How to Date a Dragon ( Flirting with Fangs trilogy 2) by Ashlyn Chase

Hello!

              I'm so late posting this week, i'm sorry but i'm starting to get stressed over the idea of not being ready for christmas. I love making handmade gift , really, it's a pleasure to create something with a special person in mind and put all our heart in it but it's something that takes time. Since a lot of those i want to send something are oversea i must be ready early, very early december ....so2week to finish all my ideas....

As you can imagine that affect my reading time... either i  take a break from reading or i read short novella or i read bits from time to time between hiours of crafting.... honestly i'm not sure yet what solution would be the best because i do want to read but i also want top finish what i started!

Lucky you i did manage to read a little so far and i must sayi had the perfect book for the time of the year and lack of reading time so i'm happy to introduce you to "How to Date a Dragon"

happy reading ( and remember you can enter a contest to won handmade jewellery here^^ )

Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca

Publication: 2013

ISBN:  1402275722

Genre: paranormal romance
Violence: mild
Language: normal
sex: mild
Public: 18+

Source: won
 

Short description from goodreads :

 Let the Sparks Fly

Bliss Russo thought nothing exciting ever happened in her life. Until her building caught on fire, and she had to be carried out of the flames in the arms of a gorgeous fireman. Sure, her apartment is now in shambles, and she'll have to start her huge work project completely from scratch. But at least her love life is finally looking up…if only she can find her red-hot rescuer again.


Dragon shapeshifter Drake Cameron is the last of his clan, and the loneliness is starting to claw at him. He's met only one woman who might be able to stand the shock of his true nature. After all, she barely batted an eyelash when her home burned down. And feeling her curves against him was just as hot as the inferno. Just when he thinks he'll never track her down, she walks into his firehouse—with no idea what she's about to get herself into…

My opinion:

          Book 1 “ Flirting under the new moon” was a pleasant read so when I learned that book 2 will focus on dragon I had to try it. I’m happy I did,  it was not an exceptional book but it was the perfect one at the time.

There are some books I get so immersed in it I can’t stop until I finish reading them to the last page… other I don’t like and thus it takes me forever to finish them because I don’t want to give up but I’m not interested. “ How to Date a Dragon” was quite in between…. It was interesting enough that you want to finish it and you do enjoy reading but the plot and writing did not pull me into the story so that I could not take breaks I needed too…. But the author managed so well that even if you stop for a few hours or several days you can start from where you stopped without feeling like you missed something. It was a little like a tv show you need to wait the next episodes but without cliffhanger, stress etc…

I did enjoy this book more than the first one as well, it was a agreeable easy reads perfect for when you are busy or unwell but still want to change your mind with a good book. I appreciated to see a new god” Vulcain” and to see him interact with the characters for once. Honestly I stuill don’t like Gaia… I don’t know I envision her as maternal, kind and protective not like this vindictive b****( Yes  nature can be hard but deep down it’s fair)…the way she acted with dragons  disappointed me to say the least.

Because yes if you imagined you were going to read about dragon, flying in all their glory^^ forget it

Drake is a character I love, responsible, loyal and honest all while being very alpha and protective. He is also quite adaptable and can keep his calm when needed (useful for a firefighter). I loved how he was thinking of Bliss and trying to make her happy while still respecting her independence.

Bliss… I did not like her so much… she is snarky, intelligent but she can think of herself too much and put other in danger while doing so….for example  her choice did not agree with me ( she forgot her decision would affect Drake as well). She is quite determined though ( a good point)

 The romance is well told and I loved to have some feedback about the character we met in book 1. The rhythm of the book is regular and the plot interesting while still predictable so you don’t get headache but can enjoy the ride at the pace you want.

It’s not my favourite series at all but I would be happy to read book 3 in the future when I need a light read again.

Score:  3/5

Disclaimer: All opinions are my own and no compensation was received in exchange for this review

Challenges:

Midnight Blue-Light Special ( InCryptid 2) by Seanan McGuire

Hello to all!

            i hope you have a better weather than us because here it's so cold ( and rain...) ....oki an excellent time to stay near the fire with a good book and a cup of tea but sadly it's not on my list for today, the special event at the roleplaying club is only a few hours away so we must do the shopping, finish decorating and a lot of other details ^^ busy day.

