Carol's Book Reviews

Reading List For 2010

2010-12-23T14:58:00.002-05:00

As you may (or may not) know, I pledged to read 52 books in 2010. I seriously underestimated my reading urges - I ended up reading 81, that I kept track of. There's a few e-books that didn't make the list and a few re-reads (other than the first six Black Dagger Brotherhood books) that I forgot to keep track of as well.

Here, in all it's glory, is my list of Books I Read in 2010. I even alphabetized it by author. :-)

1. The Sugar Queen - Sarah Addison Allen
2. The Vampire's Kiss - Vivi Anna
3. Immortal Sins - Amanda Ashley
4. Come Hell or High Water - Michelle Bardsley
5. Over My Dead Body - Michelle Bardsley
6. Wait Till Your Vampire Gets Home - Michelle Bardsley
7. One Winter's Night - Lori Borrill
8. Alaskan Renegade - Kate Bridges
9. All Hallows Blood - Raven Corinn Carluk
10. Elphame's Choice - P.C. Cast
11. Tempest - Jamie DeBree
12. Zombie Moon - Lori Devoti
13. Sexy Beast II - Kate Douglas, Noelle Mack, Kathleen Dante
14. Sexy Beast V – Kate Douglas, Vonna Harper, Crystal Jordan
15. Wolf Tales – Kate Douglas
16. Wolf Tales IV – Kate Douglas
17. Abalone Summer – John Dowd
18. Blood Noir - Laurell K. Hamilton
19. Midnight Moon – Lori Handeland
20. Definitely Dead – Charlaine Harris
21. Dead in the Family – Charlaine Harris
22. Dead and Gone – Charlaine Harris
23. From Dead to Worse - Charlaine Harris
24. Living Dead in Dallas – Charlaine Harris
25. Dead as a Doornail – Charlaine Harris
26. Dead to the World - Charlaine Harris
27. Club Dead - Charlaine Harris
28. Dead until Dark - Charlaine Harris
29. All Together Dead - Charlaine Harris
30. Stetsons, Spring & Wedding Rings - Jillian Hart, Judith Stacy, Stacey Kayne
31. Mail-Order Marriages - Jillian Hart, Carolyn Davidson, Kate Bridges
32. It Must Have Been the Mistletoe – Kate Hoffmann, Rhonda Nelson, Tawny Weber
33. Fariyville - Emma Holly
34. Strange Attractions - Emma Holly
35. Blazing Bedtime Stories Volume IV - Samantha Hunter, Kimberly Raye
36. Make Your Move - Samantha Hunter
37. Divine Fantasy – Melanie Jackson
38. Baby Bling – Elle James
39. Last of the Ravens - Linda Winstead Jones
40. A Sordid Situation – Vivian Kees
41. Master of Fire - Angela Knight
42. The Hunted - Anna Leondard
43. In the Company of Vampires - Katie MacAlister
44. A Man For All Seasons - Heather MacAllister
45. Country Brides - Debbie Macomber
46. Twenty Wishes - Debbie Macomber
47. A Natural Father – Sarah Mayberry
48. The PMS Outlaws - Sharyn McCrumb
49. The Adversary - Lindsay McKenna
50. Reunion - Lindsay McKenna
51. Breaking Dawn - Stephanie Meyers
52. Twilight - Stephanie Meyers
53. Eclipse - Stephanie Meyers
54. New Moon - Stephanie Meyers
55. Montana Creeds: Tyler - Linda Lael Miller
56. The Time Traveller's Wife - Audrey Niffenegger
57. Belong to the Night - Sherrill Quinn, Shelly Laurenston, Cynthia Eden
58. Under Wraps - Joanne Rock
59. The Renegade Hunter - Lynsay Sands
60. Bitten by Cupid - Lynsay Sands, Pamela Palmer, Jaime Rush
61. Hungry For You - Lynsay Sands
62. Born to Bite - Lynsay Sands
63. Free Pass - Elizabeth Scott
64. A Reaper's Tale: the Undecided - Adam Slade
65. Eat Prey Love - Kerrelyn Sparks
66. Forbidden Nights With a Vampire - Kerrelyn Sparks
67. Secret Life of a Vampire - Kerrelyn Sparks
68. The Vampire and the Virgin – Kerryln Sparks
69. Mona Lisa Darkening - Sunny
70. Mona Lisa Craving - Sunny
71. The Mammoth Book of Time Travel Romance - Trisha Telep
72. Lover Avenged - J.R. Ward
73. Lover Revealed - J.R. Ward
74. Lover Mine - J.R. Ward
75. Dark Lover - J.R. Ward
76. Lover Awakened - J.R. Ward
77. Lover Unbound - J.R. Ward
78. Lover Enshrined - J.R. Ward
79. Lover Eternal - J.R. Ward
80. The Accidental Countess - Michelle Willingham
81. Blood Games - Chelsea Quinn Yarbro

59. Elphame’s Choice

2010-10-18T16:14:00.001-04:00

By P.C. Cast

Though most girls believe they are different, Elphame knows she is. Odd. Strange. Unique. No one in Partholon has her abilities—or her connection to their goddess. And she has a destiny she is about to discover….

A restlessness has infused her, leading her to the other side of her country. There, the remnants of the evil war still linger. Will Elphame be able to redeem both her country and her soul mate, a survivor of that war? The choice she makes now may bring disaster—or a future in which she may never again be alone.

58. Make Your Move

2010-10-18T16:13:00.000-04:00

By Samantha Hunter (Harlequin Blaze)

Jodie Patterson’s posh bakery is all about satisfying cravings. Her signature aphrodisiac cookies have been flying off the shelves . . . and giving Jodie some delicious ideas of her own.

Behind his owlish glasses, Jodie’s business partner, Dr. Dan Ellison, is the male equivalent of the Naughty Professor. Jodie is more than ready to indulge her fantasies with this wolf-in-geek’s-clothing as long as they set some ground rules: sex is sex, business is business and nothing will change. Yeah, right! After that first addictive kiss, it’s time to see if they can really satisfy each other’s appetites . . .

57. Mail-Order Marriages

2010-10-18T16:12:00.001-04:00

Harlequin Historical Western

Rocky Mountain Wedding by Jillian Hart
Melody Pennington fled to Montana for a new start as a mail-order bride. Gabe Brooks, handsome older brother to the man she was supposed to marry, helps her settle in. But what Melody doesn’t expect is to fall for the rugged, closed-off lawman who swears he doesn’t believe in love!

Married in Missouri by Carolyn Davidson
Lucas Harrison needs a mother for his sons. He’s not looking for love, but he expects his wife to act like one—in every sense of the word! Elizabeth has always felt tall and awkward, but Lucas towers over her. He’s strong as a bull, gentle as a lamb, and Elizabeth’s heart soon begins to melt . . .

Her Alaskan Groom by Kate Bridges
Newly trained midwife Sophie Grant had hoped marrying respectable John Colburne would be easy as pie. But he’s tough, stubborn and cynical—except in bed with her at night! How can Sophie turn her passionate nighttime lover into a daytime husband who isn’t afraid to show he loves his mail-order bride?

56. The Adversary

2010-10-18T16:11:00.002-04:00

By Lindsay McKenna (Silhouette Nocturne)

Colt Black has one enemy: Yellow Teeth—a Skin Walker who can transform into half coyote, half man. And he wants Colt dead. As a medicine man, Colt believes in dreams. So when he dreams of a mysterious woman who asks him to meet her, he goes. What he doesn’t expect is a magnetic passion that could make him vulnerable to his foe . . .

After prophetic dreams, Shelly Godwin is searching for an emerald sphere. Her visions tell her she needs Colt’s help. Trusting men doesn’t come easily for Shelly. Yet she can’t resist the desire Colt ignites in her. And when danger surrounds them, she must rely on Colt to protect her—and save their future.

55. Blazing Bedtime Stories Volume IV

2010-10-18T16:11:00.001-04:00

By Kimberly Raye & Samantha Hunter

Cupids Bite by Kimberly Raye
When dark falls in Skull Creek, Texas, Lucy Rivers has the most incredible lover in her bed! Between the blindfolds and his bold lips, she’s finding an ecstasy she only dreamed about. Her nighttime Cupid pierces her with his every erotic want . . . and then some! Too bad he’s only there until the sun comes up.

I Wish He Might by Samantha Hunter
Nina Larson has a person genie . . . seductive, sexy Alec! Her every wish is his command . . . and does she ever have some X-rated wishes! Each desire he fulfills propels her into another, even hotter one. But Nina holds the key to Alec’s freedom. Problem is, she’s not sure she can surrender the most fantastic sex of her life!

54. Abalone Summer

2010-10-18T16:10:00.000-04:00

By John Dowd

Ever since twelve-year-old Jim Martin's father was killed by a drunk driver two years earlier, Jim has been hurting. Then he gets a summer job working as crew on a boat in British Columbia's Queen Charlotte Islands, where he learns about boats, the sea and especially himself. When Jim and the boat captain's ten-year-old daughter, Julie, help to capture some men who are poaching abalone, a valuable shellfish, Jim begins to take pride in himself again and let go of his pain.

53. Dead in the Family

2010-10-18T16:09:00.000-04:00

by Charlaine Harris

A Fae War has left the supernatural community of Bon Temps, Louisiana, in chaos -- and waitress Sookie Stackhouse mentally and physically drained. And still, the peace
and quiet she so desperately craves is hard to come by....

Even with the blood of two vampires in her system, Sookie is having trouble healing from the terrible torture she endured at the hands of her great-grandfather's enemies during the brief but deadly Fae War. Worse are the emotional wounds -- especially over the loss of her own personal fairy godmother and the near death of her first love.

Sookie is hurt and she's mad. Just about the only bright spot in her life -- besides the fact that she is, after all, still alive -- is the love she thinks she feels for vampire Eric Northman, who is under scrutiny by the new vampire king because of their relationship.

As the political implications of the shifters' coming-out are beginning to be felt, Sookie's connection to one particular Were draws her into the dangerous debate. And, unknown to her, though the doors to Faery have been closed, there are still some fae on the human side -- and one of them is angry at Sookie. Very, very angry.

52. Dead and Gone

2010-10-18T16:08:00.001-04:00

by Charlaine Harris

For Sookie Stackhouse, the day to day activities of the vampire and were communities in and around Bon Temps, Louisiana, are of vital interest, She's blood-bound to the leader of the vamps, a friend to the local were pack, works for a man who is shifter, and has a brother who is a were-panther...

But for most of the humans in Bon Temps, the vamps are mysterious seductive creatures-and they don't even know about the weres.

Until now. The weres and shifters have finally decided to follow the lead of the undead and reveal their existence to the ordinary world.

At first it seems to go well. Then the mutilated body of a were-panther is found in the parking lot of the bar where Sookie works. The victim is someone she knows, so she feels compelled to discover who-human or otherwise-did the deed.

But what she doesn't realize is that there is a far greater danger than the killer threatening Bon Temps. A race of unhuman beings--older, more powerful and far more secretive than vampires or werewolves-- is preparing for war. And Sookie will find herself an all-too human pawn in their battle...

51. From Dead to Worse

2010-10-18T16:07:00.000-04:00

by Charlaine Harris

After the natural disaster of Hurricane Katrina and the manmade explosion at the vampire summit, everyone--human and otherwise--is stressed, including Louisiana cocktail waitress Sookie Stackhouse, who is trying to cope with the fact that her boyfriend Quinn has gone missing.

It's clear that things are changing--whether the weres and vamps of her corner of Louisiana like it or not. And Sookie--Friend to the Pack and blood-bonded to Eric Northman, leader of the local vampire community--is caught up in the changes.

In the ensuing battles, Sookie faces danger, death, and once more, betrayal by someone she loves. And when the fur has finished flying and the cold blood finished flowing, her world will be forever altered.

50. All Together Dead

2010-10-18T16:04:00.001-04:00

Louisiana cocktail waitress Sookie Stackhouse has her hands full dealing with every sort of undead and paranormal creature imaginable. And after being betrayed by her longtime vampire love, Sookie must not only deal with a new man in her life-the shapeshifter Quinn-but also contend with the long-planned vampire summit.

The summit is a tense situation. The vampire queen of Louisiana is in a precarious position, her power base weakened by hurricane damage to New Orleans. And there are some vamps who would like to finish what nature started. Soon, Sookie must decide what side she'll stand with. And her choice may mean the difference between survival and all-out catastrophe.

49. Definitely Dead

2010-10-18T16:03:00.005-04:00

by Charlaine Harris

Since Louisiana cocktail waitress Sookie Stackhouse has so few living relatives, she hates to lose one-- even her cousin Hadley, undead consort of the vampire Queen of New Orleans. Hadley's left everything she has to Sookie, but claiming that inheritance has a high risk factor. Some people don't want her looking too deeply into Hadley's past, or Hadley's possessions. And they're prepared to do anything in their power to stop her. Whoever it is, they're definitely dangerous--and Sookie's life is definitely on the line...

48. Dead as a Doornail

2010-10-18T16:03:00.003-04:00

by Charlaine Harris

Small-town cocktail waitress Sookie Stackhouse had more than her share of experience with the supernatural--but now it's really hitting close to home. When Sookie sees her brother Jason's eyes start to change, she knows he's about to turn into a werepanther for the first time--a transformation he embraces more readily than most shape-shifters she knows. But her concern becomes cold fear when a sniper sets his deadly sights on the local changeling population, and Jason's new panther brethren suspect he may be the shooter. Now, Sookie has until the next full moon to find out who's behind the attacks--unless the killer decides to find her first...

