Quickie Review! Anastasia's Secret by Susanne Dunlap

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Anastasia's Secret
Susanne Dunlap
Bloomsbury USA Children's Books
March 2, 2010
ISBN-10: 1599904209
ISBN-13: 978-1599904207

The youngest grand duchess in the Russian imperial family comes of age during the  revolution. Her family is imprisoned, conditions become worse and worse.

But Anastasia has a secret that she keeps from her family, a love that endures through the horrors of war and the privation of imprisonment and deprivation.

Will her love save her from the fate her family seems destined for? Or is she a creation of a rarefied atmosphere, unable to survive without her loved ones?

As most of you know by now, I'm normally not a reader of historical fiction but when I first heard about Anastasia's Secret, it sounded like such a lovely story that I couldn't pass it up. It's a story about a girl coming of age and finding love in the most difficult times. Anastasia's the Russian's Tsar's youngest daughter and she has grown up in privilege with the best of everything around her so when she meets Sasha, a soldier, who doesn't treat her like royalty, to her, this is a wonderful thing. Anastasia's character was a surprise to me, I thought she was going to be a spoiled little princess but she's surprisingly down to Earth and knows what's going on around her. 

The plot is in no way fast-paced but Dunlap's writing is so fresh and the interaction between Sasha and Anastasia's so intriguing that the slow pace doesn't subtract much from the story. Something that I really liked was the details, Dunlap practically transports the reader to that Russian era in her descriptions. Admittedly, I was a bit confused on the names, Dunlap has a list of the characters at the beginning but having to go to the list to know who they were talking about soon got real old. Fortunately, as the story progresses, it's easier to remember all the names and such. 

Anastasia's Secret is a tragic tale of war and love. Dunlap keeps her story pretty close to what happened to the Romanov family in real life - as far as I know, anyway - and while I can appreciate her trying to keep the originality, I sort of wish she would have gone with a different, happier ending. 

Lush Rating: 3!

Happy Birthday, Mandi!

Today is Mandi's - aka Smexy Books aka Brandon Flower's secret lover - birthday!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

I just wanted a reason to post that picture. HOT damn..

Go crazy with the cake and the hot boys!

Blog Tour Review! Demon Possessed by Stacia Kane

Demon Possessed 

(Megan Chase, book 3)
Stacia Kane
Pocket 
February 23, 2010
ISBN-10: 1439167613
ISBN-13: 978-1439167618

Psychologist and psychic Megan Chase has grown remarkably comfortable hanging out with demons. The demon "family" she leads is happy, her solo practice is stabilizing, and she and her steamy demon lover, Greyson Dante, are closer than ever. But when the couple books a week at a luxury hotel to attend a meeting of demon leaders, some unanticipated problems appear. 

An FBI agent with an unhealthy interest in less-than-legitimate demon business practices shows up; the demon community is urging Megan to undergo the rite that will make her a real demon; and a slightly shady minister is holding one of his wildly popular "weekend exorcisms" just down the road. And oh, yes, someone with scary magical abilities is attempting to kill her. Then, just when it seems as if things couldn't possibly get any worse, a secret comes to light that could jeopardize Megan and Greyson's future -- if Megan manages to live that long. With things heating up, it's becoming difficult for her to keep a cool head...

Demon Possessed is the third book of the Megan Chase series and while I enjoyed it, I had some issues with Megan. First of all, I felt like at times she was being seriously dense and right-down idiotic. It seemed to me like she wasn't sure if she wanted more out her relationship with him or not and like this demon gig was temporary in her mind? I'm not sure but I wasn't feeling it. But it wasn't just her, Greyson pissed me off too.

However, the story was really fun to read, someone is trying to get Megan killed and they have to find out who it is before it's too late, Megan's being pressured to become fully demonic and some nutty minister is running exorcism so Megan's got a lot on her hands. The story has some very funny parts, the demonic brothers are protect Megan and Greyson are down-right hilarious sometimes and I loved reading about them!  

