Card for today

I stopped by Annie Kelleher's blog, Writer's and Witches and Words, oh my, and took the little quiz & below is the card I got. My dad has read tarot cards for over forty years, I grew up watching him do readings. When the Universe has something to say to you, there are many opportunities for you to listen.

It's still a little eerie, though. The thought that even through the randomness of someone's little software program, one can receive a relevant message. A "Hey, pay attention here Lady!"

Our family is in transition this summer, all of us are changing roles a little. Walking a little further down the road.

You are The Tower

Ambition, fighting, war, courage. Destruction, danger, fall, ruin.

The Tower represents war, destruction, but also spiritual renewal. Plans are disrupted. Your views and ideas will change as a result.

The Tower is a card about war, a war between the structures of lies and the lightning flash of truth. The Tower stands for "false concepts and institutions that we take for real." You have been shaken up; blinded by a shocking revelation. It sometimes takes that to see a truth that one refuses to see. Or to bring down beliefs that are so well constructed. What's most important to remember is that the tearing down of this structure, however painful, makes room for something new to be built.

What Tarot Card are You?
Take the Test to Find Out.

Kushiel's Mercy; Jacqueline Carey

Third in the Imriel trilogy, Kushiel’s Mercy was released in June of this year by Grand Central Publishing. The first and second titles in this group are: Kushiel’s Justice and Kushiel’s Scion, both of which I’ve posted about. I don’t recommend reading this one without reading the first two, but to refresh our memory here’s a brief summary.

In Terre d’Ange there is one great traitoress, Melisande Shahrizai. Twice she’s come disturbingly close to overthrowing the rightful monarch, and twice she’s failed. To Phedre Delaunay has fallen the burden and the joy of raising Melisande’s tortured young son, Imriel de la Courcel. Unfortunately for Imriel, he’s also third in line for the throne so suspicion, mistrust and conspiracy theories dog him wherever he goes. In this book Imriel and Sidonie have decided to be lovers openly. However, Sidonie’s mother, Queen Ysandre, has strong opinions regarding Melisande’s son and her heir and their relationship. For Sidonie is her mother’s heir and Imriel can never escape his mother’s legacy. But Elua’s precept is strong in Terre d’Ange and even the monarch thinks twice about interfering between those deemed to love one another truly.

I must say, for me the strongest part of this novel was seeing Melisande from a whole new viewpoint- from that of her wounded and suspicious son. It was not delved into in any emotional depth, yet I enjoyed watching the mother-son interaction anyway. Melisande was rounded and humanized more than in the past. Imriel’s interactions with her had a tentative, “tread carefully” feel to them. The other section I really enjoyed was Leander and Sidonie. It gives away too much plot to explain, but let us say that a nefarious political plot has resulted in Sidonie sailing far away from Terre d’Ange. Over the series my impression of Imriel is that he’s young and had a long road ahead of him to establish his identity and his name separate from his mother. It is a tint unique to this trilogy, I think. Phedre’s trilogy is not touched with light tones and joy and growth in the same way.

The intimate scenes don’t have the same honey-sweet thick sensuality and dread of Phedre’s trilogy, and yet they are bound in joy and limned in love and the fierce (and frequent!) desire of two who are fated to be together. In the end third it seemed to me that one obstacle after another was thrown before them, one more barrier. One more problem. And yet, as frustrating and annoying as that was, the end made it all worth it. Not the wedding. The whispers between Leander (what a lovely Shakespearean name!) and Phedre. Melisande’s message. The intimation that all is not necessarily over yet.

The shift in tone and perspective to this trilogy from the first has been difficult. Essentially this is yet another coming of age book. Imriel is of a similar age to Phedre (in her first two books), yet he is lighter and younger in outlook than she ever was. A gift from her to him, I suppose. The gift of a childhood that otherwise he might never have had. One that she herself was denied. The other major problem I had was the device used to push Sidonie and Imriel apart and send Imriel on yet another quest. Not only was it unbelievable, but the reader is asked to believe it was effective over the entire population of the capitol city. Ysandre, Drustan, Joscelin, Phedre. Everyone. Except Imriel. I had to give that one a bye. It was simply too much. I sort of set it aside in my mind and kept on with the road adventure aspects of this last book.

