Genre: Paranormal
Book 1 in the Midnight series (anthology)
ISBN: 9780515132762
Releasedate: August 2006
Publisher: Penguin Putnam Inc.
Format owned: MPB
For sale at: The Book Depository Store

Synopsis
Luisa's Desire tells of a child of midnight who has arrived at a spiritual refuge in Tibet. Far from her normal immortal life, Luisa is surrounded by simplicity and self-denial. Here, she hopes to expunge her dangerous desires. But when she meets the monk who can save her, Luisa realizes she's only beginning to understand what desire is.

REVIEW
What a refreshing way of story-telling. After all the paranormal/vampire series I read off late I was longing for some pure romance (nearly longing for a jolt of decent romance of regency!!!) This story takes you into the realm of Umpyr's (immortals quite like vampires).

Emma Holly writes in a Brittish sort like English and in a way that slowly get you in the whole Dalai Llama-Tibetan scenery. Despite the immortality of Luisa - the Umpyr -, I also felt the sublimely described tranquility of the Tibetan monks. The love Luisa and Martin experience is on such deep spiritual level and also in tune with the spiritual influence in my own life that I nearly purred with pleasure while reading this story!

Eventhough the story was an anthology, it didn't come across as such. To me it was more like a shorter novel. This was not a story with heavy battles or great tormented souls that needed rescueing, but for me it was a nice change of paste.

I can't wait to start on the other novels I have, written by this author, on my still-to-read shelf.

4,5 Stars

JR Ward – Lover Awakened

Genre: Paranormal
Book 3 in the Blackdagger Brotherhood
ISBN: 0-451-21936-8
Releasedate: September 2006
Publisher: Penguin Putnam Inc.
Format owned: HC Rhapsody & MPB
For sale at: The Book Depository Store

Synopsis
Even within the vampire brotherhood, Zsadist is feared. Still bearing the scars from a tortured past, he is renowned for his unquenchable fury. Anger is his only companion, and terror is his only passion-until he rescues a beautiful female from the evil Lessening Society.

REVIEW
After reading Rhage's "love-story" in lover eternal, I knew this was very hard to top as for me everything in it was absolutely perfect. I took a few days apart to give this book the full chance it deserved and it was a good descision to do so, because though the love story between Zsadist and Bella was near to perfect as well, it didn't embrace my heart as the previous book did.

Ofcourse I had a near-paper-tissue moment but it wasn't quite the 'balling my eyes out - can't stop crying'-thing. But I did have my moments though. What absolutely struck my heart was the thing going on between Phury and Zsadist as twins! In this book it wasn't the 'lovers'-part that got me hooked and reading along every free moment of my spare time, but everything that happened around it.

I had such a great laugh when Bella got into her needing-period and all the warriors were struck with a 'hard-on' at the breakfast table. The whole day I kept seeing that picture in my mind; "note to self - don't read these books when you just woke up with a busy day ahead of you!!! "

Ofcourse the whole Tohrment-Wellsie-John-Sarella scene left me heartbroken and hurting for their grief. Such intensely written that I could literally see Tohrment crushed with grief and his tearing heart taring the whole centre apart!!!!

What I find JR Ward can do like no-one else is create such an intense environment, and describe the emotions going around so perfectly that you can taste/feel exactly how the personages go through them! This series makes me nearly long for this Brotherhood to be real! Because this world will be so much better with Warriors like these walking around - if only for the looks eyh girls!?!

I long to know more about the bond between Phury and Zsadist but I know if Phury's story is coming more will be revealed. I keep saying Vishous is my guy though. There's just something about him that gives me butterflies everytime he enters "the scene".

This book closes with so many things still open that my longing mind is trying to figure out what will happen next. Some may say the open ends are not the "correct"-ending to a book, but I find it refreshingly new and excitingly thrilling. I can't waith to start in Butch's story. Not only to see if Butch and Marissa will end up together and to know what is going to happen when Vishous gave Butch the 'wine" to drink, but also to see what is going on with the others. What will happen with John? How will things continue within the Brotherhood now that Tohr..... And whao, what's up with Rehvenge en the Reverend???? I just love it that there's no real ending to each book, it leaves a lot up for discussion and speculation - probably only to find a complete new vision on things once the next book is out!!!!!!

