Paranormal Romance & Urban Fantasy discussion

Yes, Lady, every now and then I channel me some Sesame Street and it serves me well, gosh darn it.

Playing with Fire. I didn't love it. I liked the elements (silver dragon shifters, demons, a doppelganger) but it was slow-going and I had a hard time caring about the characters for most of the book (except for the demon dog...loved the demon dog from the beginning).

It didn't stir me up and get me excited right away. It did get better as it progressed though. Perhaps if I'd read Aisling Grey and already felt invested in her world, I'd have felt differently?

BUT, it ended on a big ol' cliff-hanger!! ::gasp:: And so I must read the next, which is Up in Smoke. I'm popping it into the March challenge.

Tall, Dark & Dead I enjoyed too. Vatican assassins-who'd a'thunk it! Her little friends were fun (and dependable!), and I hope she fleshes them out more in the next one. I thought it was going to be pure funny fluff, so I was pleasantly surprised to find out there was a good deal of action/suspense. Let me know what you think of the next!

Dawn:
Which series are you going to keep going with?

Finally, I proclaim:
GOLD STARS ALL AROUND! We earned 'em!

Lady Ozma wrote "Lori, what's the RRR challenge? Did I forget or was it listed elsewhere?"

You know, that other group we're in that keeps us reading late into the night, ignoring friends and family and forgetting there is life outside of reading...Romance Readers Reading Challenges.

Lori wrote: "Nichole, check out my m/m erotica bookshelf. There are a lot of suggestions there. Also, if you just need a quick fix, go to this website for some yummy short stories http://www.fictionwithfricti..."

Lori: Oh oh Lori welcome another to the hard to resist side of romance. Really hard ;P

Yz's February Challenge List

1. Halfway to the Grave by Jeanine Frostfinished 2/14
2. Witchling by Yasmine Galehorn - finished 2/28
3. A Rush of Wings by Adrian Phoenix - finished 2/17
4. Pleasure Unbound by Larissa Ione - finished 2/24
5. Working for the Devil by Lilth SaintCrowfinished 2/11
6. Addicted by Lydia Parks
7. Damned, Delicious and Dangerous by Delilah Devlin, et.al. - finished 2/25
8. Touch the Dark by Karen Chance - finished 2/28
9. You Slay Me by Katie MacAlister - finished 2/22


I'm going to be a book short for this month's challenge, finishing only 8. However, I did read 16 books for this month, which I'm pretty happy with.

Michelle is that Playing with Fire by Gena Showalter? I really wanted to love that book but her nipples got in the way LOL it was like are they turning hard again oh my what a shocker lol. Sadly I will read the next one. I swear I have a love hate relationship with her books it is like I am strangely attracted her plots are always interesting but then something about the heroine will undoubtedly irritate me.

Anyway even though Blue Moon was not a fav I went ahead and read the second one Hunters moon and it was GREAT I really liked it. Then I also love the writing in the greywalker series. curious about the Breeds even though I did not love this book I was into Braden and Queen Betsy I want to know what happens with her and Sinclair. The only series I am not sure I want to continue with was Christine Warren the 100 pages describing sex was to much for me - I like a little plot with sex not sex as the plot you know?

Dawn: I know how you feel on the sex to plot ratio. I suffer from that myself.

I love Queen Betsy. Hilarious. And my sexily sinister Sinclair. He's yum. I've read them all and laughed my ass off. Davidson also has another series, the Alaskan Royals, that I like. Her first Fred the mermaid tale was good (the second and third are on my TBR), but not as likable as Betsy and the Royals.

Playing with Fire is actually a Katie McAllister book-an extension of her Aisling Grey series. But on the Showalter comment, I can't help but agree. I didn't read the book you're talking about so I can't speak to the nipple issue (now that's a funny sentence). I read the first three of her Lords of the Underworld series for this challenge. I read the first, and though I couldn't care less about what happened to the characters and was irritated by them, I found myself continuing to read. I think it's that her premise had promise, so I kept hoping for her to finally deliver. And sadly, I too will probably read the next!

I'll have to check out Handeland and Richardson. Oh dear, that to be read pile just keeps on growing.

I am just now starting You Slay Me and I am looking forward to it!