Even with these issues Imriel’s adventures and attempts to thwart the will of the Gods have been fun to watch. Jacqueline Carey is a wonderful, lyrical writer, and her gifts are on display here. I found it well worth all of my anticipation.

May Synopsis

Wellllll..not the best month, but a whole sight better than previous work soaked months. Below is a linked list of books read during the month of May, in no particular order. All books should be listed in the archive on the sidebar.

1. A Kiss of Crimson; Lara Adrian

2.The Queen in Winter, Kurland, Delacroix, Shinn & Monette

3.Dragon's Kin; Anne & Todd McCaffrey

4.The Duel; Barbara Metzger

5.An Invitation to Sin; Suzanne Enoch

6.To Love A Princess; Patricia Grasso"

7.Just in Time; Judith Lansdowne

Force of Nature and All Through the Night; Suzanne Brockmann

Part of the Troubleshooters Inc. series, both of these were published in 2007 by Ballantine. Click link in title above to go to Ms. Brockmann's webpage for FON. Force of Nature is a full length novel and All Through the Night is a Christmas novella. Suzanne Brockmann has given all the rights for ATTN to a gay rights group called MassEquality, just in case any readers out there would be interested to know that. For many reasons, it has been a long long time since I’d read any of Ms. Brockmann’s work, all of which had to do with my reader’s baggage, as it’s commonly called. I’ve looked forward to Jules’ book for years, though, and I eagerly snapped up both of these titles when I saw them on the new books cart at my tiny little neighborhood library.

Force of Nature is set in Florida and is supposed to be the story of Enrique Alvarado and Annie Dugan and how they get together. Ric was a cop until burnout pushes him into the private investigations career track. Annie is Ric’s high school best friend’s little sister. They have one of these push me pull you type relationships, which kinda got on my nerves a little. Together, Ric and Annie get entangled in an FBI investigation into a local businessman. This is where Jules comes in. One of his agents has disappeared while undercover at the businessman’s home.

Sort of by chance Jules meets Robin Chadwick, the guy Jules has had a serious jones for, but for various reasons never hooked up with. One of these reasons being Robin’s world class drinking problem and the fact that Robin wants to stay in the closet because of his budding movie career. Um, not to mention the fact that Jules and Robin had a lover in common. Then again, Jules has Ben. But Ben’s in Iraq. He’s a Marine Corps officer. Talk about being in the closet!

I was disappointed a little because Ric is supposed to be a second generation Cuban American, but this vibrant and colorful community gets scant coverage. Much of the time I thought Ric could’ve simply been any Joe American, not a Cuban American. OTOH, Robin’s drinking issues and the ripples it causes and Jules’ conflicted feelings about what he wants in a relationship are delved into pretty thoroughly. I enjoyed looking at Jules from another character’s perspective quite a bit, I must say.

All Through the Night is Ms. Brockmann’s Christmas gift to Jules’ fans. Jules and Robin have an East Coast commuter relationship. Jules is based in DC and, after finishing rehab, Robin is filming a tv series in Boston. Neither is happy with the situation, but the implication is that they’ll be based out of Boston because they want to get married, and Massachusetts is the only place they can do it. Add in nosy, ethically challenged reporters, former team members who are on the no fly list but whom Jules wants at the wedding, a disgruntled former lover, never ending home repairs and the jitters and bumps of any new relationship. Toss liberally with love and humor and spice and you have a heartwarming romance. Fittingly for someone just out rehab, Robin seems to be the vulnerable one while Jules provides steadiness. It’s an action packed little book, but one I found to be very satisfying.

For anyone who's interested, below are the lyrics to the Cole Porter song All Through the Night, best version, IMO, by Ella Fitzgerald:

The day is my enemy, the night my friend,
For I'm always so alone
Till the day draws to an end.
But when the sun goes down
And the moon comes through,
To the monotone of the evening's drone
I'm all alone with you.

All through the night,
I delight in your love,
All through the night, you're so close to me.
All through the night, from a height far above,
You and your love brings me ecstasy.

When dawn comes to waken me
You're never there at all.
I know you've forsaken me,
Till the shadows fall.
But then once again
I can dream,
I've the right
To be close to you
All through the night.

