Romance Books

It is always a pleasure to find a new and unique new series. I was not interested in this series at first because the blog just didn't call to me, but after witnessing so many fabulous reviews on this book I wanted to know what all the hype was. I was pleasantly surprised to discover this book was just as fabulous as so many reviewers implied.

The story is bursting with mystery, danger, action and suspense. I especially liked the futuristic world of magic created by Andrews. It was very well thought out. I also liked Andrews characterization. Most paperbacks are not known for creating such well-rounded characters. I'm looking forward to reading the next in the series.

An awesome read that I finished in 3 hours. New take on old favourites that made me rush to Amazon and order the next 2 books in the series.

This first novel in the series as well as the next was spellbinding. I so enjoyed the characters and the plot that I read them back to back. I can't wait for the next book.

Imagine. Living in a time where magic surrounds a whole city, where paranormal activities are common part of life. Electric bulbs explode, phones don't work and fluorescent feylamps have been invented to cope with the hard fluctuation caused by magic. Imagine a time when a horse is a more reliable form of transportation as cars refuse to start due to... yes, magic. Welcome to futuristic Atlanta. And welcome to Kate Daniels' world.

Kate is a mercenary who gets dragged into a dangerous game of cat and mouse when her guardian is savagely murdered, thus severing the last link she has with her family. Now completely orphaned, she vows to fight the scum that killed him. However in order to do so, she must seek the help of the Order of Knights of Merciful Aid, in which her guardian was a divine knight. As if going back to the society that Kate once turned her back on weren't bad enough, she finds herself involved with the Pack dealing with the Master of the Beast when her investigation leads her to the possibility that the killer is a shapeshifter. The plot thickens as more of these otherworldly creatures are introduced. I believe that this is where the strength of the story shines. The characters are well thought of, fleshed out and provide a whole new dimension to this labyrinth of magic, gore and mayhem. They are not cardboard-like, seemingly miscast with no purpose.

Kate is a strong character who has her shares of vulnerabilities. One of them is her secret longing to be part of a family. But fear not as we don't see her wallowing in self-pity. She knows she has a job to do and does everything in her power to fight the monsters even if it means ruffling some feathers... or fur in the case of the Pack leader. Her interaction with Curran, the Master of the Beast, hints at a possible romance. Let us hope that the author doesn't take the same path that Hamilton did with Anita Blake.

Another fantastic aspect of the book is the concrete world-building. Ilona Andrews creates a believable futuristic Atlanta. She takes the reader in an adventurous, bumpy and terrifying ride as we see vampires and other monsters fight for supremacy in this magic-enfolded city, where people like Kate and the lycanthropes come together and battle it out with said monsters.

What a way for this author to start the series! The plot is well structured and filled with tension. The characters are well thought of and serve their purpose, adding to the magic and mystery which this book is brimming with. Magic leaps off every page and the reader actually feels transported to a whole new realm as you are sucked into this fantasy world of vampires, lycanthropes, witches and other fantastic creatures.

In summary, this was an impressive debut by Ilona Andrews and a real magical treat for dark urban fantasy readers albeit the slow start.

This book sat on a shelf for a long long time...I detested the book cover..it made it seem like it was going to be a really average book.
However, I was pleasantly surprised..though it took a retry to actually get into the story because the beginning was a little slow..
It's a great story! Loved the main character, a chick who seems to be in constant never ending cycle of having one bad day follow another, sort of all on her own, tracking down (or trying to) a killer.. And the Lord of the Beasts was a very frisky guy..though some sexual tension between the two, there was no sex.
Really splendid world building too..different twist on vampires...and shape shifters.. Entertaining dialogue as well.

Having read the first three of the Darkness Chosen series, I couldn't wait to read the story of Firebird which was foreshadowed in book one. I was quite surprised to find very little of her in this book! Oh, there's some of her story, but Dodd stays with all the other members of the Wilder clan and gives us very little of the Firebird and Doug romance. There were so many questions left unanswered with Firebird that I wonder if a companion story is in the works.

I also have to say that I had the most trouble setting aside belief with this book. Granted, you pick up a paranormal romance, you suspend belief automatically, but the action in this story was so over the top as to border on the ridiculous.

