Twilight Desires (Morgan Creek, Book Three): Amanda Ashley

“Sofia Ravenwood was once fascinated by vampires—their seductive power, their inhuman strength, their dark desires.  Then one of them attached her family, and she threw out her goth attire and vowed to keep clear of her enemies. Until she heard about Ethan Parrish:  a sweet, sizzling-hot former college football player, turned into a vampire against his will.

 

“Wandering the deserted streets of Morgan Creek, Wyoming, Ethan’s sure he’ll be alone forever—a monster like him deserves nothing else.  Then beautiful, complicated Sofia agrees to meet him, fangs and all.  The need she ignites in him is more than just the pulse of her blood or the scent of her skin.  But he’s not the only bloodsucker desperate to make her his own…”

 

Here we are!  This is Ashley’s third and newest installment in her Morgan Creek series.  *In the name of full disclosure, I did receive an advanced copy of this book directly from the author, herself, in exchange for my honest review.*  The book’s official release date was August 28, 2018 (though the cover of the copy in my possession states it'll be available in September of 2018), but, knowing I review books and have reviewed her books in the past, Ashley reached out to me and kindly offered to send an advanced uncorrected proof to me.  I, of course, was happy to read it.  I did, however, first need to read the preceding two books in this series!  If you’ve read those recent reviews, then you’ll know I had some mixed feelings.  I liked some of the characters and really appreciated the uniqueness of the plot surrounding the location of Morgan Creek, itself, but some things didn’t strike me as outstanding.  I’m definitely looking forward to seeing what this book has to offer.  We were introduced to both Sofia and Ethan in the second book in the series (Sofia is Micah’s younger sister and Ethan is Holly’s cousin) – more so Sofia than Ethan.  From what I already know about them, Sofia is a bit of a spitfire and Ethan has no qualms about giving Saintcrow, his sire, any attitude or lip.  I’m looking forward to seeing how Ethan’s dynamic plays out with the other vampires in Morgan Creek – especially because he’s always believed in vampires and hated them so much – and I’m really hoping we continue to see Sofia’s attitude and spunk.  I have felt that the biggest thing this series has been lacking is a really unique, standout female lead; I’m really hoping Sofia can accomplish this task.




***




I'm about 75 pages into this book after starting it last night.  It's a much easier read and I like the pace of the story; I think Ethan's confusion and frustration coming to terms with his new life as a vampire is well-written.  So far, Sofia does seem better developed than the other female leads I've encountered and I hope it continues.  It feels like she really does have a life of her own and, while some of her attitudes and behavior is a bit immature, I think it suits her age well (she is, after all, only 19).  Ethan has an attitude and a bit of a death wish.  I like seeing a change in him when he's around Sofia.


However...Sofia has a feels "her heart swell with love" 31 pages into the story...thirty...one...pages...(Ashley 31).  I found it unbelievable and unrealistic, especially because she and Ethan had only met a couple of times at that point.  It almost makes me wonder if that was a hiccup in the writing because there haven't been any mentions since then.  One other hiccup is the fact that Ethan keeps taking her to bars and out for drinks (she likes tequila sunrises)...but she's only 19.  I am not upset over the fact that she's underage-drinking, I just can't quite figure out how it's so easy for her to get a drink absolutely everywhere they go.  Ethan hasn't even considered that it might be more difficult to take a 19-year-old out to a bar.  Granted, Ethan does most of the ordering, but no fake ID has been mentioned and no one's bothered to card her.  It's just a little too easy, almost as if we (conveniently) forgot how old she actually is.




Some moments have felt a bit scattered and contradictory.  POTENTIAL SPOILERS:  The scene where Mateo uses a human henchman to kidnap Sofia seems a bit random and ill-planned; on top of the fact that I'm not really sure why he had Sofia locked in a basement while he fed on another woman he'd kidnapped.  It seemed like a lot of trouble for not a lot of real reason.  The biggest issue I've taken thus far is with Ethan's very irrational, mercurial mood in Chapter 10.  I get being upset because Sofia hasn't called; however, he'd just had a wonderfully productive planning meeting about the changes he wants to make to Morgan Creek.  He seemed to be getting exactly what he wanted.  From one sentence to the next, Ethan transforms into a self-loathing, suicidal maniac willing to do whatever it takes to get Saintcrow to come and put him out of his misery.  It felt very sudden and I actually had to put the book down and wonder, "What the heck just happened here?"  We'll see how this progresses.




One other little plot hole I feel the need to mention:  Earlier in this review, I state that Ethan always hated vampires.  This statement stemmed from Holly's statement in book two that, when Ethan was a child, he always used to carry around objects to ward off vampires.  Last night when I was reading, Ethan indicated that he'd never really believed in vampires.  Hm.




