Enchanted by Blood (Sweetblood 2.5) by Laurie London in the anthology A Vampire for Christmas

Hello to all,

               Time for the exams is near or already started for some of us but it also means that Christmas is approaching fast. To day i want to share with you a novella "Enchanted by Blood" written by Laurie London,  this novella is part of a series called Sweetblood but can be read as a stand alone  so no worries if like me you didn't start the series before reading this, christams and vampire ^^ a good treat when the weather is so freezing ( minus 10 this night).

This novella can be found in the anthology " A Vampire for Christmas" and if i'm lucky i should be able to give you y opinion on the other stories that can be found in this book before the end of the month^^ but first with start with Echanted By Blood, first novella in the anthology.

Publisher: Harlequin

Publication: 2011

ISBN:  0373776446

Genre: paranormal erotic romance, holiday romance

Violence: mild
Language: normal
sex: strong
Public: 18+

Source: won

Short description of the anthology  from goodreads :

 All they want for Christmas is you…

It's the time of year for twinkling lights on trees and kisses under the mistletoe. Yet the passing of another year means nothing to the stunning immortals who lurk in the shadows of the new-fallen snow.

And they don't care if you've been naughty or nice.

Let four fanged lovers open your eyes to a passion you never dared to imagine. After all, there's no place like home for the holidays—and these dazzling vampires can't wait for an invitation.

My opinion:

          I love it! I waited so long for this book and then I didn’t dare to read (strange no?) because i didn’t know a lot of these authors or I hadn’t read the series to which those novella can be related;  however since it’s holidays time I couldn’t wait more and I will read each novella separately …Enchanted by Blood  is a wonderful novella and it can be read without any knowledge of the series “Sweetblood” even if it’s the 2.5 elements of the series.

I love the excerpt I saw of Laurie London‘s books and I have one of the Sweetblood series, not the first one though so the reason why I preferred to wait. It’s really not a necessity, Enchanted by Blood is a perfect stand alone and it give us a great insight of the series and now I can’t wait to obtain book 1 and start the series. I loved the writing style clear and fresh, I was immersed in the story and curious about what I was discovery in the same time as Charlotte.

Trace is loyal and so dedicated than he is forgetting to live and be happy, no matter her grandmother’s attempts to open his eyes. To keep a promise, he accepted to erase the memory of the only woman he really felt close to. An human yes, and yes she saw something she shouldn’t have but he preferred to erase his existence from her so she could have a normal life once again, one without lies and he did that knowing he would suffer and regret that decision. I admire his courage and dedication and in the same time I would like him to be conscious of what he has. There was a kind of magic between them and he accepted to loose that just to please someone else… too sad ( and stupid! Be a man assume your choice!!)

Charlotte is a kind woman; she is trusting and let say that she could choose some of her friends better. She is a interior decorator but people are important for her and not their wallet. When she is nearly assaulted, she is shaken but still first obeys her saviour wanting to be sure he is alright. .. She doesn’t remember Trace but she is under his charm, she feels close to him even if she met him only a few hours ago. Their relation starts anew because even with good intentions in mind Trace can’t resist anymore than her and it’s can be quite steamy sometimes^^.

It’s really a good holiday romance, with action and romance but since it’s a novella I don’t want to tell you too much and spoil your fun so give it a try and enjoy!

Score:  4,5/5

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

Challenges:

This book enter in the Romance and Me Challenge

Book read for the 2012 TBR reading

To join in, copy and paste these rules and the above banner into your Fanged Mania post and add your link to this week’s Fanged Mania post at Elisabeth Wheatley’s Blog. Fanged Mania is a Friday meme counting down to the release of Fanged Princess and displaying all things vampire and awesome. Fanged Mania posts can be a review of a vampire book, a quote from the latest Vampire Diaries episode, a showcase of a cool vampire book’s cover, or whatever you like so long as it is vampire related. Don’t forget, participants will be entered in the drawing to win a fanged-abulous prize pack!

