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	<title>The Book Pushers &#124; Book Reviews &#124; Book Chatter &#187; Romance</title>
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		<title>Review: Sins of the Angels by Linda Poitevin</title>
		<link>http://thebookpushers.com/2011/10/31/review-sins-of-the-angels-by-linda-poitevin/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=review-sins-of-the-angels-by-linda-poitevin</link>
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		<pubDate>Mon, 31 Oct 2011 18:54:07 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Has</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[C REVIEWS]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[C+ Review]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Urban Fantasy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Angels]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Romance]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://thebookpushers.com/?p=7012</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Where did you get the book: Netgalley Publisher: Ace/Penguin Release Date: Out now A detective with a secret lineage. An undercover Hunter with a bullet-proof soul. And a world made to pay for the sins of an angel… Homicide detective Alexandra Jarvis answers to no one. Especially not to the new partner assigned to her [...]<p><a href="http://thebookpushers.com/2011/10/31/review-sins-of-the-angels-by-linda-poitevin/">Review: Sins of the Angels by Linda Poitevin</a> is a post from: <a href="http://thebookpushers.com">The Book Pushers | Book Reviews | Book Chatter</a></p>
]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://thebookpushers.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Sins-of-the-angels.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-7003" title="Sins of the angels" src="http://thebookpushers.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Sins-of-the-angels-186x300.jpg" alt="" width="186" height="300" /></a><br />
Where did you get the book: Netgalley</p>
<p>Publisher: Ace/Penguin</p>
<p>Release Date: Out now</p>
<blockquote>
<div>
<p>A detective with a secret lineage. An undercover Hunter with a bullet-proof soul. And a world made to pay for the sins of an angel…</p>
<p>Homicide detective Alexandra Jarvis answers to no one. Especially not to the new partner assigned to her in the middle of a gruesome serial killer case—a partner who is obstructive, irritatingly magnetic, and arrogant as hell.</p>
<p>Aramael is a Power—a hunter of the Fallen Angels. A millennium ago, he sentenced his own brother to eternal exile for crimes against humanity. Now his brother is back and wreaking murderous havoc in the mortal realm. To find him, Aramael must play second to a human police officer who wants nothing to do with him and whose very bloodline threatens both his mission and his soul.</p>
<p>Now, faced with a fallen angel hell-bent on triggering the apocalypse, Alex and Aramael have no choice but to join forces, because only together can they stop the end of days.</p>
<p><em>*Blurb taken from Goodreads*</em></p>
</div>
</blockquote>
<p>When I first came across the  Sins of the Angels a few months ago,  it perked my interest because I am always a sucker for dark avenging angels which this series encompasses. But I was also intrigued because it combined dark urban fantasy elements, and a police procedural mystery and the main characters were also engaging. The heroine, Alex Jarvis, is in the midst of  a brutal serial killer case where there is no correlating common factor amongst the victims. The case also reminds Alex of her painful past which makes her questions her grip on her sanity as she is paired up with her new partner, the enigmatic Jacob Trent, who is really a powerful angel in disguise, called Aramael, sent from heaven to guard Alex from the serial killer who is on the hunt for the Nephlim (the descendants of angels and humans) which Alex descends from. It also turns out that  serial killer is Aramael’s fallen angel brother and is slaughtering innocent humans due to his search to find a Nephlim because he wants to find a way to ascend back to heaven.</p>
<p>I have to admit, I did find the opening of the book a bit slow to get into even though it opens up with a grim murder scene and the intense meeting between Aramael and Alex. But the book settles down with a taut and tense pace as the hunt intensifies for the Caim, Aramael’s fallen brother who is bitter with his exile from heaven and his brother’s  betrayal and is the reason why he was cast out. The police procedural elements was detailed, and added a gritty layer to the story and the murder scenes, and how Alex coped and dealt with these cases was realistic. I also felt that this element really gelled well with the world-building with the angel hierarchy, which consists of different types of angels who help run heaven and guiding humans. There was also hints of political intrigue which will definitely expand in future books.</p>
<p>Nonetheless for me, my favourite aspect of the book was the relationship between Alex and Aramael in which they both feel reluctant to explore. The tension between them was wonderfully built-up and Aramael’s confusion about the strength of his feeling for a mortal human conveyed really well. Although it was also very frustrating because whilst the  romance was pretty subtle which I didn’t mind at all, because the emotional intensity was bubbling nicely throughout the book. I did get tired of the constant antagonistic wrangling between Alex and Aramael over the case and their personal feelings which is spurred on by fear of her visions of seeing him in his true form which makes her question her sanity. And for Aramael, the frustration and lost of control he has over her which for an angel like him is unheard of. I did think that this factor dragged on for too long and kind of bogged the story down especially in the middle of the book, which affected the pace.</p>
<p>However the book does pick up, and the ending is a taut and tense ride to a shocking and bloody conclusion,  although I have to warn you the ending is a bit of a cliffhanger that leaves you hankering for more. Sins of the Angels is a great start to a brand new series which has an appealing gritty setting,  and well drawn out characters. I will definitely look out for the sequel.</p>
<p>I give Sins of the Angels a C+</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><a href="http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/click?id=pXVvmyTXSJ8&amp;subid=&amp;offerid=229293.1&amp;type=10&amp;tmpid=8433&amp;RD_PARM1=http%253A%252F%252Fwww.barnesandnoble.com%252Fw%252Fsins-of-the-angels-linda-poitevin%252F1101566415">Barnes &amp; Noble</a> |</p>
<p><a href="http://thebookpushers.com/2011/10/31/review-sins-of-the-angels-by-linda-poitevin/">Review: Sins of the Angels by Linda Poitevin</a> is a post from: <a href="http://thebookpushers.com">The Book Pushers | Book Reviews | Book Chatter</a></p>
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		<title>Review: Flawless by Carrie Lofty</title>
		<link>http://thebookpushers.com/2011/10/06/review-flawless-by-carrie-lofty/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=review-flawless-by-carrie-lofty</link>
		<comments>http://thebookpushers.com/2011/10/06/review-flawless-by-carrie-lofty/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 06 Oct 2011 14:17:42 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Has</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[B REVIEWS]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Historical Romance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Carrie Lofty]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Romance]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://thebookpushers.com/?p=6564</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Publisher: Pocket Books How did I get the book: E-arc from the author Release date: Out now! &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; Sir William Christie, ruthless tycoon and notorious ladies’ man, is dead. Now his four grown children have gathered for the reading of his will. What lies in store for stepsiblings Vivienne, Alexander, and twins [...]<p><a href="http://thebookpushers.com/2011/10/06/review-flawless-by-carrie-lofty/">Review: Flawless by Carrie Lofty</a> is a post from: <a href="http://thebookpushers.com">The Book Pushers | Book Reviews | Book Chatter</a></p>
]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://thebookpushers.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Flawless-final.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-6557" title="Flawless final" src="http://thebookpushers.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Flawless-final-185x300.jpg" alt="" width="185" height="300" /></a></p>
<p>Publisher: Pocket Books</p>
<p>How did I get the book: E-arc from the author</p>
<p>Release date: Out now!</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<div>
<blockquote><p>Sir William Christie, ruthless tycoon and notorious ladies’ man, is dead. Now his four grown children have gathered for the reading of his will. What lies in store for stepsiblings Vivienne, Alexander, and twins Gareth and Gwyneth? Stunning challenges that will test their fortitude across a royal empire . . . and lead them to the marvelously passionate adventures of their lives.<br />
Lady Vivienne Bancroft fled England for New York, hoping to shed the confines of her arranged marriage to unrepentant rogue Miles Durham, Viscount Bancroft—though she never forgot the fiery desire he unleashed with his slightest touch. And when the gambling man arrives on her doorstep for a little sensual revenge for her desertion, he is met with Vivienne’s dilemma: She must earn her father’s inheritance by profitably running a diamond business worth millions in colonial South Africa. Swept together in an exotic undertaking filled with heated passion and hungry temptation, will Vivienne and Miles discover that the marriage vows they once made are the greatest snare—or the most treasured reward?</p>
