CE Murphy - Raven Calls

Something wicked this way comes...
Suddenly, being bitten by a werewolf is the least of Joanne Walker's problems.
Her personal life in turmoil, her job as a cop over, she's been called to Ireland by the magic within her. And though Joanne's skills have grown by leaps and bounds, Ireland's magic is old and very powerful....
In fact, this is a case of unfinished business. Because the woman Joanne has come to Ireland to rescue is the woman who sacrificed everything for Joanne -- the woman who died a year ago. Now, through a slip in time, she's in thrall to a dark power and Joanne must battle darkness, time and the gods themselves to save her.

Comment: This is the seventh book in the Walker Papers series by this author. It's a urban fantasy series full of adventure and magic.

In this book, Joanne flew to Ireland to understand better her maternal heritage and to try to help her mother's spirit before evil claims it. Joanne also tries to find a way to solve her little werewolf problem which bothers her a lot.

I've been a fan of this series since book #1, because in each book Joanne learns something else about her shamanic powers and her way of seeing her life, of dealing with herself.  In this book she returns to Ireland to look for her mother's spirit before The Master, the evil influence that has been around in previous books, claims it. She wants to help her mother and try to come to terms to the way of their relationship in the past was. This book is all about forgiveness and learning to cope with things you can't change but can accept before moving on.

Joanne has the help of a family member, a kind of goddess, a real goddess and Gary, who comes to Ireland to help. By having all this help, she's also has the responsibility to see them well by the end of things. Joanne is a very responsible person even if in the past she didn't see herself like that. I liked how her understanding of things was slow for us to enjoy the changing in her temperament, in her personality. The author obviously takes her time in making her main character change, which makes it even more believable.

We also see many characters from other books and even references to others we know, so I think despite this book can be read as a stand alone, it's still preferable to read them all, because many little things have a deeper meaning that someone new to the series won't pick up.

Concerning her romance with Morrison, which we finally saw a bit more of in the previous book, we keep seeing her thoughts about it and at some point she says she can't wait to get him on a bed. Yay! I sure hope things in this department won't take long because sexual tension has been simmering, they have said they love the other one and I think it's about time for the next step. Plus I'm a sucker for HEA's and these two deserve one.

By the end of this book I was already eager to get my hands on the next one. I already pre-ordered it and everything. 

I keep thinking this is one of the most solid and well structured series out there, with a great narrative and strong character development. I recommend it to everyone.

Dream a Little Dream

The day when I finally become a millionaire - yeah, right - I'll have my own wonderfully great personal library.

It will a bit like this:

Or, depending on my decoration, lol, it might more in the lines of:

There's no harm in dreaming, right? I just wish I could step over dreaming and get to doing, but oh well, one has to do with what one has and unfortunately it's much smaller and unfashionable.

Still, they're great to look at!

Note: Images from bookpatrol.net and beautiful-libraries.com

Pamela Palmer - A Love Untamed

The newest member of the elite Feral Warriors brotherhood, Fox is eager to prove himself on the frontlines of battle against the Daemons. When paired with the legendary Ilina warrior Melisande, he expects the fierce beauty to quickly fall under the spell of his quite considerable charm. Instead, he finds himself spellbound by a woman who's his match in every way.
Beneath Melisande's brittle exterior lies centuries of pain and a violent hatred of all shape-shifters--a hatred that slowly crumbles after she and Fox are caught in a deadly and cunning Mage trap and she glimpses a surprising depth in her far-too-seductive partner. Their survival demands unconditional trust--and their salvation surrender to a wild, untamed love. 

Comment: This is the most recent installment n the Feral Warriors series by this author. It's about a group of warriors who can turn into their feral animal, all predators of course, to fight the mages that attack the population and want to kill them.

This is the story of Kieran, he was chosen to become the fox of the group. He arrives in the wave of new warriors because their animal spirits have been freed from a prison where they've been for a long time. However, the mages infected them and some animal spirits chose the wrong warrior thus making some of them dangerous and untrustworthy.

Kieran, however, is one of the good guys and is excited to have been chosen. As soon as he arrives at Feral House, where all the warriors live, he is eager to help and embarks on a mission with another warrior and Ilina warriors, a group of women with the power to turn into mist and live in clouds.

Among them is Melisande, she has a difficult personality and only is present because her queen is the mate of one of the warriors. She doesn't want to help anymore than the unavoidable and scorns all males around her...until she tries to hurt Kieran and it backfires on her, thus making it likely he's to become her mate.

I'm still a fan of this series because while we see the focus on one warrior's story we also get POV's from one or two others. It's very handy in trying to keep you up with the series and it arouses out interest. Right now there are two warriors whose story I can't wait to read.

Kieran is new in this we haven't seen him that long, he first showed up perhaps two or three books ago but it was obvious he would become a protagonist. He's fierce and loyal and funny and is friends with Olivia, one of the protagonists of a previous book. He shows evidence of being able to be a warrior and I was happy for him because we get to see his thoughts and he wanted to be one. It's interesting how we see his personality like that. All his actions were believable and he is the archetype of a good hero.

Melisande is known for being a hard person, difficult to deal with, she doesn't make any friends and even tried to attack the leader of the Ferals. In this book we get to see why she is that way, why she seems to be angry all the time and in a way, understand her. While her romance with Kieran blossoms we get to see a softer side of her and I liked that, we get an interesting dichotomy on her behavior, but like always, to me the romance was rather fast. I think that, if an author is going to use the "mate" plot device, than don't push it, use it wisely, insert some sort of tension, of expectancy because otherwise where's the thrill, and even worse, if a character is though than don't change her completely so fast, it's not believable.

Apart from this I liked the book because it offered an interesting adventure and the continuation of a good plot too. I suggest reading in order because despite the author saying (like so many authors who write series do) it can be read as a stand alone it's much worth it to read in order, so many tidbits making sense if so.

This said, I will read the next ones, too bad they're taking so long now that the new series is also being published..oh well, how a reader suffers!

Just a little note to say...WTH for that cover! Why, publishers, why? With so many possible ways to make a cover, why picking this? Why?