Rendez-vous sous la neige par Miranda Jarrett

Bonsoir à tous,

 j'espère que vous avez passé un merveilleux Week-end malgré le froid mordant. Après avoir mis la dernière touche à mes achats de Noël- tellement contente de m'y être prise tant en avance- je me suis replongée dans ma découverte des romances de saisons grâce à une anthologie intitulée "Trois mariages au Château", l'avantage de ce livre c'est que je peux ne lire qu'une des nouvelles sur le temps de midi entre mes cours et avancer malgré tout dans ma découvert ( et oui j'aime pas voir mes lectures interrompues).

Je vais vous présenter chaque histoire individuellement puisqu'il s'agit de 3 auteurs  différents et que les histoires n'ont en commun que la saison et le fait que ce soit des romances. Alors pour commencer aujourd'hui voici mon avis sur " Rendez-vous sous la neige" de Miranda Jarret

bonne lecture!

Editeur VF: Harlequin  2005
Titre original:A Gift Most Rare ( edited 2002)
Genre: holiday romance, romance historique, régence anglaise
Violence: aucune
Langage: normal
sexe: moyen
Public: +18ans
Obtenu par achat

Quatrième de couverture de l'éditeur Harlequin:

Sara pensait ne jamais revoir Rewell, l'homme qu'elle avait failli épouser six ans plus tôt en Inde et qui l'avait lâchement quittée en apprenant que son père était ruiné. Pourtant il était là, venu passer les fêtes de Noël dans le manoir anglais où elle travaillait aujourd'hui comme gouvernante - et ravivant en elle le douloureux souvenir d'un bonheur enfui...

Avis:

          Très agréable récit de saison : romantique et légèrement exotique de part les souvenirs des personnages. J’ai apprécié cette petite histoire prenant place lors de la régence anglaise courte mais bien ficelée pour passer un merveilleux moment de douceur et tendresse. Sara a dû fuir les Indes, pays de sa naissance qu’elle adorait, à la suite du décès de son père et de l’abandon de son fiancé. Depuis elle a dû changer son nom et en Angleterre elle n’est désormais plus qu’une gouvernante pour la petite Clarissa, fille de la petite noblesse.

A l’occasion de Noël, la famille  Fordyce organise un bal et reçoit pour l’occasion plusieurs invités pour deux ou 3 semaines, cette année le fils de Famille Albert a insisté pour invité un ami rencontré par hasard  Rewell or celui- ci n’est autre que l’ancien fiancé de Sara. Rewell, bien que de la noblesse, à dû créer sa propre fortune et pour cela il a été envoyé à peine adolescent dans les Indes. Il y a certes fait fortune, appris de nombreuses choses ainsi que des langues qu’il n’hésite pas à pratiquer mais il y a surtout connu l’amour et il l’a également perdu lorsque sa douce Sara a soudainement disparu sans lui donner de nouvelles depuis il ne l’a jamais remplacée ou oubliée. Cependant, bien que noble et riche, il a une détestable réputation du simple fait qu’il passe beaucoup de temps en Inde et  en parle la langue. Soudain alors u’il ne pensait jamais la revoir  il la retrouve en tant que gouvernante et sous un autre nom, blessé à l’époque par son départ il cherche des réponses et ne peut que constater que son amour est toujours bien présent.

Je trouve que l’auteur a très bien exprimé les règles de l’époque et aussi l’hypocrisie régnant dans les sphères de la noblesse où les citoyens ayant vécus dans les colonies (ou pire y étant nés) souffrent d’un certain rejet, de médisances et sont perçus comme juste au dessus des sauvages. C’était assez commun dans tous les pays mais j’ai toujours trouvé cela très hypocrites, ils envoient des gens vivre ailleurs, dans des colonies parfois contre leur volonté et ensuite ils s’en désintéressent et deviennent méprisants. Ici Rewell, n’a pas  immédiatement  conscience de la difficulté que de devrait affronter Sara si son passé était connu et plus il la redécouvre plus il s’en rend compte et ne l’en aime que plus. Il n’hésite pas à prendre sa défense à plusieurs reprises même lorsqu’il pense qu’elle l’a abandonné.