<p>Vivienne Bancroft and her siblings are faced with a dilemma when they hear they each have a duty to fulfill in order to receive an inheritance from their recently deceased father at the reading of his will. For Vivienne, she has to travel to South Africa and save a diamond brokerage which is struggling, but that isn’t the only thing she has to deal with as her estranged husband, Miles, is very keen to get even on the woman who left him in England. But despite feelings of bitterness and mistrust, both Miles and Vivienne soon realise that this new business venture can hold new possibilities and may be a new beginning.</p></blockquote>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>I always look forward to a Carrie Lofty book because I know I’m in for an emotional love story with a rich eye to detail &#8212; as well the fact most of her stories have unusual settings and characters. The main theme of the book is the estranged couple reconciliation trope, which I really like &#8212; although I do find it can be hard to resolve because sometimes the tension and emotional aftermath can be overwrought or forced. But with Flawless, I loved how Carrie Lofty presents the love story; it really felt organic and realistic without falling into the trap of too much angst, and the romance is really multi-faceted because of this.</p>
<p>The characterization is also another high point to the book and both Vivienne and Miles were well developed and three dimensional with realistic flaws. For Vivienne, respectability and hiding behind a shield of societal manners is a way to distance herself from her past and the castigation of her illegitimate past.  Due to this, she appears cool and aloof and Miles finds hard to breach her emotional walls. However, he also has flaws which contributed to their mistrust and separation as he escapes the threat of being emotionally intimate with Vivienne by continuing to gamble and drink. Yet this new opportunity is a great catalyst to brings them together and force them to face their fears and issues, and I loved how they each come to realise this. The romantic and sexual tension buildup from the outset of the book was truly delicious, and I loved their sparring with each other and later in the book with their partnership in the business which helped to reconcile their differences.</p>
<p>I especially loved Miles who really had a Joie de Vivre air around him which makes people underestimate him because of his bored, arrogant and playboy-like appearance that he uses as a cover to hide his vulnerability. Vivienne’s realisation of this was fantastic and it also helped her to realise that Miles is serious about their marriage and wanting to give their relationship a fresh start. This  forces her to face up to her own fears and truths about her past.</p>
<p>Nonetheless, I wished the plot held more tension with the way they had to save the diamond brokerage business . It involved a cold and calculating villain and how that was resolved  felt a bit anti-climatic. And I wished more time was spent on exploring and presenting the setting. I did find the first half of the book was a great set up for this but the second half diminished its focus as the romance really took centre stage which was great, but I may be a bit spoiled with other books by Carrie Lofty which really delve in historical details and places, and I missed that aspect with this book.</p>
<p>With Flawless, you will definitely find an unusual setting with a rich tapestry of characters and detail. I also found the prose is lush and rich and you really savour each word, because Carrie Lofty has a real gift to bringing details and characters to life. Although I did think the romance was much stronger than the historical setting which I wished that it was explored more fully. The romance between Viv and Miles was beautiful  and multi-layered and I was totally caught up in their characterisation and love story. Flawless is  evocative, rich and full of emotional depth, and will draw you in.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>I give Flawless a B</p>
<p><a href="about:blank">amazon book</a></p>
<p><a href="about:blank">kindle</a></p>
</div>
<p><a href="http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/click?id=pXVvmyTXSJ8&amp;subid=&amp;offerid=229293.1&amp;type=10&amp;tmpid=8432&amp;RD_PARM1=http%253A%252F%252Fwww.barnesandnoble.com%252Fw%252Fflawless-carrie-lofty%252F1100400054%253Fean%253D9781451616385%2526itm%253D5%2526usri%253Dflawless"> Barnes and Noble Nook</a></p>
<p><a href="http://thebookpushers.com/2011/10/06/review-flawless-by-carrie-lofty/">Review: Flawless by Carrie Lofty</a> is a post from: <a href="http://thebookpushers.com">The Book Pushers | Book Reviews | Book Chatter</a></p>
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		<title>Review: Queen of the Sylphs by L.J McDonald</title>
		<link>http://thebookpushers.com/2011/09/29/review-queen-of-the-sylphs-by-l-j-mcdonald/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=review-queen-of-the-sylphs-by-l-j-mcdonald</link>
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		<pubDate>Thu, 29 Sep 2011 10:10:06 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Has</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[B Review]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[B REVIEWS]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Fantasy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Fantasy Romance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Review]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Romance]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://thebookpushers.com/?p=6232</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[&#160; Publisher: Dorchester Where did you get the book: Netgalley e-arc Release Date: Out now It was a dream come true. Solie had her own battler, a creature of almost infinite magic who could vaporize legions in the blink of an eye and would willingly suffer a thousand bloody deaths to protect her. She was [...]<p><a href="http://thebookpushers.com/2011/09/29/review-queen-of-the-sylphs-by-l-j-mcdonald/">Review: Queen of the Sylphs by L.J McDonald</a> is a post from: <a href="http://thebookpushers.com">The Book Pushers | Book Reviews | Book Chatter</a></p>
]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div><a href="http://thebookpushers.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/Queen-of-the-Sylphs.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-5836" title="Queen of the Sylphs" src="http://thebookpushers.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/Queen-of-the-Sylphs.jpg" alt="" width="298" height="480" /></a></div>
<div>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>Publisher: Dorchester</p>
<p>Where did you get the book: Netgalley e-arc</p>
<p>Release Date: Out now</p>
<p>It was a dream come true. Solie had her own battler, a creature of almost infinite magic who could vaporize legions in the blink of an eye and would willingly suffer a thousand bloody deaths to protect her. She was his love. More simply, she was his queen.</p>
<blockquote>
<div>Many others feel the same. The new-built settlement is a haven for all. Erected by sylphs of earth and fire, air and water, the Valley is Solie’s dominion. But, lovers without peer or killers without mercy, the very nature of their battler protectors means peril. It is not in any sylph’s nature to disobey, and while some are hers to command, others are the slaves of Solie’s enemies—the jealous, the cruel. Those who guard her must not fail. Their peasant-born ruler is not yet safe as…<br />
QUEEN OF THE SYLPHS<br />
<em><br />
*Blurb taken from Goodreads*</em></div>
</blockquote>
<p>Ever since I read the first book of the series, The Battle Sylph, I have fallen in love with the world of the elemental shapeshifting sylphsm and the humorous and fast pace writing of L.J McDonald. So when I had the chance I eagerly devoured the Queen of the Sylphs which is the 3rd instalment of the sweeping, romantic fantasy series. It is a marked departure from the previous two books because the action and the focus of the book is mainly set in and around the new settlement that the Sylphs and humans have set up in the first book. And instead of focusing on a main romantic couple, the book concentrates on a variety of characters including the original hero and heroine, Solie and Heyou, who are now settled in six years after the events in their book. However, intrigue and danger still threatens their new kingdom especially from the neighbouring kingdom, Eferem, who is still smarting from their defeat in the first book. Despite her position, Solie and her people have to thwart assassins, unstable sylphs and the danger within her lands despite being heavily guarded, and the threat is much closer to her than she realises.</p>
<p>I really like the fact that with each book, L.J McDonald has portrayed a different aspect and tone with each new installment with this series, and I really think it helps to keep this fresh and different. With this entry to the series, it was nice to see how much Solie has grown from the young and immature girl from the first book, into a more mature and confident woman and the solid place that she has helped to create in her valley and as Queen of the Sylphs. The complications that come along with leading such a diverse and unconventional group of people and sylphs was also realistic, and it was good to see there was development on how this small settlement evolved from the first book.</p>
