Everlasting Kiss: Amanda Ashley, Madeline Baker

"DESIRE NEVER DIES

"Daisy O'Donnell doesn't get the attraction some women feel for vampires. She likes her men with a heartbeat. And she's just met one who's full of life: Erik Delacourt, the unreasonably sexy man she keeps meeting at a popular L.A. nightclub called the Crypt. She barely knows him, but there's no resisting the connection she feels...

"There's one important detail Erik hasn't gotten around to telling her yet. He's a powerful vampire out to hunt the Blood Thief who's draining young vampires all over the city--and who has just raised the stakes by destroying one of Erik's friends. To Erik, Daisy is a bright spot of innocence in a world of darkness and menace. He'll do anything--even lie to her--to keep her safe and pure.

"If only he knew that Daisy has something of her own to hide..."

Okay...well, I think I really need to start this review off with a very sincere apology. I was given this book to review months ago and only just finished it yesterday... I have no good excuses except for the real fact that I allowed my personal life to get in the way of my reviewing. If one looks at the past reviews, it's pretty obvious how much my reviewing tapered off. I have been reading this book on and off since I got it, but school and other things really got in the way of something that I love to do and there are no real excuses for that.

Now that I've said my sorries; this book was a fun read. I enjoyed the characters and their dynamics. Daisy's brother--Alex--was expecially fun to watch as he interacted with Erik (maybe moreso becase I have a brother--also named Alex--who's got a similar personality). The setting of the story was interesting too. I've not really read a book where vampires are known to the world and the government actually encouraged the hunting of their kind. Not to say that the vampires walked freely among humans, but there was a cool flavor to the setting that I haven't really seen before.

Overall, I really liked Erik as a character. He wasn't simply a "stock vampire" that I've seen in many other similar novels among other authors. I liked him almost as much as I liked Rhys--which probably wasn't the author's intent, but what can I say? I like 'em bad :)

Daisy--on the other hand--was a nice character, but that was it. I didn't feel much for her other than when she was with Erik. Her encounters with Erik made me care about her, but that was about it. Not to give too much away, but he lifestyle was pretty cool and her family was interesting, but it was Daisy, herself, the didn't quite do it for me.

However, I still enjoyed this book a lot (though it took me FOREVER to finish...). It wasn't my favorite of Ashley's, but I would still recommend it nonetheless.

Royal Affairs--A Lusty Romp Throughout the Extramarital Adventures That Rocked the British Monarchy: Leslie Carroll

"INSATIABLE KINGS. LECHEROUS QUEENS. KISSING COUSINS. WANTON CONSRTS.

"WELCOME TO NEARLY A THOUSAND YEARS OF NAUGHTY BEHAVIOR.

"Royal unions have always been the stuff of scintillating gossip, from the passionate Plantagenets to Henry VIII's alarming head count of wives and mistresses, to the sapphic crushes of Mary and Anne Stuart, right up to the scandal-blighted coupling of Prince Charles and Princess Diana. Shoved into loveless arranged marriages for political and economic gain, many royals were driven to seek their pleasures outside the marital bed, engaging in delicious flirtations, lurid love letters, and rampant sex with voluptuous and willing paramours.

"This nearly pathological lust made for some of the most titillating scandals in Great Britain's history. Hardly harmless, these affairs disrupted dynastic alliances, endangered lives, and most of all, fed the salacious curiosity of the public for centutries.

"PEEK BETWEEN THE COVERS...."

I read this book when it was really quiet as work. At first, it was just something to do, but it very quickly turned into something I really enjoyed. The writing was fantastic; written almost like a modern romance novel. It was so much fun to read (as I imagine most all juicy gossip is). Though, this was not just a compillation of facts and rumors, but it was made much more interesting by snippets of first-hand accounts of the people themselves. There are even some lines from actual surviving love notes between the lovers. Not only that, but the author incorporated fascinating information about the royals' reigns which serves to make the people on the pages really come to life. In fact, I read this book with a pictoral history of the British Monarchy, which made the people--at least the monarchs--look more like real people. The descriptions provided by Carroll were enriched by the actual paintings and drawings of them.

Overall, this was a very fun book to read. I had a difficult time putting the book down when I was forced to get back to work. Everyday, I would constantly glance at the clock until I would allow myself a few moments of peace to read this book. I really, truly enjoyed the writing. It is not often that a non-fiction book will capture me as well as this one did. I highly recommend it to those looking for a fun read.

Sunlight, Moonlight: Amanda Ashley, Madeline Baker

"TWO HEROES AS DIFFERENT AS NIGHT AND DAY...TWO LOVE STORIES AS DIFFERENT AS DAWN AND DUSK...

