Sherrilyn Kenyon - Invencible

Nick Gautier’s day just keeps getting better and better. Yeah, he survived the zombie attacks, only to wake up and find himself enslaved to a world of shapeshifters and demons out to claim his soul.

His new principal thinks he’s even more of a hoodlum than the last one, his coach is trying to recruit him to things he can’t even mention and the girl he’s not seeing, but is, has secrets that terrify him.

But more than that, he’s being groomed by the darkest of powers and if he doesn’t learn how to raise the dead by the end of the week, he will become one of them...


Comment (or a rant?): I must say I'm only reading this YA new series because of what may appear in them, otherwise, I'd not suffer throught the maze of new information again and again.
The author has an amazing imagination and we know she has a lot on her mind to write down, but...there are so many things happening in this series, I'm starting to feel very confused over everything! She keeps bringing more and more characters from all types of lengends and they all live in this world. This wouldn't be bad if she didn't change the focus all the time! But, alas, she does.
I've been in love with the series since book #1 and it surprised me how she could bond a story with so many emotions in a series labelled paranormal romance...there has been so much more going on...and now I feel she isn't tracking everything. I feel lost, pure and simple.
I think this YA series featuring Nick are very interesting but now we have to worry about things, the same ones I mean, in two different settings, with two possible outcomes, but which may be the same thing in the end. Confusing? Oh yes.
I'll admit it and say I'll read them, I'll keep confusing myself instead of waiting for the last one and take my chances, but I'm masochist that way. It will ease my conscience and that's it.

Updating the challenge

So far, I've read 6 of my 30 desired books to be read and 4 months are now pratically gone.
Next month I'll be reading 3 more books, and perhaps if I manage it, a 4th one.
I think I'll be able to finish the challenge on time because I'll be going faster from now on.

In May, the 3 chosen letters are:
H, from Stephani Hecht
P, from S.A. Payne
Q, from Chris Quinton

The first one is a known author to me, but the other two wil be a surprise, let's see how it will go.
At this point, only one book wasn't that good to me and it was a short story, I'll try to keep with full lenght books from now on, hopefully it won't happen again, I'm pretty confident in the choices I'll make.

Judith McNaught - A Kingdom of Dreams

Abducted from her convent school, headstrong Jennifer does not easily surrender to Royce Westmoreland, Duke of Claymore. Known as "The Wolf", his very name strikes terror in the hearts of his enemies. But proud Jennifer will have nothing to do with this man who holds her captive, this handsome rogue who taunts her with his blazing arrogance Boldly she challenges his will until the night he takes her in his powerful embrace, awakening in her an irresistible hunger. And suddenly Jennifer finds herself ensnared in a bewildering web ... a seductive, dangerous trap of pride, passion, loyalty... and overwhelming love.

Comment: Another first try for a new author to me.
I've read some critics about this author's books before and I was a bit worried about how I'd see this book myself. It's obvious we are influenced by everything we read and know before starting a new book. It's inevitable that we compare it to other things...plus having read critics, my worries were real.
However, I was happily made wrong.

Royce is one of those heroes that are strong, protective and possessive. In those times, I guess it was how things were. Of course the feminist side of me is a bit bothered of all that treatment of women, of what they mean...but ok, it's an historical, we have to see things like that.

Royce came across a very cool character, someone who knows what to do and that behaved in the best way possible considering the things hapenning.
Jennifer surprised me I thought she might be a brat the whole book and I was ready to hate her (misleaded influences?) but throughout the book she convinced me of her changing feelings and that she was really falling in love with Royce. Their romance was very beautiful to see.

The writing style didn't say much too me, I wasn't dazzled with the writing, I've read better, for sure, but I think simple can be better than trying to do more than you can, so...
The historical accuracy, well I can't say if it's really well done, but apart from creative options I was happy with the novel, nothing caught my eye as too stupid. In the end I had a great time reading it and that's what matters the most.

Suzanne Brockmann - Breaking the Rules

Izzy Zanella wasn't looking for another reason to butt heads
with his Navy SEAL teammate and nemesis, Danny Gillman.
But then he met Danny’s beautiful younger sister, Eden. When
she needed it most, he offered her a place to stay, a shoulder to
cry on—and more. And when she got pregnant with another
man’s child, he offered her marriage. But Eden’s devastating
miscarriage shattered their life together—and made the intense
bad blood between Izzy and Danny even worse.

