Review: Beyond the Highland Mist & Dark Lover

Trying something just a little different. I read two of my "guilty pleasure" over my vacation - an eight hour drive down, then another eight hours back gives you plenty of time to read. But instead of doing full reviews for them, I'm going to group them into "mini-reviews".

Title: Beyond the Highland Mist
Author: Karen Marie Moning
Publisher: Dell
Category: Adult Fiction
Page Count: 375
Release Date: May 2004
Series: Highlander Series #1
Source: Library Trade Rack
Challenge: none 
Quick Rating: 3/5
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An alluring laird.

He was known throughout the kingdom as Hawk, legendary predator of the battlefield and the boudoir. No woman could refuse his touch, but no woman ever stirred his heart - until a vengeful fairy tumbled Adrienne de Simone out of modern-day Seattle and into medieval Scotland. Captive in a century not her own, entirely too bold, too outspoken, she was an irresistible challenge to the sixteenth-century rogue. Coerced into a marriage with Hawk, Adrienne vowed to keep him at arm’s length - but his sweet seduction played havoc with her resolve.

A prisoner in time.

She has a perfect “no” on her perfect lips for the notorious laird, but Hawk swore she would whisper his name with desire, begging for the passion he longed to ignite within her. Not even the barriers of time and space would keep him from winning her love. Despite her uncertainty about following the promptings of her own passionate heart, Adrienne’s reservations were no match for Hawk’s determination to keep her by his side…

As a very devoted Outlander fan, I could not pass up the opportunity to delve back into the world of the Scottish Highlands. What I was not expecting was to giggle so much. Honestly, I haven’t read a romance novel in ages, so I’d forgotten just how many times “raging manhoods” and “swelling bosoms” were mentioned - I had to bury my face a couple of times in a fabulous fit of immaturity.

But, really, I can’t resist a good time travel novel. Nor can I resist books full to the brim of muscley warriors either. Adrienne’s flat out resistance to Hawk was absolutely frustrating! Just because he’s pretty doesn’t mean he’s a bad man, you silly woman! It only took you two-thirds of the book to figure that out.

I also felt it could have been a little shorter - some of the resistance scenes felt a little redundant, but overall, I actually really liked it. It was quick and entertaining, and was similar to first Outlander novel without all the…you know…epicness. I will definitely be getting the next in the series.

Overall:
Cover:

Cover Thoughts: Um, yes please? I love the shadows and the blue tones, and the lovely torso, but your title is covering him a little too much. Need more abs!

Tea: Pick your favorite brand of Earl Grey and settle in for a fast, quick read and maybe a giggle or two.

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 Title: Dark Lover
Author: J. R. Ward
Publisher: Signet Eclipse
Category: Adult Fiction
Page Count: 393
Release Date: September 2005
Series: Black Dagger Brotherhood #1

Source: Library Trade Rack
Challenge: none
Quick Rating: 3/5
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The only purebred vampire left on the planet, Wrath has a score to settle with the slayers who murdered his parents centuries ago. But when one of his most trusted fighters is killed - orphaning a half-breed daughter unaware of her heritage or her fate - Wrath much usher the beautiful female into the world of the undead…

Racked by a restlessness in her body that wasn’t there before, Beth Randall is helpless against the dangerously sexy man who comes to her at night with shadows in his eyes. His tales of brotherhood and blood frighten her. But his touch ignites a dawning hunger that threatens to consume them both…

 Finally! A romance novel where the two love interests do not constantly resist one another! They may try to, but Wrath and Beth cannot stay away from each other, and it makes for one delightfully steamy book.

I also appreciate in a series of paranormal “romance” novels such an original premise. J. R. Ward took the time to put her own spin on the world of vampires, and it’s awesome! I love that vampires aren’t truly immortal, that they don’t drink from and kill humans, and that the “slayers” are creepy as all get out!

Though it was absolutely full to brimming of steamy scenes and action sequences, I still felt it dragged just a little, but I think this is just a personal problem with romance novels. I’m definitely planning on continuing with the series.

Overall:
Cover:

Cover Thoughts: Red and shiny and perfect understated. It doesn’t scream “romance” or “vampire”, and I appreciate that. I also love the leafy detail along the left hand side of the book. Beautiful!

Tea: Make yourself a nice Long Island Ice Tea - these kinds of books are always more fun with a little mental lubrication! 

