The Percy Jackson and the Olympians series, by Rick Roirdon is a totally fun and amazing read! It’s no wonder The Lightening Thief (first book in series) was so successful on the big screen! I’ll confess that these chronicles were intended for a younger audience, which was evident in the cheesy punch lines of a few of the jokes. However, the plot, action-packed battle scenes, and budding romance will definitely keep most adults enticed throughout the series. If you liked the Harry Potter books, or even Cirque De Freak, then you will definitely enjoy the adventures of Percy Jackson.

The story revolves around Greek mythology; creatively bringing ancient Gods and monsters to life in a modern day setting—Manhattan to be exact. Percy Jackson, a dyslexic and highly strung teenager, constantly finds himself in trouble and kicked out of every school he attends. As strange things start happening around him, he discovers that his dyslexia is actually caused by his brain being hardwired for Greek, and his hotheadedness is actually because, well, he’s a demi-god—the son of Poseidon! This discovery leads Percy to Camp Half-Blood, where he takes refuge and trains with other children of the Greek gods. The idea here is that Greek gods have affairs with mortals, and the resulting children are demi-gods. Unfortunately for the readers, there aren’t any details on this god-like hanky-panky! Pity!

Roirdon definitely has a knack for capturing the cynicism and blatant mockery that IS the American teenager. I found this aspect very humorous and quite nostalgic if I’m being honest. Roirdon cleverly weaves the tales of Medusa, the Cyclops, and the Hydra (among many others) into some extremely intense battle scenes. His descriptions of these beasts provide readers with incredible mental images, leaving almost nothing left to imagine. You’ll find this very useful if your knowledge of Greek mythology is a little rusty, like mine.

Aside from Percy, there are many unique and endearing characters that readers will enjoy getting to know. Annabeth, daughter of Athena, is smart, crafty, and strong! She is also the girl of Percy’s dreams, and would make a great role model for young women today. Tyson is an adorably stupid Cyclops with bravado and charm. Grover is a funny young Satyr (half goat, half human) who provides the comedic relief and is also Percy’s best friend. You will fall in love with these characters and witness their struggles with monsters, family, and love. It’s a ‘save the world’ kind of story with a promising romance mixed in.

Overall, I truly loved this series and was sad to see it end. I look forward to seeing more of Percy Jackson on the big screen though, as well as reading more of Roirdon’s work. I give Percy Jackson and the Olympians a 5 outta 5 Pumps, and would recommend this series to any Vixen looking for an extraordinary adventure filled with fantasy, fun and good ol’ fashion principles…well minus the whole affairs with Greek gods part! OOWWW!!!!

I-CARUMBA!!! If you’re in need of a sensually steamy, yet still very romantic getaway…than Too Wicked To Kiss is the book for you! This story totally claimed my interests (in more ways than one!) with its mystery, suspense, and sexy, brooding bachelor! Filled with elegant fashions and proper society of the time period, this murder mystery is jam-packed with unexpected twists that lead you to suspect every character.

The setting for this historical romance is in London in the year of 1813. More specifically, the story takes place at Blackberry Manor, the home of Gavin Lioncroft – our delightfully irresistible man-treat. The main character and heroin, Evangeline Pemberton, is a gifted psychic that has just lost her mother and is now desperate to escape her abusive stepfather. She runs to a family friend, Lady Stanton, whose daughter Susan was recently disgraced and shunned from proper society. Unfortunately, Evangeline soon finds herself being blackmailed by Lady Stanton and forced to assist Susan in trapping Gavin Lioncroft (a rich, alleged murderer) into marriage.

When Evangeline arrives at Blackberry manor and meets Gavin, she is caught off-guard by the attraction she feels for him. After a couple accidental and tantalizing encounters with this mysterious man, she learns just how mutual that attraction is. Due to her psychic abilities, Evangeline has never been able to touch anyone without experiencing emotional visions. Yet when her lips meet Gavin’s, she finds that her psychic visions vanish! After a mysterious death occurs in Blackberry Manor, Evangeline uses her gift to unearth the true culprit. It’s a very unique “who done it?” kind of story.

The author, Erica Ridley, has an easy-to-read writing style, with great descriptive qualities and emotional tones. Her vivid and lengthy love scenes are wildly intense, and exceptionally erotic! I am definitely looking forward to reading more from Erica Ridley. The raw sexual tension that is built between Gavin and Evangeline is enough to drive you insane! This man will take you from zero to climax in 60 seconds ladies, and I challenge anyone who thinks they’ll last longer! OOOWWW!!!