***


I finished this book just over a week ago; however, I was in an airport on my way out of state (sans computer), so I didn’t get a chance to finish my review on this until this morning.  I ended up liking Ethan a good amount and I liked Sophia more than I’ve liked other female leads in this series.  I particularly liked the conflict between Ethan and Sophia’s older, rightfully-protective brother (and vampire), Micah.

I do have to say that I found the romance to be a bit hasty.  (***Minor spoiler:  I found the marriage between Ethan and Sophia to be pretty rushed.  I get excitement and all that, but it was borderline unbelievable.  I found their attraction to feel more natural than their actual love, if that makes any sense.***)  However, I liked their banter and the sparks between them.  I think their romance felt the most realistic to me of all of the three books I’ve read in this series.

There was a decent villain in this book in the form of a vampire who wanted to bring Morgan Creek back to its “glory days” when wandering humans were kept captive by a coven of vampires.  However, I kept waiting for more like-minded vampires to join in the fight and give Ethan and Saintcrow a better run for their money (on top of the fact that I expected Saintcrow to call upon Micah when the proverbial shit really hit the fan and Kadie went missing.  It felt strange that a vampire so in love with his mate wouldn’t call upon every single resource at his disposal when it came down to it.  Who cares of Micah and Holly were on what would technically be their second honeymoon (they went to New York first at the end of their book)?  That felt a bit odd to me.)  These like-minded vampires were hinted at and I kept waiting for something to happen with them, but it never did.  The greater threat came into play with the introduction of another supernatural being:  a witch.  There were a couple of them in this book and I would say (from my relatively limited knowledge) that they were pretty “purist” as well, which sticks nicely with the rest of Ashley’s writing.  Even though there was more tension in this book with the variety of conflicts and some decent “bad guys,” I still found myself longing for the big knock-down, drag-out battle scene.  I know if I were Saintcrow, I’d want revenge in the worst way.  Nothing would be able to stop my desire for blood; my own safety be damned.  The way this was handled made him seem a bit more fragile than one would expect from a master vampire.  I feel like I’m spending quite a bit of time on Saintcrow in this review and he’s not even the male lead.  I think this is because the series really does revolve around him.  Another reason is probably because I like him more now than I did in even his own book.  I feel like I really got to see the charm, wit, and acerbic sense of humor/sarcasm that I didn’t quite get to experience earlier.  I love it when characters develop and Saintcrow has done so.  ***Minor spoiler:  Also, the whole walking in sunlight thing was VERY convenient and I’m not too sure I cared for it.  The rest of Ashley’s vampires are very “purist” and that’s something I truly respect, so perhaps this is what rubbed me the wrong way.  I may have forgiven it for Saintcrow, but as soon as Ethan was allowed to do so, that killed it for me.  What goes hand-in-hand with this is my opinion that Saintcrow seemed overly generous with his master vampire mojo.  He let Micah drink from him, thereby instilling in him heightened powers; he drained Ethan again and let him drink, affording him additional powers and abilities (like walking in sunlight).  I feel like these were things that he should have kept very close to the chest, regardless of circumstances or who the other vampires were.  These abilities are what allow him to be so powerful, to lord his strengths over other vampires and maintain control over his domain.  Eternity is a long time and, should Micah or Ethan ever decide to turn their backs on him, they would now present a greater threat.  Something to think about.

***

Overall, I think this book was my favorite of the series.  Ethan gives Micha a run for my favorite male lead in the series.  I think Micah has a better sense of humor, but Ethan has a much better “tortured, angst-ridden, moody male” vibe about him.  I liked Ethan’s head-butting with Saintcrow, but (as previously mentioned) some of the interactions felt a bit forced or nonsensical (as in, they weren’t quite what I was expecting or they didn’t quite fit with Ethan’s emotional state).  I enjoyed the development of Saintcrow, but this proves how the series really does focus on the male leads.  Kadie and Holly really fell to the wayside in this book.  I expected a lot more from Holly as a secondary character, especially because she was the one who helped hook up Ethan and Sophia.  Instead, when it came time for Ethan and Micah to meet, she really took a big leap into the background.  I thought her rapport with Sophia (and as a calming, rational person in Micah’s life…or death, if you’re a stickler for semantics) would go a long way toward developing the plot and conflict, but it didn’t really.  I’m curious to see if other vampires from Morgan Creek will crop up in future books.  Jokes were made that the rest of Micah and Sophia’s family should be turned into vampires since they’ve already gotten a good start, but I don’t know if I expect this to be an actual hint to future stories.

