Monday, March 19, 2012

Reviewing Your Universe


Crave by Felicity Heaton

Rating:   4 ½ Stars


Sometimes, we don’t know what we want or need until the object of our desire appears before our eyes.

Callum is an elite vampire in Paris on business. He’s searching for new talent to headline an exotic show for the Vampirerotique, a theatre he owns and runs with three other vampires.

His specific assignment is to scout for female werewolves—a surprising task, since vampires and werewolves don’t usually get along. And though he finds several he sends to London to audition for the theatre, he’s become obsessed with one female in particular. He knows she’ll steal the show, but after spending time with her—in and out of his bed—he realizes she could also steal his heart.

Katrina is female werewolf on the run. Her alpha wants to bond with her and have lots of little cubs. She refuses to be tied to a man she doesn’t love. For months she’s been eluding capture, making the club rounds to feed as she moves from place to place.

She approaches Callum and discovers he’s a vampire. Her instincts scream he’s a bigger threat than the werewolves she’s been running from. Her raging mating hormones tell her to enjoy what he’s offering and then move on. But once she discovers Callum is a better man than any she’s ever met, her heart tells her to ignore everything she’s been raised to believe about vampires and give him a chance.

I LOVED this story (more than Covet actually)! Callum embodies the perfect man: strong, sexy as hell, and openly vulnerable because he’s willing to lay his heart on the line for love. Who wouldn’t want a man that would rock your world after he hands it to you on a silver platter?

Katrina is a very likeable, badass chick. She has baggage—and knows it. Each time she’s faced with a situation, her head and heart war over the direction—but she’s honest with herself and faces her demons. That’s a strong character.
My only issue with Crave was Katrina’s background. We’re told she is on the run from her pack, but there isn’t any real information about or interaction with them. That would have added another layer of conflict and depth for me personally.

Felicity Heaton’s Vampirerotique series definitely hits the mark for me. Drool worthy characters, smokin’ hot sex scenes, and enough heart and soul to cause a swoon, a sigh, and an intense need to read the next story in this series!

Thursday, March 15, 2012

Reviewing Your Universe


Covet by Felicity Heaton

4 Stars

Another Great Read!

When I was asked if I’d like to read and review Covet, I said yes without knowing anything about the book. I was that sure the story would be fantastic because I love Felicity Heaton’s voice. I’m happy to say, Ms. Heaton did not disappoint.

Javier is one of several vampires that own and run the Vampirerotique—a theatre that offers wickedly erotic and sinfully pleasurable shows to other vampires.

Over the last two years he’s become captivated by Lilah, a human female that works in his theatre. Unfortunately, he can’t indulge in any of his numerous fantasies about her. She is owned by Lord Ashville, a very powerful Aristocrat vampire, and touching another vampire’s bonded human will cause that human immeasurable pain—and the penalty to the offending vampire is death.

Lilah and Javier’s attraction to each other becomes a tangible thing, and Javier commits the ultimate sin when he gives in to his desires and makes love to Lilah. Their connection is deeper and stronger than he imagined. Losing her, living without her is not an option. Javier will fight Lord Ashville for Lilah—to the death.

I loved this story. Any time an author can inject an emotional connection into an erotic scene, I’m hooked—I’m a body, heart and soul kinda gal. Covet had an interesting plot that moved the story forward while carrying the erotic elements.

Short stories aren’t usually my first choice for reading because there’s just not enough word count to build out the necessary elements for a good book. Covet mostly did. The story opened with Javier’s captivation with Lilah fully in place. So, other than his description of Lilah being beautiful, I had no real substance to ground his obsession with Lilah in.

Lilah became a more dimensional character once we learn of her protecting another human from a vampire in the club. Her concern for Javier after they’ve been together also shows her caring nature and personality.

My other problem was with Javier himself. He knew being with Lilah would cause her horrible pain, but he made sure he was a considerate lover by making Lilah orgasm. The reader knew Lilah wasn’t in pain, but Javier didn’t. So that made me think his character was a little insensitive in that he assumed he could pleasure her while she was in pain—which would mean Lilah was a masochist and we as the reader had none of that information.

