** 4.75 Stars **  Accidental Spoilers.

Wow.  I loved this book. LOVE loved.  <-- That's a serious love.  Kresley Cole just keeps getting better.  Lothaire is a wonderful book continuing her Immortals After Dark series. 

The start of this book gives a lot of background into Lothaire.  What made him the way he is?  What goals does he have?  Lothaire has been a thorn in the side of everyone and completely unpredictable in this series.  We finally find out what makes Lothaire tick.

Ellie is a young woman born and raised in Appalachia mountains.  Backwoods might be a good word to use.  Hick is probably better.  She's the exact opposite of Lothaire.  Only one BIG problem with Ellie, she's possessed by a Goddess named Saroya.  Yep.. like "I have exorciiiiiiiised the demon" type of possession.  Unfortunately for Ellie, you can't exorcise Saroya.  Ellie spends a large chunk of her young life in jail when Saroya goes on killing sprees with her body. 

Enter Lothaire.  Lothaire lays eyes on an 18 year old Ellie's body and comes to life.  She's his Bride.  Only backwoods MORTAL Ellie isn't good enough for The Enemy Of Old.  So obviously Saroya must be his Bride.  Lothaire spends years searching for the ring he stole from La Dorada in a previous book.  He believes the ring has the power to grant him a wish.  He wants Ellie's body minus Ellie herself.  He wants to Bride Saroya to rise. 

Ellie is determined to not let Saroya plague the world and kill innocent people.  So Lothaire is forced to keep her close to keep her from harming her body.  Will being with Ellie tempt him?  You're darn right it does!  Lothaire is a bit OCD and has a checklist of things to accomplish: keeping Ellie.. not one of them.

So we get to follow these two on a journey of will against will.  Lothaire is so prejudice against Ellie for being mortal and poor that he can't see what is in front of his eyes.  Ellie is a young woman who has managed to find and be grateful for any happiness that has ever come her way.  So who is the inferior being now?

The absolulte best part of this book is that Cole NEVER strays from who Lothaire is.  In the process of him falling for his Bride, he does it in Lothaire style.  He doesn't coddle.  He isn't nice.  He threatens.  He manipulates.  He pulls one stunt so bad I'm not sure even I could forgive him, if I was his Bride. He's Lothaire!!!   For Lothaire to find happiness he has to see past his hate.  He has to move on from his past(which was heartbreaking).  He needs to make friends: Thaddeus and Hag.  He needs to make up with friends from the past, Nix.  Lothaire has a lot of internal work to do in this book. 

He's sexy.  He's an a**hole.  I love him!  HAHA!  This book just didn't follow normal romance patterns.  Love didn't make him turn into a blubbering mess.  I loved that about this book.  Great great great read.  CANNOT wait for the next one!!! 

The Day Of Giving Up

I started my day with my normal routine: drink coffee and read online newspaper.   An article about New Years resolutions caught my eye.  Today, January 9th, is the day most people give up on their resolutions.  Nine whole days.  That's longer than I have lasted on any diet.  Sadly, it kind of seems depressing that most people last only nine days.

As for my resolutions,  oops.  Okay to be honest my birthday was January 6th.  My husband baked me a cake.  My mother made me a strawberry dessert to die for.  Now I have 2 full size desserts taking up massive space in my fridge.  My 4 year old could care less about cakes and my husband is eating it somewhat.  That leaves me to tank 2 family size desserts.  Am I up for the challenge?  YES!  Have I gained another pound? Yep.  No good.

Accountability clearly doesn't withstand the onslaught of my flawed yet persistent logic.  I can talk my way out of anything.  I seriously have an excuse for everything.  "The dog ate it."  Let me let you in on a secret, I don't even have a dog.   I am the queen of procrastination.  So I have NOT been exercising yet.  I still feel like there are minor victories to celebrate on this "Day of Quitting".

