone a top-secret fashion makeover which led to a social status change; and Ben who seems out of place with Nicole, but gels better with Kayla, especially when they exchange corny jokes. Corny jokes, my dear Readers, are enjoyed by the special kind of people :) I'm sure you know who you are!

I loved the concept of you wish - who hasn't dreamed of birthday wishes coming true? Granted I don't recall wishing for gumballs and dating my Ken doll, but to each their own. While the wishes sounded like fun and a tad scandalous (*gasp* best friend's boyfriend?!), I couldn't really fall in love with you wish as much as I had hoped. I think I expected more snap-crackle-pop, but didn't really think it gave as much as it could have. I thought the wishes could have been more wackier and extreme - not saying that they weren't, but I thought the earlier wishes would be a little out-of-this-world.

For me, you wish was not everything I had hoped for - bits and pieces were delightful, but in the end, not 100% satisfying. I wanted more excitement, more sizzle. Yet I can see how you wish may be perfect if one was in the mood for something light-hearted and fluffy to keep you company on a rainy day or a long plane trip.

--Disclaimer / Bought / eBook

BkRv: Diamond Ruby is a girl's best friend

Book Review / Diamond Ruby / Joseph Wallace

Historical | Series Book 1

First Line / Ruby Thomas had never seen anything as beautiful as Ebbets Field, with its brick exterior and half-moon windows that reminded her of slices of jelly candy.











The What About / from Publishers Weekly

Based on the true story of a lady pitcher who struck out Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig in exhibition play, this debut novel from nonfiction author Wallace (Grand Old Game) is a diverting sports tale. In 1923, 18-year-old New Yorker Ruby Lee Thomas is forced to raise her two small nieces, Amanda and Allie, after the 1918 Spanish influenza devastates her family. Blessed (or cursed) with elongated arms that make for blazing fastballs, the southpaw is hired by the Fantasyland Circus Sideshow as “Diamond Ruby.” The Jewish pitcher draws the violent attention of the Klan, but also the admiration of Babe Ruth (a pitcher early in his career), who teaches her a few new throws, and boxing champion Jack Dempsey. The Brooklyn Typhoons eventually sign Ruby to pitch, where her amazing feats stir trouble with a charismatic gangster angling to fix her games; subsequent clashes and close calls with Prohibition-era hoodlums generate as much drama as her distinctive baseball prowess. Sharply sketched, convincing historical characters like Ruth and Dempsey add to the considerable appeal of Wallace's gritty but fun period baseball tale.

The Review / I actually read Diamond Ruby earlier this year, but I've been putting off the review for some time since my blog was limping along this year. Every once in a while I pick up a historical book - not the usual YA frills or thrills - out of curiosity and sometimes because somehow it ends up in my mailbox. And, though I sometimes am disappointed with my venture outside the box, there are gems like Diamond Ruby that make me itching to find more just like it!

There is always something satisfying with reading about historical figures - especially females - who break boundaries and change the world for the better. Yes, even if it simply involves bringing women into a man's sport. It just gives me hope for the world - and a better appreciation of the world we live in today. I mean, Diamond Ruby is set in the 1920s - that's 90 years ago, and while that seems like a century ago, how many of us still know someone who can remember such a time where sports were predominantly male? It's just astounding.

Back to the book though, I really became invested in Ruby and her determination. She wasn't trying to prove the point that women can do things just as well as men (and maybe better) - she was simply trying to keep food on the table for her small family. After her parents and siblings die, Ruby is left as main breadwinner for her two nieces. Watching her go from being gawked at a sideshow like she was a bearded lady to playing on a men's baseball league was really fascinating. I loved the support system around her, including the famous Babe Ruth.

While being a mostly uplifting book, there were dark moments in Ruby's life. For instance, when she is first trying to figure out how to feed herself and her two nieces, Ruby gets involved with modeling - the sort where the less you wear, the better - and the photographer will pay you quite handsomely if you treat him rather nicely. The whole situation just threw me aback - and it made me ill to think about the many girls who might have been coerced into such a lifestyle. Another moment is when Ruby gets involved with rigged baseball games - and she has to decide what to do for the sake of her family.

Diamond Ruby is a fascinating read of a young woman who perseveres during a diversity of hardships and carves her place in baseball history. I can't wait to find out what Mr. Wallace has in store for Ruby!

