Lover Mine by J.R. Ward

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


For the past few books, this was the story I was waiting for. I really wanted to know what was going to happen with John. Ward didn't disappoint either as this was a great story. This one is my favorite of the series so far. I love it so much that it only took me about a day to read it.

You finally get to see John "come of age." He is now a strong vamp and he truly has something to live for, Xhex. I will say that the part with Wellsie's mating gown, just was sad. Tohr letting Xhex wear it really showed that he is happy for John and her to have the life that he had.

On a side note it will be interesting to see where Ward takes the subplot with Mhurder.



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Lover Avenged by J.R. Ward

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


After the last two books in this series were so-so, I was worried that this one would be as well. I was starting to feel that my interest was waning. Oh how Ward redeemed herself. This one was full of plot twists, romance, sadness, life. I could go on and on.

Up until this point I always felt that Rhevenge was a good character but not "own" book worth. Ward has proven me wrong on that, he was worthy of his own book. This book really gets into the relationship between the sympaths and the vamps. You get a great view of the colony and how it works. I did find it interesting that for the most part they just wanted to be left alone. They were made out to be a lot more evil than they seem.

Ehlena's character was closer to what the other woman in the first few books was like. She held her own against the men of this series. This was a nice change of pace from the last two books.

All in all this was a great read and the next one in the series will hopefully stay up to this standard.







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Lover Enshrined by J.R. Ward

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


While I do feel that this one is better than Ward's last BDB book. I'm still kinda meh. For some reason I just couldn't get into Phury's story. For the most part I glossed over his pages. I did however like all of the other developments with the BDB and the Society. As well as John's story. Ward really does a great job blending the different story lines together, so that even though I didn't care for Phury's part, I still was able to enjoy the continuing background stories.







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Lover Unbound by J.R. Ward

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


I so wanted to love this book. V is such a great character, mix him with a little bit of Phury and John's story lines and it had so many chances to be great. Instead it was like opening Door Number 3 and winning a donkey instead of the new car. Wah wah waahhhh.



First off there is Jane, who really is kinda ho-hum. Sure she is this hot shot surgeon and she obviously has the surgeon type ego to go with her but that's about it. She isn't that strong of a character compared to the other women. OK, so I could have gotten over that, but then she dies. However the oh so wonderful Scribe Virgin decides that her son has been shafted enough and lets her come back as a ghost. Thanks Mom!



Then there is the whole Primale ordeal. Look girls you get this edgy, hunk of a man, who will not only rock your world but introduce you to kink. He loves sex and will do you all up right. (insert girly squeals) Wait.. hold on... there is a last minute substitution..you get... umm Phury? (Cue that sad trombone again.) That's right girls, instead of the dark, dreamy hunk you get... Phury. Yes he's still a Warrior, but there's more to him than that. See he not only whines like a little bitch but you guessed it he's celibate!



I would have given this one star, but I was entertained so it earns two stars for that.







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Lover Revealed by J.R. Ward

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Book 4 in the series is all about Butch and his role in the Brotherhood.

As you recall if you have read the previous books, Butch has become part of the Brotherhood even though he isn't a Vamp. He was pulled in due to his relationship with Beth (Wrath's wire). He is now questioning his role and whether or not he really should be with them.

While Butch's story is okay, I really enjoyed Marissa's growth in this book. She seemed like such a lightweight when we previously met her and here we find out that she does have a backbone. It is due to her part in this book that I gave this review a 3 rather than 2 star rating.





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Lover Awakened by J.R. Ward

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Book 3 in the series and we get to find out about Zsadist and Bella. Ward does a great job keeping these books moving and for me they are a quick read.

At the end of Book 2 Bella is taken by the Lessening Society and for this one we get her returning to the Brotherhood and her adjustment back to life.

I liked how Bella turned to Zsadist for comfort but at the same time didn't put up with his crap. I also like the fact that the women in Ward's books are strong on their own and not meek like other women in similar type books.

All in all it was a good read.



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The Restorer by Amanda Stevens

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I quite enjoyed this book. When I read the synopsis I was taken in by the heroine's profession. Professional Grave Restorer, this was not something I had heard of before but that was enough of a crumb to get me to pick this book up.



At first the general plot line seemed predictable, but the more pages I turned I realized that there was a whole lot more going on. It had a great combination of action, scary parts, romance, and mystery to be a book that I could not put down. It pulled me in a sucked me down.



This is a great first book for a new series. I finished it wanting more, and can't wait to read the next book. I can only hope that it will be as engaging as this one!



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Lord of Misrule by Rachel Caine

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


I beginning to be thankful that I'm borrowing these from the library and not getting them from the bookstore. With each book in the series it seems like these would be better as shorter chapters in one large book. '



Again we mainly follow as she makes choices in the world around her. Half the time I'm shaking my head at her decisions and the rest of the time I'm intrigued with those choices.