Alyssa Day - Heart of Atlantis

As a war wages between the immortals of Atlantis and those of the vampire realm, a Poseidon warrior fights to save his world -- and the woman he loves. And no risk is too great. 
Alaric, Poseidon’s High Priest, has made a vow to Quinn, the woman he loves and the leader of the Resistance: to save her friend Jack before his last bit of humanity has been drained. Should Alaric succeed, there’s one intimate danger: he may lose Quinn to the love of the man whose life he saved. But damn Atlantis to the nine hells, he’s willing to put Quinn’s wishes first, regardless of the consequences.
The final jewel of Poseidon’s trident has turned up in the hands of mysterious Ptolemy Reborn, who claims to be descended from Atlantean royalty. He’s about to reveal to the world that Atlantis is real, positioning himself as king. But this magical terrorist is bent on chaos. The only warrior who can stop him is following his own path, driven by the even more powerful force of love. Atlantean powers over the sea could prove just as cataclysmic -- for Quinn’s love, Alaric might drown the entire world.

Comment: This is the latest book in the Warriors of Poseidon series. The series beginning was quite strong in my opinion and the warriors had their own value and interest.

Throughout the books the readers have seen Alaric fighting his feelings for Quinn and vice versa because if they got together it would men the end of the hope to win a war. Still, readers would cry for a scene between them as this couple was the most wanted.

Alaric is the high priest in Atlantis, he's powerful and on him depend many things and people. He can't risk so many things for a woman but the truth is that from the moment he touched Quinn he recognized she's the one for him, if only they could be together...

Quinn is a fighter. She's been a rebel in the war against evil vampires for so long she did so many bad things she doesn't think anyone might love her but Alaric made her feel different and although she doesn't believe any good can come out of it, she still softens when she's in the same room with him.

Before reading this book I came cross a review graded C. I was immediately suspicious of the book, on which I had great hopes, although I didn't read that review to see what might be "wrong".

The fact is, I've wanted to read this book for ages. Ever since book #1, where Quinn and Alaric met. Then all the other main characters had their books and one or two were weaker in my opinion but I always imagined this one to be great, it had to be because every time this couple would meet, sparks flew.

I liked the book. I liked the adventure of seeing them go through everything until they gave in and Alaric was even up to give up his powers if needed just to be with Quinn. I liked that they had good scenes between them and the romance was good too. I think there was too much caution on both their sides but I don't think it bothered me that much considering the kind of pasts they had, something which we were given glimpses of in this book. Still, it could have been a little bit more desperate,  mean it was a long time coming...

What I think was the weakest thing in the book is the secondary aspects, like details that weren't treated as well as one might like, well to me at least lit looked like it no longer mattered after many books highlighting that...so, in the end it came out as unrelevant, which I think wasn't well done.

Still, I can't help but enjoy the fact a series is completed and finished in its core because the plot reached an end even if more stories in this "world" can happen.

I think a thing here and there could have had a different treatment, because some things are a bit unnecessary and I thought they weren't important enough to be mentioned but I guess even little things can have their importance, many authors use them wisely, but in this case I think it wasn't the case. So, in the end a good book but with unnecessary stuff too.

I was glad to have read the book, even with all the things that could have been better, it was still an interesting end to the series and if any more books came out of Atlantis I will consider reading them but I don't think I'll keep up with this author...besides this book had delays, had issues and while it's understandable, it still annoys and I think the reader isn't the guilty one here. I feel bad for this because I think waiting ruined many readers mood to the series.

Anyway, despite all, a good installment in the end and this series will remain in my heart for sure, especially for what it meant.

Virginia Woolf - Mrs Dalloway

Clarissa Dalloway is preparing to host a party. She is the kind of woman you would pass on the street without a thought, and Woolf lets us see the dreams, fears, foibles, passion and pain that swirl endlessly inside Mrs. Dalloway. We follow Clarissa through the course of a single day, and as she goes about her errands, preparing for a party she's giving that night, her lost love for an old flame resurfaces unexpectedly; her never-consummated lesbian longing for a childhood friend; and her endless yearning for some resolution, direction, permanence.

Comment: Another book for one of my book clubs. Why this book was chosen, frankly I have no idea. I don't remember voting for it, must have been one of those I didn't pick but others did. I actually have another book by her to read, it's in my TBR list and to be quite honest I think it will remain there for a long time yet...

This book isn't very big and portrays one day in the life of Clarissa Dalloway as she gets ready to host a party. Throughout the book we see her thoughts and memories and all the people who'll attend the party, one way or another. The narrative is beautiful, full of interesting metaphors and sentences.

To start with, I have a question..is this book considered a classic? I guess it follows a certain classic method of narrative.I understand many people like the poetic narrative of this author and she is revered as a genius in her words and depictions of what someone might be thinking. I got that from this book and it was a promising story and I thought the plot would be interesting.

However, I must be one of those people who can't follow a genius' mind because for the life of me, the book was as boring as they can be.

The first pages weren't so bad, but the narrator would jump thoughts and scenes and the sentences stopped making sense at some point. Then the focus would be on someone else and the thoughts would change and I lost track of who'd say what and why would it matter.

Some of the friends in the book club didn't even finish the book, so I feel quite successful to have completed the reading although I don't feel that good because I couldn't enjoy it as much as all the critics say we should considering the author is an excellent writer, one of the best of her time. Thank God taste is selective and personal.

The story didn't make much sense to me. I think in trying to bring a serious tone to the story, while attempting to create a certain sense of there being a right way to read it, I mean, it's almost like we should appreciate reading it for what it is, a great work. I didn't feel this way and I don't think I'm a stupid person but I couldn't see the beauty of the book itself, only some of the sentences used but in the end the story was boring and unattractive for me.

Still, it allowed me a way to comparison to other books by her I might read one day or even other books similar to this one whether in plot or narrative style but I don't think it's likely I would.

Jennifer Ashley - The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie

It was whispered all through London Society that he was a murderer, that he'd spent his youth in an asylum and was not to be trusted--especially with a lady. Any woman caught in his presence was immediately ruined. Yet Beth found herself inexorably drawn to the Scottish lord whose hint of a brogue wrapped around her like silk and whose touch could draw her into a world of ecstasy. Despite his decadence and intimidating intelligence, she could see he needed help. Her help. Because suddenly the only thing that made sense to her was...

Comment: I've picked this book because so many people have enjoyed it, especially some people whose opinion I trust. I bought the book back in October 2011 and it was in my TBR list until this month, the poor thing. Then, last month I've read another book where the hero showed some mental issues and I was so amazed by how such a character could be a hero, that I immediately bumped this one to the top of the pile because I knew the hero was also different.

I'm glad I did, because I enjoyed the book a lot.

This books tells us the story of Lord Ian MacKenzie, he is considered mad because he can't talk to people about mundane things, he doesn't understand subtleties or innuendos and can't look anyone in the eye, which made his father put in in an hospice.

His brothers love him despite everything and when their father died, his older brother, a Duke then, got him out of there and helped him get a better life, despite his mental problems.