Overall, I give this book a 5 outta 5 Pumps! I found it refreshing and one of the best romances novels I have read in a while. With plenty of action, romantic tension, and sensual love scenes, readers will be eager for more. It is only fair that I give you a warning though: If you decide to journey into this lusty novel, I would whole-heartedly recommend picking up a pack of smokes to boot! You’re gonna need it! WHEW!!!

The first sign of a good book is finding yourself literally breathless during the climaxes. The Maze Runner, by James Dashner, is definitely that kind of book. It’s wild, creative, totally crazy at times, and had me constantly solving puzzles. For the most part, I couldn’t read fast enough to get through the scenes; I was in a rush to find out what happens next. I should warn you that after reading The Maze Runner, you’ll find yourself in desperate need for the sequel…which isn’t scheduled to come out till October 2010. COME ON JAMES!!! WRITE FASTER!

The book begins when Thomas wakes up in an enclosed lift of sorts. He doesn’t know where he is, how he got there, or even what his last name is. When the lift stops and the door opens, he enters into a place referred to as the glade…and he’s not alone. Standing before him he sees about 40 other boys, from the ages of 8 to 18 just waiting for him. At first glance, the glade seems almost serene, set in a field with big trees and a farmhouse to boot. However, there are 4 humungous doors on either side of the glade that lead out to a giant maze. Every night, at the same time, the doors close on their own, locking the boys inside the glade and keeping the evils that roam the maze at night out! Though, Thomas has no memory of life before the glade, this place somehow feels familiar to him. He feels the need to explore the maze with the other ‘Runners’ (those who are charged with exploring the Maze), but finding a way out of this strange reality proves much more difficult then he ever dreamed!

I have to say, I was definitely surprised at how much I liked the author’s writing style. No offense to GUYS…it’s just that up until now, I hadn’t been very lucky in finding male authors that wrote with the kind of detail and organization that I like in a book. James Dashner did a great job keeping the story focused, and the descriptions vivid.

If there was one thing James could have done better, it would have been the character development. I realize the boys didn’t have memories to reflect on, but more could have been done to help the reader get to know the characters. Unfortunately, I didn’t develop a real attachment to any character in particular. This was a bummer for me, since my favorite aspect of reading is finding new ‘friends’. I know, I’m a huge dork!

Overall, The Maze Runner was an exciting book, and the ending was a total bombshell. The non-stop thriller aspect was a high point for me, and I can’t wait to see what James comes up with for the sequel. I give this book a 4 outta 5 pumps, taking one away for the disappointing character development.

Inventive, Captivating, and Intriguing are three words that I would use to describe Graceling, by Kristin Cashore. This Young Adult (YA) Fantasy was unexpectedly good, and unlike any other book I’ve read to date. It’s imaginative plot will keep you enthralled, and eagerly awaiting each new original concept.

The story surrounds seven kingdoms: Nander, Wester, Estill, Sunder, Monsea, Middluns, and Lienid. There are two kinds of people in these kingdoms, the villagers and the graced:those who were born with extreme abilities and enhanced traits. Some gracelings are gifted in conventional skills such as sculpting, painting, or cooking; while others have more serious abilities like mind reading, combat skills, wielding knives, or seeing the future. The graced are easily recognizable to others, as they are all born with two different colored eyes. Unfortunately, this “defect”, along with their intimidating abilities, lead most villagers to fear them.

The main character, Katsa, is the niece of the King of Middlun; and is especially feared since she has the most unfortunate gift of all…one of killing (or so she believes). To Katsa’s extreme displeasure, her uncle (the King) uses this fear to manipulate the nobles of other kingdoms, and keep his own villagers in check. While reading this story, I kept thinking how Katsa would just totally RAWK ‘Vixenhood’ and easily make a great role model for young women today; she is courageous, powerful, full of integrity, and a little afraid of love. Although, we could probably teach her a thing or two on the ‘DIRTAY’ factor we all possess! OOWWWW!!!

Po is Katsa’s companion and eventual love interest; He is the Prince of Lienid and also graced. Though their personalities are very opposite from each other, life seems to have dictated their friendship, and they are thrown together to face many dangerous ventures. These two characters had just the right amount of chemistry. It was very easy to get lost in their story; yearning for their next kiss, and hoping to get some juicy deets from their ‘SHAG-Session’. Which, btw was quite disappointing, as they never did divulge the DEED! UGH! But I guess Dems are da breaks when you read a Young Adult novel. Since I’m on the topic of discontentment, I would also have to admit that some of the romantic plot was a bit predictable; Girl meets boy – Girl fights with boy – Girl falls in love with boy. You get the drift…

Aside from her exceptional creativity, Kristin Cashore’s writing style was just about average. I didn’t have any qualms with it, but nothing about her word usage or writing technique stood out to me as exceptional either. That said, I still think it was a great story, and definitely worth your time to read. Overall, I give this book a 3.5 pumps for running my imagination wild, and introducing characters that are just as odd as they are charming!