C’est une très jolie histoire de Noël et j’ai trouvé la petite Clarissa très attendrissante lorsqu’elle essaie de leur faire comprendre ce qu’ils ressentent  et souhaite que Sara soit heureuse. Le rythme est parfait pour que les personnages aient le temps de laisser le passé et les rancoeurs un peu en retrait pour vivre le présent et envisager l’avenir, raison pour laquelle l’auteur ne les brusques pas  et amène les révélations sur ce qui s’est passé aux Indes tr ès progressivement

A recommander à ceux qui voudrait un agréable moment et une douce romance

Score:  3,5/5

Disclaimer: Toutes les opinions exprimées ici sont les miennes, il s’agit de d’un avis honnête et personnel. Aucune compensation n’a été fournie en échange de ce dernier.

Challenges:

This book enter in the Romance and Me Challenge

Book read for the 2012 TBR reading

Home in Time for Christmas by Heather Graham

Hello to all,

                     i'm so happy to have found this book and to share it with you....even more today when outside the snow is making the world magical and peaceful...a little magic so take a good cup of tea ( or coffee is you really prefer), or hot cocoa and just enjoy

Happy Reading!

Publisher: Mira Books

Publication: 2010

ISBN:  0778328236

Genre: holiday romance, fantasy, historical
Violence: light
Language: normal
sex: none
Public: 16+

Source: bought

Short description from goodreads :

 Melody Tarleton is driving home for Christmas when a man--clad in Revolutionary War-era costume--appears out of nowhere, right in the path of her car. Shaken, she takes the injured stranger in, listening with concern to Jake Mallory's fantastic claim that he's a Patriot soldier executed by British authorities.

Bringing Jake to her parents' house, Melody concocts a story to explain the handsome holiday guest with the courtly manners and strange clothes. Mark, her close friend who wishes he were more, is skeptical, but her family is fascinated. So is Melody. Jake is passionate, charming and utterly unlike anyone she's ever met. Can he really be who he claims? And can a man from the distant pas be the future she truly longs for?

My opinion:

         Fabulous, magical, romantic story. I’ve just finished reading it and I wouldn’t mind starting over immediately just to go back in this wonderful ambience so perfect for the season.  I didn’t know exactly what I was going to feel because it’s my first holiday romance and I’m so happy to have started with one as good as this one mixing all I love: magic, fantasy, history and a sweet romance it’s a wonderful start for me and the message in it is so true and adapted to the season I couldn’t avoid to fall in love with this book.

Jake is so loyal and he wants to fight for what he believes as important. Even in the hardest moment of his life, just moment before his execution he is still trying to comfort his executioner who has became a friend and his last thought is for his loved ones not for a miracle for himself. I could feel his despair when he saw his sister, heather Graham wrote that so wonderfully. He is polite and so patient, He knows Melody doesn’t believe him, it hurts him but he isn’t angry and since he is planning to go back to his sister, only to protect her, to be sure she is safe and sound, he accept to  renounce to the love he found. He loves Melody but since he thinks he can stay with her he tried to avoid letting his feeling known so as not to hurt her. I love his acceptance and the faith he has in every ones.

Melody is stubborn and a realistic woman, quite curious since she is also an artist, she can’t believe Jake’s story. She absolutely refuses to see it as a possibility even with so many proofs under her nose.  She loves her family very much but in the same time she doesn’t believe in them, she thinks her mother crazy and her father a little too because he want to be an inventor… so in a way she doesn’t really love them for who they are. Jake coming in her life, disturb her but also gives her the opportunity to see all the reasons why she should be grateful and to discover the true meaning of faith.