Demon Possessed is a really fun installment in the Megan Chase series with lots of action-packed scenes, steamy moments and funny parts. I really enjoyed it, and sure, while some parts annoyed me, I'm definitely looking forward to reading more of her books! 

Lush Rating: 3 Lushies! 

If you want to check out this series or Ms. Kane's upcoming UF Unholy Ghosts (Amazing story, by the way! I'll post my review next month.) Check out her website for lots of goodies. (Psst, there's a kick-ass new sneak peek of Unholy Ghosts, too!)

Review! Velvet Haven by Sophie Renwick

Velvet Haven

The Immortals of Annwyn: Book 1

Sophie Renwick

NAL Trade 

March 2, 2010

ISBN-10: 0451229185

ISBN-13: 978-0451229182

The first in a brand new series about a world of shapeshifters, from the author of Hot in Here. 

Hidden from mortals for eternity, Annwyn, the Otherworld, is home to shapeshifters, wraiths and dragons. On the border with the mortal realm stands a nightclub called Velvet Haven. The shapeshifter king of Sidhe, Bran, comes there searching for his brother, Carden, who's ensnared in a centuries-old curse.

He looks to Mairi, a mortal woman with an unusual aura, for help. He usually just uses humans for sexual pleasure in order to restore his magic energy, but Mairi's lush curves and teasing caresses inflame him like no Sidhe ever has. He has no idea that the woman he's falling for holds the key to his destruction-or his salvation.

Bran is the king of the Sidhe and he's about to die. For a long time he's had visions of his death but hasn't been able to see who kills him until now. All he knows is that it's a woman and she'll stab him in the back. To complicate things further, Bran's people are being hideously murdered in black magic rituals so before he can focus on his own problem, he has to find the murderer. But it's not that easy, he would have to cross the veil into our plane and be around humans yet he despises them but he has no choice. When crossing from his Sidhe world into ours, the door is in a goth club named Velvet Haven and there, he meets Mairi. 

Mairi MacAuley is not very interested in the opposite sex. She'd rather read ancient tomes than have to deal with the highs and lows of dating. That is, until she meets Bran. Her friend Rowan scored VIP passes to the hottest club in town and there, she sees the most beautiful man she's ever laid eyes on. Bran immediately wants Mairi but unlike every other human female he's had before, he actually likes her. Due to this, he doesn't think it's cool to use her as his personal magical battery. He wants to just be with her for pleasure's sake, to enjoy each other.

Soon enough, Mairi and Bran become incredibly attracted to each other, but before they can explore their feelings, Bran has to find this killer. But that's not all, when his most hated enemy, the witch who cursed him, tries to bring him down, Mairi is in the crossfire and he'll do anything to keep her save. However, will Mairi be the one who kills him or saves him?

Velvet Haven is the first paranormal romance by Ms. Renwick and I'm afraid I wasn't one bit impressed. She tries so hard to make Velvet Haven larger than life but unfortunately, the writing just falls short. I felt at times Bran was just a huge jerk. First of all, because he's cursed, the only way to keep his magic going is by sleeping with human females and yet he totally hates them. He's all superior Sidhe, and having to bed lowly human women just galled him. I was highly annoyed by the characters than anything. It was all very cliche, Mairi is the epitome of a nice girl, Bran's the gorgeous, bad boy. Cue yawn.  However, if you like this type of formulaic romance then perhaps you'll enjoy Velvet Haven, I didn't care for it. Unfortunately, Velvet Haven just lacks originality and the characters were flat, I can't say I enjoyed it. 

Lush Rating: 2!

Waiting on Wednesday! (14)

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating..

Tsunami Blue

Gayle Ann Williams

"To some I was a freak; to others, a fantasy. I was Satan or savior; a witch or a goddess. I was legend, I was lies. And tonight it really was, just all too much." 