Now Eden's back, on a mission to rescue her teen brother, Ben,
from their abusive stepfather. Even if she and Izzy can prove
that their broken marriage is still in one piece, winning legal
custody of Ben is a long shot. But they’re not alone: Danny
and his girlfriend Jenn offer to help, and he and Izzy agree to
bury the past and fight for Ben’s future.

As they plan their strategy, Izzy and Eden grapple with the raw
passion that still crackles between them—while Danny and
Jenn confront new depths in their own rocky relationship. But
events take a terrifying turn after Ben befriends a girl fleeing a
child prostitution ring. When the young runaway seeks refuge
with Eden and Izzy, her pursuers kidnap Ben—and a deadly
standoff begins. Now, they must all pull together like never
before and strike back, swift and hard, to protect their
unconventional little family and everything they hold most
precious.

Comment: I've finally managed to read this book. Since I've started the first book I've been a fan of this series, and most especially of the heroes in it.
Izzy Zanella is a recurrent character from other books, and I must say it's one of the things I love in books, the fact we can see several characters from all the books being in there, being part of all the stories even when not protagonists. We know they exist and we see them, the author doesn't make them go away just because. Obviously we can't have all of them in each book, but there's plenty, which makes me happy.

These books feature navy Seals but the stories have always some deep emotional side and this book didn't disappoint in this. We got to see how Izzy and dan, two characters that usually fight a lot, come to terms they are now part of the same family and how their thoughts processed that and al the things happening around them.

The main couple, Izzy and Eden, had already convinced me in previous books, but right now we could see how real they are and this time, more solid too. Their romance story wasn't easy, but it blossomed and thrived.

Mrs Brockmann always manages to write a sucessful and convincing romance even while describing awful things, things we know are real in the world. I hope she'll continue to write books about troubleshooters because these are characters I'd never want to see gone.

Haruki Murakami - South of the Border, West of the Sun

Hajime - "Beginning" in Japanese - was an atypical only child growing up in a conventional middle-class suburb. Shimamoto, herself an only child, was cool and self-possessed, precocious in the extreme. After school these childhood sweethearts would listen to records, hold hands, and talk about their future.

"Then, despite themselves, in the way peculiar to adolescents, they grew apart, seemingly for good. Now, facing middle age, finally content after years of aimlessness, Hajime is a successful nightclub owner, a husband and father, when he suddenly is reunited with Shimamoto, propelled into the mysteries of her life, and confronted by dark secrets she is loath to reveal. "

And so, reckless with enchantment and lust, Hajime prepares to risk everything in order to consummate his first love, and to experience a life he's dreamed of but never had a chance to realize.

Comment: Another new author for me.
I've heard many critics before trying a book by this japanese author. Most of them were prettu negative, especially due to the writing style, something that people found confusing. I was worried I might not liek it, but as in everyhting, nothing like trying for ourselves.
I picked up this book at my local library, so I wasn't too worried if I ended up not liking it. It was also a small book, so, more chances of finishing it faster that if it were a bigger one.

First of all, the style was not as bad as I imagined. Or, perhaps, it was my lucky chance that I chose this book and not the other one there (whose title I now don't remember), but I t sounded fluid and easygoing. I think the fact it had some describing - byt not as much as to make it boring - helped setting up the pace.
Actually I liked the style in the book and the story was interesting, it allowed some inner thoughts about some subjects, and the author put on the page interesting and deep images of life and expectations in the RL.
The characters had flaws and some of them bothered me, they clashed against my own personal values (namely the adultery thing) but at the same time they fit the imaginary of the story, so i can't really say it was badly done. If one reads, one understands.
I was surprised to see I enjoyed reading the book, especially close to its end, where something was about to happen, and I will try to read another one in the near future, in order to have a more final opinion on the author.