P.S. I don't know about you, but I have a strange fascination with reading acknowledgments. They range from dry to witty to giddy to LOL to random tidbits of delight. I just love to see what the authors choose to say in this section - and imagine my surprise when Mr. Wallace gives a shout-out to the Felicia Day whose blog pointed me in the direction of Lisa Shearin and Patrick Rothfuss (and eventually my book blogging ways). I love how small our world is...even if I don't personally know the people! At least I can rejoice in knowing their bloggy self! :)

---Disclaimer / Publisher

Giveaway / The Lost Saint ARC plus nail polish

Thanks to the Egmont USA,
I have an ARC of The Lost Saint
and its matching nail polish
to give away
to ONE LUCKY COMMENTER!

Since the|EPIC|rat is pretty low-key at the moment, I think the odds will be pretty spectacular - but let's make it a little interesting by throwing in ONE RULE in this giveaway...

You MUST promote this giveaway in some way
(e.g. blog post, blog sidebar, Twitter, Facebook, email friends and cc: my email)
and let me know to gain an entry.

That's all.

No PROMO = NO ENTRY.

Ends December 18th.

Open WORLDWIDE.

BkRv: All saints preserve us!

Book Review / The Lost Saint / Bree Despain

YA | Girl | Fantasy | Series Book 2

First Line (ARC) / "Do what he wants, and you might survive," a harsh voice said into the boy's ear before he felt a sharp blow to the kidneys. He fell forward onto the concrete, his arms splayed out in front of him.











The What About / from the publisher

Grace Divine made the ultimate sacrifice to cure Daniel Kalbi. She was infected with the werewolf curse while trying to save him, and lost her beloved brother in the process.

Desperate to find Jude, Grace befriends Talbot, a newcomer to town. But as the two grow closer, Grace’s relationship with Daniel is put in danger - in more ways than one.

Unaware of the dark path she is walking, Grace begins to give into the wolf inside of her - not realizing that an enemy has returned and a deadly trap is about to be sprung.

Bree Despain delivers sizzling romance and thrilling action in the heart-pounding sequel to The Dark Divine.

The Review / First and foremost, if you can manage to hold off on The Lost Saint for a little while longer, this is one of those books where you definitely want the 3rd book on the ready before you swallow the sequel whole! This will not be kind to those of us who dislike hanging off cliffs...literally.

I am sad to say that I have mixed feelings for this sequel to The Dark Divine after my raving review last month. It just did not move me as much - I was not too impressed with Grace and felt a little disappointed in her behavior this time around. Perhaps it was deliberate on Ms. Despain's part - and I'll grant that Grace's actions might have been slightly colored by the wolf's demon nature and frustration with Daniel's apparent brush-off. However, I thought Grace would react a little bit differently - or had more sensibility to listen to the more experienced who were looking out for her.

As far as Talbot goes, he definitely seems too good to be true - and while Grace seemed to put her faith in his hands, my Spidey senses are tingling! Not only does Talbot brings Grace closer to her newly-acquired wolf side, but he also threatens her relationship with Daniel - and in my book, that is totally not cool - even if Daniel and Grace are going through a rough patch. In the end though, Ms. Despain throws in a wrench into the equation and now I'm not sure what to make of Talbot anymore...

The Lost Saint definitely takes the story arc to a darker edge and plunges even darker when we reach the final page. To see the toll of Jude's disappearance on the Divine family was heart-wrenching, and I could not help but share Grace's desperation to find her brother and heal their broken family. I am definitely itching for the 3rd book! I cannot believe it ended the way it did, and I am absolutely heartbroken for Grace and Daniel - and how things stand between them! What a HUGE obstacle for this couple! What does it mean?!

I only hope that the final chapter of this series is finished next year as anticipated! I don't think I can wait that long to find out what happens to Grace, Daniel, and company!

---Disclaimer / Publisher : ARC

BkRv: Resistance is futile

Book Review / The Spirit Rebellion / Rachel Aaron

Fantasy | Series Book 2

First Line / High in the forested hills where no one went, there stood a stone tower. It was a practical tower, neither lovely nor soaring, but solid and squat at only two stories.