I have been drinking 64 oz of water everyday.  I also have gotten a ton of healthy snacks in my house that I actually reach for.  My problem is exercise.  I sit around all day.  My daughter and I play board games and watch cartoons.  Everything we do is sort of sedentary.   It's really time to start.  The EXTREMELY sad part is that I have an awesome treadmill in my basement.  My husband offered to bring it up to the lower family room if I cleaned it up first.  So whats stopping me?  Failure.  I quit everything I start.  I don't know why.  I started to think it's because one of my 239493 siblings has already done whatever I'm attempting and better.  I feel like a disappointment compared to their achievements, so I don't bother to try.   I'm hoping I have better news to report next time.  

So to all of us who are considering giving up.  Don't.  We'll figure it out somehow.  :)

Accountability

I'm sort of at a cross roads in life.  I've been a stay at home wife/mother for around 5 years now.  My one and only child is 4.  The 35 lbs that I've never lost from pregnancy haunt me.   Is it so bad that I still call it "baby weight"?  Ummm yeah.  So I think I'm going to use this blog to find some accountability in my life. 

With the new year comes New Year resolutions.  So here are mine: drink more water, eat healthy snacks, and exercise 3 days a week.  Let me explain.

1. Drink More Water.
          I hate water.  I like my water with a side of aspartame and caffeine.  Is it so wrong that I need my beverages to keep my energy flowing throughout the day?

2.   Eat Healthy Snacks.
          This is some sort of psychological game I'm playing with myself.  If I say "eat healthier".. I will binge on junk.  I know myself.  Saying that I'm going to "eat healthy" = diet.  Cue chocolate and Mcdonalds.  I think buy saying I'll eat healthier snacks is my way of convincing myself it really is only small changes. 

3.  Exercise 3 Days A Week.
          This is me asking for a miracle.  Somewhere in my mid 20's I decided that I was against exercising.  (cue AHA! moment as to why I have 35 extra pounds)  I am soooooooooooooo lazy.   Did you count the "o's" in that sooooooooooooo?  There are not enough "o's" in so to express the level of my laziness. 

I lack motivation.  I also lack energy, will power, and a six pack of abs.  So this is where the title of this post comes in.  Accountability.   I've got a few days before the New Year to practice my new resolutions.  So have a drink or several for me.  I'll be that mom who is asleep by 9:30pm when the ball drops New Years Eve... well duh, I'll have a workout to attend in the morning.

Dreams Of A Dark Warrior

***** 3.5 Stars Out Of 5 *****

"Dreams of a Dark Warrior" by Kresley Cole

Kresley Cole has undoubtedly penned one of my favorite paranormal romance series. The Immortal After Dark Series often makes me laugh, smile, frown, and curse in the duration of one book.

If you are new to this series, let me introduce you. Our world exists and secretly within it are Fae, Demons, Valkyrie, Vampires, Lykae, etc. The coexist not always in harmony. Each species tends to distrust and discriminate about the others. This series, being a paranormal romance, shows each character find her hero/mate/bride/wife.. etc etc. Hahahaha Often hilarity ensues, and fights are won. Through falling in love with those from other species, alliances are formed. Eventually sides must be taken when a war that will pit them against each other has to be fought... even though we aren't that far in the series.

On to the review:

After reading the first chapter on Kresley's website, I was really excited to read this. It seemed to have so much emotional potential. I couldn't wait for when it was released. Pre-order material.

The book started with a glimpse into the past of how Regin the Radiant and Aiden met. Regin was searching for her sister, Lucia. As a child and needing assistance she saught aid from Aiden the Fierce, a Berserker. Even with Regin being so young, Aiden claimed her for himself. He knew they were meant to be. To earn immortality, Aiden must win so many battles in Woden's name.. Regin's father. He refuses to bed Regin, wanting to earn her and eternity with her. Before eternity is won, Aiden is slain. Here comes the twist. He reincarnates and with every life he searches for Regin. Romantic, no? The problem is every time he finds her and remembers "them", he dies again.

This life he is reincarnated as Declan Chase. He hunts and gathers creatures of the Lore, inprisoning them on a secret undetectable island. On this island, everyone has a mystical collar preventing them from accessing their strength or power. Regin eventually recognizes Declan as Aiden and to tries to make him remember who he was, even though he will die. He hates creatures of the Lore. Will Regin find her happily ever after with a Berserker so damaged that he injects himself with drugs not to feel?