Thorne Family Trilogy; Judith Lansdowne

The titles in this group are: Just in Time, Just Perfect, and Just Impossible. I love Ms. Lansdowne's books, I've three on my keeper shelves already. I hemmed and hawed about the first one, bypassing it several times at the store. I'm nothing if not indecisive, so the longer I hesitated the scarcer traditional Regencies became. These are all longer than most TRs, though.

The first one Just in Time tells the story of Veronica Thorne, Dowager Duchess of Berinwick, and the new rector of the village church, Richard Dempsey. They were childhood friends decades ago, suddenly and unexpectedly reunited by her grace's now deceased husband. Veronica is plagued with guilt and sorrow concerning an episode long in her past, but one that has had profound impact on the lives of her family members. Richard proves to be a most unique vicar, but well up to the difficult task of wooing Veronica, rebuilding the local church and hunting antiquities, all simultaneously. Veronica is older than Richard, and both are in their forties. I also liked the fact that the little Berinwick family is close and loving and that they take their responsibilities to their villagers very seriously. Not only that but the servants are protective of the family as well.

Just Perfect takes place nine years later when young Hannah Thorne is twenty three and is spending the Season at Berinwick rather than in London. It seems his Grace's carefully cultivated fearsome reputation scares off all but one of Hannah's potential suitors. Deciding to quit the field, Hannah is spending the Season at home. First though, she must rescue a traveller lost in the middle of the moor, fend off well meaning matchmakers and figure out who murdered a long lost young woman who returned to the village unexpectedly and was murdered before anyone knew she was back. Ian Denham, Marquis of Kearny and Mallory is also in the village because the Squire is auctioning off some prime horseflesh and every red blooded aristocrat with the slightest inclination to breeding racehorses is in the area. Ian also happens to have an odd 'gift' that can put people off and is afraid of the dark. But Anne Gazenby thinks Hannah and Mal would be perfect if only she can get them together in the right circumstances..The loving relationship between the siblings was nicely done. Richard and Veronica make an appearance as well. For those who are interested in such things, Ian is a beta hero.

The last one in the family group is Just Impossible and is, at long last, the story of the bad, evil, audacious Duke of Berinwick himself, William Thorne. Julia Delacroix has something she hopes his Grace will want enough to pay her a princely sum. Enough so Julia give her young cousin Emma one gilded Season before Julia's bigger plan unfolds. One she has carefully nurtured for nearly twenty years. William and his young ward Elf are determined to help Julia- even if she doesn't particularly want them to. There are several very funny scenes with the dog, which leavened the over the top drama at the end. Still and all with the one overdone scene, this is one of those romances where I was really glad the hero found someone to love him. Like the other two books in the series, strong healthy family relationships were deftly done. According to the story, Julia is twenty nine, nearly thirty and William is thirty nine, pushing forty. Again there are glimpses of life behind the green baize door separating the Family from the servants.

All of these books are put out by Zebra, 2003 and 2004 respectively. Keepers all, because the Thornes are one of my favorite family groups.

Partial Reading List May

Read in May, listed in the order in which they are piled beside the computer.

1.Just in Time- Judith Lansdowne, Kensington 2003. Romance. Childhood friends are reunited in their 40’s and must find a murder among the local villagers. 1795 gothic.

2.To Love a Princess- Patricia Grasso, Zebra 2004. Romance. Illegitimate by blow of the Russian czar escapes potential slavery by running to England and marrying the first aristocrat who will have her. Beauty and the Beast theme. Set in 1820.

3.Dragon’s Kin- Anne and Todd McCaffrey, Del Rey, 2003. Fantasy. Their new collaboration is set in a mining village on Pern. Young Kindan and his friends must save the village and the mine by hook or by crook. Could be categorized as a young adult as well as straight fantasy.

4.The Duel- Barbara Metzger, Signet, 2005. Romance. Layabout young aristocrat shoots innocent bystander in the aftermath of an illicit duel. Marred, IMO, by the wife’s withholding of sex to “bring her husband around” so to speak. Regency.

5.An Invitation to Sin- Suzanne Enoch, Avon, 2005. Part of the Griffin family series. Young Zachary Griffin must prove to all and sundry he’s finally found his life’s purpose, most especially Miss Caroline Witfield. Regency.

