Last weekend my sis, Pearl and I went over to Marissa and celebrated her birthday. Of course we came over with some hot stuff heroes for her to read about and to catch up. Our lives are kinda busy all around so we need these moments to talk up a storm! I talked about my upcoming Shelter vs Bear Otter and the Kid blogposts and plagiarism. (Dear Author has an interesting blogpost up about Plagiarism & Copyright)
I was strongly advised not to use the plagiarism word but use a slightly different angle. I don’t want to point a finger of hell and damnation to T.J. Klune, I just want to relay my opinion of the book vs the movie and what my findings are. So in the coming weeks there will be a review post of Bear, Otter and the Kid, Shelter and a concluding blogpost. Next to that discussion I went beserk with a conversation on 50 Shades of Grey – I was moments away of frothing at the mouth ;) I know various major blogs have posted about it, as well as newspapers, but I found a discussion at Dear Author one of the most interesting. It also gave me insight into the fanfic community and how it worked.


Later that night we went out to dinner when we ordered a sinfully good dessert. Marissa joked about singing her a b-day song and oh did that not fall on to deaf ears. You don’t want to say that when I’m present because as the dessert was brought with lots of sparklies my sister, Pearl and I gave our vocals a stretch with Happy Birthday. Of course, to Marissa’s embarrassment, the whole crowd tuned in and that is how Marissa got serenaded on her b-day *cheeky grin*

The next day my sister and I were lazy cats…okay, I was more of a lazy cat and we watched a movie together; The Help. I uber love that movie but what had tears rolling down my face in laughter was the fact when Minny told her lady boss to; “Eat.My.Shit.” That’s when I heard my sister comment to the movie; “Otherwise known as crap(b)cake.” Dear lawd, I almost pied in my pants. She and my brother have fantastic humor. I on the other hand have received the short straw on the quick-witted humor *sigh*

So my work-week started that Monday and I quickly went into mono limboland of fatigue. I slept a whopping 17 hours on both Tuesday and Wednesday, which just isn’t right IMO!! Then on Thursday I got back to work to get the mother of all tension headaches – hello!!! I do have a life you know…which needs my time and energy!! *sigh* Can’t wait for this mono crap to be over. So I did a bit of reading this week too *YAY*

I read Jennifer Estep’s By A Thread – which was Gin Blanco goodness. Really enjoyed it!! Review coming this week.

When I ordered the pressies for Marissa I also ordered me some reads and on Monday Kristen Callihan’s FIRELIGHT got into my mailbox. Oh how that book took me by surprise. Uber loved it. Archer is definitely prime hot hero material!!! Review coming this week!!

Then, as my headache pounded away on friday, I did some re-reading of the Black Dagger Brotherhood.

Quote John Matthew from Lover Awakened:

The temptation to start with the tears again rose, and John sat up quickly, forcing the urge to level off. He was through with the crying. He would not weep again for any of them. Tears were utterly useless, a weakness not worthy of their memories. Strength would be his offering to them. Power his eulogy. Vengeance the prayer at their graves.

Wow – chills as I read that!!

Now I’m re-reading Lisa Valdez’s Passion – oh my, I forgot how hot those scenes behind that screen were *fans self*

So that’s what I’m off to in a bit, finish reading Passion. After that I need to do homework for the training I’m following at work *ugh*

Next week there will be no Sunday’s brunch since I’ll be at my sisters :))

Have a great Sunday everyone!!

PS:
For all you World of Warcraft lovers:



PPS:
Niiiiiice!!!

Midnight Breed Series
BOOK 1
Dell Books ~ 432 pages
ISBN: 978-0-553-58937-5
First printing: May 2007
Reissue: October 27, 2009
Audio format: January 2010 (Tantor Audio)
Available formats:
Mass Market Paperback
Bookclub Edition Hardcover
E-book
Audio CD/MP3
Read from my personal library.

Cover summary:
INSATIABLE DESIRE. ENDLESS SEDUCTION. ONE TOUCH IS JUST THE BEGINNING.

He watches her from across the crowded dance club, a sensual black-haired stranger who stirs Gabrielle's deepest fantasies. But nothing about this night--or this man--is what it seems. For when Gabrielle witnesses a murder outside the club, reality shifts into something dark and deadly. In that shattering instant she is thrust into a realm she never knew existed--a realm where vampires stalk the shadows and a blood war is set to ignite.