Busy yes.. enough that i don't participate in Brenda's event The Ghoulishly Good Monster Mash Mix up? No ^^ and today is about dragon so it will the next thing i do... but first like promised i continue to share with you my october reading discoveries....and  Brenda planned well because this book does have dragons too so...
 Happy reading!

Publisher: DAW

Publication: 2013

ISBN:  0756407923

Genre: urban fantasy
Violence: strong
Language: normal
sex: mild
Public: 18+

Source: won (thanks Brenda!!!)

Short description from goodreads :

 Cryptid, noun:
1. Any creature whose existence has been suggested but not proven scientifically. Term officially coined by cryptozoologist John E. Wall in 1983.
2. That thing that's getting ready to eat your head.
3. See also: "monster."

The Price family has spent generations studying the monsters of the world, working to protect them from humanity--and humanity from them. Enter Verity Price. Despite being trained from birth as a cryptozoologist, she'd rather dance a tango than tangle with a demon, and when her work with the cryptid community took her to Manhattan, she thought she would finally be free to pursue competition-level dance in earnest. It didn't quite work out that way...

But now, with the snake cult that was killing virgins all over Manhattan finally taken care of, Verity is ready to settle down for some serious ballroom dancing—until her on-again, off-again, semi-boyfriend Dominic De Luca, a member of the monster-hunting Covenant of St. George, informs her that the Covenant is on their way to assess the city's readiness for a cryptid purge. With everything and everyone she loves on the line, there's no way Verity can take that lying down.


Alliances will be tested, allies will be questioned, lives will be lost, and the talking mice in Verity's apartment will immortalize everything as holy writ--assuming there's anyone left standing when all is said and done. It's a midnight blue-light special, and the sale of the day is on betrayal, deceit...and carnage.

My opinion:

          After reading Discount Armageddon, I couldn’t wait to get more of Verity and Dominic as well as the Aeslin Mice.  If I could have rushed my precedent reads to get to this one earlier I would have done it but it’s not my style so I had to be patient and it was more than, worth it! I really enjoyed this book, I’m not giving it an higher score though and I can’t really tell you what I found missing even if I will try .

So first this story takes place some weeks after the events in book 1 and Dominic and Verity are still not sure where they stand together. Trust isn’t completely there but they do have a sort of relationship. Dominic isn’t trusted by the cryptids but he does prove to be concerned for some and trying to adapt to Verity’s company which can be really confusing, not every one would be comfortable with speaking mice or a telepath you can’t remember.

He has reason to be perturbed by all this new knowledge since it’s the completely opposite of how he was raised but he is trying for the sake of Verity and she is not making things easy for him. To be honest I really enjoyed how his personality was constructed because a sudden change wouldn’t feel right and how the author managed to make him sound is just the right one. I love him, he is so human and trying to do things right I couldn’t be angry with him for his hesitations and doubts.

Verity is also trying to adjust to having someone other than family to trust and she is really difficult about it, she keeps fighting Dominic and trying to put him ill at ease. I had a little difficulty to understand that since she was the one to make the relationship move to the next level and I don’t like the idea she could make love to him without any trust or love soothe fact that after she acts like it’s nothing bothered me.  At the first occasion she doubt him. She is at a time of her life when she must decide what really counts for her and that’s her primary focus and as often if facing adversary that you can really discover yourself and what is important for you. I enjoyed seeing her determined, trying to help the majority and how she was persevering the torture was really interesting. She isn’t a super woman, yes she had a special training, yes she has some abilities but  no super powers at the end she is still a young woman who doesn’t like suffering, who can be terrified… so human but it’s her humanity that make her want to fight for the cryptid population despite the risk, she could flee but she stays and do what she believe in even if it means sacrificing herself, and not without thinking about other solution. She isn’t a coward, she wants to life but she can see farther than herself and it’s what makes her a Heroine. ..; at that time I was really admiring her.