The Queen in Winter Kurland, Shinn, Delacroix and Monette

This anthology of romance tinged fantasy was published back in 2006 by Berkely and includes works by Lynn Kurland, Sharon Shinn, Claire Delacroix and Sara Monette. I also read the previous fantasy romance anthology, To Weave a Web of Magic. I think this one is stronger than the previous one, but I don’t own it any longer and direct comparison is therefore impossible.

A Whisper of Spring by Lynn Kurland is s short story set in the kingdom of Neroche. Symon the mage must rescue Iolaire the elfin maid. I couldn’t help but picture Liv Tyler as the elfin maid, which enhanced my reading I think. For me this story is very visual, and it unfolded neatly.

When Winter Comes by Sharon Shinn showcases a small kingdom slowly being dragged into civil war. Sisters Annie and Sosie and Annie’s baby Kinnon must flee their family home and search for refuge. Along the way they make friends and find answers. Set in the same world as the 12 Houses series.


The Kiss of the Snow Queen by Claire Delacroix is a unique take on the Merlin trapped in a cave myth. I found a secondary character named Loki the most compelling. I pictured him as Michael Fassbender(image at left) who plays Azizeal on the tv series Hex. And I’m thrilled to discover Ms. Delacroix is writing a paranormal series featuring fallen angels.

A Gift of Wings by Sarah Monette is a heartfelt exploration of the painful effects of post traumatic stress syndrome on the loved ones of those who suffer emotional and physical trauma, all wrapped up in a cabin mystery.

Of the stories I thought Ms. Monette’s is the strongest both in terms of emotional content and plot. It is one of the few stories I’ve read recently where the female lead convincingly carries the relationship. The other story that impressed me was the one by Ms. Shinn. I regret to say I’ve not read her Samaria series. I just can’t seem to get around the visual of folks with wings, I guess. The other two stories are well done, but I felt each one had individual elements that stood out against the background.

Pigloo Eskimo Kisses

Kiss Of Crimson; Lara Adrian

This is the second book in the Midnight Breed series and was published in June 2007by Dell. I dearly hope Ms. Adrian harbors many story ideas for this series, well done vampires are some of my favorite material. And I’m nothing but loyal when it comes to series books. I’m still reading the Merry Gentry books for heaven’s sake! LOL

As in the first book, the overarching plot continues to develop. The evil Rogues intent on conquering the world have unleashed a new and fearsomely potent weapon. Kiss of Crimson focuses on Teresa (Tess) Culver DVM, her would be lover Ben Sullivan and her inadvertent Breedmate Dante. There’s also the Darkhaven FBI equivalent running around Boston investigating the disappearance of a large number of vampire youth.

It seems to be a requirement that romance heroes have some kind of impediment to forming an emotional bond with the heroine. Vampire heroes don’t seem to be an exception to this rule. Longevity, I suppose, would by its very nature create and reinforce these issues. To my mind Dante’s fears of bonding with Tess are superficial at best, but I admit this didn’t occur to me until after I was done reading.

Tess seems to suffer from the requisite lack of self esteem as well as a traumatic childhood. Like the heroine in the previous Midnight Breed book, Tess is pretty much a loner without too many close friends and family. IMO this probably eases the women’s transition into the vampire world. In my mind certain things were glossed over that I would like to have seen discussed, but these stories don’t go much beyond the initial flush of romantic love and sexual attachment.

I always wonder about some of the heroines in paranormal romances. The ones who end up significantly changing their lives and by implication the careers many of them have built. Apparently the subject doesn’t come up during the ‘conversion’ process, I guess. Most of the time the hero brings her into his world without too much serious thought towards what she’ll potentially be forced to give up. Are the readers not supposed to think about these things? Am I expected to accept that these issues will be addressed later- after he’s completely changed the parameters of her life? I dunno, maybe the amazingly hot powerful vampire sex makes it all worthwhile.

Meantime, despite all of these questions I heartily enjoyed Ms. Adrian’s Kiss of Crimson. I already have the next two books in the series buried in my TBR. The dermaglyphs continue to fascinate me. Write on Ms. Adrian! 

Thursday 13 #41- Family Update

Thursday 13 is intended to help bloggers get to know one another better. Leave a link in the comments and I'll link to you here. Click link in title above to see a list of more participants.