"SUNLIGHT

"He came from across the universe--a tawny, powerful stranger more perfect than any mere mortal. Yet when Micah crash-landed on earth, not even his boundless strength could help him resist the temptations of one stunning beauty. Trapped on a worls not his own, tracked by enemies bent on destroying him, Micah fought to preserve his very life even as he ached to claim the love that would take him to heaven and beyond."

This was definitely one of Amanda Ashley's more creative books. The plot wasunique and it really kept me interested. Though the beginning, several parts in the miffle, and the end were very fun to read; it was the few parts in the middle that slowed it a little for me. It's not that the writing was lacking; it was simply that the characters fell into a very typical routine. This should not be a deterrent bu any means. The writing was great and the plot was so interesting. Its twists and turns were excellent and made me want to keep reading.

"MOONLIGHT

"Long had Navarre dwelt in darkness, yearning to end his cursed solitude. A vampire doomes to eternal night, he had searched through the ages for a woman brave enough to desire him, a lover bold enough to embrace him. And when Navarre at last found her, he swore that together they would savor the joys of undying ecstasy and surrender the dawn."

Thus far, this has to be my favorite story by this autor yet. Navarre was so well-written. I pretty much ate this story up. Ashley created such an interesting world with her ancient religious cult and the unexpected turns in the plot made me fall in love with the story. I really enjoy it when an author transports me with her writing and Ashley definitely did this in the first half of this story. Though the "modern day" portion of the story didn't make me fall in love as the first part did, it was no less entertaining and I really did like this story.

I feel really bad that it took me so long to review this book...I finished it at least two weeks ago. Despite my delay, I recommend this book. I'm in the process of reading another of Ashley's books and will review it soon!

***So...it's actually December 31 2009 and I've been having problems with Blogger. Normally, I write the reviews in Word and copy and paste them into here. Now, for the past months, Blogger has not allowed me to do this and I've been pretty frustrated. I have several reviews all written up, but I have no way to put them on here other than sitting down and copying them word-for-word (like I did for this one). It's just frustrating because I don't have the time for it... That's not a very good excuse, though... As a matter of fact, I feel really bad because I've not been reading NEARLY as much as I used to. I'm shirking my duties a little. I'll do better in 2010!!! Promise!!***

The Umbrella Academy: Apocalypse Suite: Gerard Way and Gabriel Ba

"In an inexplicable worldwide event, forty-seven extraordinary children were spontaneously born by women who'd previously shown no signs of pregnancy. Millionaire inventor Reginald Hargreeves adopted seven of the children; when asked why, his olny explanation was, "To save the world."

"These seven children from the Umbrella Academy, a dysfunctional family of superheroes with bizarre powers. Their first adventure at the age of ten pits them against an erratic and deadly Eiffel Tower, pioleted by the fearsome zombie-robot Gustave Eiffel. Nearly a decade later, the team disbands, but when Hargreeves unexpectedly dies, these disgruntled siblings reunite just in time to save the world once again.

"Conceived and written by Gerard Way of My Chemical Romance, The Umbrella Academy: Apocalypse Suite features interior art by Eisner Award-nominated artist Gabriel Ba (De: TALES, Casanova), colors by Eisner Award-winning colorist Dave Stewart, and original series covers by multiple Eisner Award-winning James Jean. This volume collects the first six-issue series, as well as out-of-print short stories and an expanded sketchbook section featuring work by Ba, Jean, and Way."

I originally saw an advertisement for this book when my little brother was watching G4 cover Comic-con. I was really excited and couldn't wait to get my hands on it. Finally, I found it...and devoured it in about two hours.

To be entirely honest, I keep going back and forth as to whether or not I actually liked it. Initially, I really enjoyed it. However, as I go back anfd look at it, I like various parts of the art less and less. Half the time the characters don't even look like themselves. As an artist (and I am NOT saying that I would or could ever do a comic) it just really bothered me.

Overall, the plot was interesting. I wish a bit more had been explained, but I can live with it. This is definitely something that should be read at least once, just so you can say you have. It's worth it.

Why Do Men Fall Asleep After Sex?—More Questions You’d Only Ask a Doctor After Your Third Whiskey Sour: Mark Leyner and Billy Goldberg, M.D.

“THE DOCTOR IS IN…AGAIN!

“Did the mega-bestselling Why Do Men Have Nipples? exhaust your curiosity about stuff odd, icky, kinky, noxious, libidinous, or just plain embarrassing? No, you say? Well, good, because the doctor and his able-bodied buddy are in! Again! Mark Leyner and Billy Goldberg, M.D., now take on the differences between the sexes—those burning questions like Why doesn’t my husband ever listen? or Why does my wife ALWAYS have to pee? And of course, Why Do Men Fall Asleep After Sex?, plus plenty of others to keep you fully informed.