Yes my TBR pile grows by leaps and bound lol and what is worse I have some on sticky notes, some on here and some on my book list that I keep books everywhere lol.

Lori wrote: " Lady Ozma wrote "Lori, what's the RRR challenge? Did I forget or was it listed elsewhere?"

You know, that other group we're in that keeps us reading late into the night, ignoring friends and fami..."

LOL. Lori I would not dare drink/eat whilst reading your post. You inevitably crack me up =)

Consolidaton is so easier said than done. I have a running list on my crackberry that I'll one day have to input into here. Then we have my foolish perusal of the library which means I always leave with twice the number of books I intended!

Social life? Sleep? Who needs those!

:)

And in the past couple of weeks, I FINALLY managed to convince two of my friends to start reading the Dark Hunter series. Now they have joined me in my anti-social, crack addicted state, one of them feverishly plowing through book after book and earning me lots of disapproval from her hubby. Tee hee!

Michelle M.: Now, that's just cruel, hehe. But brilliant. I can't knock a fellow bookaholic for recruiting. Vive les amateurs de livre!

Dawn wrote: "...Anyway even though Blue Moon was not a fav I went ahead and read the second one Hunters moon and it was GREAT I really liked it. ..."

Dawn, that's interesting as I've also only read the first two in Handeland's Nightcreatures series, but I think I prefered Blue Moon (I liked Will) - although I liked them both. I definitely recommend Any Given Doomsday, the first in her new series.

Kenjii, what's a little cruelty between friends?

Besides, she tried to do the same to me with Feehan's books, but they weren't my thang. Ain't my fault Kenyon's men are more delicious. So delicious that she bought up the whole series and has been unreachable for days. Muah hah hah...

Uh-oh... I plan to start the Dark Hunter series next week. Is this going to be a problem?

They are seriously addictive. With the exception of a couple of the Dream Hunter books, I read the series all of the way through Acheron last summer over the course of a couple of weeks. So good!

ok I finished my 9th book which was slave to sensation I think this was my fave sorry I cant update my list but the comp is still in the shop

Jael,

Don't worry. I caught your post, so I'll credit you with a completed challenge when I make the final update tomorrow. Just post your complete list when you get a chance or not...

Nichole, prepare for serious Dark Hunter cravings. You'll start gettin' the shakes if you stop reading for too long! The men are all strong and very manly, the women are all very capable (no whimpering and simpering here), the sex is hot, and the plots are awesome. Her world building is based on Greek mythology first and foremost, with Atlantean and Sumerian mythologies worked in as time goes on. There are a lot of wonderful characters (Ash, the Simi, Zarek-yum) who pop up over and over. I highly recommend reading in order as the plot consists of much more than each couple's HEA. They're action-packed too! I'm so obsessed.

Congrats, Jael!

Darkheart, have you read the newest Dark Hunter (Dream Hunter really) with the new story arc? If so, did you feel a little lost by it?

Without giving anything away to the uninitiated, I feel as though Kenyon had such a tight hold on the reins of mythology that the new arc is a little disjointed? Of course, this was just the intro to it...

And next is a WereHunter book! Love the Kattagarian wolves.

Michelle M. wrote: "Kenjii, what's a little cruelty between friends?

Besides, she tried to do the same to me with Feehan's books, but they weren't my thang. Ain't my fault Kenyon's men are more delicious. So delici..."

Kenyon was my first crack author I am biased =)

I am going to catch up on the latest 2 (might take me a few days seeing as I am about to start my BOtM reads). One Silent Night and Dream Warrior.

I have read plenty of series but the only one that that can even share a shelf if it was labeled "hot Atlantean warriors vs. the bad vamps" would be Alyssa Day's Warrior's of Poseidon series.

I am going to do a re-read of the DH series. Around April or May. I want to have more than Book #1 lol.

Ok, ok off to start a new March read in about 5 mins =D

Hey, Yz! What was the verdict on Touch the Dark?

Kenjii, since starting my friends on DH, I've been considering re-reads myself!

Michelle, I haven't read Dream Warrior yet. I wasn't all that sold on One Silent Night and the changes she started implementing in it, but I know I need to read Dream Warrior to see where she's taking the series. I am, however, really looking forward to Bad Moon Rising though, as I'm a sucker for the were-hunters and I've been looking forward to Fang and Aimee's story (even though it's in hardback)!