<p>The secondary characters who were introduced really shine, such as Gabralina and Wat who were rescued in the previous book, and are central to the main plot in this book. Their story was bittersweet and, L.J McDonald really surprised me on how she broached their romance. I wasn’t a fan of them when they were introduced in the previous book and I felt there wouldn’t have been much development or potential because although they were humorous and fun, there wasn’t much depth. But Gabralina and Wat to some extent  develop as characters with real dimension and depth and L.J McDonald deftly shows her gift in well drawn out characterisations. There is also a new Sylph elemental who is introduced and which I think will be a great addition to the growing cast of characters.</p>
<p>Although the focus was on the wider cast of characters &#8212; especially on the secondary and minor ones &#8212; it did not distract attention from the core action, and the plot didn’t get lost over the course of the book. In fact it really added to the ongoing plot-lines from the previous books and expanded the world-building and characterisation. It was also the most suspenseful and intriguing book to date, and I have to say it was full of twists and turns that made it fast paced and at times, tense.</p>
<p>I also have to say that this was the darkest book yet because there were a few deaths, some that really shocked me that I was saddened to see, but that isn’t to say the trademark light-hearted humour wasn’t apparent, which once again Heyou provides in a few scenes which helped to balance out the dark and tense tone in the book. His relationship with Solie also gathers pace and deepens with a new twist, and it was pretty delightful on how that happens.</p>
<p>Despite the fact the Sylphs are unable to have children with their human mates, Solie is feeling broody and Heyou’s innovative suggestion on how they can solve this predicament was pretty funny &#8212; although I did feel sorry for the 3rd party who becomes the sperm donor. However this was one of my favourite parts of the book and made me laugh out loud on how Heyou approaches him and how he obtained the sample.</p>
<p>The Queen of the Sylphs is a great addition to the series, and it may not be as epic in tone or setting as the previous books, but the tense and pacey plot of an enemy within and the trials and tribulations of running a new kingdom adds another layer of depth in this colourful tapestry of characters. Although it was the darkest book yet, the lighthearted moments and the engaging characters really sucked me into the story and I really can’t wait to read more about this series. When I read a Sylph book now it feels like I am being engulfed in their world and stories just like a Battle Sylph holding onto his mate. I highly recommend you read the previous two books &#8212; actually the whole series if you fancy a fantasy romance, which surprises, delights and is filled with imagination.</p>
<p>I give Queen of the Sylphs a B</p>
</div>
<p>Links to purchase<br />
<a href="http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/click?id=pXVvmyTXSJ8&#038;subid=&#038;offerid=229293.1&#038;type=10&#038;tmpid=8432&#038;RD_PARM1=http%253A%252F%252Fwww.barnesandnoble.com%252Fw%252Fqueen-of-the-sylphs-l-j-mcdonald%252F1102340849%253Fean%253D9781428511989%2526itm%253D1%2526usri%253Dqueen%25252bof%25252bthe%25252bsylphs">BN Nook</a> | <a href="http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/click?id=pXVvmyTXSJ8&#038;subid=&#038;offerid=229293.1&#038;type=10&#038;tmpid=8432&#038;RD_PARM1=http%253A%252F%252Fwww.barnesandnoble.com%252Fw%252Fqueen-of-the-sylphs-l-j-mcdonald%252F1102340849%253Fean%253D9781428512160%2526itm%253D1%2526usri%253Dqueen%25252bof%25252bthe%25252bsylphs">BN Book</a></p>
<p><a href="http://thebookpushers.com/2011/09/29/review-queen-of-the-sylphs-by-l-j-mcdonald/">Review: Queen of the Sylphs by L.J McDonald</a> is a post from: <a href="http://thebookpushers.com">The Book Pushers | Book Reviews | Book Chatter</a></p>
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		<title>Review: Lord of Rage by Jill Monroe</title>
		<link>http://thebookpushers.com/2011/09/15/review-lord-of-rage-by-jill-monroe/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=review-lord-of-rage-by-jill-monroe</link>
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		<pubDate>Thu, 15 Sep 2011 16:44:55 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Has</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[C REVIEWS]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Fantasy Romance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Paranormal Romance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Review]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Romance]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[&#160; Publisher: Harlequin Publishing date: 20th September Where did you get it: E-arc from publisher &#160; &#160; &#160; Once upon a time&#8230;the Blood Sorcerer vanquished the kingdom of Elden. To save their children, the queen scattered them to safety and the king filled them with vengeance. Only a magical timepiece connects the four royal heirs&#8230;and [...]<p><a href="http://thebookpushers.com/2011/09/15/review-lord-of-rage-by-jill-monroe/">Review: Lord of Rage by Jill Monroe</a> is a post from: <a href="http://thebookpushers.com">The Book Pushers | Book Reviews | Book Chatter</a></p>
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			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://thebookpushers.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/11178774.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-6088" title="11178774" src="http://thebookpushers.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/11178774-188x300.jpg" alt="" width="188" height="300" /></a></p>
<blockquote><p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>Publisher: Harlequin</p>
<p>Publishing date: 20th September</p>
<p>Where did you get it: E-arc from publisher</p>
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<p>&nbsp;<br />
 <strong><em>Once upon a time&#8230;the Blood Sorcerer vanquished the kingdom of Elden.</em></strong></p>
<p><strong><em>To save their children, the queen scattered them to safety and the king filled them with vengeance. Only a magical timepiece connects the four royal heirs&#8230;and time is running out&#8230;.</em></strong></p>
<p><strong><em>Princess Breena had been dreaming of her warrior lover when she was ripped from her Elden castle and thrown into a strange, dangerous realm. Lost and alone, she prayed for survival and vengeance for her stolen kingdom. She found both in a woodland cottage&#8230;in a dark bear of a man.</em></strong></p>
<p><strong><em>The golden-haired beauty had eaten his food and slept in his bed when Osborn found her. Though he wanted to awaken his virgin princess to carnal pleasures, Breena wanted more—including his warrior skills. Skills the once-legendary mercenary had long buried. Now Osborn had a choice—risk his life or deny his princess her fairy-tale ending.</em></strong></p>
<p><em>*Blurb taken from Goodreads*</em></p></blockquote>
<p>I really love fantasy romance and when I heard that some of my favourite authors were partaking in a series that features a magical kingdom, and supernatural beings, it definitely perked my interest. Lord of Rage is the 2nd book of the Royal House of Shadows quadrology which kicked off with Lord of the Vampires by Gena Showalter with other installments written by Nalini Singh and Jessica Anderson. Each book follows a royal sibling who are separated and are thrust across the lands to safeguard their safety after a lethal attack happens in the kingdom of Eldon. With this entry, the events focus on the Princess Breena who finds herself thrust in a forest and meeting the dream lover she has dreamt of for the past few years in the flesh.</p>
<p>I have to admit that whilst I did enjoy Lord of Rage,  I wasn’t really blown away with the book, or the execution of the premise. My main gripe was the world-building around the magic that was used. I really felt this was vague and not much basis or explanation on how this worked. I also wished there was more description of the evil beings that attacked the Kingdom in the beginning of the book, and again this felt vague and rushed. I may have missed some of the nuance or the explanation of this because this was the 2nd book of the series and I haven’t read the previous book yet, but I did get frustrated because it felt like the magical rules were only used as a plot device rather than part of the world-building.</p>
<p>I was also wary when Breena loses some of her memory about why she is thrust miles and miles away from her homeland when she is cast out for her safety. Again it felt all vaguish and dreamy and although it complimented with the dream lover trope well and the fairy tale tone of the story,  it also added to the lack of clarity to the world-building and I had trouble getting into the story and I found the first half pretty plodding in pace.  Breena has some notion and memory that she needs help to go back and regain control of the kingdom, and this is expanded and explained later in the book, but I wished there more explanation on how her magic was used and what kind of limits she had because this was the main problem I had with the book.</p>
<p>Nonetheless there was definitely moments and elements that I did enjoy in the story. I really liked the take on Goldilocks and the Three Bears theme that Lord of Rage had when Breena encounters Osborn, the hero’s cottage, whom he shares with his two brothers. I chuckled when she ate their porridge, broke a chair and was found sleeping on Osborn’s bed.</p>