Lucan Thorne despises the violence carried out by his lawless brethren. A vampire himself, Lucan is a Breed warrior, sworn to protect his kind--and the unwitting humans existing alongside them--from the mounting threat of the Rogues. Lucan cannot risk binding himself to a mortal woman, but when Gabrielle is targeted by his enemies, he has no choice but to bring her into the dark underworld he commands.

Here, in the arms of the Breed's formidable leader, Gabrielle will confront an extraordinary destiny of danger, seduction, and the darkest pleasures of all . . . .

Review:

For a while now I’ve been experiencing vampire fatigue as everything I tried lately was of the same. I was completely set to read a different book when Kiss Of Midnight’s cover popped up in my vision. I bought it when it was released and kept buying each new release in the series as they came but never read one of them. Now however, Kiss Of Midnight didn’t let me go as I wondered what this series and story had to offer. So I put the other book down and cracked the spine of Kiss Of Midnight.

What I found was a story that pulled me in from the first chapter and let me into a world that was fascinating. The vampire lore given by Lara Adrian had me jubilating, it felt fresh and exciting and full of possibilities. The origin of the vampires, the Gen Ones, the Ancient Ones, the Bloodlust, it all stirred my enthusiasm for sound world building and Adrian was checking them off, one by one. Next to the Lore there were also customs and rituals which tugged at my heartstrings. Sometimes it was a rite full of symbolism that moved me and sometimes it was utter brutal, but each element of this world was drawing me in and making me a part of the whole.

While I was absorbing the detailed world there were also plenty of dangers and mysteries to deal with. The vampire and Rogues are heading towards a war that will ask many sacrifices. While the twists and turns of the mystery kept me succumbed even more it is the characters who made me feel it all. Lucan Thorne is the head honcho of the vampire warriors and close to the Bloodlust. He is a vampire who makes me tingle all over; commanding, virile and on the verge of going to the dark side. Gabrielle Maxwell is a leading lady in the dark regarding an essential part about herself. She is creative, loyal, vivacious and also guarded. Of course there are more warriors and each was introduced with enough characteristics to make them stand out. I personally was falling very hard and fast for Tegan and Gideon.

The romance is one of the things that felt almost standard romance development. Lucan meets Gabrielle in personal trying times and he tries to resist her lure. Gabrielle gets more and more confused by all the signals she is receiving of another world yet simultaneously feels the attraction burning fierce for Lucan. Together they have a titillating push-pull between their desires and personalities as the plot steers them to dangers and secrets revealed. It is a romantic formula I enjoy but it wasn’t completely up to par with all the other exciting elements I was getting in Kiss Of Midnight. There was also a dreamlike sensual scene which I’m not a fan off and it made me initially worry if the romance would work for me. That was quickly put to rest though and what made it good for me was the solid build-up of the physical and emotional connection humming between Lucan and Gabrielle. It convinced me of their budding love, it made me understand the risks involved and understand the choices made. It may have been romance 101 but Lara Adrian took it to heart and made it her own via a distinctive leading couple who felt a range of emotions together.

When the ending neared the action and mystery amped up and delivered a cliff hanger that made me instantly hunger for the next novel. I was riveted to the pages, couldn’t believe all that was happening but it was happening all the same. The overall plot arc contains lots of promise and I can’t wait to see where Ms. Adrian is taking it all. My anticipation is high with the calling card delivered in Kiss Of Midnight. With the last page read all I can say is that sometimes you find books on your shelves that rekindles the fire for a certain genre, Kiss of Midnight is one of them!

4 stars

Quote Gabrielle:

To top it all off, she was half in love with the darkest, deadliest, most emotionally closed-off man she’d ever known. Who just so happened to also be a bloodsucking vampire. And, what the hell, since she was being honest, she wasn’t half in love with Lucan. She was full-on, flat-out, head-over-heels, never-going-to-get-over-this-one, in love with him.
“Way to go,” she told her miserable reflection. “Just frigging brilliant.”

