Genre: Fantasy
Book 1 in the Lords of Avalon series
ISBN: 0-7394-6647-6
Releasedate: March 2006
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers Inc
Format owned: HC Rhapsody & MPB
For sale at: The Book Depository Store

Synopsis
The new king of Camelot wears no shining armor: Arthur and his knights have fallen and a new king rules.

In the darkest forest....

A scared, forsaken child has become the most powerful --and feared-- man in the world. Ruthless and unrestrained, Kerrigan has long ceased to be human and has become something else entirely.

In the heart of London...

An unassuming peasant, Seren dreams of becoming her own woman. All she wants is to leave behind her drudgery and penury. But she never expects that running from her fate will put her in the path of her destiny.

Their worlds are forever changed...

Kerrigan's goal is simple: Barter or kill Seren to claim Arthur's sacred Round Table. But simple it's not, for she is the one person who holds no fear of him, a woman whose honesty sparks something foreign inside him. But in his nether realm, kindness is weakness and a king who harbors any sort of compassion loses his throne.

For countless centuries, Kerrigan has lived alone in the shadows until the day when one woman's courage forces him into the light that could either be both their salvations, or both their deaths.

REVIEW
When I read the prologue I thought hmmm is this a book for me? I was in doubt. My first ever book by Kinley 'Master of Desire' was a bit of a disappointment, but... my sister was so madly enthusiastic about this book that I just wanted to finish it, to make up my own mind. And I'm glad I did!!!!

The first chapter had me caught within the story straight away. The darkness of Kerrigan that slowly melted by the softness of Seren. To me it was the perfect mixture of good and bad - the perfect balance of duality. The bloodritual that combined their powers, memories, knowledge to me was a bit too much like vampirism... the biting and sucking blood and to me was a wrong context within these storylines.

The legend of King Arthur is a perfect opportunity to have your imagination stretched to the maximum as an author. To me it came across as a bit comical as the phrase 'I vant to suck ur blood' after reading this bloodritual kept playing in my mind. With that in my mind, I was less into the story, not like I was in it as before.

This story was told in the early centuries and what I missed was the "medieval" language. The use of common slang when there were conversations was something that felt wrong to me, as well as the timetravel to the 21st century. In this story I was less swept away by the time-travelling aspect, it should have been left out or explored more.

The first 220-230 pages were fantastic, swept me off my feet and had me captured and even seduced in taking 'a bath with Kerrigan' but towards the end I was a bit disappointed. The ending however with Seren saving Kerrigan and the epilogue were great again.

To me as Sherrilyn Kenyon she writes great near to superb stories all the way, stories that swipe me off my feet everytime, but as Kinley MacGregor I still have to be captured by her charm.But up to book no. 2 in the Lord of Avalons series.

I'm in doubt about the stars, it's not 3,5 stars and not yet 4 stars either.

4 Stars

Genre: Contemporary Roance
Book 1 in the Irish Jewels Trilogy
ISBN: 0-7838-8989-5
Releasedate: May 2000
Publisher: Penguin Putnam Inc.
Format owned: HC
For sale at: The Book Depository Store

Synopsis
Determined to re-evaluate her life, Jude Murray flees America to take refuge in Faerie Hill Cottage, where she immerses herself in the study of Irish folklore--and discovers hope for the future in the magic of the past... Back home in Ireland, Aidan Gallagher sees in Jude, a woman who can both soothe his heart and stir his blood. And he begins to share the legends of the land with her--while they create a passionate history of their own...

REVIEW
Ok, take the Irish landscape, put a 6ft tall incredibly handsome male in it with a heroin whose in contact with a Faery-prince in awaitings for his beloved and what do you get…. A perfect romance novel swiping you off your feet like only Nora Roberts can!!!

The Irish Myths entwined in this story were lovely to come across again. You can really feel Nora’s love for Ireland. Eventhough this novel talks about a prophecy it’s not taking the overhand on the story, which makes it a great love-story to read.

It describes the search of a 28-year old Jude to find herself, find out what it truly is she wants and longs for and if that happens to be 31 year old Aidan Gallagher that will suit him just fine. When he asks her to marry him and she says no, his arrogance starts to surface bringing him in experiences he never been in before.