I wanted to love this story more, the only reason I didn't was because it spent the majority of the book with Regin trapped in the Immortal Prison on the Island. If you've read the IAD book before this one ("Demon From The Dark"), this book feels repetitive. Demon From The Dark takes place in this prison/island a large part of the book too. I felt like after 200 pages into it, I was still waiting for something to start happening. I really wanted soooooooo much more from this story. The back story of this couple created so much emotion. This encounter fell flat. As usual, I laughed out loud.. literally. Cole writes sarcarm so well. I love the world that Cole created. Each species is unique and special. Each character hilarious and powerful. There are no heriones waiting to be rescued. They are fully capable of rescuing themselves, thank you.

I was very pumped over learning more about Lothaire. This book added new characters that I hope to see again. It was a good book, but slow with the action. Oddly I felt like I figured out the end immediately into it. I literally KNEW that would happen to Declan at the end once Regin mentioned the 2 birds symbol. It literally instantly clicked into place, so I felt like it became a little predictable. I had no reason to continue. I had figured out the entire story. That was epically disappointing. I still LOVEEEEEEEE this series and characters. I love any and all appearences of Nix the Everknowing, and her pet bat.

Great series. Not that great of a book. I'm still a mega fan though. Kresley Cole writes amazing stories.

Pre-Orders That Excite Me!

I get excited over book series. I mean really honestly excited. When the opportunity to pre-order Nalini Singh's "Kiss of Snow" appears for Barnes & Noble Nooks, I literally squealed like a 12 year old at a Justin Bieber concert. Sadly, that is not an exaggeration. There have been a few book series that elicit such a response for me.

Let's talk books you would actually pre-order. Ones that the moment they have a publishing/sale date, you mark your calenders. My first review on this blog was a pre-order, Lora Leigh's "Navarro's Promise". I just read, finished, and started this blog all today... too much free time. I'm aware.

Here's my current Pre-Order list:

Nalini Singh "Kiss of Snow" (Psy-Changeling Series #10)
Shelly Laurenston "Big Bad Beast" (Pride Stories Series #6)
Chloe Neill "Hard Bitten" (Chicago Vampireland Series #4)


These are currently on pre-order on my Nook. I probably have more and I'm not even aware of it. I always pre-order Kresley Cole's Immortals After Dark Series, Nalini Singh's Guild Hunter's Series, and Jeaniene Frost's Night Huntress series. Some series just demand the upkeep. What books are worth to be pre-ordered by you?

Casper, Meet Bronzer

How can a girl with pale skin find a bronzer that doesn't look muddy or orange? Well let me tell you, this girl has tried them all. For color reference: Mac = NW20, Estee Lauder = 1N1 Ecru, Bare Minerals = Fairly Light. I think you're getting the picture. Are Casper and I related? Clearly I need to ask my parents about my genealogy.

I've owned a lot of bronzers in my day. I given even more free bronzers to my sister (you're welcome)! Stila was too orange. Nars was too muddy (even though reviews acting like it was impossible to look muddy on someone). BE(bare esceuntials, bare minerals) isn't easy to pull off without a base tan. Benefit's Hoola is a perfect looking contour but not as an all over bronzer. It's taken me 3 years of real searching to find one that works.

Let me introduce you to Estee Lauder Bronze Goddess Matte Bronzer. Bronzer meet readers. Readers meet bronzer. For $30, you get .74 oz of product. It doesn't seem like a lot but let me break it down.

Benefit "Hoola" = $28, .40 oz
Nars "Laguna" = $33, .28 oz
Stila "Bronzer 1" = $28 .28 oz
BE "Faux Tan" = $18 .07 oz

Now maybe you're having an "Aha!" moment, or perhaps you need coffee and aren't awake yet. This is a whole heck of a lot of bronzer. I'm talking years worth of bronzer.

Matte you ask? Well to be bluntly honest, I can be a cesspool of oil. TMI? I apologize! I blot my face a few times a day and the idea of putting shimmer on it makes me dry heave. Not to worry. For ladies who like a little shimma shimma or a sparkle sparkle, Estee Lauder makes shimmer bronzers too!