Admittedly, I’m thinking pretty deep into the story and character development, but that’s what readers do. Especially when it’s an author we love and expect nothing but great novels from.

Did either of my issues detract from the story? A little, but not really in the grand scheme of things. I will absolutely read next novel in Ms. Heaton’s Vampirerotique series. You should too!

Wednesday, March 7, 2012

Lunar Love!



Welcome to my page of the universe!

I am so excited about this hop. Can you guess why? Come on now, I know you've spotted the cover to your right. The lunar title, gorgeous full moon, heroine with tri-colored eyes. That's right, I'm bringing some psychic fun to the hop.

And I have I am a Reader, Not a Writer and Bookworm Lisa to thank for organizing this fantastic event and inviting me to be a part of it. So *curtsy* thank you!

Just click on either link and you'll find an entire list of blogs hosting giveaways for this event. Check them all out. You're sure to find many new authors with great books.

Before I tell you about the goodies, I'm going to post the rules:

     *   You must be a follower of Renee Rearden blog. (I know I need a better title, but since I bought the domain I figured I should use it!) If you are not a follower, this will disqualify your entry.

     *   Please leave your exact Google Friend Connect (GFC) follower name in the comment section so that I can check your entry is valid. I reserve the right to disqualify entrants that do not complete this correctly.

     *   Leave an email contact in your comment so I can notify you if you've won. I reserve the right to disqualify entrants that do not complete this correctly. Winners will be chosen via random.org.

That's it!

Okay, I have to admit I'm really excited about this hop because Moonlight Bleu is the first in a series. The sequel, Crimson Series, launches in a few short weeks. So I would love to introduce everyone to my Tueri psychics.

Prize Pack #1 (U.S./Int)
     *    A signed copy of Moonlight Bleu with some swag.



Prize Pack #2 (U.S./Int)
     *    An Ebook (format of your choice) of Moonlight Bleu.


Prize Pack #3 (U.S./Int)

     *    A signed Moonlight Bleu bookmark and postcard.


Monday, March 5, 2012

Tag! You're it!


Tag! You're it!

Source
Guess what, everybody? My blogging 
friend, Kate Evangelista, from Kate's Blog 
tagged me for a Q&A meme and I'm more 
than happy to participate. Just for fun!

Kate's Questions for the Tag:

1. What's your go to book to read again 

    and again?

Oh boy. That's a tough question because 

I don't read books more than once. I don't 
exactly have a photographic (eidetic) memory, but I have a very good 
memory. So, I usually remember too many things about a book to 
read it over again. However, I have a "keeper" shelf I keep all the books 
 love and would like to someday read again. Plus, books on my keeper
shelf are also the ones I recommend to all my friends. I have a pretty 
large keeper bookcase not a shelf.


2If your life were a reality show, what would it be and why?

My life would definitely be Survivor. (No groaning!) I have four 

daughters. Yep, four of 'em. Between fiancees, boyfriends, proms, 
driving permits, and zero-hour classes I always feel like I'm looking 
for necessary items to survive the day (like my lunch when I forget 
it on the counter)...not to mention rewards to bribe-er-motivate 
the girls to accomplish whatever chore or task they've been asked 
to do! 


3What's the one song you have on repeat?

Actually, I don't have any songs on repeat. I don't even have an 

iPod! Since I listen to people talk all day during my day job as a 
court reporter, I like my quiet time. I do listen to the radio in my 
car though...

4. If life is like a box of chocolates, which kind of chocolate are 
    you in the box?

What a question! I love chocolate. I think I'd probably be a milk 
chocolate caramel peanut cluster (peanut, cashew or almond). 
Yep, there's all kinds of levels in that answer! I'm definitely a 
little nutty. And there are lots of flavors to my personality. As a 
Gemini, my hubs used to joke about never knowing which of my 
two personalities (ego and alter ego) would say good morning!
 For the most part though, I'm pretty mellow with a sweet 
disposition. Okay, sappy...but how the heck do you describe 
yourself?  =D

5. If I looked in your closet right now, which article of clothing do 
    you have the most of?

I'd have to say suits. I work in a courthouse, so I have more 
professional clothes than I do comfy clothes. There's something 
inherently wrong with that statement. I think I need to go 
shopping!  LOL

6. Which book on the NY Best Sellers List would you have wanted 

    to have written?

