Bullet

I did it again. I read another Anita Blake book. Intervention anyone? They are so bad, yet they are such a guilty pleasure. And Bullet, released June 2010, is a lot better than Flirt, which was released just a few months prior. Flirt just seems like a little novella to accent the rest of the books (although I'm not sure how much accenting was actually done).

Bullet has all of the recent Anita drama - orgies, Marmee Noir, bad guys, new guys, etc., but LKH added a little plot twist about the were lions. Honestly, it seemed like most of this book was just orgies, all the sex scenes had at least 3-4 people, or maybe not "people."

The storyline still centers around Anita being all powerful, or at least the progression of her getting to be so. But, I hate to admit it, but I ALMOST, NEARLY got teary eyed (note: there was no watering of the eyes, just almost), during a part... and oddly maybe a second scene as well.

Still, I do not care for the fashions or styling of the books. A see through dress is NOT a must have for this season, ankle-length hair is not sex, and regular black jeans? The only black jeans I ever see are skinny jeans on teenagers. I think authors should start paying more attention to what's in style (Pam - this is a nod for your character as well). It's really minor, but for whatever reason, it bugs me.

Speaking of things that bug me, there was a side plot to this story that was kind of annoying. SPOILER - She gets a call for cop business, there is some bad vampire stuff in another state, she tells them how to deal with it, they deal with it, the end. It was almost an after thought, and didn't quite fit.

I am a bit disapointed that there isn't a show or movie coming out. The first Anita books would be great to see on TV. Here's LKH talking about... old news, but forgive me, I'm behind!

Waiting for True Blood?

So if you don't already know, True Blood Season 3 premiers Sunday, June 13th.

If you haven't already watched the Pam and Eric minisode, here it is:

Minisode: Eric & Pam

For me it was almost too embarrassing to watch. Some parts were funny though.

The newest Sookie Book - Dead in the Family comes out May 5th. Amazon has it on sale for 10 bucks.

You can read the first chapter here.

Hope everyone is enjoying their weekend!

The Vampire and the Vamp

Today's guest blog is from author Susanne Saville - who has an absolutely charming website (who doesn't love hats on cats?), thanks Susanne!

The Vampire and the Vamp

While this year's Halloween feature in Salem, Massachusetts is Zombies,

vampires always have a place at the festivities. Not only is there a horror exhibit named Dracula's Castle, there is The Vampires' Masquerade Ball.

Why are vampires so popular? One reason is their image. Their modern image. Male vampires were originally portrayed as horrific and frightening. Have you seen F.W. Murnau's Nosferatu?
That vampire is the antithesis of sexy.

Yet at basically the same time, the word "vamp" - yes, from the word vampire - was being used to describe a highly eroticized, sexy woman.

This is the original vamp, Theda Bara.

In fact, female vampires have been portrayed as sexy right from the very beginning.

This probably has more to do with fear of female sexuality than anything else. You might think this fear was limited to the Victorian period. You would be wrong.

I just came across an interesting example in Landis MacKellar's book The Double Indemnity Murder. Judd Gray used this as a defense against a murder charge: he accused Ruth Snyder of being an "erotomaniac" who exhausted him through sex until he agreed to participate in her plan to murder her husband.

His lawyer said she "was abnormal, possessed of an all-consuming, all absorbing sexual passion, animal lust, which seemingly was never satisfied." And that, "...she sapped his strength" resulting in his "exhausted vitality" which made him her love-slave and gave him no choice but to do her bidding and commit murder. (p. 221)

Sounds like a vampire to me. :)

Male vampires didn't create love-slaves. Bela Lugosi's Dracula was powerful and mesmerizing, but not particularly sexy. Hammer Horror's Dracula, Christopher Lee, certainly could have been sexy, but the scripts did not help him with that. In one of his movies, as I remember, Dracula never even speaks!

The male vampire was a threat to men - The Other who is out to Have Our Women and must be stopped - and a source of pain and death to women.