I loved to have glimpse of history from Jake point of view and the romance, slowly building as they learn more about each others  it was well written and in the right rhythm.

I don’t want to reveal too much because it’s part of the magic but I was deeply touched by the message of tolerance of this book, no matter in what you believes as long as you want to do goods and are truthful in your beliefs those can be all part of the same reality. Also the part about the gift… you can receive the good gift while you don’t know it was what you needed it’s a good message when we get the real meaning of it.

 Heather Graham managed to make me cry as well as hope at least a little so I really recommend this book  for this period of the year but not only and it would make a good gift to all the romantic souls in the harsh winter.

Score:  5/5

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

Challenges:

This book enter in the Romance and Me Challenge

Book read for the 2012 TBR reading

Le Rendez-Vous de Noël par Elaine Barbieri

Bonjour à tous!

                    Le temps est froid et le vent glacé mais il n'y a pas mieux pour me donner envie de rester au coin du feu avec un bon livre- lorsque je n'ai pas cours bien entendu-.
Ce mois-ci va être consacré aux lectures dont le thème, la période ou un autre élément est en lien avec Noël ( ou toute autre fête mais principalement Noël) et nombre d'entre eux seront des romances.

J'essaierai de varier entre avis en français et an anglais lorsque c'est possible mais cela dépendra surtout de ce que je possède sur les étagères. Aujourd'hui je vous donne mon avis sur " Le rendez-vous de Noël" par Elaine Barbieri dont j'ai déjà lu un autre livre précédemment.

Bonne Lecture

Editeur VF: Harlequin  2001
Titre original:Rendez-Vous ( edited 1994)
Genre: holiday romance
Violence: aucune
Langage: normal
sexe: moyen
Public: 18ans+
Obtenu par achat

Quatrième de couverture de l'éditeur Harlequin:

Quand sa mère succombe en la mettant au monde, la petite Lydia est confiée à des amis de son père le temps que ce dernier, accablé par le chagrin, surmonte sa peine. Quatre ans s’ écoulent, durant lesquels la fillette s’attache à sa nouvelle famille- et surtout à Whit, le fils de la maison à qui elle voue une adoration partagée. Mais un beau jour, le père de Lydia se remarie et vient chercher sa fille pour l’emmener avec lui. Brutalement séparés, Whit et Lydia promettent de ne jamais s’oublier. Mais la guerre de Sécession éclate et tous deux se perdent de vue- jusqu’à ce que, des années plus tard, peu avant Noël, une tempête de neige les remette en présence… 

Avis:

         Elaine Barbieri n’est pas parvenue à me captiver par son récit. Loin de là, je peux admettre avoir passer un moment qui n’a pas été désagréable mais je n’ai pas vécu la passion des personnages et certes l’histoire se déroule aux environs de Noël mais sa magie n’est pas du tout présente. Je me suis plutôt ennuyée et en cela je suis contente que l’histoire n’ait pas été trop longue car je ne suis pas certaine que je l’aurai finie.

L’histoire en soit n’est pas mauvaise mais un peu trop banale, on devine tout de suite ce qui va se passer lorsque les personnages se retrouvent et il n’y a aucun mystère, quelques hésitations oui et quelques malentendus bien sur mais rien de vraiment particulier qui capte l’intérêt et nous plonge dans l’histoire. Lydia est courageuse et douce pourtant je ne l’ai pas ressentie comme réelle, je n’ai pas su m’identifier. Whit, lui, m’a plutôt déçu, certes il est gentil et la prends sous son aile mais il était parti par le passé et pendant un moment on a l’impression que lorsqu’il rejoint Jayne c’est une nouvelle forme de fuite. Il n’est pas assez sûr de lui à mon goût et ses hommes sont plus sensés que lui. Je veux dire si il apprécie les gens peu importe leur catégorie sociale comme il semble le montrer, les remarques de sa fiancée auraient du le gêner depuis bien longtemps or on découvre que c’est depuis le début qu’elle se montre si hautaine et méprisante et pourtant il a accepté de se fiancer à elle…c’est pas logique.

