Iggy vs Fred 90 day Pull-up Challenge

Ok so this is not about a book. Two fellas from church are doing some sorta exteme/fitness/infomercial type challenge. Fred and Iggy have a bet. In 90 days if Iggy can increase his pull-ups to 25 then he's going to take he and his wife, Manuela to a steak dinner. Is steak an appropriate reward for a fitness challenge? Anyway......Here is video one

And the saga begins.....

Lover Awakened and Lover Revealed

by J R Ward (Black Dagger Brotherhood #3-4)

Let me say this... I love these Brothers. I'll say it again...I LOVE THESE BROTHERS!!!

I'm not going to give the printed synopsis from the back cover, because they are really misleading. So, I'm just going to tell you why I like them soooooo much.

First of all, these fellas are...HOT! Let the record show, that until about now, I've been one who prefers her romance books more on the pg-13 side. I like to leave a lot to the imagination, and some of the ooshey gooshey parts usually leave me wanting a moist towellette! Ick! However, something about these stories. I think having the mindset that they are not entirely human, and therefore more base instinct sets in, I find even the ooshey gooshey parts kinda hot. You don't normally want to imagine the smells of "passion", but scent is such a major part of this breeds sense and consciousness that even that is good!! So, if Hot and Steamy is not your cup of tea, these books may be something you want to prepare for, or avoid if it REALLY bugs you. I for one find this steam bath...wonderful!

Onto more detailed reviews. I loved Z, from the beginning. He is the poster boy for tortured hero. Living as a blood slave for oh, about a 100 years, and a sex slave as well, will kinda do that to you. He is rescued by his twin, and their relationship couldn't be more codependant. Z is so removed from his emotions and so scarred by what happened mentally that even his own body feels disconnected from his mind. Phury has a bad case of "Survivor's Guilt" and therefore he does a lot to try to self punish, and make up to Z something he thinks he's missed. Anyway, enter Bella. She is instantly drawn to Z in a way that has her not only intrigued, but also wary. (and rightly so, because Z's reputation is super bad..) Phury falls for her, but she falls for Z, and Z feels unworthy, so he keeps pushing Bella and Phury together. (Classic lovers triangle with a twin twist!) Enter into the picture that Bella is kidnapped by a lesser who is derainged and holds her hostage for several weeks and she starts to get a glimpse of what Z has gone through. Z finally lowers his guard a crack and after several separations etc, from Bella he finally gets his mind/body/soul connected and decides that loving someone and being loved by them is a good thing. Luckily Bella, thinks so to. (trying to be cool and not give away spoilers!) Anyway, I was happy with the HEA, but am not sure about Phury! Figure, he's got more healing to do, and that's why he'll get his own book. Loved getting to know, John more! Heartbroken over the Tohr/Wellsie/Sarelle thing. (wont say more than that!)

Butch is the Man!! Literally, he's the man, among Vamps!! (I kill me!!! hee hee) He fell hard for Marissa, at first sight in Dark Lover. She fell for him too, and who can blame her?! There aren't many men who could keep up with this band of brothers. What a stud. Now, I don't usually go for the hard drinking, empty sex havin' guys. I'll make an exception in this case. The drinking and empty sex, was just a way for him to cope with his loneliness and this feeling of being an outsider all his life. His, way to detach emotionally within himself. Marissa is a member of the aristocracy and a vampire to boot. He is a blue collar, human. Havers is a jerk, totally and he's in the doghouse with me. I'm not sure he's ever going to get out. Ms. Ward better have a good reason for his behavior if she ever writes his story, cuz I doan lahk him. (ya see how mad Ah am? My drawl ahlways gits bad, when ahm mayad!!) Ahem! I'm back. Aaaanyway. Marissa's transformation is everybit as impressive as Butch's. (won't give away spoilers) They both require courage and spirit to become who they were intended to be all along. This book was as much about each of their own growth as is was about them coming together. And their coming together was goooooood! **wink wink**