The What About / from the publisher

Eli Monpress is brilliant. He's incorrigible. And he's a thief.

He's also still at large, which drives Miranda Lyonette crazy. While she's been kicked out of the Spirit Court, Eli's had plenty of time to plan his next adventure. But now the tables have turned, because Miranda has a new job — and an opportunity to capture a certain thief.

Things are about to get exciting for Eli. He's picked a winner for his newest heist. His target: the Duke of Gaol's famous "thief-proof" citadel. Eli knows Gaol is a trap, but what's life without challenges? Except the Duke is one of the wealthiest men in the world, a wizard who rules his duchy with an iron fist, and an obsessive perfectionist with only one hobby: Eli.

It seems that everyone is hunting for Eli Monpress.

The Review / Not as great as its predecessor The Spirit Thief, but still rather delightful with a little more history behind Eli and his companions. I think Rachel Aaron has set up the stage rather nicely, and she seems to building the momentum at a satisfactory rate for the remainder of the series.

The title is a bit misleading since the actual rebellion does not happen until later. After the leaps and bounds that Eli had us taking in the first book, I am a little disappointed with The Spirit Rebellion in that it takes a little longer for the action to explode on the pages. I was a little impatient for Miranda and Eli to butt heads again, waiting for them to realize that they were both in the same city, trying to figure out the Duke and his almost-oppressive hold on his city's spirits. It was like a cat-and-mouse game, but there was too much teasing and not enough pouncing!

When everything starts to pick up the pace (and by that I mean everything starts to fall apart), The Spirit Rebellion reached the same breathless page-turning climax that I had been waiting for since I opened the book. Definitely well worth the wait - even though I didn't like it at the time!

As I mentioned earlier, The Spirit Rebellion gives us a little more backstory on the characters, especially Eli, though it does not give us the whole picture yet. I definitely closed the book with more questions on how Eli turned out the way he did - but I think that was Ms. Aaron's intent to leave more questions to whet our appetites. Furthermore, Nico's predicament as a demonseed on the point of doomsday gets more spotlight, most likely to set up for the 3rd book The Spirit Eater. She is a ticking time-bomb, and I am both curious and terrified to find out how Ms. Aaron plans on handling Nico's future.

I still LOVE the magic system that Ms. Aaron has built - and its complexity just gets better and better as the series progresses.

From page 32 / [Josef (swordsman) and Eli get caught by trees and are hanging]
Josef shook his head in disgust and stuck the knife into his belt. "I thought you were friends with trees."

"For the last time, it doesn't work like that," Eli said. "That's like saying, 'I thought you were friends with humans.' "

Whereas The Spirit Thief has doors and trees just swooning at the feet of Eli's charisma, the spirits in The Spirit Rebellion are trying hard not to be to save themselves from punishment - it was amazing to learn why they are how they are and rewarding to see how they get out of their tricky situation!

The Spirit Rebellion is quite enjoyable - it may seem slower-paced at first, but it definitely delivers the action on a silver platter by the end and leaves you wanting to come back for thirds!

---Disclaimer / Bought

BkRv: She's the wanderer, she roams around around around

Book Review / 
Fortune And Fate
 by Sharon Shinn

Fantasy | Series Book 5

First Line / Karryn was so grateful to step out of the coach that her legs practically buckled under her as her feet touched the ground. Only Tover's hard hold on her arm kept her more or less upright. He hauled her through a muddy yard and toward the open door of a rather run-down tavern.

The What About / in my own words

As a King's Rider, Wen knew she could count on her fellow Riders to guard her back. She knew she could count on her fighting skills in the heat of battle, but she never counted on failing to protect her king during the civil war and watching him die before her very eyes. Unable to forgive herself, Wen has stepped down from her post as Rider and hidden herself from her colleagues out of guilt.

However, Wen finds that once a Rider, always a Rider - and wherever she goes, she finds herself rescuing people from bullies and bandits. Wen never counted on saving Karryn, the future serramarra of Fortunalt whose father had been behind the rebellion against the king. Wen never counted on becoming employed by the serramarra's handsome guardian to protect Karryn from harm by hand-picking and training their guards. Wen never counted on staying for more than a month, but she finds herself unable to leave Fortune.

After being unable to count on herself since the death of her king, will Wen finally come to terms with herself when the people of Fortune start to count on her to protect them?