-- Kathryn "Blue" O'Malley 

NO SAFE HARBOR 

With her badass rain boots, her faithful dog, and the ability to predict the monster tsunamis that have reduced the US to a series of islands, Kathryn O’Malley isn’t afraid of much. Cut off from all society, she takes to the airwaves as Tsunami Blue, hoping to save something of humanity as the world around her crumbles. But Blue should be afraid—because her message reaches the wrong ears. 

Now she’s the target of ruthless pirates known as Runners who want to use her special talents for their own profiteering—as soon as they can find her. Blue’s only shot at survival lies with the naked stranger who washes up on her rocky beach. A man who might just be working for Runners himself. Torn between suspicion and attraction, the two will have to navigate a surging tide of danger and deceit if they hope to stay alive.

Out March 30th from Dorchester Pub and I can't wait! This book sounds insanely good.

Review! Mind Games by Carolyn Crane

Mind Games 

(Disillusionist Trilogy, book 1)

Carolyn Crane

Spectra

March 23, 2010

ISBN-10: 0553592610

ISBN-13: 978-0553592610

JUSTINE KNOWS SHE’S GOING TO DIE. ANY SECOND NOW.

Justine Jones has a secret. A hardcore hypochondriac, she’s convinced a blood vessel is about to burst in her brain. Then, out of the blue, a startlingly handsome man named Packard peers into Justine’s soul and invites her to join his private crime-fighting team. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime deal. With a little of Packard’s hands-on training, Justine can weaponize her neurosis, turning it outward on Midcity’s worst criminals, and finally get the freedom from fear she’s always craved. End of problem. 

Or is it? In Midcity, a dashing police chief is fighting a unique breed of outlaw with more than human powers. And while Justine’s first missions, including one against a nymphomaniac husband-killer, are thrilling successes, there is more to Packard than meets the eye. Soon, while battling her attraction to two very different men, Justine is plunging deeper into a world of wizardry, eroticism, and cosmic secrets. With Packard’s help, Justine has freed herself from her madness—only to discover a reality more frightening than anyone’s worst fears.

Not a lot of books make me incoherent with glee but Mind Games did! In a genre where at times I feel like I'm reading the same thing over and over again, Mind Games was a breath of fresh air. The heroine, Justine, is far from perfect but instead of letting her hypochondriac tendencies fracture her life further, she decides to try to fix it. She's not a "woe is me, my life sucks boo hoo" heroine waiting for her hero to save her and even though she's pretty much a nutso thinking that something called Star Vein Syndrome is going to kill her, I could relate to her (Side note: Oh, wow, what does that say about me? On second thought, never mind that). 

 

So she meets Packard, who is the boss of this group called the Disillutionists - men and women who use their neuroses to disillusioned others in a messed-up therapy sort of way and he offers her a job and a way to make her hypochondriac go away by giving it to other people temporarily. At first, Justine is hesitant about this and pretty much think Packard, while cute, is out of his ever-loving mind. However, she decides to take a chance because her delusions about the syndrome are getting worse and anything is better than constantly living with the fear of dying any second.  

I absolutely loved Mind Games! A lot of times, even if I really like a book, there's always something about it that bugs me and honestly, nothing about this book bugged me. The characters are so well-developed that they feel alive, the storyline is edgy and fast-paced and I would not be surprised if this series soon becomes one of my favorites!

Mind Games is an insanely awesome story and I cannot wait to read the next book in this trilogy, called Double Cross.

Lush Rating: 5! 

Blog tour! Judith Graves mini interview.

I'm super happy to welcome YA debut author Judith Graves to the blog! Her debut novel, Under my Skin, comes out March 27th and I, for one, am throughly excited to read it! Judith was nice enough to answer a few of my questions so here we go!
---------------------------------------------- 

1. When and why did you begin writing? 

I started writing in diaries when I was in elementary school. You know the kind, small, hard cover, lock and key (that’d I’d always lose in the first week). The first few pages of each diary started fresh. Serious. A list of events worth noting. After that, it was all doodles, random thoughts and feelings, one liners, poems, song lyrics. I was just in love with words. 