1. College Student is home for a week or ten days. It's nice to have him here, but it's also kinda sad 'cuz it reminds me that the days we'll all be together will slowly dwindle down further and further. Unless he moves back in of course.

2. Anime Queen's plans for the summer are proceeding apace. The Japanese language classes are a no go though. However now she's bucking for a summer college tour through New England.

3. The Pianist has a part in the 6th grade play. The plot of which runs along the lines of the animals trying to save the elderly farmer from the greedy rich guy who wants to buy the farm. Pianist's a horse. I think. I'm simply the chauffeur.

4. Husband is in the middle of finals. One C so far. Other grades unknown.

5. The Anime Queen just put her foot through the hall ceiling while climbing around the attick hunting for the fans. Yes, she's fine. The ceiling? Not so much.

6. My Lovely Sister sent me a gorgeous basket of gourmet coffees. Which are already half gone. Yummy and delicious. Unfortunately I'm only half as orgainized & still have to get some of her gift.

7. Our little deck-garden is proceeding slowly. I've only been able to find one plum tomato plant, one red bell pepper, one hot pepper and one mint plant. We're still looking for a few cherry tomato plants- to no avail as yet.

8. The blueberries though are chock full of berry buds. And I managed to find nets to cover them. So maybe we'll eat some this year. Fewer for the birds. Maybe.

9. My new favorite tv show is You Are What You Eat on BBC America. That woman pulls no punches. Unlike Americans who often try to dance around the elephant in the room.

10. The Pianist's newest pieces are Moonlight Sonata and some section of Howl's Moving Castle.

11. I cleaned out my closet. I do this at least once a year, but it always amazes me how much stuff I've not worn or outgrown or don't like anymore I can find to give to the charity thrift down the road.

12. I bought a copy of Jacques Pepin's Simple and Healthy Cooking and have promised I'll make one recipe a week all summer out of it. Tomorrow is red wine beef stew.

13. More next time!!

Bon bons and soap operas

More big events in my life this week. My last day at work Monday, last official day was Tuesday. Both the Husband and two good friends at church urged me to reconsider my priorities and my needs against the positives (??) of continuing to work. Basically it comes down to too many too regular too long nights away from home. Lack of basic consideration of family needs and worship time. The commute is a killer- 30+ miles one way, most often we ended up on the road commuting over an hour one way. The brand new car we bought last summer because both of our "beaters" died now has over 35,000 miles on it.

The irony of it all? The senior management at the last minute- literally as I was walking out the door Monday afternoon- offered to allow me to transfer out of my department into another, if I was willing to work two nights (past 10 pm each night) a week. Most likely Friday Saturday or Saturday Sunday. My first thought was, "If you really valued my work, my input (whichever you care to call it) you would have said something way before now." The second thought was that I ought to at least hear the man out before laughing in his face. Husband says he thinks they thought they could "call my bluff" or talk me out of it.

To be honest, I'm tired all the time. Late nights and early mornings aren't bringing out the best in my already sparkling personality. I'm starting to have stress related illnesses: chronic heartburn and nausea, "pre-high blood pressure" which sounds weird and fake but I am assured is real and potentially serious. Not to mention the price of gas pushing onward onward to $4 and likely more.

So the result of all the drama is that I'm once again unemployed. Still not quite sure I'm all that comfortable with it, but I did meet my goal of lasting through the end of Husband's semester at school. I'm a full time homemaker once again.

Although they did call twice this afternoon looking for me, but I was out of town rescuing College Studant. A story for another time. Will up date everyone with news, if any.

Post Up

My once monthly post is up over at Access Romance. All about whether or not online gossip effects your reading or book purchasing attitudes. Take a look.

Not Dead

YET. Still here, in fact. However, I've been all atwitter over recent kerfuffles at work the end result of which is that I've finally put in my two week notice. My last day will be next Tuesday. Which is actually one of my regular days off. Yes I planned it that way. My notice had been in for a week when another huge storm blew in and my manager asked me to stay. Until then she appeared to be perfectly ok with my leaving. Once the storm hit she asked me if there was anything she could do to convince me to stay. Then told me nothing I asked for would be guaranteed or promised. So my answer, of course, will be:"No thank you. I'm leaving."

