I'd Rather Be Reading

"Lothaire" Book Tour

2012-01-12T01:04:00.000-06:00

I attended Kresley Cole's Book Tour for "Lothaire" (Book 12 of her Immortals After Dark series) tonight in Austin, Texas. So much fun! I enjoyed meeting up with some of my Twitter friends (some for the first time in person) - @SpazP, @LouisaEdwards, @AnaFarrish, and @CrankyAmy. It was lots of fun talking books with several of the other attendees prior to the start of the book signing.

Pamela (@SpazP), my friend Angela, Kresley Cole, and me

Kresley brought along her editor, Simon & Schuster's Executive Editor, Lauren McKenna, and the cover model for "Lothaire", Paul Marron. Kresley and Paul signed books for a nice sized crowd of fans, old and new. Kresley also answered some questions after the book signing (and pictures) about her writing process (she doesn't write sequentially but by scene), the future of the IAD series (she and her editor were taking suggestions/votes for the next IAD book - I vote for Furie!), and how her crushes make it into her books (Mike Rowe).

Paul Marron, the cover model, is as hot in person (if not hotter) as he is on the "Lothaire" cover. He was really nice and was wearing colored contacts to be in character at the book signing.

I was slightly distracted when Kresley began her Q&A (see above picture), so the first few minutes are missing in this video of the Q&A.

I highly recommend trying to make it to one of the book signings if it's in your area. There are prizes if you know your IAD (t-shirts, book bags, and a Nook were given out at our stop). The tour bus will be making a stop at:

Katy Budget Books in Houston, Texas (January 12),
Garden District Books in New Orleans, Louisiana (January 13), and
Books-A-Million in Tampa, Florida (January 14).

Here is more information regarding the Tour Schedule or visit Kresley Cole's Events page on Facebook for details.

Pamela, Paul Marron, me, and Angela

Tuesday's Most Wanted: August 30, 2011

2011-08-30T11:00:00.000-05:00

I love Tuesday's partly because it's not Monday, but mostly because it's release day for new books. Lots on my "to buy" list, but my most wanted release today Maya Bank's In Bed with a Highlander, the first book of Bank's new McCabe trilogy.

Here's the back cover blurb:

Bestselling author Maya Banks’s beguiling new trilogy features three unforgettable brothers risking everything to save their clan and their legacy—and to surrender their hearts to love.

Ewan McCabe, the eldest, is a warrior determined to vanquish his enemy. Now, with the time ripe for battle, his men are ready and Ewan is poised to take back what is his—until a blue-eyed, raven-haired temptress is thrust upon him. Mairin may be the salvation of Ewan’s clan, but for a man who dreams only of revenge, matters of the heart are strange territory to conquer.

The illegitimate daughter of the king, Mairin possesses prized property that has made her a pawn—and wary of love. Her worst fears are realized when she is rescued from peril only to be forced into marriage by her charismatic and commanding savior, Ewan McCabe. But her attraction to her ruggedly powerful new husband makes her crave his surprisingly tender touch; her body comes alive under his sensual mastery. And as war draws near, Mairin’s strength, spirit, and passion challenge Ewan to conquer his demons—and embrace a love that means more than revenge and land.

An excerpt is available on the author's website.

Release Day - August 30, 2011

2011-08-30T08:50:00.000-05:00

August is going out with a bang - on my wallet. Here's this week's list of books that I have on my want list:

Riptide by Cherry Adair
(Book 2 of Cutter Cay series)

She's swept into treacherous waters

Princess Bria Visconti demands the return of the money her brother rashly invested in Cutter Salvage. Treasure hunter Nick Cutter is too reckless, too arrogant—and far too handsome—for his own good. But he can’t charm his way out of this one. Bria plans to make Nick pay up even if she has to board his boat, don a wet suit, and dive for the treasure herself…

He fights the relentless pull

Nick sees Bria as a beautiful but spoiled princess who’s never done a day’s work in her pampered life. But once they set sail for the dive site, and the legendary fortune in gold the wreck carries, Nick begins to see Bria in a new light. This princess may be out of her depth, but she’s ready to take on the hidden danger and excitement a treasure hunt stirs to the surface. Together they must fight unexpected enemies—and reveal their darkest secrets—before they’re pulled into a rip current of danger.

In Bed with a Highlander by Maya Banks
(Book 1 of McCabe trilogy)

Bestselling author Maya Banks’s beguiling new trilogy features three unforgettable brothers risking everything to save their clan and their legacy—and to surrender their hearts to love.

