Deadly Promises de Sherrrilyn Kenyon, Dianna Love, Cindy Griffin

Hojem acabei de ler este. Três histórias diferentes e mais pequenas do que o normal mas mesmo assim boas de ler.

THESE HEROES ARE 100 PERCENT RAW, DANGEROUS, AND . . . UNDENIABLY SEXY.
New York Times bestselling authors Sherrilyn Kenyon, Dianna Love, and Cindy Gerard and rising romance star Laura Griffin mix seduction and suspense in three irresistible romantic adventures. From sultry international jungles to the rugged terrain of the American Southwest, join the larger-than-life, scorching-hot alpha heroes of the Bureau of American Defense, Black Ops, Inc., and the U.S. Navy SEALs for all the pulse-pounding, heart-racing, toe-curling excitement. They’re cool under pressure, steamy under the sheets, and when the enemy strikes, there’s not a lethal mission these gorgeous men can’t handle. . . .

Just Bad Enough
Sherrilyn Kenyon and Dianna Love

Leave No Trace
Cindy Gerard

Unstoppable
Llaura Griffin

E ao pesquisar por aí encontrei um resumo de cada curta história. Segue em baixo para terem uma ideia do conteúdo.
Unstoppable
In Unstoppable Laura Griffin writes a story that is part of her exhilarating Tracers series. This story starts out with action that immediately caught my attention. Gage is a navy SEAL who has been injured. While recovering he is asked by his commanding officer to guard his niece, Dr. Kelsey Quinn. Kelsey is working at an archeological dig where a woman has been shot nearby and there has been a break in. But she believes in her work and knows she can take care of herself. She resents the sexy Quinn `babysitting' her. But when they find fresh, new bones instead of old ones and a secret tunnel both realize that something dangerous is going on. But can they solve the mystery before the killers find them?
This was a thrilling suspense novel from start to finish. It was also the most interesting of the 3 stories. I was amazed the author was able to build such an exciting multi-layered plot in such a short story. It didn't hurt that Gage is tough and way HOT! Plus Kelsey is very feisty and a heroine after my own heart. 

Leave No Trace
In Leave No Trace Cindy Gerard demonstrates her mastery of the suspense thriller. David Cavanaugh is tired of his undercover work for the CIA. He desperately wants to retire but when a colleague asks Cav to find his missing friend (Carrie Granger) he reluctantly agrees. Cav arrives in Myanmar where he discovers Carrie has been caught up in a bungled arrest. To cover up their mistake the government has thrown her in their ruby mines where she labors as a virtual slave. To free her Cav must pretend to work with the corrupt government in Myanmar. Can Carrie learn to trust him or will this rescue mission end in tragedy for them both?
This was an exhilarating read and one where I could feel the tension between the 2 characters and the storyline. Cav was a dashing hero and Carrie was believable. I really felt for both of them and they had a wonderful chemistry. 

Just Bad Enough- part of their BAD series
In Just Bad Enough we meet undercover agent Jeremy Sunn. Jeremy has the hots for CeCe. But as part of his cover he has a rap sheet a mile long. He acts the playboy with a series of women. But since he met CeCe he wants a real relationship. Unfortunately, she seems to be putting him off. CeCe has secrets of her own. She has ties to criminals that she has been running away from. When CeCe unknowingly hides an important memory disc she and Jeremy must fight a deadly killer who wants it. But what will happen when gun shy CeCe finds out about Jeremy's fake criminal history? Will their deception and lies destroy their budding relationship?
This was a fast read and I really liked the hero. He was definitely sexy and noble. But I didn't like how CeCe treated him. Her excuses not to be with him did not seem realistic and her character was a little wimpy. I really felt bad for Jeremy, who I grew to care about.

Battlestar Galactica (2004), 3ª temporada

Ontem, finalmente acabei a ver a 3ª temporada da série Battlestar Galactica. Admito que para o fim os episódios começaram-me a chatear revolvendo ao longo da temática dos esforços de sobrevivência e os inumeros perigos da convivência entre os humanos e o seu infindável teor de problemas e desacatos. A procura do planeta Terra um pouco de lado, só no último episódio, e/ou penúltimo, voltamos a busca do tal elusivo planeta na pessoa de Starbuck, Kara Thrace, e revelação das revelações, algo se passa quando quatro pessoas na nave descobrem-se a si próprios não como os humanos que pensavam ser mas algo mais, cylons adormecidos. Cada um com uma posição crucial quando temos em conta o papel de apoio que têm.
E eu aposto que o quinto modelo cylon em falta será Starbuck.

