Kiss of Midnight
Posted by HDTV in eBooks May 23rd, 2009 | No Comments
He watches her from across the crowded dance club, a sensual black-haired stranger who stirs Gabrielle Maxwell’s deepest fantasies. But nothing about this night—or this man—is what it seems. For when Gabrielle witnesses a murder outside the club, reality shifts into something dark and deadly. In that shattering instant she is thrust into a realm she never knew existed—a realm where vampires stalk the shadows and a blood war is set to ignite.
Lucan Thorne despises the violence carried out by his lawless brethren. A vampire himself, Lucan is a Breed warrior, sworn to protect his kind—and the unwitting humans existing alongside them—from the mounting threat of the Rogues. Lucan cannot risk binding himself to a mortal woman, but when Gabrielle is targeted by his enemies, he has no choice but to bring her into the dark underworld he commands.
Here, in the arms of the Breed’s formidable leader, Gabrielle will confront an extraordinary destiny of danger, seduction, and the darkest pleasures of all. . . .
From the Paperback edition.
User Ratings and Reviews
2 Stars Where in the anatomy books does it say "this is the pancreas, this is the liver, this is the sex"?
"Sex" is NOT a body part, for the love of FSM. Vulva! It has a name! Also, the Carpathian Vampires did all of this earlier and, loath as I am to say it, better. The characters are dull and cliche. Even so, the writing could be worse, and I can’t get too upset about free books.
2 Stars creepy
This book is very dark and disturbing. It was my first time to read this author so I didn’t know what to expect. It’s pretty much a thriller straight through; no humor or lighthearted romance; and not the sort of character development that causes you to feel emotionally connected to the characters beyond hoping some tragedy doesn’t befall them. Moreover, I found that the human womens response to the vampires left me with a very bad taste in my mouth. There was something about the women floating into ecstasy when the vampires sucked their blood- essentially losing their minds-that just reminded me of stories of women being drugged and used by men for pleasure, while the women are MIA. Which was just scary! But if all you are looking for is a dark thriller, I guess this book does the job.
5 Stars Yes Yes Yes!!!
After reading Twilight I was thrilled to start reading another vampire series… however I wanted something a little more “Adult”. I read this in a few days… loved it. Great Story, Great Theme, and I can’t wait to read the rest!
3 Stars Some Twists & Turns but overall, not a bad typical Vamp Tale.
This book was just *ok* for me, it certainly kept me reading don’t get me wrong, it was just the typical vamp tale. I do appreciate the freebie though, so thanks to Amazon! I know people get irritated at bad reviews when it’s free. But, I look at it like this way, it’s not going to be free forever and someone may base there decision on certain reviews before actually paying out for it. Free or not, it is what it is!
I do have to say Lucan’s character was getting on my nerves, mainly due to his denial of love. I was expecting the twist of the betrayal to be someone else, so that was a nice short twist. There are more twists especially towards the end! I try not to send out spoilers so I will say while it is free go ahead and download!
4 Stars Derivative, but well written and engrossing
This was a book I picked up on a whim without doing any prior research. When I later came on the internet and saw that it was essentially a rip-off of the Black Dagger Brotherhood books by J.R Ward, I threw the book in a cabinet feeling angry at myself. This weekend I found it again and accidently read it and Suprise! I really liked it.
The story follows Gabrielle Maxwell who, after seeing a man visously slaughtered outside a nightclub, snaps a picture and calls the police. They go to the crime scene but find nothing and Gabrielle is dismissed as insane. Soon after, Lucan Thone shows up claiming to be a dectective. He’s not of course, he’s a Vampire and those who committed the crime Gabrielle witnessed are his sworn enemies, fallen Rogue Vampires. He needs to use her to find them, but there’s a complication; Gabrielle is a Breedmate, destined to bear the children of Lucan’s race if she’s claimed.
There’s no point in denying it, this series is *exactly* like the Black Dagger Brotherhood. There’s the society of alpha male vampires, there’s the black clothing, there’s mating, there’s weird weapons that probably wouldn’t be that useful in an actual fight and, of course, there’s the clan of enemies. If you don’t want a series that reads like another popular series, then stay far, far away.