Ewan McCabe, the eldest, is a warrior determined to vanquish his enemy. Now, with the time ripe for battle, his men are ready and Ewan is poised to take back what is his—until a blue-eyed, raven-haired temptress is thrust upon him. Mairin may be the salvation of Ewan’s clan, but for a man who dreams only of revenge, matters of the heart are strange territory to conquer.

Though the illegitimate daughter of the king, Mairin possesses prized property that has made her a pawn—and wary of love. Her worst fears are realized when she is rescued from peril, only to be forced into marriage by her charismatic and commanding savior, Ewan McCabe. But her attraction to her ruggedly powerful new husband finds her craving his surprisingly tender touch; her body comes alive under his sensual mastery. And as war draws near, Mairin’s strength, spirit, and passion challenge Ewan to conquer his demons—and embrace a love that means more than revenge and land.

Canyons of Night by Jayne Castle
(Book 8 of Harmony series/Book 3 of Looking Glass trilogy)

The island of Rainshadow is home to the mysterious, privately-owned woods known only as the Preserve. Now, after fifteen years away, both Charlotte Enright and her teen crush, Slade Attridge, have returned. But will their psi talents and Slade’s dust bunny companion be enough to keep them from getting drawn into the darkness at the heart of the Preserve?

One Grave at a Time by Jeaniene Frost
(Book 6 of the Night Huntress series)

How do you send a killer to the grave when he’s already dead?

Having narrowly averted an (under)world war, Cat Crawfield wants nothing more than a little downtime with her vampire husband, Bones. Unfortunately, her gift from New Orleans’ voodoo queen just keeps on giving–leading to a personal favor that sends them into battle once again, this time against a villainous spirit. Centuries ago, Heinrich Kramer was a witch hunter. Now, every All Hallows Eve, he takes physical form to torture innocent women before burning them alive. This year, however, a determined Cat and Bones must risk all to send him back to the other side of eternity–forever. But one wrong step and they’ll be digging their own graves.

Snapped by Laura Griffin
(Book 4 of Tracers series)

Sophie Barrett thinks she's lucky to be alive. She may be dead wrong.

On a sweltering summer afternoon, Sophie Barrett walks into a nightmare. A sniper has opened fire on a college campus. When the carnage is over, three people—plus the shooter—are dead, and dozens more injured. Sophie escapes virtually unscathed. Yet as details emerge from the investigation, she becomes convinced that this wasn’t the random, senseless act it appeared. No one wants to believe her—not the cops, not her colleagues at the Delphi Center crime lab, and definitely not Jonah Macon, the homicide detective who’s already saved her life once.

Jonah has all kinds of reasons for hoping Sophie is mistaken. Involving himself with a key witness could derail an already messy investigation, not to mention jeopardize his career. But Sophie is as determined and fearless as she is sexy. If he can’t resist her, he can at least swear to protect her. Because if Sophie is right, she’s made herself the target of a killer without a conscience. And the real terror is only just beginning. . . .

Viscount Breckenridge to the Rescue by Stephanie Laurens
(Book 1 of Cynster Sisters trilogy)

Three heros, three rescues, three weddings.

You are cordially invited to the wedding of Miss Heather Cynster

...but not before she encounters kidnappers, danger, and a daring rescue at the hands of Viscount Breckenridge.

Determined to hunt down her very own hero, one who will sweep her off her feet and into wedded bliss, and despairing of finding him in London's staid ballrooms, Heather Cynster steps out of her safe world and boldly attends a racy soiree.

But her promising hunt is ruined by the supremely interfering Viscount Breckenridge, who whisks her out of scandal-and straight into danger when a mysterious enemy seizes her, bundles her into a coach, and conveys her out of London.

Now it's up to the notorious Breckenridge to prove himself the hero she's been searching for all along

Supernatural an anthology featuring G.A. Aiken, Larissa Ione, Alexandra Ivy, and Jacquelyn Frank

"Dragon on Top" by G.A. Aiken: Escorting the highborn Bram through deadly Sand Dragon territory will try Ghleanna's patience…and her resolve. For Bram is determined to enhance the journey with a seduction no female could resist...

"Vampire Fight Club" by Larissa Ione: When a wave of violence forces shape shifter Vladlena to go undercover, her first stop is a haven of vice - with a dangerously sexy vamp in charge. Both Vladlena and Nathan are hiding something, but they can't conceal the lust that simmers between them...

"Darkness Eternal" by Alexandra Ivy: After being held captive by one vampire for four centuries, Kata had no intention of taking another one to the underworld with her. Yet even in the pits of hell, there's no ignoring the intoxicating desire awakened by his touch...

