Dirty Little Secret

Dirty Little Secret is a weekly meme hosted by us at Under the Covers. Every Thursday we get to know other bloggers and our readers more intimately by asking them a question hoping to reveal their dirty little secrets.  We hope that you will all join us!

To participate in the meme all you need to do is:

1. Be a follower of Under the Covers.
2. Create a post in your blog taking the meme image (code above) and copy instructions. 
3. Answer the question we propose! This can be done in any way you like, post a video, write a post etc.
4. Then add your link below.

Non-bloggers: We want to hear from you as well!!!  Let us know your answer in the comments! 

We hope you join us and let us know your Dirty Little Secrets!

This week's question:

It's lent and time to give up your favourite things for 40 days and 40 nights (or sneak some when no one is looking!) What series of books would you have to give up, and why?

I really hate this  question ! it must be a trick question right?!
Like most times when I hit something I don't get or confuses me , like:pizza or cupcakes??. I go to my internally immature, never serious friends. I asked them what they would give up for 40 days;
Friend B: I'd give up cheese ( SHE DOESN'T EVEN LIKE CHEESE)
Friend A: um.............
Friend B: alright TV (which is acceptable in her case because she's a crazy True Blood fan)
Friend C: computer 
Me to friend A: how about your phone?
Friend A: are you outta YOU'RE MIND!!! (no, Under The Covers is)


So what would I give up for 40 days or what series of books would I give up..
You see what you're actually asking me is : would I intentionally not read? no
would I intentionally not browse books or be online? no
would I intentionally not browse through pictures or info on my favorite series, BDB, LOTU ,Dark-Hunters.? EH NE


yeah I'm selfish and It's an issue I'm working on. 
I'm sorry but I can't take one for the team this time.
Let's just settle on me untying Adrian :D, very slowly

The Dark-Hunters, vol 4 by Sherrilyn Kenyon

I finely got my hands on one of the
Dark-Hunter manga's , although I had to let the person borrow my Bleach manga. This way I'm going to have to give him his book back( not that I had any bad/criminal/thieving intentions)

Dark-hunter,vol 4 is the second part of Talon and Sunshine's story. Based on book 2 from the dark-hunter novels (Night Embrace). I've read all the dark-hunter novels  and enjoyed them immensely. They're funny,action packed and have great memorable characters.So it was a different experience for me to read Talon's story in manga form, with him saying lines from the book and seeing facial expressions from him , Sunshine and other characters. 

Talon's depiction in the manga is pretty young looking. Although when he's angry he has a more mature facial expression.

Acheron's depiction is great. It's dark and brooding ,just like it's suppose to be.

Further they got Fang's personality down right and Zarek's. Although Zarek is missing his goatee. Zarek!! I love that psycho and Nick's sarcasm. Vane's expression when he sees Bride for the first time. 

The manga is for ages 13  and up. 
This is an actual manga and not a comic. The pages of this book were created in the traditional japanese right to left manga format but don't worry Simi' will help you if you'r new to reading manga's.
Sexual content : kissing scenes. 

I'm happy that they didn't include sex scenes from the book because it would make me feel like I'm reading one of those smut manga's. Dark-hunter is so much more. *my opinion

Minus points would be when some of the character's go "gah". Yeah they actually say that "gah". I freaking hate that! even in the books. It ruins the effect of things. Some of the scenes depicted were weird for me, like bad acting. Sunshine gets kidnapped ,Talon's pissed but then he's calm.

I really loved this, although it's the second half of the book. I think each book is split into two parts.If that's the case then I can't wait to read Zarek's story in manga form.

Grade: 

O

Review: Nightlife ( Cal Leandros #1) by Rob Thurman

There are monsters among us. There always have been and there always will be. I’ve known that since I can remember, just like I’ve always known I was one . . . 
. . . Well, half of one, anyway. 
Welcome to the Big Apple. There’s a troll under the Brooklyn Bridge, a boggle in Central Park, and a beautiful vampire in a penthouse on the Upper East Side – and that’s only the beginning. Of course, most humans are oblivious to the preternatural nightlife around them, but Cal Leandros is only half human. 
His father’s dark lineage is the stuff of nightmares – and he and his entire otherworldly race are after Cal. Why? Cal hasn’t exactly wanted to stick around long enough to find out. 
He and his half brother, Niko, have managed to stay a step ahead for four years, but now Cal’s dad has found them again. And Cal is about to learn why they want him, why they’ve always wanted him: He is the key to unleashing their hell on earth. The fate of the human world will be decided in the fight of Cal’s life . . .

I started reading this last year then put it aside. That in no way means the book is boring, I suppose if I had a physical copy I would have finished it way earlier. 