Beth is a widow and is about to marry a man Ian thinks won't respect or love her properly. He saves her from that step and they begin to see each other socially. Soon, their attraction becomes stronger and eventually they admit they want the other.

I liked the book a lot. Having read recently another book with this theme by Laura Kinsale, I was quite eager to see another story where the hero didn't fit the stereotype of what a hero should be like. I wasn't disappointed, although I feel the sexual tension could be more focused int he seduction part than in the intimate moments, I think they got physically intimate too soon even without the sex. A bit more suggestion instead of touching could have been better in my opinion.

I liked the plot, it wasn't that amazing but it offered an interesting path to see the character's behavior, attitude and conduct. It created the right frame to set up the character's importance, I think.

The characters were vivid and interesting, not only the main couple but also all the other ones. I can't wait for their stories.

Like I said the romance was OK, I'd change some things but overall, I liked how they feel for each other and their scenes together, plus the dialogue were strong and offered the possibility to understand well both their motivations. Still, comparing to Flowers From the Storm there wasn't that special anticipation of seeing them together and I wasn't as eager to see them interact, because the tone of this story was more obvious and sexual than the other book.I guess I couldn't help feeling this way because such a few time has gone between reads, things are still quite fresh in my head.

Still, what a great book, very different from the usual and I'm eager to read more because despite everything, I liked the characters and the writing style and want to know what happens to them all.

Alexandra Ivy - Bound by Darkness

The Sylvermyst have a reputation as sinister cousins to the fey, and none are more mysterious than Ariyal and his tribe. To save his people from banishment, he sold himself to the evil Morgana. Finally free, he faces a new challenge: Jaelyn, an elite vampire warrior sent to capture him. By rights, he should kill her on sight. Yet he cannot bring himself to hurt her - or to resist her...
Jaelyn is stunningly beautiful, utterly lethal - and always alone. Until Ariyal. From their first encounter, she knows that what's between them is more dangerous than simple lust. And as they unite to thwart a terrifying prophecy that will mean the end of his clan and of the world they know, she will risk everything to fulfil her destiny by his side...

Comment: This is one of the series I'm trying to keep updated, so this month I've read another book part of the Guardians of Eternity.

This is the story of the sylvermist Ariyal, he's fae and was a slave to Morgana la Fey for a long time because he thought it was the best way to save his people as he was their prince. After Morgana died he and his comrades were freed and now Ariyal is determined to protect everyone from the Dark Master even if he has to kill the child rumored to be the incarnation of the Dark Master.

Of course, opposite him it Jaelyn, a vampire hunter with the mission to capture him. However, they didn't see coming the attraction between them or the need to know more about the other.

Considering the clues in the previous books, it was obvious these two characters would end up together. I was quite eager to see them fall in love especially because they seemed to fight each other all times and I imagined their relationship to be a challenge and a slow surrender. Err...not quite. They did seem to be at odds most of the time even when feeling the attraction but I didn't like that much the way they admitted their feelings. I wanted a bit more emotion, more flavor, after all they were fighting and trying to kill the other not a few days before, the whole think seemed rather rushed and unemotional.

The main plot is developing nicely. Many things happen and I think the author has been clever in managing all the threads in order to create a net of issues to solve without the reader feeling lost or thinking things don't make sense. In every book there's something happening and we see a bit of the previous links showing up, so we always know what has been happening in the following book. Although each one can be read as a stand alone, the plot has a sequence done well enough to do that and loose enough to make the reader have an idea of what is going on.

I like when secondary characters are still part of a series even if their story is done or to happen. It makes the story feel more alive, because no one is an island, right?

I don't think this is the best in the series. But I do hope the next one will be, because despite the good plot sequences, the romance sometimes leaves a lot to be desired.

Amanda Steiger / Leigh Ellwood

Keith is a werewolf on the run. Several years ago, he fled his pack and its cruel alpha and has been moving from place to place ever since: a lone drifter. Then he meets Taylor, a recently infected lycanthrope. As Keith helps Taylor come to terms with his nature, a powerful attraction grows between them? but Keith's past comes back to haunt him in the form of Lucas, his vindictive ex-alpha. Now, Keith and Taylor must fight for their lives and freedom.

* * *

 When Cale Durbin receives a GPS system for his birthday, he tests it out on the drive to meet a blind date. The blasted device gets him lost, but Cale doesn't mind so much when he ends up at the door of a hunk named Mike who shares many of his interests.
After the date fails, Cale discovers the GPS possesses a unique feature—it leads him right to Mike again! Can true happiness be found through a global positioning device, or is Cale headed in the wrong direction?

Comment: This month my m/m reads have been short-stories because one had 79 pages, the other 45.

It wasn't premeditated, actually. I just went trough the many m/m ebooks I have and picked two, think of a map and a pin and ta-da, here they were.

Runaway is the story of Keith, a lone wolf who rescues a young one, Taylor, from suicide. He takes him home and teaches him how to learn to deal with his wolf and slowly, they fall in love. They also have to solve the problem of the alpha in Keith's previous pack showing up and trying to bring him back. However, the will to protect Taylor will be the challenge he needed to be better.

I liked the short novel, the difference between the characters, I also felt the story could be bigger, but there wasn't that feeling of not enough, so I was quite satisfied with the book. An author to investigate even more.

GPS is a very short story about a man receiving a GPS as a gift and somehow the device always takes to, someone he didn't think would be right for him, but shares the same interests. The story is centered in the idea that even when we don't think we're in the right direction, with a little help, we can get there. This premise is funny and the story is light and easy...simply to relax, because despite mentioning the fear of taking that step towards what's right, it's instinctive to be afraid.

I enjoyed reading it, even though it was quite small.

Song #5

This was the first song released by this group in the 90's. Before them only  a few Portuguese groups would play in English but of them all only Moonspell achieved some fame. 
Silence 4 was the first one to sing most their songs in English and got a tremendous success in my country, considering they're Portuguese. The ended their career years ago but this song is still one of the most beautiful ones and started not only a career for them but a trend to so many other artists here who started singing in English too.