Normally Dodd gives a satisfying read but this had the feel of a work rushed to catch the summer reading crowd. Read it to finish the series, but don't expect to be satisfied when you reach the end of the book. This was a bad ending to an otherwise compelling series.

Once again Dodd came through! What a WONDERFUL ending! I cried at the end, not because it was over, but because it ended so well.

Doug and Firebird were the PERFECT match. Dodd told their story without rehashing previous stories over much. There wasn't as much sex in this book either, but that doesn't detract from the story in the least. Doug is the most sensitive of all the brothers in my opinion. Not as harsh, but still as intense.

While reading this series I felt as if I became part of the Wilder family. I loved how CD handled each male hero. Each brother had a soft side, and showed it. Yet they didn't come off as being wimpy. I especially loved the scenes where the brothers would harass each other.

The series came to a complete conclusion. Unlike some series books, I was not left with wanting more. I could read these books over and over and never get bored with them.

It was a roller coaster ride from the first book to the last one. If you like paranormal romances, I encourage you to read these books. You won't be disappointed.

Great book for a great series! A fitting conclusion to a series that starts with all children plus one extra. Great battle between good and evil with classic romance thrown in.

'ROAMING THE RUSSIAN STEPPES A THOUSAND YEARS AGO, A BRUTAL WARRIOR STRUCK A TERRIFYING DEAL. IN EXCHANGE FOR THE ABILITY TO TRANSFORM INTO A HEARTLESS PREDATOR, HE PROMISED HIS SOUL- AND THE SOULS OF HIS DESCENDANTS- TO THE DEVIL'.
Thus began this truly wonderfully creative quadrilogy by Christina Dodd, culminating in this final Book 4 that, if anything, is more spell-binding than the other three, all of which I could not 'tear' myself from very easily.

This book is different from the other three because in it we are not searching for the fourth image of the holy icon (a single painting divided into four images of the Madonna). This book focuses on the finding of the fourth son (as stated in the prophecy): the four sons of Konstantine and Zorana will find their true love, who will locate one of the images. When they are all put together the evil Varanskis will be defeated.

Firebird, the 'daugher' unknowingly falls in love with a cop name of Doug Black, who is actually the 4th son unbeknownst to him or to Firebird; and he already has the 4th image, but is not aware of its value. The story goes on via many VERY intriguing routes, but WHAT A STORY!!!!!

It would be prudent to read the first 3 books leading to this ending; believe me it will not be a chore, and many probably have already done this. This is one of the BEST series I have ever read in my MANY years of reading.

This is an excellent final novel in Christine Dodd's Darkness Chosen Series. All characters from the first three books are woven into the story that relates the mysterious adventures of the Varinski/Wilder family. The prose is well written and exciting to read.

love the Harris series. Its fun and entertaining! I look forward to the next book in the series!

This book was every bit as good as the others, maybe better. I just love Sookie Stackhouse, hope the series never ends.

These are somewhat the silly side for my tastes. I read the last two or three while home sick, just blew through them. The writing is not the strongest. There are a few humorous moments here and there, but they're just not that good. I do give credit that Sookie develops somewhat; she's not as 'green' as she was in the first book, and I like that she grows. The concept is a bit different with a woman who can read minds and she's intrigued by vampires because she can't read their minds, and gets introduced into all this intrigue and whatnot. Perhaps if this didn't go on into seven or eight books and actually got resolved without some major battle in each book and Sookie always battered and bruised and deciding who to sleep with and yadda yadda yadda. I also don't care for all the odd characters, the fairies and angels and werewolves and the hierarchies. I mean, yeah, if you have one supernatural creature why wouldn't you have other kinds? But I just don't care for it. In terms of fantasy I've much preferred The Book of Lost Things or The War of the Oaks. Maybe I just have vampire fatigue, because there are a lot of vampire chick fiction books out there right now. But if you like vampire chick lit you probably will like this.