I’m honored that Ashley chose to send me an advanced copy of this book to review.  I’m always thrilled whenever an author reaches out to me and I’m more than happy to contribute my own (tiny) voice to the conversation.  I recommend this book to vampire romance purists out there.  While the romance is a bit tamer than I’m used to, I think this presents a good alternative to those who find other authors a bit too “raunchy.”  There is romance; there are quality classic vampires.  If this is what you’re looking for, then Ashley’s writing is right up your alley.  I had my criticisms for each of the books in this series, but I tend to write much more in-depth reviews when I know an author will see it.  I would want the breadth and depth from anyone who was reviewing my own writing, so I feel like I’m doing a service to the writing community.  I found aspects which could have been expanded upon and some things I felt worked well.  The underlying plot of Morgan Creek is unique, interesting, and creative.  There is a ton of potential here for even more books in the series.

Happy reading!

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Harry Potter, Book Seven): J.K. Rowling

“We now present the seventh and final installment in the epic tale of Harry Potter.”

Finally. I’ve finished. Wow.

I genuinely didn’t have time to RAIR this book because I couldn’t stop reading it. Only last night I’d just read up to the point where part one of the film adaptation finished, so I pretty much devoured this book today. I have to say that the huge power outage in my town the past two days had something to do with it (no television--not that I watch all that much, but my day was pretty free since I wasn’t watching 4 hours of Le Tour de France, no air conditioning, no lights, not even stoplights!) Needless to say, I found boundless comfort in an escape to the world of Hogwarts.

As always, the writing was beautiful and enchanting (pun intended). The characters were definitely grown and drastically changed and developed from the children in the very first book. Their personalities were much stronger and this definitely helped infuse realism into the overarching plot. However, I will say that I missed Ron a bit in this book. It seemed like he played a much smaller role here and I was a little saddened by this. He has to be one of my favorite characters (I always find myself enjoying a story’s comedic relief character). Harry’s maturity was brilliantly written and the complexities of what life dealt him were truly make-or-break in the life of his character. The plot could have very easily went awry if Harry had seemed the least bit too perfect, but this was not the case. Rowling did a beautiful job of remaining true to the Harry Potter readers grew to love from the little boy in the cupboard beneath the stairs to the man destined to face Lord Voldemort.

***Slight Spoiler Alert***

I have to say that the final battle with Voldemort ended almost too quickly. There was all this buildup for an epic duel to the death and I felt a little bit deflated at the end. I believe Rowling felt that Harry’s explanation to Voldemort about what mistakes the Dark Lord had made would create just the right amount of tension to substitute for an all-out, wands-blazing fight. Also, the simplicity of the final blow was probably another point that Rowling was trying to make. Harry never needed the strong curses that Voldemort was known for--Harry was made stronger by the fact that he never needed to hide behind them. After thinking about it, I appreciated Rowling’s choices more and more.

Also, I really did like the ending. It was truly a pleasant way to wrap things up for the Potter series. Knowing where the major characters all ended up was definitely warming. The setting and style it was written in was drastically better than a simple recap. (Though I will admit that I’m a little bit curious to find out where some of the other characters have ended up. It’s no big deal, but I’m a little bit curious. I don’t think that Rowling could have accomplished this and maintained the atmosphere she created for the epilogue, so I have to concede this point.)

***End Spoiler***

I really wish I could write more about this book, but--because it wraps everything up so neatly--I can’t really say much more without giving anything away. My review is already primarily constructed of spoilers! The beauty of Rowling’s series is that she hides things from start to finish. This last book drew on hints and clues mentioned in the very first book and threads are woven throughout the books. I remember watching an interview with one of the cast members of the Potter films (really can’t remember which one, which is sad, but I’ll blame it on the fact that it was way before I actually cared about the books, so I wasn’t paying much attention) and he/she said that Rowling knew what was going to happen in the end and how she wanted to tie it all together and that’s what makes her books so special. I’ll also admit that I watched a little bit of an interview the author did with Oprah. She said she’d picked out the last line of the series way before she’d written the last book. This, of course, gave a little bit of the ending away, but I still enjoyed finishing it nonetheless.

I really wish I could add more to this review, but I cannot seem to find the eloquence with which I feel this book deserves because--not only am I reviewing this installment--but the entire Potter series. I don’t believe I’m up to such a weighty task. There’s so much to take into account, especially now that I can see threads of plot that I didn’t even know existed. (Though there was one twist I saw coming regarding one of the Horcruxes, but I won’t tell you all what it is and give it away!) I’m sorry readers, but you’ll have to settle for my mediocre review of this series I was surprised to have fallen so deeply in love with. I never thought I’d say this, but I’m actually going to the midnight premier of the Deathly Hallows Part 2 in two days! Pottermania, here I come.