47. Dead to the World

2010-10-18T16:02:00.000-04:00

by Charlaine Harris

It's not every day that you come across a naked man on the side of the road. That's why cocktail waitress Sookie Stackhouse doesn't just drive on by. Turns out the poor thing hasn't a clue who he is, but Sookie does. It's Eric the vampire--but now he's a kinder, gentler Eric. And a scared Eric, because whoever took his memory now wants his life. Sookie's investigation into who and why leads straight into a dangerous battle among witches, vampires, and werewolves. But a greater danger could be to Sookie's heart--because this version of Eric is very difficult to resist...

46. Club Dead

2010-10-18T16:01:00.000-04:00

by Charlaine Harris

There's only one vampire Sookie Stackhouse is involved with (at least voluntarily) and that's Bill. But recently he's been a little distant--in another state, distant. His sinister and sexy boss Eric has an idea where to find him. Next thing Sookie knows, she is off to Jackson, Mississippi to mingle with the under-underworld at Club Dead. It's a dangerous little haunt where the elitist vampire society can go to chill out and suck down some type 0. But when Sookie finally finds Bill--caught in an act of serious betrayal--she's not sure whether to save him ... or sharpen some stakes.

45. Living Dead In Dallas

2010-10-18T16:00:00.000-04:00

by Charlaine Harris

Cocktail waitress Sookie Stackhouse is on a streak of bad luck. First, her coworker is murdered and no one seems to care. Then she's face-to-face with a beastly creature that gives her a painful and poisonous lashing. Enter the vampires, who graciously suck the poison from her veins (like they didn't enjoy it).

Point is, they saved her life. So when one of the bloodsuckers asks for a favor, she complies. And soon, Sookie's in Dallas using her telepathic skills to search for a missing vampire. She's supposed to interview certain humans involved. There's just one condition: The vampires must promise to behave--and let the humans go unharmed. Easier said than done. All it takes is one delicious blonde and one small mistake for things to turn deadly...

44. Dead Until Dark

2010-10-18T15:59:00.000-04:00

by Charlaine Harris

Sookie Stackhouse is a small-time cocktail waitress in small-town Louisiana. She' s quiet, keeps to herself, and doesn't get out much. Not because she's not pretty. She is. Its just that, well, Sookie has this sort of "disability". She can read minds. And that doesn't make her too dateable. And then along comes Bill. He's tall, dark, handsome -- and Sookie can't hear a word he's thinking. He's exactly the type of guy skids been waiting for all her life....

But Bill has a disability of his own: His a vampire with a bad reputation. He hangs with a seriously creepy crowd, all suspected of--big surprise--murder. And when one of Sookie's coworkers is killed, she fears she's next...

43. Blood Noir

2010-08-15T17:56:00.001-04:00

By Laurell K. Hamilton

Jason Schuyler is a werewolf. He's also one of Anita Blake's best friends, and sometimes her lover. And right now he needs her --not to be a vampire hunter, or a federal marshal, or a necromancer, or even for her rank in the werewolf pack, but because his father's dying. He needs Anita because she's a pretty woman who loves him, who can make him look like an everyday guy, who agrees to go home with him and help him say good-bye to the abusive father he never loved. The fact that Jason is about as much an everyday guy as Anita is a pretty woman is something they figure they can keep under the wraps for a couple of days in a small town. How hard can that be?

Really, by now, Anita Blake should know better.

Marmee Noir, ancient mother of all vampires, picks this weekend to make a move. Somehow, she has cut the connection that binds Anita and Jean-Claude, leaving Jean-Claude unable to sense what is happening. Dangerous even as she sleeps, buried in darkness for a thousand years somewhere beneath the old country of Europe, Marmee Noir reaches out toward power. She has attacked Anita before, but never like this. In Anita she senses what she needs to make her enemies tremble...

42. The Sugar Queen

2010-08-15T17:55:00.000-04:00

By Sarah Addison Allen

Josey Cirinni is sure of three things: winter is her favorite season, she’s a sorry excuse for a Southern belle, and her passion for the man she loves is best kept a secret, even from him. Josey has grudgingly settled into an uneventful life in her mother’s house, but her one consolation is the secret stockpile of sugary treats and paperback romances she keeps in her closet. One morning, she opens her closet for a sweet, but finds Della Lee Baker hiding there instead. Della Lee is a local waitress on the run who is one part nemesis—and two parts fairy godmother. Under Della Lee's guidance, Josey is soon living in a world where the color red has startling powers, and passion is so real it can make eggs fry in their cartons. And that’s just for starters.

41. Wolf Tales

2010-08-15T17:52:00.002-04:00

By Kate Douglas

Yes, I know I said I wasn’t going to comment on the books I’ve read any more, just post the blurb because it creates too much of a back log, but this one really needs to be commented on!

This is the first in the Chanku series and I’m so happy I found it! I already love the series, but now I love it even more ‘cause I know how it all began. This is the best take on the werewolf legend you will ever find, and trust me, I’ve read a lot of werewolf books so I know what I’m talking about.

I love the explanation for why certain people are able to change their form, and I find it really interesting the different ways that not changing can affect the people who don’t know they have the ability. It makes everything fall into place for them when they finally learn what they are. Excellent series! Go HERE to start your own collection!

Oh, and did I mention they're hot enough to melt the fillings out of your teeth? ;-)

Blurb:
When Alexandria's car goes off the road in a terrible blizzard, she has no idea night will bring a powerful rescuer and the start of an ecstatic sexual awakening. The moment Xandi wakes in Stefan's muscular arms, feels the heat of his body pressing against hers, she feels no fear. Instead, she allows herself to be taken by one who is more than a man, whose primal nature is never far from him. As their connection grows, and as Xandi gradually loses her sensual inhibitions, experiencing pleasures she never dreamed possible, she is drawn deeper into Stefan's mysterious world, meeting the alluring beauty, Keisha, as well as the dominant and sometimes ruthlessly commanding Anton, who can have any man or woman he wants…in any way he wishes…

40. All Hallows Blood

2010-08-15T17:51:00.000-04:00

By Raven Corinn Carluk

This book holds a special place on my shelf because not only is it a fantastic read, it’s the first published book of an internet pal of mine. Keila, the main character, is especially well done, and I love all the emotional baggage she has to work through before she’s able to reach her potential. And you’ll definitely need the air conditioner turned on high when you get to the hot, vampire lovin’.

Blurb:
Mourning her mother on Halloween, Keila O'Broin, a psychic warrior and last of her line, isn't prepared for dead teenagers to ask her to avenge them. Compelled by her family creed, Keila combats the vampiric serial killer, despite her atrophied powers.

But defeating one killer is only the start of her adventure. Into her life walks Varick Eitenhauer, centuries old undead master of Portland. The vampire tells her she will now help him defeat his rivals in a battle to control the city, and he will accept no refusals.

Surrounded by her desire and danger, the only way to succeed is to rise from her past like a phoenix from its ashes.

To buy Raven’s book, go HERE and to read more of her work, go HERE.

39. Fairyville

2010-08-15T17:50:00.002-04:00

By Emma Holly

Wish you were here . . . in bed.

That’s the wish that plagues Zoe Clare, a medium who has no trouble communicating with the dead—or with real, live fairies, for that matter! The problem is, she can’t seem to get her feelings across to her landlord-slash-manager, the mysterious Magnus Monroe. He’s Fairyville’s most eligible—and sexiest—bachelor, and Zoe’s tired of watching him celebrate each full moon with just about every woman in town but her. In a place like Fairyville, his erotic antics are almost par for the course, but Zoe suspects the reason for them runs deeper.

Even when Magnus gets her hotter than the desert sun, he holds back from the ultimate intimacy. As a result, the return of Zoe’s high school flame leaves her more than a little vulnerable to her old boyfriend’s charms. How Alex broke her heart is a scandal no one in Fairyville has forgotten. But even if Zoe isn’t ready to forget, she’s ready to forgive. The rules they’re about to break will bring out the jealousy in Magnus—and the astonishing truth.

38. Strange Attractions

2010-08-15T17:50:00.001-04:00

By Emma Holly

Determined not to repeat her mother’s mistakes, high-school dropout and unrepentant heartbreaker Charity Wills will get an education any way she can. So, when she’s offered a chance to attend college for free, she jumps at it. There’s just one little catch . . .

She must travel to the estate of B.G. Grantham, a reclusive physicist who likes to play sex games as exotic as the particles he studies. B.G.’s obsessed with the unattainable, the meaning of life, the mysteries of desire . . . and the thrill of being refused the one thing he craves. Charity is more than tough enough to provide a challenge—especially when Eric Berne, her sexy “keeper” is there to lend a hand.

Behind the locked doors of Grantham’s isolated mansion, the games begin. So does the education of Charity Wills, who’s about to discover that the possibilities for sensual indulgence are beyond anything her wildest dreams ever allowed . . .

37. Free Pass

2010-08-15T17:49:00.002-04:00

By Elizabeth Scott

Six friends. Three couples. One sexy adventure.

These three couples have shared good times with each other as friends. But as they celebrate their seven-year anniversaries, they're planning to share some even better times - with strangers.

Vacationing in Miami, Cherisse and Wesley are up for more than sunbathing, when Wesley spies a naughty lady through his telescope and Cherisse focuses her gaze on the lifeguard. Meanwhile, Melanie passes on the hot men at her health club and chooses a private workout with an out-of-towner. When her husband accidentally walks in on them, it's anything goes. And at their rental in Greece, Debra and Gordon discover a Russian couple making love in a private show just for them. For the restless Americans it's quite a come-on - and an irresistible invitation.

36. The Mammoth Book of Time Travel Romance

2010-08-15T17:49:00.001-04:00

Edited by Trisha Telep

Twenty tales of swashbuckling adventure and passionate romance from some of the most exciting names in romantic fiction, including, Margo Maguire, Autumn Dawn, Sandy Blair, Michelle Maddox, Patti O'Shea, Holly Lisle, Kimberly Raye, and Madeline Baker.

Join the heroines in this delightful anthology as they step backwards--or forwards--in time, transported to the Scottish Highlands of yesteryear, the Wild West, or the distant future. Propelled through time into situations rich with possibility and fraught with danger, these sexy, sassy heroines each seek their dreamed of happy ending.

Will souls separated by time be reunited--or kept apart—forever?

35. The Vampire’s Kiss

2010-08-15T17:48:00.002-04:00

By Vivi Anna
Silhouette Nocturne

Olena Petrovich had seen more than enough death and destruction in her three hundred years. Now the vampiress fought as a CSI agent. But nothing about this crime scene seemed right - including the arrogant outsider from Interpol who challenged her authority. Sexy and cocky, the human was downright irresistible.even to a vampiress who should know better.

Though Cale Braxton was out of his league facing the vampires, lycans and witches of Nouveau Monde, he matched Olena in the one way that mattered - passion. Olena had sworn she'd never love - and lose - again, especially a human with his own demons. She and Cale lived in two different worlds, but after only one kiss, Olena wondered how she could ever spend eternity without him...

34. Zombie Moon

2010-08-15T17:48:00.001-04:00

By Lori Devoti
Silhouette Nocturne

Caleb Locke lived for one thing–killing zombies. And this man–this legend–was exactly what Samantha Wagenr needed. In mist-shrouded alleys, hunted by zombies, haunted by fear, she vowed to find Caleb and convince him to help her. But she hadn’t counted on falling in love….

Caleb kept his own secrets–like the one he couldn’t hide when the moon was full. But his wolf was drawn to Samantha, recognizing her as his mate. With her in his arms, Caleb reveled in passion…and rued his deception. Would she still love the man who fought by her side if she realized that zombies weren’t the only monster? Samantha would have to make a choice–and she only had till the next full moon.

33. The Accidental Countess

2010-08-15T17:47:00.002-04:00

By Michelle Willingham

When Stephen Chesterfield, the Earl of Whitmore, awakes to find a beautiful woman berating him, he knows he is in trouble! He cannot recall the past three months of his life, never mind having a wife! What’s more, someone is trying to silence him before his memory returns….

Emily Chesterfield is trapped in a marriage of convenience with a man who doesn’t remember her. Stephen clearly thinks she is the most unsuitable countess, but she is falling for her enigmatic husband…. Can they find trust and love before it is too late?

32. Mona Lisa Darkening

2010-08-15T17:47:00.001-04:00

By Sunny

On the vernal equinox, when night equals day and the barriers between worlds become gossamer thin, Mona Lisa gathers her people beneath the full moon. Instead of drawing down the replenishing white light of the moon, a terrifying darkness descends upon her and takes her into NetherHell—the cursed realm of the damned. In this place, the evil queen whose essence shares Mona Lisa’s body is strong enough to fight her host for control—and she does.

But in NetherHell, Mona Lisa’s internal struggle is only the beginning. Captured by a Gargoyle warlord who wants her for his own, Mona Lisa is torn from both within and without by desire, love, and ecstasy. And when her first love crosses the boundaries of the world to rescue her, she must choose her own destiny—before others choose it for her…

31. Mona Lisa Craving

2010-08-15T17:46:00.000-04:00

By Sunny

Dante, the warrior son of a healer, was cursed by the high priestess to endure a never-ending cycle of life and death, born and reborn into an ever-diminishing bloodline. Someone shares one of his past lives. Her name was Mona Lyria. Back then, on the moon in another world, she was his victim. Today, she is Mona Lisa. This time, she is his savior. Dante’s wish is to die by her hands to end his cursed existence. But she feels fate has given them both a second chance. For even stronger than her craving for blood is her craving for what every Monère female desires, and needs…to bear life. Now she has found her mate. But with this blessing could come a new curse under the shadow of a new moon.