Lara Adrian on the www:
website | Facebook | Goodreads | Twitter | Buy @ BookDepo

Last week there wasn’t a Sunday’s Brunch post because I was nervous. Sometimes my overactive imagination is a curse rather than a joy! The doc had send me to the hospital to be poked, prodded and I got an x-ray as a goodbye. Because this all happened on a Friday I had to wait till Monday for the results…by then I saw myself dying of the most horrible diseases. Drama queen much ;) So on Monday I called the assistant for the results and got a clean bill of health on my lungs and my sinuses. My bloodwork however made her pause – I didn’t like that, especially followed by a; I need to let the doc have a look at this, she’ll call you later. My adrenaline was pumping, I can tell you that. But 3 hours later I got a phone call from the doc and she told me I was suffering from Infectious mononucleosis – which isn’t all that horrible but it does explain my lack of energy to do stuff and my many bouts of sickness. The doc told me that it will go away on its own but in the mean time I need to listen to my body and its limitations. I’m always a go, go, go person if I have a to-do list in my head and now I have to manage my activities more *ugh*

I also talked to my manager and we agreed I should only work my hours and forego on extra hours the coming few months. That leaves me with a three day weekend, which means I have a bit more time/energy to catch up on bloglandia. I did bloghop Friday and I visited Kris where I got notified there was some brouhaha going on in the m/m publishing world. And I thought we just had our share! Via Chris’ linkity blogpost I got directed to a few blogpost covering the Dreamspinner Press debacle on TJ Klune’s plagiarism in ‘Bear Otter And The Kid’. I also found a fairly new m/m blog The LL Word where I found two (1 & 2) well written blogposts on the matter. In a few blogposts fanfictions were also mentioned and it made me think of my own fanfiction experience. Cause a few weeks back I also did some link hopping and found a book titled; Fifty Shades Of Grey. The blurb grabbed my attention and I went for the book. I was about to start in it when my notification of Goodreads hit Twitter. I got a few comments on how good the book was but also that it was based on a fanfic. That stopped me dead in my tracks. “Huh?! Fanfic??” That was not stated in the blurb! What fanfic was my question. Well it was based on Twillight. Oh, ladies, that brought out hyves!! I immediately envisioned a lovesick girl, the sparkly chicken-breast chest of Edward and the cute, but way too young for even my inner cougar, Jacob. My mind was pushing me to let it go, that the author would not sell the book if it was very much the same as Twilight. I wanted to be a “big girl” who put on her "big girl panties" and just read the story and see where it would take me. Not to let my feelings for Twilight affect what would perhaps be a good read. It just wouldn’t do, it made no rhyme nor reason but if I could toss an e-book out the window, I would’ve. All my mind was chanting; Twilight, Twilight, and whatever interest I had immediately turned in to a repulsiveness I couldn’t control. Perhaps one day I will find my inner ‘zen space' to read it but for now Fifty Shades Of Grey is banished to the darkest corners of my e-book folder.

On the other hand, I received a newsletter from one of my favorite authors who made me sigh in joy. Nalini Singh received a cover of the cover gods. Uber love this one and the blurb; “Oh Jason, how I heart thee!”

Enter New York Times bestselling author Nalini Singh’s darkly beautiful world of archangels and immortal power, as a pact is sealed between two souls bound by blood, stirred by desire, and driven by vengeance…

With wings of midnight and an affinity for shadows, Jason courts darkness. But now, with the Archangel Neha’s consort lying murdered in the jewel-studded palace that was his prison and her rage threatening cataclysmic devastation, Jason steps into the light, knowing he must unearth the murderer before it is too late.

Earning Neha’s trust comes at a price—Jason must tie himself to her bloodline through the Princess Mahiya, a woman with secrets so dangerous, she trusts no one. Least of all an enemy spymaster.

With only their relentless hunt for a violent, intelligent killer to unite them, Jason and Mahiya embark on a quest that leads to a centuries-old nightmare… and to the dark storm of an unexpected passion that threatens to drench them both in blood.

It promises to be another thrill ride and I’m more than ready for it. I must have a heart to heart with Nalini Singh when I meet her at The Love Letter Convention. There aren’t many conventions in Europe who focusses on our genre but so far I’m very excited to go. Meeting Anna Campbell, Nalini Singh, Shannon McKenna, Larissa Ione, Lara Adrian, names that make me go faint at the thought of meeting them!! I know many gals who are going and hope to have a ball with them. This morning my sister, Marissa and I found this uber cute apartment not far away from the Kulturhaus Spandau in Germany. We chant road trip, fangirl moments and party time!! This is the apartment we’re staying in; Hotel Maison – Apartments Am Kolk. June can’t get here fast enough!!!

As for now, I’m beat and want to watch some movies and read a bit. Of course I’ve got Angel’s Flight to devour and Joey W Hill’s Something About Witches.

