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.
Monday, January 18, 2010
5. Baby Bling
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.
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.
Sunday, January 10, 2010
4. Divine Fantasy
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.
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.
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
First Three!
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.
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.
Monday, January 4, 2010
Happy New Year
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.
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.
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Year End Wrap Up
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.
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.
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Moon Kissed
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.
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.
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