Karina Bliss - What the Librarian Did

Is Rachel Robinson the only one on campus who doesn't know who Devin Freedman is?
No big deal except that the bad-boy rock star gets a kick out of Rachel's refusal to worship at his feet. And that seems to have provoked his undivided attention.
Devin, the guy who gave new meaning to the phrase 'sex, drugs and rock 'n roll'.
Devin, the guy who somehow becomes wedged between her and the past she's kept hidden for years.
It's up to this librarian to find out first-hand just how 'bad' he really is. Because her secret - and her growing feelings for a man who claims he's bent on redemption - depend on his turning out to be as good as he seems.
Which is really, really good.

Comment: This is the first book I read by this author.
There has been a time since I've read my last Harlequin book and I decided to give it up because where I am it's easier to get them as translations. However, the Harlequin counterpart here cuts text off, the books are always much smaller then the originals and I know this because I compared one once. So, after knowing this, I gave up on them. Plus, they were getting more expensive every year and to be honest, to spend more money for less text it's a no-go for me, which meant I stopped buying them. I even sold some of my less favourites to a used bookstore.

Anyway, I decided to read this one after reading some comments on another site and the plot immediatly caught my eye.
The two amin characters are easy to like, they both had hard obstacles in their lifes and had to learn a few lessons while growing up, but they still have homour and they smile and lead lives that make others somewhat happy because they are in the world. It was good to se that.
I think the main plot was difficult to read about, because the way it's written it's easy to put oneself in the main female character's shoes and it wouldn't be easy at all to live and feel what she's been through.
The romance part was ok, I liked it a lot, they weren't serious about each other at first, about what would happen, but in the end I was convinced they were in love. I liked this one a lot.

Georgette Heyer - Sylvester

Endowed with rank, wealth and elegance, Sylvester, Duke of Salford, posts into Wiltshire to discover if the Honorable Phoebe Marlow will meet his exacting requirements for a bride. If he does not expect to meet a tongue-tied stripling wanting both manners and conduct, then he is intrigued indeed when his visit causes Phoebe to flee her home. They meet again on the road to London, where her carriage has come to grief in the snow. Yet Phoebe, already caught in one imbroglio, now knows she soon could be well deep in another ...

Comment: This is the second book I read by this author and the first romance. I didn't particularly like the mystery I've read before, but this romance is witty, funny and the dialogues are very smart.

Sylvester is a very important duke and is used to others to see him like that. To soem he may appear arrogant but he only sees a natural way of things. Phoebe is a tomboy girl whose step mother wants to see married and out of her hands. These two apparently have notjing in common and the reader is slowly convinced of that, but as in all romances we know something is about to happen. While denying the will to marry Sylvester despite all his status and money, Phoebe starts to be confortable with him because there are no expectations. Slowly they become friends. Until that book comes out...

I was positively engrossed in this story. I didn't have trouble concentrating like it happenned with the other book, and the dialogues were very welld one. There are so many funny and witty things in the character's speeches that I found myself laughing with them, it was that good.

Two things I had problems with, personally, not that it was an issue with the book itself: the language was much more thought and worked than in any other regency book I've read. I understand this is one of the author's strongest points but I guess it takes time for the reader to get used to it...I suppose it was one of my issues with the first book.

Another thing was the end, I'd hope for more explanation on why some things were the way they were, but it suited the story's tone so I can't complain that much.

I'll certainly read more romances by this author, hopefully they will taste as good as this one. But Sylvester will always be a favourite of mine.

Lora Leigh - Navarro's Promise

In the wolf breed novel, NAVARRO’S PROMISE, Mica Toler’s best friend is the wolf/coyote hybrid breed, Cassie Sinclair. And now Mica is being drawn into her world in ways she had prayed she never would be when the charming wolf breed Navarro makes good on the promise he made her on a dark, explosive night. The Breeds guaranteed that no harm would come to Micah Toler but they never allowed for her sensual fascination with Navarro Blaine. Aloof, cool, and mysterious, he draws her in as no man ever has. But Micah never wanted this. She had her own dreams, her own desires, and being stalked and seduced by a wolf breed wasn’t part of that plan. Now she knows her life is in danger. What Navarro knows is that she’s his mate and that the breeding and training that created him is being peeled away in his desperation to claim a woman that refuses to be claimed. He has her body. She craves his touch. And as the breeds converge the past will rise up to haunt Navarro in ways he never expected.