"Kane" by Jacquelyn Frank: Kane knows Corrine was meant to be his...just as he knows that truly possessing the lovely human is forbidden. But on the night of the Samhain moon, the beast in every demon in stronger than reason, and Kane's hunger is more powerful than any punishment...

What are you looking forward to this week?

Tuesday's Most Wanted: August 2, 2011

2011-08-02T13:00:00.000-05:00

I love Tuesday's partly because it's not Monday, but mostly because it's release day for new books. Today's most wanted release is Thea Harrison's Storm's Heart, book two of Harrison's The Elder Races series.

Here's the back cover blurb:

He’s a wyr warrior, a god of storms. She’s the heir to the Dark Fae throne. But desire will bring both to their knees in this all-new Novel of the Elder Races.

During the rule of her murderous Dark Fae uncle, Thistle “Tricks” Periwinkle found sanctuary among the wyr in New York. Her ethereal beauty and sparkling personality won the hearts of the public, but after her uncle’s death, there are those who don’t want to see her ascend to the throne…

Able to wield thunder and lightning, wyr sentinel Tiago Black Eagle has ruled the skies for centuries. His massive build and thunderous power make him one of the wyr’s best weapons. And he’s sent to protect Tricks when she’s almost assassinated in Chicago.

Soon, both Tiago and Tricks will fall prey to the stormy hunger that engulfs them—a passion that will shake the very foundation of all the worlds…

An excerpt is available on the author's website.

Release Day - August 2, 2011

2011-08-02T08:00:00.021-05:00

Looks like August is going to be an expensive month for me. Here's this week's list of books that I have on my want list:

Blood Hunt by Shannon K. Butcher
(Book 5 of Sentinel Wars series)

They are the Sentinels. Three races, ancient guardians of mankind, each possessing unique abilities to protect humanity against their eternal foes: the Synestryn. Now, for one Sentinel, the only way to reclaim her forgotten past is to follow the blood.

Hope appeared out of nowhere, naked and alone, a woman without past. The only thing she knows is that she is imbued with a strange power. It's in her blood. And two men want to possess it.

One is Logan, a Sanguinar demon-fighter who needs Hope's essence to survive. As a vampire he's well-equipped to find her a like-blooded mate whose progeny could sustain his race for generations. The other is Krag, a Synestryn lord whose desire is to enslave Hope, and drain her of the lifeforce. With it he could control humanity forever.

When Hope and Logan both fall prey to Krag, a powerful desire grows between them. But is it enough to thwart their captor's diabolical plan and his demon warriors, and survive a vampire's destiny written in blood?

Heart Search by Robin D. Owens
(Book 10 of Celta series)

Laev T'Hawthorn -- one of the highest nobles in the land -- must rebuild his life after a devastating mistake. He married a woman he believed was his HeartMate, only to learn she was a greedy social climber. She callously used him, stealing his family heirlooms. He is determined to reclaim all that he has lost -- beginning with his self-respect.

Abandoned at fifteen, Camellia Darjeeling values her independence above all. She's fought to establish her own businesses -- elegant tearooms -- only to have her father and uncle re-enter her life. They emotionally scourge her and extort money. Trusting men, even her HeartMate, is too risky.

When Laev and Camellia meet, they refuse to acknowledge that they are true HeartMates. After her shady relatives are implicated in the theft of Laev's property, Camellia and Laev's lives become ever more entangled bringing each to the brink of despair and passion...and a destiny they can no longer avoid.

Midnight Sins by Lora Leigh
(Book 1 of Heroes and Heartbreakers)

Midnight Sins begins the trilogy of three friends caught in a vicious circle of blood and distrust. Micah Decker has been tormented by the night he and his friends were forced to watch Jaimma Flannigan die. Helpless, horrified, the nightmares still haunt him. As does the knowledge that the one woman he wants above all others fears him now.

Kyra Flannigan lost her sister in the brutal murders that haunted their hometown more than a decade before. And there are those who still believe Micah, Logan, and Crowe, committed those murders. There are many who believe Wayne Sorbenson was innocent. Kyra’s parents are two of those people. Kyra has always wanted Micah. Even at a time when he had been slipping around to see her sister and she was covering for them, he’s haunted first her girlish dreams, then her adult fantasies. She can’t accept that he killed Jaimma. She can’t forget that her parents were destroyed by her sisters death, or that Wayne, the man they accused of killing her, was a close friend of her father’s.