Meanwhile I just finished a huge test(one of only two aside from the final) in the computer class I'm taking. I've no idea how I did. Maybe God will smile at me and bless me with a B. But I doubt it. I'm behind in one of the projects. Another project is due Thursday. A project I thought I'd saved but now I can't find it. I also have a post due up Thursday morning at Access Romance. APost which is as yet, unwritten.

On the plus side, I saw an old friend today and we're hoping to get together next week after I stop working. Also on the plus side, my sister sent me a basket of coffee and a mugstand for our birthday. No, we're not twins, but our natal days sit side by side in May.

However, I have been reading. One day in the future when I'm caught up and my children have had a home cooked meal and my house is semi clean I'll post my thoughts.

Thursday 13 #40~ Kiss of Midnight; Lara Adrian

Thursday thirteen is intended to allow bloggers all over the world to get to know one another better. Click link in title above to see a list of other participants. Leave a link in the comments below and I'll link back to you here.


1. Written by Lara Adrian and published by Bantam Dell in May 2007, Kiss of Midnight is the first book in a new series of paranormal romances set in a vampire world created by the author.

2. The backstory is unique, to say the least. Vampires, it seems, originated when a small group of aliens crashed on earth millennia ago. They could not eat the foods found here and took to drinking human blood for sustenance. At first they wiped out large groups of humans (like the Maya and the mound building Indians of the central US) before they figured out a way to survive without eliminating the food source. Crudely put, but pretty accurate.

3. In the modern era, the vampires have evolved into three distinct groups. One- colonies of vampires who live routine lives and try to blend into whatever human society is close by. Two- Rogue vampires who break both human and vampire laws by killing those they feed from and making zombie minions out of humans. Three- warrior vampires, calling themselves the Order, whose chosen role is to protect civilian vampires and humans from the Rogues.

4. This series revolves around members of the Order living in metropolitan Boston Massachusetts.

5. Gabrielle Thorne is a freelance photographer who lives a relatively quiet and orderly life with a few close friends. Things get exciting one night when she sees a gangland style execution in an alley behind a club built in a former church sold to pay for legal expenses (shades of 'real' life, anyone?).

6. Lucan Thorne is the leader of this group of the Order. He is a Gen One vampire, meaning he’s a first generation offspring of one of the original alien vampires. Vampires are exclusively male (another genetic anomaly) and have beautiful tattoo like markings all over their bodies which change colors depending on his mood.

7. Gabrielle comes to Lucan’s attention at the club. Eventually he decides he can’t protect her at her apartment and he brings her to the Order’s compound for her own protection. Things escalate from there.

8. Someone has declared war on the Order, but who is it? Because whoever it is, they seem to have declared war against the Order and they are willing to use humans and civilian vampires as fodder.

9. In the meantime, one of Lucan’s fellow warriors gets killed when he takes a mission in Lucan’s place. Lucan being at Gabrielle’s at the time. It turns out his mate is three months pregnant and they had planned to retire when the child was born. So Lucan has that to cope with.

10. Gabrielle has emotional issues from her past to cope with and, like many childhood traumas they affect her present too. The fact that Lucan witnessed part of what happened complicates matters.

11. Ms. Adrian has really caught my eye and my greedy reader’s heart with this series partly because the characters are depicted as flawed and needy and bringing baggage to a relationship, yet Ms. Adrian doesn’t allow these problems to overwhelm either the character or the storyline. Essential and necessary but not developed to the point of putting off the reader.

12. The idea of dermaglyphs all over the guy’s bodies fascinates me. Ones that change color even. Mmmmm mmmmm mmmmm. ;)

13. Props to Ms. Adrian for developing a unique vampire world populated by well rounded characters whose relationships remain at the forefront while simultaneously sketching out an ongoing plot that could keep the series going for quite a while.

Image found at fantasticfiction

The Perfect Waltz; Anne Gracie

I'm thinking Anne Gracie is my new glom. Good for the reader in me, bad for my wallet. Unless I find them in the UBS..Anyhow, The Perfect Waltz was written by Ms. Anne Gracie and published by Berkley in November 2005. I read the first book in the Merridew sisters group a few days ago. My thoughts HERE.

