Hello, hello! Firstly I’d like to apologise for the tons of spelling/grammar errors in the last chapter, I posted it at one in the morning, I was exhausted! When hubby proofed it today I was like WHAT?? It’s better now… I’ve also added a tiny bit, just to rid you of any doubts – the perp, David, is indeed dead.
Right, onto the reading week…
This week I read:
I finished the re-read of Reflected in You, Sylvia Day and loved it all over again – this really is the breakaway book. If you’re sitting on the fence about the first one, this one will grab you by the throat and not let go. Rock under by Cora Hawkes was a pleasant surprise – think cross between Beautiful Disaster and Thoughtless with a dash of Sinners on Tour. It was helluva’ dramatic but I really enjoyed it. A great read and I’m waiting anxiously for book two. I’m almost done with Mine to Hold and it’s typical Shayla Black style: caveman meets girl, drama ensues with a good dose of action and they all live happily ever after. She never disappoints and I think I may have mentioned it before but she’s my fall-back read. I love her!
This week I’m reading
I read the first two: Fire After Dark and Secrets After Dark by Sadie Matthews but I’ve been iffy about both though I will say that the second was better than the first. I’m reading book three because she left me hanging in book two so now I want to know but I’m not sure if I’m buying into the female lead. I’ll let you know when I’m done. Anyone else read these? What’s your take?
My shelf beyond that is scarily empty, I think I have so many books on my to-read shelf on Goodreads I don’t know what to choose – any ideas?
Happy reading ladies!
Monique xx
fifty shades of grey and more 
Finished promises after dark…remember how we spoke about it last week at book club, and i was really looking forward to it…….i was so disapointed!! It wasnt edgy..it was dull and boring. I hope perhaps you might find it different. Let me know what you think when you have finished.
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Oh no! I’ll let you know but now I’m even more apprehensive…
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totally agree, not too sure what to think of the whole series., rather disappointed..usually was exasperated with Beth, admit to screaming at the book (yes I can be a little emotional when I read!)…the story had started out promising but somehow stagnated and became boring lovely dovey and predictable
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Ness, you;re not alone! I often yell at fictional characters and Beth definitely got her fair share from me. She just seems to walk into this stuff, eyes wide open. URG!!
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Finished reading The education of Caroline (AND Sebastian) AGAIN… Finally moving on to In Flight (up in the air) R.K Rilley. So far so good. It’s giving me the impression of Fifty and Crossfires.
Anyone read the Bronze Horseman by Paullina Simons? Is that any good?
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I’ve read The Bronze Horseman and it is the most gut wrenching, passionate and emotional love story I have ever read. I love FSOG, but the TBH trilogy takes the cake! I was hesitant to start the book, but SO happy I did!!!
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I heard as mich thats why i thought of it but i read chapter and err.. Its kinda boring butnyes i heard its really good. So hmm.. Maybe will try again later.
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Thanks, I’ve put it on my list! Let us know how you found In Flight once you’re done. I’ve not read the Bronze Horseman one, sorry xx
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You might like Up in the air trilogy 🙂 its very much like Fifty/Crossfire stuff but i decided not to follow through. Imread all three samples from Kindle. If you like to that kind, In flight is currently on sale at 0.99 cents at amazon.
Hmmm… Will put bronzeman horse in a hold and try Thoughtless instead.
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Thoughtless I abandoned at the start of book 2, just too much drama for me… I’ve got Up in the Air on my list though… Thank you xx
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This week I started Shayla Blacks decadent and Delicious. They were both pretty decent books. They were both part of her Wicked Ties Series. I also just finished Down to You by M. Leighton. Quite a few little twist and turns but the book was ok as well. The next in the Series is Up to You which I will read as well but I have to say this fist, none of the books I read can even compare to FSOG, Crossfire Series or the This Man Series. Cristian Grey, Gideon Cross and Jesse Ward will forever be my Book Boyfriends!!
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I know right!? Same for me but I just recently read This Man so there’s hope that at some point we’ll add another to our abso-bloody-fkng-lutely favourites… 😉
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Monique,
After FSOG, I read the crossfire series (sylvia day) and fell in love with it. Then, I read Gabriel’s inferno and rapture. I recently read the R.K. Riley series upon the Air, Grounded etc. I started Beautiful Disaster (although it is romantic I think I need books for a more mature audience). I just bought Captive in the Dark and will read that. But considering that both FSOG and The crossfire series are my absolute favorite, what book or series would you most recommend next?