Je ne recommande pas vraiment ce livre, certes le louer à la bibliothèque peut-être mais l’acheter pas vraiment, il y a de bien meilleurs livres pour lire à cette période de l’année si on doit en offrir un par exemple. Cela reste toutefois une lecture légère  pour passer le temps.

Score:  2,5/5

Disclaimer: Toutes les opinions exprimées ici sont les miennes, il s’agit de d’un avis honnête et personnel. Aucune compensation n’a été fournie en échange de ce dernier.

Challenges:

This book enter in the Romance and Me Challenge

Book read for the 2012 TBR reading

A Fantastic event and giveaway

Hello to all,

 Today has been a good day for me, the weather has been more clement ( even if starting tomorrow it's freezing again^^) and i'm happy for several reasons. One of those is that the bloggers' community can be more than welcoming.

I'm following several blogs and even if i'm sometimes hesitant, shy to comment i follow very closely those posts and i appreciate the blogger(s) behind them.
One of those is Anna from Herding Cats & Burning  Soup  she is kind and very attentive to her readers and followers. It's her first blogoversary in January but she isn't waiting next year to share her passion with us. During December she is hosting a special event called "Authors for the Holidays" one month of interview, guest post and giveaways ( several international ones)... yes a whole month : 31 authors and so many discoveries to make so don't hesitate to go and participate you won't regret it Anna is the perfect hotess you will see.



So far you can meet Vanessa Kelly,Tes Hilaire and Kieran Kramer but remember they are a lot more to come, each day a new author so go check this fabulous event and have fun.

You have the full planning here , now you just have to join us.


Enjoy!!

December RAK sign Up

Hello to all,

                   Welcome to a new month of Random Act of Kindness created he girls from Booksoulmates to share the love of books between the bloggers from all around the world. I'm happy to participate once again because it's important to share and in this time of the year perhaps even a little more so never forget that  a great book or gift can help to make the day a lot better. I really wish you all the best possible for December.

Because of the risk to see the postal service overwhelmed later this month, i will try to send them early  so please answer me quickly if i contact you because earlier i start working on this, earlier you will receive it^^.

First what you need to know to participate:

COMPLETE RULES RE-CAP:
Please read carefully & follow all rules! Thank you!

• Please sign-up each month that you can participate (and by participate, we mean give as well as receive).
• Show off your participation by grabbing our RAK button (code is in the right sidebar).
• Create a wish list (on Amazon, Goodreads, or your blog, etc) and post it in the Google Doc located in each R.A.K post for the month.
• If you choose to do a R.A.K for someone, check out their wish list and contact that blogger directly for their information.
• Once you receive a RAK, send us an our new email to [rakbybooksoulmates @ gmail . com] so that we can update the Google Doc. IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT YOU SEND EMAILS TO THIS ADDRESS!
• E-book participation is limited to files being gifted directly to a person from the e-book store. Amazon's Kindle Store is set up to allow this, as well as the Kobo store and we believe Barnes & Noble with Nook as well.
• At the end of the month, SHOW US YOUR R.A.K by making a "RAK Wrap-Up" post. This post should include who you SENT gifts to as well who you RECEIVED gifts from :)

OPEN TO EVERYONE including all our International brethren!

Remember, there's always the Book Depository and they offer FREE shipping!

Easy peezy!!

Links you will need:

Sign up for December2012 [HERE]
See who else is participating [HERE]
If you have any questions regarding RAK, please contact us via the following:
rakbybooksoulmates @ gmail . com

This month, i'm number 46 on the list. If you want to grant me a RAK, please send me an email at isabelle(dot)frisch(at)gmail(dot)com and i will give you my information.

I have a long wishlist but that way everyone can find something they like and in their budget. I also accept gently used books from no smoking house ( allergic), but i'm international so the shipping without bookdepository can be expensive.