Review: Dead Until Dark

Title: Dead Until Dark
Author: Charlaine Harris
Publisher: Penguin Group (USA)
Category: Adult Fiction
Page Count: 320
Release Date: January 2008
Source: Bought
Quick Rating: 4/5

Sookie Stackhouse is a small-time cocktail waitress in Bon Temps, Louisiana. She’s quiet, keeps to herself, and doesn’t get out much. Not because she’s not pretty. She is. It’s just that, well, Sookie has this sort of “disability”. She can read minds. And that doesn’t make her too datable. Then along comes Bill. He’s tall, dark, handsome - and Sookie can’t hear a word he’s thinking. He’s exactly the type of guy she’s been waiting for all her life…

But Bill has a disability of his own: he’s a vampire with a bad reputation. But he is an interesting addition to the town, and Sookie can’t help but listen to what everyone else thinks about Bill…especially since she’s starting to fall for the buff blooksucker. But when a string of murders hits town - along with a gang of truly nasty vampires looking for Bill - Sookie wonders if having an undead boyfriend is such a bright idea.

And when one of her coworkers is killed, Sookie realizes that Bill and his friends may have some specials plans for a woman who can read minds…

First off, I’ll admit, I never would have actually picked up any of the Sookie Stackhouse books if I hadn’t happened to catch one random episode of True Blood. There was this gorgeous, buff werewolf, and I’m such a sucker for werewolves. So, I just had to start reading!

Dead Until Dark is the first in the series, and for me, it’s a little bit of a slow start. I can tell a lot of groundwork is being laid, and I can tell there’s a lot we’re going to learn about vampires in later novels, but it still felt a little slow on the build-up. This book never actually hooked me - as in, I never had that I-can’t-put-it-down feeling. I found I could drop the book in the middle of a sentence and be fine with it. However, one thing that kept me reading way just how conversational the book felt. I felt like I was sitting down with Sookie over coffee and she was telling me an amazing story. I also quite liked the mixing of genres. It’s like a strange paranormal/romance/vampire/detective novel, and I love it! The constant dabbles of humor were wonderful, and the…ah…”romantic” scenes were delightfully steamy without being overtly vulgar. Nothing turns me off a book more than vulgar, uber-descriptive sex scenes.

As for the main characters, I found I liked Sookie in the sense that she was strong and willful, and could obviously take care of herself, but I oftentimes found her a little annoying when it came to Bill and vampires in general. I get the obsessed-with-vampire vibe from her, and I get that they’re fascinating and a new race and all, but when you’re so willing to defend them to your fellow humans, even the unquestionably bad ones, it’s just a little weird. I did like that she was a virgin, instead of some backwater hussy, especially when you compare her to Jason Stackhouse, her brother. As for Bill…well…he kinda rubbed me the wrong way. I found him manipulative and possessive and a little creepy. The love and trust between Bill and Sookie came out of no where for me. I felt it wasn’t developed enough. She loves him because she can’t hear his thoughts? She loves him because he was her first? She loves him because he’s a vampire? None of this was made exactly clear, and I just hope there’s more development on their feelings for one another in later books. For me, it was like Edward from Twilight all over again. I just don’t get these vampire-obsessed girls! There’s perfectly good men right in front of you, and they aren’t undead!

Speaking of perfectly good men, that brings me to secondary characters. Can I just please have a Team Sam button? Hot, owns a bar, is a shape shifter - what more do you need? But besides my love for Sam, I really appreciated how much all the characters, even minors, felt like they had such depth. While it was a lot to keep track of at times, it gave a sense of depth to the book, like these were real people in a real town. Even the other vampires were very well done. I really hope to see more of Eric in the future as well - Viking vampire? Yes please! And I really want to figure out exactly who Bubba really is. I have an idea or two, but I want it said!

As for originality, Charlaine Harris really made her own vampire world, and it’s fantastic! Legal citizens, synthetic blood, hotels just for vampires? Totally unique! I can’t wait to read more and find out more about the whole political aspect to their culture. I also really liked that all the vampires were a little sinister and creepy, even the “good” ones. No pansy vamps to be found in these books.

On a final note, I did feel the main murder plot was very well done. I totally did not figure out who it could be until almost right when Sookie did, and those last few scenes were intense and powerful. I really think the last third of the book was the best.

The Final Word: Slow start, but a lot of potential. The world is unique, and I love the take on legal vampires. Bill is a little creeptastic right now, but we’ll see if he grows on me.

Overall:
Cover:
Concept:
Characters:

Tea: Something rich and dark! Obviously quite a few black teas would do, but from my own shelf, I would pick Chai Spice Black Tea from Stash premium teas.

*Special Note: I rated the cover so low because I’ve just really, really never been a fan. The covers have made me pass over these books for a couple years, and while it’s totally the wrong thing to do, we all judge books by their covers. I’m a total book-cover junkie. I thought they were juvenile fiction when they first starting coming out, from the cartoon-y art style. :-P