Another part that interested me was the way the cryptid community acted after learning the danger….it was so natural in a sense some afraid run away some want to fight to protect what is their. It was something I could understand perfectly and I loved to see some wanting to stay and trust Verity… I mean they have some doubt about her because she is a Price but they can admit what she has done for them and trust her when necessary. Kitty is a good example at a time she sound like against Verity at all, selfish to the worst levels but she is the one taking a stand to protect the community and offer refuge, helping in negotiations and such. It’s when facing difficulties that you discover your true friends and allies…. And here it’s really a good example. Istas and Ryan as well as the dragons are there, some with a little persuasion but there are there.

 We also see more member of the Price family and learn about their history, I can tell you I was probably more disappointed with that part ^^, her parents send to Verity uncle Mike as backup but the way he nearly gave up at a time had me frustrated and angry. He should have been the one to believe ion verity but no. Sarah did all the work and for a normally peaceful character it was really something. 

 I still enjoyed as much as before the little advices or proverb from Verity‘s ancestry, there are ringing so well^^ and never miss to make me smile, like the way Seanan McGuire at the beginning of each chapter put in bold the place where the action takes place…it could seem to be a detail but can’t recommend enough to pay attention to them.

The romance is there and not just in a few pages, action is gripping and  non stop so you are really left wanting to keep reading until the last page  but perhaps what make me sad is that you feel it’s the last book on Verity adventures. I don’t mean she will never appear again in the series but the next two book will focus on her brother not her and  I wanted more, a lot more of Verity and Dominic and the mice ( as well as Sarah of course).. it’s hard to explain without giving too much info… there is a ending, a happy one but it’s kind of an open ending set in a proper place yes just I wanted more ^^;; I can only hope we get what happen after last page in a novella because it could be so fun that I don’t want to miss that^^

 In resume, it an excellent book full of humour, tension and romance, that will catch you in the story and not to let you go until you have finished it. I enjoyed it a lot, I even loved it but it could have been even better I think ( how I absolutely can’t tell^^;;) and I will read the rest of the series hoping for more Verity ( and I can’t wait to meet Antimony^^) a must read if you love urban fantasy with humour and original creatures

Score:  4/5

Disclaimer: All opinions are my own and no compensation was received in exchange for this review

Challenges:

                                            ********************************

Brenda's halloween contests

Do you want more Dragon reads? Then check Brenda's giveaway for today ^^ you can win either "How to date a Dragon" or an ebook in the DragonFury series. Enter here before 2d november. Good luck

La Nuit de la Lune Bleue de Simon R Green

Bonsoir à tous,

                  en ce week-en pluvieux, nous entamons un nouveau mois de lecture centré principalement, mais pas uniquement, sur la fantasy et plus principalement la fantasy romance et quoi de mieux pour commencer qu'un classique écrit par un auteur largement connu dans le milieu Simon R. Green et son livre " La Nuit de la Lune Bleue"

Bonne lecture

Illustrations  réalisées par Greg Call

Editeur VF: Bragelonne 2006

N° ISBN : 2352940133
Titre original: Blue Moon Rising( edited 1989)
Genre: fantasy,romance
Violence: moyen
Langage: normal
sexe: élevé
Public: +16ans

Prix : 22euro
Obtenu par achat

Quatrième de couverture de l'éditeur Bragelonne:

Le royaume du roi John a vécu dans la paix durant des générations. Malheureusement, aujourd’hui, son royaume se désagrège. Le mal qui irradie du Noirbois ronge le pays ; les démons se rassemblent et chassent en meutes. Le roi John n’a plus d’argent, plus de troupes, plus d’espoir. Son plus jeune fils, le prince Rupert – sorte de pièce de rechange dans la lignée royale – est envoyé dans une quête afin de prouver sa valeur : il doit sauver une princesse, comme il se doit. Mais à son retour, à la surprise générale, il ne ramène pas seulement la princesse, mais aussi le dragon censé la dévorer…