Deixo resumo de cada episódio, e o seu nome:

Ep1 Occupation
The Cylons have now been in control of New Caprica for over four months. Gaius Baltar is under their collective thumbs and essentially follows their orders. There is a resistance who set off bombs and do their best to disrupt Cylon activity. Col. Tigh is in prison and despite extensive torture, including the loss of an eye, has told them nothing. His wife Ellen will do anything to secure his release and is soon in a sexual relationship with one of the Cylons, John Cavil. There are mixed feelings among the survivors. Some feel the random acts of violence against their captors serves no useful purpose while others feel it is their duty to resist. Kara Thrace, Starbuck, is being kept prisoner in an apartment of sorts by Leoben Conoy. She too resists but every time she kills him, he is simply re-generated and reappears insisting he will continue to do so until he tells her she loves him. Back on Galactica, Admiral Adama takes his son Lee, Commander of the Battlestar Pegasus, to task for going soft.

Ep2 Precipice
As a result of the most recent suicide bombings, some of the Cylons are now arguing that they need to retaliate. Laura Roslin, among others, is in custody and Gaius Baltar tries to get her to cooperate. Tigh however absolutely refuses to stop the suicide bombings. Nighttime raids also leads to Cally's arrest but they leave her baby alone. Sharon Valerii sees what she can do about it. John Cavil meanwhile tells Ellen Tigh she is to provide the date and location of the next meeting of the resistance commanders. Leoben Conoy is still holding Starbuck prisoner but introduces her to her daughter, Kacey, produced from eggs they harvested from her when she was on the Farm. On Galactica, Admiral Adama begins to plan for a massive rescue of everyone on New Caprica. He realizes they will have to obtain the launch keys for all of the ships on the planet's surface. The best way of infiltrating the Cylons is with another Cylon so Adama commissions Sharon Agathon as an officer.

Ep3 Exodus: Part 1
The secret source in the administration has provided Tyrol with a list of all humans scheduled for extermination. Tyrol's wife Cally is on the list and he sets off to rescue her. Sharon Agathon has made it safely to the planet but they are ambushed by Cylons lying in wait. They realize they were betrayed and Anders finds damning evidence that points to the identity of the traitor. D'Anna Biers has been having strange dreams of late and an oracle tells her that the child Hera is alive and she will hold her in her arms. Roslin meanwhile assigns a squad of men to protect the child at all costs. The Admiral sends the Pegasus away with the few remaining civilian ships to continue the search for Earth.

Ep4 Exodus: Part 2
The attack to rescue everyone on New Cpaprica begins. The Galactica encounters four rather than the expected two Cylon Basestars. The end appears in sight but they get help from a welcome but unexpected source. On the planet below, Tyrol and Anders lead the attack to free everyone from the prison. Anders finds Starbuck but she won't leave without Kacey. Her successful return to the Galactica results in mixed emotions. Colonel Tigh must decide what to do about his wife Ellen after she admits to giving the rendezvous coordinates to the Cylons. Hera doesn't make it off the planet.

Ep5 Collaborators
Now safely back in the fleet, those who managed to escape from New Caprica are seeking revenge against those they believe collaborated with the Cylons. Six of them, including Chief Tyrol and Col. Tigh, have formed the Circle and are acting as judge, jury and executioner. Those found guilty are blown out of an airlock. Lee Adama has noted that in the three days since everyone was reunited, 13 people have simply disappeared without a trace. The morale aboard the Galactica is not good with perceived collaborators being shunned by the others. Among those in that situation is Felix Gaeta who, as Gaius Baltar's Chief of Staff, is high on the Circle's list. As for Baltar is now being kept aboard a Cylon Basestar and his captors are deciding his fate as well.

Ep6 Torn
Baltar learns from Caprica Six of their ability to project themselves and imagine different surroundings which leads him to wonder if he too is a Cylon. He has told the Cylons what he knows about the location of Earth and they dispatch a Basestar to investigate. In the end, the survey ship is infected with a virus killing everyone aboard. Aboard the Galactica, Lt. Gaeta has been reviewing Baltar's work in deciphering the map they recovered on Kobol. He too thinks he know what it all means. Of greater concern however is the wedge between those who stayed with the fleet and those who were on the ground fighting the Cylons. Starbuck and Colonel Tigh in particular are quite vocal in complaining about those who stayed behind and it's left to Admiral Adama to lay down the law.

Ep7 A Measure of Salvation
When a group of ill Cylons from the infected Basestar is brought to Galactica, Lee discovers a way to solve the Cylon problem forever - by destroying the whole Cylon race. Meanwhile, D'anna's acts to discover if Baltar is reliable will forge an unusual relationship.

Ep8 Hero
A figure from Adama's past returns to haunt him. His return raises questions about why the Cylons launched their initial attack against the Twelve Colonies.