30. The Renegade Hunter

2010-08-15T17:39:00.002-04:00

By Lynsay Sands

Nicholas Argeneau was once a successful hunter who went after rogue vampires who broke the immortal law. Except no one has mentioned his name in the last fifty years, not since he turned into a rogue himself. But once a hunter, always a hunter. When Nicholas sees a bloodthirsty sucker terrifying a woman, it's second nature for him to come to her rescue. He had no idea he would also want to kiss her senseless . . .

One minute Josephine Willan is taking in a breath of fresh air, and the next sharp fangs are heading straight for her neck! Luckily, a gorgeous stranger saves her life . . . and gets locked up for his troubles. Can a man who kisses so lovingly and passionately really have committed the crime he's accused of? Jo isn't so sure . . . and she's determined to prove that this renegade hunter is worth fighting for.

29. Master of Fire

2010-08-15T17:39:00.001-04:00

By Angela Knight

A beautiful, brilliant chemist, Giada Shepherd is also an immortal witch with magical powers, striving to save the world from itself. Her latest assignment: to save the life of the mortal son of immortal vampire King Arthur.

A handsome forensic chemist, Logan MacRoy investigates drug crimes, arson, and bombings. He’s a proud man – and if he knew that his gorgeous new trainee had been sent to protect him, Logan would not be happy.

As Giada and Logan team up to capture a bomber, sexual tension mounts. But little does Logan know that sex between them would turn him into a vampire. Now, as a killer sets a series of deadlt traps for them, the truth must come out. And a weapon they never counted on could prove essential: love . . .

28. Reunion

2010-08-15T17:37:00.000-04:00

By Lindsay McKenna
Silhouette Nocturne

Eternal passion comes at a price...

He claims it was a brutal test of his Jaguar powers that divided their fates for centuries. All Aella knows is that a familiar joy courses through her body when she arrives on an archeological assignment at the Great Serpent mound. Who is this godlike stranger who comes to her in her dreams? She should be terrified.Instead, Fox’s protective presence awakens in Aella memories of torrid lovemaking--and a yearning she can’t deny. If she believes her visions, Aella is Fox’s lost Incan bride... and he is her soul flame. But Fox is competing with the Dark Lord who is determined to keep them apart, hovering on the brink of temptation, eternally separated from the Light...

27. The Hunted

2010-08-15T17:36:00.000-04:00

By Anna Leonard
Silhouette Nocturne

Beth Havelock always felt the pull of the ocean, tied to her Nantucket home even as she yearned for something new, something exciting. But when a handsome stranger washes up in a storm, she is cautious; her own immediate attraction to him frightens her. She knows nothing about him…except that he is hiding something.

As seal-kin - a shapeshifter - Dylan Meredith was happy with his own kind. But the beautiful Nantucketer drew him from his rocky home to live among humans…and risk discovery for the chance at love.

Neither can deny that the passion growing between them is real. But as Beth wrestles with her feelings - and uncovers her own mysterious origins - danger lurks. Dylan is being hunted, and now Beth is a target, too….

26. Secret Life of a Vampire

2010-08-15T17:35:00.000-04:00

By Kerrelyn Sparks

A typical bachelor party is all about beers and beautiful women. A vampire bachelor party is no different—except the men are drinking Blissky (whiskey-flavored synthetic blood). And no one can throw a party quite like Jack. When you’re the illegitimate son of the legendary Casanova, you know how to have a good time. But when the party gets out of hand and the cops show up, Jack has some explaining to do…if only he wasn’t struck speechless by the beauty of Officer Lara Boucher.

Lara is sure there’s something more than a bachelor party going on. What is Jack hiding? How come no one at the hotel remembers him the next day? Why does he warn her to leave him alone when he’s obviously attracted to her? As a woman, she finds this modern day Casanova hard to resist. As a police officer, she’s determined to uncover his secrets…if she can only get the job done before he seduces her.

25. Blood Games

2010-05-22T22:35:00.000-04:00

By Chelsea Quinn Yarbro

This is the beginning of an epic series, and some day I hope to have the time to read them all.

Saint Germain is a thousand year old vampire, but he takes great care to hide his true nature. This is not just his story, however. This is the story of Nero's Rome, of the people, the senators, the politics, of seduction and betrayal. This is a tale rich in history and politics.

As a foreigner living in Rome, Saint Germain has certain immunitites from the political mechanizations of the time. He owns land and slaves, and makes a fine profit supplying exotic beasts for the Games. The Games play an important part of this time in history.

Despite his best efforts, he is not able to fully escape the plots and intrigues of Nero's court. After being asked to, and agreeing to, seducing a senator's wife, he earns himself a mortal enemy, and a chance of love.

If you love history, or vampires, or even just a well told story, then this is the book for you.

24. The Time Traveller’s Wife

2010-05-22T22:34:00.002-04:00

By Audrey Niffenegger

I’m really glad I didn’t see the movie first, because I probably wouldn’t have picked up the book – and that would have been a shame, because the book was wonderful. I have no idea how anyone could expect such a complicated story to translate well to the big screen.

This is the story of Henry DeTamble, who was born with a genetic mutation that causes him to spontaneously travel through time. He has no control over this, nor can he take anything with him – not money, not identification, not even his clothing.

This is also the story of Clare, who meets him for the first time when she is six, but after Henry is already married to her. For Clare it’s the beginning of a friendship that turns into love, for Henry it’s a chance to watch the woman he loves grow up.

We share the lives of these two, the love and joy, pain and despair, through glimpses through time. The ending was . . . probably the only way it could have ended and I’m not going to spoil it by saying more than that.

I would love to see a sequel to this, perhaps about the time traveller’s daughter.

Pick up a copy of this book. You won’t be sorry.

23. The Vampire and the Virgin

2010-05-22T22:34:00.001-04:00

By Kerrelyn Sparks

I loved this book. Okay, I love a lot of vampire romance books, but I really loved this one, even it’s Barbara Cartland-esque title.

This is the story of FBI psychologist Olivia Sotiris and vampire Robby MacKay, who meet on a secluded Greek island. She’s there hiding out from a stalker, and he’s there on an enforced leave of absence from work. Olivia’s stalker finds her and she’s forced to leave in a hurry.

I don’t know how much more I can safely tell you without spoiling the story, but suffice it to say there’s lots of action, lots of romance, as well as humour and suspense. AND there’s a very logical reason for Olivia still being a virgin when she meets Robby. Definitely a keeper!

22. Bitten By Cupid

2010-03-14T14:05:00.000-04:00

By Lynsay Sands, Pamela Palmer, and Jaime Rush

This was a thoroughly enjoyable trio of stories, all revolving around a Valentine’s Day theme.

Anyone who’s familiar with the Lynsay Sands Argeneau vampires will especially love the story, Vampire Valentine. Marguerite Argeneau is up to her old match-making tricks. This time her victims are Tiny McGraw, human private investigator, and Mirabeau La Roche, vampire private investigator. This was an action packed story that was also lots of fun.

In Hearts Untamed, Pamela Palmer gives us a story of the Feral Warriors. This is the first I’ve read of these immortals, and I really hope it won’t be the last. In this story, Julianna has just learned a terrible secret that could threaten her entire existence. With the return of the love of her life, Zeeland, she must fight with everything she possesses to keep him from learning her secret, which would put his life in jeopardy as well.

In Kiss and Kill Cupid, Jaime Rush gives us the story of Kristy Morgan, a writer who, just minutes before a job interview with sexy Adrian Kruger, learns that she’s the next intended victim of a serial killer that strikes only on Valentine’s Day. The problem is, no one would believe her if she said anything because she found out by listening to the killer’s thoughts. The moment she meets Adrian, sparks fly between them. Now she must figure out if he’s her savior or the killer.

21. Immortal Sins

2010-03-14T14:04:00.000-04:00

By Amanda Ashley

Vampire Jason Rourke was trapped in a painting 300 years ago by a wizard, in retribution for seducing the wizard’s daughter. Karinna Adams sees the painting in a local gallery and her fascination with it leads her to purchase it. Once she has it installed in her home she’s plagued with visions of the handsome man in the painting until one night she makes a wish and sets him free.

It’s not just his 300 year old thirst that draws Rourke to Kari, he’s never met anyone like her before. Her kindness and generosity of spirit make him feel things he didn’t think he was capable of feeling. She helps him adjust to the modern world, then helps him on his quest to free the wizard’s daughter, who was also trapped in a painting.

There’s lost of great action in this book and I really loved the characters. The ending was superb – when the wizard realizes the curse over Rourke was broken he comes after him, but finds Karinna instead. He’s defeated, but not before he traps Kari in a painting. Rourke is willing to sacrifice himself by going back into the painting, as long as he can spend eternity with the woman he loves.

Definitely a keeper!

17. 18. 19. 20. The Twilight Saga

2010-03-06T16:51:00.000-05:00

by Stephanie Meyers

Twilight, New Moon, Eclipse, and Breaking Dawn

I think you'd pretty much have to live under a rock to not have at least heard about the Twilight Saga, so it seems a little pointless to go over the plot lines. I will say there's been a lot of controversy over the books, but isn’t there a saying that any press is good press?

Even though I love vampire romances, I've been avoiding this series. Why? Because I'm not really into the young adult genre when it comes to romance and I've let my opinion be coloured by all those critics out there – “the writing is really bad”, “her vampires sparkle, for crying out loud!”

Well, I’m not afraid to admit that not only did I read them, I enjoyed them. The story captured my attention enough that I didn't waste any time trying to analyze the writing. I blazed through the first two books in one week and the other two I fit into my busy schedule during the work week.

I think one of the things that made this an excellent series is that it allowed me to become emotionally involved in the characters and their story. At the end of the first book I felt sorry for Bella and thought Edward should be staked for what he did to her. At the end of the second book I thought Edward was too good for Bella. By the end of the third book I didn’t think she deserved either Edward or Jacob. And the fourth book neatly wrapped up the loose ends.

As far as the writing goes, I think what people need to bear in mind is that these were written with teenagers in mind, and I think the critics subconsciously enjoy the story but wanted it to be written for adults. And you know what? I don’t think it would have worked as well if it’d been written for adults.

And as far as the “sparkling” goes, the way it’s presented makes perfect sense. Perhaps we could have stood a little more explanation about why it happens, but the fact that it happens is important to the story. So there! :-p

So, while I wouldn’t say Twilight is up there with The Count of Monte Cristo, I’d still put a copy of it on my keeper shelf. As for all you folks up in arms about it, how many books have you had published that not only become best sellers but are made into movies as well?

That’s what I thought.

16. Belong to the Night

2010-03-06T13:24:00.000-05:00

By Shelly Laurenston, Cynthia Eden & Sherrill Quinn

To be honest, I only picked this book up because of Sherrill Quinn’s name on the cover. I’ve read her work before and enjoyed it thoroughly. I have to admit, she keeps very good company! I enjoyed all three stories equally, they were all very different and I'd be hard pressed to chose a favourite.

The Wolf, the Witch, and Her Lack of Wardrobe is an intriguing tale of a coven of witches that co-existed with a town of shape-shifters. The shape-shifters just want to live in peace, the coven just wants to be left alone to do their thing. Trouble starts when the mayor of the town locks horns with the head of the coven and then escalates when the two must join forces when the town's in danger.

In the Dark offers a leopard-shifting FBI agent who's been dealing with the death of her lover, which is made more difficult when she runs into him in a bar and then is forced to accept his help with a case she's working on.

The City of the Dead has a witch who must deal with her committment issues if she wants to enlist the help of her on again, off again lover to help her find her missing brother. It might be easier if she could keep her hands off the sexy detective.

For anyone looking for spine-tingling adventure and hot sex, this book is the perfect answer to the long cold night.

15. Last of the Ravens

2010-02-11T19:46:00.000-05:00

by Linda Winstead Jones

Though there are alot of peopleout there who scorn the category romance, I like them because if you're in the the mood for a certain type of story, a category romance is your best bet. That being said, Silhouette Nocturnes do not read like your typical "formula romance", I find very little formula about them.

This book was no exception. This was not just a story of a man who can shape shift into a flock of 77 ravens, the last of his kind. Nor was this just the story of a woman who can speak to ghosts. This wasn't even just the story of how they met and acknowledged the attraction between them.

The author spins a intricate web of mystery and danger, adventure and romance, hope and betrayal. It's also the story of acceptance and how two people find their way.

14. Sexy Beast V

2010-02-11T17:55:00.000-05:00

Another anthology from Aphrodesia Erotic Romance.

First we have another Chanku tale from Kate Douglas. This is another story of Tala Quinn, taking place a little while after the story in Sexy Beast II. Tala has been working alongside her bonded mates AJ and Mik for a while now, and it's time for a break. They seek refuge in a cabin several of their packmates are already staying at and end up helping a friend in need with a very unique problem.

Vonna Harper gives us a tale of a woman who's kept herself at an emotional distance for most of her life. She meets up with a man who forces her to face down her emotional demons, and in turn she frees him as well.