If you don’t mind that however, then you’ll find a decent series here. Adrian is a good writer; she’s done her research, she describes her scenes well, she creates good atmosphere and suspense and she really knows how to describe lust and write a sex scene. All good things to have in a paranormal romance author. There’s also the added bonus that this book was genuinely creepy and that the heroine was an interesting character and not a complete airhead.
There were two small things that dragged this book down for me. It was derivative (really I can’t stress that point enough!) and the hero pushed the heroine away for a good part of the story. I don’t care for either of those things, yet I managed to become absorbed in this story. I reccommend giving it a go.
Stranded with a Spy
Posted by HDTV in eBooks May 23rd, 2009 | No Comments
When Mallory Dawes, suddenly infamous in the States, decided to take that vacation to France, her problems were just beginning: a lost passport. A car swept out to sea. Missing travelers’ checks. And a mysterious, if intriguing, man who always seemed to turn up just when she was in trouble…
Cutter Smith-code name: Slash-was told to keep the beautiful blonde in his sights. But as his interest in her veered from the professional to the intensely personal, Cutter knew the cost of falling in love would be high indeed. And he would have to pay the price….
User Ratings and Reviews
4 Stars Consistently good series….
The discovery of the disk sets it all in motion….
Mallory Dawes only wants to escape the horrors of the press with a quiet vacation in France. Instead, trouble follows her, but is she completely innocent? Cutter Smith is determined to find out. As an agent for OMEGA, a top secret government intelligence agency, Cutter has a wide variety of resources at his disposal. What will happen when his interest in Mallory turns personal? Will Mallory understand the reason for his deception?
I haven’t read a Codename: Danger book in quite awhile. After finishing STRANDED WITH A SPY, I’m wondering why! Merline Lovelace always offers up a fantastic tale of romantic suspense and STRANDED WITH A SPY was no exception.
Mallory’s plight is one that every woman fears. Sexual harassment is one of the hardest charges to prove, and Mallory is paying the consequences. Her spunkiness despite such horrendous circumstances is admirable. And I’m definitely not sure I would have been nearly as calm as she was after seeing my rental car being washed away, particularly not in a foreign country! Mallory shows she is one cool and collected customer when under fire.
Codename: Danger has always been a consistent and fun series, so it’s good to see that time hasn’t changed that. STRANDED WITH A SPY is an enjoyable, albeit relatively quick, read.
COURTESY OF CK2S KWIPS AND KRITIQUES
5 Stars beginning was slow
the beigining was a little slow, till you got into the story line. Mallory was trying to get away from the reporters in the USA and went to Paris for a little vaction. Someone put a cd in her bag the smuggler it to a blackmailer, OMEGA got ahold of it and here comes Cutter to figure out what happened. I’m not ruining the ending, by saying what happened.
There is another book to the series “Undercover wife” has some of the people int he that were in “Stranded with a spy”.
4 Stars Good story
Albeit since the beginning – I mean the first page you’ll know that Mallory is innocent you’ll be interested in the plot’s development. Some stories are perfunctory written e.g. the wine story. When you want to know more about wines M.L. changes the subject. The plot has two or three good swings so that will keep you in a good mood to read.
4 Stars Stranded with a Spy – good kindle freebie
Fast paced spy thriller with a little romance thrown in. Very readable. A page turner…
5 Stars Found another favorite author
I love when an author can make me feel like she really knows what she’s talking about. Stranded with a Spy made me feel like I was right in France. Fast-paced.
Mallory Dawes thinks she’s going to France to hide out from the paparazzi and have a relaxing vacation. But her car floats out to sea the first day and she becomes the target of secret agent, Cutter Smith, who thinks she’d smuggled sensitive data out of the U.S. Sparks really do fly between these, too.
The Three Musketeers
Posted by HDTV in eBooks May 23rd, 2009 | No Comments
This book was converted from its physical edition to the digital format by a community of volunteers. You may find it for free on the web. Purchase of the Kindle edition includes wireless delivery.