2. Describe your debut book, Under My Skin, in three words. 

Burden. Power. Choice. 

3. Do you have any “must haves” with you while you’re writing? 

My two crazy labs sleeping at my feet. My laptop and/or a coil notebook (but then I need the RIGHT kind of pen – black, fine point). Chai tea. 

4. Who is your favorite author and what is it that really strikes you about their work? 

I have many favourites, but usually I love the book(s) I’m currently reading above all others. Kind of like when you hear a new tune on the radio and get all obsessed and download it and add it to every playlist and subject all your friends to your humming of it all freaking day (Wendy: I do that too! Maybe a little too much..). So…..here are the books I’m eating up now (in no particular order): Soulless by Gail Carriger, Evil Genius by Catherine Jinks, Ashby Malinda Lo, Hate List by Jennifer Brown, and Crazy Beautiful by Lauren Baratz-Logsted. What do I like about these authors? They dazzle me. 

Thank you so much! Judith! To find out more about Judith Graves and Under My Skin, check out Website | Wolfy Chicks Blog | Leap Books | Class of 2k10 & a free read:  Old Flames Die Hard http://www.leapbks.com/exclusives/ofdh.html

Review! The Jaguar Prince by Karen Kelley

The Jaguar Prince
Karen Kelley
Brava
March 30, 2010
ISBN-10: 0758238363
ISBN-13: 978-0758238368

Zoo worker Callie Jordan knows something primal when she sees it: take, for instance, the naked man sitting at the foot of her bed. He's the same (naked) guy she saw after hours at the zoo. But now he's in her apartment, and just happens to have turned into a black-as-night jaguar. The average person would be in a blind panic; Callie certainly intends to be - once she finishes processing what this incredibly hot lunatic is telling her...It seems Callie's visitor, the one who prefers skins to shirts, is Prince Rogar - from a place far, far away. Oh, and Callie is from the same place, has the same nifty shapeshifting powers, and is destined to be Rogar's lifemate! It figures the first hot guy ever to show a bit of interest turns out to be certifiable. Then again, Callie's seen Rogar's powers (plus some other choice things) firsthand - and testing her new roomie's powers of persuasion would be the ultimate walk on the wild side...

Callie Jordan is a zoo worker with big aspirations of working with the big cats. She wants to be around the jaguars and tigers instead of the bunnies and goats that she works with now. But she might end up a lot closer than she thought! Waking up next a random guy she thought she saw turn into a jaguar the previous night, Callie totally freaks out understandably. Turns out, he's a prince from another planet called New Symtaria who's a shifter and he's telling her she's a half-alien! And he's here to take her home. Rogar, that's his name, is determined to take Callie back home because she's in a danger. Apparently, there's another alien running around killing people who are half-alien because he's a psycho about keeping the bloodline pure and since Callie is part human, she is an abomination to him.

But Callie is not crazy about moving to another planet, she doesn't even know if she really even believes Rogar! Well, until he turns into a jaguar right in front of her. But still moving to another planet? When she's so close to getting what she wants: working with the cats. However, Callie and Rogar are extremely attracted to each other and things might be getting hot real soon.

I think The Jaguar Prince is a decompressing book and I don't think I've ever described a story like that. What I mean is, if you're looking for a funny and cute book, this is it. Callie and Rogar have good chemistry together and it was fun to see them interact, and of course, there are some really funny moments. What I kept wondering about was why I felt so disconnected from the story. Was it me or was it the writing that wasn't making me care about what happened to Callie and Rogar? I could have stopped reading the story right in the middle and wouldn't have wondered about what happened to them. The characters just weren't memorable, and they seemed very one-dimensional at times. I think that as long as you start reading this story not expecting to find a deep meaningful story or characters that seem to come alive but a cute story about aliens then you'll enjoy it. The Jaguar Prince will make you laugh at times and Callie and Rogar is really cute together. Overall, I enjoyed reading this tale. 

