The Saucy Wenches Book Club

Mallory moved back to me and linked an arm in mine, displacing Ethan as my hiking partner.

"I think you just got jealous," she whispered.

"I'm not jealous. But I am more than 'a girl he went to high school with.' "

She snorted. "What did you want him to say? That you're the girl he's pined over since he made the regretful decision to break up with you in high school? Which was ten years ago, I'll point out."

"No," I said, drawing out the word to emphasize just how silly that thought was." "But maybe something along the lines of, 'This is Merit, sentinel of Cadogan House, protector of the weak, defender of the innocent'?"

"Yeah. Let me know when the Avengers come calling. In the meantime, while he does have a very curvy Yvette, you have an Ethan Sullivan."

"I hate it when you have a point"

"I'm wise beyond my years."

Wild Things
~~Chloe Neill

"It's an honor to meet you, Staff Sergeant Grady."
"Special Agent Grady," Ty corrected.
The Marine gave a curt shake of his head and stepped forward, handing Ty a blue packet of papers. "I'm here to inform you that you have been recalled to active duty, Staff Sergeant, by the special authority of the SOCOM initiative you agreed to when you were formerly released."
[snip]
Ty's hands moved to the small of his back and he held him tight, bending him just enough for Zane to have to wrap his arms around him to keep from falling. He kissed him again. In front of their coworkers. In front of King and Country and anyone who would watch. It was the first purely honest kiss they'd ever shared.
And it was a kiss goodbye.

Touch & Geaux by Abigail Roux



I hope you're enjoying Ball & Chain fellow minions!!

"You're dirty, Kels."
"That's like Satan calling me a bad boy."

Shock & Awe by Abigail Roux

Angels are falling from the sky in New York, struck down by a vicious, unknown force.

Vampires are dying impossibly of disease.

Guild hunter Elena Deveraux and the Archangel Raphael must discover the source of the wave of death before it engulfs their city and their people, leaving New York a ruin and Raphael’s Tower under siege by enemy archangels.

Yet even as they fight desperately to save the city, an even darker force is stirring, its chill eyes trained on New York…and on Raphael. Rivers of crimson and nightmares given flesh, the world will never again be the same…

My job when I review a book is to convince you why you should read it, if I liked it, or why you should not read it, if I did not like it. As it turns out, I liked this book, but I have slightly mixed feelings about the series as a whole. I'm an old Guild Hunter fan, so I've given this book and this series a lot of thought. Join me after the jump for some mildly spoilery thoughts on this latest installment of th…

“If he betrays you, I will finish what I started with his fingers," he said, and I shivered. "Tell him that.”

The Wenches seem to be all over the literary map this week! From our favorite shifters, federal agents, and vampires to new-to-us books, anthologies, historical intrigue, and a continuing epic, our choices are as varied as we are this week.

Click through to see what we're reading, and be sure to share your choices in the comments below!

"The Rains of Castamere."

And who are you, the proud lord said,
that I must bow so low?
Only a cat of a different coat, 
that's all the truth I know.
In a coat of gold or a coat of red, 
a lion still has claws,
And mine are long and sharp, my lord,
as long and sharp as yours.
And so he spoke, and so he spoke, 
that lord of Castamere,
But now the rains weep o'er his hall,
with no one there to hear.
Yes now the rains weep o'er his hall,
and not a soul to hear.




~George R. R. Martin, A Song of Ice and Fire

Are you a fan of films that are based on novels? Particularly, books you've read? Does the mere thought of a much-loved book being turned into a movie fill you with dread? Excitement? Since it's Oscar season, I thought it would be a good to remember some books that have been made into films.

Stay tuned after the jump.....

"How's Boo?" I asked, breaking the ice.
Damien broke into an endearing smile. "Good. Likes his kibble. Sleeps on an old T-shirt."
"That is adorable," I decided, and couldn't help but wonder if he was bare chested while the kitty borrowed his shirt. Apparently wondering too loudly. Luc kicked my foot under the table, smiled at Damien. 

Wild Things by Chloe Neill.

“But it's not enough to know right from wrong. You need the strength to do what's right, even when what you want most in the world is the wrong thing.”