You can find my complete wishlist here and if i have to choose some favorite ( always difficult) in no particular order ( but really any book from my wishlist is fine):

-Grave Mercy by Robin Lafevers
-Otherkin by nina Berry

-Vengeance Born by Kylie Griffin

- Cursed by Jennifer L Armentrout

ps: i don't accept ebook normally but there is a small exception for the pdf files of the Tales from the archives ( short stories from the ministry of peculiar occurences) by pip ballantine and Tee Morris. It exist only in digital so far and i'm a fan of this series and fortunately they are on smashword in all format ( included pdf) so the list for that is:

Tales from the Archives collection 2

Tales from the Archives collection 3

Tales from the Archives collection 4

Happy RAK to all participants

Christmas in Dogtown by Suzanne Johnson

Hello to all,

                  After the ephemeral first snow,  i'm already in the Christmas spirit, i want magic, feelings and happiness so i will share with you my first review of this month. For several challenges i've entered, the topic of this month is Holidays books and holidays romances, i haven't read a lot of them yet so it will be a discovery and my main focus for now. Today i will share with you my opinion on a small enovella, written by an author you know now that i absolutely adore: Suzanne Johnson.

Happy Reading!

Publisher: Story Vault

Publication: 2012

ISBN:  0373277210

Genre: paranormal romance, Christmas,
Violence: none
Language: normal
sex: none
Public: 16+

Source: received in exchange for an honest opinion

Short description from goodreads :

 A woman who spent years escaping her rural past learns that Dogtown, Louisiana, hides more family secrets than just the recipe for boudin blanc.

Resa Madere’s on the verge of losing it all. The boyfriend’s gone. The job’s history. Her beloved house is on the brink of foreclosure. She’ll do anything to save it--even spend a long Christmas holiday working in St. James Parish, Louisiana, helping her uncle run the family meat business. But the community of Dogtown, which has been home for seven generations of the Madere and Caillou families, has deep roots and deeper secrets. For Resa, going home is one thing. Getting out might not be so easy

My opinion:

          Magical! Such a loving, touching well written novella. It’s really perfect to read it around Christmas but it’s not a necessity to enjoy the universe and atmosphere. I was emotionally drawn to Resa and her wish for freedom and independence and in the same time it’s not really what she is wishing for.

At first, we discover a young woman who isn’t happy with her life, and whose perspectives aren’t good either socially or financially but she is also loyal to her family.  When her uncle asks for her help because he is ill, she accept to go back to a place she tried so strongly to leave. Dogtown is for her synonym of failure.

Worse as soon as she arrives, her family is speaking of the boy, now become man, they always hoped she would marry.  After hearing it so often even as a child, Resa can’t accept to imagine Chan as a potential mate. It’s not possible.

However, when tradition and family are at stake she must face a choice and decide what is really important for her.

I’m not that fond of imposed traditions, obligations and I can see why Resa is fed up with the simple evocation of the boy she grew up with. For her, it’s a friend nothing more simply because as a child she did not try to find something more and then they parted ways. Now she is even fighting the idea of giving him a chance because she is afraid of what others will think, the pressure is so high that she is forgetting her own desire. This novella is not about fated marriage but about acceptance and trust and first love. Her family is ready to stop the tradition, loose their ancestral advantages if means to save Resa’ s happiness, Chan is ready to keep secret everything to let her free to make her choice and for me those actions speak volume of the love they have for her. Sometimes or even often we are searching for something that has been under our nose all along. For tradition to keep living you must accept them, embrace them and it’s something that can’t be done under pressure or obligation

It’s really a beautifully written short story, set in an area the author loves and knows so well that it transpires between the words. A magical story about love and faith that made my eyes filled with tears of emotion.

Score:  5/5

Source: a copy in exchange for an honest review, no other compensation was received.

Challenges:

This book enter in the Romance and Me Challenge