Red, White, and Blood



Nathaniel Cade, Book 3

The official 'blurb' of what the book is about:

 

The Presidential Campaign Trail, 2012:A political operative and a volunteer are brutally murdered while caught in a compromising position. Written in their blood on the wall of the crime scene: IT’S GOOD TO BE BACK. And with that, a centuries-old horror known only as the Boogeyman returns to taunt Nathaniel Cade, the President’s Vampire. Against the backdrop of the 2012 pr...more The Presidential Campaign Trail, 2012: A political operative and a volunteer are brutally murdered while caught in a compromising position. Written in their blood on the wall of the crime scene: IT’S GOOD TO BE BACK. And with that, a centuries-old horror known only as the Boogeyman returns to taunt Nathaniel Cade, the President’s Vampire. Against the backdrop of the 2012 presidential race, with the threat of constant exposure by the media, Cade and Zach must stop the one monster Cade has never been able to defeat completely. And they must do it before the Boogeyman adds another victim to his long and bloody list: the President of the United States himself.

 

I, of course, love vampire books.  Vampire romance is my favorite, but vampire action isn't bad either.  Book 1 in this series was my favorite.  We learned a lot about Cade and it was really interesting an unique.  The 2nd book seemed more like an action book than a vampire books--not as interesting.  This installment has more of Cade in it, what makes him tick, why he does what he does, and a bit about what he thinks.  This is the real meat, why the series is unique.  The relationship between Zach and Cade is interesting and I liked the Presidential Campaign/Boogeyman story (even though the villain name is stupid).  Good, not great.  (The book title is great!)

 

 



True Blood Season 4

True Blood Season 4 is now out on DVD and Blue Ray!

(Of course, I picked the image featuring Eric.)

I am not one to be on the front lines of popular culture, I kind of do my own thing.  So it took me a while to hear about True Blood and the Sookie Stackhouse or Southern Vampire Mystery books that inspired the HBO series, but I think it was sometime during the first season.  I immediately sought out the books, fell in love with them, and proceeded to read them one after another until I had read all, I think it was, 10 that was published at the time.   I love the books and have reviewed them here in the past.  I even went to see Charlene Harris and have an autographed copy of one of her books. 

After I read the books, I anxiously waited for the first season on True Blood to come out on DVD.  I do not have HBO and I am not willing to pay for HBO, so I waited for the DVD release and immediately scooped it up, feeling very guilty about spending the money.  I raced home and started what was a True Blood viewing frenzy!  I had never seen anything like it before.  It was cutting edge, suspenseful, full of wonderful acting and characters, and featured completely delicious vampires and werewolves.  I was enraptured!  I was hooked!  I was obsessed!  I also felt completely guilty, the T.V. show is full of nudity and inappropriate scenes, so I had to hide it from my kids.  To make matters worse my husband just does not understand my obsession with vampires.  So, it is my guilty pleasure.  I watched all the episodes in just a few days and then went back and watched all the special features and commentaries.  Watch and repeat with seasons 2 and 3. 

I was probably looking forward to season 4 even more because it was to be my end of the school year reward.  I just entered the job marked last fall for the first time in 8 years.  Juggling work and home responsibilities was difficult, but I managed.  Working in the school system, I, of course, get the summer off and was really looking forward to relaxing, spending more time with my kids, getting to read more, and watching Season 4 of True Blood.  I raced out got the DVDs and OH MY GOD!  It was probably THE BEST thing I have ever scene on TV or the movies.  It was the best season by far. 

It covered probably my favorite book in the series, although the TV show does not follow the books literally I think they are the better for it.  It did, however, cover Sookie and Eric's romance.  I really like the Sookie/Eric romance.  Eric is by far my favorite character in the books and in the series Alexander Skarsgard is perfect as Eric.  Casting a Swede as Eric is a touch of genus.  The only thing is wish was different is Alexander does not have the wonderful long hair Eric is supposed to have.  Seeing a softer side of a ruthless, 1,000 year old viking vampire was so cool.  We also get to see the ruthless side of Eric.  When he pulls the beating heart out of that witch and then sucks the blood out of the artery like it was a soda in heart shaped cup, was so wonderfully cruel, I laughed out loud!  There are several more fight/killing seasons that are similarly gross, wonderfully disgusting, perfectly shot, and cruel. 

Season 4 had it all, romance and ruthless vampire business.  I am now going to watch all of the episodes again, this time with the commentary.  I can't wait!  