 Un fils cadet, un dragon fatigué, une licorne sans corne et une princesse avec un méchant crochet du gauche : voilà la troupe de héros improbables qui devra faire face au Prince démon, durant la nuit de la lune bleue…

Histoire:

               Dans un royaume en perdition, le fils cadet est forcément mal vu afin d’arrondir les angles il est envoyés dans une quête impossible synonyme de mort ou à tout le moins d’exil. Rupert en est bien conscient pourtant il prend cette chasse au dragon à cœur. Accompagné de sa fidèle licorne il affronte un bois maléfique pour atteindre l’antre d’un dragon, connu grâce à une veille sorcière. Or le dragon est tout sauf ce que les légendes en disent, loin d’être cruel il parle avec aisance et en lieu et place d’un trésor de pierres précieuses il collectionne….les papillons. Finalement, loin de l’occire Rupert se lie d’amitié avec ce dragon qui propose de l’accompagner afin de se libérer d’une princesse guerrière qu’on lui a envoyé en sacrifice mais qu’il n’a pu tuer et lui fait vivre depuis un enfer.

De retour au château, après avoir affronter des hordes de démons et n’y avoir survécus que de justesse grâce à une épée arc-en-ciel on lui fait très clairement comprendre qu’il aurait du mourir, ou au moins ramener quelque chose d’utile au lieu d’un dragon vivant et d’une princesse, promise à son frère qui allait en épouser une autre, mal élevée. Toutefois la situation est bien plus grave que ça,  les barons ne paient plus leur taxes depuis des années et les coffres sont vides alors que le Norbois, bois maléfique infesté de démons, s’étant et menace le royaume. Rupert est le seul a y avoir survécu et ce si on en croit ses dires aussi est-il désigné d’office pour y retourner à la recherche d’un Haut sorcier qui pourrait les sauver.

Les démons se rassemblent et œuvrent en groupe comme jamais, les traîtres fourmillent au palais et le prince héritier Harald si arrogant ne fait qu’espérer la mort tragique de son frère pour éviter une guerre civile lors de la succession mais voilà, son expérience dans le Norbois a changer Rupert et il n’est plus d’accord pour s’écraser. Il prend de l’assurance, dirigent des hommes et s’en fait respecter ce qui paradoxalement le met encore plus en danger alors que la nuit démoniaque menace de tout exterminer sur son passage.

Style:

           Simon R. Green est passé maître dans l’écriture Fantasy. L’écriture est rythmée et l’action palpitante. Les personnages se découvrent des forces insoupçonnées au fil des épreuves qu’ils traversent. Simon R. Green  crée des personnages haut en couleur et  avec une personnalité très marquée. Moral, honneur, magie et devoir s’entremêlent dans un récit d’aventures et d’actions entraînant.

Avis:

         Contrairement à ce que la quatrième couverture laisse entendre, Rupert n’a jamais eu comme mission de sauver une princesse, loin de là puisque ça crée même quelques soucis politiques. J’apprécie vraiment que le récit soit si bien construit et rythmé,  une princesse qui frappe c’est agréable parfois et cela change des princesses nunuches auxquelles on est parfois confronté. Le lecteur peut ici s’identifier à bien des personnages et peut-être évoluer comme eux. Rupert peu sure de lui et si résigné, devient un vrai héros lorsqu’on a besoin de lui. La princesse refuse de se voir impossible un avenir tout réglé d’avance et souhaite gagner sa liberté et faire ses propres choix même si elle doit en découdre pour y parvenir. Plusieurs lectrices se retrouveront certainement dans ses réflexions sur la différence et ses conséquences.

La licorne si peureuse est en fait un allié très fidèle et que dire des gobelins, tantôt si marrants tantôt si touchants.

C’est un très bon récit de fantasy qui devrait ravir les habitués de rpg. L’humour est assez présent et la magie mais aussi la romance légère contrebalancent parfaitement la violence et la trahison présentes dans l’histoire.

Score:  4,5/5

 

Challenges:


This book enter in the Romance and Me Challenge



Book read for the 2012 TBR reading Challenge