<p>I also loved the setting where Osborn’s homeland and the mythology that surrounded his people were berserkers that shares a spirit with a bear. The beginning of the book, with the descriptions of Osborn’s rite of passage when he becomes a berserker and later when his people are destroyed by an enemy force, is one of the best highlights of the story. The vikingesque type setting and society was sketched out. I quite liked Osborn and loved how he interacted with his brothers who didn’t go through the same rites as their older brother who feels guilt about this as well as mourning the loss of the way of life of their people. I really found this aspect of the book had real depth and I wished we had more of this.</p>
<p>Yet with the romance  I was left wanting and at times feeling underwhelmed because the basis of the love story was the dream lover trope. I am not a huge fan of this trope because I think it is pretty convenient and there is no real sense of build up of the sexual or romantic tension. I also couldn’t really warm up to the character of Breena who I felt was one dimensional at times, and I also felt the same with their romance. The chemistry just felt off at the beginning and the dream sequences &#8212; which was hot &#8212; didn’t connect or resonate emotionally and I think this affected the love story.  I wished there was more of a romantic punch although later there were a couple of scenes that did have that, but that was at the end when the plot developed their characterization and their guilt of surviving the massacres from their pasts.  This was more of a solid basis on the romance than the dream lover aspect which felt pretty whimsy for me.</p>
<p>Lord of Rage had a great premise, and whilst I liked the idea of a fairy tale type fantasy romance, the execution didn’t tick all of my boxes. I know the dreamy feel and tone &#8212; especially in the beginning &#8212; was there to help lay out the romance between Breena and Osborn, but I found that this really didn’t bring the plot forward. Despite the slow start, I did enjoy the overall tone of the book and I definitely think it improved at the end of the story, but I can’t not help feeling lukewarm about it.</p>
<p>I give Lord of Rage a C</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><a href="<ahref=&quot;http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0373618689/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=theboopus-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=217145&amp;creative=399373&amp;creativeASIN=0373618689&quot;>Amazon Book</a><img src=&quot;http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=theboopus-20&amp;l=as2&amp;o=1&amp;a=0373618689&amp;camp=217145&amp;creative=399373&quot; width=&quot;1&quot; height=&quot;1&quot; border=&quot;0&quot; alt=&quot;&quot; style=&quot;border:none !important; margin:0px !important;&quot; />&#8220;>Amazon book: </a></p>
<p><a href=" <ahref=&quot;http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005HRPXU8/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=theboopus-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=217145&amp;creative=399373&amp;creativeASIN=B005HRPXU8&quot;>Kindle eBook</a><img src=&quot;http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=theboopus-20&amp;l=as2&amp;o=1&amp;a=B005HRPXU8&amp;camp=217145&amp;creative=399373&quot; width=&quot;1&quot; height=&quot;1&quot; border=&quot;0&quot; alt=&quot;&quot; style=&quot;border:none !important; margin:0px !important;&quot; />&#8220;>Kindle eBook:</a></p>
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<p><a href="http://thebookpushers.com/2011/09/15/review-lord-of-rage-by-jill-monroe/">Review: Lord of Rage by Jill Monroe</a> is a post from: <a href="http://thebookpushers.com">The Book Pushers | Book Reviews | Book Chatter</a></p>
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		<title>Review &#8211; Lightning That Lingers by Tom &amp; Saron Curtis</title>
		<link>http://thebookpushers.com/2011/08/23/review-lightning-that-lingers-by-tom-saron-curtis/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=review-lightning-that-lingers-by-tom-saron-curtis</link>
		<comments>http://thebookpushers.com/2011/08/23/review-lightning-that-lingers-by-tom-saron-curtis/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 23 Aug 2011 18:00:27 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>MinnChica</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[C REVIEWS]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Contemporary Romance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[eBooks]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[C Review]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Ebooks]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Review]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Romance]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[Publisher: Loveswept Publish Date: Out Now! How I got this book: NetGalley &#160; He was the Cougar Club&#8217;s star attraction, mesmerizing hundreds of women in the smoky glare of a spotlight, his hips swaying in the provocative motions of love. But in the dusty attic of a deserted mansion, Philip Brooks captivated his chosen lady [...]<p><a href="http://thebookpushers.com/2011/08/23/review-lightning-that-lingers-by-tom-saron-curtis/">Review &#8211; Lightning That Lingers by Tom &#038; Saron Curtis</a> is a post from: <a href="http://thebookpushers.com">The Book Pushers | Book Reviews | Book Chatter</a></p>
]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://thebookpushers.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/Lightning-that-Lingers.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-5547" title="Lightning that Lingers" src="http://thebookpushers.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/Lightning-that-Lingers.jpg" alt="" width="329" height="480" /></a>Publisher: Loveswept<br />
Publish Date: Out Now!<br />
How I got this book: NetGalley</p>
<blockquote><p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>He was the Cougar Club&#8217;s star attraction, mesmerizing hundreds of women in the smoky glare of a spotlight, his hips swaying in the provocative motions of love. But in the dusty attic of a deserted mansion, Philip Brooks captivated his chosen lady with a sensuously measured waltz. Both were dances of seduction, revealing two sides of the same uncommon man&#8211;and Jennifer Hamilton offered her heart to the kindred spirit, the tender poet of him. Together they wove a tapestry of love that merged two sensitive souls. But Philip&#8217;s worldly side was alien to her, threatening to unravel the magical threads binding them…<br />
*Blurb from Goodreads*</p></blockquote>
<p>I was super excited about the Loveswept line being brought back, and couldn’t wait to get some of their titles. Since I didn’t read a whole lot of romance until a few years ago, I was looking forward to reading some of their “throw back” titles.</p>
<p>Phillip will do just about anything to keep his family home preserved until he can get the state to make it a wild life preservation, including strip at the local club to make ends meet. But when he sees Jennifer from afar one night he finds himself drawn to her blushing and shy personality, something he isn’t accustomed to seeing. Phillip will stop at nothing to have her.</p>
<p>Jennifer is new to town and not used to living on the wild side. She is embarrassed to be at the strip club, even worse when the hottest man ever starts paying attention to her. When Phillips begins pursuing her relentlessly, Jennifer learns so much more behind the man with a pretty face. He opens her eyes to so much, and the two embark on a sweet romance.</p>
<p>Now, this is probably going to get virtual tomatoes thrown at me, but I’ve gotta say it anyway&#8230; I’m kinda glad I didn’t read romance books “back in the day.” I liked my romance with a little spice and a lot of heat, and this just did not have that. At times it almost felt like what I would call an inspirational romance, (without all the religion) and it was almost TOO sweet for me.</p>
<p>I did like that Phillip was such an unconventional romance hero. He was a stripper, and a total beta hero. He cared more about animals and wildlife than anything else. He didn’t get all possessive and alpha growly on the heroine, but at the same time he pursued her constantly, not taking no for answer. He let her into his world and kept her close, despite his reservations about getting attached.</p>
<p>Jennifer was the typical virgin heroine. Shy and reserved around men she had never had any kind of sexual encounter before, and blushed at every turn. She was soft and sweet and while I liked her character, I had a hard time relating to her. I wanted her to be a little more adventurous and come out of her shell more once she finally established a relationship with Phillip.</p>
<p>The romance itself was sweet. Again, I thought it was a little too sweet and innocent. Unlike other authors who have been re-releasing their older books in digital format, this has NOT been updated to the times, and I giggled to myself throughout the book, every time tape players were mentioned and the the fashion was described. In that aspects, the book was fun to read for just the memories it inspired.</p>
<p>Fans of the late 80s and early 90s romances will definitely enjoy reading this one (or re-reading as the case may be). Although it wasn’t for me, it was still a very well written romance.</p>
<p>I give <em>Lightning that Lingers</em> a C</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
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<p><a href="http://thebookpushers.com/2011/08/23/review-lightning-that-lingers-by-tom-saron-curtis/">Review &#8211; Lightning That Lingers by Tom &#038; Saron Curtis</a> is a post from: <a href="http://thebookpushers.com">The Book Pushers | Book Reviews | Book Chatter</a></p>
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		<title>Joint Review: Wrapped by Jennifer Bradbury</title>