Cal is named after a character from the Tempest, Caliban.  Caliban(from The Tempest) is a halfbreed,born of a demon and a witch. Cal is also a halfbreed although nobody knows of what. I like this book. It was funny, action packed and full of monsters. If you're a fan of Supernatural then you'll love this book.

Cal and Niko's relationship is a lot like Sam and Dean's. Niko's the oldest and looks out for Cal.  Cal's the little brother who has issues because he's actually half something evil. He thinks he's a monster and that Niko should acknowledge that fact.  Niko refuses ,to believe that Cal could be evil, by not calling him by his full name "Caliban". 

The story is about how the auphe want to open a gate and return to a much preferred time where they ruled earth. If they succeed then the present time(world /mankind) ends. To open this gate they need a key and the key just happens to be "Cal". The first chapters are funny to read. A lot of banter between the brothers. They suspect something's wrong/going on and are getting ready to run again. In their need of a car they meet Goodfellow (THE Robin Goodfellow), who tells them a lot about the auphe and grendels and sheds light on their predicament. Goodfellow becomes their friend and informant.

The story picks up when Cal gets possessed by the Darkling. The Darkling merges with Cal's body as to open the door.The book is told from Cal's pov but there's no Cal after the merging. There's just a lot of narrative from the very very arrogant Darkling.  I'm talking my-god-shut-up-arrogant!!

After that the story picks up a nice pace. A lot of fighting and  saving the world. 

I guess the resolution is Cal accepting who he is. He's a monster but not necessarily evil.

"I watched Catcher cavort under a scarlet sky and marveled at the beauty of him. He might not be a human,but neither was he a monster. The lack of one didn't necessarily equal the other. There was something so simple about that,yet it had taken me until now to figure it out. Catcher was no monster and neither was I" ~Cailban

Grade: 

E

Reaction: The Hunger Games trailer #2

I've only read the first book.
I bougt it, I have it. I'm dying to read the other 2!!
It's a frightening book. That's my reaction to the book. It was a freaking sad, serious read.
Why did Rue have to die!!! why does she have to die!!!
I hope they don't botch her song!!

 The trailer: my reaction to the book, intensified by the trailer. It's frightening, and evokes emotions from me. I really want to go watch this one. Probably won't be able to. I shouldn't . I have exames coming. I really shouldn't. But I'm gonna.

I like the cast. Although I was surpised to see Woody Allen as Haymitch, although I'm pretty sure he'll do a good job. I like that Lenny Kravits is playing cinna. It's an interesthing casting. In the trailer you see Cinna helping Katniss with her jacket, the mockingjay brooch is on her shirt. Cinna motions her to be quiet about it.There's also a scene where Katniss makes a hand gesture in respect to Rue( cuz she died!!).


Some Lenny Kravits:

Dirty Little Secret

dirty Little Secret is a weekly meme hosted by us at Under the Covers. Every Thursday we get to know other bloggers and our readers more intimately by asking them a question hoping to reveal their dirty little secrets.  We hope that you will all join us!

To participate in the meme all you need to do is:

1. Be a follower of Under the Covers.
2. Create a post in your blog taking the meme image (code above) and copy instructions. 
3. Answer the question we propose! This can be done in any way you like, post a video, write a post etc.
4. Then add your link below.

Non-bloggers: We want to hear from you as well!!!  Let us know your answer in the comments! 

We hope you join us and let us know your Dirty Little Secrets!

This week's question:

Heroes in historical romance like the extremes - the virgin hero or the rogue rake. Which of the two makes you shudder in pleasure?

Naturally the bad guy, I mean the hot sexy bad boys :D

The punks, bikers, boxers . The men with attitude and experience.

Like my deary Adrian Vogel. Of course the heroine has to sweeten him up

Fortunately my bad boys still tied up :D

He doesn't know what the save word is hihihi

Review: De Bruine Zeemeermin by Annel de Nore

De Bruine Zeemeermin (the brown mermaid) is a swirling Caribbean Surniaamse novel about a family. The chapters, are each written from a different perspective, they tell a somewhat melancholy story of several women whose histories are closely intertwined. Each of them has their own way of dealing with the traditional unwritten laws of the 'system' of sexual infidelity and women their spouses are cheating on with. The central figure is Ingrid, a woman trapped in a relationship with a man who mistreats her. Marjorie, her daughter, suffers most as a child and shuts herself off emotionally to protect herself. When she discovers that her mother had a secret love , it causes a turning point in her life

Reviewed - 2012

What I love about this book is how the story is divided into 10 parts (relatively short). Each part is told from one of the women's perspective. There are three women and we get to read their experiences as they fulfil different roles in their lives. We read Marjory's story as a child and later as a woman. Ingrid's story as a woman, an aunt and mother.  