The last story is an amazing one by Crystal Jordan. This story alone is well worth the price of the book. This futuristic tale begins with the survivor of a space ship crash wandering naked and lost through the snow. She's rescued by a bear shape-shifter and awakens to find she's been thrown 500 years into the future. I loved the world building and the bear shifters and the chemistry between the two main characters.

This anthology has the dubious honour of being one of the first books I've actually downloaded off the internet. I have to admit, this is not my favourite method of reading. I'm old, and the light is hard on my eyes. I'm sure that's why I read it so fast. It had nothing to do with the content. Really! ;-)

13. Sexy Beast II

2010-02-11T17:31:00.000-05:00

by Kate Douglas, Noelle Mack, & Kathleen Dante

I used to think of books like these as mind candy - stories that have no nutrition but are okay as a treat once in awhile. However, this book changed my mind. Yes, it's an erotic romance anthology so it has plenty of sex, but primarily it has really good stories that just happen to have sex in them.

From Kate Douglas we have a story of the Chanku, one that pre-dates Wolf Tales IV. This is the story of Lisa's sister Tala, who's lived a troubled life made worse by the fact she suffers amnesia. It's not until she's discovered by a Chanku couple, Mik and AJ, that she finds her true destiny.

Noelle Mack spins a tale of a hairdresser who goes on a fantastical vacation to France to groom a lion's mane. There she finds the immortal Jean Claude and is caught in his web of fantasy. And no, he's not a shapeshifter.

Kathleen Dante presents a tale of a woman on a quest to find information regarding her parents. She's rescued from a car crash by a hunky sheriff's deputy who helps her discover an astonishing family secret.

Any one of these stories makes this book worth buying.

12. Wolf Tales IV

2010-02-11T16:58:00.000-05:00

by Kate Douglas

This book comes with a warning on the back that reads: WARNING! This is a REALLY HOT book. Believe it! :-)

However, this was more than just a really steamy book. It was a good read as well.

Lisa Quinn is a wolf rescue specialist who has no idea why she has such an affinity with the wolves she cares for. She's dedicated to her work and determined to discover why wolves have been disappearing from the sanctuary she works in.

Tinker McClintock was assigned to track down the sister to one of his packmates. It's not surprising there's instant chemistry between them, but it goes deeper than just sexual. Lisa, like Tinker (and her brother), is Chanku, a desendant of a race of shapeshifters whose powers are triggered by the special nutrients found in plants and grasses only found on the Tibetan steppe they originated from.

I enjoyed the new take on the werewolf legend, and it made a poignant kind of sense for these people to lead disfunctional lives until they discovered their heritage. Lisa is a strong, independent character and meets Tinker on her own terms. Tinker is surrounded by friends and lovers, but is still a lonely soul.

The action and mystery surrounding the disappearance of the wolves was also well done. Even without the romance this would have been a good read. And the sex ain't bad either. ;-)

11. Twenty Wishes

2010-01-31T18:43:00.000-05:00

by Debbie Macomber

The story begins with a group of widows getting together to offer each other support to get through the hardest holiday for them, Valentine's Day. Between sipping champagne and dancing on bubble wrap, they begin to talk about all the things they wished they'd done. Together they decide to each create a list of twenty wishes.

This novel follows the lives of these women and how they make their wishes come true, often in unexpected ways. Some of the wishes are easy, some take a lot of work. And others take them far out of their comfort zone.

You would think with so many stories being told, the novel itself would be choppy. But as these friends interact with each other and work towards fulfilling their wish lists, one scene flows effortlessly into another.

This is a wonderful, slice of life book, filled with heart ache and loneliness, laughter and tears. But most of all it's filled with hope. I think we could all use a list of twenty wishes in our lives.

10. The PMS Outlaws

2010-01-31T17:35:00.001-05:00

by Sharyn McCrumb

I have to admit, this isn't my usual reading fare, it was the title that attracted me. However, it was the writing and the story that kept me reading.

At first glance, it's the story of Elizabeth MacPherson, a woman who needs to come to terms with the disappearance of her husband. She has sunk so far into denial and depression that she checks herself into Cherry Hill Psychiatric Hospital.

But skillfully woven into Elizabeth's story is the story of her cousin Bill, a lawyer, who's been given the responsibility of finding a new home for his law practice; the story of A.P. Hill, Bill's law partner, who's desperately trying to unravel the reasons behind her old college chum's sudden transition from top notch lawyer to fugitive from justice; and the story of the PMS Outlaws, two women bent on exacting an unusual revenge on men with a wandering eye.

This was an excellent book and I highly recommend it.

9. A Natural Father

2010-01-23T21:13:00.000-05:00

by Sarah Mayberry

Lucy Basso is pregnant, single, and trying to expand her produce delivery business. As if that weren't complicated enough, she's attracted to the son of her produce supplier. So naturally, while trying to fight her attraction to him, she ends up with him as her business partner. She keeps him at arms length until he finally convinces her that he's not going to abandon her. They have one steamy night together and then he appears to do just that.

The characters were really interesting. Both Lucy and Dom have abandonment issues - hers because of her father who desserted his family when she was young, and his because of a wife who left him. They seem to work on these issues together until Dom suddenly decides he can't give Lucy what she deserves - without consulting her first.

They spend a miserable few weeks apart, but he's there when Lucy goes into labour, just when she needs him most.

8. Montana Creeds: Tyler

2010-01-23T20:00:00.000-05:00

by Linda Lael Miller

Lily Kenyon has returned home, with her daughter Tess, to take care of her father while he's recouperating from a heart attack. It's a quirk of fate that brings Tyler Creed home at the same time, the boy who broke her heart years ago. It doesn't take them long to realize the connection between them is still sizzling. But before they can be together, they both have to deal with demons from their past, including a waitress from Tyler's past who may, or may not, have had his son; an ex-mother-in-law who's threatening to take Lily's daughter away from her; and a crazy drunk who demolishes Tyler's cabin with a semi.

This was a book passed on to me by a friend, who regularly passes bags of books on to me. I think there's method to her madness - she doesn't have a lot of room to keep them herself and she knows I'm a pack rat. So by passing them on to me she knows where to come if she ever wants to re-read them. :-)

Anyway, the worst part of this book was realizing it was the third of a series. Now I won't be satisfied as until I find the other two!

The main character, Tyler, has a lot of emotional baggage and this is dealt with skillfully and logically. He and his estranged brothers went through hell growing up and he needs to face this before he can move on. Lily, too, has some emotional baggage to deal with before she can let go of the past and realize she's a small town girl at heart.

7. Stetsons, Spring & Wedding Rings

2010-01-19T00:10:00.000-05:00

by Jillian Hart, Judith Stacy, & Stacey Kayne

Rocky Mountain Courtship
A delightful tale of a young cowboy who mistakes a woman looking for a job as a maid for a mail-order bride. He's already in love with her when his real mail-order bride arrives, he just needs to convince her of it. I really enjoyed this story and the character of Clara, the maid. However, some of the phrases used by Joseph, the cowboy, seemed a little . . . juvenile. It was a little jarring in an otherwise great story.

Courting Miss Perfect
Things just seem to go from bad to worse for Brynn O'Keefe. Having suffered a humiliating incident in Virginia, she goes on a book tour with her Aunt, only to have her Aunt fall ill, forcing Brynn to have to continue the book tour on her own. As if that weren't enough, a Pinkerton agent accuses her of being a jewel thief. This was a fast paced, well done story and I loved the character of Brynn. My only complaint was that it wasn't longer.

Courted by the Cowboy
Constance Pauley is rescued from a fire by a handsome stranger who, unbeknownst to her, arranges for her medical care in a distant city. Two years later, her burns healed, she's ready to start a new life as a school teacher. It's by chance she's reunited with her benefactor, but they both have issues to overcome before they can share a life together. I loved the characters of Connie and Kyle. They're both damaged in spirit and yet they still persevere.

6. Alaskan Renegade

2010-01-18T23:54:00.000-05:00

by Kate Bridges

Nurse Victoria Windhaven and medical student Cooper Sullivan are on a mission to bring much needed medical services into the wildness of the Alaskan goldrush. It's only natural that they need a bodyguard, but what isn't natural is that the bodyguard turns out to be Brant McQuaid, a man from Victoria's past.

When Victoria last knew Brant he was a bounty-hunter who was engaged to her older sister. She still felt the betrayal of the child she'd been but is forced to set aside her feelings when Cooper is kidnapped and she and Brant are the only ones who can save him.

Lots of action, lots of history and a strong cast of characters. It was a sneak attack book - one of those books that you're halfway through before you even realize it, it's such a fast read. Another definite keeper.

5. Baby Bling

2010-01-18T23:29:00.000-05:00

by Elle James

Yasabel Sanchez has worked for, and loved, shipping tycoon Jackson Champion for five years. When Jackson's fiance breaks off their engagement, he turns to his ever reliable assistant for comfort. The comfort turns into a night of steamy sex and even though Jackson left right afterwards for two months, he sees no reason to accept Yasabel's resignation. Things are made even more complicated when it's discovered that someone is trying to use Jackson's company to smuggle in supplies for terrorists. Even if he can't see how much he cares for Yasabel, someone else can and she becomes a target as his enemy seeks to hurt him through her. When she's kidnapped the race is on to find her before the madman who has her blows her, and the rest of Houston, up. But Yasabel has an even greater reason to live. She just needs to find the courage to share that reason with Jackson.

This was fast paced and exciting, with just the right amount of steaminess to it. I loved the way Yasabel stood up for herself in a difficult situation and I admired the way Jackson finally faced his fears. Definitely a keeper.

4. Divine Fantasy

2010-01-10T09:59:00.000-05:00

by Melanie Jackson

Joyous Jones, who starts out using her pen name of Audrey Atheneum, can't take another second of the holiday spirit she's surrounded with. She flees from Bavaria to a remote island in Fiji, hoping to reinvent herself.

There she meets Ambrose Bierce, who died in Mexico in 1914. Together they face zombies, gouls, a gollum and an 18 foot crocodile. And that's just for starters. It's enough to make any woman question the wisdom of starting a relationship with this man, let alone a woman who has a malformed heart that can't handle stress.

Though it was not quite what I expected when I started reading, I really enjoyed this book. It's refreshing to read about an immortal who isn't a vampire. Although it is part of an ongoing series, each book in the series can stand alone which, as I've said many times before, is the mark of a well done series.

I loved the main character and how "Audrey" became "Joyous". Though she started out by running away to reinvent herself, all she really needed to do was discover the person she was meant to be.

First Three!

2010-01-06T22:18:00.000-05:00

I'm thinking I might have underestimated my reading speed when I figured I could manange 52 books (one a week) for the reading challenge. We're one day short of the end of the first week and I've already got 3 under my belt.

They're all by the same author, Michele Bardsley, and all three from her Broken Heart series. If you've never read any of her Broken Heart books, then all I can say is: Get thee hence to a bookstore!

In a nutshell, Broken Heart is a small (fictional)town in Oklahoma that's been slowly dying - people moving out, businesses folding. Then in the space of one night everything changed when 11 single parents were killed by a rampaging vampire and turned into the undead.

Each book in the series tells a different story. Although the characters overlap and the location is the same, each story is able to stand on its own. This, to my mind, is just one of the things that makes this series great.

We have everything from vampires to werewolves, dragons to zombies. There's mystery, adventure, romance, and hot steaminess galore. :-)

If you'd like to see the whole list and read some excerpts, go HERE.

1. Wait till Your Vampire Gets Home is the story of paranormal investigator Libby Monroe who follows a trail of bizarre sightings straight to Broken Heart and into the arms of a sexy vampire. She's hit the mother lode of the paranormal, only she's not able to leave to tell anyone about it. Not that there's any rush to, especially once a dying dragon passes her powers to her.

2. Over My Dead Body is the tale of Simone Sweet, a single mother who sought refuge from her dark past in Broken Heart. She runs the town's garage, working nights because she's a vampire. Braddock Hayes was part of Libby's paranormal team and has secrets in his own past. They need to learn to trust each other enough to share their secrets if they're to have a future together.

3. Come Hell or High Water is the story of Phoebe Allen. She's lived in Broken Heart all her life and has gone from waitressing at the Sass Cafe to running the place. Oh, and she's a vampire who makes the mistake of having sex with sexy half demon/half fairy Conner. Why is it a mistake? Because when vampires have sex, it binds them to their partner for 100 years.

Happy New Year

2010-01-04T17:00:00.001-05:00

Happy New Year!

Lost Wanderer came up with a reading challenge. I've pledged to read a minimum of 52 books this year and I decided that what better place to keep track of them all than here?

And in case you follow the link and are wondering where I am . . . I'm the first person who commented on the post. That's my real name and me hiding behind my old camera.

Anyway, stay tuned for my progress, I've already started and will be having the first book post of the new year up soon.

Year End Wrap Up

2009-12-31T11:20:00.000-05:00

Oh, this is not good. I want to start the new year with a clean slate, but I've got a pile of books on my desk that I've read and have yet to review. Yikes!

I need to come up with a word other than "review" for this. I don't feel that I really review books, so much as read them and then share my opinion. Especially when I have a long list of books and I can't go as in depth as I'd like.

I might also point out that these are not the only books I've read since my last entry, these are just the ones I thought to leave out to remind me that I've read them. I'll be going over them in the order in which they're stacked up. I have no clue which I read first.