4,5 Stars

JR Ward – Lover Eternal
Genre: Paranormal
Book 2 in the Black Dagger Brotherhood
ISBN: 0-451-21804-3
Releasedate: March 2006
Publisher: Penguin Putnam Inc.
Format owned: HC Rhapsody & MPB
For sale at: The Book Depository Store

Synopsis
Within the brotherhood, Rhage is the vampire with the strongest appetite. He's the best fighter, the quickest to act on his impulses, and the most voracious lover-for inside him burns a ferocious curse cast by the Scribe Virgin.

Possessed by this dark side, Rhage fears the times when his inner dragon is unleashed, making him a danger to everyone around him. When Mary Luce is unwittingly thrown into the vampire world, she must rely on Rhage's protection. Knowing that Mary feels the same intense animal attraction, Rhage must make her his alone...

REVIEW
OMG!!! I love this series. Wrath and Beth had me shook up and hooked onto this series but Rhage and Mary have me hung to their story like bees to honey! I just had to spend my every free moment reading on : it captivated me - even had me dreaming about the brotherhood! I'm still in awe. Ofcourse I needed a box full of paper tissues! When a story does that to me... than it's a sublime high for me!

JR Ward has created such an immense wonderful brotherhood with warriors that (I anyway) long to meet in my life - even if it's just once - but then again I know I wouldn't go for less knowing these beautiful gorgeous warriors would walk around for real...

The lesser-part is something it can do without because the story itself is so strong! In the end of this story it blended in more into knowing why it is mentioned in this series, but JR Ward writes in such a magnificent way. The love story woven into it is so strong that it doesn't need it, but strangely enought it does fit...

What keeps me brilliantly into this series is that towards the end of each story you are left with a cliffhanger. Eventhough Rhage and Mary were the centre of this story, towards the ending Zsadist and Bella encounter eachother; and knowing Zsadist's story is next; I am left eager to start in it. And what's up with Butch and Marissa? Their story is coming in a few months - sigh - how can I waith that long?!! But I have to say Vishous captured my heart!!!!

JR Ward is brilliant in the way she has written this series. It's like following a series on TV that you're really into - ie. for me 'Prisonbreak'. You just can't wait till you see the next episode to know what's coming!!

Although it did fit in this story, especially when you get to know Rhage's curse a bit - my love-thirst heart took a turn and screamed 'Noooo!!' When Rhage did something and only hours later declared Mary his love for her. It did fit into the whole story; it all strangely fitted like a glove. It was like reading/going through an emotional roller-coaster. And when Rhage went to the Scribe Virgin with his request and the conditions she had laid out, 'a box of tissues' wasn't enough anymore. At some point I remember crying and laughing at the same time.

The following quote left me wondering once again 'is Jesus his own father???'

"And she would have been convinced the mother of God had been under those black robes just now."
Rhage replied : "Actually, that was the Scribe Virgin. Who's a lot of things, but not Jesus's mom. At least, not as far as our lexicon goes."
I always thought that God and the Virgin Mary created Jesus -> so they were his father and mother - making God and Mary in some wicked way lovers; if not, this whole thing is twisted....

Hmmm now this is going to bug me all week....

5 Stars

JR Ward – Dark Lover

Genre: Paranormal
Book 1 in the Black Dagger Brotherhood
ISBN: 0-451-21695-4
Releasedate: September 2005
Publisher: Penguin Putnam Inc.
Format owned: HC Rhapsody & MPB
For sale at: The Book Depository Store

Synopsis
In the shadows of the night in Caldwell, New York, there's a deadly turf war going on between vampires and their slayers. There exists a secret band of brothers like no other-six vampire warriors, defenders of their race. Yet none of them relishes killing more than Wrath, the leader of The Black Dagger Brotherhood.

The only purebred vampire left on earth, Wrath has a score to settle with the slayers who murdered his parents centuries ago. But, when one of his most trusted fighters is killed-leaving his half-breed daughter unaware of his existence or her fate-Wrath must usher her into the world of the undead-a world of sensuality beyond her wildest dreams.

