Review: Eden's Hell

Title: Eden's Hell: I: The First

Genre: (Erotic) Romance

Author: Dawne Dominique

Synopsis:

In the beginning... God created man and called him Adam, a fine specimen replicated in his own image. He then created woman to ease Adam's loneliness and named her Lillith. Unfortunately, God realized his mistake too late in giving woman free will, for she would rule her domain-not man. When Lillith left Adam, God created another for his first-born son, and gave her the name Eve and a kingdom called Eden, but by then it was too late, for he'd unleashed Hell into the world of man.

Dawne very sweetly sent me this E-Book a while back, an ARC for review, and I kept forgetting that I had it when I was switching all my files and such over to my new netbook from my monster of a laptop, F.R.E.D.

I finally managed to wedge in enough time to read Eden's Hell, and I did enjoy it.

Warning: This review contains spoilers. I couldn't find a way around it without just leaving it at "I enjoyed it." So read on only if you don't mind knowing the plot/some details!

I liked the overall plot--I particularly liked that she brought Lillith, Adam's first wife, into play. It's rare that she gets any screen time, even as a villain--she's usually a footnote with a cursory "she was disobedient, God replaced her, and now she's evil."

I don't like that Satrina's name didn't have a correlation to Lilith the way Addison/Adam, Eva/Eve did. It felt odd to me. I thought it was a bit strange that Addison took Eva to fancy places when Satrina was so hot to have Eva to herself. I'd have thought that Satrina would be fully capable of treachery, even with the Elders and the Alluminatae's rules, the Vampire Bible as set down by God and Lucifer (which, I did think was pretty darn cool). I also didn't quite understand why Satrina wanted her so much--she didn't know who Eva was, she was just some human morsel as far as Satrina was concerned...why go to so much trouble?

After centuries of living near each other without major conflicts, why pick this single girl to destroy everything?

I liked the fact that Eva didn't immediately fall into Addison's arms--she did fight to keep herself, and she didn't trust him right off the bat. He had to prove himself. It made the story more real to me.

Addison...there was a bit of a cliche with him--brooding older man who is inexplicably drawn to this sweet, (mostly) innocent girl. I did kind of think it was out of character when, nearing the end and he was telling Eva who he really was, who he used to be, he was a bit...preachy in how he spoke of God and his disobedience. And while I know that it's technically accurate, it didn't feel real for the strong character that Addison had been through the rest of the book.

The...three or four sex scenes in the book were a 10 out of 10 on the Oh My God Scale. If there is one thing you cannot say about Dawne Dominique, it's that her sex scenes are timid or lacking in any area. She doesn't flinch from using naughty phrases and giving you the nitty gritty of the down n' dirty.

The ending was a shock--and I admit that I was both disappointed and satisfied, if that makes sense. I liked that they (obviously) ended up together. I didn't like the loose end of Satrina--it could be foreshadowing for later books (I hope so) or it's a plotline that ends there (I hope not.).

Taking everything into account, I'd have to give this book a 3.5 rating. It was a good set-up book, and I enjoyed it, but there were things that kept me from going "Wow!"

On The Shelf (4)

This is my first In My Mailbox meme, which I've titled On The Shelf despite the fact that most of my books are pretty spread around. *wince*

I've actually picked up a few books the past few days, and I can't wait to dive into them once I've caught myself up on reviews and such. (I have been beyond slacking.)

Demon hunter Maxine Kiss wears her armor as tattoos, which unwind from her body to take on forms of their own at night.

They stand between her and her enemies, just as Maxine stands between humanity and the demons breaking out from behind the prison veils.

It is a life lacking in love, reveling in death, until one momentaand one mana changes everything.

I read the excerpt to this book's sequel a few months back and it caught my attention enough that I remembered it on Thursday and decided to find it. I only had enough to get the first one (since I was getting the rest of the Cal Leandros books), but I'm really excited to get started reading it.

In the sleepy English countryside of decades past, there is a town that has stood on a jut of granite for six hundred years. And immediately to the east stands a high stone wall, for which the village is named.

Here in the town of Wall, Tristran Thorn has lost his heart to the hauntingly beautiful Victoria Forester. One crisp October night, as they watch, a star falls from the sky, and Victoria promises to marry Tristran if he'll retrieve that star and bring it back for her.

It is this promise that sends Tristran through the only gap in the wall, across the meadow, and into the most unforgettable adventure of his life.

This isn't the same edition that I have since the library gave me a hardcover copy. I've seen the movie (I hadn't known it was based on a book until afterward.) and I thought it was pretty good. (Cross dressing Robert DeNiro...it's hard to get better than that, my friends.)

It's time to lock, load, and hit the road...

Once, while half-human Cal Leandros and his brother Niko were working on a case, an ancient gypsy queen gave them a good old-fashioned backstabbing. Now, just as their P.I. business hits a slow patch, the old crone shows up with a job.

