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.
Thursday, February 11, 2010
12. Wolf Tales IV
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. ;-)
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. ;-)
Sunday, January 31, 2010
11. Twenty Wishes
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.
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
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.
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.
Saturday, January 23, 2010
9. A Natural Father
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.
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
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.
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.
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
7. Stetsons, Spring & Wedding Rings
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.
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.
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