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (Harry Potter, Book 6): J.K. Rowling

“THE WAR AGAINST VOLDEMORT is not going well; even Muggle governors are noticing. Ron scans the obituary pages of the Daily Prophet, looking for familiar names. Dumbledore is absent from Hogwarts for long stretches of time, and the Order of the Phoenix has already suffered losses.

“And yet...

“As in all wars, life goes on. Sixth-year students learn to Apparate--and lose a few eyebrows in the process. The Weasley twins expand their business. Teenagers flirt and fight and fall in love. Classes are never straightforward, though Harry receives some extraordinary help from the mysterious Half-Blood Prince.

“So it’s the home front that takes center stage in the multilayered sixth installment of the story of Harry Potter. Here at Hogwarts, Harry will search for the full and complex story of the boy who became Lord Voldemort--and thereby find what may be his only vulnerability.”

Unfortunately, this is another Harry Potter book that I failed to RAIR. I’ve failed yet again, but this should be some indication of how much I wanted to finish this book. There was a lot of plot progression and character development, which made for an interesting read. Harry has grown up a great deal over the series and this is probably the book where I felt the realistic mentality and attitudes of a teenager blended most seamlessly with the story. The bits of romance were fun and brought much more life to the characters. I like where everything is going in this book and look forward to reading the final book. To go along with the maturing characters, the subject matter has become much weightier as well. The cursing and violence and extremely dark themes are not what I would deem appropriate for the same child who first picked up The Sorcerer’s Stone. This progression would have suited me perfectly had I read the books as they came out in the States because I would have aged nearly exactly with Harry Potter. My maturity level would have been on par with his. However, my little cousin has a friend who is reading the Goblet of Fire now. This is fine, but I really think it’s the Order of the Phoenix where the matter would get a little bit questionable for a recently turned nine-year-old. Not only will her comprehension just not be up to scratch, but I really don’t think she or her mother have any idea at how dark the plot is about to turn. I’m really NOT one for censorship, but I urge parents to be smart about when they hand their children certain books. I genuinely think this installment in the Harry Potter series should not be read until the reader’s comprehension is at the appropriate level. This book deserves to be appreciated and it isn’t fair to have an unknowing parent hand this to his/her child, then freak out and write angry letters when the child asks some difficult questions or is terrified with nightmares. Parents, please be smart. These Harry Potter books are brilliant when used correctly. I encourage reading this series (which is huge coming from someone who absolutely hated the series less than a year ago) because it is filled with beautiful language, scenery and descriptions, and some of the most memorable characters I have ever read. Everyone should have a little Harry Potter magic in their lives.

(Side note: I definitely understand the movies better after reading the books. There is a lot that they don’t elaborate on in the movies because they geared them toward the readers of the books. This is understandable, but I cannot tell if it was intentional or not. I definitely appreciate the films more now, but it’s unfortunate to think how many people still do not. I noticed this a lot in the movie version of the Half-Blood Prince. I won’t give anything away, but there is a major development toward the end that has a very different feel in the book. I’m back to being caught in the middle of my opinions because of it. I suppose I’ll just have to wait and see what happens!)

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (Harry Potter, Book Five): J.K. Rowling

“THERE IS A DOOR at the end of a silent corridor. And it’s haunting Harry Potter’s dreams. Why else would he be waking in the middle of the night screaming in terror?

“Here are just a few things on Harry’s mind:

“ *A Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher with a personality like poisoned honey

“ *A venomous, disgruntled house-elf

“ *Ron as keeper of the Gryffindor Quidditch team

“ *The looming terror of the end-of-term Ordinary Wizarding Level exams

“...and of course, the growing threat of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. In the richest installment yet of J.K. Rowling’s seven-part story. Harry Potter is faced with the unreliability of the very government of the magical world and the impotence of the authorities at Hogwarts.

“Despite this (or perhaps because of it), he finds depth and strength in his friends, beyond what even he knew; boundless loyalty; and unbearable sacrifice.

“Though thick runs the plot (as well as the spine), readers will race through these pages and leave Hogwarts, like Harry, wishing only for the next train back.”

Please forgive me for stating the obvious: This book was LONG! There was still Rowling’s magic on every page. Evidence of this is the lack of my RAIR method for this review. I was also reading two other books in conjunction with this one and I must say that I couldn’t wait to finish those and devote my full attention to this one (I cheated in the end and stopped reading the one I didn’t finish).

The character development was extremely prevalent in this Harry Potter installment. Most obvious was the swearing. Not overly so, it definitely added a sense of reality to the characters. Though I was slightly put off by Harry’s near incessant angst, it didn’t wreck the book for me. I have to admit that I was a little bit frustrated at times because he was just SO tortured. Granted, terrible things happened to Harry over and over, but the amount of emotional pain was just so great that it was almost unpleasant to read. I, however, did not lose my sympathy for Harry. (It was difficult to feel anything BUT sympathy as one thing after another keep pushing Harry back down.) I will say that I felt like Ron and--especially--Hermione had smaller parts in this book than others. I have yet to decide if I am okay with this.