She wants them to find a stolen coffin that contains a blight that makes the Black Death seem like a fond memory. But the thief has already left town, so the Leandros brothers are going on the road. And if they're very, very lucky, there might even be a return trip...

Ahhh, the Leandros boys. I do love this series, and I only started it last month. I picked up Moonshine, Madhouse, and Deathwish as well....but they aren't on my To Be Read pile anymore. I bought them last Thursday, and damned if I didn't devour them within 48 hours. I started Roadkill today, and I make no promises on how long I'll be able to keep from absorbing it, but I can tell you right now: I'll be rereading this series many times. (I also got my dad started on them too. *grin*)

For Grace, one yellow-eyed wolf is a chilling presence in the woods behind her house.

During winter, Sam lives in the frozen woods and the silent company of a fearless girl.

In summer, he lives a few precious months as a human.

Soon, Grace and Sam find themselves risking everything to remain together.

Frankie Diane was doing a giveaway for Linger, the sequel to Shiver, a little while back, and when she found out I had yet to read this, she demanded that I procure it immediately, so I ordered it from the library, and picked it up on Thursday along with Stardust. I've already started reading it, and I'll say it isn't what I had expected, so far.

I also have my very own....Fedora Hat!!!

Me in my Fedora.

Shameface

I suck, I know! I was supposed to post the reviews for The Hunger Games books and the 2nd half of Percy Jackson books...and I didn't. *hangs head in shame* This month has been like molasses mixed with ether--slow and sleepy. (Does that even make sense?)

This Thursday, the parentals are taking me to a play that's going on up at Southeastern University calling "Parking Lot Babies." This'll be the third play I've been to (not including the Opera they held) and I can't wait!

I'm hoping to cash the check my grandfather sent for Christmas last year so I can pick up a few books while we're in Hammond. If I do manage it, I'll be picking up the rest of the Cal Leandros series. I've already got book 1, but I'm dying for the rest.

I'm also looking for up-coming book challenges--preferably ones that have yet to start, so I have time to get ready--so if any of y'all find any, let me know!

I have to do more with this place. Gods know I've got plenty of time on my hands! Just need to get off my butt. I'm a fast reader, but a slow writer. *blush*

Coming (at some point) this month:

Review: Percy Jackson & The Olympians Part 2

Review: Eden's Hell (E-Book / Donation) (because I totally forgot that I had it! Sorry Dawne! I am so on this, I promise!)

PS: There's a new meme going around, called Book Blogger Hop, held on Fridays to find new book blogs! Here's the info:

Hey book bloggers! Every day I seem to find another book blog that I start following. In the spirit of the Friday Follow, I thought it would be cool to do a Book Blog Hop to give us all bookies a chance to connect and find new blogs that we may be missing out on!

Now, I follow a lot of blogs and I haven't seen this feature yet, so if someone else is doing a Book Blog Hop, please let me know!! I don't want to step on any toes or anything!

So, if you'd like to participate, just repost this, sign MckLinky below, and check out other blogs in MckLinky! Let's connect and make new book bloggy friends!!

From: Crazy-For-Books

Drool-Worthy

Tomorrow I'll post the The Hunger Games, Catching Fire, and the 2nd half of the Percy Jackson & The Olympians reviews. For now, I figured I'd show you guys a couple of this year's book covers that have me drooling...

Fire 

+

 streams of light 

+

 one bad-ass chick with a gun

=

Awesomeness.

From the line of her jaw, the curve of her spine, 

to the design and font, this cover is made of WIN.

So simple, yet...so hot! Practically sizzles. 

(Note: I'm not a fashion-person, but I adore her dress.) 

Must. Have. Must. Have.

*turns into shaky puppy*

Must. Have. 

What covers have caught your attention lately? 

PS: I'm thinking about putting out a call for guest bloggers. Thoughts? 

Review: Percy Jackson & the Olympians: Part 1

Percy Jackson is about to be kicked out of boarding school...again. And that's the least of his troubles. Lately, mythological monsters and the gods of Mount Olympus seem to be walking straight out of the pages of Percy's Greek mythology textbook and into his life. And worse, he's angered a few of them. Zeus's master lightning bolt has been stolen, and Percy is the prime suspect.

After a summer spent trying to prevent a catastrophic war among the Greek gods, Percy Jackson is finding his seventh-grade school year unnervingly quiet. His biggest problem is dealing with his new friend, Tyson, a six-foot-three, mentally challenged homeless kid who follows Percy everywhere, making it hard for Percy to have any normal friends. But things don't stay quiet for long.

When the goddess Artemis goes missing, she is believed to have been kidnapped.And now it's up to Percy and his friends to find out what happened. Who is powerful enough to kidnap a goddess? They must find Artemis before the winter solstice, when her influence on the Olympian Council could swing an important vote on the war with the titans. Not only that, but first Percy will have to solve the mystery of a rare monster that Artemis was hunting when she disappeared -- a monster rumored to be so powerful it could destroy Olympus forever.