This portrayal changed after Frank Langella took the role in 1979.

His Dracula was charming and suave; his bite was enjoyable rather than painful - something erotic rather than something dreadful. He was a source of excitement and pleasure to his female "victim" - who did not class herself a victim at all and had no wish to be "rescued."

This is generally the male vampire we read about in vampire romance today.

Thank goodness! ;)

Susanne Saville is the author of Vampire Close, a vampire romance set in contemporary Edinburgh, and for Kindle users, Dance Macabre, a vampire romance set in 1897 London.

Skin Trade - A Review

As many of you have read in my last post, I broke down and checked out Skin Trade from the library (I gave my self some props slack since I didn’t actually spend money on it; except the library fees I owed.).

Any of you who have even remotely heard of the Laurell K Hamilton book debacle have probably heard about how the last 10 or so Anita Blake books have been smut – filled with Mary Sue-ism, bad porn, orgies, and bestiality. After reading the last book, Blood Noir I was a little bit surprised that there were only about 3 sex scenes in the book – was this an improvement? Would the next Anita Blake books get better? I wanted to hope so… at least I would feel less guilty about reading them.

So that brings us to Skin Trade Book 17 of the Anita Blake Vampire Hunter Books. Anita Blake must run to Vegas to try and kill the ancient vamp serial killer that got away from her a while back. He even personally requests her and sends her a lovely gift. While in Vegas she meets up with some old Obsidian Butteryfly friends, which includes Edward.

Will Anita Blake kill Vittorino before he kills her?

Will she have control of the stupid annoying Ardeur?

What will happen with her connections to the Lions?

Will she pick up some more bedmates?

And so goes the anticipation and curiosity (FYI - that was sarcasm in the last few sentences). Like I mentioned before; it’s like an Obsidian Butterfly reunion. All the OB marshals are there, its hot; there is an ancient power against them, etc. etc.

I’m not saying it was the best book I have ever read, but I was a bit impressed that LKH toned it down! Yes, you read it, it is a bit toned-down! Yes. Anita is “amazing” and “perfect” and “all-powerful” and all that, but she meets psychics who rival her ability too – never female, but it’s a start.

Yes, there is lion drama. Yes, Marmee Noir makes an appearance, Yes, there is sex. BUT – there is no in-detail orgies or bestiality, no real details of Nathaniel, Asher, Richard, or Micah, and only brief conversations with Jean Claude (how dare he be mad with her) and one small conversation with Jason. So this book is almost a vacation from the recent usual Anita Blake crap.

It will be interesting to see where the next book goes because it seems like certain things were wrapped up a little too nicely in the end. Skin Trade definitely could have been a lot worse.

And so my unfortunate infatuation with the Anita Blake world continues.

I Broke Down.... and I Checked it Out at the Library

Several months removed from being "new" I finally broke down and last night I checked out LKH's latest - Skin Trade . At least I didn't buy it! I have a problem... but admitting it is the first step, right?

On good news, I am on page 98 and no sex so far! No orgies or bestiality! It's mostly an Obsidian Butteryfly reunion (which by the way, was one of the first vampire books I ever read). They are hunting the serial killer vampire in Vegas that got away in I think, Cerulean Sins (I don't quite remember). So we shall see how the book progresses!

A little disappointed she didn't mention saying good bye to Nathaniel or Micah before she left to Vegas, but I guess you can't please everyone.

And summer 2010 Anita Blake will have her own TV show.... which I will probably watch.

And because it's Friday, September 18th

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BROTHER!

I love you even if you are a zombie lover :)

Explaining the Vampire Loving Women in Men's Health

So this month in Men's Health in the "Ask Men's Health" section, Dough from Baton Rouge LA asks the question:

Twilight, True Blood, Dracula -- what is it with women and vampires?

