Book Review: The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by @michellehodkin I came, I read, I cried, I laughed, I recommend. July 8, 2011

I love this book. Most of you who’ve followed me for a while know that I read this while I was betaing Mara for Michelle. I read this story so many times, I have parts of it memorized. One scene in particular, I won’t mention it, but it still makes me all swoony-giggly-blushy. Yeah… I know. You’ll know what I’m talkin’ about when you read it. 😉

It is truly an intriguing, emotional, heart-thumping, complicated tale.

Our main character Mara is distressed, but she’s no damsel looking for a white knight. Noah is gallant, but he’s not sporting any shining armour.

Mara is my love. She is tough, smart, feisty, and will put you in your place, in more ways than one.

Noah will make you swoon. He’s smart, snarky, sexy, and foreign.

Aren’t those the requirements for a heartthrob? Give him a brain, a body, and a British accent and he’s golden, yea?

I will brag about Michelle because she’s my friend and I love her… I will brag about Mara because it’s a damn fine story with suspense and pain, heart and humor.

This is a fantasy paranormal YA thriller and I hope you’ll put it on your list. It’s gonna freak you the hell out and you’ll love it. Go check out www.michellehodkin.com to find out more about my girl Michelle.

Book Review: Black Dagger Brotherhood 8: Lover Mine by J.R. Ward *sigh* May 9, 2011

Oooooh…. John Matthew!

I was completely absorbed and enthralled by his story. Since we met him way back in the earlier books as the scared, abused pretrans. Then his growth and changes, meeting his support system, watching all the pain and suffering he goes through to become who he is at the end of this book. Oh.my.god!

It just killed me over and over. It took me a lot longer to get through this one due to the heavy subject matter, not only with John, but also with Xhex, the flashbacks of Tohr, and Lash. It all melded nicely together in this story, but it also hurt! Especially, Xhex’s storyline. Wow. Incredible.

I really liked learning more about where Xhex came from and learning about John Matthew and his connection to Xhex. His story is hard to read, but it’s so well told.

I also loved seeing Blay in action and his storyline coming out. I’m hoping we get more of his story in number nine. It is so refreshing to have a m/m storyline other than what we learned about some of the Brothers in earlier stories. This is a dedicated storyline and it’s awesome. Angsty and beautiful 🙂

These books have me so completely addicted. It’s ridiculous. And I’ve begun enabling others and bringing them along too 🙂 At least I’m not alone!

Book Review: Black Dagger Brotherhood 5: Lover Unbound by J.R. Ward April 19, 2011

Okay, so yeah, read this one in about 5 hours and sobbed my eyes out for the last 20 pages.

And when I say sob, I don’t mean delicate, feminine little ribbons of saltwater softly trailing over flushed cheeks… no this was a torrential, cathartic, snotsobbing-style weeping. It wasn’t pretty.

Vishous’ story was so full of pain… I thought Zsadist’s story was painful… it was. This mounted that pain and made it it’s bitch.

God, my stomach still hurts.

The ending was fantastic and I adored the tête-à-tête that was V and Jane co-mingling and challenging each other. It was such a beautiful, real, raw love story. Add the mother stuff, well, for those of you who know me in real life, this all really affected me.

Vishous’ story is just poignant. I don’t want to say more and ruin others reading, but this was an extremely good one.

I think V’s story and Z’s story are by far my favorite so far.

Can’t wait to read on!