The Review / It has been a long time coming - and it has been nearly two years (?!) since I came back to Sharon Shinn's Twelve Houses series (see really old reviews here), but I finally sat down and cracked open the final chapter of this series. And upon finishing it, I am kicking myself for waiting so long! What in the world was I thinking?!

Fortune And Fate focuses on a character NOT part of the original six that I grew to love with the past 4 books. Which is why I waited -and with the waiting, forgot most of the details. What is great about Fortune And Fate is that it can almost serve as a standalone novel with occasional references to earlier books and homages to the already-loved characters. I could settle back into the world of Gillengaria, and still find it as exciting and new as ever!

Wen reminded me of Tamora Pierce's strong female characters, namely those who wielded swords and more than equaled their male counterparts. She lived and breathed the soldier's life, unapologetically, except those rare occasions when she catches herself caring about the opinion of Karryn's guardian. I think Wen was a great character who obviously thought on her feet and could come up with a plan when in a tight spot. A woman you definitely wanted on your side when the going gets rough and full of flying arrows.

And when her relationship with Jasper (guardian) kept growing, I thought it was probably the most beautifully done romance that I have ever read. I don't know how to describe my reaction. Watching Jasper try to get Wen to trust him and sneakily court her without raising her hackles was simply wonderful. When he finally breaks through her shields and throws the ball into her court, I was literally grinning like an idiot. Of course, Wen took forever to figure out what she wanted and where she wanted to end up and if Jasper would get tired of her.

From page 206 / Maybe he wasn't bothered by the knowledge itself. Maybe it was seeing her engage in full-out warfare, with no restraints, going for the kill - maybe that's what bothered him. Maybe he had thought she was a mere pristine creature; maybe he had thought battle itself was more dainty.

Maybe he thought that he could not waste his time talking about literature and philosophy with someone who scrabbled about in the mud and tried to cut out a fellow's intestines.

She started to feel resentful - enough so that she came to a dead halt and considered striding back down the hallway to confront him. What right do you have to judge me? I am exactly what I said I was, a soldier; I do exactly what I said I always wanted to do. How can you turn against me now? I didn't ask you to try to make me a friend. I didn't ask you to offer me books or read me poetry. How can you be angry that I am not the person you tried to turn me into? I am the person that I always was.

As for the familiar characters, they wove in and out of the plot - standing apart from Wen's story until they finally arrived to Fortunalt. For those who have read the rest of the series, you'll probably appreciate their appearances especially as the characters reunite with each other. The friendly teasing and backfired ideas will surely make you laugh in fond memory of their past adventures.

Fortune And Fate is definitely worth the time if you enjoyed previous books in the Twelve Houses series, especially if you are in the mood for some light fantasy with some swordsplay and whodunit intrigue. I would also say if you are a fan of Song Of The Lioness quartet, you might want to check this out - I think it can stand alone, as long as you don't mind missing some small details about the bigger picture.

---Disclaimer / Library
---PUBLISHED SEPTEMBER 2008 BY PENGUIN GROUP
---OTHER BOOKS IN THE SERIES: MYSTIC AND RIDER; THE THIRTEENTH HOUSE; DARK MOON DEFENDER; READER AND RAELYNX
---THIS BLOG POST RE-FORMATTED ON 3.2.2011 

Winner of November GRaB

Not a whole lot of commenters this month - which is expected since I've been out of the blogosphere for a while - which only means more chances to win books for those of you who are still stopping by [THANK YOU, by the way! I really appreciate it!]

The November GRaB winner is...

Nina from J'adore happy endings

Selected prize: Still Sucks To Be Me / Kimberly Pauley

What is GRaB?
It is a super-easy giveaway that I run each month.
Step 1: I review books.
Step 2: You comment on the reviews for entries (point system here).
Step 3: I tally up the entries and then randomly select a winner.

What do you win?
Your choice in book from my reviewed pile - which at the moment does not have a lot of the newer releases, but that doesn't necessarily mean a bad thing.

BkRv: I'm like, forget you and forget him too

Book Review / Forget You / Jennifer Echols

YA | Girls

First Line / Every strong swimmer has a story about nearly drowning.