Since there are already a plethora of reviews both praising and denigrating this book, I'll only tell you why I loved it.
I was happy that Ms. Harris was letting Sookie move on and out, in terms of new situations and new types of characters. A Fairy Grandfather,witches and, of course, Bob the Cat. I was also glad to see Barry the Bellhop show up again. Sookie needs to know someone else who is in her own "line of business".
As for the naysayers who weren't happy about our heroine's lack of acumen in not having figured out what was going to happen, fie on them. She is NOT supposed to be a superwoman, just a human with telepathic abilities. I'm perfectly happy with letting Sookie know what she knows when she knows it, even if I figured it out before she did. It's all about her journey, not mine.

I love these books....I alternately laugh and cry....I cannot wait for a new one and once I have it I cannot stop til I am done....I think the house could burn down and while I was escaping I would still be reading.....

Every child and adult should have this book.

There are many controversies about The Giving Tree, many will write that it is a self-less act of love, an issue with co-dependency, or may even send a bad example of relationships with creating selfish children/adults.

I think one of the greatest things about this story is that you can interpret it differently at evolving life stages.

From a child who sees a self-less act of love to an adult who has been in a troubled relationship (much like the tree and the boy).

Regardless, I believe that this story clearly shows 2 sides of A relationship, and if the the reader feels bad for the tree - it is a way to learn how to appreciate and recognize such unconditional love. To always be thankful.

This book was purchased for my 7 year old grandaughter who kept taking book from the library. We thought purchasing the book she loved so much was a wonderful way to show her that giving can help others in life. She was so pleased to read book, and now to hear the authors voice along with the book makes it even more special.

Try reading this for the first time while pregnant and see a psychiatrist if it doesn't bring tears to your eyes. This is a good story to help anyone of any age to better understand life.

This is a wonderful bood and now to have him read it as well, is great.

Hello spiritual family,
This book is about loving caring and being blessed by God.
Sincerely,
Michael E Litchmore

This is a great book for someone who is clueless or simply wants to review. She mentions lots of great tips for both men and women, interest statistics , and definitions on the sidelines of her book. It was a quick and easy read!

This is an excellent guide for the teenager. It gives you all the basic information , very clear and detailed , but if you are looking for something more ...this book is not for you.

This book is a good book but the information are very basic.....things that I already knew about.....

I have seen other books on this topic and found this one to contain better information. There is information in here that is good for beginners and those who have been going at it for years. I also recommend Sex and the Perfect Lover: Tao, Tantra, and the Kama Sutra

I had a ball with this book. I'm 82 years old, only engage in sex very occasionally, and intend to make use of a few of the suggestions as the opportunities occur. It is a great book, and in the words of a British Comedienne, "I am unanimus in this".

It teaches about the needs of both sexes and how to communicate these needs to your spouse. It also talks about the dynamics of an affair and how to recognize and avoid the warning signals. I also recommend I Love You. Now What?: Falling in Love is a Mystery, Keeping It Isn't

I enjoy the cd so I can listen in the car. I think every spouse should want to be all they can be and in turn allow their partner to be all they can be. The cd gives examples of how we "destroy" our marriages without realizing it. Amarriage takes time, effort, love and most of all God. A must have review whenever you get the chance, least you forget exactly why you got married.

The service was really excellent and courier was in good condition.
The book has all the practical aspects and will surely help each couple struggling in a marriage.

I think this is a great book for any married couple. I have purchased a couple of copies for friends who I know are having some difficulties in their marriages. I did not think any part of the book was stereotypical. Women who have a great need for financial support are the women who expect their husbands to support them fully financially. Men who have a great need for a physically attractive wife needs for their wife to try to be attractive. But each person has their own needs that need to be met. Not every woman desires for their husband to fully support them, not does every man desire for their wife to be extremely agttractive. These are just examples in the book. This book not only helped me see how and why the relationship between my husband and I have changed since we first met, it also helped me see that we neither one have been meeting each others needs. The problems we were having weren't the real problems, but symptoms of the problems. This book will help us to better meet each others needs. It can only help our marriage by putting these practices into place in our marriage.

I bought this book for my daughter and her fiance. They read the book together and they really loved it. It was a great pre-read before getting married.

something borrowed was one of the first 'chick lit' books i read and i loved it. of course they're all predictable but this book was a fun and light read!! however, i strongly recommend reading something borrowed BEFORE reading something blue.