TBR Challenge: Courtney Milan - The Governess Affair

Three months ago, governess Serena Barton was let go from her position. Unable to find new work, she’s demanding compensation from the man who got her sacked: a petty, selfish, swinish duke. But it’s not the duke she fears. It’s his merciless man of business—the man known as the Wolf of Clermont. The formidable former pugilist has a black reputation for handling all the duke’s dirty business, and when the duke turns her case over to him, she doesn’t stand a chance. But she can’t stop trying—not with her entire future at stake.
Hugo Marshall is a man of ruthless ambition—a characteristic that has served him well, elevating the coal miner’s son to the right hand man of a duke. When his employer orders him to get rid of the pestering governess by fair means or foul, it’s just another day at the office. Unfortunately, fair means don’t work on Serena, and as he comes to know her, he discovers that he can’t bear to use foul ones. But everything he has worked for depends upon seeing her gone. He’ll have to choose between the life that he needs, and the woman he is coming to love…

Comment: Here it is my comment for the book I've chosen for January's theme.

We were supposed to read a novella or a short-story and I've picked Governess Affair because I wanted to read it since I knew so many people loved it, considering how short it was. I thought it fit perfectly this month's theme.

This novella is the prequel to a new series and tells us the story of Serena, a governess who sits in a bench in front of a duke's house and rumors say she's got out of her previous job because the duke offered her a job as tutor to his child. A child he doesn't have.

Hugo is a sort of enforcer for the duke, he manages the duke's business. While trying to get rid of the governess he learns her demands aren't as simple and her reasons aren't as mundane, Slowly they start to exchange "attacks" until they reach an agreement.

This was the first book I've read by this author. I was already curious over some of her previous books but never attempted to read any simply because I have so many, I was delaying the inevitable.

I liked the story. I read historicals without a problem, and I enjoyed the setting a lot. The story intrigued me and I really thought it would be about a governess demanding satisfaction over a bad job offer. I didn't read any detailed reviews so I wouldn't be influenced when I finally decided to get to it. So, I was quite surprised to see the real issue there wasn't merely an employment position in a time where women didn't have any rights to speak of. I was a bit sad over what motivated Serena to protest and I think this subject had everything to work out in a bigger book, because I couldn't put aside the fast way Serena and Hugo started to give in to their attraction or, I think, it was due to the way it's written and made me believe not time enough had passed since Serena had her...issues. I'll explain: Serena had an awful experience because of the duke and she didn't take long to jump into to another situation that, despite very, very different was very close to the one before and I thought someone in real life wouldn't feel so "normal" in such a short time.

Perhaps it's just me, I'm very picky on my heroine's behavior and I tend to put myself in their shoes and sometimes I don't think it's the one I'd chose...

Apart from this, which is really more of a personal pet peeve of mine, I liked the book, the writing style, the story..I'm also very curious about the next books in the series and will get them when they're out and I can buy them.

Lack of time

Unfortunately I have to leave right now and can't post my comment about this month's book for the TBR challenge today. I'll be here tomorrow and post it, the book is read since last week, but I have to drive to work and I need to leave...

Still, can't wait to check everyone's posts and perhaps to "discover" new things to read...

I'll also update my challenge page tomorrow.

Sorry for the delay for those who'll come to check.... :(

Roby Carr - Virgin River

Wanted: Midwife/nurse practitioner in Virgin River, population six hundred. Make a difference against the backdrop of towering California redwoods and crystal-clear rivers. Rent-free cabin included.
When the recently widowed Melinda Monroe sees this ad she quickly decides that the remote mountain town of Virgin River might be the perfect place to escape her heartache, and to reenergize the nursing career she loves. But her high hopes are dashed within an hour of arriving: the cabin is a dump, the roads are treacherous and the local doctor wants nothing to do with her. Realizing she's made a huge mistake, Mel decides to leave town the following morning.
But a tiny baby, abandoned on a front porch, changes her plans...and a former marine cements them into place.
Melinda Monroe may have come to Virgin River looking for escape, but instead she finds her home. 

Comment: Many of my friends have been talking about this series for a long time. I thought small town stories, more sweet and friendly than hot and sexy are a preference of mine in a contemporary setting so I started "collecting" the books and I finally decided to start them, nothing better in a new year too. I still have many books to get (I only have 11 I think), but the first one is read and it was a good read, considering my expectations.

Melanie is a experienced nurse, expert in births and midwifery and she's tired of her demanding job and seeing so many bad things she can't control. Her husband died too and she feels ready to work somewhere calmer...so she replies to a job request in Virgin River, a village away from the city. In there she starts to think she's made a mistake, but with time her point of view on things changes...

Jack is an ex marine working on Virgin River's bar. He serves food too and knows everyone there. He feels vary attracted to Mel and stats helping around the place, renovating her house...slowly he starts falling for her and wanting her to stay.

I liked the book a lot. It wasn't as perfect as I imagined, no. But it had many things that made me eager to keep reading and not putting the book down.

The romance was quite balanced. I was curious over both their pasts and how they would deal with it. I think the fact the romance between them doesn't look rushed also helps..one of the things that bother me the most in a romance, in particular in contemporaries, is how fast everything happens. It doesn't look like a romance, it's more lust to love and it's not as...dreamy as a good old fashioned romance.

Anyway, they took their time and talked about things and it helped me to see time passing before they got intimate, it's like they stopped to think and to just go with the flow before starting a physical relationship. In the end I loved to see them together.

There are some god scenes in th book, unforgettable, like one in particular, in the end, when Jack asks Mel abut a certain thing....loved that one.

Like it's to be expected in a small town romance, there are many secondary characters and some of them are going to be important for future books, for sure.

One thing left me thinking...that's a small place, not much to do there...I wonder what are the incoming characters going to do there and how will they get money, especially if the closest town is so distant...hum, small details concern me, for sure. I like to think about all the little things.

I know the next book features a characters we've met already and I'm quite curious about that book, can't wait to get to it.

I hope the remaining books are as sweet as this one.

Kerrelyn Sparks / Jayne Castle

It's not every day that Elsa Bjornberg feels delicate, not when she hosts a home renovation show where she can effortlessly demolish a kitchen. But from the moment she meets Howard Barr, this bear of a man makes her feel like a woman. And the way he looks at her, as if she were a pot of honey he'd like to lick . . .
Howard is not like most men. For one thing, he's a shapeshifter. And he always thought his celebrity crush would never amount to anything more than drooling at Elsa on TV. When his meddling vampire employer gets involved, the star is suddenly within his grasp -- and within a hair of her life. For an ancient curse forbids their newfound love, and Howard is suddenly torn between his desire for her and his desire to keep her alive.

*  *  *

Life is complicated for Lydia Smith. She's working at that tacky, third-rate museum, Shrimpton's House of Ancient Horrors, trying to salvage her career in para-archaeology--and dating the most dangerous man in town. Just when she thinks she might be getting things under control, she stumbles over a dead body and discovers that her lover has a secret past that could get him killed. Just to top it off, there's trouble brewing underground in the eerie, glowing green passageways of the Dead City.
Of course, all of these problems pale in comparison to the most pressing issue: Lydia has been invited to the Restoration Ball and she hasn't got a thing to wear.