What I love most is how, as a 29 year old woman myself, I can really relate to that search Jude is going through. Everyone has a search like that in their life, where you accumulate what you’ve achieved and see if it really is what you want, and if not, just change the whole setting to your liking. It’s such a simple thing Nora Roberts used to make a story around but when it’s well written it makes a great story to read while sipping tea and eating biccies.

All in all this novel is yet again showing Nora Roberts being a solid-great romance author. I’m looking forward to read on in this trilogy and see if Shawn and Darcy will find their life’s roots as well in Ardmore, county Waterford, Ireland.

3,5 Stars

Genre: Paranormal
Book 4 in the Blackdagger Brotherhood
ISBN: 0-451-41235-5
Releasedate: March 6, 2007
Publisher: Signet Eclipse
Format owned: HC Rhapsody & MPB
For sale at: The Book Depository Store

Synopsis
Butch O'Neal is a fighter by nature. A hard living, ex-homicide cop, he's the only human ever to be allowed in the inner circle of the Black Dagger Brotherhood. And he wants to go even deeper into the vampire world- to engage in the turf war with the lessers. He's got nothing to lose. His heart belongs to a female vampire, an aristocratic beauty who's way out of his league. If he can't have her, then at least he can fight side by side with the Brothers...

Fate curses him with the very thing he wants. When Butch sacrifices himself to save a civilian vampire from the slayers, he falls prey to the darkest force in the war. Left for dead, found by a miracle, the Brotherhood calls on Marissa to bring him back, though even her love may not be enough to save him...

REVIEW
My heart just beated a few beats faster when in the first few pages Vishous phoned Butch. The BDB Warriors have returned! Oh what a feeling. As soon as I had my hands on this book my heart stood still for a moment, anxiety hit me as well as fear.

This is the book.
The one.
No. 4.

It’s the book that makes it to a series and can make it or break it. I had some doubts, do I want to read it with the chance I’d lose that feeling I had with the first 3 novels, but Vishous kept whispering in my ear : “I won’t let you down! Just read and feel me…”

No who can say no to that? So I took that leap of faith, I trusted my warrior and OMFG! It’s been a few days since I read the last words of this novel and I’m still on a high!!!!

Yet again JR Ward has putt down words into a phenomenal story/ Such intense emotions between the characters, not just between Butch and Marissa but between all of them! Even in this novel the whole ‘Lessers-part’ makes a perfect fit. It’s so amazing to see all of the characters grow in this series. Even though there’s a certain timeframe within this story, it’s brilliantly written ~ every character goes through their own changes within this time-frame but in their own paste.

I just devoured this book as quickly as I could. It feels like within every scene you can connect with every person in it and feel what they fel and that to me is perfection! JR Ward has outdone herself with this novel and promises a lot for the next book in line!

It just all fits amazingly together. The interaction that exists between Butch-Vishous-Marissa has captured me, embraced me, made me laugh with joy because a bond like that is rare and to be cherished, but also made me cry because of V’s insecurity about it all, and his low self-esteem just broke my heart!!!

It’s yet again an emotional rollercoaster.

I’m barren for words. There’s so much to say about this book, but it will all be spoilers. The Scribe Virgins role in this book (eventhough she doesn’t appear frequently) is so unique, despite the fact that it’s so small.

And ofcourse another brilliant new ritual. What I find is great as well is to see how John is feeling and how he is growing towards his transition. To see from scratch how a warrior comes to be, I think, is amazing and adds so much more to the series. It’s already a built up to what will happen after the 6 original warriors.

I’m just baffled by it and feel an emptiness now that I’ve finished this book because it kept me in it’s grib for 3 days. But it’s time to sober up, come back to earth and live my “normal” life again till Vishous’s novel is vibrating in my hands!

Quote:
Butch when struck down in the floor in the hospitals bathroom and V asking if he’s back:
“For sure, I’m thinking about a future in contracting. Wanted to see how this bathroom was put together. Excellent tile work. You should check it. I want to look at the sink pipes next."

4,5 Stars

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