Must Have Reads

Stick around here for a while and you’ll quickly come to realize that I’m the type of reader who falls in love with a series and/or author and will then proceed to read, or try to read, everything I can get my hands on by that author. It’s a wonderful thing when the author is well established and has a vast back list of books for me to obtain. It’s a different kind of wonderful when it’s a new, or relatively new, author.

No matter what, I end up impatiently patiently waiting for each new title to release. I stalk social media pages and websites. As release dates approach, I’ll re-read all the books in a series – just to refresh the story in my mind. I’ve even been known to join authors’ community message boards to chat with other like-minded fans.

And, depending on how impatiently I’ve been patiently waiting for the new story, I’ve been known to hole up in my house on release day to devour whole books. I’ll ignore all other responsibilities (the only exception being the care of my children as required) and immerse myself in the story.

New releases of JR Ward’s Black Dagger Brotherhood series, I’m there. The newest title in the Dark (Carpathian) series from Christine Feehan, I’m all in. A new League series book or Dark Hunter story by Sherrilyn Kenyon and I’m absorbed. Nora Roberts, Johana Lindsey, Stephanie Laurens, Janet Chapman, G.A. Aiken, Catherine Gayle… honestly the list of my ‘absolutely must buy, must read ASAP’ authors is long. If nothing else it keeps me constantly looking forward to a new book coming out within any given period. 😊

So what are your must read’s? Your must buy’s? What author do you automatically “1-click”? Which series are you completely hooked on?

A Review of Lover Avenged

Cover via Amazon

Lover Avenged
J.R. Ward
[book 7: Black Dagger Brotherhood series]
ISBN: 978-0-451-22585-6

In the last couple of years we've watched our favorite Brothers face many hard circumstances and just as many hard, hard choices. Wrath had to face his fears of inadequacy and claim the throne that was rightfully his, in order to claim Beth Randall (his Brother - Darius's - only surviving daughter) as his mate. [Dark Lover] Mary Luce had to accept that love and faith truly could save a life and that they could give you life if only you let them, when she chose eternal life and love of Rhage, and the Beast, in Lover Eternal.

We watched Bella and Zsadist together and realized that with the right inducement even the most shattered of souls could be pieced back together. [Lover Awakened] Lover Revealed showed us that you truly can't judge a book by it's cover and that love, when given freely and fully, can change us all. This fact is displayed even more in Lover Unbound when it is her love for Vishous that allows Jane to come back as a ghost, to be with him forever. And in Lover Enshrined, Phury comes to the realization that if he can't love himself, can't honor himself, he will never be able to honor his mate and give her the love and life that she deserves.

All Kings are blind -
The good ones see this and use more than their
eyes to lead.

Finally we come to Rehvenge. Though not truly a member of the Brotherhood, his is as close as an outsider can get. His origins are disgraceful and his action not entirely honorable in the world of vampires (or the human world for that matter) but despite this he is still a male of worth. Or he strives to be, as best he can. he has never been able to see the good in himself, for he's far too aware of his dark side, but all those around him, at least those whom he allows to get close, can see the bright soul lurking in his darkness.

Ehlena's life hasn't always been easy. At the moment she'd even go so far as to say it sucked, and for all her optimism she can't see how things could possibly get better. Of course she can't see how they could possibly get worse either. Then her - almost - boyfriend is killed by lessers, her father has another episode and she volunteers to deal with the one patient that no one else wants to deal with when he comes in to the clinic. Rehvenge.

Rehvenge has always liked Ehlena the most of all the nurses who work for Havers, the races doctor, but has always been careful to keep his distance. Then one night they both reach out, despite their desire not to, and a bond is formed between them. After that, the dice seem to be tossed and no matter how strongly they try to keep their distance, they can't.

Lies and truth disrupt their happiness and when the only course they can see is to remain apart, they both have to face their fears, their demons and their very real enemies, if they want any type of life. Any future. Together, or apart.

Favorite Vamp Series EVER!!!

Well, well, well....

It's been months and months of waiting, of sucking back Lag and Goose and chilling with the other Cellies but the time has finally come for us to visit our old friends again. That's right all you females and males - LOVER AVENGED, our man Rhevenge's story, is finally out and from all the buzz I've been hearing it's just one more example of why our favorite WARDen is the best that there is. (If you have no idea what I'm talking about please, please visit JR Ward's Homepage and also check out the BDB Message Boards)

For the last week I've been reading the other books in the series, visiting the Brothers and reminiscing. Now, I'm seriously psyched to get my hands on Rhev and find out whats been happening in Caldwell and how everyone is dealing.

Seriously can't wait.

Yup, yup. I finished up Lover Enshrined, again, earlier tonight (but unfortunately after my local bookstore closed) and now I'm literally vibrating in anticipation. If you see some majorly hyped person at your bookstore first thing tomorrow morning, and if she's devouring Lover Avenged even as she's waiting in line to pay for the thing, then chances are pretty damn good that that girl, she just might be me.

Or maybe just some other whacked Cellie who's just as addicted to the BDB as I am. Completely possible, considering.

I GUARANTEE that you will see a review for this book soon. BDB and me? We go way back and I like to take any chance I can get to blab about them.... As a related note, I will be putting up a review for The Mage too - I've had to read the book a couple of times and take some time for digestion before I felt comfortable writing about it. Soon... I hope, but I'm making no time line promises for that one.

Well for now that's it. After all, if I'm going to be at the bookstore at 10AM to get my fix I should probably try to get a couple of hours of sleep.

See you soon!!!

Woooooooooo Hoooooooooooo!!!!!!!

Caldwell Here I Come!!!!!