―Cinda Williams Chima,The Exiled Queen

Happy Valentine's Day. I've checked with the Wenches. Lusted, poured over hours of photos and come up with our top picks of men to drool over ranging across the generations. Some Wenches, when submitting their lists of men to include, submitted to me a novel to wade through. I was impressed with both their dedication to their task and the quality of their lists. I think we have quite an eclectic group to present to you for your Valentine's Day enjoyment. Let the panty wetting begin after the jump.

Apologies in advance. Yes, I do have a "thing" for black and white photos. I don't know why. I just find them sexier.

Mark Twain said, “The two most important days in your life are the day you were born and the day you find out why."
I don't remember the day I was born but I remember the day I found out why.


His name was Deuce.
He was my "why".
And this is our story.
It is not a pretty one.
Some parts of it are downright ugly.
But it's ours.
And because I believe everything happens for a reason, I wouldn't change a thing.


Undeniable, Madeline Sheehan

“He was trying to make me his bed buddy. I declined. He gave chase."
... "How, exactly, did you 'decline' his offer?"
"By slitting his throat."
The silence in the garage was broken only by the sound of water drip-dripping somewhere in the distance. Sara just stared. So did Ransom. Then the idiot male started laughing hysterically. He laughed so hard he fell off the bike and onto the scarred concrete of the garage floor. Even that didn't stop him.
Elena would've kicked him, except he'd probably use the chance to pull her down with him. "Shut up before I do the same to you."
He tried to stop laughing. Failed. "Jesus, Ellie. You are awesome!”

Angels' Blood
~~Nalini Singh

Wild Things by Chloe NeillA VERY Spoilery Discussion by Zee the Terrible and Barbara Bones It's that time again, Saucy readers. By now, we're hoping you've read Barb's Wild Thingsreview, because now, we're going to talk about the latest Chicagoland Vampires installment, Wild Things. Be prepared for intense fangirling, squeeing, and just general Merit and Ethan adoration. (We do love talking about all things CLV, as you can see from our House Rules discussion here.)
There WILL be spoilers. Lots and lots of spoilers. Please do not click through the jump if you don't want to be spoiled.

"Ye wore them outside?" he said, in tones of incredulity. "Where folk could see ye?"

"I did," I said crossly. "So did most other women. Why not?"

"Why not?" he said, scandalized. "I can see the whole shape of your buttocks, for God's sake, and the cleft between!"

"I can see yours, too," I pointed out, turning around to face him. "I've been looking at your backside in breeks every day for months, but only occasionally does the sight move me to make indecent advances on your person."

His mouth twitched, undecided whether to laugh or not. Taking advantage of the indecision, I took a step forward and put my arms around his waist, firmly cupping his backside.

"Actually, it's your kilt that makes me want to fling you to the floor and commit ravishment," I told him. "But you don't look at all bad in your breeks."

He did laugh then, and bending, kissed me thoroughly, his h…

Chicagoland Vampires and the Night Huntress are common themes throughout our check-in this week. Many Wenches are enjoying Wild Things and saying goodbye to Cat & Bones in Up From the Grave. The rest of us are working on ASOIAF, Outlander, Vampire Academy, a brand new advance review book, a friend-recommended historical fiction, and a visit with our favorite federal agents. 

Click through to find out which Wench's choice is which. And tell us what you're reading, in the comments below!

Be polite, I reminded myself. Witches should respect Wiccans, even if we didn't quite get the whole Goddess-worship thing. I knew some Wiccans and they were very nice people, though I must admit they'd never arrived in my backyard naked and kissed my tits before.


Paige Winterbourne
Dime Store Magic by Kelley Armstrong

It’s book pushing time!It’s book pushing time! It’s book pushing time!Did you get that!?Ok now that I've gotten that out of my system, here is why I’m so excited to push a book under your nose.I've got a great group of friends and family that know my need for good books and they highly encourage my book junkie habit; the same way I want to encourage yours!A couple of years ago a family member was like “I've got a book for you!” This is a common phrase I hear often among those in the above mentioned group and some people get more weight to their recommendations than others.This family member has EXCELLENT taste in books, so much so that she works in the book industry, and I’d be a damn fool to turn down her suggestions.So I read the description and off to the library I went to get the book.I have been dying to share this recommendation with the Wenches and our readers for over a year now and I know the start of this book pushing post has not said one thing about the book in…

“A cold wind was blowing from the north, and it made the trees rustle like living things.” 