John, broke my heart in this story. Ah! I cried! I can't wait for his transition. And that scene with the Chosen at the end....classic!! He's mute, and she's so impressed with his self-discipline with his vow of silence. (okaaay!) She's all "Do you want to make sure, you are pleased with me before your transition?" He's all "ok". He turns to get a glass of water or something, and turns back around and she's standing there naked and smiling, like "ok, am I pleasing to you?" He's all "duhhhhhhhhh, Yea!" Classic. I think I like her, she sounds kinda happy/slappy and super cheerful. And this BDB mansion could use some of that. John could use that. I can't wait to see if he and Layla do the nasty!!! I just love John! I wanna squeeze him!!

So I have one more BDB in my house to read, and I'm on the hunt for Lover Enshrined before the next one is released. Woo Hoo!

Devil of the Highlands

So this is going to be a quick review, cuz I'm sick. The fever is making it difficult to type here as I'm buried under a mountain of blankets one minute and trying to ice myself down the next. **grimace**

I read Devil of the Highlands by Lynsay Sands for the Angel/Devil title of the Readers of Romance Spring Readers Challenge. It was really good. I gave it a 4.5 stars. I like her characters. They have misunderstandings and miscommunications but Ms. Sands does not do the typical romance thing and drag it out or have the characters do really stupid stuff to "protect" each other from their feelings.....

I liked the interplay between the Hero/Heroine! I liked the passion. I thought I had the mystery figured out, but there was a twist for me. Good solid book.

Lover Eternal

by JR Ward (Black Dagger Brotherhood-2)

Synopsis:

Within the brotherhood, Rhage is the vampire with the strongest appetites. He’s the best fighter, the quickest to act on his impulses, and the most voracious lover—for inside him burns a ferocious curse cast by the Scribe Virgin. Possessed by this dark side, Rhage fears the times when his inner dragon is unleashed, making him a danger to everyone around him.
Mary Luce, a survivor of many hardships, is unwittingly thrown into the vampire world and reliant on Rhage’s protection. With a life-threatening curse of her own, Mary is not looking for love. Her faith in miracles was lost years ago. But when Rhage’s intense animal attraction turns into something more emotional, he knows that he must make Mary his alone. And while their enemies close in, Mary fights desperately to gain life eternal with the one she loves…

I loved this story. Ms. Ward is adept at bringing together the love and joy as well as the bitter heartbreak of these complicated relationships. I didn't get the tortured hero vibe from Rhage in the first book. He seemed more like a pretty boy jerk to me. Not a very sympathetic character. I liked Mary, but was wary at first as it looked like she was going to be a whiny patsy. But as it turned out, she was a woman blessed with a well of inner strength and resolve. Rhage turned out to be someone who needed to give love and to nurture as much or more than he needed to be loved and nurtured. I teared up in several places. Just about every scene with John Matthew was a winner for me. I particularly liked the scene when he was to dine with Tohr and Wellsie. I cried, at his overwhelming response to the tiniest amount of care. I believe I'm going to love him, and Bella too. I already love Z, who is next in line for his own story.

This is a solid 4.5 stars for me. I would have liked more humorous interplay between the "Brothers" for this to make it to a 5. (Though the scene with Butch and Rhage in the shower was pretty good. ~~~~~~~~~~Oops. I'm back, my mind was wandering to 2 wet/handsome men.)

Check out this series.

Dark Lover

by JR Ward (Black Dagger Brotherhood~1)

Rated 4 stars

#11 Title read/reviewed in Winter Challenge

Back Cover:

In the shadows of the night in Caldwell, New York, there's a deadly turf war going on between vampires and their slayers. There exists a secret band of brothers like no other-six vampire warriors, defenders of their race. Yet none of them relishes killing more than Wrath, the leader of The Black Dagger Brotherhood. The only purebred vampire left on earth, Wrath has a score to settle with the slayers who murdered his parents centuries ago. But, when one of his most trusted fighters is killed-leaving his half-breed daughter unaware of his existence or her fate-Wrath must usher her into the world of the undead-a world of sensuality beyond her wildest dreams.