Riveting; Jarring; Spellbinding; Exhilarating; Unpredictable; Emotionally charged. These are the words I would use to describe Catching Fire, the sequel to The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins. I can’t articulate enough how tremendously in love I am with this new series! However, I must warn you as I did with The Hunger Games, that this sequel STILL does not provide you with the closure you’re looking for! AAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!!!! If you’re like me, and need resolution, then the ending of this book will have you screaming “COME ON!!! WHAT HAPPENS NEXT DAMMIT?!?!?!?” LOL Fortunately for us, the author MUST be planning a third book for this series, because there’s no way she could leave her fans hanging like this otherwise! HURRY UP SUZANNE!

Before I begin, I want to confess that I had my own theories about what this sequel could possibly be about… and all of them were wrong! I want everyone to benefit from the same feeling of surprise and shock that I got while reading this. Therefore, I’m going to limit any in-depth discussion of the plot. With that said, I will tell you a few things about this book that I loved best, without spoiling anything for you.

Catching Fire doesn’t exactly start out where The Hunger Games left off, but that aspect shouldn’t bother you too much. It takes place a few months after the Games, and after that long train ride back to District 12 where our lovable Peeta confessed his true love for Katniss. This story brings you into their post-Game lives as Victors of District 12; which, as you may have suspected, is not the carefree, easy-living that the Capitol proclaims it to be. Since the Games, a secret resistance against the Capitol has been forming. Intending to squash this new opposition, the Capitol uses the upcoming ‘Quarter Quell’ (the 75 year anniversary of the revolution against the Capitol) to instill fear back into its citizens. With so much at stake, Katniss and Peeta are forced into a variety of life or death situations…all of which will have you gasping for air!

The author’s writing style is seamless, almost as if she never really stopped writing this story, but just divided it into sections and called each one a book. You will feel yourself easily glide right back into the first-person dialect as The Hunger Games, without any awkward adjustments. The writer’s speed and trajectory of the plot is what contributes to the overall excitement and thrill of the story. You will be captured by the first chapter!

Like The Hunger Games, my favorite aspect of this book was its merciless unpredictability. You really never knew what was coming next! There are so many twists and turns and just when you think you’ve got it all figured out…BAM…you’re thrown for another loop! I give Catching Fire 5 outta 5 pumps for its ingenious topsy-turvy plot, incredible character dynamics, and amazingly enticing action scenes!!! I LOVED THIS BOOK!

DING DING DING! Can I have your attention please?! The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins is hands down, one of the best books I’ve ever read! This young adult story is surprisingly enticing and full of suspense! It will leave you breathlessly anticipating what’s next throughout the entire book. It is only fair to warn you though – if your looking for a story with closure, you won’t find it until October! Hunger Games is the first book in a series and book two will not be out until October 2009. SO LET THE COUNTDOWN BEGIN!!

The story takes place in a post apocalyptic world, where the Capitol city “Panem” maintains political control over 12 worldwide Districts. However, this is not the story of a glorious new nation that cares for its people. On the contrary, the rich State of Panem leaves most of its districts in poverty, and forces them to obey extreme laws punishable by death. This uncaring and cold regiment (which significantly resembles that of a communist society) has also demanded that two “tributes” from each District, between the ages of 12 to 18, be used as gladiators in a televised fight to the death where only one can survive. The winning tribute receives a years worth of rations for their District, and a life of ease for themselves and their family. It’s like the ultimate reality T.V. show, infused with lots of shock and awe!

While reading this story, I completely fell in love with the two main characters. Katniss (yes, ridiculous name I agree), is the perfect role model for any teenager. She’s a strong, caring 16 year old girl with an incredible knack for survival due to a life of hard living! The heavy responsibility of feeding and protecting her family in a very poor district fell on her shoulders after her father’s death. Peeta is a sweet, witty and funny young man who easily steals your heart with his charm! Though just an acquaintance to Katniss, Peeta eventually comes to mean more to her than she ever expected. The chemistry between these two characters is addicting, and really forces the reader to experience a range of emotions! I laughed, I cried…I felt like a teenager again!

My favorite aspect of this book was its unpredictability. Just when I thought I knew what was coming, something completely unexpected happened instead. Suzanne Collins did an excellent job of keeping the reader guessing; flawlessly arranging the hints and clues to keep the reader engaged in the story. I gave this book 5 outta 5 pumps for its creativity, enticing action scenes, and encompassing love story!