Have a great Sunday, y’all! ;)

Book #3 in the Mark of the Vampire series
Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
Publisher: Signet (February 7, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0451235878
ISBN-13: 978-0451235879
Received a copy from the author for review

Cover Summary:
Since feeding her his blood, Lucian Roman has struggled with his obsession with Bronwyn Kettler-fighting an uncontrollable desire to kill her, if he has to, and the vampire she has sworn to wed. But when a dangerous enemy threatens Bronwyn, only Lucian can save her life. Even if it means sacrificing his own...

Review:

Goodread book updates:
01/25
page 1 -  0.0% "Lucian is finally mine to devour, mwuuahahahaha!!"
01/29
page 20 - 7.0% "It's already so good! The Breeding Male prologue, the dark and twisted turns of Lucian's emotions - the beginning rocks!"
01/29
page 24 - 8.0% "Hello Synjon! *heart flutters at description*"
01/29
page 66 - 22.0% "I'm loving the testosterone clash between Synjon & Lucian something fierce!"
02/11
page 358 - 100.0% "what an emotional rollercoaster ride!!"

From the bat Eternal Captive put me through a maelstrom of emotions. Luca touched me in ways I didn’t think he would and his romance with Bronwyn just shook me to my core – in all the good ways! In the previous stories of Mark of the Vampire series there were encounters between Luca and Bronwyn that reverberated a magnetic sensual force. I couldn’t wait to see where they were headed because there was no doubt in my mind they were meant for each other. What Laura Wright delivered exceeded all my expectations.

As I returned to the world now familiar to me I found Bronwyn concocting a plan to avoid being presented to the Breeding Male. This plan brought a new character to the cast named; Synjon Wise and he instantly flipped my intrigue switch. He is described as a combo between a Special Forces officer from his native Britain and a Navy Seal from the US; hello Synjon!! The danger and mystery clinging to this character made me want to unravel all there is to know about him! While he played an important role in Eternal Captive the story was all about Bronwyn and Luca.

Luca, with his flippant attitude, is a vampire who entered Eternal Hunger for the first time and made me think; MINE! He doesn’t care what everybody thinks and goes his own way but underneath it all hides a complex nature. Now in Eternal Captive I got inside his heart and mind and he blew me away. He became the fantastic mix of attitude, vulnerability, emotions and prowess.

Bronwyn was largely responsible for the change in Luca. She is a scientist, definitely a smart cookie who is fierce, bold and caring. She takes matters in to her own hands and it might get her in to trouble she is just not one who will sit by the sidelines to see her life get orchestrated. I loved to see Bronwyn’s braveness coupled with a certain fear, to see her grow and change throughout the story. What I loved most was how she challenged Luca and gradually fell in love with him.

The powerful pairing of these two characters created an exquisite love/hate affair that was simply titillating to read. Due to personal reasons Bronwyn wants to elude the Breeding Male at all costs and Luca is a son of the Breeding Male – halfway becoming one. This romantic conflict, combined with the burning attraction and the overall plot arc just knocked me off my feet. It was a battle of will power, of the heart and soul which captivated me with the well of emotions pouring from Bronwyn and Luca. The interactions was a clash of sharp minds, fierceness and sexual undertones and I gobbled it all up.

Not to mention the fact that the intricate rules, customs and society structures bring depth to this vampire race. It brings conflict and injustice, dangers, mystery and adventures; all elements that elevated the romance to greater heights. It infused this story with bloodcurdling scenes that got me crying. It delivered such intense bittersweet moments I could actually feel my heart ache for the characters involved. Laura Wright superbly deepened the characterization of the familiar cast of characters. She made the villain so evil I wanted to strangle him myself and added some new characters whom intrigued me. These new characters; Erion, Lycos, Phane and Helos mark a new plotline within the story arc and one I’m enthusiastic about.

I want to jubilate more about the romance, which consumed me from beginning till end. About the plot that took it up a notch and kept me riveted to the pages. If I could share the erotic heat I felt between Luca and Bronwyn I could create a pleasant bonfire. And if I could talk more about the high-stake dangers of all the trials and tribulations I would, but I want you to find it out all on your own.

Luca played all my emotional chords like no tomorrow. He and Bronwyn gave me a romance I will never forget, set in a rich and detailed world with a memorable supporting cast of characters. Laura Wright, you rocked my world with this one!!