The What About /

There’s a lot Zoey would like to forget. Like how her father has knocked up his twenty-four- year old girlfriend. Like Zoey’s fear that the whole town will find out about her mom’s nervous breakdown. Like darkly handsome bad boy Doug taunting her at school. Feeling like her life is about to become a complete mess, Zoey fights back the only way she knows how, using her famous attention to detail to make sure she’s the perfect daughter, the perfect student, and the perfect girlfriend to ultra-popular football player Brandon. But then Zoey is in a car crash, and the next day there’s one thing she can’t remember at all—the entire night before. Did she go parking with Brandon, like she planned? And if so, why does it seem like Brandon is avoiding her? And why is Doug—of all people— suddenly acting as if something significant happened between the two of them? Zoey dimly remembers Doug pulling her from the wreck, but he keeps referring to what happened that night as if it was more, and it terrifies Zoey to admit how much is a blank to her. Controlled, meticulous Zoey is quickly losing her grip on the all-important details of her life—a life that seems strangely empty of Brandon, and strangely full of Doug.

The Review / Forget You felt like worlds apart from going too far - and while I liked it all right, I did not love the story and characters as much as going too far. I think that is why I felt a twinge of disappointment in how Forget You unfolded - it almost felt like Forget You should have been released first, then going too far as its much better sophomore release for Ms. Echols' foray into romantic drama.

That said, Forget You was still a good read - just more tame and nicer-feeling than I had expected. Handling Zoey's post-accident amnesia sounds like a really tricky writing exercise, but I think that Ms. Echols executed it rather well! It definitely kept me in suspense to figure out what happened since it seemed to have changed Zoey's romantic life.

Speaking of which, I will warn you, dear Readers, that Zoey's attachment to Brandon might drive you nuts because it definitely drove me crazy! Granted, I think this might be indicative of how some girls can be when it comes to relationships - but Zoey's adamant insistence that Brandon was her boyfriend after an impromptu backseat tango just flabbergasted me. She seemed like a practical girl - that is, when she wasn't worried about people finding out about her "crazy" mother or the extent of her amnesia - but as far as dating went, Zoey seemed a little batty.

Doug, on the other hand, seemed like a dream wrapped in yum sprinkled with some TLC. While Zoey floated in the River de Nile, I felt really bad for Doug who obviously cared for Zoey. The something that happened between them had meant a lot for him, and it killed him that Zoey didn't seem to care - and it killed him even more when he discovered that she actually didn't remember any of it. But he kept on looking out for her, even when she told him to get lost. And that, dear Readers, is a sign of a good man.

I wished more emphasis could have been spent on Zoey and the situation on her divorced parents. There seemed to be a lot left unsaid, which I am not sure if that was for the better. It could have been left as it to simply illustrate how tangled-up a divorce situation can be. Since I have not witnessed a divorce first- or second-hand (maybe a distant third-hand), I cannot say if Ms. Echols captured its essence accurately. I really did not like Zoey's father - he seemed very high-strung and treated Zoey and her mother very very poorly when they needed his support the most. I don't think he meant to, but that was simply how he came across. Zoey's mother, on the other hand, we only get to see during the initial set-up stage and then at the end - but never at her best, simply at her worst state of mind where she comes across as a madwoman. I wish we saw her at her best - if only to feel less worried about how Zoey's life turns out post-book. Will she be loved? Will her parents be there to support her? Will her dad reform his behavior? Will her mother be back to "normal" as she can be? Will Zoey turn out okay?

I hope so. I really hope so.

All in all, Forget You is a bittersweet romance that gets sweeter by the page as the love triangle (or square, to be accurate) untangles itself. If you were expecting something along the lines of going too far, I think you'd have better luck with another book like Ballads Of Suburbia if you haven't read it yet. If you want to read about a girl who is trying to live a "normal" life and find love despite an embarrassing family situation, then this may be worth your while!

---Disclaimer / Bought / eBook

BkRv: I get knocked down, but I get up again

Book Review / 
Twice Tempted By A Rogue 
by Tessa Dare

Romance | Historical | Series Book 2

First Line /Rhys St. Maur, newly Lord Ashworth, was a broken man.

Literally.