Ep9 Unfinished Business
A look at the events that took place during the year-long gap from the storyline in the Season Two finale. The story reveals the reasons for the rift between Kara ("Starbuck") and Lee ("Apollo").

Ep10 The Passage
The Colonial fleet makes a harrowing journey. Kat plays a vital role in the success or failure of the passage.

Ep11 The Eye of Jupiter
The crew of Galactica makes a stop at the barren Algae planet.

Ep12 Rapture
The Cylons descend upon the re-supply mission as the Chief races to decipher the markings in the temple believed to hold The Eye of Jupiter, a sacred icon that is believed to contain a map to Earth.

Ep13 Taking a Break from All Your Worries
Baltar plays a game of cat and mouse with Adama and the President, thinking they will kill him once they've gotten out of him what they want to know. Lee deals with his feelings for Kara, while struggling to hang on to his marriage.´

Ep14 The Woman King
When a group of refugees board Galactica with a curable illness, it becomes very
mysterious when they begin to die after taking the injection they do not believe in.

Ep15 A Day in the Life
The Chief and his wife get trapped in an airlock on a routine maintenance job, while the Admiral copes with his wedding anniversary and the memories of his ex-wife.

Ep16 Dirty Hands
When the head of the fuel production plant holds the fleet hostage by providing unsafe fuel, he's arrested for treason, which results in the Chief sent to the ship and held responsible for getting the plant back up and running.

Ep17 Maelstrom
The Admiral is forced to make the decision of whether to ground Kara Thrace when she begins to show signs of an oncoming nervous breakdown.

Ep18 The Son Also Rises
Besides having to deal with the loss of Kara Thrace, the crew of the Galactica is also charged with the security surrounding the trial of Dr. Baltar and his defense attorney, who is replacing one lawyer that has already been killed.

Ep19 Crossroads: Part 1
Baltar goes on trial for his life, and it affects everyone from Lee on up to the president.

Ep20 Crossroads: Part 2
Coincidences creates new alliances aboard Galactica.

Tenham uma boa noite
Frei João

Dark Slayer de Christine Feehan

Mais um dia, mais um livro lido. Ontem finalizei de ler este. História intrincada onde se encontram referências sobre o povo das montanhas Cárpatos, que se encontram percorrendo 1500 km ao longo das fronteiras da República Checa, Eslováquia, Polônia, Romênia e Ucrânia, conhecidas pelos seus minerais e também pelas suas capacidades curativas, e tá claro com um pouco de fantasia a mistura. Personagens incluem vampiros, feiticeiros, além do povo carpato com poderes incorporados. Ao procurar imagens encontrei esta. Contra-capa do livro:

The dark destiny of a hungry woman. The terrifying fate of a cursed man. Now after a century of longing, the instinct for survival has united them. A rumor has persisted in the vampire world of a dark slayer —a woman— who travels with a wolf pack and who destroys any vampire who crosses her path. Mysterious, elusive and seemingly impossible to kill, Ivory Malinov is the one hunter who strikes terror into the hearts of the undead - and her only purpose in life is to destroy her greatest enemy. Until the night she picks up the scent of a man. Her lifemate. He is Razvan. Branded a criminal, detested and feared, he is a dragonseeker, borne of one of the greatest Carpathian lineages, only to be raised as its most despised—and captive—enemy. Fleeing from his lifetime of imprisonment, Razvan now seeks the dawn to end his terrible existence. Instead he has found his deliverance in the Dark Slayer. In spirit, in flesh and blood, in love, and in war, Ivory and Razvan are made for each other. For as long as they dare to live.

Scrapbooking

Swing stepper

Olá minha gente
Como estão? Bem, espero, ou, pelo menos, a caminho disso.
Hoje venho falar da minha mais recente e nova aquisição, e para aquelas que pensam logo em objectos tipicos da minha pessoa, não, não são livros, ou material para as artes. Adquiri recentemente um stepper para ver se volto a minha forma fisica. A tese e as aulas tem dado cabo de mim pois não tenho tempo para nada, isto inclui ir à ginástica, trabalhar o ponto cruz ou mesmo, simplesmente andar a passear.
Por isso decide comprar esta máquineta e já elaborei um plano a seguir, indo primeiro devagar na quantidade de tempo que vou fazendo e aumentando progressivamente, isto sem os elásticos a funcionar. Pelo menos por enquanto pois já vou ter dores suficientes nas pernas quando passar tenho dores nos braços (risos).