I'd have wanted to write the best selling Harry Potter series 

(I know, just like everybody else, right?). J.K. Rowling is a fantastic 
writer. Her stories are exciting, engaging and full of adventure. I 
guess mostly because all of my girls were able to read the Harry 
Potter books and they absolutely LOVED them. Having said that, 
I love writing adult novels in the paranormal romance and urban 
fantasy genres. My girls will just have to be older before they read
my stories! 

7. If you could be anyone famous, who would it be and why?


If I had to choose to be anyone famous, 
it would be my  
favorite actress Meryl Streep. She always portrays such 
strong characters, and her sense of humor is wickedly
 hilarious. Who wouldn't want to be a successful, 
badass woman like Meryl Streep?

8. What would you do with a million dollars?



Wow, if I had a million dollars the first thing I'd do is retire 
from my day job and write full time. What a dream!!! 
After that, put my girls through college, and then buy a 
bigger house. I need a craft room and an office. 


9.  If you knew for sure that the world is ending, what's the 
     first thing you'd do? 


If the world were ending, I'd spend the time I had left with 
my children and husband. I love them so much, and I'd want 
them to know that unequivocally. Then eat cheese puffs. 
Comfort food, what can I say?


10.  Which fictional character would you want to meet in 
       person and why?


Okay, this is going to sound like a cop-out, but I couldn't 
choose just one character I'd like to meet. There are so 
many from my favorite novels I think I'd like to interview 
them all. I'd meet with each of them over coffee or a meal. 
Then write articles about the ones that allowed me to, and 
promise not to breathe a word about the interview of 
characters that would normally say, "I'd tell you, but I'd 
have to kill you." What can I say, living dangerously has a 
strange but addictive appeal.




11. If you met your sixteen-year-old self today, what would 
      you tell her?


Run! Run like hell and never look back!!! 


Okay, so that's a little melodramatic...but it's definitely what 
I'd say. I had a boyfriend at the time (isn't it always about a 
guy?), my first love. He so totally destroyed my self-esteem. 
Took me years to get over that and feel comfortable in my 
own skin. Being married to a wonderful man helped me 
realize I was important and valued (and loved, needed, and 
sexy too!). I think that's why my heroines have similar issues. 
Of course, they get over their perceived weaknesses and get 
to exact a little revenge-I mean justice. Hey, writing is cheaper 
than a therapist!




Okay, now for the tag rules:


1. You must post the rules!
2. Answer the questions and then create eleven new questions 
    to ask the people you’ve tagged.
3. Tag eleven people and link to them.
4. Let them know you’ve tagged them.


Here are my Tag Questions:


1. What book did you read that made you think, "I could write a novel"?
2. If you could change one thing about your life, what would it be and why?
3. If color defines you personality, what shade are you?
4. What defining moment in your life shaped the person you've become?
5. Do you have more purses or shoes in your closet and are either an obsession?
6. Are you a television or motion picture kind of person?
7. If you could be anyone else in your family, who would it be and why?
8. If you found a case full of money, would you keep it or search for the owner?
9. Have you done anything to prepare for December 21, 2012...just in case?
10. If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go and why?
11. What is your favorite, sinfully-delicious snack...the one you sneak to eat?


Tag! You're it!


1. Lynn Rush
2. Danica Avet
3. Sean Poindexter
4. Danyelle Leafty
5. Avery Olive
6. Candace Bundy
7. Jordan K. Rose
8. Jeffrey Beesler
9. Michelle Clay
10. Karen Y. Bynum
11. Kait Nolan


Again, just a little fun. :-)