I had a hard time getting into this book in the series, due to the slowly moving plot line. They spent the majority of time running between portals but not really achieving anything. It did however start picking up towards the end with the last few pages being very well written. Where was that that excitement earlier in the book?



However the ending is the only reason I feel this book even warrants getting a 3rd star from me.









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Feast of Fools by Rachel Caine

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


I started reading this series due to my library not carrying the Weather Warden series by the same author. They are all quick reads but this one seemed faster than the rest of them have so far.

Up until now Claire just seems to be going along with whatever Amelie wants her to do. I like that she starts to show some backbone in this one. She stands up to the vamps and her parents all in the same book. However this seems to be all the book really was about. I hit the last page and it seemed like there should have been a few more.

For a YA book it was still enjoyable, no matter how short it felt. I will say that I'm curious to see where Shane and her's relationship goes in the next few books.



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Altar of Eden by James Rollins

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


I'm on the fence with this book. I really enjoy reading Rollins books, but I can't decide if I liked this one or not.

In some ways it was highly enjoyable. As his previous books, the science part of it completely intrigued me. It kept the plot moving and I stayed interested trying to piece together where he was going with the genetic aspect of the animals. In fact the animals outcomes where what kept me reading to the end. But for a lot of readers this part of the books isn't going to be enough to keep them entertained.

I really struggled with the characters. They all seem a little one dimensional and very predictable. The heroine whose plays tough but really is insecure. The hero who helps the heroine find out who she really is. The villain, whose really good at heart, the true villain who gets his in the end. Even the sidekicks were for the most part boring.

I would recommend this book to other Rollins fans, due to the parts that I love about his other works are great in this one. However for someone new to this author I wouldn't recommend starting with this one.




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Book Review

Son of a Witch by Gregory Maguire

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


When this first came out I was excited to read it, but never got around to it until now. After reading it, I feel that I didn't miss out on much by putting it off. I wasn't nearly as impressed with this book as I was its prequel, Wicked.

At times I felt that I could turn ahead a couple of pages and not really miss any of the general story. It seemed that the editors wanted this book to be longer and Maguire obliged them with filler. That filler was mostly descriptions of Liir walking to and from places in Oz. I get that this was a part of the story but he could have fleshed out some of the other areas with more information rather than another paragraph of "Liir walked and it was tiresome."

Only one real question I had got answered by the end of the book. I'm still filled with lots more, and I hope that the third book in the series does a better job of answering those questions.

I would have a had time recommending this book, even to fans of Maguire's writing.



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Nerdhuffers Unite!

The other day I was talking with a good friend of mine and of course the conversation veered off into the literary realm. A lot of the conversations I have with people are based in this realm.  The name of this blog is from one of those conversations.  I love to read.  It doesn't matter if its hard copy or electronic.  Books, magazines, newspapers, blogs, I have a love of the written word.

This past year I was given a Nook, and my love of reading has reached new found heights.  It allows me to read and sample such a huge variety of books.  I found my self going from finishing 1-2 books a week to 5-10 books in a week.  I now have an easy way to carry hundreds of choices with me everyday.

Before I used to read a few books simultaneously, one in the bedroom, one in the car, another at my desk.  I always had reading material with me.  Now that I have the Nook, I'm finding myself being able to read a single book at a time since it is so portable.  I find that I'm reading faster since I no longer have to jog my memory on the story lines.  When I first started reading on it,  I didn't realize how hooked on my little friend I would become!

Now I'm curious on how many books I will go through in the coming year.  This blog is going to be my way of keeping track.  Instead of tying up my  regular blog with book reviews I felt they needed their own special home.

And while my format has evolved from cloth covers and yellowed pages to plastic and metal I still get the same euphoric feeling opening a book for the first time. Every turn of a page brings the same sense of excitement, of wanting to read that perfect combination of words that authors strive for and readers want.  That sense where you feel like you are in the book and become one with the characters.  You laugh, cry, hope, hate, and fall in love along with them.  You can see the dust of the dirt road they are running down, hear the sounds of the river they float along,  taste the sweetness of their lovers lips,  feel the fear of an unknown threat.

A great book gives you that rush of new love, the sweetness of a loving partnership, and the sadness of death at the end of a life.  A great book is one that even though you know that the lover dies or that the brother is the murder or that everyone lives happily ever after, you read it again and again.  First or 100th time you still get that same euphoric sense, that reader's high. As a reader this is what I want, that high you get from a great story.

My name is Amanda and I'm an addict.  My drug of choice is books and I'm proud to be a Nerdhuffer.