Comment: My opinion about this series remains the same since I've read Styx's Storme last year. I wish I could see more new things, more developpment in the story, more plots, or at least some kind of decisions made in this one.

The romance in this book feels more of the same...the male doesn't want the mating at first, she acepts it sooner, nothing new there. I like the series, I do, but they start to be too much of the same, unfortunally. Mica and Navarro seemed different because of their conditions before mating; he's a recessed breed and she has known about breeds for a long time and while human, she accepts them for what they are. I liked seeing a human mate who knows exactly what she's getting into, but still, something more would be appreciated.

The evil dr Brandenmore finally has a finale, one the reader expected but still the answears to how to solve some problems are still to figure out, especially because he apparently knew how to solve them.

I hope new things start to appear...I mean, I don't want to see the series end and there are many characters that deserve a story, some I'm eager to see (Like Ely and Cassie and Rule - Lawe is next...), but I wished they didn't seemed repetitive. I think the author creates great sex scenes, interesting characters, but I wished I'd see more world developpment, more plot too. There are still so many things to be explained...

I understand the need to keep things slow in order to justify the incoming books, but it would be good if the author could focus more on the world instead of the sex... I know this is her style and the way the books are, but after so long, only the sex isn't enough.

Addison Albright - Cultivating Love

A man of few words, Joe is a hard-working farmhand who likes his simple, uncomplicated life. Ed is satisfied with his existence as an auto mechanic, but thrilled when an unexpected development in his life allows him to help Joe realize a dream.

It forces them, however, to reevaluate the casual, undefined nature of their relationship. They're too macho to speak of love, and neither would ever dream of acknowledging he doesn't really mind when it's his turn to bottom. When life throws them a curve ball, and the rules of their game get old, Ed makes an effort to take every aspect of their relationship up a notch. Will Joe be able to adapt to the open sentimentality Ed's injecting into their relationship, let alone the new spice in their bedroom activities?


Comment: I was quite surprised with this book. It was the first one I've tried by the author and it was a good read.

I must confess I wasn't very happy about the way it started..I thought this author would be another one who likes to write about twinks, nothing against them, but they aren't my favorite kind of characters in gay novels...submissives ok, depending on the character itself, but twinks? Usually they are too weak, too dependent, too whiny for me. I thought this because of the way Ed and Joe - the main characters - started talking to each other, carefully asking for one another's opinions. I thought, here we go, one of them must be a controlled twink who needs reassurance....how about this for prejudice?
So, I was very, very happy to see they had a sort of equal relationship and things between them weren't that specified.

Then another fear (admit it, we all have our pet peeves), I usually don't like when two characters are together and fight and cheat and don't talk - when in RL we know that's what most people might do - but as long as I kept reading I realized they haven't admitted their feelings yet, despite being together for so long (it was mentioned 2 years and so), and their sexual relations were almost as a given duty, with affection and respect yes, but without the "need".

I was very happy with the way things developed, the way they had to share things because of what was happening in their lives. I liked seeing their closeness, their love for each other.

I think in the end it worked out pretty well, and I'll try more stories by this author in the future, hopefully they will be as convincing and positively unexpected.

Deborah Smith - A Place to Call Home

Twenty years ago, Claire Maloney was the willful, pampered, tomboyish daughter of the town’s most respected family, but that didn’t stop her from befriending Roan Sullivan, a fierce, motherless boy who lived in a rusted-out trailer amid junked cars. No one in Dunderry, Georgia—least of all Claire’s family—could understand the bond between these two mavericks. But Roan and Claire belonged together until the dark afternoon when violence and terror overtook their lives, and Roan disappeared. Now, two decades later, Claire is adrift, and the Maloneys are still hoping the past can be buried under the rich Southern soil. But Roan Sullivan is about to walk back into their lives . . .

Comment: This second book by Deborah Smith that I try is a sad one. I was sad all the time while reading it and not even the happy ending saved it from the melancholic feeling. I mean, I enjoyed it, and the story had a strong enough olot to keep things interesting and running, but it was so sad...

The main characters have good moytivations and reliable attitudes but I think when they finally get together, the intimacy, while expected, seemed s bit rushed...I would like to see some more thoughts on it, more talking about it, instead of just assuming it would happen.