Thank you as always, for your help and great writing!
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I really liked This Man and Beneath this Man by Jodi Ellen Malpas. It seems we have very similar taste, my route was virtually the same and I felt the same way about The books. FSOG and Crossfire above all else but now I can happily add the This Man series. Jessie Ward is off his nut, he makes Gideon and Eva look functional and the series was very intense but I loved it. Check it out, maybe read a couple of pages and see what you think but that will be my choice. I also adore anything by Cherrie Lynn (not the supernatural stuff but her normal books) Rock Me and Leave me Breathless. Let me know what you think. I am anxiously awaiting book 3 for This Man series now! 😉
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loved the “This Man” series too. I hope that the third book is near completion. I read “This Man” and “Beneath this man” this weekend. I will reread today. But excellent writing, some great humor as well. Lots of great sex.
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Oh how I hate waiting for the last book in a series… 😉
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Thank you so much for your recommendations. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate your wonderful blog and amazing writing! You are simply the best.
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Ah, man! You are so welcome, I can’t tell you how I love your feedback and support! Thank you! 😀 😉
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I have read all the after dark series, like you I wasn’t sure how I felt about the main character……but something still compelled me to keep reading…….however I was majorly disappointed by the ending in book three. I will be interested to hear yours and others views?! 😦
Recently read the first two books in the thoughtless series ( thoughtless and effortless ) by S C Stephens,I really enjoyed these and loved the two main characters, Kiera and Kellan, looking forward to reading the third book when it is released 😉
Currently reading The Crystal Fragments trilogy by M J Lawless. Daniel Logan reminds me a little of Jesse Ward although not so intense, the story seems good so far but a little slow for my liking….:)
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I believe book three by Stephens is coming out this week, I gave up in book two, it just got too much for me… Keep us up to date on the Crystal Frag trilogy please.
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You must read Disastrous by E L Montes really exciting edgy storyline great strong female character and delicious male!
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Thank you, I’ve put it on my to read list with Goodreads, looks good xx
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I just finished Bared to you and started Reflected in You. I’m in Chapter 2. I’m excited to continue especially after this post! Thank you and I loved chapter 38!! Happy Sunday:)
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Ooh, lucky you! I wish I was only now starting with the Crossfire series… let us know what you think. What were your thoughts on the first one? Once you’re done read my Crossfire story on here, it will fill in some of the blanks but don’t read it before you’re done! 😉
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I finished reading Reaper’s Property by Joanna Whylde, which has a hot motorcycle club story. The I read Wreck Me by J.L. Mac and it definitely wrecked me with a cliffhanger and it had hot submissive sex, eagerly awaiting book two now, Restore Me. Also read Avoiding Intimacy by K.A.Linde because I loved Avoiding Committment & Avoiding Responsiblity, very love triangle series, kind of like Thoughtless. Then I read Rock The Heart & Rock The Band by Michelle A. Valentine, raally enjoyed these, kinda similar to The Mighty Storm, easy to read. AND I finally finished reading a paperback – The Siren, now this took me ages to finish and I have to say that I enjoyed the second half a lot more and look forward to reading the next two which are on my bookshelf. On to this week I am nearly finished The Edge of Never by J.A Redmerski and LOVING it but this week will be all about my book boyfriend KELLAN KYLE – ARRGGGHHHHH, yep I will be inhaling Reckless :)))))) And then Never Tooo Far by Abbi Glines because I too have a #RuchCrush and it’s not released down under until this week 🙂 And I will also be reading Promises After Dark 🙂 I have no idea how we all manage to fit in husbands/kids and jobs amongst all this reading 🙂 Have a great week everyone! Oh and did I mention that I LOVE KELLAN KYLE!!!!
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You may have mentioned Kellan a few times… LOL! Wow, what a list girlfriend, you’re going to be busy! Thanks you for all the suggestions!
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Ok, I’ve been fighting back my urge for this suggestion for a couple of weeks, but now I feel like breaking the rules by suggesting a tv series.