Talk about a wild ride! Desire Untamed, by Pamela Palmer was full of unanticipated bombshells and interesting twists! There were many times when I caught myself staring outrageously at the book, jaw wide open. Though, I’ll admit that the overall theme of the book was similar to other things I’ve read in the past, the storyline itself was actually quite different. And ladies, I certainly can’t forget the passionate segments. Oooo-la-la, is all I have to say about that. Ok so I’m lying…I have MUCH more to say about it, but let’s wait a couple paragraphs shall we?

This tale is not one of Vampires…but rather shapeshifters; an entire band of them actually. Not quite like a band of Merry Men or a Rock band per say… more like a band of brothers. There are six of these brothers, each one chosen to fulfill their warrior destiny. They are the protectors of their race, trying to keep away an Ancient Evil enemy. If this is starting to sound a little familiar, that MUST be because you read my review on the Black Dagger Brotherhood Series, and you are detecting the similarities between the two. Don’t let that deter you from reading this book though! You will still enjoy the unique developments that take place within the storyline.

The man-treats…errr, I mean leading characters in this book are all shapeshifters, each one bound to their own specific animal. Moreover, they are all completely plain and ordinary looking—Pssshhhaw! Of course not, they are drop-dead gorgeous beasts with rock-hard bodies to boot. The leader (or King) of this brotherhood is named Lyon and I’ll give you two guesses on what animal he is bound to shift into (wink). But don’t fret, the other characters don’t follow such an obvious naming pattern.

Now…onto the good stuff! If you’re looking for the kind of sizzle you find in a Denny’s frying pan, look no further! The sex scenes were SMOKIN! I literally put my book down after reading through one steamy scenario just to text the other Vixens about it. The problem, you ask? I was just too damn out of breath to call them, if ya know what I’m saying… OOWWW!!!

Lastly, I should tell you that this book is actually the first in a series of Feral Warrior Novels, so I can’t yet vouch for the others. However, I do plan to read and review them all separately; so watch for my posts! If the next books are as fun and sexy as this one I’m sure I’ll enjoy them just as much. With all that said, I give Desire Untamed 3.5 pumps for its attention grabbing twists, and hussylicious content! I took one pump away for the overall theme being too similar to other books of this genre. The other half of a pump was taken away based on the author’s audacity to name her leading character Lyon…who, (now I don’t want to spoil it for you) is actually a lion!

If you’re looking for a series to capture both the male and female audience, The Black Dagger Brotherhood is it! This series is filled with intense action scenes, light-hearted comedy, and the kind of sex scenes that leave your tongue draggin the pages and heart racing at each climax. You smellin what I’m cookin?!

The Black Dagger Brotherhood is an erotic, paranormal romance series by J. R. Ward. This chronicle surrounds six vampire warriors who are bound by brotherhood and sworn to protect their race against the Lessers: de-souled humans who threaten their kind. This ongoing war between the Brotherhood and the Lessers is your typical good vs. evil scenario with romantic love stories intertwined. Each book is focused on a specific warrior and his saga, yet the ensuing war drives the plot to thicken with each book; coincidentally, so does the warrior’s ‘size’, if you get my drift!

The setting of the story truly adds to the excitement, as it takes place in the heart of modern-day Boston, giving it that dark and edgy feel. The depiction of the surroundings gives the reader an eerie sense of anxiety throughout, especially when the Brothers are out on the prowl, hunting for their next victim (or love interest, whichever it may be). Whether they’re in a trendy downtown club, or a hoity-toity suburb, the author’s choice of location is perfect for each scene.

The vampire warriors in the Brotherhood are totally entertaining and deliciously tempting! J.R. Ward had me rolling at the hilarious repartee that goes on between the warriors throughout the series. She also does a great job of capturing the essence of ‘man-talk’; none of that cheesy “Fabio” crap that sometimes interferes with your sexual fantasy, errrr (COUGH)… I mean visual representation of the story. This author should win a prize for her ability to create characters that embody every girl’s ‘dream man’ six times over! I’m not going to lie and say that I fell in love with these beefy man-treats, but I definitely fell in ‘lust’ with them! The steamy sex scenes had me literally coming up for air afterwards, and panting like the ‘Twigar’ I am! Raaawwrrr!

The Black Dagger Brotherhood is definitely a series I would recommend to any vampire loving girlfriend of mine. It will keep you thoroughly entertained for weeks since there are nine books altogether. If I’m being honest though, the individual storylines do get a bit predictable by book three. But I’m not your Momma, so let’s not pretend that you’re going to be reading these books for the plot! OOOWWWW!!! NAUGHTAY! So with all that in mind, I give this book a 4 outta 5 Humps…I mean Pumps! Yes, four incredible, everlasting Pumps! Whew! Anyone got a cigarette?