By the age of twenty, he'd fractured his left arm twice - once in a schoolboy brawl at Eton, and then again during an army training drill. Cracked ribs...he'd lost count of those. Fists driving through barroom haze to connect with his face had snapped the cartilage in his nose a few times, leaving him with a craggy profile - one that was not improved by his myriad of scars.

The What About / in my own words

Rhys St. Maur has been courting death for his entire life, ever since he left Buckleigh-in-the-Moor in order to bury his dark childhood. Now, years later, several bar brawls and battles later, millions of scars and broken bones later, Rhys finally returns to this ill-begotten village and finds himself drawn to the lady innkeeper. Rhys has always lived a day at a time, one nightmare at a time, knowing that his days are numbered, but somehow this feisty and headstrong woman has inspired him to not only dream of kissing her breathless but also for a brighter tomorrow.

Meredith Maddox learned the hard way to bury her heart's desires. She has worked long and hard to support her father, her village, and herself after the devastating fire. The inn is her life, and nothing - not even Rhys St. Maur - can take that away from her. But sometimes childhood crushes are hard to extinguish. When Rhys returns home and sets out to win her heart, will Meredith be successful at keeping Rhys at an arms' length while enjoying his seductions - or will she fall hopelessly in love with him and lose everything for that she has worked so hard?

The Review / Okay, this may sound silly, but I tend to get a little teary whenever I read a decent romance. When I picked up Twice Tempted, I wasn't expecting it to completely blow Book 1 out of the waters - holy SMOKED KIPPER, did I ever bawl my eyes out! Which is why I am writing the review for Book 2 first - don't get me wrong, I adored Book 1 (One Dance With A Duke) - but I loved Twice Tempted so much more!

I don't think I've met a more emotionally-charged couple than Meredith and Rhys - they were so achingly love/hate, yes/no, go away/come back - that I just got swept in their relationship. It was really adorable to see Rhys try to bully Meredith into marrying him after one day and, even though she refused, he went ahead with building their cottage with his bare hands to prove his seriousness. Not to mention, I laughed at how he tries to circumvent Meredith's adamant refusal and carries on with their "engagement" because he knows she'll cave eventually. He only got more attractive when he finally listens to Meredith and attempts to woo her, though he manages to always say and do the wrong things. His intentions and sincerity were just to die for - and it is simply mind-boggling to see how long Meredith tried to resist him!

Meredith, on the other hand, was not the usual virgin-in-distress - she was perfectly capable of handling herself and running an inn to drive the entire village's economy. It was great to see a woman who wasn't inhibited by manners and societal rules, but instead independent and hard-working! She didn't need Rhys and his lordly riches - she could manage just fine on her own financially - but Meredith didn't count on falling in love with Rhys for just being himself, a 110% sincere man who is trying very hard to do the gentlemanly thing despite wanting to do all sorts of naughty things to her!

From page 146 / With a rough sigh, he drew up a stool and sat across from her. "What are we to each other?"

She blinked at him. "You want to discuss the state of our relationship?"

He nodded.

"What sort of man enters this sort of conversation willingly?"

"A man who's tired of sleeping out on the moor alone." And not because he was worried about falling rocks or ghosts or Gideon Myles, but because he wanted her. He wanted her more than he'd wanted anything in his life, and he wasn't sure how much longer he could stay away.

"We're friends, Rhys. And I think I've made it clear that we could be...closer friends, whenever you wish... Body to body." Another kiss. "Skin to skin."

...[Meredith distracts Rhys with her womanly wiles here. After a brief bout of insanity, Rhys somehow manages to regain his good senses.] "No," he [said], pushing her back. "It still won't be enough. Body to body, skin to skin. It's not enough. I don't want...friendship without clothing. I need a marriage."

See what I mean?! Rhys is godly.
Twice Tempted was such an unexpected delight! The plot was very engaging with a whole motley crew of characters, and Ms. Dare threw in a few plot twists that kept my curiosity purring like a contented cat - and when I finally hit the final aha!, was I ever stunned! Quite simply, the title sums my reaction very accurately since I am sorely tempted to re-read at least once more (maybe twice!) and dream about Rhys and his Wolverine-like gorgeousness some more!

---Disclaimer / Bought / eBook
---RELEASED JUNE 2010 BY RANDOM HOUSE
---OTHER BOOKS IN THE SERIES: ONE DANCE WITH THE DUKE, THREE NIGHTS WITH A SCOUNDREL

BkRv: Bad boy, bad boy, whatcha gonna do?