Ao pesquisar encontrei algo interessante num site da cidade do Porto, Insonia, que transcrevo abaixo:

O Lateral Swing Stepper associa num só equipamento de desporto os benefícios de dois tipos de exercício físico: um sistema de cardio para ajudar a queimar calorias e um sistema de tonificação particularmente indicado para tonificar:
•os glúteos,
•os oblíquos,
•os músculos a nível das ancas,
•as coxas (parte interna e externa) e
•os abdominais.
Pode facilmente fazer exercício físico com o Lateral Swing Steeper. Pode assim praticar uma actividade física em casa enquanto vê TV ou ouve música. Além disso, este equipamento é suficientemente compacta para ser colocado em qualquer divisão da sua casa.
Os movimentos realizados no Lateral Swing Stepper não se limitam a movimentos para cima e para baixo. Também efectua movimentos para a direita e para a esquerda. E é precisamente este o segredo do Lateral Swing Stepper.
O segredo do Lateral Swing Stepper é o movimento bi-direccional semelhante àquele que fazemos quando andamos em patins contrariamente aos steppers habituais. Os movimentos realizados com este stepper fazem trabalhar variadíssimos músculos.
Características:
•Stepper lateral com duas cordas.
•Funções do computador: Scan, Duração, Calorias, Passos/Minuto.
•Exercícios físicos cardiovasculares e de tonificação.
•Perfeito para trabalhar os glúteos, os oblíquos, os músculos a nível das ancas, as coxas (parte interna e externa) e os abdominais.
•Peso máximo suportado: 112.5 kg.

E um video alusivo ao tema mas este veio do site da amazon

Espero frutos em breve deste novo equipamento :)
jocas e até breve
Frei João

Born of Shadows de Sherrrilyn Kenyon

Este livro, é o mais recente da série de Sherrilyn Kenyon, The League, volume 4. E já foi, passado num futuro distante conta a história do mercenário que vive para proteger as irmãs mas que não sabe quem é realmente. Sinopse:

In the universe where the League is law, most live in fear. We fight back. Welcome to a world where corrupt assassination politics dominate everyone. It’s kill or be killed. For Caillen Dagan, a defiant soldier of fortune, survival isn’t a right, it’s a brutal daily battle. Moving through the Ichidian universe like a wraith, his brushes with the law and death are legendary. But when an act of rare heroism reveals his hidden birthright, he’s forced into a world much more dangerous and cold-hearted than the bloody streets where he was raised- one of obscene wealth and lethal politics. Ferocious and determined, Desideria Denaraii serves as an official bodyguard for her queen. Born of questionable genetics, she will do anything to prove herself worthy of the weapons she carries and the position she’s won by combat. But when she uncovers a ruthless plot to assassinate the queen and overthrow her country’s government, Desideria is caught in the crosshairs. With assassination contracts out on both of them, Caillen and Desideria must learn to fight together or die alone. And if they fail, their governments will fall into the hands of an unimaginable evil.

Passou Por Mim e Sorriu - Deolinda,

no Top+


no Jazz Cafe, Londres


Letra:

Ele passou por mim e sorriu,
e a chuva parou de cair,
... o meu bairro feio tornou-se perfeito,
e o monte de entulho, um jardim.

O charco inquinado voltou a ser lago,
e o peixe ao contrário virou.
Do esgoto empestado saiu perfumado
um rio de nenúfares em flor.

Sou a mariposa bela e airosa,
que pinta o mundo de cor de rosa,
eu sou um delírio do amor.

Sei que a chuva é grossa, que entope a fossa,
que o amor é curto e deixa mossa,
mas quero voar, por favor!

No metro, enlatados, corpos apertados
suspiram ao ver-me entrar.
Sem pressas que há tempo,
dá gosto o momento,
e tudo mais pode esperar.

O puto do cão com seu acordeão,
põe toda a gente a dançar,
e baila o ladrão,
com o polícia p'la mão,
esvoaçam confetis no ar.

Sou a mariposa bela e airosa,
que pinta o mundo de cor de rosa,
eu sou um delírio do amor.

Sei que a chuva é grossa, que entope a fossa,
que o amor é curto e deixa mossa,
mas quero voar, por favor!

Há portas abertas e ruas cobertas
de enfeites de festas sem fim,
e por todo o lado, ouvido e dançado,
o fado é cantado a rir.

E aqueles que vejo, que abraço e que beijo,
falam já meio a sonhar,
se o mundo deu nisto e bastou um sorriso,
o que será se ele me falar.

Sou a mariposa bela e airosa,
que pinta o mundo de cor de rosa,
eu sou um delírio do amor.

Sei que a chuva é grossa, que entope a fossa,
que o amor é curto e deixa mossa,
mas quero voar, por favor!

Sou a mariposa bela e airosa,
que pinta o mundo de cor de rosa,
eu sou um delírio do amor.

Sei que a chuva é grossa, que entope a fossa,
que o amor é curto e deixa mossa,
mas quero voar, por favor!