The devil made me do it.

See anything new on my sidebar? Does he rock? Yeah...he does! I came close to re-reading DEVIL IN WINTER by Lisa Kleypas and ignoring the tbr, but I was in Barnes and Noble waiting for GG on Tuesday and stuff happened. Which is code for I bought more books. Which means I won't be re-reading DEVIL IN WINTER anytime soon. I don't think...unless I start reading all those excerpts fellow Sebastian lovers are posting on their blogs. Very swoon worthy.

Anyway, my Barnes and Noble, as I've mentioned a time or two, is not the swiftest shelving new releases. So, I was surprised to see ICE STORM by Anne Stuart and BLOOD FEVER by Karen Marie Moning out already since they are technically November releases. Of course I had to pick those up. They weren't the only books I bought either. Since I got an ARC of CAINE'S RECKONING by Sarah McCarty didn't I have to BUY a copy of the book to show my support for Sarah? Of course I did. Then I'm still reading Iris Johansen and her new hardcover PANDORA'S DAUGHTER was out so I picked it up as well.

I did actually hesitate to buy all of them since one was a trade sized book and two were hard covers. That's actually biting into my November book budget. GG, darling man that he is told me to "just get them". Maybe his reading some of my books is influencing him? Nah. Truth be told he's always been pretty indulgent with my book purchases. Helps to have met and married a guy who likes to read too.

You'd think those books would be enough. But nooooooo! After somewhat of a dry spell from ebooks, I actually purchased a couple of books from Loose Id this week too. Those are in addition to a lovely gift from author TL Schaefer of the ebook BROTHERHOOD which she so kindly sent to me when I had my big fat whiner day last week.

Could I be any happier to have these lovely books? No! Now I just have to carve out the reading time. Who needs food or clean clothes? Or a clean house, or the bills paid, or swimming, or blogging, or...

DARK FEVER by Karen Marie Moning

DARKFEVER by Karen Marie Moning

Blurb from Author Site

MacKayla Lane’s life is good. She has great friends, a decent job, and a car that breaks down only every other week or so. In other words, she’s your perfectly ordinary twenty-first-century woman. Or so she thinks…until something extraordinary happens.

When her sister is murdered, leaving a single clue to her death–a cryptic message on Mac’s cell phone–Mac journeys to Ireland in search of answers. The quest to find her sister’s killer draws her into a shadowy realm where nothing is as it seems, where good and evil wear the same treacherously seductive mask. She is soon faced with an even greater challenge: staying alive long enough to learn how to handle a power she had no idea she possessed–a gift that allows her to see beyond the world of man, into the dangerous realm of the Fae….

As Mac delves deeper into the mystery of her sister’s death, her every move is shadowed by the dark, mysterious Jericho, a man with no past and only mockery for a future. As she begins to close in on the truth, the ruthless Vlane–an alpha Fae who makes sex an addiction for human women–closes in on her. And as the boundary between worlds begins to crumble, Mac’s true mission becomes clear: find the elusive Sinsar Dubh before someone else claims the all-powerful Dark Book–because whoever gets to it first holds nothing less than complete control of the very fabric of both worlds in their hands. . .

Okay here's the thing, while I'm a KMM fan I didn't luuuurve all her previous books. I have my favs which are the two MacKeltar brothers' stories (don't make me look up the book titles, it's late!) were very enjoyable for me. Yes, I have read all her books because I glom an author when I like a book such as I'm doing with Maureen McKade right now. But, I haven't raved to all and sundry about KMM so I'm a fan but not fanatical.

I knew going in that DARKFEVER wasn't going to be like her other books and wasn't a romance. My hesitation wasn't over it not being a romance but that it involved the fae or faery. I'm just not a fan of this world much, don't ask me why because for me it's like asking why a person likes pancakes or waffles. Some people just have a preference for one thing or the other. One might ask why I went ahead and bought the book and read it. I have one word for you...AMES! Her review made me curious and in a weak moment on Halloween I found myself at the checkout with the book.

I'm getting to the review...really I am.

Wendy's review really does this better justice, but what I liked most about this book is the world KMM creates. She does an excellent job of blending otherworldly beings with our reality. Instead of taking us to a made up realm she brings that world into ours...if that makes sense. This point is a crucial one for me because I hate when we have to take a trip, like in Sherrilyn Kenyon's books, to some mythical place with Ash or the other gods in her books. I HATE IT!!! It always takes me out of the story.

Hey, I know it's Romancelandia and real life in a book isn't really REAL LIFE, but I prefer earth as the realm if at all possible. Okay what about futuristics you say...I know, I know. I don't have this same problem with a make believe planet as much as I do Mount Olympus or Atlantis...so go figure. I guess I don't like mythical places or realms. I'm not much for elves, fairies, or trolls. Huh-uh, not for me. If there is an elf king in the story I'm outta there.

Anyway, these issues didn't bother me in this book. I liked that dealing with this new world is hard for MacKayla. I liked that we are learning about this new realm and the people in it as Mac is. Believe me there is lots to know and learn which makes wanting to read the next book more an act of curiousity than anything else. There is room for so much to happen, I actually like the feeling of not knowing or having it all figured out. There is room for lots of ambiguity in all the characters here which made it interesting to read.

No, this isn't a romance, but it is an fascinating adventure for one young woman. She ain't no wimp either. I liked that these changes were scary and difficult for Mac. I didn't know, until Wendy pinpointed it in her review, that it was refreshing to have a 22-year old who didn't know everything already, who when the story begins is sort of drifting through life in no hurry to rush into adulthood.

