*Please note that the contents of this page are solely the OPINIONS of the authors and the followers.*

Welcome to the Middle of the Road. This is a combined book review blog, one that is both cherished and prided over. We want everyone who comes to our page to find something of intrest to them, so when they walk away they are either satisfied or intrigued. We are both avid readers and have a passion about books that few of our other friends do. Both of us are happy to share our experiences in the book world and at times some goodies too. Enjoy your time here, and if you are anything like us, you could spend hours just wandering aimlessly through the world of books, just like a lazy afternoon down the Middle of the Road.

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Lover Eternal by J.R. Ward

This is the 2nd installment of The Black Dagger Brotherhood by: J. R. Ward, and to say the least it was nothing short of AMAZING! This book was different from the first in many ways but it was equally as enthralling. I have three children so I did have to put it down more than I wanted to but every time I did I was aching to pick it up again!

The Black Dagger Brotherhood are still fighting the war against the lessers as well as dealing with other issues of their own. Rhage is the main character in this one instead of Wrath, although Wrath is still involved a great deal. There are lots of new characters added in Lover Eternal that weren't in Dark Lover but all of your favorites from Dark Lover are still around as well.

-----By the time I finished this book at 1:30AM I had tears rolling down my cheeks. This book was completely unpredictable. I absolutely LOVED it. There were some things left unaswered at the end though...I can't wait to read Lover Awakened to find out about Bella!

***This book although different from Dark Lover is still strictly an ADULT book. I would reccommend this book for anyone OVER the age of 18. It was AMAZING***

Monday, April 11, 2011

Experiencing the WARDen

Soo this weekend I met the WARDen.. kinda :)

I drove to Cincinnati, got my ticket, waited in line, and then was swept through the signing in kind of a ' wam, bam, thank you ma'm ' sort of way!! It was intense...

But putting that aside, it was incredible. J.R.Ward looked incredible, and her smile is to die for. She was as polite as could be, despite the fact that over 800 people showed up, when they were only anticipating 500.

There was a HUGE thunderstorm about an hour before the signing was supposed to begin, it unfortunately delayed the WARDen and she ended up getting there about a quarter to 3 instead of 2. A lot of people were really restless by then, especially since some of then had gotten there at like 9 that morning, but it was well worth the wait!!

Due to the drive time and the waiting time, I was not able to stay for the question and answer portion of her visit... oh how I would have loved that. But I was in line for about an hour and they weren't even halfway through.

I did however manage some really cool pics, so make sure you guys head over here to check them out. I also met some wonderful new people there, these ladies were terrific Black Daggerhood Brother fans, and were great to converse with in the long line :)

Take care everyone!!!
-Danielle

Saturday, April 9, 2011

Dark Lover by:J.R. Ward

I heard so many good things about this series that I HAD to read it. Dark Lover is the first book of the Black Dagger Brotherhood series by J. R. Ward. This book was NOTHING like I expected it to be even after all the praise I had heard about it. The cover of the book clearly shows that this a romance novel but it has a very good story as well as all the touchy feely stuff. The vampires in this novel are not the traditional, can't eat garlic, drink from humans kind of vamps, they are toatally different but equally enthralling. 

Beth is a reporter who isn't really happy with her life as it is. She lives in a tiny appartment and doesn't OWN anything. She was an orphan growing up so she never really had much at all. Beth is really close to the police force in Caldwell. She is friends with most of them and gets first hand stories about every crime committed in Caldwell. She is aching for an adventure. She thinks that her life is lame and she wants more! What she doesn't know, she is about to get a lot more! After being nearly raped by some perv by the name of Billy Riddle she was shaken up and scared. She got home as fast as possible and bolted all the windows and doors. That didn't matter though...she couldn't stop what was coming for her.

-----All of the twists in this book are amazing! I never saw most of it coming before I actually read the words. I can't wait to start the next book! This one was so hard to put down, I know the second will be equally wonderful.

***This is strictly an ADULT book. I would not reccommend this book for anyone under the age of 18.***

Sunday, April 3, 2011

Book Review: The Dark and Hollow Places

Well I am very sad to see this series end. But I am happy to see it end on a good note :)

Gabry has fallen in love with Elias. But she has to make it to the Dark City alongside Catcher, her old flame, in order to find and save a twin sister she has never met, before the horde destroys them all.

Annah has survived within the walls of the Dark City for three years without Elias. And surviving is the only way to put it, she barely eats, barely sleeps, and hides the best she can. But time is up, she can't wait any longer, she knows he's not coming back to her. She may have been in love with him, but he never loved her the same.

The gates to freedom have the longest lines in the city, both coming in and going out. The people on both sides think they are going where the grass may be greener. But as Annah is in line, waiting her turn to leave, she sees someone she never thought she'd see again, and no it isn't Elias.