Comment: Another pair of books I've read, both of them another installment in a series I've started before.

Wild About You is the latest book in Kerrelyn Sparks' paranormal series and focuses on Howard, he's a shifter and is a recurrent characters since the first books. He is in a journey to catch some wolf shifters, guilty of murdering people from his past, and at the same time meets Elsa, she works in a tv show renovating houses and he has a crush on her...

Elsa is a big, Swedish young woman and she never felt very feminine but after meeting Howard, that changes. However, her past isn't as simple as one might think and she discovers she's got an affinity to the forest...

I lied the book, it's true to the storyline and mentions many of the subjects still on the table to be solved, which gives the reader an idea of continuity; I liked that.

The romance is actually sweet and has it's hot moments too. Not the very best, but very good anyway.

After Glow is the sequel to After Dark, a story included in Harmony, the fist book I've read by Jayne Ann Krentz writing as Jayne Castle. This After Glow keeps the same storyline of the 1st book, with the same main characters. In a way it allows the reader to understand better some things we've learned about in that first book but it also has some news I wasn't expecting to see.

Emmett and Lydia take their relationship to the next level, although not as smoothly as one might imagine. Still, I liked the story and was glad to see this book explained the things left unsolved in After Dark. I'm curious about the next books, I'll try to get them soon but I don't think I'll read another one so fast, schedule doesn't allow it. Still, an interesting world to read about.

Ilona Andrews - Bayou Moon

The Edge lies between worlds, on the border between the Broken, where people shop at Wal-Mart and magic is a fairy tale -- and the Weird, where blueblood aristocrats rule, changelings roam, and the strength of your magic can change your destiny...
Cerise Mar and her unruly clan are cash poor but land rich, claiming a large swathe of the Mire, the Edge swamplands between the state of Louisiana and the Weird. When her parents vanish, her clan’s long-time rivals are suspect number one.
But all is not as it seems. Two nations of the Weird are waging a cold war fought by feint and espionage, and their conflict is about to spill over into the Edge -- and Cerise’s life. William, a changeling soldier who left behind the politics of the Weird, has been forced back into service to track down a rival nation’s spymaster.
When William’s and Cerise’s missions lead them to cross paths, sparks fly -- but they’ll have to work together if they want to succeed... and survive.

Comment: Finally I was able to pick this book. I wanted to get to it for ages but only now I could manage to find the right time for it. This was the first book of January, thus the year.

This is the story of William, he's a shape shifter we've known since the first book. He's kind of a loner because he feels he doesn't deserve anyone although he wants a real family.

Then there's Cherise, she's part of a big, crazy family and her parents are missing. She embarks in a trip to find a way to look for them and to allow her family to do it by law but in the way she finds not only William but also a group of strange enemies and reality is...shocking.

I loved the first book in this series. I thought it was as amazing - although different - as Kate Daniels' series. I keep saying that, to me, this couple writes some of the best books out there, not only because their stories are great but mostly because their writing style is one of my favorites ever. I know when I start a book by them that everything comes together in a way that's special, perfect. All the information is given, is interesting and they write like there's nothing more true or more sweet or more sad or more horrific or more perfect about whatever. I can't explain it well, but I love to read a book written by them, and I think I would always, even if the theme didn't interest me. This makes me trust them always and for this alone I'd read the book.

But the book is also sweet and full of lovely scenes and special moments between the main couple. I loved the romance, I loved how we got to know their personalities and to understand how well suited they were for each other.

I loved the secondary characters too it's so great to see beloved characters and to know others we just know will be special too. Can't wait for the next books.

The bad guys were pretty weird and made me wrinkle my nose because of how they were. The authors certainly have a vivid imagination and I can't forget about Cerise's mother fate in this book...how...morbid. But still it was melancholic and perfectly suited.

The storyline is full of little details that make the book more believable - for that world, of course - and I enjoyed getting to see them because it allowed me to savor the story much more. So many authors can't give their details the perfect amount of disclosure and mystery I think are needed to keep the reader interested. I think it's very well done here.

I can«t wait to read more about the world in the Edge.

Caris Roane / Jessica Andersen

Alison Wells is no ordinary woman. Born with supernatural powers, she can never make love to a man without putting him in grave danger. But when her special vision reveals a glorious muscled man soaring overhead on mighty wings, she feels an overwhelming attraction she cannot resist -- even as he tells her: "I have come for you. Your blood belongs to me."
Kerrick is a vampire and a warrior who has fought his hunger for a woman's love for the past two hundred years. As a Guardian of Ascension, he is sworn to protect Alison from the death vamp armies who crave her blood and her power. But Kerrick has cravings of his own -- a forbidden longing to open his heart and veins to Alison. To share his blood... satisfy his thirst and seal their fates forever.

* * * 

Imprisoned and tortured by the demoness who tricked him into betraying the Nightkeepers and the woman he loves, Rabbit must endure excruciating pain to protect the diminished Skywatch army as the end-time approaches. Although an ancient prophecy says his unique powers are key to winning the final battle in the doomsday war, he hasn’t just lost his credibility -- he’s lost his magic.
Myrinne is far from the woman Rabbit once knew -- she’s got magic now, and despite emotional scars, she’s strong enough to help the Nightkeepers. And yet she’s not prepared to handle the fiercely driven man he’s become or the new, dangerous feelings that spark between them.
With the barrier ready to fall and a xombi outbreak in the human world, Rabbit and Myrinne must forge a new partnership amid dangerous instability and the threat of an undead army. In the end, it will be up to Rabbit to master his ferocious magic -- or all will be lost. For him, for the woman he doesn’t have the right to love anymore, and for the fate of the world…

Comment: The last two books from December. Once again, I'd have liked to write a bigger post about them but I just can't seem to find the time to write...today the plumber was here, tomorrow I have to take my kitten to the vet, and so on...I'll stick to shorter notes, at least I won't let too many books pile up.

Ascension is the first in a series about vampires with wings. I thought it wouldn't be very interesting although I knew some friends enjoy the books a lot. I tried this one because of their opinion and I ended up enjoying the book too. It was easy to read, with an interesting story about a girl who'll become a winged vampire too and all the other character's around her. I liked the writing style and despite the fact this is a first book full of new information and details, I thought it was engrossing and not boring at all. I'm quite interested in reading more and already purchased the next one.