So I'll be in line for the next one...because I just have to know what happens next. I think that's the best sort of recommendation, don't you?

I still have some questions though which is why I'll be reading the next book. But for those of you who have read DARKFEVER, what I want to know is when scared sh*tless, beaten and rejected, what makes MacKayla stay the course? I know she wants to find her sister's killer...I do, but it has to be more than that. I'd be interested in hearing your theory. What keeps her going?

BTW, there's a glossary in the back of the book. I love that some of the definitions are a work in progress. How refreshingly honest! Yeah, I'm a nerd I read the glossary. I like when authors do this because then I'm sure I've derived the correct meaning from their made up words. Also, from book to book you can reference it to refresh your memory.

My Haul from the Bookstore

Ames posted a great review of DARK FEVER by Karen Marie Moning. While I'm a KMM fan I wasn't sure whether I wanted to buy this book in hardcover since it has the fae in it. For some reason the fantasy, fairy, elf world just doesn't appeal to me. But what with Ames' review and the excitement of Halloween and all the cute little kiddies dressed up I lost my mind and bought the book. Yeah it was actually part of my November book allowance and I put quite a dent in it last night with my purchases.

Here's the list:

DARK FEVER by Karen Marie Moning

PASSIONATE THIRST by Cameron Dean (new to me but somebody recommended her and I'm giving it a try)

KNIGHT OF DARKNESS by Kinley MacGregor (aka Sherrilyn Kenyon) This is a Lords of Avalon book. I have the other one in my TBR. But I didn't want to chance not having this if the first one is good.

THE RULES OF SEDUCTION by Madeline Hunter

CONSPIRACY GAME by Christine Feehan

VALLEY OF SILENCE by Nora Roberts (Book 3 in Circle Trilogy). I now have all 3 books and have yet to crack one. But now that I have them all, maybe it's time to give them a go.

I went to the store to get Kresley Cole's book NO REST FOR THE WICKED, but no such luck. I have to work again today, but I'll go looking for it again on Friday.

I just finished MAIL ORDER BRIDE by Maureen McKade. I'm so glad I found this author thanks to Wendy (Super Librarian). Ms. McKade has been a real find for me. This wasn't your typical mail order bride book seeing as how the groom was dead in a mining accident upon the bride's arrival. It was a good read.

Now I'm anxious to read Feehan's book as I've been enjoying her paranormal series and of course I'll probably read KMM's book right away too. I'll be too curious to leave it and it IS a hardcover after all.

So, what's everyone else reading?

Remember waaaaay back last week?

I do!! I remember how much I was looking forward to new releases this week by Karen Marie Moning and Sarah McCarty. Rhapsodizing over the idea of getting the books and reading them the same day...all day long if I wanted to.

Alas, I've been sucked back into the abyss called employment by a large increase in my pay (code for "you'll pay me how much? Uh, er, umm... OK!) and by some pretty heady strokes to my ego. Yeah, I fell for the ole "We can't do it without you" schtick.

So I'm back at the salt mines. Still part-time and with even more flexible hours and option of doing as much work as I want from home. Pretty cool...huh? I've only agreed to help with some training and transitioning for the next 6 months.

Of course the guy I live with is a bit disappointed. He was looking forward to me not working any more. As with most of those with the "Y" chromosone there were/are ulterior motives voiced by said "Y" with thinly disguised concern for me which is really about comfort for him. He cracks me up. Some day, I will devote an entire post to the wacky, wonderful and convoluted thinking of the male species.

Until then...

HI-HO...HI-HO...it's off to work I go!

I've tried, I really have...

...not to be one of those over zealous, salivating fans who pant after their favorite authors for the next book. So while I try to be eager and excited to read a new release, I draw the line at becoming a begging, slavering syncophant. I don't bug or post to my favorite author sites urging them to write faster. I'd rather wait for a better book than mess with their muse.

Having said that,I do have a point in here some where, once I know a book is coming out I'm pretty excited. I do all kinds of things to try and distract myself from thinking about it. My decoys and ploys usually work until the last week or so when I realize that in a short period of time the book will actually be in my hot little hands!!! Oh delight...oh rapture...oh...you get the picture.

Rosie, you might say...your reaction seems a little excessive. Yeah, it's my secret guilty pleasure. I spend so much money on books each year that when I know a book from a tried and true author is going to be released, I get a little giddy.



This time, one of my very favorite authors (she is on my all time favorite list) to have discovered recently, Sarah McCarty, has a release coming out from Ellora's Cave this coming Wednesday, August 31st.

In all honesty while I enjoy reading many, many authors work, there are only a few I can't wait to read and Ms. McCarty is currently one of them. I have thoroughly enjoyed her Promises series (available at Ellora's Cave) and am looking forward to begin reading THE OTHERS series next.

But that's not all, unbelievably for me another author whose books I enjoy, that are more fantasy, but with very intense protagonists, is Karen Marie Moning. I came upon her HIGHLAND books quite by accident. As a result I read them out of order...it really didn't matter. Ms Moning has a book coming out on Tuesday, August 30th, which is a continuation of the Highland series SPELL OF THE HIGHLANDER and it will be available from Amazon. This book comes out just ONE day before Ms. McCarty.

*sigh* Can you say literary druken stupor?