Comsmic Sex by Karen Kelley
In the summer, my two neices worked in a clearinghouse type book store and this is one of the books I picked up at a discount price. I gotta tell you, I was very pleasantly surprised. It was a fast read, which is not to say it was a short book, just that I couldn't put it down and read it in one sitting. The main character, Kia, was very realistic, which is saying a lot considering she comes from another planet. Kia crash lands on Earth on a mission to find her cousin to take her back home. She's helped on her search by a cop who can't resist a damsel in distress. It was fast paced and witty and yes, steamy too. I'll definitely be on the look out for more of this author's work!

Lucy Blue, Where Are You? by Louise Harwood
Lucy decides to get away from London for New Year's, and decides to go to Scotland to ring in the new year. After a lackluster time, a snow storm hits, cancelling her flight home and she finds herself sharing a car with a handsome stranger. By mutual agreement they decide that what happens on the trip will remain just between them, including their one night stand in a motel along the way. Once they're back in London and have parted ways, Lucy realizes she was more attracted to him than she thought and wonders what might have happened if things had been different. Just as she's ready to put it all behind her, she sees a poster in the train station that says: Lucy Blue, Where Are You? This was a very enjoyable read. I loved the character of Lucy. The story itself was well done, with a really interesting twist at the end that, in itself, makes this book a keeper.

Seducing the Moon by Sherrill Quinn
I'm pretty sure I read this one before NaNo, but the memory of it is still pretty vivid, which speaks volumes about how much I enjoyed it. It's the story of Pelicia Cobb and Declan O'Connell, a couple with a past history of steamy romance and betrayal. Declan left Pelicia broken hearted two years ago, but now he's back to claim her as his own. But first he has to figure out who's trying to kill her, and then he has to find the courage to tell her that now he's a werewolf.

I was hoping to just skip the anthologies I've read, but since there's seven of them I have to give them at least a nod.

Better Naughty Than Nice
A Harlequin Blaze trio of Christmas themed stories by Vicki Lewis Thompson, Jill Shalvis, and Rhonda Nelson. The common thread that connects these stories is the meddling of Santa's brother, Damon Claus, in the lives of three unsuspecting women.

Under the Boardwalk
by Linda Howard, Mariah Stewart, Jillian Hunter, Geralyn Dawson, and Miranda Jarrett. Here we have the story of a sherrif who falls under a witch's spell during a blue moon; a virginal woman returning to the husband she ran away from ten years before; a high-society woman who meets the love of her life in a ship wreck; a pirate out to claim the one treasure he's always regretted leaving behind; and a private investigator and a chef who share a seaside romance.

Out of the Light, Into the Shadows
by Lori Foster, L.L. Foster, and Erin McCarthy. Four tales showing both the light and the dark side of love including: a story of a woman lost in love but afraid she'll lose the love of her life when she realizes she's pregnant; a Russian vampire who must come to terms with the idea that the man she loves didn't betray her years ago; a woman discovers that the man she's been working for and secretly loving, loves her back in his own dark fashion; and a police detective who falls in love with the dark and mysterious prime suspect of a series of grisly murders.

Cowboy Christmas
by Carol Finch, Elizabeth Lane, and Pam Crooks. Another trio of Christmas themed tales from Harlequin, including a woman who convinces the town marshall to come home with her for Christmas and pretend to be her husband; a man released from being imprisoned for a crime he didn't commit to pick up the pieces of the life he left behind; and a society miss who finds more than she'd ever dreamed with one of her former kidnappers.

Real Men Last All Night
by Lora Leigh, Lori Foster, Cheyenne McCray, and Heidi Betts. A man looking out his attic window gets more than an eyeful of his next door neighbor, never dreaming they have a past connection; a woman looking for a summer fling finds what she's looking for right next door; a chance encounter in a park leads to so much more; and a couple are reunited to find their missing daughter and find much more than that.

The Mammoth Book of Vampire Romance 2
edited by Trish Telep. Twenty-five tales of vampires and vampire love. There's something for everyone between these pages - some old twists, some new twists, some unexpected twists. A must have for anyone who enjoys a good vampire story.

Hell With the Ladies
by Julie Kenner, Kathleen O'Reilly, and Dee Davis. As much as I love anthologies, I really love the ones that have a connecting thread. In this volume we have Satan, who's tired of running Hell and is looking to pass the reins to one of three his illegitimate sons. One by one he sets them each a task. It's up to you to decide whether they fail, or succeed.

Moon Kissed

2009-10-08T11:32:00.000-04:00

by Michele Hauf

I'm a little pickier when it comes to buying Silhouette Nocturnes than I was with the Silhouette Shadows series, but this was money well spent.

Belladonna Reynolds' life is turned upsidedown when she's out for her nightly run and suddenly finds herself the target of a group of vampires. She runs straight, literally, into the arms of a werewolf, who saves her but then begins to stalk her as well.

Severo has good reason to hate vampires, and claims he's not stalking her, but trying to protect her, especially from the vampiress who's turned Bella's best friend into a vampire.

Severo believes that Belladonna could be his mate, and it doesn't take him long to convince Bella of this as well. And then one tragic night Bella is bitten by a vampire and turned. Though Severo still loves her, he fears what the wolf in him will do to her the next full moon.

This book was very hard to put down once I started it. I loved the characters of Bella and Severo - Bella went through so much in such a short time, and yet she comes out on top. And Severo's struggle with his past is heart-breaking to watch, yet you can't stop.

My only complaint was that the book had to end.

Hot for the Holidays

2009-10-05T10:39:00.000-04:00

Jove paranormal, anthology

Okay, I confess, I bought this book because of the hot guy on the cover with the candy cane sticking out of his pants. :-)

Let me tell you, the cover lives up to its promise. These stories (all Christmas themed) were hot enough to melt the polar icecaps.

First we had the Vampire's Ball, by Angela Knight. This story is set in her Mageverse, but you don't have to be familiar with it to make sense of the interaction between Kat Danilo (Lancelot du Lac's illegitimate daughter) and Ridge Champion.

Next we have A Little Night Magic, by Allyson James. After a two-year absence from Naomi's life, Jamison Kee returns, bringing secrets and trouble in his wake. Try as she might, Naomi finds him hard to resist, even when it puts their lives in danger.

Then we have Sweet Enchantment, by Anya Bast, a Yuletide tale of the Sidhe court centering around Bella and Ronan, and their fight for survival, freedom, and happiness.

Finally, we have A Christmas Kiss, by Lora Leigh. This tale is set in her "Breed" universe, and again, you don't have to be familiar with it to make sense of the story. Hawke is one of the genetically enhanced Breeds, who believes that Jessica is destined to be his mate. First he has to clear her name, then he has to convince her before he can claim her.

The Count of Monte Cristo

2009-10-03T20:03:00.000-04:00

by Alexandre Dumas

In a bit of a departure for me, this review is part of a blog chain for Absolute Write. “Each participant reviews in detail a book that either they love, or the one that touched them, and made an impression upon them.”

For me that book would have to be The Count of Monte Cristo, by Alexandre Dumas. I read this book in High School and I freely admit that I chose it from the library because of its length (1300+ pages). I was an even faster reader back then so long books were very appealing.

The story centers around the character of Edmond Dantes, a merchant sailor. Life is pretty good for Edmond when the story opens – he’s just come back from a successful voyage and is about to marry his fiancé, the beautiful Mercedes. Unfortunately, Mercedes has another suitor, her cousin Fernand who will stop at nothing to get what he wants. This includes framing Edmond for a crime he didn’t commit. Edmond is sentenced, without trial, to life imprisonment in the island prison of the Chateau d’If.

Edmond’s life changes once again when he’s visited by the priest, Abbe Faria, a fellow inmate who’s trying to escape and tunnels into Edmond’s cell by mistake. Not only does the priest educate Edmond in all manner of subjects, he also confides to him the location of a treasure hoard on the island of Monte Cristo. When the priest dies, Edmond makes his escape, and so begins his plans for revenge.

The subtlety by which Edmond achieves his goals is matched only by the twists and turns of the plot. This is a gripping story, not only of revenge, but of hope, justice, and forgiveness as well. Edmond assumes many identities, not just that of the Count of Monte Cristo, and each one plays an important part in his plans. Yes, he is at last reunited with Mercedes, but not in the way one might think (or hope for).

If you, too, would like to be as enthralled with this book as I was, you can read a copy on-line for free Right Here

There has been an interesting mix of books reviewed for this chain and I’d advise everyone to check them out. My fellow links are:

Lost Wanderer
Forbidden Snowflake
Coryleslie
Razibahmed
DavidZahir
Veinglory
Aimeelaine
Claire Crossdale
And the next person in the chain is Edielin

Eternal Lover

2009-09-28T10:19:00.000-04:00

anthology

Four paranormal romance stories, all very enjoyable.

First we have The Yearning, by Hannah Howell, about a man and woman who are both affected by different aspects of the same curse. The setting is ancient Scotland, and Sophie Hay must find a way to break the curse before it changes Alpin MacCordy into a monster, for both their sakes.

Next is A Hell of a Time, by Jackie Kessler. This was spicy, humourous, full of action - I loved it. All former succubus Jesse wants is a romantic weekend with her boyfriend Paul. Of course that's not what she gets when they go to a cabin in the woods and the woods start trying to kill her.

Then we have City of Demons, by Richelle Mead. This is another story about a succubus and her boyfriend, although Georgina is still a "working" succubus which means she and her boyfriend, Seth, can't have sex. They travel to L.A. when Georgina is called to jury duty for a most unusual trial.

Finally, we have Bitten, by Lynsay Sands. I gather this is one of her early works, before her creation of the Arganeau Vampires. This vampire tale is a little different than her ususal fare, but is still enjoyable nontheless. I think Keeran's fate is sealed the moment he rescuses Emily from a sinking ship, but Emily has her work cut out for her to convince him of it.

I'm always amazed by the sheer variety and quality of paranormal romance out there. This is another book for my keeper collection, I just need to figure out where I'm going to put it. Dare I say I need yet another bookcase?

Dark Passions

2009-09-13T14:06:00.000-04:00

edited by Jeff Gelb and Michael Garrett

The blurb on the back promises "sizzling, suspenseful tales by today's most sinister writers of erotic horror." I found the book to be suspenseful (in places) and more horror than anything else, but there was very little either sizzling or erotic about it.

That's not to say there was nothing sizzling about it, Mood Elevator was very sizzling, and there were a couple of good revenge stories as well. But by and large even the horror fell short in this anthology.

It really surprised me to discover that this is volume XIII in a series called Hot Blood. I would have expected more out of a series with that title.

July/August

2009-09-11T23:55:00.000-04:00

This should completely catch me up on the books I read over the summer. I have got to start getting better at reviewing as I read. :-)

Speaking of reading . . . I was reading a blogging buddy’s blog (HA! Try saying that five times fast) and she mentioned that her goal was to read 101 books in 2010. My first thought was, “That doesn’t sound like a lot,” but then I realized that that’s about 2 a week, which more than I do sometimes, although I can read five or six in a week and then nothing for a couple of weeks. Anyway, it got me thinking that I should keep track to see how many books I read in a month.

Again, these are in no particular order, mainly ‘cause I can’t remember what order I read them in!

Sword & Sorceress, Volumes IX through XIV
edited by Marion Zimmer Bradley

This is a series of anthologies created by Marion Zimmer Bradley to showcase strong women characters in the fantasy genre. For anyone looking for quality swords and sorcery fantasy, I highly recommend this series. That is not to say all these stories are about swords women or sorceress’ for that matter, but they are all good fantasy with strong female characters.

Captivated
by Nora Roberts

This is book one in the Donovan Legacy, originally published in 1992. It’s the story of Nash Kirkland, a screen play writer, and Morgana Donovan, a witch, and the magic they create between them. Morgana has led a somewhat charmed life, especially when compared to Nash’s upbringing. When she falls hard for Nash her only hope is that he can learn to trust his feelings so they can share a life together. This book is utterly “captivating” with just the right mix of passion and magic.

Forbidden FantasiesEllora’s Cave Presents

This is an anthology of eight steamy stories, ranging from Regency England to another planet, with shapeshifters, vampires and secret labs in between. Did I say steamy? This book is downright sizzling! Just the thing to warm you up on a chilly autumn night.

Fast Women
by Jennifer Cruise

I actually read this during the summer and it ended up in a pile waiting for shelf space in my permanent collection. I really loved the main character in this, Nell Dysart. She’s a down on her luck divorcee whose brother-in-law gets her a temporary job working for a private detective named Gabe McKenna. I don’t want to give away too much of the plot because this book has a bit of everything: adventure, mystery, action, and above all, romance. But the best part is watching Nell come into her own.

Lost Garden
by Helen Humphreys

This is not just another book about World War II. This is a though provoking account of the war as seen through the eyes of a woman trying to do her part for the war effort. Gwen Davis travels to the Devonshire countryside where she is to take charge of a group of girls for the Land Army. Their task is to cultivate potatoes on a large country estate, a task made more difficult by the girls’ initial resentment of Gwen. The story of how this unlikely group learn to work together, and how Gwen brings a secret garden back to life, is told in a compelling and lyrical style.

The Night Tourist
by Katherine Marsh

Jack Perdu is a loner who usually has his nose in a book, which leads him to a near fatal accident when he crosses a road while reading. After his recovery, his father sends him to a doctor in New York for an examination. On his way home from this appointment, Jack is side-tracked by a mysterious girl named Euri, who leads him to the underworld of New York in search of his dead mother. I picked this book up because it reminded me of Neil Gaiman’s Neverworld, but the Night Tourist is a unique blend of myth and mystery, adventure and action.