Lush Rating: 3!

Review! First Drop of Crimson by Jeaniene Frost

First Drop of Crimson
(Night Huntress Word, book 1)
Jeaniene Frost
Avon
February 9, 2010
ISBN-10: 0061583227
ISBN-13: 978-0061583223

The night is not safe for mortals. Denise MacGregor knows all too well what lurks in the shadows—her best friend is half-vampire Cat Crawfield—and she has already lost more than the average human could bear. But her family's past is wrapped in secrets and shrouded in darkness—and a demon shapeshifter has marked Denise as prey. Now her survival depends on an immortal who lusts for a taste of her.

He is Spade, a powerful, mysterious vampire who has walked the earth for centuries and is now duty-bound to protect this endangered, alluring human—even if it means destroying his own kind. Denise may arouse his deepest hungers, but Spade knows he must fight his urge to have her as they face the nightmare together . . .

Because once the first crimson drop falls, they will both be lost.

Denise MacGregor knows more than most humans. She knows what goes bump in the night, because she's friends with one. After losing her husband in a battle against supernatural nightmarish beings, all she wants to do is be left alone and cut her ties to the paranormal world but it's not as easy as it sounds. Especially when a demon comes calling and marks her. Apparently, one of her distant relative, named Nathaniel, backed out of a deal he made to be immortal decades ago with said demon and it is beyond pissed about it. Now, Denise can't run away from the supernatural world, she has to dive right into it and find this sneaky relative of her and trade herself for him so the demon doesn't kill her.

However, there's only one person that can help her find her distant cousin and it's a vampire named Spade. At first, he's reluctant to help Denise, he's being trying to fight off his attraction to her since he first learned that she was married but he can't just leave her to fend for herself in his world so he's resolved to help her. But that's not all, Denise's demonic mark is slowly turning her into a shapeshifter and if she doesn't find Nathaniel soon, that'll be the least of her problems in hell. 

First Drop of Crimson is the first spin-off novel of Frost's Night Huntress series and as any other Cat and Bones fan, I was beyond excited to read this book but I was sadly disappointed. Denise at first is annoyingly whiny and while she, thankfully, is not whiny throughout the entire book, her character is very one-dimensional and boring and I didn't find it memorable. Spade sort of carried the book for me, I felt his story was really interesting and he's got the sexy, dark vampire persona down pat. What definitely saved this book for me was the plot, it kept me on my toes to see what was going to happen next and if they were going to be able to find Nathaniel in time. While Bones makes a small appearance, Cat is MIA and I was hoping she'd show up but Ian is definitely present and he's one of my favorite characters ever!

I feel that if you read First Drop of Crimson without having read Frost's Night Huntress books, you might be able to enjoy it more and I don't think I've ever recommended something like that. I say this because the Cat and Bones book are insanely good, they will spoil you and you'll start First Drop of Crimson with some preconceived notion on how the book will be and that might not be such a good idea. However, I did enjoy the story, First Drop of Crimson makes for a really fun read, while some characters are lacking, the plot kept me going and I'm definitely looking forward to the next book, especially if Ian is in it! 

Lush Rating: 3!

Quickie Review! Pleasure of a Dark Prince by Kresley Cole

Pleasure of a Dark Prince 
(Immortals After Dark, book 9)
Kresley Cole
Pocket
February 16, 2010
ISBN-10: 1416580956
ISBN-13: 978-1416580959

A DANGEROUS BEAUTY...

Lucia the Huntress: as mysterious as she is exquisite, she harbors secrets that threaten to destroy her -- and those she loves. 

 AN UNCONTROLLABLE NEED...

Garreth MacRieve, Prince of the Lykae: the brutal Highland warrior who burns to finally claim this maddeningly sensual creature as his own. 

 THAT LEAD TO A PLEASURE SO WICKED....