As for the length...I am sure that Rowling has a plan for all the seemingly (at times) unnecessary additions to the cast. I got somewhat impatient with portions, but I can’t say which ones because that would give too much away. I will hint that many of the parts I felt were too long were not included in the movie version.

Surprisingly, I don’t have too much of a comparison between movie and book for this review. This is going to sound totally crazy, but, for the longest time, I believed what few snippets I could recall from this movie were some wacked out dream I had. I know. You think I’ve lost it. Anyway, someone told me that this book is the most oft forgotten of the entire Potter series, so this lack of recollection isn’t too insane. I can see how this book might not be someone’s favorite, but it certainly wasn’t terrible. I liked it, but I’ve read better. I just got my hands on the DVD version of Order of the Phoenix and I think I’ll watch it tonight and attach it to this post. I’m sure I’ll have more to say once my memory is jogged.

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (Harry Potter, Book Four): J.K. Rowling

“Harry Potter is midway through both his training as a wizard and his coming of age. Harry wants to get away form the pernicious Dursleys and go to the International Quidditch Cup with Hermione, Ron, and the Weasleys. He wants to dream about Cho Chang, his crush (and maybe do more than dream). He wants to find out about the mysterious even that’s supposed to take place at Hogwarts this year, an event involving two other rival schools of magic, and a normal, fourteen-year-old wizard. But unfortunately for Harry Potter, he’s not normal--even by wizarding standards.

“And in his case, different can be deadly.”

Unfortunately, I’m only beginning this review more than halfway through the book. This could be taken as a good indicator of how enthralled I am by this installment in the Potter series.

The characters are as wonderful as I remember and the settings are lively and rich. These meld beautifully in Rowling’s work and make her books rather difficult to put down.

And now for the obligatory comparison between the film version and this book. I distinctly remember this movie being the turning point from fun to dark. Personally, this suited my tastes just fine. This switch, however, is not as apparent in the book. I still love the growth and development of Harry, Ron, and Hermione, but--at the time of this review--I feel as if the characters’ maturity levels in the book aren’t quite what they were in the film. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but it is noticeable. The unique way Rowling developed them remains one of my favorites because (as I stated in my other Potter reviews) the writing becomes more complex as the characters age. This is one of the most admirable qualities (other than pure creativity) of the series.

As for the book itself, I like its flow. Anyone who’s seen the book and compared it to the previous three knows how much longer Goblet of Fire is. Thus far, this isn’t a bad thing. Granted, things are moving at a slower pace when one compares it to the film, but this is due in part to all of the extra scenes and information the movie omitted. Though long and slightly drawn out, this book is thick with magic (pun mildly intended) and fun. I remain very pleased with Rowling’s seemingly boundless imagination and really look forward to what the rest of this book has in store for me.

...

I’ve finished the book! I planned on doing more RAIR, but I got so caught up in the story that I didn’t get a chance.

As the book went on, I saw much more character growth and development, which made me happier. I think perhaps the movies have colored my perceptions of them and I see them as older than they are, so I want them to be like the actors. This is very unfair of me to do, but I can’t seem to help it. Other than extremely minor ambivalence (as I can’t seem to come up with a better word to describe it) because of this, I wasn’t bothered overmuch. I still loved the plot and characters.

The further I got, however, the more there seemed to be information that wasn’t deemed important enough to include in the film. The time spans in between the challenges sometimes seemed to take forever and the buildup was almost too much. I’m not trying to complain, just simply explain that portions of this book will move slower than Potter readers are used to. Many of the conversations toward the end of the book were not included at all and I’m still undecided on wether or not I even like them in the book. I understand why they were included, but that doesn’t mean I was in love with them all. (I know that sounds vague, but going into any more detail would give too much away.)

Overall, I liked the book. The action scenes were fast-paced and exciting. I felt myself cheering for the champions right along with the rest of the students. I can’t wait to read more! I have to buy the next book and I’m sure I’ll read it as soon as I tear open the package :)

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (Harry Potter, Book Three): J.K. Rowling

“For twelve long years, the dread fortress of Azkaban held an infamous prisoner named Sirius Black. Convicted of killing thirteen people with a single curse, he was said to be the heir apparent of the Dark Lord Voldemort.

“Now he has escaped, leaving only two clues as to where he might be headed: Harry Potter’s defeat of You-Know-Who was Black’s downfall as well. And the Azkaban guards heard Black muttering in his sleep, “He’s at Hogwarts...he’s at Hogwarts.”