This color is neither muddy or orange on my pale skin. I look truly bronzed. Now don't get me wrong, I'm pasty every where else. That's why I use a MAC 150 brush and run this sucker down my neck and chest. It feels like spring has officially come in Central Pennsylvania, until I look outside! Literally snow flurries, darn you mother nature! At least with this bronzer it is spring inside my head! Pale gals unite! I don't need a stinking tan... I just need my bronzer!

Navarro's Promise

***** 4 Stars *****

Welcome to Lora Leigh's 24th Breed Novel.

Just when I believed that all of her Breed novels were starting to be the same thing, she surprised me. If you haven't read any of the Breeds, let me introduce you to the story.

These are half human/ half animal creations. They weren't born, they were engineered by scientists to be weapons. They have heightened senses and are extremely strong. Each Breed has one mate out in the entire world meant to be just for themselves. But how can a person never shown love know how to give and receive love? That's the struggle these characters meet and conquer in Lora Leigh's books. Oh and the struggle to survive. Breeds are out in the open in the world and you either love them, or hate them. Love has given them a sort of celebrity status, while hate threatens them to extinction on a daily basis.

About the Book:

We meet Cassie Sinclair's best(and pretty much only) friend, Mica. Mica has been around Breeds for so long she is used to blending into their world while still being human. She doesn't really have illusions about what they are or aren't. They just exist, and so does she. After years of Cassie, she's used to keeping her emotions, fidgets, and scent in check. She is constantly brought in as Cassie personal assistant when Cassie's having trouble coping with stress or workload. When she's not at Haven, she lives her own life in NYC working for a newspaper.

Navarro is a wolf breed that teeters on being human. His genetics are considered "recessed". Other breeds are unable to scent that he isn't just human. He, as per all breeds, has a sort of tortured past... well I guess literally with the breeds. They were all tortured in the labs. But a specific event shaped his emotions today.

Phillip Brandemore, villain extraordinaire, may be captured but he isn't out of the game yet. Knowing that Mica is Cassie's BFF in a world where Cassie is isolated with hardly anything else, he decides to order Mica kidnapped. Navarro is in NYC when the distress call goes out and rescues Mica.

The course of this mating is entirely different than what we are used to, which is what made this story so likable. If you read any of Ms. Leigh's story, your aware that each story kind of works the same in each of her series. Lots of explicit sex and even more cheesy lines during said event. Typical breed finds mate, one or both are too stubborn to except the mating. Book revolves around being "sexed" into loving each other. This is different. Navarro's recessed DNA has led to no mating symptons and a really hard time for Ely to confirm a mating at all. In this book mating isn't just about hormones and the heat, the essential ingredient becomes love. Can you mate someone and claim them as yours, if you don't feel for them? Without acknowledged feelings, Navarro's body can't complete the mating.

I really liked both characters in this book. I have HATED some of Leigh's heroines in the past, but love Mica. She isn't needy. She isn't overly stubborn. She isn't considered at some point to be betraying the breeds, like human mates past. She's realistic. She's aware of what is happening an she adjusts and moves forward. Navarro is a hot breed who is dominate and protective.

Overall Leigh used less of her extremely corny sex lines and found more emotion in this book. She didn't unearth questions and leave no answers. Heck she even mentioned that chip file Storme had in books past. They even mentioned Jonas' daughter's, Amber, injection from Brandemore in "Lion's Heat". I must admit, Leigh's previous books asked lots of questions and gave NOOOOOOOO answers and it was starting to tick me off. She literally never addressed all the posed questions at a later date, until this book. Don't expect fulfilling answers, just be happy she acknowledged those previous questions for once.

NOW ONTO THE WORST THING:

EDITING!!!!!!!!!! OMG I actually have found myself insulted. Her books always contain faults in editing. I get the Nook version. But this time I had to reread so many parts because I felt like I missed something or was stupid. I am at the point where I find it insulting to a person who enjoys literature. I like picking up a book crafted by someones words and thoughts. I like sinking my imagination into it. I don't like rereading parts constantly because someone you pay(editor) isn't up to par. This book finally has me annoyed enough to have a problem with it.

FINAL THOUGHTS:

If you like the Breeds, get this book. It's a breath of fresh air in a series that was starting to sound the same. Good job Laura, you've won me back to the "addicted to breeds" status.