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		<pubDate>Sat, 16 Jul 2011 19:08:54 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Lou</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[C REVIEWS]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[C+ Review]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Historical Romance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Mystery]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[YA]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Curses]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Egypt]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Historical]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Mummies]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Myths]]></category>
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		<description><![CDATA[Publisher: Atheneum Books How we got this book: e-ARC from publisher Release date: Out now Blurb taken from goodreads: “Agnes Wilkins is standing in front of an Egyptian mummy, about to make the first cut into the wrappings, about to unlock ancient (and not-so-ancient) history. Maybe you think this girl is wearing a pith helmet [...]<p><a href="http://thebookpushers.com/2011/07/16/joint-review-wrapped-by-jennifer-bradbury/">Joint Review: Wrapped by Jennifer Bradbury</a> is a post from: <a href="http://thebookpushers.com">The Book Pushers | Book Reviews | Book Chatter</a></p>
]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Publisher: Atheneum Books<br />
How we got this book: e-ARC from publisher<br />
Release date: Out now</p>
<p>Blurb taken from goodreads:</p>
<blockquote><p><img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-4761" title="wrapped" src="http://thebookpushers.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/wrapped-197x300.jpg" alt="" width="197" height="300" />“Agnes Wilkins is standing in front of an Egyptian mummy, about to make the first cut into the wrappings, about to unlock ancient (and not-so-ancient) history.</p>
<p>Maybe you think this girl is wearing a pith helmet with antique dust swirling around her.</p>
<p>Maybe you think she is a young Egyptologist who has arrived in Cairo on camelback.</p>
<p>Maybe she would like to think that too. Agnes Wilkins dreams of adventures that reach beyond the garden walls, but reality for a seventeen-year-old debutante in 1815 London does not allow for camels—or dust, even. No, Agnes can only see a mummy when she is wearing a new silk gown and standing on the verdant lawns of Lord Showalter’s estate, with chaperones fussing about and strolling sitar players straining to create an exotic “atmosphere” for the first party of the season. An unwrapping.</p>
<p>This is the start of it all, Agnes’s debut season, the pretty girl parade that offers only ever-shrinking options: home, husband, and high society. It’s also the start of something else, because the mummy Agnes unwraps isn’t just a mummy. It’s a host for a secret that could unravel a new destiny—unleashing mystery, an international intrigue, and possibly a curse in the bargain.</p>
<p>Get wrapped up in the adventure . . . but keep your wits about you, dear Agnes.”</p></blockquote>
<p><strong>Lou</strong>: When I first saw the buzz about this title, the first thing I noticed was the beautiful cover. It really is memorable, and it’s one you won’t forget anytime soon. It also has a tone that represents the plot of the book. I’ve been somewhat stuck in a rut with YA lately. I’m not a fan of the paranormal romances that are coming out lately with the mysterious boy, and the girl that he needs to save. Wrapped brings something entirely different to the YA genre; wrapped up in mystery, ancient Egypt, mummies and a sweet romance. Whilst it had all of these great things, and I enjoyed the book, I had issues with it. Firstly, I wasn’t sure if it was because I was tired, but when I first started reading, I had trouble getting into the story. The sentence structure felt awkward to me, and felt as if I was tripping over my mental tongue. It also had a slow beginning, and I was wondering when the action with Agnes would get moving so we could actually see what Agnes was like as a heroine.</p>
<p><strong>Has</strong>: I totally agree with you about the cover and the theme of the story. It was also very refreshing to read a YA with a different setting and not the usual mysterious boy saving the girl or hidden magical abilities. I did think the opening scenes were great and I loved how it captured Agnes&#8217; character and her skills with languages. But I think the lead up to the mystery was a tad slow and it didn&#8217;t get going until she was fully introduced with Caedmon and their discovery of a conspiracy.</p>
<p><strong>Lou</strong>: I agree that the mystery was quite slow going. I kept waiting for something to happen, and it was when Agnes finally meets Caedmon that I started to enjoy the story. Their interactions with one another really brought out their personalities, and I think without their interactions, their personalities wouldn&#8217;t have been as strong. I liked that Caedmon wasn’t part of the ton or higher society. I really liked Caedmon (what an awesome name) and I must admit, I did like him more as a character than Agnes. I felt he was more fleshed out, and was a much more interesting character in terms of his knowledge. I&#8217;m a big fan of ancient Egypt stories &#8212; whether it be films, documentaries or books set around Egypt. And Wrapped certainly managed to infuse the setting and theme of Egypt whilst still being in London, England.</p>
<p><strong>Has</strong>: I thought they were perfect together! Their chemistry was great and I have to say that Agnes&#8217; intelligence and curiosity really shines and it was a perfect foil to Caedmon&#8217;s dedication to his studies in Egyptology. I especially liked how they rebelled against their social stations, as they were confined by expectations and class. It really fits into the title again and the main theme of the book &#8212; being wrapped into events, or confined by social class or expectations. The Egyptology theme was also the main reason why I picked up the book and I agree, even though the setting was in Regency England, the author really highlighted this aspect well, and I loved that there were hints of curses and magic, but that it was up to the reader&#8217;s imagination if this was true or not.</p>
<p><strong>Lou</strong>: I like Agnes, and she was definitely smart, but I was annoyed that she didn&#8217;t end up telling her Father about what was happening when she knew that he was able to help her &#8212; especially when her life was at danger. I felt the author manipulation of the story where the most sensible thing was avoided as it enabled Agnes and Caedmon to solve the mystery themselves. I was wondering which route the magic curses would go down, and I think Bradley set that up great by not going either way of the spectrum. The actual mystery and villain of the story, I wasn&#8217;t that surprised by who they turned out to be. It was almost a simplistic conclusion, and I think the actual mystery of the amulet and the clues Agnes and Caedmon solved was the strongest part of the story.</p>
<p><strong>Has</strong>: I definitely agree with you about Agnes not telling her father, but I thought that would have ended the story rather abruptly and there wouldn&#8217;t have been the discovery at the end which I think really worked. I also agree about the identity of the villain although I do think he was effective and I liked their interactions with Agnes which created an interesting dynamic. Another aspect that I really like was the portrayal of Agnes&#8217; family and the insights we had &#8212; most especially with her brother Rupert which I found really interesting. And again the themes of being constricted on expectations he has to abide by &#8212; although we get to see he&#8217;s willing to break them because he&#8217;s unhappy too with the plight of his own future. Just like Agnes&#8217; own fears about settling down with a suitable husband but yearning for more. It really made the characters standout here, and it was definitely realistic.</p>
<p><strong>Lou</strong>: Anges family dynamics worked very well, and Rupert was&#8230;an interesting character <img src='http://thebookpushers.com/wp-includes/images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif' alt=':D' class='wp-smiley' /> . An annoying dandy of a brother, but a person who is very unhappy. I hope this is a start to a series, because I can see so much more potential in Agnes family &#8212; both in Rupert and her older brother David. I wonder also about her best friend, Julie, and if she is a potential love interest for Rupert, or perhaps for someone else. Talking about love interests, I do think Agnes and Caedamon were so sweet. There were both so hesitant, and sometimes snappy at one another, but they were always quick to forgive one another, and their hesitant romance was adorable.</p>
<p><strong>Has:</strong> I hope there is more to come from these characters, and I hope there is some resolution for Rupert &#8211; I really felt for him in the end and that was surprising especially how his character was portrayed in the beginning. The ending feels like there is a lot of potential to explore especially with Agnes and Caedmon. I think their romance was definitely a delight and it was a nice change from the emo/forced angst that some recent YA books have at the moment. I think that helped not to overpower the story too.</p>
<p><strong>Lou</strong>: I do so hope there is more to come from these characters. I think Wrapped was a great introduction to a YA series that is quite fresh in tone and theme. Despite the issues I have with Wrapped such as the slow beginning and slow mystery, I would recommend this for anyone who is looking for some fresh blood so to speak in the YA genre. I would love to give it a B, but because of the struggle I had at the beginning, I give Wrapped a C+</p>