― George R.R. Martin, A Game of Thrones

"Shame on you, Crispin. Married how long, and you haven’t spanked your wife with a metal spatula yet?"
I’d gotten used to Ian’s assumption that everyone was as perverted as he was, so I didn’t miss a beat.
"We prefer blender beaters for our kitchen utensil kink," I said with a straight face.
Bones hid his smile behind his hand, but Ian looked intrigued.
"I haven’t tried that . . . oh, you’re lying, aren’t you?"
"Ya think?" I asked with a snort.
Ian gave a sigh of exaggerated patience and glanced at Bones.
"Being related to her through you is a real trial."

~ Jeaniene Frost, Up From The Grave

Fangirl Fridays - The Scarlet Letter


One might think this is a weird topic for fangirling, but I don't know. I was always pretty impressed by some women in the classics, and Hester is one of them. I've read this novel a few times and loved it on every reread. Nathaniel Hawthorne never really gives his opinion in the story he presents. My impression was that he only wanted to show the hypocrisy of puritanism without actually saying whether he approves of it or not. I wanted to write about this, and show how I experienced this novel and what I got from the character of Hester Prynne.


Click through to read my thoughts on this.

"The day you love anyone but yourself, is the day I'll take your marital advice, Ian," Bones bit back in an icy
tone.

"Then today is that day," Ian replied sharply, "for I love you, you wretched, pig-headed, guttersnipe. I also love that arrogant, overpriviledged dandy smirking at us" -a wave indicated Spade, whose aforementioned smirk vanished- "as well as the emotionally fractured, malfunctioning psychic who sired me. And you Crispin, love a bloodthirsty hellion who's probably killed more people in her thirty years than I have in over two centuries of living, so again I say don't bother trying to convince her she isn't who she is." 

Up From the Grave 
~~Jeaniene Frost

"Apparently," Ethan said, "we call Nick Breckenridge, and we ask him for another favor....and we hope to God he agrees to help."

Biting Bad by Chloe Neill

Hope you are enjoying Wild Things Saucy Readers!!

“You can only give your heart away once; after that, everything else will just chase your first love.” ~ Olivia
Just finished this series—Love Me With Lies—and I feel the need to share this with you, my lovely Wenches and readers. I have to tell you that, even after reading the review that prompted me to pick up this book, I was not prepared for my strong reactions.

My emotions are all over the place! A book series hasn't done this to me in a long time. I read the first page in that first book and BOOM! I was a goner. I finished reading and now I can’t stop thinking about it. I had to sit and write down my feelings.

This story is a wringer of emotions; I was left exhausted after finishing the series.

This is the story of Olivia Kaspen and Caleb Drake, two people with one bigger-than-life crazy, dysfunctional love. This is also a story about choices, decisions, and fate. I think most of us can find a part in the story to identify with. (Please, just not with Leah.)

Follow me after the j…

“Never underestimate how extraordinarily difficult it is to understand a situation from another person's point of view.”

It's been a flurry of new releases so far in 2014, and today is no exception. While many Wenches are wrapping up the Night Huntress series (with mixed reviews) the next chapter in the Chicagoland Vampires series is hitting shelves and e-readers today. I can't wait for everyone to get through it so that I can discuss--I've been holding it in forever it seems! We're also gearing up for releases from Kim Harrison and Abigail Roux, and Zee & I are still trying to convince other Wenches to pick up Dirty Magic by Jaye Wells.

In addition to all of the fantastic new releases, we're working some other new-to-us books, so click through to see what is on our list this week. What are you reading, Saucy Reader?

Today is the day, dear readers! You can get your hands on the brand new ninth installment in the fabulous Chicagoland Vampires series. Head Wench Barb reviewed it here, and loved it. And we'll be talking about it again next week, since there are some rather important developments we need to discuss.

Since Merit was turned into a vampire, and the protector of Chicago’s Cadogan House, it’s been a
wild ride. She and Master vampire Ethan Sullivan have helped make Cadogan’s vampires the strongest in North America, and forged ties with paranormal folk of all breeds and creeds, living or dead…or both.
But now those alliances are about to be tested. A strange and twisted magic has ripped through the North American Central Pack, and Merit’s closest friends are caught in the crosshairs. Gabriel Keene, the Pack Apex, looks to Merit and Ethan for help. But who—or what—could possibly be powerful enough to out-magic a shifter?
Merit is about to go toe to toe, and cold steel to cold heart, to fin…