“Harry Potter isn’t safe, not even within the walls of his magical school, surrounded by his friends. Because on top of it all, there may well be a traitor in their midst.”

I’ve finally finished book three! I will say that the first thing I noticed was the development of the characters. Not only has the writing developed, but the characters have grown. All of this comes together to provide a unique reading experience. You feel like the whole world around Harry Potter is growing and defining with each year that passes. You get the sense that this happens because Harry is growing up and, naturally, becoming more aware of the world around him. That probably sounds repetitive, but it makes sense to me as I’m writing this.

Though not my favorite of the series, this book was definitely a good one. It served to deepen the grand scheme of the Harry Potter series. Lupin was a fantastic character. I enjoyed his role because it was nice to see Harry finally have a pleasant Hogwarts experience outside of Quidditch and Dumbledore. Lupin reminded me of that one special teacher that we hope each student has an opportunity to meet because that teacher will change a student’s life. The development of Snape’s character was interesting to watch as well. While the readers really dislike him in the first two books, that feeling intensifies in this book--especially toward the end. It’s nice to have a villain that’s present rather than an intangible fear of an evil wizard who was only glimpsed in the prior books.

As I’m a dork and can’t seem to stay away from the relationships between the Harry Potter books and movies, I shall begin my comparisons...

The movie adaptation of this book is one that I haven’t seen recently. Of course, I remember it, but not the specifics. I should probably find it online and watch it so I can give a better review, but I (unfortunately) don’t have the time right now. (As it is, I seriously doubt I’m going to make my reading goal by the New Year...) I recall the scene in the Shrieking Shack to be a little confusing, but it followed the book pretty closely. Overall, I believe the movie did a wonderful job with following the book’s plot. The major incidents were really followed well. This was definitely helped by the fact that the writing, in the first place, was extremely excellent.

To sum up the shortest of my Harry Potter reviews, I enjoyed this book. I LOVE watching Harry Potter grow up and it’s brilliant how the writing style is developing along with him. I truly am impressed with this series and look forward to picking up the next installment.

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Harry Potter, Book Two): J.K. Rowling

"THE DURSLEYS were so mean and hideous that summer that all Harry Potter wanted was to get back to the Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry. But just as he's packing his bags, Harry receives a warning from a strange, impish creature named Dobby who says that if Harry Potter returns to Hogwarts, disaster will strike.

"And strike it does. For in Harry's second year at Hogwarts, fresh torments and horrors arise, including an outrageously stuck-up new professor, Gilderoy Lockhart, a spirit named Moaning Myrtle who haunts the girls' bathroom, and the unwanted attentions of Ron Weasley's younger sister, Ginny.

"But each of these seem minor annoyances when the real trouble begins, and someone--or something--starts turning Hogwarts students to stone. Could it be Draco Malfoy, a more poisonous rival than ever? Could it possibly be Hagrid, whose mysterious past is finally told? Or could it be the one everyone at Hogwarts most suspects...Harry Potter himself!"

I absolutely devoured this book. I believe I can finally see what all of the Pottermania is about (though I maintain that I'll seek professional help if I ever go to class dressed for Hogwarts with a replica wand up my sleeve). My appreciation for this series has grown tremendously.

Rowling's writing style is impressive. It's brilliant how it can be read by both young adults and adults with both sets of readers able to enjoy it equally (similar to the Percy Jackson series by Rick Riordan). This really says a lot about an author who is able to do this with the grace and eloquence of Rowling. Her descriptions of Hogwarts were beautifully done and the characters really felt alive. However, I can't fail to give some of this credit to the Harry Potter films. If you've read the review of the first in this series, then you know that I tried to read this series back when it first came to the States. I didn't enjoy it then. Now that I've seen the films, I find myself truly enjoying the books.

Then again, I believe the movies deserve notoriety of their own. When I finished this second installment in the Harry Potter series, I realized how well the movies captured the books. Of course, they left out some details for lack of major import, but this doesn't detract from my appreciation. I really love how (thus far at least) the movies follow the books almost to the word. Some entire conversations were even taken directly from the books, which is impressive. Usually, movies take the words "based on" as allowance for interpretation--not the case with the Potter films/books. I believe that this played a major role in my newfound appreciation for these books.

Now that I'm off that rave, back to the real review. As I hinted at earlier, I really enjoyed this book. It's fun to see Ron, Harry, and Hermione grow a little each year. The actual Hogwarts classes are so creative. The premise itself is so interesting that I found myself under "the Harry Potter spell" and had a terribly difficult time putting the book down. The plot of this book was slightly darker than the previous one, which suited me just fine. The characters' relationships are growing more complex--as it tends to happen when one grows up. Of course, with old favorites come new ones. We're introduced to Gilderoy Lockhart--the pompous, self-serving, best-selling author-turned Hogwarts professor. I do believe he is impossible to like! (My professor told me he was modeled after Rowling's ex-husband, which would make sense with the disgusting way he was portrayed.) Amusing at times, Lockhart certainly added to the book.