Lords of Desire
anthology

This is an anthology of four steamy historical romances. As you know, I’m not a huge fan of historicals, but these four stories were all very different, very well written, and did I mention steamy? We have the story of a Victorian miss who’s swept back in time to a more decadent era; a house party where a lord and his lady who have been living apart for ten years are forced to share a room; an new bride who thinks she’s going mad because of the way she feels about her husband; and a man and woman who have been at odds with one another for years and are brought together by a game of hide and seek.

June/July Part Two

2009-08-08T19:18:00.000-04:00

Rachel Gibson

No, that’s not the name of the book, that’s the name of the author of a series of books I read. Early in June the daughter gave me one to read, which I posted about HERE and since then has given me a bunch more to read. The three sequels are: I’m In No Mood For Love , Tangled Up In You, and Not Another Bad Date. She also gave me The Trouble With Valentine’s Day and Simply Irresistible.

I have to admit, I really enjoyed the first book, Sex, Lies and On-Line Dating. The second book was pretty good too. The third in the series was okay, but by the fourth one I was skipping through it. The truth is they were starting to sound all the same. My interest perked up again with Simply Irresistible, but the ending didn’t quite do it for me. The change in the protagonist, John was a little too abrupt and it was never really explained what made him change. I think to really appreciate these books you need to read them one at a time, with some other reading in between. I think the real problem was reading too many of them too fast. Even chocolate will make you sick if you eat too much of it. :-)

The Immortal Hunter
by Lynsay Sands

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. I love the vampires Lynsay Sands has created. If I was ever going to be bitten, these are the guys I’d want to bite me. The Argeneau Vampires have their roots in Atlantis where their technological advancements in nano technology left them with nanites in their bloodstream that continually repair any damage done by disease, the environment, or time. The downside to this is that the nanites use up the blood in their host to make these repairs, the worse the damage, the more blood is needed to fix it. Which is why the Atlanteans need to drink blood to survive.

These are, for the most part, a very civilized bunch of vampires. They have their own laws and, of course, their own way of enforcing them. Because the nanites give them such long lives, they’re only allowed to have a child once every hundred years and can only turn one person in their lifetime. The other thing I like about these books is that although they’re a series, you can read them in any order and not be totally lost. You’ll just get the urge to look for the stories of some of the other characters you meet along the way. :-)

Since the invention of the blood bank it’s been forbidden to them to feed “off the hoof” (bite someone for blood) unless it’s an emergency or there’s extenuating circumstances. Of course not everyone adheres to this law and that’s where Decker Argeneau comes in. He hunts down these rogue vampires and turns them over to the council to be dealt with. Along the way he rescues a young woman who just may be his lifemate, if only he can convince her of it.

Faeries Gone Wild
anthology

This anthology was sweet, funny, sexy, and gripping in turns. Four very different stories of four very unique faeries. We have Scarlett, a six foot four inch faery with a compulsion to count things. We have Avalina, a healing faery that’s visiting the mortal realm to save a species of fern and in the process saves a man from himself. Then there’s Sidney Tooth, librarian by day and Tooth Faery by night who’s in danger of losing both her job and the man she loves. And finally we have Tia Mayberry, a faery/human hybrid who finds the truth about her father is a little more than she was counting on.

If you like faeries, or are even looking for something a little different in the paranormal field, I highly recommend this book.

Bloodline
by Maggie Shayne

Maggie Shayne has created another unique twist on the vampire. In her world people can be born with a belladonna antigen in their blood, which allows them to become vampires. This is the story of one of these people. Her name is Lilith and she was stolen from her mother just after her birth by a government agency called the DPI. She was raised on “the Farm” with other children like her, and trained to serve the government’s purpose, but with the help of a dying vampire manages to escape, but at the cost of her memory. She’s aided by a mysterious man from her past named Ethan, who was also once a captive of the government. Meanwhile, Lilith’s mother has never given up hope of finding her baby girl, and has joined a sisterhood that’s dedicated to helping all vampires.

Back to Life
by Linda O. Johnston
Silhouette Nocturne Line

Skye Rydell is more than just your average K9 division police officer. She’s also descended from a long line of Valkyries who, like her, have the power to ease a person’s transition into death or bring them back from the brink. When she chooses to save the life of fellow officer Trevor Owens, she inadvertently shares her power with him, with unexpected results. They do a good job of resisting their attraction to each other, but when they end up working together to find a serial killer, they finally give in to the inevitable. The way Trevor uses his gift is unexpected, as is the identity of a copy-cat killer the pair come up against. A really great read.

June/July Part One

2009-08-04T17:59:00.000-04:00

One measly post in June and then you’d think I didn’t read anything after that. Sadly, such is not the case. I started a book review post at the end of June, blanched at the number of books I had to review, and gave up. Then I read all through July. Now it’s August and the pile of books I’ve read is threatening to topple over onto me . . . and that many books can do some serious damage!

So I’ve decided to take it a few books a time and post in parts. When I get tired of posting, I’ll stop and continue in the next part. Sound fair to you? Meanwhile, I’ve made some half-assed suggestion on my writing blog that I’ll only read after getting so much written. Yeah, we’ll see how well I stick to that suggestion.

These books are in no particular order, just the way they’re stacked up on the desk.

Too Wild by Jamie Sobrato

This book, from the Harlequin Temptation line, was sent to me by my friend Jamie (anyone who sends me books and tea is a friend indeed! :-) ) I have a soft spot for books with writer protagonists, they never disappoint. This one features Jenna Calvert who’s a journalist looking for a place to hide while she re-creates her story about the beauty pageant circuit. Someone’s trying to kill her when she meets Travis Roth, who makes her an offer she finds hard to refuse, especially after someone trashes her apartment and steals her laptop. She makes him a counter-offer that he’d be a fool to pass up, and Travis may be uptight, but he’s no fool. These two show why opposites attract in the very best way. This book is sexy and funny and fast-paced - the scene where they’re caught in the coat closet by Travis’ father is priceless!

Midnight Cravings

This is a collection of Nocturne Bites. For those of you unfamiliar with Nocturne, it’s a paranormal line from Silhouette. At one time Silhouette had a line called Silhouette Shadows which was one of the first lines to foray into the paranormal realms of romance. Then Harlequin bought them out and shut down the line. A couple of years later they tried to revamp it under the name of Harlequin Dreamscapes, but this line was a dismal failure.

The Nocturne series has been around since 2006 and according to the blurb about it from Silhouette: The promise we are fulfilling to the reader with each Nocturne story is that the book they are reading will be a sensual, dark, atmospheric paranormal story with a strong hero and compelling, sympathetic heroine.

The Nocturne Bites are basically short Nocturne stories, and by short I mean not novel length. You can actually go to the Nocturne Bites Website and download them individually as e-files, but I prefer holding the book in my hand.

Midnight Cravings runs a gamut of paranormal including shapeshifters and vampires, hellhounds and soul-suckers, cops and healers. Six dark and sensuous tales of paranormal passion. Have a bite.

The Queen in Winter

I bought this anthology as one of my “four” in 4 for $10, not really expecting much out of it. Boy do I love it when I’m wrong. This is an anthology of four tales of adventure, filled with both enchantment and love.

There’s a story of the elfin princess held by a dark sorcerer, and the human prince who saves her. Both are without hope, for different reasons, but find A Whisper of Spring in the end. Then we have a story of two sisters and the mystic baby they’re trying to protect, and of the nobleman who drops in out of their lives in When Winter Comes. Next is Kiss of the Snow Queen, which is a new take on an old tale. The story of the Snow Queen with its own twist. And finally we have A Gift of Wings, the story of a man who’s been broken and the woman who loves him enough to try and piece him back together. Four very different fantasy tales, each touched by romance and excellent in their own, unique way.

Kick @$$

Yes, that’s exactly how the title appears. Yet another anthology, this time a little more contemporary. First we have a woman with amnesia who’s preparing for her wedding in the Bride Wore a 44. But is she marrying the wrong man? And where’d she get all those guns? Next is the story of a unique vampire slayer who picks herself up a very unwanted side kick in the Incredible Misadventures of Boo. Another fast-paced story, but laced with humour. Next is Angela Knight’s Warfem, a futuristic story of the lengths a mother will go to to keep her child safe. And finally, we have a supermodel spy wannabe, who turns out to be more of a secret agent than she realized in Painkillers. All four stories have strong female characters who do indeed kick @$$.

June (so far)

2009-06-07T14:18:00.000-04:00

HOTTER THAN HELL
edited by Kim Harrison

Yummy. What more needs to be said? ;-)

This book has twelve stories of the paranormal, stories that are both seductive and hot. This is actually the fourth in the Hell series, the first three being Holidays Are From Hell, Dates From Hell, and Weddings From Hell. And yes, I have the others, and yes, they’re all just as good as this one. It’s refreshing to see the paranormal branching out in so many different directions. This book is such a keeper that I ended up with two of them.

A REAL HERO
by Jean Brashear
Harlequin SuperRomance

This was amongst some of the books I’d set aside for the daughter (who’s not into the paranormal) to read and when she gave it back to me I read it again. Technically, this isn’t a read, but a re-read book. I still enjoyed it, just as much as the first time around. Roan O’Hara is a woman on the edge, trying to overcome some really daunting obstacles to make it on her own. In steps Zane MacAllister, a Hollywood heartthrob with a knight in shining armour complex who’s hiding out from the paparazzi . They both have secrets that need to be shared, but Roan still has her own battles that she needs to face alone.

SEX, LIES, and ONLINE DATING
by Rachel Gibson

The daughter gave me this one to read, and if she doesn’t want it back it’ll definitely go onto my keeper shelf. I couldn’t believe she bought this book herself, it has S*E*X in it - that was always her big complaint about the books I read, they have to much sex (for her, at least).

Lucy has been checking out the internet dating scene for research. She writes murder mysteries for a living and is looking to use the men she meets up with as victims for her fictional murders. Enter Quinn, the latest in her series of internet dates she’s arranged to meet at a coffee shop. Only Quinn isn’t what he seems to be either. He’s actually an undercover cop who’s searching for a serial killer. A killer whose MO is strikingly similar to the novel Lucy is penning. This book is face paced and funny, as well as sexy in all the right places.

CROUCHING VAMPIRE, HIDDEN FANG
by Katie MacAllister

This is the sequel to Zen and the Art of Vampires, which I’ve posted about previously. In the first book, Pia Thomason is tired of her hum drum life and signs up for a singles tour of Europe. She gets more than her money’s worth of adventure and romance, and ends up married to a vampire.

This volume continues the where the first one left off. Pia is back home in Seattle and has neither seen nor heard from her vampire husband, Kristoff in nearly two months. This is definitely not a stand alone novel, you’re going to end up as confused as Pia and Kristoff if you haven’t read the first one first. This is still a good read, however, as all Katie MacAllister books are. Pia has body issues and Kristoff has trust issues, and the journey they take together is worth the price of the book. I’ll warn you right now though, it looks like there’ll be another volume because there were a lot of loose ends that didn’t get tied up.

2009-05-28T16:29:00.000-04:00

After the Mammoth book I read two more books quickly, then stopped staying up so late so I haven’t done much reading since, until today. :-)

Star Quality
by Lori Foster, Lucy Monroe, and Dianne Castell

The title is a little deceptive. Instead of Star Quality, it should have had something about the moon in it, because all three stories are set during a full moon. In the small town of Delicious, Ohio, strange things happen during the full moon, but none as strange as what takes place under the light of a rare blue moon. Three enchanting tales of the supernatural, and not a werewolf in sight. It was fast-paced, a little spicy, and refreshingly different. Definitely a keeper!

What A Pirate Desires
by Michelle Beattie

I have to admit I’m a sucker for pirates. I started reading this while going through a pile of books from my undecided pile (undecided as to whether I’d keep them or not) and I kept reading because I liked the two main characters. It centers around a woman whose family was murdered by pirates and her quest for revenge. Along the way she enlists the aid of another pirate and of course the two find themselves attracted to each other. While the book was okay, I’m not a big fan of historicals so now that I’ve finished it, it’s going into the to be donated pile.

the Ratcatcher
by Kate Rothwell - free download from author’s site

I must confess, I already downloaded this book months ago when she first offered it on her site, but I never got around to reading it because, as I said, historicals just aren’t my thing. However, this time I started reading just a little bit and before I knew it I was completely sucked in. This one is about a young woman, gently raised, who's fallen on hard times and the man with no past whom she falls in love with. I read the whole think in one sitting. That should speak volumes about how good it was.

The Mammoth Book of Paranormal Romance

2009-05-19T09:54:00.000-04:00

edited by Trisha Telep

Ghosties and ghoulies and things that go bump in the night. Twenty-four, never before published, short stories of paranormal romance.

Normally, especially in an anthology of this size, there’d be a few stories that stand out and a few that really . . . don’t. That wasn’t the case with this book. Twenty-four stories and not a bad one in the bunch. Pick a favorite? Not possible!

Two things surprised me about this book. First, that I enjoyed it so much despite being familiar with the work of only a paltry four authors. And second, that I didn’t see the same theme repeated over and over. A lot of books claiming to be paranormal seem to think paranormal is limited to vampires and werewolves. Not so with this book. Yes, there was a couple of werewolf stories and a vampire or two, but they were presented in unique ways and as a whole, this book contained an amazing array of paranormal themes.