Book Review / The Spirit Thief / Rachel Aaron

Fantasy | Series Book 1

First Line / In the prison under the castle Allaze, in the dark, moldy cells where the greatest criminals in Mellinor spent the remainder of their lives counting rocks to stave off madness, Eli Monpress was trying to wake up a door.









The What About / from the front and back cover

What he gets away with is criminal.

Eli Monpress is talented. He's charming. And he's a thief. But not just any thief. He's the greatest thief of the age - and he's also a wizard. And with the help of his partners - a swordsman with the most powerful magic sword in the world but no magical ability of his own, and a demonseed who can step through shadows and punch through walls - he's going to put his plan into effect. The first step is to increase the size of the bounty on his head, so he'll need to steal some big things. But he'll start small. He'll just steal something that no one will miss - at least for a while. Something like a king.

The Review / This may seem a bit cliché, but I oftentimes judge a new fantasy book by its cover and title - and by judge, I mean it definitely has to jump out at me before I consider picking it up. Well, the thing that drew my attention to The Spirit Thief was the tagline: What he gets away with is criminal. Nothing like a clever tagline to get my curiosity going! :) And then, I was definitely hooked by the back cover summary. A thief who stole a king? Ridiculous yet genius.

One of the author blurbs (Tom Holt) said: "Rachel Aaron isn't so much knocking at the door as kicking it down." Which, while totally indicates how awesome The Spirit Thief, does not quite capture the mystery that is Eli Monpress - he literally can coax anything to do his bidding by simply helping them to find balance and happiness. Eli Monpress is charisma incarnate - and that's what makes him such a notoriously-wanted criminal but an oh-so-lovable main character!

From page 57 / Monpress has stolen enough gold from the Council Kingdoms to live like a king for five lifetimes, but the only records we have of him spending it are on setups for ever-larger thefts. Some of the world's best bounty hungers have chased him for months and caught nothing but stories, others simply vanished. This has led to some experienced hunters to dismiss him as a wild chase, but that is because they have failed to understand Monpress's only constant: his pride in his vocation. Eli Monpress is a true thief. He steals for the joy of it. He doesn't make a show unless he wants you to see, and he never runs before he's gotten what he came for. He may act the charming fool, but he has a goal to everything he does. Find out what he really wants, and then position yourself so that he has to go through you to get it. Make him come to you. That's the only way you'll catch him.

It has been so long (okay, since Blameless and Bewitched & Betrayed) since I've found a new fantasy series - and it has been never since I found one that releases the first 3 in the series in monthly succession! Not sure how Ms. Aaron accomplished this, but I am devouring the series as we speak. This is simply a mini-break to ring out the good news! Right from the start,The Spirit Thief is true to its promise of being good rollicking fun with a dash of magic and incredible wit. It reminded me of Vash The Stampede (for all you anime fans) rolled into Princess Bride (without the mushy parts, but the you-killed-my-father vibe) stamped with Pirates Of The Carribean (with the spirit of Jack Sparrow, but without actual pirates). Okay, maybe the PotC was a bit of a stretch, but Eli could totally give Jack a run for his money!

I loved all the characters, and I cannot wait to find out more about them in the following books! Ms. Aaron has put together a diverse cast cloaked with loads of mysteries - who they are, where they came from, how they came to be together. A swordsman in possession of the greatest sword ever made, but absolutely refuses to use it. A demonseed on the brink of fully maturing into a demonic monster, but hidden from most of the world and somehow kept at bay by Eli and swordsman. A wizard who went through her schooling to understand magic, but totally gets stumped when Eli throws everything she has learned about magic out the window. A king who simply wants to go home. The king's exiled brother who seizes this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to steal a kingless kingdom and harbors a magic most powerfully evil.

I am 200% glad that I decided to give The Spirit Thief a chance because it has far exceeded my expectations - and I am really glad that it lived up to its tagline! What Rachel Aaron has gotten away with is fantastic - and all you fans of Lisa Shearin who are itching for a new series to bide the time until Con & Conjure come out, make room for The Spirit Thief who may give the Benares family a run for their money!

---Disclaimer / Bought