Ingrid's husband often gets drunk and comes home and abuses her. This has happened countless times. This time she leaves and takes her children with her. Marjory (her daughter)  she leaves with her brother and wife, her son she takes with her to her other brother.  She always gets a lot of support from her family. Her brother Roy has had enough and wants her to get a divorce. Ingrid stays at her brother Frankie's and experiences the luxury of not having to clean a house or watch the children. A second of not being a housewife, instead of just being alone with herself. In the end, Ingrid goes back to her husband, who promises not to drink anymore.  I don't understand this or why so many women always go back.

Ingrid's decision to move back in with her husband ruins her relationship with her daughter. Marjory never forgives her father and never understood why her mother chose to go back. The family is back together, yet there's so much guilt and loneliness. Marjory grows up then leaves for the Netherlands. She's become an independent woman and would like to stay that way.

The book is written in a very simple way that's easy to follow. I loved the story about the mermaid. 

Some of the parts started with excerpts from other books about feminism or women in general. Some of those excerpts confused me.

"She was created to be the toy of man, his rattle, and it must jingle in his ear whenever, dismissing reason, he chooses to be amused" Mary Wollstnoecraft, " A Vindication of the Rights of Women',

"I'm admired because I do everything right. I cook, sew, knit, talk, work and fuck right. So I am a valuable post. Without me, he would suffer. With him, I'm alone"  Christine Billson, "You Can Touch Me"

Ingrid gives up being happy to go back and live with her abusive husband. I don't understand , I don't think I'll ever understand her sacrifice. Did she do it for her children? who grew up resenting her and avoiding her, emotionally.  Did she do it because she still loved her husband? who promised not to drink anymore but still ended up dying of liver cancer? I think she made the wrong decision. A divorce would have been better. 

Revisiting "De Bruine Zeemeermin"

2018 thoughts

The review above was written in 2012, I was probably 21 years old. I'm now 26,  looking back at the things that confused me and the questions I had, I see I was pretty naive and selfish. 

One of the things I loved about the narration of this story was the intersectionality of the perspectives. Not only were we hearing the story of a wife leaving her husband we were looking at a woman's story, a wife's story, a mother, daughters and sisters story. Three different women, different perspectives. However, as layered as the narration and characters were, experiences and accounts of abusive relationships are just as layered. A lot of things play a role when answering the questions "why did she stay". It's not always one reason and it's not always an easy choice to make. 

Saying things like "I think she made a wrong decision", "I don't understand why she would stay", "she's a moron". This doesn't help the situation or encourage women facing this to speak up or to make the choice to leave.  There's a selfishness to these questions as well. In the sense that when I say "She should have left" aren't I saying "I wouldn't be stupid to end up in that situation or to stay in that situation". To stand safely so far away from the violence and pain and make judgements about what a person should do and what they shouldn't do.



_7/10

Review: Ink Spots (Simple Needs #3) by Lissa Matthews

By night, Mandi is a waitress in her best friend's adult entertainment club, complete with long raven hair and bright blue eyes. By day, she's a boutique jewelry maker with a flair for the occasional naughty design. She's shy, quiet, a definitive Plain Jane-and completely in lust with the one man who wouldn't ever be interested in her. He's big, menacing, and inspires every one of her dirty girl desires. If birthday wishes came true, he would be hers.Tattoo artist. Business owner. Lover of vintage cars. Drummer. Jaz is far from the average guy. Built like a brick wall and inked from head to toe, he can scare the faint of heart with just a look, but faint of heart isn't what interests him, isn't what fuels his fantasies and keeps him hard from dawn to dusk. It's her-the waitress, his sister's friend, the birthday girl.Mandi is given the best present ever-Jaz. And she's got one night to make every wicked thought and erotic dream she's had about him come true.

I read a review about this book and it's not really a long story . It's a short of 90 pages. So I figures after a weekend of studying I deserve a treat. What better than a big, menacing tattooed hunk. 

I like that the story is to the point. From the first chapter we meet the main characters. Jaz arrives at the club. Everything about surprising Mandi is set. He walks straight to her dressing room.  After a weird ,revealing moment (For me) Mandi's suppose to be raven haired ,bright blue eyed chick right. But she's not. She has green eyes. and when Jaz accidentally pulls some of her fake hair out. I was worried. But it all works out.

This book was a fun and a quick read. Like I said it's a short. It has a lot of sex. somebody getting inked. more sex. pancakes. sex.  public display of nakedness (*  shy, quiet,  my ass). 

Also a bit contradicting:

 Built like a brick wall and inked from head to toe, he can scare the faint of heart with just a look

Mandi's first reaction when seeing Jaz for the first time is lust and Mandi's own words to Jaz: 

“You make me wetter than any man I’ve ever known.”