From the shadows, Garreth has long watched over Lucia. Now, the only way to keep the proud huntress safe from harm is to convince her to accept him as her guardian. To do this, Garreth will ruthlessly exploit Lucia's greatest weakness -- her wanton desire for him.

Anyone who knows me knows that Cole's books are like crack to me. Seriously. CRACK. And so it is with no surprise that I say I LOVED THIS BOOK. I don't want to sound like a gibbering fan-girl but I'm afraid there is no other choice. Cole writes the best alpha males ever and the best heroines ever and OhmyGOD, I love her books.

Yeah, so I'm sounding like a fan-girl. I told you it would happen!

One thing I must mention is that Cole's series timeline is a little wonky in that she doesn't necessarily follows it. I mean that all her books so far are written as if they are happening at the same time or really close together in timeline so it might be a bit confusing to some people. I honestly don't mind this, I think it's insanely creative and cool of her to write the books like this because you see situations from different perspectives. There's nothing bad I can say about Pleasure of a Dark Prince. The characters are wonderful, the chemistry between Lucia and Garreth comes right off the page, and the story will have you on the edge of your seat! I enjoyed every word, every scene, everything! I cannot wait for the next installment in the IAD series!

Lush Rating: 5!

In My Mailbox! (26)

Let me start by saying that I am insanely excited about the books I got this week. They look really - REALLY - good! LOOKIT:

Whee!

Flirting with Forever by Gwyn Cready - OMG! I want those shoes. Seriously.
Demon Possessed by Stacia Kane
To Conquer a Highlander by Mary Wine
Mind Games by Carolyn Crane - CJ was super awesome and sent it to me, also she wrote the BEST DEDICATION EVER on it:

"To Wendy.. Book lushes rule! xxoo Carolyn Crane"

See?! I might have possibly hugged some of these to my chest in glee. Awesome! 

That's all!


-- IMM is hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren.

Review! Shadowglass by Erica Hayes

Shadowglass 
The Shadowfae Chronicles
Erica Rayes
St. Martin's Griffin
March 2, 2010
ISBN-10: 0312578016
ISBN-13: 978-0312578015

A seductive magic mirror lies hidden deep in a demon’s lair, with a simple warning: don’t stare at the glass…

Ice is a troubled fairy trying her best to survive in the squalid underworld of the Shadowfae.  When she spends a hot night with a demon lord, she discovers a powerful magic mirror in his lair — and pilfers it, knowing it’s the key to escaping her bleak life as a two-bit con artist.  But Ice soon discovers that the mirror's power comes with a price…madness, which is slowly overtaking her.

Indigo oozes darkness, danger and tempting sensuality.  He’s been sent to destroy Ice and bring the mirror back to its rightful owner; a mission that, if he fails, will cost him his life.  But when he meets Ice, he faces an even greater challenge: an insatiable sexual hunger that neither of them can deny, and dark passions that threaten to claim them both forever.  The trouble is, the longer he stays within the mirror’s reach, the greater its hold on his sanity—and the stronger his determination to save Ice…

Ice is water fairy and she's in hot waters. Pun intended! She's a petty thief but when she steals something from the demon who practically rules the whole city, she's definitely in trouble. She stole a little mirror that at first look, it seems harmless albeit a pretty babble until it starts communicating with her. Apparently, its a magical mirror that gives its owner the courage to live out their secret desires, whether it's telling a deep dark secret or robbing a bank. To make matters worse, the demon, Kane, she stole the mirror from wants it back but she actually pawned the thing because it was freaking her out because really, who wouldn't get freaked out by a talking mirror? 

But owing something to a demon won't just get your kneecaps broken with a baseball bat, it'll get you sent right to hell and if Ice doesn't get that mirror back to Kane and soon, she's going to be in a hell of trouble. Interestingly enough, the guy who stole it for Kane in the first place, Indigo, is the same guy that Ice is totally in love with, although he barely acknowledges she exists. He's a metalfae and now he needs to get the mirror back for his own purposes. Both Ice and Indigo need to get that mirror to save their own skin but on the process, they might just end up losing their own hearts to each other.