Go out and buy a copy right now. You won’t be sorry!

The Silver Lining

2009-05-11T10:17:00.000-04:00

No, it's not the name of a book. Although maybe I should write that down somewhere . . .

Last week my lap top got a virus and although I do have a desktop computer, it's been sadly neglected the last couple of years and you really have to want to compute bad to get any satisfaction out of using it.

So I found myself with time on my hands, especially in the evening. And so to fill in the time I, you guessed it, started reading more.

First I finished The Cat Who Came In From the Cold, by Jeffrey Moussaieff Masson. It's listed as a fable, but that doesn't mean it's a mere children's book. It's the story of Billi, an Asian leopard cat, and the internal struggle he goes through as he faces the decision of whether or not to become the first cat to live with humans. Billi travels the countryside in ancient India, talking with other animals who already have been living with humans. This book really makes you stop and think about the way we treat animals, both domestic and otherwise.

Next I read The Mammoth Book of Women's Erotic Fantasies, edited by Sonia Florens. This is a collection of erotic fantasies of real women from all over the world. To be totally honest, after a while I found it to be a bit of a bore. Lots of lesbian fantasies, domination fantasies, and exhibitionist fantasies. After a while they all started sounding the same. I guess that's the problem with fantasies, all fluff and no substance.

After this I needed something with a little more story to it, so I started reading some of the Harlequin's I picked up at the book sale.

First was Navajo Justice by Aimee Thurlo, part of the Sign of the Gray Wolf series in the Harlequin Intrigue line. A hot Navajo operative is given an undercover assignment to protect a romance writer (we should all be so lucky) from a danger she doesn't even realize she's in. I loved the way the characters had to keep reminding themselves that it would be a bad idea for them to get together and I really loved the dog. I think there's more to that dog than meets the eye and I'd like to read more in this series.

Next was from the Temptation line, the Sheriff of Devil's Fork, by Regan Forest. I loved this book. Dana French has a life in Dallas but goes to Devil's Fork to check out the house her Great Aunt Maude left to her when she died. Unfortunately, Maude also left her a hefty tax bill which the sheriff presents her with when she arrives. As if that weren't bad enough, she has six ghosts who are depending on her to keep the house intact, a crooked mayor who wants to tear the house down, and a sizzling attraction to the taciturn sheriff. A really good read!

I'm also about halfway through the Mammoth Book of Paranormal Romance, but that will be a post for another day. ;-)

Bled Dry

2009-04-22T12:11:00.000-04:00

by Erin McCarthy

It became apparent, early on, that the two main characters in this book were minor characters in a previous book, but this did nothing to detract from the overall story. As far as I'm concerned, this is the way a series should be done, the books are connected, but each can stand on its own.

Brittany Baldizzi has a one night stand with a vampire, and weeks later discovers she's pregnant. What follows is her confronting the father and how they work things out despite opposition from her sister (who's a vampire), a kidnapping, and an election for the vampire president.

This is yet another take on vampires (which I always love discovering). These vampires can procreate (obviously), can become addicted to drugs just like humans, and yet still have no reflection as a lot of the current vampires do. Corbin (the vampire who got Brittany pregnant) is a scientist who's searching for a cure for vampirism. Brittany, the daughter of a stripper and a vampire, is a dentist.

I loved the way Brittany is so honest and forthwright, and how Corbin wants to do the right thing but has no clue how to go about it. I will definitely be on the look out for the other books by Erin McCarthy.

April

2009-04-16T14:14:00.000-04:00

Wow. Bless me readers for I have sinned. It's been many weeks since I finished my last book . . .

I'd like to say I haven't been reading much lately because I've been writing crap loads, but that isn't the case either. I don't know what was going on, I just wasn't in the mood to read or write, just in a mood to brood.

However, that was then, this is now. I signed up for a poetry challenge that has given my writing a much needed boost and I've rekindled my desire to read, read, read!

First on my list was Lucky, by Alice Sebold. My daughter despairs of my love of paranormal romance and erotica, and every once in awhile she'll slip me a "normal" book to read. Considering the subject matter of Lucky, it's the memoir of the author's college years where she was raped and how she survived the trauma, I don't know if I can safely say I enjoyed the book. It's certainly powerful, and I found I preferred to be alone, with no distractions, while I was reading it.

Chapters had a whole bunch of trade paperbacks for $4.99 each or 4 for $10.00. Far be it for me to pass up a bargain so I bought about eight of them. So far I've read two.

Roommates, by Whitney Lyles is a contemporary novel of a writer named Elise who relocates from Arizona to California. Life throws her a few curves, but she manages to come out on top, in spite of a series of less than perfect roommates.

If I Have A Wicked Stepmother, Where's My Prince by Melissa Kantor is probably meant for the young adult market, but I really enjoyed it. Lucy is a teenager whose father has just remarried and they've relocated from the West Coast to Long Island. The story follows her trials and tribulations as she adjusts to her new family and her new life.

Today I "just happened" to be near a Chapters where I found the next two volumes in the Mona Lisa series by Sunny, a couple of paranormal anthologies, the newest Lynsay Sands Argeneau Vampire book, and the latest in the Michelle Bardsley Broken Heart series.

Good thing I'm back in a reading mood, the books have been piling up fast!

Feast or Famine

2009-01-25T13:23:00.000-05:00

As you may have noticed on my other blogs, I haven’t been writing much lately, but I have been reading. I’ve been reading crap loads!

Nevermore by Maureen Child. To be honest, I couldn’t remember reading this book, I only know I did because it was on my current reading list on the other blog. It was a Silhouette Nocturne and I had to look it up on the internet to jog my memory. To be fair to the book, I probably read it before Christmas and I’ve read a lot of books since then. However, even after reading the blurb I still only vaguely remember it, which speaks volumes on the impression it made on me.

The Silhouette Nocturnes seem to be feast or famine with me. I’ll buy several in a row and then nothing for a couple of months. December was a “feast” month. I also read Winter Kissed, which is a two in one - A Kiss of Frost by Michele Hauf, and Ice Bound by Vivi Anna. Both excellent stories, although I wasn’t entirely happy with the way A Kiss of Frost ended. I also read Enemy Lover by Bonnie Vanak and Alpha Wolf by Linda O. Johnston. These were both werewolf romances, both very different, and both very enjoyable.

I also read a bunch of Blaze, holiday themed romances but I couldn’t tell you what they were because I’ve already passed them on to a friend. I like the occasional Blaze because they live up to their name. They’re quick and hot.

I also read a great anthology: Dead After Dark. This anthology is a must have for anyone who enjoys paranormal romance. I would buy it for the J.R. Ward story alone. I’m not even going to tell you about this book. Go out and buy it and read for yourself. It was that good.

Next I started the Mona Lisa series by Sunny. I’ve come across a couple of short stories from the series in different anthologies, and they were enough to make me search out the novels. So far I’ve only been able to find two of the three Monere novels, but it was worth the search. I haven’t been so lucky with the third one, but hopefully I can order it from the local bookstore.

For Christmas, the cats gave me a big, fat anthology, The Mammoth Book of Vampire Romance. Twenty-five vampire stories, all in one big volume. What’s not to like? As with most anthologies, some stories were better than others, but it is still a volume worth having for any vampire lover.

Every once in awhile my BFF drops off a bag 'o books for me - ones that she and other various members in her family have read (it's to my benefit they're not book pack rats like me). I read them and either pass them on or put them on my keeper shelf. One book that made my keeper shelf was Soul of a Highlander, by Melissa Mayhue. I love discovering new authors for my keeper pile! This was the second book by this author and I'm going to have to remember to look for the first one. Highlanders and time travel - two of my favorite subjects. And throw in a drop or two of fae blood and we've got a definite winner!

The last, but certainly not least, of my recently read books is Zen and the Art of Vampires, by Katie MacAlister. I have to admit, although I loved the book (as I do all her books) I was disappointed in the ending. She might as well added "to be continued". It was disappointing because this is the first time she's done this in one of her "Dark Ones" novels. She pulled this in her dragon books, which is why I'm not a big fan of the Aisling Grey or Silver Dragon books.

Okay, back to more reading. Or writing. Or maybe a bit of both.

Now That Nano's Done

2008-12-12T01:46:00.000-05:00

As soon as I reached the 50K for Nano I cracked open Brenda Jackson’s Irresistible Forces and read it from start to finish. The premise is that a woman wants to start a family, but without benefit of a sperm bank or a husband. She propositions a like-minded man and they spend a passion-filled week on a tropical island with procreation in mind. Everyone once in awhile I like a mainstream romance and this one was surprisingly hot, if not a little predictable.

Oh, looks like I forgot to mention how I ended up with Irresistible Forces in the first place. Way back in October I was on Gennita Low’s blog and she posted a picture that she invited people to put a caption to. She picked my caption as the winner and as the prize I got to pick a free book. I naturally picked one of hers I didn’t have yet, and when she sent it she included the Brenda Jackson one too. As soon as I read the blurb on the back I wanted to read it, but I forced myself to wait until Nano was done.

Next I read Kerrelyn Sparks’ novel All I Want For Christmas Is A Vampire. Although Sparks isn’t new, I hadn’t got around to reading her vampire novels yet. This one was so good I’m going to be forced to go out and get the rest of the series. A Scottish Vampire, doesn’t get much more nummy than that! I say series, but they’re not a series as in you have to read them in order to figure out what’s going on. This one worked well as a stand alone novel, but I still want to go out and get the rest of them.

Okay, just to reward anyone who happens to stumble across this blog, here’s some free reading for you:

Samhain Publishing is offering a free story every day this month. You can find them HERE

Also, Mari Carr is offering a free story HERE . I really enjoyed this story, especially the way she didn’t drag out the ended the way most authors do when using this particular scenario.

Although Nano's finished, the novel I'm working on isn't, so I'm trying to keep the reading to a minimum. Note the word trying.

Hiatus

2008-11-10T12:45:00.000-05:00

Yeah, I know it's been a while. And it'll be a while yet.

Who's got time to read when they're doing Nano??

See y'all in December.

So Many Books, So Little Time

2008-10-07T16:42:00.000-04:00

I've been reading about a book a day for the last couple of weeks. It would probably be more but I've been writing a lot too.

I finished my Gennita Low books and I enjoyed all of them. If you'd like a taste of the COS Commandos, you can go HERE to check out her first book, Big Bad Wolf, for free. Trust me, it'll make you want to run out and buy her other books.

After finishing with the commandos I read the new Nina Bangs book, Eternal Pleasure, which has a really neat twist on the shape shifter theme. It's book #1 of the Gods of the Night series and I can't wait for #2 to come out.

Next came the new J.R. Ward vampire book, Lover Enshrined, which continues her Black Dagger Brotherhood saga. I put off reading this book as long as possible because I knew once I was finished it would be a long wait for the next one. And of course I may have put off starting it, but once I opened it up I couldn't put it down until it was done.

This put me in the mood for vampires, so next I started re-reading the Argeneau Vampire series by Lynsay Sands. I love these guys. If I ever had the opportunity to be bitten by a vampire, these are the vampires I'd want to bite me. I was on my second to last book in the series when I just "happened" to see in a book store that there was a new one out, which I finished reading last night.

I'm still on a vampire kick so now I'm starting to wade through the Silhouette Nocturnes that I bought at Word on the Street.

The Protector

2008-09-10T12:59:00.000-04:00

by Gennita Low

The ironic thing here is that I've been going to her site faithfully for about a year now, and I've bought several of her books, but I've never read any of them until now. I have a whole shelf full of books I haven't read yet. I have a bad habit of buying books I have every intention of reading, but then I get distracted and they're left to languish on my "To be read" shelves. But that's neither here nor there.

Jen has been posting her first novel on her blog, chapter by chapter. I've been enjoying it so much that I pulled out my copy of The Protector. I tried to read it slowly, really I did. But last night I was up until 3 a.m. and this morning I couldn't tear myself away to have my shower before I finished it.

It was good. It was more than good, it was excellent! Now I'm in the mood for more love and adventure with the covert commandos. Good thing I have a copy the next book in the series.

KISS

2008-09-08T16:28:00.000-04:00

Houston, we have a problem here . . .

I don’t update this blog nearly enough. And why is that (you ask)? It’s because I read too freaking fast. I do not look upon this as a good thing, I see it as a bad thing. Fast reading = going through books like water through a sieve. Slow reading = savouring a book like a fine wine.

When I had my “Recently Read” list up on my other site, it never got updated because by the time I thought to add the book I just finished I’d be several books ahead of that one. Which is why I started this site.

I think my other problem is my lame attempt to try and "review" books. Most reviews are really just personal opinions anyway, so maybe if I stick to the plan of just telling you what I've been reading and my opinion of it I'll post more often.

As the man said: KISS (Keep It Simple Stupid)

The Highlander Series

2008-06-09T18:49:00.000-04:00

by Janet Chapman

What is it about ancient Scotsmen that make them the ultimate alpha male?

These particular Scots have been plucked from their time and sent into ours. Once they adjusted, they thrived in the back woods of Maine, where the story starts.

Charming the Highlander
Begins with the Laird Greylen MacKeage. The Druid Pendaar casts a powerful spell to send Greylen into the future where he was destined to meet his true love, and father a child on her that would become Pendaar's heir. Unfortunately, the spell goes awry and not only Greylen and several of his warriors are sent into the future, but several of their enemies, from the MacBain clan, are transported as well. The best part of this book is that it's only the beginning of the series.