Now if that's what they mean by being "scared". Then  I wanna be scared too, Jaz can be my boogeyman anytime.

Grade : A

Dirty Little Secret

Dirty Little Secret is a weekly meme hosted by us at Under the Covers. Every Thursday we get to know other bloggers and our readers more intimately by asking them a question hoping to reveal their dirty little secrets.  We hope that you will all join us!

To participate in the meme all you need to do is:

1. Be a follower of Under the Covers.
2. Create a post in your blog taking the meme image (code above) and copy instructions. 
3. Answer the question we propose! This can be done in any way you like, post a video, write a post etc.
4. Then add your link below.

Non-bloggers: We want to hear from you as well!!!  Let us know your answer in the comments! 


We hope you join us and let us know your Dirty Little Secrets!

This week's question:

So it's V-Day. You are all dressed up in your tiniest, yet most expensive undies (go figure!), got a dress on your mother would definitely disapprove of and enough condoms to keep a football team happy, where are you going and which of your favourite book boyfriends are taking you there?                 

I"m anti-valentine BUT I'm willing to take one for the team and show one of my favorite characters some "love"....ing. I doubt he'll cooperate so I'll just have to kidnap him and then tie him down. oh yeah. I'm liking the sound of this

Target: Adrian Vogel,. He's just so damaged, so someone Just has to kiss his booboo's and make him feel better. And I'm just dying to know where that piercing ends......And kiss him there too........

Venue: The Room of Requirement because it'll have everything I'll need to restrain him. bed.ropes.lingerie.chocolates. and and a fine male specimen.

Don't worry angel we can play with the hellmet too

Review: The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

The circus arrives without warning. No announcements precede it. It is simply there, when yesterday it was not. Within the black-and-white striped canvas tents is an utterly unique experience full of breathtaking amazements. It is called Le Cirque des Rêves, and it is only open at night. 

But behind the scenes, a fierce competition is underway—a duel between two young magicians, Celia and Marco, who have been trained since childhood expressly for this purpose by their mercurial instructors. Unbeknownst to them, this is a game in which only one can be left standing, and the circus is but the stage for a remarkable battle of imagination and will. Despite themselves, however, Celia and Marco tumble headfirst into love—a deep, magical love that makes the lights flicker and the room grow warm whenever they so much as brush hands. 

True love or not, the game must play out, and the fates of everyone involved, from the cast of extraordinary circus per­formers to the patrons, hang in the balance, suspended as precariously as the daring acrobats overhead. 

Written in rich, seductive prose, this spell-casting novel is a feast for the senses and the heart.
GOODREADS

Le Cirque des Reves ( The Circus of Dreams). I don't know where to start. I can't get my thoughts straight so I can accurately describe how great this book is. How fantastically brilliant. It's wonderfully imaginative and dream like. I've never been to a circus before but after reading this book, I have high expectations. Reading about Le Cirque des Reves is like walking into Diagon Alley or eating in The Great Hall at Hogwarts , seeing and being blown away by it all.The Magic.That's what it's about in the end. The magic of the circus. 

If you read this book expecting a love story then you will get one. A very subtle yet beautifully sad one. Cilia and Marco eventually fall for each other and don't want to continue the competition. But they are bound and can't escape the competition 'till one of them dies. In the end they find a way to escape and be together. I liked Cilia's character, I liked that she couldn't control her emotions sometimes. Emotions make a person colourful. Marco on the other hand I couldn't help but endure him. Only in the last few chapters Seeing him with Cilia did I begin to like him  more.

Although there's a love story ,it's not the main story.(I think) this book is more about the circus itself. A circus of magic and light. After all it is called The Night Circus, and what a place. I wish it were real, I'd be following it like the revuers. I'd even endure wearing something red. I'd just love to walk around the different tents and watch the statue's, eat caramel apples and chocolate rats. To get a chance to explore the Wunschruam clock and memorise it , visit The Ice Garden ,make a wish at the wishing tree. 

The other characters are fantastic as well. Popet and Widget are fun to read about. Widget's stories are brilliant and his love for foods is likable in any character. 

It's a bit confusing to follow the actual plot in the beginning because the chapters keep going back and forth. I stopped trying to remember the years and just kept reading. It all eventually makes sense and falls together nicely. 

The circus was suppose to be a venue for the competition ,in the end it becomes more than that. It becomes something magical, something important to many people. 

The circus arrives without a warning. 

paper dragons, ice gardens, bottled bedtime stories, black and white striped tents,a carousel that seems a bit alive. If you can't appreciate these little imaginative notions . Then this isn't you're kinda book.

Grade:O

Dedicated to Friedrick Thiessen,
Sincerely a reveur