5 stars

Quote

Bronwyn gazed up into the face of her dear friend. Movie-star handsome, with an athlete’s body and the loyalty of a gracious god, Synjon Wise had grown from an awkward balas into a six-foot-four, broad-shouldered paven of every veana’s fantasy.

Lucian’s hand came up and covered hers, as his eyes implored her with their ferocity. “I feel the animal within me emerging, Princess. It’s raw and uncontained, but it wants to please you. If we wait…”His chin dropped, his voice too. “I cannot hurt you, do you understand?”

She hadn’t wanted it this way – not out of necessity. She’d wanted him to want her, God – to really care for her. She’d wanted him to take her, make her feel what he felt; his rage, his lust, his sadness – his endless sadness.

In his one hundred and twenty-five years, Lucian had felt deep hunger. He’d felt uncontrolled lust. He’d felt impending insanity. He’d felt sorrow and hopelessness come over him in thick waves of fog. But never in his life had he felt them all at once. This wasn’t morpho – he was never going through morpho. This was the pain and agony of changing into the Breeding Male.

Spoiler quote:
Luca: “I am cruel. I am savage. I’m the worst – no good for any female, and yet I am the paven who wants to hear the mother of his balas care about his sorry ass.”


Laura Wright on the www:
website | Facebook | Goodreads | Twitter | Buy @ BookDepo

As you’ll read this week’s Sunday’s Brunch blogpost I’ll be over at Marissa partying hard with diva as she turned a handful of years. Every year I hope I’m bringing along presents she’ll like. Now that I’m working in kiddie daycare again I’m more in tune with what kids love but there have been years I was hopelessly out of the loop. Did you all know Pokemon is still hot as evah? I went to the first movie with kids from my former job in another kiddie daycare.

Anyhoo…as I had my dinner one night last week I saw the trailer of War Horse. Can I say; Oh yeah!! Me wants to see?? Steven Spielberg appeals to my need for drama with many a movie from his hand and I’m a sucker for animals playing a big or leading role in a movie. Let me tell you about some of the movies I *heart* so much. One of the first was Black Stallion – what kid after that didn’t want a black Arabian to be best buddies with an ride forever? Beethoven – I laughed so much with the first movie. The tumdumdumdum always makes me think of that movie and smile…plus, dog owners might recognize some or a lot of their own dog behavior in it ;) The Lion King – okay, it’s an animated movie but hot damn…I laugh, I cry, I was wow-ed by the animation *enough said* More recent movies were Hachiko – dear lawd, I thought it was gonna be Disney cute story and instead I was sobbing my heart out throughout two-thirds of the movies. The loyalty of Hachiko *reaches for a tissue* The one I laughed with was Marley & Me. So much doggie naughtiness I recognized. I once had a litter of 9 shitsoe pups and when the late hubby and I came back from grocery shopping it was white on my floor. They got the door open to my toilet and decided it was fun to shred all eight rolls of toilet paper. While cleaning I was not amused but later on it became quite a hallmark story to tell when I think back on my breeding years! So now it’s the movie War Horse that captured my attention and I’ll get back to you when I’ve watched it.


With all this talk of job, parties and movies you might wonder if I’m still reading. Oh yes, I still am! Just not reading fast enough *oye* This weak however I’ve read a five star read. It was Laura Wright’s – Eternal Captive and Luca, oh that vampire worked his magic on me from the first moment we met. My review will be up next week. As will be my review of Lara Adrian’s Kiss of Midnight. My interest leans towards PNR these days but I decided to read in a different genre right now before heading in to a PNR story again. After all the raving from Janna about the Cut And Run series by Abiligail Roux and Madeleine Urban I decided that the first in this series is the one to read.

As I look at my shelves there are more books screaming for attention (next to the ones I accepted for review). What did you guys think of Kresley Cole’s LOTHAIRE – Shannon McKenna’s ULTIMATE WEAPON & FADE TO MIDNIGHT. I even have Jennifer Donnelly’s – A WILD ROSE flirting with me, that’s a 600 pages or so book 0.o My first vacay is in June – I must have a reading vacay before that, I must!!

Okay…as I’m writing this post now (Saturday, 2-11-2012 at 19:48 PM) I need to cut it a bit short cause I have a facial scheduled. After all that winter cold of last week my skin can absorb some much needed minerals!

Happy Valentine everyone - I think I'll date a fictional boyfriend *grin*