The heroine this time around is Hope Merridew, one of the twins. Naturally she is a darling of the Ton, a diamond of the first water, etc. No shy, retiring wallflower she. Sebastian Reyne has recently decided he needs a wife in order to better care for his younger sisters recently returned to him. Sebastian has specific criteria due to issues with his sisters. With the help of his buddy Giles Bemerton, a man whose social polish is well known, Sebastian decides Lady Elinor Whitelaw is meets all of his criteria. That he's actually attracted to Hope is irrelevant.

So Sebastian sets out to court Lady Elinor. That she and Hope move in similar circles means they all meet frequently. Giles steps in to assist with socializing duties, and he and Lady Elinor are like oil and water. Poor Elinor, convinced the only way she can honor her recently deceased mother is to be just like her. Only Giles sets himself to make her see that this idea is wrong.

The Perfect Waltz allows the reader to watch two different couples step through an intricate dance complicated by the little Reyne sisters, Sebastian's sense of honor and duty, and the faces we all wear when out in public. Absolutely one of the best romances I've read in a long long time. Keeper.

The Invisible Ring; Anne Bishop

Published by ROC in in October 2000 and written by Anne Bishop, The Invisible Ring is set in the same universe as Bishop's Black Jewels trilogy and related books and short stories. After reading and digesting it I am reminded of an issue that came up when I started reading the Miles Vorkosigan (written by Lois McMaster Bujold) books. Namely, which order do you want to read them in? Published or chronological? Now the Vorkosigan saga is much longer, but the comparison is apt, I think. Despite being listed on various sites as the fourth book in the Black Jewels trilogy, The Invisible Ring is set before the trilogy begins. Chronological order works best for me, and now I wish I'd read this one before I read the trilogy.

Lord Jared has been sent to the biannual slave auction at Raej. Why? He's a Queen killer. Murdered the last Queen who wore his Controlling ring. So he's going to be sent to the salt mines in Pruul via the slave auctions. Except, Grizelle the Gray Queen buys him. And plans to take them to her Territory, Dena Nehele. Jared has heard nothing but rumors about Grizelle and Dena Nehele, and not a single positive thing.

Unfortunately, Dorothea SaDiablo is out to kill Grizelle and she's willing to use every weapon in her considerable arsenal to achieve this goal. A new master of the guard, spells specific to this task, and an endless wellspring of powerhungriness amorality and cruelty. Lucklily for Grizelle and her little band of slaves, Daemon Sadi saw Jared in the auction pen and decided to help out as much as he could.

Will Grizelle make it to Dena Nehele? Will Jared and the other males be able to protect everyone long enough to make it over the border? Will the reader's heart survive Dorothea's agonizing activities? Is the invisible ring real or not? Is Garth what Jared thinks he is? Will Jared make it to Shalador or Dena Nehele? Neither? And who is the Rogue sapphire warlord? For, like in all good books, all is not what it seems.

Anyhow, I think any new Anne Bishop reader would do well to read The Invisible Ring before reading the Black Jewels trilogy or any of the related pieces. Ms. Bishop fleshes out the role of pleasure slaves, details what the Blood is supposed to be and gives a reader an inkling of the true price of Dorothea's schemes would be if she succeeds. Not to mention making Daemon much more mysterious, thereby priming the reader for the trilogy. Excellent book. Buy all four at the same time and read this one first. BTW, this is being reissued month after next in June in trade paperback size with a new sexy cover. Click here to see Amamzon's page.

March Synopsis

I only finished two reviews this month, although I read three books. There just isn't time enough in the day to finish everything that needs to be done.


Sword of Shame, Medieval Murderers

A Rose for the Crown, Anne Easter Smith

Tangled Webs; Anne Bishop

Published by ROC in March 2008, Tangled Webs was written by Anne Bishop. Click link in title above to go to Ms. Bishop's website. It’s a follow on to the Black Jewels trilogy, featuring Surreal SaDiablo and her lover Rainier. Set shortly after Daemon and Jaenelle’s wedding, events unfold quickly. I loved Ms. Bishop’s nod to real life fairy tale Prince Rainier of Monaco. The multi layered references within the title amuse me. First thing that came to mind was the old truism, “what tangled webs we weave when first we practice to deceive.” Second, the method of travel within the Realms of the Blood is by ‘web’ for those gifted with magical abilities. Third, there are relationship webs woven between individuals.