Dream Warrior has some interesting parts and some confusing parts.

I'm reserving judgement for the time being. The new Source story arc doesn't seem as tightly constructed as the pantheon arc. But then again, she had a wealth of outside material to borrow from when it comes to the Greek gods. I think she'll hit her stride again in the next one (yay, Fang & Amy!), but Dream Warrior definitely left me saying "huh?" a lot of the time.

Argh... Damn social life. Almost finished my last book but went out with my friends last night and didn't get to! Still quite glad I got through 8 though.

1) Marked The House of Night Book 1 by P.C. Cast
2) Charmed and Dangerous by Candace Havens
3) Flood by Anna Clare
4) Succubus blues by Richelle Mead
5) You Slay Me by Katie MacAlister
6) Witch Fire by Anya Bast
7) Witchling by Yasmine Galenorn
8) Once Bitten, Twice Shy by Jennifer Rardin

My favourite was Witch Fire, it's been sat on my shelf for a while so I'm really glad I got the encouragement to read it finally!

Michelle M.: I say if I have Books#1-4 of the DH series (trying to rebuild my collection and keep it this time! LOL.) by April or May. I'll post a thread asking who wants to join me in a re-read. A lot of the books I can read in an evening. For the re-read I may chop it up into a week's worth (hehe). I'll post it over in RRR and/or Paranormnal and UF Monthly Book Reads under their "other challenges/book discussions" threads.

WTG to all who finished the FEB. 2009 challenge. WOOHOO!

OK, I've managed to come up off my death bed... last night I ended up getting real sick. Yuck. But I pushed through with the last 30 pages of my book and finished book nine.

But I really am not up to posting my whole list... I don't even know how far back my first 8 are. Sorry!!!

Heck, I can't even remember my book title now that I'm sitting at the computer... Which is just great. I didn't like the book a whole lot. It was all I could do to finish it. It's like three novellas that just didn't feel real. They all three had the same plot: Blind date where someone dies and so the two main characters end up in bed together after. And then it was just how can we get them back into bed. I like plot, not thinly veiled devices to get people into the sack. I guess there are people who can go on a blind date which leads to murder and a roll in the hay. And actually the first story it was the blind date that ended up dead so the chick ended up in bed with some other random bar dude.

When I'm up to it, I'll go upstairs and get the book and give you the title. Sorry...

Lady Ozma wrote: "I guess there are people who can go on a blind date which leads to murder and a roll in the hay."

Well, duh, I do that all the time. Don't you?

I hope you feel better!
I was really, really sick for about a week and a half earlier this month, but I found that it helped me read more books. Being stuck in bed with nothing else to do and all.. .

Poor Oz was throwing up AND had a migraine. Her Dad and I had to drive her poor hubby to the airport. Then a friend "kidnapped" the boys over night so she could get over the bug. But she was seriously GREEN when we picked up Sir Megabyte (her hubby.) Hum, maybe I should have dognapped the grandpuppy. Then she wouldn't have had to leave the bedroom/bathroom at all. But my furry baby (a cat) would have HATED sharing her home with one of "those" horrible creatures (i.e. dog)

Its snowing like crazy outside. The roads are covered, the grass is covered, the cars are covered. I am staring out the window moaning, "No, no, I NEED the UPS man to be able to get through!!!"

Nichole, I do it all the time! At least twice a week. Thankfully I have lots of friends who keep hooking me up with blind dates ;) Emphasis on the hooking up ;)

LOL

Urgh, If I could focus my eyes I would read. I may try it... my eyes are finally starting to focus. I keep dozing off. I really have been miserable. Like my mother said... throwing up and a headache. I feel like a jackhammer is digging it's way through my head. URGH.

BTW Mum, same friend kidnapped the grandpuppy. So I can just stay in bed. :)

It's crazy out there! Loads of snow. We're supposed to get 5 inches. My kids are safe with a friend, and I'm holed up with more than 60 cans of soup for once I can keep something down. So no worries about snowing in :)

I hope UPS can make it, mum!!!

