"Devil's Kiss" by Sarwat Chadda [4]

As the youngest and only female member

of the Knights Templar, Bilqis SanGreal grew up knowing she wasn't normal. Instead of hanging out at the mall or going on dates, she spends her time training as a warrior in her order's ancient battle against the unholy.

Billi's cloistered life is blasted apart when her childhood friend, Kay, returns from Jerusalem, gorgeous and with a dangerous chip on his shoulder. He's ready to slide back into Billi's life, but she's met someone new: amber-eyed Mike, who seems to understand her like no one else and effortlessly stakes a claim on her heart.

But the Templars are called to battle before Billi can enjoy the thrilling new twist to her life. One of the order's ancient enemies has resurfaced, searching for a treasure that the Templars have guarded for almost a thousand years - King Solomon's cursed mirror, a source of unimaginable power. To save the lives of millions, Billi will have to put her heart aside and make sacrifices greater than she could have imagined.

First a warning ... this novel has religious context in it that has been misconstrued and for those that are not able to read it as just a story you might not want to read at all.

I actually really enjoyed reading this novel in spite of the liberty the author has taken with the religious side of the story. So it's about a young 15 year old girl who has grown up in the Order of the Knights Templar, and they fight the evil unholy, which is what they have been doing for thousands of years. But Billi only being 15 wants a normal life, she is sick of fighting and training and just wants to be like all the other girls her age. Her best friend left for Jerusalem and she hasn't heard from him in a year, her Father doesn't love or care for her like normal Father's and the Knights of the Order don't want her there either. Billi meets Mike and he gets her in every way possible that the others don't and she wants to leave. Things come to a head when an old enemy arrives and everything is thrown into confusion and Billi has to make some life altering decisions.

This novel was actually really well written, it is fast paced so that you don't lose interest in the story, the characters are all very interesting and you get to like them, and there are enough twists in it that keep you reading. It is a dark type of story and deals with the evil side of life, so it's not a novel for young people. The author has twisted the concept of some of the Christian beliefs as well as others but you need to bare in mind that this is just a book and it's not to be taken seriously ... there might be those of you out there that would be offended by this but I think if your strong in your faith it really isn't a problem ... just don't read it if that is the case. I think people get offended over the silliest things, everyone has a right to an opinion, and again it is just a story written in a book. I enjoyed it and look forward to reading the next installment ... 'Dark Goddess'.

I rate this book 4 stars.

Angels' Blood by Nalini Singh (3)

Vampire hunter Elena Deveraux knows she's the best—but she doesn't know if she's good enough for this job. Hired by the dangerously beautiful Archan ...more

Vampire hunter Elena Deveraux knows she's the best—but she doesn't know if she's good enough for this job. Hired by the dangerously beautiful Archangel Raphael, a being so lethal that no mortal wants his attention, only one thing is clear—failure is not an option...even if the task is impossible.

Because this time, it's not a wayward vamp she has to track. It's an archangel gone bad.

The job will put Elena in the midst of a killing spree like no other…and pull her to the razor's edge of passion. Even if the hunt doesn't destroy her, succumbing to Raphael's seductive touch just may. For when archangels play, mortals break…

I purchased this book because: I was recommended this series by a fellow book-lover because she knew I loved Vampire Novels ... :)

Opening lines: When Elena told people she was a vampire hunter, their first reaction was an inevitable gasp, followed by, 'You go around sticking those sharp stakes in their evil putrid hearts?'


Well don't you just love the cover to this :) ... I am glad that I purchased the UK cover cos the other ones are not really nice at all .... Well enough of me being a book snob :) ... Good to read an author who is on this side of the world ... Well New Zealand .... Nalini Singh was born in Fiji but lives in New Zealand ...

This is another series that involves Vampires and Angels .... Where Angels and Vampires are seen by humans and live among us ... And it is definitely an adult Read ... There is some violence in the novels but there is quite abit of sexual scenes ... So if you don't like that in your novel this series is not for you ....

The main character of Elena I love .... She is a Vampire Hunter and works for the 'Guild'. When she gets a job from her best friend Sara ( Director of the Guild ) she starts to worry ... Her new employer is none other than Hunky Immortal Archangel 'Raphael'. Elena is not too worried about getting the job done but whether she will be able to survive her new employer ...

There is something very special about Elena which the archangel 'Raphael' senses .... And it will be interesting to learn more about her past as the series develops ....

This is a different twist on the whole vampire genre .... In this series the 'Angels' are the ones that create Vampires .... And when one of them goes walk-about it is up to the 'Guild' to bring them safely back to their masters ... But this new job that Elena has been offered is a little bit different ... She is not asked to hunt a Vampire but an 'Angel' and a very old Angel to boot ...

Some of my favourite quotes: 'What, you got a big hunt coming on? .... No. But I do have a high chance of meeting a horrible death, within the next few hours. Might as well do something good and up my shot at getting into heaven.' pg 12

I did enjoy the novel and the story line is really interesting but it has adult themes running throughout the book .... I probably would have rated it more but for the sex scenes ...

I rate this book 3 ***


Other books in the series in order:
Guild Hunter Series
#1 Angels Blood
#2 Archangel's Kiss
#3 Archangel's Consort ( Released March 14th 2011)

And just to show you the difference in the covers here they are ....


This is the Japanese Cover ....

The German Cover .... Which to be honest isn't that bad ... I quite like it ...



The American cover which I just hate ....

Definitely think I got the better cover of all .... Go the UK !!!

Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick (31/2)

For Nora Grey, romance was not part of the plan. She's never been particularly attracted to the boys at her school, no matter how much her best friend, Vee, pushes them at her...until Patch comes along.

With his easy smile and eyes that seem to see inside her, Nora is drawn to him against her better judgment, but after a series of terrifying encounters, Nora's not sure whom to trust. Patch seems to be everywhere she is, and to know more about her than her closest friends. She can't decide whether she should fall into his arms or run and hide. And when she tries to seek some answers, she finds herself near a truth that is far more unsettling than anything Patch makes her feel.

For Nora is right in the middle of an ancient battle between the immortal and those that have fallen - and when it comes to choosing sides, the wrong choice will cost her life.

What is it with all the gorgeous covers at the moment ..... It is not doing my already loaded bookcase any good .... or I hasten to add my bank balance .. lol ...

I really really wanted to love this book but I found it abit slow and in parts which is a real shame ... Sometimes I just wanted to hit the character of Nora over the head for being so silly .... This is definitely an older teen read as I found some parts of the book abit dark for a younger reader ... But in saying that I did read the novel in a day and the story line is good ...

It is about a girl called Nora and a mysterious handsome Stranger called Patch who basically turns her world upside down ....... There is a good tension between the two characters that does work ... like I said I would love to give this book 5 stars but I did feel abit pulled at times that the main hero of the story is quite a dark character and one that I really don't want my daughter to meet .... I know the author was trying to do a bad boy/ loveable character but I felt it tipped to much to the bad Boy end ...

It will be interesting to see what the other girls review of the book is like ... As reviews for this book are mixed ... you either love it or hate it ... Will I go out and buy the second book in the series when it comes out .... Probably but not in a huge rush ...

Interesting idea of a story but torn because it was abit dark for me !!!

I rate this book 31/2 stars