<p><strong>Has</strong>: I think Wrapped is a refreshing and delightful story with an engaging and fun heroine. Despite a very slow middling, it has well developed characters and a strong mystery that held some surprises which drew me into the story. I also hope there is more to come. I also give Wrapped a C+</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
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<p><a href="http://thebookpushers.com/2011/07/16/joint-review-wrapped-by-jennifer-bradbury/">Joint Review: Wrapped by Jennifer Bradbury</a> is a post from: <a href="http://thebookpushers.com">The Book Pushers | Book Reviews | Book Chatter</a></p>
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		<title>Review: Warcry by Elizabeth Vaughan</title>
		<link>http://thebookpushers.com/2011/05/04/review-warcry-by-elizabeth-vaughan/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=review-warcry-by-elizabeth-vaughan</link>
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		<pubDate>Wed, 04 May 2011 18:13:41 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Has</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[B Review]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[B REVIEWS]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Fantasy Romance]]></category>
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		<description><![CDATA[Where did you get the book: Publisher: Release Date: Blurb taken from the author&#8217;s site All is not well in Xy. There is a faction of nobles who are plotting against the Queen and her barbarian warlord. As cultures clash and tempers flare, Heath and the fierce Plains warrior woman Atira of the Bear must [...]<p><a href="http://thebookpushers.com/2011/05/04/review-warcry-by-elizabeth-vaughan/">Review: Warcry by Elizabeth Vaughan</a> is a post from: <a href="http://thebookpushers.com">The Book Pushers | Book Reviews | Book Chatter</a></p>
]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div><a href="http://thebookpushers.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/WARCRY.jpg"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-2757" title="WARCRY" src="http://thebookpushers.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/WARCRY-186x300.jpg" alt="" width="186" height="300" /></a></div>
<div>Where did you get the book:</div>
<div>Publisher:</div>
<div>Release Date:</div>
<div><em>Blurb taken from the author&#8217;s site</em></div>
<div><em> </em><br />
<strong><em>All is not well in Xy. There is a faction of nobles who are plotting against the Queen and her barbarian warlord. As cultures clash and tempers flare, Heath and the fierce Plains warrior woman Atira of the Bear must come together to fight the conspiracy&#8230; and to search their hearts for something deeper than raw passion.</em></strong><br />
<strong><em>A barbarian woman and a castle guard find love amid political intrigue in this pleasant blend of romance and classic fantasy, the fourth installment of Vaughan&#8217;s Chronicles of the Warlands (after Warlord). The queen of Xy is now the beloved bride of a barbarian warlord. In their retinue, Heath of Xy, son of the royal seneschal, woos the lusty warrior woman Atira of the Bear, whose dislike for city life and settling down amusingly recall male barbarian romance hero stereotypes. As Queen Lara attempts to regain control of the fractious nobility, Heath and Atira team up to fight conspirators and thwart assassination attempts while helping to lower the cultural barriers between the subjects of Xy and the warriors of the plains. Hints of the interesting plains culture will engage fantasy fans, and the protagonists&#8217; convincing chemistry will please romance readers. </em></strong>&nbsp;</p>
<p>Warcry is the 4th installment of the Warlands series, but the focus is on the romance that was hinted at in the previous books between  Atira of the Bear, and Heath of Xy. It&#8217;s told in their POVs instead of Lara and Keir. The ex-Warlord and his pregnant Warprize have arrived to Xy, so Lara can safely deliver her heir and cement her position as Queen which due to the events in the first book has left a few enemies who aren’t as welcoming or happy with their return.</p>
<p>I adored the previous books and Warprize is one of my all time favourite books, and I have been eagerly waiting for the followups to see what happens next and how their return to Xy plays out. It was definitely well worth the wait! Unlike the original trilogy of books which was told in the 1st POV of Lara, Warcry is narrated mainly with Heath and Atira’s POV which expanded on the outside political intrigue and events. But it also help to explore more thoroughly Atira and Heath’s issues, like the ones Lara had with Keir, were filled with misunderstandings and fear that were obstacles in their relationship. In a lot of ways the tables were turned with Atira being the stranger in a strange land and Heath giving her the space and helping her to understand that committing to a relationship can be a good thing and it&#8217;s nothing to fear about.</p>
<p>Although some people may see the swift POV’s which sometimes can happen in mid scenes and in the midst of action. I actually felt it added to the fast pace of the book, and added to the political and tense tone that plays throughout the story. I think this is one of the highlights of the plot, because the political subterfuge  which threatens Lara and her family was well thought out. It was tense and not as predictable. I also loved how the setting which was mainly based in and around the castle of Water’s Fall reflected the tense atmosphere of the plots surrounding Lara as well as mirroring Atira’s and the rest of the Firelanders who felt claustrophobic about this huge ‘stone tent’.</p>
<p>I really loved how the romance between Atira and Heath played out throughout the book, although in a lot of ways it  wasn&#8217;t as prominent as previous books and was more of a secondary story to the main plot of the book.  I didn&#8217;t think this detracted from the story or their romance because it was already established in the previous books, and that has carried onto this book really well without losing any of their past issues or attractions.</p>
<p>Atira&#8217;s and Heath’s growth also shows how much they changed from their initial encounters with each other and as well with their encounters with living with each other’s cultures and people. I loved the symmetry with Atira being the person who learns new things and learning there is more to the people of Xy. The focus on Heath and Atira also expanded their characters. During the original trilogy, Heath was more like Lara’s little brother and although I found his character cute, he never really stood out for me. However in Warcry, he was definitely more fleshed out and I loved how patient but also determined he was to win Atira. And his skills and political knowledge about the people who lived in Water’s Fall added to the story. Nonetheless, I think Atira’s growth was the most apparent, and I loved her journey from the gruff and fixed in her ways warrior in the previous books to the woman who realises that change is a good thing and adapting to it mirrors the broader themes of the series about two cultures clashing but adapting to survive.</p>
<p>It was also a joy to revisit Lara and Keir who we do get to see a lot throughout the book, and it does feel like their story and romance was the secondary relationship but seen through the eyes of others without detracting from the story. We also see how their new changes &#8212; as well as the repercussions to those changes &#8212; to Xy and the People of the Plains continued, which I loved and really makes their story a true saga with more hints to come.</p>
<p>Warcry is a wonderful installment and I was sucked into this book and the characters. It really felt like I was revisiting old friends. I also get the sense that with the hints in the book, there will be more to come, especially with Keir’s ambitions of wanting to become a War-king and the fact there are still a few threads left open about Lara’s enemies and the political subterfuge that Elizabeth Vaughan has tantalizing hinted. I really hope there is more to come from this world and characters because the ending was something that I didn&#8217;t expect.  It was a huge fun twist which I enjoyed because it will add some interesting things in future books for this series. And I look forward to seeing how it all pans out.</p>
<p>Warcry is a well written story filled with tense political intrigue and balanced out with a fun and sexy romance with great touches of humour. It also carries on and continues teasing us with hints of more to come in future books. It&#8217;s a wonderful instalment in the Warplains saga and it  will definitely leave readers hanging on for more!</p>
<p>I give Warcry a B+</p>
</div>
<p><a href="http://thebookpushers.com/2011/05/04/review-warcry-by-elizabeth-vaughan/">Review: Warcry by Elizabeth Vaughan</a> is a post from: <a href="http://thebookpushers.com">The Book Pushers | Book Reviews | Book Chatter</a></p>
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		<title>Review: Wild Cards And Iron Horses by Sheryl Nantus</title>
		<link>http://thebookpushers.com/2010/11/23/review-wild-cards-and-iron-horses/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=review-wild-cards-and-iron-horses</link>
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		<pubDate>Tue, 23 Nov 2010 14:29:18 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Has</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[C Review]]></category>