We learn more about Lord Voldemort and his relationship to Harry. Had I not seen the movie, I'm sure I would have loved how this snuck up on the readers. I have a new level of respect for the intricacies in Rowling's writing that my Children's Literature professor mentioned earlier this semester. I'm beginning to see how deeply she planned the whole series. It really is impressive.

I will say one thing (though I'm sure you're going to want to kill me for going back to the film/book comparison), I wish the movie adaptation of Chamber of Secrets had explained why Harry was a Parselmouth a little more; as well as clarified how Voldemort came about his name. They say it in the movie, but it wasn't as clear as it could have been (i.e. his real middle name). Overall, the casting is absolutely fantastic. ***SPOILER*** Then, I have a little issue with the book itself. Harry isn't worried about the monster let loose in the halls of Hogwarts because he's a Pureblood. However, I was under the impression that his mother came from a Muggle family. Doesn't this mean Harry technically isn't a Pureblood? I ended up rationalizing that, because both of Harry's parents could do magic, then Harry was considered a Pureblood. Then, when he and Riddle met in the Chamber of Secrets, Riddle calls Harry a Mud-blood. I hope I'm just missing something. I'll probably go back and reread these parts. One more thing: Voldemort hates Mud-bloods, yet he--himself--is one. He's the Heir of Slytherine would consider him a disgrace? That's just me, though.***

Anyway, I really enjoyed this book--as you can probably tell from the length of this review. I'm going home for the holidays and I look forward to having time to relax and read. These aren't things I've had a ton of time to do lately. My reviewing has really suffered because of this. Sadly, the amount of my reviews has decreased since I began several years ago. I'm going to really have to step up in 2011!

Midnight Peasures (Conatins Dark-Hunter Series, Book Six): Amanda Ashley, Maggie Shayne, Sherrilyn Kenyon, Ronda Thompson

“Handsome and sensual, surrounded by an aura of danger, mystery, and the forbidden, a lover steps from the shadows. But is he mortal? Or is he an ancient god, a sorcerer, or a mythical beast who can possess a woman’s heart…and her very soul?

“Four of romance’s most popular authors have created this spellbinding collection of stories filled with dark passion and desire. Under the cover of darkness, their heroes inhabit worlds haunted by ageless hungers and deadly forces stronger than any seen by day…and vanquished only by the power of love.

“Now travel into realms where dazzling wonders roam the night, where magic replaces reason, and where a kiss unleashes a raging fire in the blood. And here, if you dare, discover the seduction that begins at the bewitching hour when a man and woman partake in…Midnight Pleasures”

“DARKFEST BY AMANDA ASHLEY

“The price of saving her dying mother is Channa’s promise to spend a year at the castle of tormented nobleman, Lord Darkfest…to obey him as his servant or, as his secrets are revealed, to become his salvation. And her own.”

This was different from what I’ve read of Amanda Ashley in the past. Though this had a completely different plot, it stayed true to her unique style of writing. I enjoyed the storyline a lot and the characters were well-written. I tend not to read stories with magic in them, but this kept me captivated. Darkfest was an interesting character and I would have even maybe liked to see him in a full-length book. He had so much depth and mystery to his character that I found myself wanting to read more to find out what made him so special.

There was mention of a tapestry in the story and it was described in such detail that I thought it was some sort of foreshadowing (you’re going to have to read the story to find out what happens!) I really liked how Darkfest was able to shape-shift and had seemingly boundless powers. It was really creative and it made me want to read more. The descriptions were beautiful and they had the power to transport me that only really good writing can—though it was less than 100 pages. I’ll be sure to read more of Ashley’s work in the future!

“PHANTOM LOVER BY SHERRILYN KENYON

“Haunted by recurring nightmares of terrifying beasts, Erin McDaniels is afraid to sleep—until a hero arrives in her dreams to save her…and makes erotic, incredible love to her. But can she find him again when she is awake?”

Again, Sherrilyn Kenyon has worked her magic! She has a knack for making the readers fall in love with her characters in only a few pages. That takes some serious talent and I’m thoroughly impressed. This plot was a change-up from the other books of hers that I have read and I liked it. The characters were real and I really loved V’Aidan. He was a fun character to watch as he developed. I don’t want to give too much away, but as the plot takes a HUGE turn the readers just can’t hate V’Aidan—Kenyon did such a fantastic job at making him seem so touching and real that you can’t help but feel for him. As always, I will most definitely be reading more of Kenyon’s work as I go on to read the rest of the Dark-Hunter series.