Then there's the emotional parts...I cried and cried a lot because of that. What the characters had to deal with, the things they must be feeling because of what happend in the past..it broke my heart. I guess, despite the validity of everyone's POV, that Roan's was the one I commiserated the most. To educate a child, to nurture and love her, to make sure she has everything in order to be happy, to grow up decently...not everyone can do it and then to be threatned by new feelings and see his put away....heartbreaking.

I consider this a good book, because it presented several separate things that together make it good. But when I think of it I feel sad and although that didn't ruined it for me, it's the first thought that comes to my mind when I think of it.

Gena Showalter - The Darkest Secret

Keeper of the demon of Secrets, Amun can manipulate the darkest thoughts of anyone nearby. But when new demons possess him, the immortal warrior must be chained and isolated to protect those he loves. Death is his only hope of release—until he meets Haidee, a fellow prisoner whose beauty and hidden vulnerability draw him into a reckless test of his loyalty….

Haidee is an infamous demon assassin, raised to despise Amun’s kind. Yet how can she hate the man whose touch sets her aflame? But to save him, she must give herself body and soul…and face the wrath of a powerful adversary sworn to destroy her.

Comment: The Darkest Secret is the last installment of the Lords of the Underworld series by Gena Showalter. This is a world populated with several kinds of demons and angels. It's pretty good and the author has managed to keep things intriguing by changing the character's atitudes and letting the reader think some believed bad guys can actually be redeemed.

The romance sizzles and the plot usually moves in an acceptable pace, not too fast and not too slow, it depends on the book.

Amun has the demon of Secrets and doesn't speak, otherwise his demon will expell all the sercrets he has inside and that would really hurt. So, Amun has always acted in the sidelines, not having too much of a front scene. Now his book has come and although it isn't close to my favourites, I still liked it, especially because of the tidbits we've learned about other things happening and because it sets up nicely the next story, Strider's. Haidee is a Hunter, enemy of the lords, but like always with this author, nothing is black and white, everything can change and exist in shades of grey and it was quite good to see how these two characters could change to be something better.

I'm still a fan of the series and while the author keeps delivering interesting, fresh things I'll keep buying. Can't wait for what it's to come....

Sarah McKerrigan - Captive Heart

A warrior born and raised, Helena of Rivenloch is desperate to save her youngest sister from a fate worse than death: marriage.

After trying--and failing--to murder the groom, she does the next best thing. She takes his right-hand knight, the dashing Colin du Lac, as her hostage. And discovers that her new “captive” is chivalrous to the core, highly amused by her behavior, and far more dangerous than any warrior she has ever fought.

Du Lac is soon trading quips instead of sword thrusts, exchanging glances that turn to kisses, and laying siege to Helena’s untried passions. But du Lac has no use for a warrior wife, and Helena will not wed. How long, then, can they revel in the pleasures of the bedchamber before they forge an alliance between their warring hearts?

Comment: This is the second book by this author that I've read. Once again, it was amusing to see some of the situations described and the clash of wills of both main characters. I didn't like it as much as the first, Lady Danger, because I didn't find as much sympathy for the main characters as I did for the ones in the previous book. In this one, Helena and Colin did have some interesting attitudes and thoughts, but I don't think there was much improvement in their behaviour.

They did grow up, but only as a way to conclude the story, not from a real learning. I'll eventually read the final one, but I'm not sure when.

Hopefully the plot will live to its promise and be very good.

JR Ward - Lover Unleashed

Payne, twin sister of Vishous, is cut from the same dark, warrior cloth as her brother: A fighter by nature, and a maverick when it comes to the traditional role of Chosen females, there is no place for her on the Far Side… and no role for her on the front lines of the war, either.

When she suffers a paralyzing injury, human surgeon Dr. Manuel Manello is called in to treat her as only he can- and he soon gets sucked into her dangerous, secret world. Although he never before believed in things that go bump in the night- like vampires- he finds himself more than willing to be seduced by the powerful female who marks both his body and his soul.

As the two find so much more than an erotic connection, the human and vampire worlds collide … just as a centuries old score catches up with Payne and puts both her love and her life in deadly jeopardy.