Spellfire is the last in a series. It's the conclusion of ms Andersen 's tale on the Mayan prophecy and how the group of nightkeepers and their friends/help achieve saving the world. This last book focuses on Rabbit and Myrinne, two characters we've known since book #1. I liked the fact this series had a beginning, a middle and now an end. It's final and I'm sorry but rather prefer to see it end than to shrivel. I just thought there's a book missing before the previous one and this one. It was supposed to exist but the author couldn't manage to write it on time, but in a way it shows she had planned to, because several things feel rushed and a book of transition is missing, in my opinion. Still, I believe it was a win series, well written and now it has a happy ending all the characters deserved.

I'm also curious about the author's new contemporary series, this time about cowboys.Can't wait to try it.

Terri Garey / Nora Roberts

Faith McFarland is in need of a miracle. So desperate to save her sick child, she's willing to make a deal with the Devil: steal a ring worn by Finn Payne, the bad-boy rockstar who long ago sold his soul for rock 'n roll. Temptation and seduction become necessary evils, yet Faith's salvation means Finn's damnation...because the ring is all that stands between him and Hell. Falling in love was never part of the bargain, but now that they've tasted heaven in each other's arms, can they convince the Devil to give up his due?

  

 *  *  *

 

Ryder is the hardest Montgomery brother to figure out—with a tough-as-nails outside and possibly nothing too soft underneath. He’s surly and unsociable, but when he straps on a tool belt, no woman can resist his sexy swagger. Except apparently Hope Beaumont, the innkeeper of his own Inn BoonsBoro…
As the former manager of a D.C. hotel, Hope is used to excitement and glamour, but that doesn’t mean she can’t appreciate the joys of small-town living. She’s where she wants to be—except for in her love life. Her only interaction with the opposite sex has been sparring with the infuriating Ryder, who always seems to get under her skin. Still, no one can deny the electricity that crackles between them…a spark that ignited with a New Year’s Eve kiss.
While the Inn is running smoothly, thanks to Hope’s experience and unerring instincts, her big-city past is about to make an unwelcome—and embarrassing—appearance. Seeing Hope vulnerable stirs up Ryder’s emotions and makes him realize that while Hope may not be perfect, she just might be perfect for him…



Comment: I had planned to write a bigger comment for both these books but I just can't control my time anymore, it seems I have too much going on lately...I need to get my routine back...

Anyway, here it goes.

Devil Without a Cause is the first in a spin off of another series that, sorry to say, doesn't interest me much. This one is about the devil and how he kind of redeems himself a little bit by helping two people to be together even if by not so fair means. The story is easy to read but to me it lacked real emotion, it talked about string things like the fear of losing a child but the writing seemed too robotic and tasteless for me. I wasn't very thrilled by the end of the book and nothing made me think twice about reading more of that world.

The Perfect Hope is the third installment in Nora Robert's latest trilogy. I was very eager to get to this book because it has one of my favorite troupes in books, the main couple can't stand each other at first.

Hope and Ryder feel attracted but don't admit it until their book and I have to say I felt rather disappointed...I knew eventually they would end up together but I wasn't very enthusiastic over the way they did it, it felt so...rehearsed. Where's the magic, where's true emotion, where's the thrill of fighting something you know you can't win but yearn for deep in your heart?? I didn't feel this at all, I'm all for independent women living a free sexual identity in real life and in books, but it didn't have magic,it didn't feel as special as they made it look like after.

The story is good, loved the details and most scenes, but the romance, overall, was meh.

To Be or Not to Be in Goodreads

There I go, missing all the time...stupid Internet connection hates me, I swear.

Now I also decided to join goodreads...there are many lists there and I saw some and they seemed interesting and I want to buy some books I saw there.

I registered because I thought it would be fun...I also have an account on Shelfari but I lost interest because takes too long to keep adding books plus I read fast and can't be on line every day and it sort of annoys me to have to keep updating things all the time...but otherwise it's not much fun either, so...

I spent the last hour browsing goodreds, I've visited the page of a friend and suddenly I feel...overwhelmed. I feel my interest and motivation to participate evaporating, I know it would be too much work...I barely have time to post in my blog much less to keep up with goodreads...but I feel sad because I really wanted to join in communities, to create interesting lists and to "talk" books...but I guess I'm too much a control freak to just relax and enjoy things step by step...

Challenge for 2013

When 2012 ended and I was doing the statistics of the year I thought this year I'd just read with the flow and stick to the book clubs I participate in, not caring about challenges, but like always, the call of a potential great book is stronger and here I am, already signed up to do the TBR List challenge.

It's hosted by Wendy, the Super Librarian and it has monthly themes.

My biggest fear isn't if I finish the challenge, I'm pretty confidant I will, it's the posting days that worry me. Anyway, I hope I can post at the right days, but if not I already asked if it's OK to post a bit later and considering this, I went ahead with the challenge. I have a top page for it and will post soon about the books I've chosen (haven't them all yet, though) and why.

Hope you all can participate too or, at least, any other fun challenge.

My Life According to Books I Read in 2012

Like I did last year, here it is again, the literary game with the questionnaire about the books of 2012 .

The purpose is to answer the questions using titles of books read in 2012 and it's better if there aren't repeated titles, it's more fun.

My Life According to Books I Read in 2012

Describe yourself:

Ice Cold (Tess Gerritsen)

How do you feel:
An Accomplished Woman (Jude Morgan)

Describe where you currently live:
The Stone Flower Garden (Deborah Smith)

If you could go anywhere, where would you go:
Beyond the Darkness (Alexandra Ivy)

Your favorite form of transportation:
Wave of Memories (Addison Fox)

Your best friend is:
Raphael (DB Reynolds)

You and your friends are:
Something Wicked (Michelle Rowan)

What's the weather like:
Slow Burn (Julie Garwood)

What is life to you:
Tangled Webs (Anne Bishop)

Favorite time of day:
Wait Until Midnight (Amanda Quick)

Your fear:
Walking Dead (CE Murphy)

What is the best advice you have to give:
Time for Love (Constance O'Day-Flannery)

Thought for the day:
Just Like Heaven (Julia Quinn)

How I would like to die:
Harmony (Jayne Castle)

My soul's present condition:

Riveted (Meljean Brook)

Some answers aren't very literal, it's more of a reading but I had some struggle with three or four titles this year.