I actually started reading this series a few months ago, after I saw the trailer for the movie (no, I haven't seen it yet.) and I'm really glad I did. I've always liked books that use old mythology like the Gods in new ways, and Riordan brought the Greek Gods and their legends to the modern world in a way that just fit.

I had a couple problems with the character development--Eisley Jacobs said, in her review of the first book that it's far fetched to believe that these kids are so lacking in common sense that they continue to make the choices they make. I actually have the opposite reaction. I felt that Percy seemed a bit too mature for a 12 year old. He came across (to me) as mentally a 15-16 year old in the first 3 books. Their choices could definitely have been better advised, but...I had the feeling that even New York raised kids at 12 wouldn't have been able to handle all of the things that were happening.

Regardless of that, though, these books catch you from the first pages and don't let go until you've finished them. And then you're left going, "I need the next one. Now."

I really do love how integral all of the characters are to the storyline--from the less than pleasant Daughter of Ares (who has always been one my favorite Greek Gods, if only because of Xena. *heehee*) to the drunken lout, Dionysus.

While reading, you forget that these books are for kids and all you can think about is what happens next.

Rating: 4 Stars

Part 2: Coming soon...

Interview with Shiloh Walker

Today is the official release date of Shiloh Walker's newest book, Broken, the sequel to Fragile, and she was awesome enough to put out a call for guest blogs and Q&As on Twitter. Even better, she let me ask her a few questions!

Quinn Rafferty is working as a bounty hunter for a private detective agency in St. Louis when a new neighbor catches his eye. He's drawn to her-but he has his own soul to mend before he can worry about anyone else.

Sarah McElyea is on the run, but not for the usual reasons a woman goes on the lam. She has a plan for her future. And as much as she finds herself attracted to her gruff, tough neighbor, she can't risk telling him the secrets she's hiding.

But Quinn must get closer to Sarah when she turns out to be the target of his new missing persons case, and both Quinn and Sarah will have to expose their true feelings-as well as their fragile hearts-if their love is to survive.

You can order it at Barnes & Noble.

Now...on to the interview! Thanks so much for dropping by, Shiloh. I really appreciate it. *grin*

On twitter, you’ve mentioned using a program called Dragon to write because you have issues with your hands. Is it strange writing with your voice instead of your fingers?

It's VERY strange, and I'm not always able to get in the right mind-set, so to speak. It's still a learning process. For me, it's always just been a brains-->hands thing, the story just flows from the brain to my hands and now I have to teach it to go from my brain to my mouth, so yes.... it's very strange. I hate it. But at some point, it will likely be an absolute necessity-either that, or I quit writing. So I keep plugging along and trying.

I don't think I could get used to that. Do you have any pre-writing session rituals? Things that you just have to have/do before you can work?

Nope. Other than make myself quit procrastinating.... *G* I'm the worst at that...I work better with music, but it's not a must.

LOL. Procrastination, as fun as it is, is a real b!tch to get away from. Is it hard or fun being a full time writer? How different is it from being full time with a “regular” job?

Both, but more often it's hard than fun. The fun is there, don't get me wrong, but it's ten times harder than I thought it would be and there's so much more work than just writing. One thing about writing is that I'm not 'clocking' in so to speak and staying motivated isn't always easy. Anything can throw me off my groove-anything, whether it's a sick kid, finding a slew of people pirating my work or just being down in a funk. Trying to force the creativity to come when that happens isn't easy, and sometimes, you just can't, so you have to give yourself a few hours, even a few days away and just decompress.

The fun, though, you can't overlook that. Talking books with other writers-those who 'get' the voices in your head, talking books with readers who love and appreciate them as much as you do? It's wonderful. It's a great job, and as hard as it is, I wouldn't trade it. For as long as I'm able to do it, I will.

That's certainly good news for us! If you could be one of your characters (male or female) for a day, who would you choose and why?

Oh, none of them. LOL. Sorry. I love my life...I've got a great husband, three kids I love and I love my life-wouldn't swap it out even for a day. Especially considering some of the crap I put on my characters.

LOL always nice to see someone who loves their life! If you could make people (readers and/or writers) understand a single thing when it comes to publishing, what would it be?

It's not a cakewalk-if you want to make it happen, you have to be prepared to work hard and even when you hard, plenty of people aren't going to appreciate that hard work.

Okay, last question! If you couldn’t write paranormal romance / fantasy, what genre would you write in?

Oh, I write a little bit of everything already anyway...so I'd bounce to romantic suspense and contemporary, and then I'd come back to paranormal. ;o)

Awesome answer! Thanks again, Shiloh, for letting me ask you questions!

About the Author

Shiloh Walker has been writing since she was a kid. She fell in love with vampires with the book Bunnicula and has worked her way up to the more...ah...serious vampire stories. She loves reading and writing anything paranormal, anything fantasy, and nearly every kind of romance. Once upon a time she worked as a nurse, but now she writes full time and lives with her family in the Midwest.

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