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		<category><![CDATA[mechanic]]></category>
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		<description><![CDATA[Publisher: Samhain Where did you get the book: Purchased copy Publication Date: Out now Blurb taken from Goodreads: Their love rides on a spring and a prayer&#8230; During the recent Civil War, a soldier risked his life to save Jonathan Handleston—and lost. With the help of an advanced metal brace on his crippled hand, Jon [...]<p><a href="http://thebookpushers.com/2010/11/23/review-wild-cards-and-iron-horses/">Review: Wild Cards And Iron Horses by Sheryl Nantus</a> is a post from: <a href="http://thebookpushers.com">The Book Pushers | Book Reviews | Book Chatter</a></p>
]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div>Publisher: Samhain</div>
<div>Where did you get the book: Purchased copy</div>
<div>Publication Date: Out now</div>
<div>Blurb taken from Goodreads: <img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-2745" title="ironhorses" src="http://thebookpushers.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/ironhorses-200x300.jpg" alt="" width="200" height="300" /></div>
<div><em><br />
</em></div>
<div>
<blockquote><p><strong><em>Their love rides on a spring and a prayer&#8230;<br />
</em></strong></p>
<p><strong><em>During the recent Civil War, a soldier risked his life to save Jonathan Handleston—and lost. With the help of an advanced metal brace on his crippled hand, Jon now travels from one poker tournament to the next, determined to earn enough money to repay the man’s debt.</em></strong></p>
<p><strong><em>Prosperity Ridge is supposed to be the last stop on his quest, but his brace is broken and he needs an engineer to repair the delicate mechanisms. The only one available is Samantha Weatherly, a beautiful anomaly in a world ruled by men.</em></strong></p>
<p><strong><em>Sam is no fool. Jon is no different from any other gambler—except for his amazing prosthetic. Despite a demanding project to win a critical contract to develop an iron horse, she succumbs to the lure of working on the delicate mechanisms. And working with the handsome Englishman.</em></strong></p>
<p><strong><em> </em></strong><strong><em> </em></strong><strong><em> </em></strong><strong><em>Like a spring being coiled, Samantha and Jon are inexorably drawn together. Sam begins to realize honor wears many faces, and she becomes the light at the end of Jon’s journey to redemption. The only monkey wrench is Victor, a rival gambler who will stop at nothing to make sure Jon misses the tournament. Even destroy Jon’s and Sam’s lives. </em></strong></p></blockquote>
<p>When Jonathan Handleston enters the town of Prosperity Ridge, he didn’t expect it to be such a bustling and smog ridden place. But Prosperity Ridge offers more surprises when Jon meets the only person for miles, mechanic Samantha Weatherly who could fix his arm brace device in time for a poker tournament. Due to an old war injury, Jon lost the use of his arm and to able to play without losing his advantage in poker. He needs the use of  a brace to help hold his cards for a major poker game which he needs to win to repay a debt.</p>
<p>Wild Cards and Iron Horses is a steampunk romance set in the deep Wild West. I was really pleasantly surprised by this book. I had expectations that it would be more of a action packed and quick sexy read. Instead it was a book that starts off slow in the beginning but because it had such well drawn out and likable characters and detailed world-building, I was soon quickly engrossed with the story.</p>
<p>One of the best elements of the book is the world building and setting. It’s very detailed and well thought out, and I was surprised about the lack of magic in the book. It really felt like the industrial revolution and evolved in a different way with mechanical horses that run coaches and flying ships that transports travellers across the country. It made this world a believable, gritty and imaginative setting that added a unique atmosphere to the story.</p>
<p>Jon was a character you could really relate to and I thought he was a great beta hero. His reasons for being a gambler to repay a debt really added pathos and depth to his character, and I thought it was pretty refreshing because he could have taken an easy way out. But his stubborn nature to do it his own way was admirable, and I thought that it was a change from the usual reasons about a gambler who needs to make money in romantic westerns.</p>
<p>However, I do wished that there was more development and more heat regarding the  romance. I think along with the slow pace in the beginning, it affected the pace. Nonetheless, Jon’s and Samantha’s romance &#8211; despite its slow pace &#8211; was engaging and sweet and the climatic scenes at the end of the book which showed the lengths of how much they cared for each other was heartwarming as well as exciting.</p>
<p>I really liked Samantha’s character, and the fact she was a female mechanic at a time &#8211; albeit during an alternate history &#8211; where mechanical machines are the norm and where it was traditionally a male role, was interesting and realistic. Jon’s initial reaction upon discovering she was a female was fun to see and their attraction towards each other really shines from the get-go.</p>
<p>Wild Cards and Iron Horses is a charming and sweet Steampunk western with well drawn out and enjoyable quirky characters within a vivid setting. I highly recommend it to those who have never tried Steampunk before because it’s a great introduction to the subgenre with the added elements of a sweet and subtle romance.</p>
<p>I give Wild Cards and Iron Horses a C+</p>
</div>
<p><a href="http://thebookpushers.com/2010/11/23/review-wild-cards-and-iron-horses/">Review: Wild Cards And Iron Horses by Sheryl Nantus</a> is a post from: <a href="http://thebookpushers.com">The Book Pushers | Book Reviews | Book Chatter</a></p>
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		<title>Review: Claimed by Vicki Lewis Thompson</title>
		<link>http://thebookpushers.com/2010/09/15/review-claimed-by-vicki-lewis-thompson/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=review-claimed-by-vicki-lewis-thompson</link>
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		<pubDate>Wed, 15 Sep 2010 18:09:21 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Lou</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[C REVIEWS]]></category>
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		<category><![CDATA[Contemporary Romance]]></category>
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		<description><![CDATA[Publisher: Harlequin Blaze Where did you get the book: e-ARC from publisher Release date: Out now Blurb taken from Harlequin&#8217;s official website: Following a dream brought Josie Keller to Shoshone, Wyoming. Following her heart brought her plenty of great sex with good-time cowboy Jack Chance! She was head over heels for him… until he left [...]<p><a href="http://thebookpushers.com/2010/09/15/review-claimed-by-vicki-lewis-thompson/">Review: Claimed by Vicki Lewis Thompson</a> is a post from: <a href="http://thebookpushers.com">The Book Pushers | Book Reviews | Book Chatter</a></p>
]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Publisher: Harlequin Blaze</p>
<p>Where did you get the book: e-ARC from publisher</p>
<p>Release date: Out now</p>
<p>Blurb taken from Harlequin&#8217;s official website:</p>
<blockquote><p>Following  a dream brought Josie Keller to Shoshone, Wyoming. Following her heart  brought her plenty of great sex with good-time cowboy Jack Chance! She  was head over heels for him… until he left her.</p></blockquote>
<p><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-2413" title="Claimed" src="http://thebookpushers.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/Claimed-189x300.jpg" alt="" width="189" height="300" /></p>
<blockquote><p>Stay  with one woman? Not a chance! Then why does Jack miss Josie like crazy?  Had their relationship been more than just incredible sex?</p>
<p>Little  do Josie and Jack know that a plan&#8217;s afoot to get them back in the  saddle…together. And once there, it&#8217;s not long before they&#8217;re burning up  the bedsheets again!</p>
<p>But  the past is never far away. Before it catches up with them, Jack has to  decide if he&#8217;s going to stake his claim on Josie, or lose her forever….</p></blockquote>
<p>Josie  and Jack were a couple that were in the full throes of passion and fun  before everything changed. When Jack’s father dies in a car accident,  Jack leaves Josie because of the overwhelming guilt he feels, because  instead of agreeing to go with his father to pick up a new filly, Jack  tells him no so he can stay with Josie.</p>
<p>10  months have passed since Jack left Josie, and she still hasn’t gotten  over the heartbreak as she was very much in love with him. Her big  brother, Alex, arrives and is staying with her as he has relationship  troubles himself after divorcing his wife.</p>
<p>To  Josie’s surprise, a very inebriated Jack turns up at her place  after his brother’s urging. Jack gets all territorial when he thinks that  Alex is Josie’s new boyfriend, and proceeds to punch Alex in the face.  Josie &#8211; after getting over the surprise and stops her protective brother from beating Jack black and blue &#8211; offers Jack a ride home when  she sees he has no lift. But this is not the last time they will see  each other. Jack’s brother is getting married, and he’s asked Jack to be  the best man. There’s one slight problem though: Josie is the maid of  honour, and she needs to learn to ride a horse for the wedding. And who  else is best to teach her other than Jack with his meddlesome family’s  urging.</p>