When I finished reading "Something Borrowed", I thought it was an excellent book and I couldn't put it down. And at first, I thought I'd be skeptical of Rachel who slept with her best friend's (Darcy) fiance, Dex. But I really felt for Rachel throughout the book and was surprised with myself that I wanted her to be with Dex. And when she was at the end of the book, I was excited about it! And so much went on in the book like Darcy dragging Rachel around wedding planning, Rachel and Dex and their sexual tension when the whole gang went to the Hamptons, and even the flashbacks of Rachel and Darcy of how their friendship came to be. The first book had so much going on that it kept me wanting to know more as the story unfolds.

Now I just finished reading "Something Blue", and I was even more excited to know that the story of "Something Borrowed" was continuing! First of all, I have to say that I love Emily Giffin's writing and the way she develops the characters in both books. And I liked that the plot was simple in this case because it kept you reading and the chapters just flew by. In fact I was sad that the books ended!

Second of all, I did like that Darcy's character wasn't different than from the first book. And I was expecting her character to have a turn-around at some time in the book (one thing I have to admit, a lot of things are predictable). The beginning of the book was very interesting because it shows Rachel and Dex's betrayal from Darcy's perspective. And I have to agree with many commenters here that if you hated Darcy in the first book, you'll still hate her in the second! ;) But not in a way that turns you off, because even though I liked Rachel more and not Darcy, I was very intrigued by seeing the world and turn of events through Darcy's eyes. Her inner monologue is very different from Rachel's and you find yourself not sympathizing or feeling sorry for her, even though she's a single, jilted-bride/mother-to-be.

But now for the negatives: As you read through the book, you'll notice that not a lot of things happen. The story takes place mostly in London, when Darcy flies there to live with Ethan (Rachel and Darcy's childhood friend) because she needs an escape from her job and elite socialite life in New York City. Once she feels that everyone, including her family, have "betrayed" her, she wants to start a brand new life in London. This started out OK, but to me this felt exactly like the first book, when Rachel visited Ethan in London. So it was like the same song and dance again. And even though I really liked Ethan in the first book, I didn't quite understand how he came to love Darcy for more than a friend (considering how awful of an guest she's been to him for months!). He seemed so loyal to Rachel in the first book, but then he does a complete character change and is completely loyal to Darcy. I didn't quite get that so much...

While I'm on the topic, I also didn't like the whole Marcus/Darcy situation which started this whole dilemma. I just couldn't see someone like Darcy with someone like Marcus (not that he wasn't a great character, I liked him in the first book!). But what bothered me, is why did she seem to purposely make herself pregnant with him in the first place? I think she mentioned that maybe she needed an excuse to break it off with Dex, but that's a bit of an extreme to do that!

So anyway, back to Ethan and Darcy and how it all turns out at the end, I really didn't believe it so much. Everything happened way too fast in the book, like from finding a job to dating Greggory and meeting his son, to finally discovering that she wants to be with Ethan. And meanwhile, that whole time that the book was focused on Darcy and Ethan, I was really hoping that Darcy and Rachel would confront each other and somehow patch things up. They kind of did in the end, but I felt the ending was focused too much on her and Ethan, when I thought that the whole story was supposed to be about the friendship of Rachel and Darcy.

But overall, I did like "Something Blue" and I do recommend it for a nice, light summer read. :) I just wished that Rachel and Darcy had interacted more, just like they did in "Something Borrowed". And I missed Hillary from the first book! She was my favorite! :D

My frist book by Emily Giffin was Love The One You Are With. I truly did enjoy her writing, so I went ahead and read Something Borrowed... That book was really good. I think I read it in about 2 days. I'm currently reading this one because I needed to know how Darcy's life would turn out and I am loving it just as equally. So far I've enjoyed all of Emily Giffin's books :)

I'm actually surprised that I like this book a little better than Something Borrowed simply because there was a character development in Darcy that wasn't there with Rachel. Rachel was basically the exact same-- except she lost a best friend by the end. I mean, she still waited for the guy and took him back without confronting him about his lack of earlier action. She remained kind of a nice but passive character throughout. Darcy, by the end of Something Blue, turned out to be a much stronger character I found. She still had some of her spunky attitude and her determination to go after what she wanted, but she lost a lot of her selfishness from earlier and did the stand-up thing.