Her sister, Abigail is in the City. Why she is here, or where she comes from are the questions burning inside Annah's head, but not as much as the fact that Abigail has been arrested for helping a man escape the guards, where could they have taken her?

Being beaten, and almost raped scares Annah more than anything she has ever encountered in the City so far. But being rescued by a man who walks with the dead, isn't much less frightening. Catcher has come to save Annah, for both Gabry and Elias, he doesn't bet on the fact that he is now saving her in order to save himself.

Catcher is a walker, an in between. He was infected but never turned. It is a wonderful feeling to still be alive, yet the fact that as soon as you die you will come back as the undead is a scary thought. Not to mention the fact that Catcher knows he is infected but doesn't know if he can infect anyone else, it's a terrifying thought for him.

Being lost in the City for three years without any real companionship has taught Annah to only depend on herself, but Catcher has a way of making her melt, even though she thought her heart was now ice.


I LOVED the final story here, I LOVED the fact that in the end the girl did in fact get the boy!! I LOVED this series, and I can only hope that the lovely Carrie Ryan decides to make this a four book trilogy!!
-Danielle

Iron Fey contest!!

This is my post/entry for the contest. After I am finished with my letter, I will post all the deatils at the bottom of the post so you guys can join in on this awesome contest!!








Puck,
      Hey guy, how's it going? Been busy since The Iron Queen debuted? I can only imagine the fan base you have now. I mean seriously who doesn't think that a red-head, fun loving fairy, isn't just to die for?? Well I know I feel that way anyhow, not sure what to say about the rest of the girls out there, except ...their loss.
      After reading the series, I totally fell in love with the fact that you are a Hero. Go on, smile, I know I just stroked your ego. But seriously Puck, there are so many 'men' in the world who claim they are in love, but wouldn't go through half the things you have for Meghan. You sacrificed so much for her, and what did you get in return?? To watch her make out with Ice-Boy.. yeesh, how ungrateful can some girls be? 
      I'm sorry to be bringing up things that are uncomfortable, to say the least. But, I am writing this letter as part of a contest, and it told me to ask whatever burning questions I had of you, well any character from the series, but I choose you.
      Well babe, the question I want to know more than anything is, why did you wait? You were with Meghan for years, yet you never even broached the subject with her. I understand the everyday excuses, caution, fear, never the right time.. blah blah blah, but you were with her everyday, and knew her better than she even knew herself. What stopped you from telling her how you felt? I know that a smart girl like Meghan would have seen what a lot of us see in you. She would have jumped at the chance to be with you forever, but you let her fall in love with Ash.
      Now don't get me wrong, I love the fact that she is happy, well, was happy until Ash disappeared and all. But she would have never had to worry about that from you, too bad she can't see what is right in front of her eyes, eh?
      My heart broke for you Puck, over and over. I wish someone had been in the story to just shake her a little bit and make her see things differently. But now that she hasn't, and I have seen the kind of 'man' you can be, the way you can sacrifice for love, and be more devoted than I think even you realize... You can always give me a call :)
      I hope that I haven't upset you too badly, and that you have the time to reply to me. I do care how things go for you Puck, and I wish you all the best, even if it isn't with me ;)

Always one of your biggest fans,
Danielle


Ok guys, now that you have read my heartfelt letter to my secret crush, Puck. It is time for you to pick a character from the amazing Iron Fey series and send them a message. The complete details are here. This link will take you to the wonderful Julie Kagawa's web page, where she has posted the contest. I hope you guys enjoy it and have fun with it. I know I have!!!

Julie Kagawa Contest

Friday, April 1, 2011

Beastly by: Alex Flinn

Beastly is the modern day version of "Beauty and the Beast". Alex Flinn did a terrific job writing this book. Even though we all know that there is a "happily ever after" at the end of The Beauty and the Beast, Ms. Flinn kept me turning the pages in this book. I didn't want to put it down for anything. She kept it very interesting.

Kyle Kingsbury was the perfect sophomore in a high scale school. He was the envy of all the guys and the crush of all the girls. He had perfect blonde hair and blue eyes, but he didn't have such a perfect attitude. He was very cruel to others just for fun.

Kendra didn't want to put a "spell" on Kyle so she gave him a chance to show that he wasn't evil...he failed the test so she had no choice. She transformed him into "the beast" and told him he had 2 years to find true love in order to break the spell.

Kyle thought that he was doomed to live the rest of his life a beast, until he found Lindy. Kyle fell in love with Lindy but never thought that she could love him back. Her father "gave" her to him to keep himself out of jail. She lived with Kyle, whom she knew as Adrian, and he did everything he could to keep her happy. Eventually he let her go back to her father.

-I will let you read the book to find out what happened next! **teehee**

This is a young adult book that I would recommend to anyone over the age of 13.

~Christy