Comment: I was so afraid I might be forever disappointed with this series. I admit I'm not very happy with some things happening in the series, but I've been in love with the characters since the first book and that's what still makes me eager to read another story, so I can know more about loved characters. Of course it's all fiction but faithful readers kind of deserves a prize for their dedication. I'm not talking about anything more that a simple book well done. We know that it is impossible to satisfy everyone about the same things but I like to think the things I do like, it's because of a reason, my personal perspective. If my perspective tells me I don't like it, I just stop and that's it. But I'm sad anyway, so...

All this to say I know there are many readers out there that feel their perspective is getting cheated on. I get that. But I hope my personal view remains unchainged in the global way of things...

The book has so many sub-plots, it's difficult to keep up with them. But all in all I'm happy with the way things developped. Two things I definitely didn't particularly like:

1. V/Butch thing. I'm a full fan of Jane. I know some people would like B and V together but not me. So, in the end all the closure V experiences and his change in attitude towards Jane and their relationship pleased me. A lot. But the parts with Butch...I mean, Butch is still, until this day, my favourite character in the series. I fell in love with him since the beginning and I'm faithful, lol, but it bothers me a bit that the author keeps giving the readers enough ammunition and innuendos that just keep the speculation running. I understand her position but I don't agree with it...if they both have mates why keeping up with the idea something intimate might happen? Because that must be the purpose of always stating somethig about them everywhere...I just hope this time she leaves them alone... Butch needs V, we know, there's no need to keep hitting that all the time!

2. Missing people, help. I mean, it's obvious all the cast couldn't appear in all the books, she wouldn't be writing a book, but a whole dictionary, but I missed some characters. Where's No'One, Lassiter? Such key players in the previous book, shouldn't we know more about what they've been doing? What about Muhrder...isn't time that he shows up for good? This book picks up details about the twins, whose lives were played out because of one person's actions and where is that person?? Missing SV for sure....

I liked Manny and Payne relationship, the balance between them. The fact their end isn't closed it's good, something more could happen. Qhuinn and Blay still break my heart. I'm totally in favour of their union, I just hope it will be as poignant and emotional as I think. There are new characters on board, they seemed interesting and good protagonist material...Hopefully they will have a lot of air time in the following book.

I've finished the book with a happy face, Payne and Manny are ok, V and Jane are finally a happily mated pair and V and Payne said "i love you" to each other even after years and years of separation...all in all, great. Let's hope she continues with good things...

Georgette Heyer - Why Shoot a Butler?

Every family has secrets, but the Fountains' are turning deadly…

On a dark night, along a lonely country road, barrister Frank Amberley stops to help a young lady in distress and discovers a sports car with a corpse behind the wheel. The girl protests her innocence, and Amberley believes her—at least until he gets drawn into the mystery and the clues incriminating Shirley Brown begin to add up…

In an English country-house murder mystery with a twist, it's the butler who's the victim, every clue complicates the puzzle, and the bumbling police are well-meaning but completely baffled. Fortunately, in ferreting out a desperate killer, amateur sleuth Amberley is as brilliant as he is arrogant, but this time he's not sure he wants to know the truth…

Comment: Perhaps I didn't choose the better book to start reading this author... I mean, I've heard so many good things about her that I decided right away to pick one book and read it. I chose a mystery but perhaps I should have picked a romance.

The writing is obviously historical related and I guess quite accurate. At least much more that the usual historical book. The plot was ok but I admit it, I had some trouble to follow what everyone was doing. I'm still undecided on whether it was my fault because I wasn't paying enough attention, or if it's the language itself that just didn't appealed to me. I'll try a romance this month to try and decide if mrs Heyer is an author I should keep reading. The fact is, some authors just aren't "made" for us.

The story follows mr Amberley as he drives to visit his aunt. Then he sees a young lady next to a car on the side of the road. He talks to her but doesn't help her for th's next to a dead body and as a barrister he decides not to interfere. Later he changes his mind and helps her throughout the whole book, while solving the mystery and the resulting situation. He also wants to marry the girl. I didn't see any romance in the book, and yes I know it's not one, but what I read didn't convince me. The mystery was confusing. I mean, not the whys and hows but the whole process. I even got tired of trying to figure out how all the characters would connect! All in all not the best thing. I'll try the romance now, hopefully I'll like it much more.