Even though Darcy was a HUGE pain in the first half, you can't help but feel a little sorry for her. After all, she just lost her man of 7 years and her best friend of 25. Not that it excuses anything, but she didn't cheat on Dex until after Dex and Rachel started a serious thing together. And even by the whole closet incident, she seemed to care more about her friendship with Rachel when she came and told her the truth. And her endless obsession with Dex/Rach really showed that she was more insecure than she realized. Her attempt to get Dex back was at the same time crazy, dispicable, pathetic and even a little sad. Seven years is a long time to just forget in a minute.

You also realize how Darcy became such a self-centered woman. Her parents raised her to think she was the best, especially her mother. Then her best friend accepts everything she does without question for 25 years. Like why did no one call her out on the Notre Dame thing earlier or countless other issues? Even Dex kind of just sits by for many years and even seemed amused by her behavior until they break up.

And I think the romantic development between Darcy and Ethan was more interesting as well. They had a little 5th grade romance, then they didn't particularly like each other for a while and Ethan was Rachel's primary confidant while she was going behind Darcy's back. He teaches her things and helps her become a better person. Darcy, in turn, also brings out the best in him when he cares so much about her pregnancy even if its not his child. And Ethan turned out to be a much more stand-up guy than Dexter, especially with Darcy's pregnancy. And I think Darcy handled her relationship with Geoffrey well, just as Ethan did with his girlfriend. That's the way to go-- end things when you know it's not working instead of lying, cheating and going behind their backs.

I missed Hillary though. She was such an awesome character. LOVE her.

I love Darcy Rhone!

This is a whole lot better than Something Borrowed. Ethan is WAY better than Dexter.

Love it!

This is Philippa Gregory's best novel yet! Not many writers would bother to go so deep into the lives of the women who changed the course of history. In a time when women were thought of as inferior and bothersome, Gregory opens the eyes of the reader and makes them realize that without Kathrine of Aragon, or Anne Boleyn, or Jane Seymour, or Anne of Cleves, or Katherine Howard, or Katherine Parr, Henry VIII would not be remembered as he is now. He would not be that infamous king who tore his own country apart for the lust of a woman. It was the women in his life that made him famous(and the same goes for many other men in history). That's what I like about Gregory, she makes these people real, she turns them back into flesh and blood before our eyes. She makes them laugh, love, and cry. She gives them humanity. This is not just another one of her fantastic triumphs as a writer, but full proof of her knowledge of the human nature.

Gregory provides a fresh angle to the "done to death" story of Henry VIII and his wives. Historically accurate, suspenseful, and insightful character development make this book a pleasure to read. I was lucky enough to listen to it on CD where three marvelous actresses read the parts of the two queens and Jane Boelyn. While sometimes it's wonderful to curl up with a book--the CD performances made the story come alive.

You know it's fiction but it's believable and could have happened. The author does a good job spinning this tale based on history. Some of the thoughts and belief seem a little modern but overall a good read. I would recommend it.

The Boleyn Inheritance is a perfect follow up to The Other Boleyn Girl. Philippa Gregory takes you back in history in such a rich and wonderful way that I have been recomending this book already to anyone I meet who loves either history or just reading a great author. Now I'm reading The Queen's Fool and again I'm messmerized. She is definantly an author whos work I plan to continue reading for a long time. I highly recomend this book and all her work.

This book definetly demonstrates the trials and tribulations that woman in medieval England had to face. This book basically picks up where The Other Boleyn Girl left off, with the exception of pretty much skipping Henry's marriage to Jane Seymour. My only complaint is that Philippa skipped that queen.. In beginning of this story, she has died in child birth. Anne of Cleves, I cannot say enough about her character and her silent charm. This queen struck a chord deep within myself. I felt for her and admired the way she overcame both a domineering brother and King Henry and his court. Katherine Howard, frivolous stupid child that meets a tragic ending for following her heart. This book goes back and forth between the viewpoints of these two queens and the one always observing it all, Jane the traitor. Some of you will remember her from The Other Boleyn Girl. I personally enjoyed the back and forth narration, my mother, however did not. Truly something to consider when contemplating the purchase of this book.