The Sookie Stackhouse Series, by Charlaine Harris is an absolute MUST READ for vampire lovers everywhere!!  BE WARNED though—The vampires in this exciting series are not like the swanky, glamorous, vegetarians that you find in Twilight.

The Sookie series takes place in the fictional town of Bon Temps, Louisiana; a backwoods, redneck location.  At first I was taken back by this setting, allowing my bias for the usual sexy, urbane vampires take over.  However, once I got to know the delightfully-tacky people of Bon Temps, I completely fell in love!  Their tendency to resemble what most people would call “typical trailer trash” surprisingly became the heart of my enjoyment.  The setting truly adds to the unique charm and continuous comedy in the series.

The readers enter on a BANG, starting with a news broadcast of a scientific breakthrough among the medical community.  You go on to learn that the Japanese have invented a synthetic blood substitute, TruBlood, in hopes of alleviating the demand for human blood donors in hospitals.   Of course, the secret race of vampires see this is as opportunity for them to ‘come out of the closet’ and announce to the public that they are real!  They go on to claim that this new invention of TruBlood will enable them to live among society with humans, on account of they won’t have to kill anymore to survive.

The nine books continue to revolve around the adventures of a barmaid named Sookie, who is anything but your average girl.  Sookie has the gift of telepathy, though she refers to it as her disability.  Relationships are not easy for Sookie, as she is always aware of what everyone is thinking.  But something happens the day she meets her first vampire; Sookie discovers that her disability doesn’t pertain to this recently “outted” race, and with that she finds the peace of mind she’s been longing for.  As her relationships grow with the second-natured so does her status among them.  This humorously presents just as many challenges as benefits.  Sookie’s uncanny ability to attract danger at every turn helps form the series overarching plot which will keep you constantly entertained.

Vampires are not the only fictional characters introduced in this series; each book holds new surprises and enticing drama to boot.  The character development is flawless, allowing the reader to really appreciate each individual’s circumstances.  Charlaine Harris has an incredible knack for using humor during moments that would seem too intense to most authors.  Using heavy sarcasm, she is able to maintain a light hearted feel even during the darkest hours.

In reading these books, you get to experience Sookie’s many exciting escapades in which love is formed and lives are always at stake!  It’s definitely my favorite adult vampire series thus far!  I give this series 5 outta 5 pumps for being full of imagination and unique flavor.

If you’re an Edward fan like me, then New Moon may leave you slightly sour on account of its “severe Cullen deficiency”. Stop Googling ladies, it’s not a disease! I’m talking about the lack of a certain sparkling vampire with great hair and a dazzling smile. (Insert heavy sigh here) Our lovable Cullen’s were missing from almost the entire book, in fact, they didn’t make a significant appearance until the last 100 pages! I cry foul to that SM!

On a good note though, where the story lacks in “brooding vampires”, it totally makes up for with wolf-charm! The Quileute tribe and wolf pack were an exciting addition to the story. I found myself getting completely sucked in to the tribal legends explaining the history of the wolves, which were passed down from many generations.

New Moon provides us with some of the best emotionally charged scenes in the series. The pain that Bella feels when Edward abandons her is extremely well written; totally capturing the type of heartbreak and misery a teenage girl would experience when losing the love of her life. I found myself on the verge of cursing Edward for all that gloom. So, if you’re an emotional wimp like me, than get the Kleenex ready!

Bella maintains her annoying charisma throughout the story, while Jacob turns out to be surprisingly decadent in all his wolf-charm. The relationship that develops between Bella and Jacob in New Moon was very passionate at times, leaving me wanting more. Though part of me felt like I was betraying Edward until I quickly realized that with Bella and Jacob together, I could have McSparkle to myself! NAUGHTAY!

New Moon introduces some new and intense characters towards the end of the story: the Volturri. This clan makes up the oldest of the vampire race and are the keepers of the vampire justice system. It is in Italy, at the residence of the Volturri, where we finally get our glimpse of Edward again. ABOUT TIME! This is where the real drama begins and the story really takes off.

Reviewing this book presented many challenges for me in that my favorite character (Edward) was missing for 3/4’s of the story. At times, i found myself losing interest and wondering when the hell he was going to return to the story, rather than giving my full attention to Jacob and Bella. All considered, New Moon may be filled with heart break and sorrow, but the struggle through the first 500 pages turned out to be worthy of the last 100. I give New Moon 4 out of 5 pumps! 1 pump taken away for its lack of Edward appearances.