Tangled Webs is set in late October in Dhemlan. Surreal is coming into her moontime and Daemon is in the house to protect her during the few days a month when witches are without most of their magic. Things get a little prickly when Rainier arrives, but Surreal manages to smooth it over. A few days later Surreal gets a royal invitation to attend a spooky house built by Jaenelle and Marian. A rather abrupt and oddly worded invitation. Surreal and Rainier decide to go, though. And that’s when the trouble really begins.

Surreal and Rainier meet at ‘the spooky house’ and enter with a small group of landen (base born, non magically gifted) children. Thus they are trapped and in deadly danger. Now comes a race against time and danger. Will Surreal and Rainier be able to keep themselves and the children alive and escape the spooky house? Who built it and why?

Ms. Bishop works in details of the SaDiablo family relationships: how Jaenelle and Daemon are dancing the tender and prickly dance newborn marriages go through; we watch Lucivar and Marian and little Daemonar; we see Saetan and Sylvia mourn the inevitable end of their relationship; we watch Jaenelle feeling her way around her new jewel and how recent events have changed her official role. All of these things deepened my affection for the Realms of the Blood created by Ms. Bishop.

In my opinion Tangled Webs could be read by someone unfamiliar with Anne Bishop’s Black Jewels series, although I feel that familiarity with this world deepens the reading experience. I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys both fantasy and mystery novels.

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Glomming again

As regular readers know, I love vampire romances. I dunno, sharp teeth. Hungry all the time. Only for her, naturally. A couple of days ago I came across a new to me vampire romance author. Lara Adrian has written four Midnight Breed books, all set in my former stomping grounds of metropolitan Boston. Ms. Adrian's website is linked to above. Click here to go a trailer page on Ms. Adrian's website. They're really delicious. Work safe, most likely. Nothing too graphic. The trailers are quite well done. Really. I've seen some corny ones.

I've read two of the Midnight Breed series in the last week, and they are YUMMY. LOL Needless to say the Excel project I was supposed to do for class was put off until the absolutest last second. And even then Pianist helped me.

Image found at stockxchng.hu

Thursday 13 #39- The Perfect Rake, Anne Gracie

This is the first time I've done a Thursday 13 book review, but there's always a first right? The purpose of Thursday 13 is to help bloggers get to know one another better. Put a link in the comments and I'll link to you here. Click link in the title above to see a list of other participants.

1. The Perfect Rake was written by Anne Gracie and published by Berkeley in 2005. It's set in Regency England.

2. The set up is full of time worn romance cliches: abused orphan sisters led by the plucky eldest flee their evil guardian and are launched into society by an elderly relative while said mean evil guardian pursues them/her and she/they are finally saved by the hero.

3. In this instance, I must say Ms. Gracie makes all of these cliches work for me. And work well, too. The initial scene where Prudence and Gideon meet is extremely funny and reveals much about them individually and sets the stage for their relationship.

4. I think Ms. Gracie let the guardian off the hook too easily at the end, though.

5. I appreciate Ms. Gracie's ability to show the internalization of emotional abuse and she walks the knife's edge of just enough, not too overblown, yet clearly depicting how easily damaged a young woman could be.

6. The hero, Gideon, is supposed to be the classic "rake": well experienced with married women, drinks too much, parties too much, but has his own code. You know the drill: no innocents, because even rakes have to draw the line somewhere; a female relative or two who dotes on him and swears society has it all wrong; no bastard children, emotionally damaged in some way as a child and tons of money.

7. From the beginning, Gideon has eyes only for Prudence. From the start he calls her Miss Imprudence for her tendency to allow her mouth to get herself and by extension, Gideon, in trouble. I loved Gideon for his sense of humor, his ability to roll with Prudence's schemes. In the end, for his ability to both protect her and his ability to to help her grow.

8. Prudence for her part is fiercely protective of her sisters and is desperate though resourceful in her efforts to save them. Luckily she has enough memories of her parents to sustain her and give her strength through her ordeals.

9. Despite the overtones, The Perfect Rake manages to be funny and at times lighthearted. Always showing the power of familial love, parents' ability to reach beyond the grave to influence their children and the healing power of a new relationship.

10. A midnight hell for leather carriage ride.

11. Gideon gets shot, but all is not what it seems.

12. A Duke who is described as stout and serious and likes to live on an isolated estate.

13. Very highly recommended.