So Carolyn Kylstra, the "Ask the Girl Next Door" girl says this:

It's not all vampires, so slicking your hair back and donning a cape isn't a Halloween hookup ticket. It's the deeply tortured vampires - the ones oozing sexual energy because they've repressed their blood-lust instincts. (Like the "vegetarian" Edward Cullen.) They're reflective, passionate, and eternally faithful. Plus, they're played by guys like David Boreanaz and Stephen Moyer. Yum

Being a member of the Naked David Boreanaz Club I say amen to the yum part! Not quite sure I agree with her though... partly because of the Cullen comment (who the F*** thinks repeating high school is a good idea?) and partly because I don't think the whole obsession fascination stems from the instinct repressions.

Here's my theory (and it's not solidified yet - it's mainly thought vomit): first of all, sexy males are sexy males - a hunky tall, dark and handsome, human looking male is already starting off on a good foot. Then you add on the whole bad boy complex that so many women faint over - Mr. Bad isn't Bad, he is trust trouble, and YOU can help him in his darkest moments (blah blah blah). And here I agree with Kylstra - they are portrayed as passionate, reflective, faithful, hunks of love. They have put a wall up - and nothing has penetrated it - until you. Yes, you, a common female have shown the way of love to this dark, powerful, usually rich and intelligent creature, and he is eternally grateful, and will show you how grateful he is (and will continually give you thanks with passion and pleasure). Add a little blood and biting and eternal life and you add a bit of carnal pleasure, mystery and eliminate the fear of death. In real life these scenarios would never work - that's what makes them fantasy.

How can you not enjoy a hot vampire?

Kiss of Midnight Review

I stood in my living room Monday night surveying my apartment and doing a mental checklist: moped floors - check, picked up living room - check, cleaned bathroom -check, made jewelry - check, and the list goes on. My husband has been out having fun doing homework and projects, so after spending several hours playing any game I could find on Facebook (except vampire wars oddly enough) I had nothing to do (I don't have TV Channels).... so I picked up a book! About time!

So here I am, feeling pretty productive, but ultimately bored and in need of some adventure (and maybe some passion?) I found this little gem a friend had lent me - Kiss of Midnight by Lara Adrian (book 1 of 8 so far in the Midnight Breed Series - Any books under the name "breed" have to be awesome don't you think?). And I knew full well what I was getting myself into.

KoM is like any other vampire romance, and not to spoil it too much, but here is your standard outline for these things:

Meet human female - female has some issues and no guardians (can't have any attachments)

Meet hunky vampire male - Mentioned female probably doesn't know he is a vampire yet - only that she feels a strange draw to him and can't get him out of her mind.

Male vampire has issues - he is brooding and lonely and swears he will never fall in love

DANGER!

Female has some secret power or ability, or knack for something that makes her unique

Male Vampire finds female sexy but needs to protect her

SEX!

Arguments need to occur - you know, because they are "getting to know each other"

DANGER!

Male vampire falls madly in love with her - for they were destined to be together

They live happily ever after

These events may happen in different orders - but the vampire needs to have a sexy weird name, in this case, Lucan - yes ladies - Lucan. I'm up for naming my first born son after him - what say you? And to highlight the "destiny factor" I even took the time to highlight a golden quote:

And in the back of his mind, an ancient conscience whispered that whoever she was, she already belonged to him

That was page 26 by the way - before their official meeting.

Nonetheless.... I couldn't put the book down. I knew it was ridiculous, I knew it was lame... but heck, I'm pretty lame myself and I am female after all. I thought Lucan was pretty hot and steamy, sometimes an ass (but hey, he's a "bad boy" Right?). I kind of skimmed over all the battle jargon and fighting events and secret squirrel stuff, but I was entertained, my mind easily used it as fantasy material, and I may even read the next 7 8 9 10 (11? 12? ... probably not).

To be honest, its pretty similar to the Dark Ones Series. Each book features a different human chick and a different "vampire" but all of them are interlocked and all the females were destined to be mates for the fanged hunks.

So there you have it - Kiss of Midnight is not that unique (old vampires covered in pretty "markings" is kind of cool though) but it held my attention and was a guilty read.