The best way I can describe Shadowglass is like having psychotic hallucinations. It's overwhelming and described to the most minute detail and it frustrated me to no end. I felt like there was too much over-description to shadow how cartoonist the characters were. The majority of the characters seem like they were boohooing pretty much all the time. Ice's all woo-is-me about Indigo not liking her, or so she thinks and Indigo is moaning about not being able to get close to Ice due to things that happened in his past. I just didn't care for it one bit.  

Shadowglass is a very dark, gritty, and sexual fantasy that honestly, I think the reader has to be in the mood to be able to enjoy. I personally didn't, the character seemed like a bunch of whiny cartoons, which completely overshadowed the story, and the crazy, psychedelic descriptions gave me a headache. Shadowglass just wasn't for me.

Lush Rating: 2!

Can I Has Book Boyfriend?

"We all have our favourite book boyfriends and now you have the chance to create one just for yourself and your fantasies! How do you play? Fill out the quiz below, post a picture of a sexy man and tag five (5) other book addicts to do the same. Don't forget to pop to their blogs as let them know they have been tagged! Once tagged... you have to do the same, grab the button, answer the questions, and keep it rolling! But don't forget the picture of the sexy man! It doesn't have to match your fantasy man, just a little eye candy for the rest of us... heheheee!"- The Gutter Girls- 

I wasn't tagged but dammit! I wanna make my own book boyfriend so I'm stealing this meme. Okay, so let's start!

*Hair Color & Style 

Short, dark hair. Not too short that I can't grab it in a fit of passion, er yeah but I don't like long hair either. 

*Eye Color &Facial Features  

I don't care much about eye color - green, brown, whatever. Facial features? I like facial hair! Just enough that the guy looks scruffy but clean scruffy not homeless-bum scruffy. 

*Height & Body Type 

He definitely has to be taller than me (which isn't that hard considering I'm freaking short!) I don't like too much muscles, but lean, runner-type body? Hello! Also, happy trail? REGUIRED.

*Visible Age 

I wanna be a trophy wife. Enough said. Okay, seriously, not younger than me, but just a bit older.

*Bangability (kinky/bi/size) 

Sorry my M/M-reading buds but I like 'em straight. And if they're up to sex in public places then SCORE! (What?! It's MY imaginary boyfriend!)

*Human or Other  

As long as his features are humanoid, I'm OKAY. Demons, a certain werewolf named Lachlain, hee, whatever!

*Paranormal Skills 

The ability to transport to different places at will. Dinner in Paris? Yes, please!

*Interests

Me.

Books.

ME.

Lazying around on Sundays watching movies and eating junk food.

Sex in public places.

Have I mentioned me?

*Special Skills 
The ability to know JUST what I need. That's GOT to be a skill! Heh.

Note: If you fit any of these descriptions, call me!

Now - time for the eye candy!

(Yes, he's completely clothed, but damn he's sexy)

Note: If you look like this, call me!

I totally forgot what was the point of this post after looking at those pictures. 

Okay guys, so that's my book boyfriend, consider yourself tagged and let me know what your book boyfriend looks like!

Review! and Falling, Fly by Skyler White.

and Falling, Fly
Skyler White
Berkley Trade 
March 2, 2010 
ISBN-10: 0425232344 
ISBN-13: 978-0425232347

In a dark and seedy underground of burned-out rock stars and angels-turned- vampires, a revolutionary neuroscientist and a fallen angel must put medicine against mythology in an attempt to erase their tortured pasts...but at what price?   

Olivia, vampire and fallen angel of desire, is hopeless...and damned. Since the fall from Eden, she has hungered for love, but fed only on desire. Dominic O'Shaughnessy is a neuroscientist plagued by impossible visions. When his research and her despair collide at L'Otel Mathillide-a subterranean hell of beauty, demons, and dreams-rationalist and angel unite in a clash of desire and damnation that threatens to destroy them both. 