Wedding the Highlander
Tells the story of Michael MacBain, the only surviving MacBain warrior. He, too, finds himself settled in Maine, and kin to his enemy MacKeage through marriage. This story takes place several years later but loses none of it's charm in the mean time.

Loving the Highlander
Tells the story of Morgan MacKeage, continuing the magical theme that runs through the series.

Tempting the Highlander
This is the story of Robbie MacBain, Michael's son. At this point in the series the magic becomes almost as important as the highlanders, and it's Robbie's job to keep the magic alive.

Only With a Highlander
This is the story of Winter MacKeage, Greylen's seventh daughter and Pendaar's heir. The magic is beginning to die, and it's up to Winter, and Pendaar's greatest enemy, Curam, to make sure that doesn't happen.

Secrets of the Highlander
Megan MacKeage has returned home without a husband, but pregnant. There's more to the situation than she's willing to admit, and it appears that the magic isn't done with the MacKeage clan yet.

Katie MacAlister

2008-05-12T21:06:00.000-04:00

I cannot believe that I have yet to dedicate a post to Katie MacAlister!

I started with her Vampire series:

A Girl's Guide to Vampires
Sex and the Single Vampire
Sex, Lies, and Vampires
Even Vampires Get the Blues
Just One Sip
the Last of the Red Hot Vampires

It's not just the hot vampires and steamy sex - okay alot of it is the hot vampires and steamy sex - but they're adventuresome and funny as well. They're so well written that I even hooked one of my co-workers on them, and she didn't think she liked vampire books!

Then I figured that if I enjoyed her vampire books so much I just might enjoy her contemporaries:

Improper English
Men in Kilts
The Corset Diaries
Hard Day's Knight
Blow Me Down

Boy was I right! These books were every bit as funny and well done. One of the things I enjoy the most about her books is the heroines are far from perfect. They're sassy and out-spoken, one's had a stroke, one's overweight . . . They're real people.

I've just finished her dragon series:

You Slay Me
Fire Me UP
Light My Fire
Holy Smokes

I don't know why I put off reading this series so long. I think I enjoyed it even more because it was pretty much one story continued over four books. Or I guess a better description would be several stories about the same characters spread over four books. One of my big complaints about books in general is that they're too short. I guess that's what comes from reading so fast.

Dream Hunter Series

2008-03-02T20:18:00.000-05:00

by Sherrilyn Kenyon

The Dream-Hunter; Upon the Midnight Clear; and Dream Chaser.

The Dream Hunter series is an off shoot of the Dark Hunter series, and you’re going to want to be familiar with the Dark Hunter universe if you want them to make sense. Okay, maybe that’s a little unfair. She does a fine job of explaining things, but there’s so many names thrown at you that I was glad I was familiar with a lot of them. One thing for sure, I never realized how many gods and demi-gods the Greeks had. Every time I turned a page there seemed to be a new god or demon or whatever to cause trouble. Don’t get me wrong, the books were good (as all of Sherrilyn’s books are) but I found after the third one they were getting a little repetitive. Will I read the next one in the series when it's out? You betcha!

Bitten - Stolen

2008-01-14T19:11:00.000-05:00

by Kelley Armstrong

BITTEN
This is the story of Elena, the only known female werewolf in existence. We learn how she became a werewolf and witness her struggle to adjust to her new life.

It's not easy to create a life independent of the Pack, but she tries anyway. Unfortunately, the Pack needs her and she's forced to put her life on hold while she deals with her pack-mates.

Pack business spills over into her personal life and Elena is forced to make a choice.

To be honest, when a friend first insisted I read this book I was a little indifferent. I'm more into the vampires than the werewolves. However, it didn't take me long to get to a point where I couldn't put it down.

STOLEN
This book continues Elena's story. While investigating a report of "proof" of the werewolves existence, Elena meets up with a pair of witches who claim they're part of a group of supernatural beings who are being targeted by a quasi-military group of scientists who are funded by a rich psycho.

Before you know it, Elena herself is kidnapped by the terrorist group and held prisoner. We're introduced not only to witches, but demons, half-demons and vampires.

I enjoyed this one every bit as much as the first one. Can't wait for the next one.

Catching Up

2008-01-13T21:07:00.000-05:00

Yeah, I confess. I've fallen way behind in my posting here.

To be honest, I haven't done a lot of reading over the last few months, but there's more opportunity to do so on my new shift at work so hopefully that will change.

Dracula

2007-09-30T15:07:00.000-04:00

by Bram Stoker

You'd think with all the vampire books I read, I would have read Dracula before this. In a way, I'm glad I hadn't.

Dracula is in no way the romantic figure that the media has made him out to be. He was evil, pure and simple, with not a redeeming quality in sight.

The book was still interesting though. It was written as a series of journal entries by the various characters; a very effective way of handling it. I can easily see why it's considered by many to be a classic.

Lover Unbound

2007-09-30T14:27:00.000-04:00

by J.R. Ward

Wow, this book was so totally worth the wait.

I'm not going into too much detail - you need to read the book for yourself. But I was glad to see the author included a few hints about what's to come. I just hope she writes fast because the suspense just might kill me.

We learn more about the traditions of the Brotherhood, and gain more insight into the Scribe Virgin, who pretty much brought the vampires into existence.

One of the Brothers is chosen to become the Primale; he is to live in the otherworldly realm inhabited by the Scribe Virgin and her Chosen, and propagate the species.

I think my payday treat will be the rest of the series.

The Black Dagger Brotherhood

2007-07-22T20:07:00.000-04:00

by J.R. Ward

There are four books so far in this series, the fifth is due out in September.

Buy them, read them, you won't be disappointed.

The Black Dagger Brotherhood is a band of 6 kick ass vampires (and one human). Their duty is to protect the younger vampires from a group of slayers known as the Lessening Society. They do it efficiently and with style.

It is hot reading, and the sex ain't bad either!

Hot Spell

2007-07-05T14:30:00.000-04:00

Anthology
What can I say about this anthology except it was well named!

The Countess's Pleasure by Emma Holly
This story is historical fantasy, set in Emma Holly's alternate Victorian England where Yama, or demons, are known to exist. A widowed countess pays for a single night with a Yama dancer and certainly gets her money's worth.

The Breed Next Door by Lora Leigh
The hero for this story is a genetically enhanced feline/human hybrid. He is the perfect man - tall, strong, handsome, and he cleans up after himself.

Falling For Anthony by Meljean Brook
This one was set in historic England. In it we have a young woman's misguided attempt to deal with the pain of disillusionment, a guardian angel, and a vampire. I think what surprised me the most was that it had a happy ending.

The Blood Kiss by Shiloh Walker
Normally I'm a big fan of the blood-suckers, but I can't say I cared much for their king in this story. Nor did I like the archaic way he treated the women of his clan, especially his own daughter. The king of the werewolves however . . . HOT!

Once Upon A Kiss

2007-07-05T14:06:00.000-04:00

Anthology
If there's one thing that irks me, it's when stories are recycled for more than one anthology. And once again, Nora Roberts is the culprit.

A World Apart by Nora Roberts
It's not that I didn't enjoy this story the second time around, but it's really going to bug the crap out of me until I figure out where I read it before. It spans two very different dimensions, ours and one of demon infested jungles. And it brings together to very different people: Kadra the Demon Slayer and Harper Doyle, P.I.

Impossible by Jill Gregory
When I started reading this story I was all set to not like it. The evil bad guy kidnaps the princess has never been a favorite with me. But this story turned out to be my favorite in the whole book. The princess isn't a useless ninny and the bad guy isn't so bad after all. The whole thing was very well done.

Sealed With A Kiss by Ruth Ryan Langan
This scenario is another I'm tired of - beautiful untouched daughter is being sent to wed old, but powerful, man as part of a deal her father made. But again, this one was better than I thought it would be. Arianna had an interesting way of dealing with her problem and the results were even more interesting.

Kiss Me, Kate by Marianne Willman
What would you do if you inherited a fully furnished English Manor? Yeah, I'd be on the first plane to England too. If you've ever thought of kissing a frog to see if he'd turn into a handsome prince, this story is for you. It was thoroughly enjoyable.

Once Upon A Star

2007-06-24T17:07:00.000-04:00

Anthology
Yes, I know it appears that I'm on an anthology kick at the moment. What can I say? I love anthologies.

Ever After by Nora Roberts
I know I've read this story somewhere before, but I haven't a clue where. It features a magical star pendant that helps a woman find her destiny. It takes place on the Irish coast, always a magical place for romance.

Catch A Falling Star by Jill Gregory.
I don't normally like the whole "innocent beauty forced in marriage to hulking brute" type storyline. Probably because it's usually the woman who's forced to do all the changing and compromising. This time there was compromising on both sides. The hulking brute had his reasons for being that way and for being over protective of his princess bride.

The Curse of Castle Clough by Ruth Ryan Langan
I really enjoyed this story. Though it's set in modern times, the castle is old and so is the family name. There's even a ghost lurking about to help with the mystery that needs to be solved before time runs out.

Starry, Starry Night by Marianne Willman
This was my other favorite in the book. A ghost story that's not really a ghost story. A shifting in time that can't be anticipated or depended on. And a very satisfactory ending.

My Big Fat Supernatural Wedding

2007-06-24T16:51:00.000-04:00

anthology
Most anthologies have a theme and this one was, of course, weddings.

There are 9 short stories in this volume, which to me is too many to mention individually. It pretty much covers the whole supernatural realm. You've got vampires and werewolves and demons, there's ghosts and curses and wizards, there's even an Elvis impersonator.

If I had to pick a favorite, it would probably be Dead Man's Chest, by Rachel Caine. It features a bewildered bride, a too good to be true bridegroom and a cursed pirate ship. And let's not forget the pirate captain who, if this were ever to be made into a movie, would definitely be played by Johnny Depp.

I shelled out for a hardback version of this book and it was worth every penny.

Wild Thing

2007-06-19T20:54:00.000-04:00

Anthology
The thing I like about anthologies is I get three or four stories for the price of one. And an individual story is quicker to read, which means when I'm riveted by a particular tale, I don't end up awake until 3 a.m. trying to decipher the last couple of pages because my eyes stopped working a hour ago.

Animal Magnetism by Maggie Shayne
This is the story about a vet who can share the thoughts of her patients, and the police officer she teams up with to catch a rapist. In between chasing down clues they find the time to indulge in a few fantasies.

Paradise by Meljean Brook
Here's another thing I like about anthologies. Discovering new authors. This story is about a vampire and his guardian angel and it was a great read! I will definitely be keeping my eye out for more of Meljean's work.

Hunter Kiss by Marjorie M. Liu
At first I thought this was going to be a Buffy knock off - there's only one Hunter, the task is passed down from mother to daughter, etc., etc. - but Hunter is a far cry from Buffy. First of all she hunts demons, and second of all, her companions in the hunt are demons that spend the daylight hours sleeping on her skin. Then they meet up with an ex-priest who makes magic with his flute . . .

Wild Hearts in Atlantis by Alyssa Day
This is another author I'd never read before. This is an Atlantis that I would surely love to visit. The story itself takes place mostly in our world, but a world populated with vampires and shape shifters, and where a warrior of Poseidon must team up with a half-human shape shifter. Definitely another author for my list

Ghost Girl

2007-06-13T20:31:00.000-04:00

by Torey L. Hayden

I read this book pretty much in one setting. Given the subject matter I hesitate to call it "good", but it was certainly compelling.

Torey Hayden is an Educational Psychologist who works with emotionally disturbed children. This is the story of one of the children she worked with, Jadie.

Jadie is an elective mute, which means she has the ability to speak, but chooses not to. In the course of the book, Torey works with Jadie to get her to speak again. But there's more to Jadie's story than just her decision not to speak. Jadie shows signs of abuse and although she confides in Torey, she will not speak to anyone else about it. Torey must convince Jadie to speak out before it's too late for her and her younger sisters.

Catching Up

2007-06-10T18:35:00.000-04:00

As fast as I read I'm probably not going to doing multiple revews very often. This one is really just to get me started.

BITE ME IF YOU CAN - Lynsay Sands
I have yet to come away from a Lynsay Sands vampire book disappointed. Not only are her characters and stories great, I love the way she handles the whole vampire thing. In her world, vampirism is a blood disorder caused by nano technology dating back to Atlantis. Buy the book - you won't be disappointed.

HARD DAY'S KNIGHT - Katie MacAlister
To be honest, I didn't know what to expect when I started this book. I love her vampire books - they're funny and sexy and very hard to put down. But this one has nary a vampire, it's not even historical, as the name might suggest. But it was funny and sexy and very hard to put down. It takes place at a Ren Faire where the heroine falls hard (literally and figuratively) for the knight of her dreams, sort of.

DEAD SEXY - Amanda Ashley
I'm going to tell you a secret. Amanda Ashley is really Madeline Baker's evil twin. Okay, so it's just the name Madeline uses when writing the about the darkside. There's a vampire hunter, a vampire, a werewolf and a choice to be made. Very good reading!

DARK NEED - Lynn Viehl
I did not realize when I first picked up this book that it's part of a series. Normally that wouldn't matter, but in this case it would have helped me figure out what was going on. I understood enough to enjoy the book. This was another take on the vampires, this one being the Darkyn, or Kyn. I didn't like the main character, Lucan, at first, but he redeemed himself in the end.