I know you don’t have a TV – me neither. Anything I watch I watch on my laptop, mostly from DVD.
I know vampires don’t do it for you – they hadn’t done it for me neither until I stumbled upon True Blood.
As the series isn’t well known in the non english speaking countries in Europe, let me explain how I found this series.
While looking around for anything Fifty Shades, it called my attention that lots of fans suggested Alexander Skarsgard for the role. As I didn’t know this actor, I was curious and searched the net. That’s how I watched the first excerpt of True Blood… And it swept me off my feet.
I bought the first season, watched all weekend and immediately bought season two, three and four, basically all seasons that are available on DVD.
I watched them once in German, once in English with subtitles and once in English… Well, southern american accent, and I was so happy I got most of it. Season five istn’t available on DVD yet, but I streamed it. Can’t wait for the release. Season six is about to be shot, Can’t wait for it’s premiere in June. I’ll hopefully be able to get it on iTunes.
But the series is addictive. It’s erotic, it’s hot, it’s funny, It’s lovely, it’s aesthetic, it’s witty, it’s sarcastic, it’s creepy and also brutal at times. I’m sure the US hadn’t seen so much naked skin in any series, but thanks to pay TV it is possible. The lines are hilarious. (Watch out for Pam or Lafayette.)
Actually, what Fifty Shades did to me as a book, True Blood did to me as a series. I love it.
I lent the DVDs to friend, a working collegue. She was hooked as well as her flat mate. Since her flat mate had more time to watch, she was some episodes ahead, which led to the following situation: My friend was watching one disk in her bedroom at night. The episode ended with a cliffhanger (as usual), my friend cursed because the following disc was in her sleeping flat mate’s room. She creeped into her friend’s bedroom and “stole” the disc. For a couple of nights she hardly got any sleep and I mocked her at work. She admitted that she was seriously addicted to the series and completely in love with Eric Norhtman aka Alexander Skarsgard. The series had the same effect on her as it had on me.
I’m totally smitten with Eric Northman.
So if you like – give it a try. My opinion is that every season is better than the previous one, and I hope HBO (the producting channel) can keep up to this standard.
Without spoiling too much, I’d like to post one of my favourite dialogues here, showing a very sexy and dominant Eric. I have to mention here that vampires – Eric is one – have to be invited in before they can enter a mortal’s home.
Sookie Stackhouse: Eric, you can’t just say something like that, then-then leave.
Eric Northman: Oh, I’m not leaving. You’re going to invite me in, so I can protect you or have passionate primal sex with you… how about both?
Sookie Stackhouse: You’re not going to distract me by talking nasty.
Eric Northman: I already have. So… are you going to invite me in?
Sookie Stackhouse: I’m still Bill’s.
Eric Northman: [looking down at the ring] So you are.
Eric Northman: [pacing the porch, teasingly] To have and to hold. To love and to cherish. To blah blah blah blah. Till death do you part. Doesn’t bother you that you’ll be the only one doing the dying?
Sookie Stackhouse: I’m not going to talk about this with you.
Eric Northman: Okay… So you’d really rather stay out here all night than invite me in?
Sookie Stackhouse: One minute you lie to me, the next minute you ask me to trust you. You do something generous and selfless. And then follow that with something nasty or down right cruel.
Eric Northman: [suddenly alert and rushing her to the door] Invite me in.
Sookie Stackhouse: You can’t just bully your way in.
Eric Northman: [drawing his fangs] Invite me in. Now!
Sookie Stackhouse: Mr. Northman, would you please come in?
Of course it’s out of the context for you, but it is a very erotic scene. I love the character Eric Northman. There is a period in season 4 where he switches from dominant cool to boyish, carefree and gentle. Altough he doesn’t look exactly like the Christian Grey I picture in my had, he’d play the role extremly well, for that I’m sure.
Give it a try if you like. You could watch with your hubby. Guys usually like True Blood. But maybe it’s better to watch alone or with a girlfriend. 🙂
The series is based on the novels called “The Southern Vampire Mysteries” by Charlaine Harris, but the plots are quite different.