User Ratings and Reviews
5 Stars For those who care about such things,
this is William Robson’s translation, which was published around 1853. I spot-checked it against a few contemporary translations, as well as Richard Pevear’s 2006 version, and it looks like it’s pretty accurate–which is to say, not absurdly bowdlerized.
5 Stars Free is good
My first Kindle e-book (see also free book) and I loved it. A classic story full of adventure, intrigue, romance and mystery. Dumas had it down.
Long Lost
Posted by HDTV in eBooks May 23rd, 2009 | No Comments
Myron Bolitar takes on international terrorists in bestseller Coben’s fast-paced ninth thriller to feature the sports and entertainment agent (after Promise Me). With his romantic relationship with 9/11 widow Ali Wilder on the rocks, Myron is free at a moment’s notice to accept the invitation of his former lover, Terese Collins, a TV newswoman who dropped out of his life years earlier, to join her in Paris. There Terese tells Myron her investigative reporter ex-husband, Rick, whom Myron never knew about, recently got back in touch with her and hinted at an earthshaking revelation. Rick’s murder plunges Bolitar into a frenzied, often violent chase across Europe in an effort to learn Rick’s secret. Aided by his upper-class sidekick and bodyguard, Win, Bolitar builds up an impressive body count as he attempts to prove he didn’t kill Rick—and foil a terrorist plot that’s as imaginative as it is preposterous. Bolitar fans will cheer their hero every step of the way. (Apr.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
User Ratings and Reviews
3 Stars okay, but not his usual good stuff
Love Myron Bolitar and usually Harlan Coben but this just left me feeling short-changed. I kept waiting for more to happen and it never did. I read it on my Kindle and when I reached what I figured was the last page (and indeed was) I was really let down. Fairly interesting throughout, but not riveting, and a formulaic ending. Sorry, but Harlan needs to stick with sarcastic, wise-cracking Myron and should never have jumped on the post 9/11 terrorism story lines-I’m tired of them.
5 Stars Great Writer & Book
Bought for my husband and he could not put book down. so then I read it.
We both loved it!
5 Stars Love Harlan Coben!
Love Harlan Coben! As usual he keeps you wondering how it will end until the very end. Love the wit and humor too!
3 Stars Myron is overmatched in this murky tale
In his first few books, the author created the very appealing Myron Bolitar, former great college basketball player, hurt just as he was about to attain national stardom in the NBA, but now a sports rep capable of solving all manner of dicey problems for his clients, supported by a cool, quirky set of characters, who are either employed by him or on the periphery of his rep business. The idiosyncrasies of Esperanza, former female wrestler, huge Big Cindi, and Win Lockwood III, an Ivy Leaguer of inherited wealth, capable of inflicting quick and lethal harm, were fun and brought much to his tales.
In this latest offering involving Myron, most of these characters only make cameo appearances and even Myron is minimally fleshed out. From a somewhat frantic phone from an ex-girlfriend of many years before, Myron finds himself caught up in an ever widening situation that started with embryonic implantation, expanded to include “right-to-life” organizations, and then morphs into Islamic terrorism, water-boarding torture, and the actions of the secret services of at least three nations.
The book is not one of the author’s better efforts. It is lacking in background of both the characters and the entire story line. There is a lot of murkiness and lack of credibility concerning abrupt plot developments, even if secret services are involved. Myron was good at solving client issues, but he is overmatched in this story. The impression is one of Myron being driven by forces well beyond his understanding and control. And Win can do only so much to bail him out. Undoubtedly, Bolitar fans will enjoy his return despite the fact that he is way out of his element. There is also an element of lightness in the book that almost seems like the writer is writing tongue-in-cheek, but the reader is out of the loop.
5 Stars Excellent
I’ve read all of the Myron Bolitar books and this might be Coben’s best. I am honestly not that into his non Myron books. Here he has created an excellent group of characters as well as an intense narrative, in the Myron Bolitar series. I hope Coben slows down their aging and finds a few more stories for this character. “Long Lost” is highly recommended.
Angels and Demons
Posted by HDTV in eBooks May 23rd, 2009 | No Comments
It takes guts to write a novel that combines an ancient secret brotherhood, the Swiss Conseil Europ
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