My Thoughts:

I'll say, there were parts of this book that were dry. I understand the need for that since this is the first in the series and she is setting up her entire culture with all its lengends and myths and beliefs and laws. So, I'll give her some space to do that. Besides that, I found the Lesser POV to be almost a distraction from the story. I don't know, if they play a real role in future books, but honestly I think the lessers could have been almost the invisible enemy and the story would have been just as good, maybe even better. Am I supposed to bond with them, feel sympathy for them, hate them? I just could have done without them really, or rather without having to read from their pov. Anyway......

Wrath, I loved. I loved the interplay between all the fellas. I loved Butch. I loved the wise-a$$ remarks between all of them. I'm already more than a little in love with Z and Butch for sure. The others are close behind. I'm glad that Wrath steps up, and does the right thing over and over. (with Beth, Marissa, the Scribe Virgin...)

Beth, well what's not to love. First of all, she has an awesome name....(heh heh!) I liked that she was a "guys girl". I like that she is drawn to this type of guy before she even meets them (all the cops, ya know?!) She's not a patsy, she has a backbone and is not afraid to use it...I'm hoping she'll be a good influence on Marissa and hope that she and Wellsie become great friends.

I've had this book for a couple of months but for some reason hesitated to read it. I'm glad I did and am already looking forward to the next ones. I know that the rest of the series is supposed to be even better than this one, and that means they will be great, cuz this one is really good.

Time Travel Tuesday

It's tuesday and Cindy from Cindy Reads Romance had the great idea of remembering stuff from our childhood. So last week, I posted about the Go Go's and awesome!!! So today, is again TTT! I've been thinking about the music/tv/and movies that I loved from yesteryear! And immediately I went to the best little show that was....Square Pegs! Yep! "Square Pegs, Square Pegs, Square-square Pegs..." Loved, loved, LOVED, that show! Felt very square most of my adolescence! So enjoy this little blast from the past!!!

Sun Kissed

by Catherine Anderson

# 3 Sun/Moon/Stars Title

rated 4 stars

Back Cover:

When Samantha Harrington attends the local rodeo, she doesn't expect to wind up in jail. But that's precisely what happens when she tries to stop a drunkard from abusing his horse. At least she isn't alone. Tucker Coulter, a handsome local veterinarian, comes to her defense--and is arrested too. The charges are dropped, but Sam's troubles have only started. Her champion quarter horses are falling ill and the culprit is poison--and a bad guy, of course. Tucker, saves the day, sparks fly, sweet story.

My Thoughts:

I enjoyes this story. It was my first Catherine Anderson. It's a contemporary western-ish romance about a woman from a wealthy family who is a Quarter Horse breeder and a super large animal vet. There is a lot of horse jargon, and some of the details of the symptons of the horse's ailments are...."earthy". So if bodily function/medical talk icks you out, you will not like parts of this. I think it's done well, and is part of the story. There is only 1 "love" scene. So it's not a "Steamy" book, but I loved that as their afterglow stars, so does the chaos. As her father starts banging on the doors and looking for our heroine. They hop up like busted teenagers, and scramble to get dressed and act like nothing happened. (very cute scene if you ask me!!)

The mystery was just so so. I figured it out by chapter 2 before it even started. But, that's ok, for me cuz that's not why I read these. I did enjoy the relationship between Tucker and Samantha. I also enjoyed that where many authors would have increased tension by miscommunications and anger where it wasn't necessary, Ms. Anderson didn't do that. She believes him, and trusts him, and he believes in her.

I'll read her again, but am not sure yet if Catherine Anderson will be a favorite/auto buy or not yet. Overall this was a solid book, and a quick read. A definate 4 stars for me.