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Wow, that sounds very exciting! You really don’t have to hold back your suggestions, it’s about sharing after all! 😀 I definitely shouldn’t look into it, you’ll never get an updated chapter from me… LOL!
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You should… Maybe you’d start writing fanfiction as well. Or you could suggest some screen-plays to HBO. 😉
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LOL! Now that’s something I can say hand on heart I know nothing about! Wow, wouldn’t that be something!
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If the series keeps it’s level it would definitely be a cash cow!
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By the way, I could send you the main musical theme and maybe some other song suggestions that would suit Fifty Shades if you like. You just have to tell me where to.
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I’d love that! You can e-mail me, moniquelain@gmail.com
Thank you! xx
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I’ll as soon as I can, give me some days.
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No worries 😀
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This week, I read The Winemaker’s Dinner: Appetizers and The Winemaker’s Dinner: Entree by Ivan Rusilko/Everly Drummond. They were good but won’t make my reread list. I also read On Dublin Street by Samantha Young…highly recommended, loved it!!!! I just started Backstage Pass by Olivia Cunning and am not thrilled with it so far which really surprised me; i expected to really like it. Will let you know next week 🙂
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Cool, thank you for letting u know! xx
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I agree with grublue about True Blood. It is for tv what 50 is for books. Vampire Eric aka Alexander Skarsgard is Christian Grey to me. If I would’ve just saw his picture I don’t think I would’ve thought so. It was seeing him in character that sucked me in. I couldnt sleep or clean when I first watched it…just like Fifty;). I do want to read the Charlaine Harris books. Are there 12? As for my reading this week, I’m going to try the This Man trilogy that I keep hearing about. Have a good week everyone!
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There are 12 Sookie Stackhouse books and the 13th is due in May or June and it’s supposed to be last one. Apparently, it’s going to show who is meant for Sookie in the end. You surely know my guess. 🙂
There are other books, which are not from Sookie’s point of view. Check out Charlaine Harris’ homepage.
I haven’t read them yet and I’m a little reluctant because I’ve read there are quite huge plot and character differences compared to the series.
But sooner or later I will read them.
Did you know that there are True Blood comics as well? Four released and a fifth one which is due in June. I’ve ordered all of them from Amazon.com, unfortunately, the shipping to Europe takes at least four weeks. So I keep waiting…
The comic characters look like the series’ characters, i.e. Eric looks like Eric, which is very, very good. 🙂 The stories are side stories which have been put into the movie.
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Glrublue, I sent you an e-mail with a screen shot of the series I think you might be referring to, please confirm. x
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Let us know what you think about This Man, it’s intense…
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Chantel, one more question, do you know any good True Blood fanfiction or good blogs where some topics are discussed, like we do on this blog?
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I’m not aware of any. I never thought to even look. Let me know if you find something good;)
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I’ve re-read This Man & Beneath This Man this weekend, needed a little Jesse fix. I just love that man, he is completely off the hinges, but I love him none the less.
Today I’ve started Thoughtless, just because Reckless is coming tomorrow and I really want to read a whole series at once. I have too many where I am waiting for the last one.
I’m not really sure what to read after these though.
I usually figure that out when I turn the last page in a book and try to decide what to read after that.
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I know, it sucks! This Man # and Crossfire 3 especially have me on tender hooks! 😉
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You must read the True Blood books. Eric is so romantic in the books and is much more loveable! Book 4 is the best! Teri Botta Let Love in is my favourite True Blood fanfic.
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Hi Maisie, thanks for the fanfic advice, I’ll check it out! The books will have wait for a bit longer… I fear I wouldn’t do much else if I’d started on a book series that contains 13 volumes plus additional books from other character’s point of view… 😉
Hm, romantic Eric sounds good, but I also LOVE him being so cool and controlled like he’s portrayed in the tv series.
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Wow, this genre seems so huge. Thank you for sharing! xx
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Monique the chapter was riveting just as it was, spelling and all! I’m so excited cause the next posting will be on my birthday!! Can NOT wait!! ❤
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Oooh, that is fun! Yes, sorry about that, I was exhausted! It’s better now though or did you still pick up a lot of mistakes?
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Do you know when book 2 for rocked under comes out?
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No, I looked it up on Goodreads it just said 2013 😦
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