Lady Ozma,

Sorry to hear you are sick. Hope you feel better soon. *hugs*

Hey, Lady. Hope you feel better soon. I imagine you've tried everything, but excedrine migraine and tea/coffee chasers used to work for me. Now, an advil cold & sinus, plus a regular advil chaser does the trick. It's horrible to be sick and not even be able to read to pass the time! My sympathies. At least you have people who can whisk the kids away so you can focus on feeling better!

Ann, fingers crossed! Besides, those burly UPS men are tough. Perhaps he shan't be daunted by the snow and your knight in dull brown armor will surprise you!

yz,

If I could eat I'd take some medicine for the headache, but unforntuantely I can't eat. I am so so so sick. Urgh... what gives? Blaaaaah!

I'm trying some crackers now. Hoping I can keep them in my tummy in a hope and prayer I might be able ot take some aspirin for this headache!! URGH

February Challenge is officially closed!

Here is the final update:

Yz - 8 books done
Nichole - 9 books done - Complete - Congratulations!
Dawn - 9 books done - Complete - Congratulations!
LondonGirl/Shazzy - 9 books done - Complete - Congratulations!
DarkHeart- 7 books done
Tammy - 9 books done - Completed - Congratulations!
Lori - 5 books done
Kenjii - 6 book done
Angie(US) - 2 books done
Angie(UK) - 8 books done
Lady Ozma - 9 books done - Complete - Congratulations!
Jael - 9 books done - Complete - Congratulations!
Melissa - 4 books done
Ann - 9 books done - Completed - Congratulations!
Sarah - 6 books done
Murrmaiyd - 7 books done
Melinda -3 books done
Gail - 9 books done - Complete - Congratulations!
Barbara - 9 books done-Complete - Congratulations!
Karen - 6 books done
Martina - 9 books done - Complete - Congratulations!
Michelle M - 9 books done - Complete - Congratulations!
Erin - 7 books done
Kristen - 8 books done

Group's final total: 176 books

We have a total of 24 participants and 11 have completed the challenge. To everyone who had joined, all I can say, great job, guys. Hope you had as much fun discovering new authors as I did.

March Challenge is already up and running. Feel free to drop by.

PS:

It was requested if the participants can post which of their challenge books did they enjoy the most.

So if you haven't shared your reviews yet, time for some feedback entries.

Okay, well I did finish my last book for February in February--SABRIEL--but I had to go out of town for the weekend to check on my parents (both with early stages of Alzheimer's) and wasn't able to report. But I did read all 9 books!

G

No worries, Gail. I'll update the totals.

Wow! That is excellent! Whee!

This month I got sucked into the Dark Hunter series and I love Ash. Reading Fantasy Lover was really interesting and I think Kenyon has quite the grasp on mythology it is really well done.

My favorite stand alone was the Messenger I never read Jan Burke before this was a good story all the way around and what is even better you can believe this story could be true - so that was cool for me.

OK guys, I'm still freaking dying here. I thought I'd try to read... so I picked up Blood Lite thinking the really short stories (On average 18 pages) would be the way to go... urgh, the first story nearly killed me. (But it was awesome... probably why I perservered)... anyway, I thought I would get on here so I could at least tell you what that final book I read was.

It was I Love You To Death by Amy Garvey. I highly recommend staying away from it.

I'm crawling off to die some more. Urgh. Sorry I don't have the full list of books... I just don't have it in me...

Ok, the full list was:
Witchling - Yasmine Galenorn - finished 2/16
Pleasure Unbound - Larissa Ione - finished 2/19
Vampire Academy - Richelle Mead - finished 2/20
Club Vamp - Allyson James - finished 2/21
La Vida Vampire - Nancy Haddock - finished 2/22
Dead Until Dark - Charlaine Harris - finished 2/25
Nicholas: The Lords of Satyr - Elizabeth Amber finished 2/27
Working For the Devil - Lilith StCrow - started, not yet finished

If I had to pin down one favorite... well... I can't. lol So far I am enjoying "Working For the Devil", but I haven't read enough of it yet to really judge it. I'm only up to chapter 8. I'd have to put "La Vida Vampire" and "Pleasure Unbound" as tied for first place in my list, and tie "Dead Until Dark" and "Witchling" for second place. I did like them all, but again I must mention that while I liked it ok, I probably wouldn't tell anyone else to read Nicholas. :)