“UNDER HER SPELL BY MAGGIE SHAYNE

“A consultant for a TV series about one gorgeous witch, “white witch” Melissa St. Cloud plans to make the show authentic. But once on the set she is pulled into the arms of a man who opens up a doorway to the dark side and chilling peril.”

Maggie Shayne was an author that I’ve never read before and it was refreshing. I liked the general plot behind this story a lot. Again, this was filled with magic, but it kept me captivated. I liked the characters and the background behind the story was interesting. I learned a lot about witchcraft that I didn’t know before and that was fascinating. There was some gruesome violence, but it really enhanced the climax of the story. Overall, I liked it and will probably read more of Shayne’s work in the future.

“A WULF’S CURSE BY RONDA THOMPSON

“Running away from an arranged marriage, Elise steals aboard a wagon in a traveling circus and finds herself in the bed of the Beast Tamer, Sterling Wulf, who is something other than he seems…and suddenly all Elise desires.”

I’ve never read Ronda Thompson before and this was a really good start for me. The characters were real and the situations were enthralling. I loved how the emotions of the characters were so well-written that it kept the story moving without becoming boring or too sappy. Sterling was very interesting to watch as he grew and changed because of his time with Elise. There was a new twist on an old tale—which I am NOT going to give away, so you’re just going to have to read it!—and that made it all the more fun to read. The only difficulty I had was with some of the dialogue/inner-dialogue. Sometimes it was difficult to comprehend what the characters meant or what was going on inside of their heads without reading and rereading the lines a few times. Other than that, it was a fun read. I liked Thompson’s work a lot and will most likely read more.

Touch of Enchantment (Sequel to Breath of Magic): Teresa Medeiros

“A LOVELY SCIENTIST WITH NO TASTE FOR MAGIC

“Heiress Tabitha Lennox considered her paranormal talents more a curse than a gift. So she dedicated her life to the cold, rational world of science. Until the day she examined the mysterious amulet her mother had left her and found herself catapulted seven centuries into the past—directly into the path of a rearing black charger ridden by a chain-mailed warrior.

“A FEARLESS KNIGHT WITH NO TIME FOR LOVE

“Sir Colin of Ravenshaw had returned from the Crusades to find his castle in ruins, his enemy poised to overrun the land where generations of Ravenshaws had ruled. The last thing he expected was to half trample a damsel with odd garb and even odder manners. But it is her strange talent that will create trouble beyond Colin’s wildest imaginings. For everyone knows that a witch must be burned…but it is Colin’s heart that is aflame, over an enchanting woman he must not love, yet cannot live without.”

This book was sweet and I really enjoyed this sequel to Breath of Magic. The characters were easy to like and it was fun to see what life was like for Tristan and Arian after the first book finished. I did find myself giggling at certain parts and almost crying at others.

This book did take a short while to get going, but it was well worth it. I really liked the character of Colin of Ravenshaw. He was likable and sweet…in a tough-guy kind of way. I think the plot was fun to follow and made sense (well, for this set of books it did!) and I liked the twists and turns it took. As always, I will definitely read more of Teresa Medeiros in the future because she keeps on making me smile!

Breath of Magic: Teresa Medeiros

"AN EXQUISITE ENCHANTRESS LOST IN TIME

"Arian Whitewood hadn't quite gotten a hang of the powerful amulet she'd inherited from her mother, but she never expected it to whisk her more than three hundred years into the future. Flying unsteadily on her broomstick, she suddenly finds herself among towers of glass and metal, then tumbling from the sky to land at the feet of a man with frost-gray eyes and a seemingly flint-hard heart.

"A SKEPTICAL TYCOON OUT OF HIS ELEMENT

"Reclusive billionaire Tristan Lennox didn't believe in magic, but he had his own reasons for offering one million dollars to anyone who could prove it existed. Now he finds himself besieged by fakes, frauds, and an old nemesis is ready to leap on his opportunity to destroy him. But the smoky-voiced beauty who appeared from the clouds into his climate-controlled existence is something else entirely--a woman able to enchant his lonely heart with wonder, but who can't possibly be what she seems....

So I’ve been so busy that I haven’t been able to update this blog for a bit, but I’m back! Anyhow, this book was sweet and had some wonderful twists to it. It made me laugh and cringe as well as feel for the characters immensely. Arian was a charming character and it was hard not to side with her. Tristan was a refreshing twist to the male lead roll. There was just something about him that made it easy to like and dislike him at the same time.

The plotline in general was new and different and I enjoyed it. I don’t usually read “modern” romances, but this had the whole historical elements that made it more to my tastes. Overall, I liked it and I have already started the sequel.