In this fractures Hotel of the Damned, Olivia and Dominic discover the only force consistent in their opposing realities is the deep, erotic gravity between them. Bound to each other finally in a knot of interwoven freedoms, Dominic and Olivia-the vision-touched scientist and the earth-bound angel, reborn and undead-encounter the mystery of love and find it is both fall...and flight.

In this dark fantasy novel, we meet Olivia. She's a vampire, a fallen angel of desire who can't feel any desire of her own. She feels hopeless and damned as she can't ever feel love or be loved. She can only feed on the desire of others who see her as they want, they don't see her. She's sick of it, sick of having to act human and decides to return home to the L'Otel Matillide. An underground hotel where angels and rockstars and demons come to be themselves.

There she meets Dominic O'Shaughnessy. He's a neuroscientist looking for a cure to his delusions and his quest has gotten him to the L'Otel. From the beginning, his rationality clashes with Olivia's damned existence. But no matter how much Olivia's desire and Dominic's logic battle against each other, their growing attraction brings them together and it might either mean their salvation, or their fall.

I have never read a book such as and Falling, Fly. It's an incredibly dark and sensual story of mythology and modernity clashing together. It's certainly in a class of its own! Olivia and Dominic are so similar yet absolute opposites. They both have hopes of being someone better yet one of them doesn't want hope and the other one starves for it. I both loved and hated them. I hated Olivia's damned self and how she had to feed to survive, I hated Dominic's logic and how utterly blinding it could be yet I could not stop reading their plight, I needed to know if they would get their happy ending, wanted or not.

While I did enjoy both Olivia and Dominic's story, and Falling, Fly is written in a very slow pace, and admittedly, at times I was bored. With that said, White's writing's unbelievably lyrical and haunting. It just comes right off the page and hooks the reader from the beginning. and Falling, Fly is a love story unlike any about a fallen angel and a scientist, two characters who will surprise you and will make you feel like anything is possible, even in Hell.

Lush Rating; 3!

Review! Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver

Before I Fall

Lauren Oliver

HarperCollins

March 2, 2010

ISBN-10: 006172680X

ISBN-13: 978-0061726804

What if you had only one day to live? What would you do? Who would you kiss? And how far would you go to save your own life?

Samantha Kingston has it all: the world's most crush-worthy boyfriend, three amazing best friends, and first pick of everything at Thomas Jefferson High—from the best table in the cafeteria to the choicest parking spot. Friday, February 12, should be just another day in her charmed life.

Instead, it turns out to be her last.

Then she gets a second chance. Seven chances, in fact. Reliving her last day during one miraculous week, she will untangle the mystery surrounding her death—and discover the true value of everything she is in danger of losing.

Before I Fall is one of those books that long after you finish reading it, it'll still be stuck in your mind. It's one of those books that will you cry and laugh and more importantly, think about the choices that you've made in your life so far.


Samantha Kingston is one of the most popular girls in her school, she's got her friends, a great boyfriend, and at first what seems to be a perfect care-free life. That is, until after a crazy night, she wakes to repeat the same day - February 12th. Turns out, that's the day she dies. Now Sam has a chance - well, seven chances - to relive that day, and make difference decisions. But is it too late to change the outcome?

Very rarely, I read books that literally affect me, and Before I Fall is one of those books. It's hard to describe how while I was reading about what Sam was going through, how it seems she was going through the five stages of dying, I was thinking of the decisions I've made in my life so far and were I to die right now, would I regret not telling someone I love them? Would I think that I could have made better decisions? This story is a roller-coaster of emotions and I felt pleasantly exhausted when I finished the book. Before I Fall is an incredible story about loss and love and living with the choices you've made. It's not a book just for young adults, it's for moms and college student and fathers and every single person who at one point has felt their mortality ticking by and has wondered: What happens next? 

Lush Rating: 4!

- Debut Author Challenge 2010