See you all next year :)

Laura Kinsale - Flowers From the Storm

He is London's most notorious rakehell - a charming, irresistible seducer possessing a brilliant mind and reckless passions. Until, in the wake of a shocking tragedy, he is condemned to a world of shadows...and madness.
An innocent beauty of modest birth and simple faith, once she feared the dashing nobleman who awakened within her feelings she had never known. Now she has come to free him from his solitary torment - never dreaming her warm, healing touch will eternally bind them together in need, in desire...and in love.

Comment: This was one of my favorite books of last year and the best historical without a doubt. The book is translated into Portuguese but I never paid much attention to what people here said about it. I also never went and read opinions in other places although I always had the idea it had difficult scenes to read.

I got this book as a Christmas gift..from two year ago....shame on me....but I thank my friend Hannah for her wonderful insight and idea lol

This year I've decided to read it as part of the challenge I participated in. It's the read of December, something offered.

The book tells us the story of the Duke of Jervelaux and how dashing and brilliant and a rake he is. One day he has a kind of stroke and his life changes. Before nowadays medicine and diagnostics when people changed like that they were considered mad and so was the duke.

However, Maddie decides to help him because he had been kind to her father, a blind mathematician who shared work with the duke. Maddie realizes the duke isn't mad, he's just changed and tries her best to help him and to make him regain what he is losing...

I liked this book a lot, to be honest and once again I asked myself why it took me so long to get to it...

The story is powerful, intense and makes you glued to its pages until the very last...I had much difficulty to put the book down because of real life demands, I wanted to read the book in my little cocoon and pretend there wasn't an outside world.

I thought the author was very clever in writing this story from the two main character's point of view. I liked seeing what the duke was thinking even in his worst days. It seems she's done quite the research on patients who had the same problem to make her story more plausible.

Interesting also was Maddie and her religious group, Friends. I've never read a book where one of the characters belonged to this religious group and I learned quite a lot.

By mixing the two we see the duke forced to understand his life won't be the same but if he surrounds himself with people who care about him, things will become easier. And Maddie sees the duke is only like that temporarily, she believes in him and has faith his sickness will be over one day.

I liked the romance of it all, the faith and the hope and the miracles that seem to happen. Maddie gives up a lot of her life to help and care for the duke and I loved, absolutely LOVED seeing them together and believed in their developing feelings for each other.

The book starts when the duke and Maddie's father are going to present a paper and we see Maddie isn't very fond of the duke, something that made me even eager to see them happy, I like it when they don't seem to connect at first. Some scenes were very strong, hard to read...to imagine..but I think the author did a good job in making the reader feel empathy towards them and even the harsher moments didn't seem so bad when we consider the HEA in the end.

This was the first book by the author I've tried but I think it won't be the last. I still have in my head after all these weeks, how the duke convinced Maddie she was the one for him and how perfect she is...*sighs*...

I feel like reading it all over again!

I really recommend it to everyone who likes historicals.

Kresley Cole - Shadow's Claim

#1 New York Times bestseller Kresley Cole introduces The Dacians: Realm of Blood and Mist, a new paranormal series following the royal bloodline of Dacia, a vampire kingdom hidden within the Lore of the Immortals After Dark.
Shadow’s Claim features Prince Trehan, a ruthless master assassin who will do anything to possess Bettina, his beautiful sorceress mate, even compete for her hand in a blood-sport tournament -- to the death.
Trehan Daciano, known as the Prince of Shadows, has spent his life serving his people -- striking in the night, quietly executing any threat to their realm. The coldly disciplined swordsman has never desired anything for himself -- until he beholds Bettina, the sheltered ward of two of the Lore’s most fearsome villains.
Desperate to earn her guardians’ approval after a life-shattering mistake, young Bettina has no choice but to marry whichever suitor prevails -- even though she’s lost her heart to another. Yet one lethal competitor, a mysterious cloaked swordsman, invades her dreams, tempting her with forbidden pleasure.
Even if Trehan can survive the punishing contests to claim her as his wife, the true battle for Bettina’s heart is yet to come. And unleashing a millennium’s worth of savage need will either frighten his Bride away -- or stoke Bettina’s own desires to a fever pitch. . . . 

Comment: This is the first book in the spin off series of Immortals After Dark, called The Dacians. The Dacians are a vampire race, hidden in the mist and no one knows where to find them. Lothaire is their new king, as we've seen in Lothaire's book. This first book is about Trehan, he met his Bride and fights in a competition to win her.

Trehan travels to Abanddon to find a demon who run away from Dacia with their secrets. In there he finds Bethina, a half sorceress, half demon and realizes she's his Bride. However, Bettina is in love with someone else although she responds to her vampire. Trehan accepts to participate in a competition in order to gain Bettina's hand and to do that he has to prove his skills and intelligence.

Bettina thinks she's been in love with her demon friend but after meeting Trehan she starts to understand true love is something completely different.

I loved this book. I think it was full of adventure and fun moments, pretty much like the first books in the paranormal series by this author. The romance was also well done, the two main characters had a lot of chemistry and there was sexual tension making the story believable.

I liked Trehan's character and how he gave up on several things to just pursue Bettina not knowing if she would reciprocate his feelings. Some scenes made me feel a bit sad because it made me think about people out there who try their everything for love or other reason and if they can't be successful, than they've lost so much...I guess it's a certain kind of bravery too and I liked Trehan a lot for that. Plus, he's a sexy character.

Bettina is a half sorceress, half demoness and she doesn't know exactly which side of hers is better, she believes she's in love and has doubts but after meeting Trehan she starts to see things differently.

I likes the story because it reminded me of all the good books in this world, the action scenes, the huge amount of different types of characters, it's a great paranormal world with lots or romance. I had a great time reading it and it has a HEA I felt was perfect.

I think the author has done a great job and I will certainly keep reading this spin off.

2012 Book Statistics

Once again, here I am with 2012 statistics on my book loving life...

During the year, I've read 200 books, how amazing is that I got a pretty round number, hum?

I've read five more than in 2011. I've read more in August and less in January, June, July and September. I have an average of 16,6 books/month.

I've purchased 99 books, spending 598,76 € (it's $ 790,55)

I got less 19 books than in 2011.

Of all the books I bought, 145 were of know authors to me, which means I invested in 55 authors.

I've read more paranormal, just like the previous year.

Of all the 200 books, I've sort of graded them like this:

- I loved 36

- I liked 51

- I thought 56 were OK

- I ended up indifferent to 44

- I didn't like much 13 of them.

Favorite authors of the year

This time I didn't have one book I thought was extremely wonderful, I liked several...