<p>I  found Claimed to be a light hearted and pleasant read, but there’s not a  lot of emotion in the book, and there’s no oomph in this story that  made it stand out. Josie acted very nicely towards Jack and she was  pretty decent to him &#8211; even though he behaved like such a jerk &#8211; and she  never behaved other than in a dignified manner towards him. The problem  I had was after hurting her the way he did, and professing to not get  involved with Jack again because there would be too much hurt, she sees  one look at his sexy body, and she’s back having sex with him despite  knowing that he hasn’t changed at all, and he still doesn’t share his  emotions and feelings.</p>
<p>The  sex scenes were written well, and the time when they were sneaking out  with one another while learning to ride were light fun sexy scenes, but I  don’t think that the plot device was strong enough to carry the story  through. I also didn’t understand Jack’s misplaced guilt of his father  dying because no way could he have for seen what would happen.</p>
<p>Josie  and Jack have their sexual relationship with both not thinking about  where it would be taking them, and it’s not until Josie realises this  and suddenly tells Jack that unless he opens up, she won’t be in his  life any more. This jarred me because she knew beforehand what he  was like, and knew that he had not changed.</p>
<p>The  ending of the story does pick up, and Jack finally lets his guard down,  but it was done too quickly for my taste. He declares his love to  Josie, and it’s a happily ever after. Claimed is a quick pleasant read,  but it’s not an exciting story packed with emotion. I was more  interested in Alex’s character, but I’m not sure I would be tempted to  read his book if it’s in the same tone as this book.</p>
<p>I give Claimed a C-.</p>
<p><a href="http://thebookpushers.com/2010/09/15/review-claimed-by-vicki-lewis-thompson/">Review: Claimed by Vicki Lewis Thompson</a> is a post from: <a href="http://thebookpushers.com">The Book Pushers | Book Reviews | Book Chatter</a></p>
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		<title>Review: Shade by Jeri Smith-Ready</title>
		<link>http://thebookpushers.com/2010/09/10/review-shade-by-jeri-smith-ready/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=review-shade-by-jeri-smith-ready</link>
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		<pubDate>Fri, 10 Sep 2010 14:19:17 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Has</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[B REVIEWS]]></category>
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		<category><![CDATA[Romance]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[Publisher: S&#38;S UK Where did you get this book from: Review copy from Publisher Release date: Out now. Blurb taken from author&#8217;s official website: Love ties them together. Death can&#8217;t tear them apart. Best. Birthday. Ever. At least, it was supposed to be. With Logan&#8217;s band playing a critical gig and Aura&#8217;s plans for an [...]<p><a href="http://thebookpushers.com/2010/09/10/review-shade-by-jeri-smith-ready/">Review: Shade by Jeri Smith-Ready</a> is a post from: <a href="http://thebookpushers.com">The Book Pushers | Book Reviews | Book Chatter</a></p>
]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Publisher: S&amp;S UK</p>
<p>Where did you get this book from: Review copy from Publisher</p>
<p>Release date: Out now.</p>
<p>Blurb taken from author&#8217;s official website:</p>
<blockquote><p><strong>Love ties them together.<br />
Death can&#8217;t tear them apart.</strong></p>
<p><strong>Best.  Birthday. Ever. At least, it was supposed to be. With Logan&#8217;s band  playing a critical gig and Aura&#8217;s plans for an intimate after-party,  Aura knows it will be the most memorable night of her boyfriend&#8217;s life.  She never thought it would be his last.</strong></p>
<p><strong>Logan&#8217;s sudden death leaves Aura devastated. He&#8217;s gone.</strong></p>
<p><strong>Well, sort of.</strong></p>
<p><strong>Like  everyone born after the Shift, Aura can see and hear ghosts. This  mysterious ability has always been annoying, and Aura had wanted nothing  more than to figure out why the Shift happened so she can undo it. But  not with Logan’s violet-hued spirit still hanging around. Because dead  Logan is almost as real as ever. Almost.</strong></p>
<p><strong>It  doesn&#8217;t help that Aura’s new friend Zachary is so understanding—and so  very alive. His support means more to Aura than she cares to admit.</strong></p>
<p><strong>As  Aura&#8217;s relationships with the dead and the living grow ever  complicated, so do her feelings for Logan and Zachary. Each holds a  piece of Aura&#8217;s heart…and clues to the secret of the Shift.</strong></p></blockquote>
<p><img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-2385" title="shadeuk" src="http://thebookpushers.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/shadeuk.jpg" alt="" width="277" height="420" />Sixteen  years ago, a shift happened which affected all of the young people that  were born from that point. They are able to see and speak to ghosts.  Although most ghosts are benign and move on, some turn to Shades who can  become violent, and harm and even kill those who can interact with  them.</p>
<p>Aura  was one of the first amongst this new world to see and hear ghosts, and  she has had to cope with their attention which can be annoying,  humorous and sometimes dangerous. She also has to cope with growing up,  facing doubts about her deepening relationship with her very popular  boyfriend, Logan, who is part of a band, and deal with the ghosts around  her. After a night of partying and celebrating Logan’s new found  success with his band, tragedy strikes when he suddenly dies. Aura has  to pick up the pieces and live with the guilt because she feels she was  part of the cause of his death.</p>
<p>Shade  is a stark and haunting book with a gritty and dark prose that adds to   the chilling tone, although there are lighter flashes of humour and  emotion that helps to balance the story from verging into too dark of a place. The  scene with Logan’s death and its aftermath was so realistic and  heat-wrenching that I still felt the shock of it even though I knew it  was coming. Seeing Aura and Logan’s family and friends dealing with his  death, and the realisation of his reappearance as a ghost, really  highlights the theme of grief and adds multi-layered meanings to the  theme of life and death in the book. I think it was one of the best  portrayals about grief, and I have read a few books with this subject.</p>
<p>The  rich and realistic characters were also a highlight for me. Aura was a  great character with doubts and flaws, but she also had strong and an  inner iron will to cope with the creepy world around her and dealing  with her grief. When Zachary, an engaging and humorous exchange student  from Scotland, arrives to her school, he becomes her study partner for a  personal project and that adds more complications to Aura’s love life.   While she has to deal with the physical loss of Logan, he still visits  and interacts with her which complicates her feelings and grief process.</p>
<p>I  LOVED Zachary and I hope in future books Aura will be able to move on  and have a relationship with him. He was funny, smart, and he was very  empathic and supportive to her situation. I loved how his humour shone &#8211;  especially in contrast with the dark tone of the book. I especially loved this part of the book as it really made me laugh out loud <img src='http://thebookpushers.com/wp-includes/images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif' alt=':D' class='wp-smiley' /> . Here is a quote that I feels captures the humour of Zachary:</p>
<blockquote><p>“ At school tomorrow,” I said, “you’re going to hear a lot of stuff about me. Most of it’s bullshit.”<br />
“I  won’t believe a word. In fact, I’ll just give them blank looks and  say-” He uttered a series of guttural Gaelic syllables. All I could make  out was something that sounded like byorla.<br />
“What’s that mean?”<br />
“I don’t speak bloody English.”</p></blockquote>
<p>I  also felt there that there was more tension with Zachary and Aura, and  they had more things in common compared to Logan, who I could not warm  up to.  Although this sets up an unusual love triangle which I think  adds a new twist to this trope.</p>
<p>Aura  is still dealing with her grief realistically, and is unable to let go  of Logan which was heartbreaking to see. Jeri Smith Ready really  captures teen emotions authentically, and with real substance; their  voice and feelings were fantastically portrayed with real depth &#8211; which  also makes this one of the most real YA books I have read!</p>
<p>Whilst  Aura has to deal with ghostly boyfriends and a potential of a live one,  secrets of her past and origins and how it relates to The Shift comes  to light.  I won’t state more because it’s pretty spoilery, but I really  can’t wait to see how how this pans out. Along with the emotional  elements, the added mystery and the hint of a conspiracy, I definitely  want to pick up the next book.</p>
<p>Shade  combines the coming of age and teen life in a haunting setting with  people coping in a strange and unsettling world. This is one of the best  books that really examines grief, as well as dealing with themes of  sexuality, death and love. Add in the fact that it’s memorable, has  snappy dialogue, and well fleshed out characters with a hint of mystery,  Shade is a great start to this multi-layered series.</p>
<p>I give Shade a B+</p>
<p><a href="http://thebookpushers.com/2010/09/10/review-shade-by-jeri-smith-ready/">Review: Shade by Jeri Smith-Ready</a> is a post from: <a href="http://thebookpushers.com">The Book Pushers | Book Reviews | Book Chatter</a></p>
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