“Full of smart and funny answers to an onslaught of new questions, all in a do-ask-we’ll-tell spirit that entertain and teaches you something at the same time, Why Do Men Fall Asleep After Sex? Offers the real lowdown on everything everyone wants to know about all things anatomical, medical, sexual, nutritional, animal, and mineral, but would only ask a physician after a few too many, like:
· Why do you have a “bionic” sense of smell when you’re pregnant?
· Does peeing in the shower cure athlete’s foot?
· Can you breastfeed with fake boobs?
· Does thumb sucking cause buckteeth?
· Do your eyebrows grown back if shaved?

“Bigger, funnier, and better than ever, Why Do Men Fall Asleep After Sex? proves that in the battle of the sexes, as in most things, a little Q&A is a safe, effective, minimally invasive remedy.”

After reading the first book by the dynamic duo, I was SO excited to discover that they’d written another one! This book is just as fun and witty as the first and I devoured it. It didn’t even feel like I was actually learning something about the human body. I love it when books do that.

Leyner and Goldberg definitely lived up to my expectations in this often hilarious sequel.

Why Do Men Have Nipples?—Hundreds of Questions You’d Only Ask a Doctor After Your Third Martini: Mark Leyner & Billy Goldberg, M.D.

“IS THERE A DOCTOR IN THE HOUSE?

“Say you’re at a party. You’ve had a martini or three, and you mingle through the crowd, wondering how long you need to stay before going out for pizza. Suddenly, you’re introduced to someone new, Dr. Nice Tomeetya. You forget the pizza. Now is the perfect time to bring up all those strange questions you’d like to ask during an office visit with your own doctor but haven’t the guts (or more likely the time) to do so. You’re filled with liquid courage…now is your chance! If you’ve ever wanted to ask a doctor…
· How do people in wheelchairs have sex?
· Why do I get a killed headache when I such down my milkshake?
· Can I lose my contact lens inside my head forever?
· Why does asparagus make my pee smell?
· Why do old people grow hair on their ears?
· Is the old adage “beer before liquor, never sicker, liquor before beer…” really true?
…then Why Do Men Have Nipples? is the book for you.

“Compiled by Billy Goldberg, an emergency medicine physician, and Mark Leyner, bestselling author and well-known satirist, Why Do Men Have Nipples? offers real factual and really funny answers to some of the big questions about the oddities of our bodies.”

I found this book on accident one day (actually quite a while ago) at work (I work in the non-fiction section at the library and naturally come across some pretty odd things) and took one look at the title and decided I had to discover the answer for myself. Needless to say, I was quickly drawn in to this little book by two hilarious men. I loved the little breaks where they input some of their odd, sometimes awkward, IM conversations. This book was unique and really informative in a tasteful way. I really enjoyed it (as well as its sequel).

Why We Suck—A Feel Good Guide to Staying Fat, Loud, Lazy and Stupid: Denis Leary

“Do you SUCK?

“Would you like not to SUCK?

“So you know other people who SUCK?

“Would you like to tell them how to SUCK less of how to possibly become totally SUCK-free?

“Then buy this book, because inside Dr. Denis Leary is ready to help you overcome all the sucky things that make you such a jackass. Not to mention all the fat, loud, lazy and stupid suckholes you have to deal with at the office, family gatherings or while using public transportation.

“Part memoir, part self-help to me but definitely a full-time funny assault on all the posers, politicians and pop culture icons who have sucked in public for far too long, this book is a call to arms for everyone who feels the way the good doctor does:

*Skinny jeans are for skinny people.
*Men will never change. Not even to clean underwear.
*If God didn’t want us to eat meant, why did He make the cow so slow? (Ever eaten a cheetah-burger? Nope. And you never will.)

“Buy this book and you will hopefully laugh out loud, call your mom a little more often and never vote for a member of the Bush family ever again.

“At the very least, though, you’ll have yourself a nice big twenty-six-dollar coaster to place your drink on while you watch TV. And isn’t that reason alone to buy it?”

I came across this book by accident one day at work (for those of you who don’t know, I work at the local library). I like Denis Leary as an actor and thought it might be interesting to see what kind of an author he was—not to mention that it was in the comedy section so I was excited about getting a bit of a laugh out of it too. Needless to say, I wasn’t disappointed.

His takes on the simplest things—from parenting and school bullies to Oprah, Dr. Phil, and the U.S. as a whole—were so raw and honest that I couldn’t help but laugh. I’ve honestly never read anything so blatant. Denis Leary has no fear. He’s not afraid of insulting his friends, the government, his peers, or the Pope.

I recommend reading the prologue because not only do you get a taste of his (ha! A commercial with Denis Leary just came on) acidic sense of humor; but you get a fair warning of what the book will be like. This book is not for the faint-hearted or easily offended. But for those of you who can handle it, this book is a hilarious read.