In no order whatsoever, my preferences for 2012 were:

Joanna Chambers

JR Ward

Tess Gerritsen

Julia Quinn

Mealjean Brook

Abigail Roux

Linnea Sinclair

Laura Kinsale

JL Langley

Books I didn't like

Four come to mind, interesting how the bad ones got imprinted more...

- Written on Your Skin, Meredith Duran (didn't like either the story or the writing style)

- Siren's Call, Devyn Quinn (story promised a lot and didn't measure up)

- The Renfield Syndrome, JA Saare (no words to say how much I disliked it)

- Spesllcrossed, Barabara Ashford -> this one wasn't bad, just disappointing because the prequel was my absolute favorite of 2011 and I expected much more.

LGBT

A quick note to mention the m/m books I don't give up on reading.

I've read 28 m/m books and fell in love with David Sullivan's The Sound of Your Voice, loved JL Langley's My Regelence Rake and the best series in the world for me too, Cut and Run series by Abigail Roux and Madeleine Urban, fantastic plot, romance, writing...

TBR List

Right now I have 338 books to read, 98 of them are paranormal. I have less 33 books than last year.

And this is it.

What about you guys?

Elisabeth Naughton / Jane Goodger

ZANDER -- The most feared of all the Eternal Guardians. It's rumored he can't be killed, and he always fights like he has nothing to lose. But as a descendant of the famed hero Achilles, he's got to have a vulnerability...somewhere.
Forces of daemons are gathering and have broken through the barriers of the Underworld. Now more than ever the Eternal Guardians are needed to protect both their own realm and the human world. Zander can't afford to think about what might have been with the bewitching physician he once regarded as his soul mate. But with eternity stretching before him, he also can't fathom spending his life without the one woman who makes him feel most alive. Perhaps he's found his weakness, after all...
 

After being falsely accused of murder, Sara Dawes is desperate to escape New Bedford, Massachusetts. Her only hope is Captain West Mitchell. Alone and afraid, Sara prays the danger she is escaping is worth the danger to her heart. West Mitchell sees Sara at first as an unwanted burden. But soon he is fighting an attraction he cannot stop--and a love he dare not permit. 

* * * 

Comment: Yet, two more December readings.

Entwined is the second book in the Eternal Guardians series by this author. Obviously, I'm behind in this series but I intend to rectify that this year.

The Guardians are Argoleans, beings from the Greek mythology and the stories have many character's from that origin. This book focuses on Zander, he's a warrior that accepts to marry Isadora, the heir to the Argolean throne because no other warrior wants to and also because his true mate didn't want him and he figures he might as well be of service to his people. However, things happening in the world make it possible for him to be with his true mate again and eventually they talk and promise to be together again, despite so many secrets to unravel...

I liked the book, it was easy and fluid to follow and it offers many shocking news, which makes me eager to keep reading. So far, it seems a consistent series. I can't wait to read more.

If I Wait for You is an historical, most the action takes place at sea and it's centered in the relationship of the ship's captain and the sister of one of his crew members, someone he takes on reluctantly. While the voyage takes place, they pretend to be husband and wife to appease the crew but although nothing really happens, physically, between them, they start to fall for each other and exchange many intimate moments. This is done with both of them knowing things can't be easy and that they eventually will separate but it doesn't stop them from being in love. When the voyage ends and the captain sends Sara to his mother's home, time goes by and when they meet again the feelings are there still, although circumstances have changed...

I liked the book a lot, it was full of hope and had a dream like feel, perfect to read while by the fire. I think the romance was great, mostly because the majority of it was focused on how much tension existed between them, about the chemistry between them rather than sex, for instance. I think the romance felt better and stronger because of that. The story had its stronger points, sure, but even the weaker links didn't seem bad, I was entertained and knowing there's another story related to that "world" makes me eager to get it and I hope it won't take too long to be published. I recommend this one to you all, and I thank Hilcia for her review where I got interested in it.

David Sullivan - The Sound of Your Voice

The Sound of Your Voice is a gentle romance, following the developing love between John and his deaf lover Steve as they adjust to living in two very different worlds. Sentenced to community service for being arrested at a rally, John begins working at a relay service for the hearing impaired. Through his new work he meets Steve, a deaf man, who helps him understand that love comes in all shapes and sizes. Steve and John face disapproving families, clashing lifestyles, and discrimination, but they eventually find a place that gives them the peace they need to learn how to love each other, and to discover that sometimes the sweetest voice is the one you can't hear.

Comment: I've decided to pick this book as one of the m/m I'd read this month. I've had it for a very long time and to be honest I forgot all about it. Shame on me, yes..but it wasn't the only one, I've took a look at the pile of ebooks I've been collecting and I surprised myself over the amount...so many of them were purchased long ago, as were many printed books and they just sit there...I'm sure everyone knows what I'm talking about...

Anyway, it was time for this one.

This book is a romance about how a young gay man, very active in fighting for gay rights, as well as other minority's struggles gets arrested and has to do community service in a deaf school. There, he starts to learn about the deaf people's problems, battles and obstacles and slowly starts to see what they go through even in the smallest things of daily life. He also falls in love and with time he understands a deaf person is as capable as any other and sometimes even has a better life than what many think because of being deaf.

I think this was the first book I've read where one of the main character's is a deaf one. I am aware, as a citizen, how people with disabilities and physical problems have to go through so many obstacles to live their lives but I'm also ignorant of many of their victories, of many things they can actually do and achieve just because I don't have anyone deaf near me. This book opened my eyes for a lot of things, although I understand there's nothing like talking to a real person about it.

This book is a romance, of course, and some of the conflict is about the differences of how both a deaf and a hearing person see the world and how to go through their daily chores. Simple things like crossing the street or asking for a meal in a restaurant can be tricky for deaf people and we don't even think about it. The same way, the opposite happens and no one seems to realize it, if a hearing person lives within a community of deaf people who communicate by sign language, aren't those as deaf as deaf people are in the hearing world? It was an interesting dichotomy and something I've never thought about. Both main character's had to learn to cope with the other's point of view and challenges before accepting a real relationship.

Some scenes about how a deaf person has to deal with dramatic stuff, like the deaf woman who suffered domestic violence, were really eye opening, because she couldn't even scream and it strikes me as huge the difficulties people face and we take those things for granted.

I guess we can see this book as social wake up call to an issue that's current in our society but I liked how love proved to be the greatest help for the main couple in reaching happiness. 

Still, this book was very interesting, so many powerful and beautiful scenes and I'm really glad I read it. Like so many times before, this was another of those books I wonder why it took me so long to get to it. But now I read it, enjoyed it and recommend it to anyone. More than just a LGBT themed book, it's a socially themed one and it's great.