I signed my kids up for the summer reading program at our local public library.  Summer reading programs are a great way to get kids interested in reading over the summer.  They really like turning in their forms and getting a prize.  
I picked up the book the library's adult book club is reading.  I can't wait to get back to my book club.  I haven't been able to go because I was working.  I considered attending a book club that meets in the evening so I can go all year around, but I decided that when I am working even if I could find the time to attend an evening book club, I probably wouldn't have time to read the book anyway.  I will enjoy meeting over the summer while I can.

Update:  Now it looks like I won't even be able to make the June meeting.  The group is meeting at a different location and I won't be able to pick-up my son from Lego Robotics camp from that far away.  Sigh, the kids always come first. 

I am a fantasy nut so, of course, I love the Harry Potter books.  I read them all the summer before the last two books came out.  I then rushed to the store like a kid to get the new books when they came out, but I didn't have a kid as an excuse.  My daughter was still too small at the time.  I read the first three books out loud to my daughter, but then she was old enough to read for herself and she didn't want me to read to her anymore, so I let it go.  I have been waiting for my son to be old enough for the books.  I have been excitedly waiting for summer, because this is the summer I share Harry Potter with my son.  The only problem is, he has changed his mind and now does not want to listen.  I have been stubbornly reading anyway, but it has taken the joy out of it.  The movies have kid of ruined it for them.  They no longer are interested in the books, because they have watched the movies so much.

I need to rethink this.  I will now read Harry Potter as a "bonus" reading during the day and still let my son pick what he wants to hear at night.  I think we will also have a big family movie night to watch the movies after we finish the books.  Maybe I can make a Harry Potter theme day, food, games.  I need to whip up some excitement. 

Despite my continued insistence, my daughter, the raging princess, has not finished the books.  She has discovered vampires and now isn't that interested in Harry.  Here is the new plan--I read all the books to both of them.  R. Princess can join in when we finish the third book, whether she wants to our not.  Sometimes you have to push things a bit.  They usually come around and if not, at least, I tried.
  

Update:  Okay, I put my plan into action today. It went better. My son listened without humming. He was still playing with a toy, but I think he WAS actually listening. The bad part is, now I still have to read stupid superhero books over and over again at night. Sigh, the things we do for our kids.

Harlequin Nocturne - April 2012

Paranormal Romance

Warrior Rising the Esri Series by Pamela Palmer

In this book, the humans are still fighting the evil Esri king who is intent upon enslaving the entire human race.  The 1/2 Esri humans are on the front lines as they are the only humans who can resist the hypnotism of the Esri.   Harrison Rand is charged with guarding the Esri Princess who might be the only thing that can stop the evil king.  Along the way he fall for her, sparks fly, a war is fought, etc.

This series has not been a favorite of mine.  The author created an entire new world that smacks of a bit too much Science Fiction for my tastes.  Also, the instant desire just seemed weird.  There didn't seem to be any reason behind it.  I did finish the book and it was okay, but not great.


The Werewolf's Wife by Michele Hauf

Ridge Addison is the new alpha of his small werewolf pack.  He is determined to end his marriage that he jumped into one night on a whim in Las Vegas, so he can get on with his life.  The problem is he has never been able to get Abigail out of his mind.  When he looks up Abigail, she is determined to make a life for her and her son without men and without Ridge, but when her son goes missing, she accepts Ridge's help.  They soon learn the sparks are still there.  Can they reunite, can they find Abigail's son?

I thoroughly enjoyed this book.  The action/kidnapping kept the reader turning pages.  The romance was interesting and believable and the supernatural elements were good, too.

Everlast - What It's Like official video

I love this song! It never fails to move me.

Kiss of A Demon King

Book 6 in the Immortals After Dark Series
Paranormal Romance

I am starting to really look forward to the books in this series.  They are well written, have great romance, and a great supernatural mythology.  In this book, Rydstrom Woede, a rage demon takes center stage.  Rydstrom is the rage demon's king, but his kingdom was taken from him in an attack by the evil, unkillable, Omort and he has been searching for a way to get his kingdom back for centuries.  In the last book, Rydstrom's brother finally attained a sword fabled to be the one think that could kill Omort.  Now Rydstrom needs to get close enough to kill him.  Unfortunately, he is imprisoned by the evil, Sorceress of Illusions and 1/2 sister to Omort, Sabine.  Rydstrom is strangely drawn to Sabine and with so much at stake, it makes for a very interesting situation.  Could Rydstrom trust Sabine, is Sabine really his mate, should he choose Sabine or his kingdom?

This book was full of really steamy romance scenes, lots of intrigue, and action.  A great read!