REVIEW
Lately I have read so many vampire-novels that I thought 'oh no, not another one'. But I heard so much about the Black Dagger Brotherhood Warriors that my senses started tingling, my hands started shaking and my mind kept saying: 'read-it; read-it; read-it'. I finally gave in and all I can say is: "Yes I am truly and utterly a self-confessed Vampire-addict with a thirst for more". And after reading Dark Lover, on top of it all I have a hunger for Rhage; a longing for Zsadist...you get my point. Especially those who have also read this series, I'm hooked!!!!

I had some trouble at first getting the glossary fixed in my head, because, lets face it, all vampire novels have that good/bad world combined in one, but all authors want their own terms to make them different from all the rest. But once I got the hang of it I got sucked in the story.Wrath and Beth are great characters. Beth is a very strong self-reliant woman and with all the testosteron "me tarzan, you jane" Alpha Males in this series that is exactly what this novel needed to make it spectacular. Sparks flying around from the moment BEth and Wrath meet. Let's be honest, don't we all long for that instant chemistry that leads to great sex?! Not you??? Well I say : I do!!!The story is marvellous, absolutely formidable, but... always that small but... what kept slowing me down while reading it was the whole Lesser-section in between. It felt like a novel within the novel and not something that was actually part of the story. There were connecting points - yes - but it didn't do it for me. Towards the end it came together a bit more, but the parts in between didn't connect as a whole story. I've been told this will be better in part 2 & 3 of this series.

Despite all the Vampire Series out there after reading this book, I felt like JR Ward has turned it around in a whole new packeage/scenery which makes it interesting, fun, and refreshing. I really loved the way she has written it and although some rough language is used in a way I thought 'isn't it a bit much' but then realized that it suits the Warriors so perfectly. What however did bother me a bit was, that sometimes abbreviations were used like : BMOC handsome; and like BVD's underwear - I mean I never heard of those before and I lived in Ireland.... Maybe she should have put those in her glossary as well... just for those outside the USA who are not common with them.

But all in all JR Ward has claimed her way into my heart with these superb Warriors. Definitely an author who has all my praise!!!! I couldn't wait to start in the next novel so (cheeky grin) I already have and all I can say is hmmmm yummy!!!!

4 Stars

Karen Marie Moning – Kiss of the Highlander

Genre: Paranormal
Book 4 in the Highlander series
ISBN: 0-7394-2057-7
Releasedate: September 2001
Publisher: Dell Publishing
Format owned: MPB
For sale at: The Book Depository Store

Synopsis
A laird trapped between centuries...
Enchanted by a powerful spell. Highland laird Drustan MacKeltar slumbered for for nearly five centuries hidden deep in a cave, until an unlikely savior awakened him. The enticing lass who dressed and spoke like no woman he'd ever known was from his distant future, where crumbled ruins were all that remained of his vanished world. Drustan knew he had to return to his own century if he was to save his people from a terrible fate. And he needed the bewitching woman by his side...

A woman changed forever in his arms...
Gwen Cassidy had come to Scotland to shake up her humdrum life and, just maybe, meet a man. How could she have known that a tumble down a Highland ravine would send her plunging into an underground cavern - to land atop the most devastatingly seductive man she's ever seen? Or that once he'd kissed her, he wouldný let her go?

Bound to Dustan by a passion stronger than time, Gwen is swept back to sixteenth-century Scotland, where a treacherous enemy plots against them... and where a warrior with the power to change history will defy time itself for the woman he loves...

REVIEW
I can say so many things about the Highlander series by Karen Marie Moning, but this story has is all!!! Funny, witty, loving, sad, frustration, name any emotion you can feel and it's added in this novel in such a manner that reading it made me want to finish it as quickly as possibly to see what the outcome was, but now that I have I wish I hadn't because I loved reading it so much, absolutely adored the Scottish laird Drustan MacKeltars character!!!! And Gwen Cassidy as well, strong but emotional characters. Talking about instant Karma within this book. I know that not many other novels can top this story for me anyway. The built up was great, described scenes in such an erotic manner that after reading it I even longed for a sigaret... and I doonna even smoke meself!!!!!

Brilliantly written in a captivating way. It makes me want to look under every stone, in every cave and places beyond my knowing to find my own Drustan MacKeltar. How I envy Gwen Cassidy for she had found him first ;-P ...

After reading this novel could one all but do grade it with the maximum amount of stars? I say Nay!!!!

5 Stars