That won’t stop Micah from going after the woman that haunts his lusts, as well as his dreams of a future. Now a local rancher, he’s fought, worked until his hands were bloody and is quickly on the road to building a legacy for the children he doesn’t yet have. He wants Kyra to be the mother of those children, the wife he’s dreamed of having. Flame haired and wild as the wind, she’s possibly untamable, most likely unattainable, but he’s going to fight like hell to seduce the little hellion into his bed. He couldn’t have imagined the hell that would open up once he does so. Or the past that will return with a vengeance when women begin dying again. Women that Micah, Logan and Crowe have a connection to. Suspicion, fear and loyalty will tear at Kyra, until she makes the choice that endangers her life and the soul of the man she loves.

Retribution by Sherrilyn Kenyon
(part of the Dark-Hunters series)

Harm no human…

A hired gunslinger, William Jessup Brady lived his life with one foot in the grave. He believed that every life had a price. Until the day when he finally found a reason to live. In one single act of brutal betrayal, he lost everything, including his life. Brought back by a Greek goddess to be one of her Dark-Hunters, he gave his immortal soul for vengeance and swore he’d spend eternity protecting the humans he’d once considered prey.

Orphaned as a toddler, Abigail Yager was taken in by a family of vampires and raised on one belief- Dark-Hunters are the evil who prey on both their people and mankind, and they must all be destroyed. While protecting her adoptive race, she has spent her life eliminating the Dark-Hunters and training for the day when she meets the man who killed her family: Jess Brady.

A gun in the hand is worth two in the holster…

Jess has been charged with finding and terminating the creature who’s assassinating Dark-Hunters. The last thing he expects to find is a human face behind the killings, but when that face bears a striking resemblance to the one who murdered him centuries ago, he knows something evil is going on. He also knows he’s not the one who killed her parents. But Abigail refuses to believe the truth and is determined to see him dead once and for all.

Brought together by an angry god and chased by ancient enemies out to kill them both, they must find a way to overcome their mutual hatred or watch as one of the darkest of powers rises and kills both the races they’ve sworn to protect.

Storm's Heart by Thea Harrison
(Book 2 of The Elder Races series)

He’s a wyr warrior, a god of storms. She’s the heir to the Dark Fae throne. But desire will bring both to their knees in this all-new Novel of the Elder Races.

During the rule of her murderous Dark Fae uncle, Thistle “Tricks” Periwinkle found sanctuary among the wyr in New York. Her ethereal beauty and sparkling personality won the hearts of the public, but after her uncle’s death, there are those who don’t want to see her ascend to the throne…

Able to wield thunder and lightning, wyr sentinel Tiago Black Eagle has ruled the skies for centuries. His massive build and thunderous power make him one of the wyr’s best weapons. And he’s sent to protect Tricks when she’s almost assassinated in Chicago.

Soon, both Tiago and Tricks will fall prey to the stormy hunger that engulfs them—a passion that will shake the very foundation of all the worlds…

What are you looking forward to this week?

Tuesday's Most Wanted: July 26, 2011

2011-07-26T09:00:00.003-05:00

I love Tuesday's partly because it's not Monday, but mostly because it's release day for new books. Today's most wanted release is Nancy Gideon's Bound by Moonlight, book four of Gideon's Moonlight series.

Here's the blurb:

Detective Charlotte Caissie is suddenly sharing drawer space and making media news with her shape-shifter lover Max Savoie. Knowing the reformed mobster is determined to be accepted by her peers, how can she ask him to return to his criminal roots to help her solve a complex case

Going undercover to find the vicious serial killer who kidnapped a colleague’s daughter, Cee Cee is caught between the partner whose integrity she relies on and her fiercely possessive lover. In calling on Max to use his preternatural talents to aide a hated enemy, she crosses a line that strains their relationship to its limits.

With his secret spreading beyond those he can trust, Max is forced to make dangerous alliances to protect his family and his clan. The only certainty he has is his love for his human mate, until the loyalties that define them threaten to divide them forever.

An excerpt is available on the author's website.

Tuesday's Most Wanted: July 12, 2011

2011-07-12T08:57:00.005-05:00

I love Tuesday's partly because it's not Monday, but mostly because it's release day for new books. Today's most wanted release is Emma Holly's Hidden Talents.

Here's the blurb:

Werewolf cop Adam Santini is sworn to protect and serve all the supes in Resurrection, NY—including unsuspecting human Talents who wander in from Outside.

Telekinetic Ari is hot on the trail of a mysterious crime boss who wants to exploit her gift for his own evil ends, a mission that puts her on a collision course with the hottest cop in the RPD. Adam wants Blackwater too, but mostly he wants Ari. She seems to be the mate he’s been yearning for all his life, though getting a former street kid into bed with the Law could be his toughest case to date.

An excerpt is available on the author's website.

Review: "Tempting the Enemy" by Dee Tenorio

2011-06-15T07:00:00.002-05:00

I recently received an advance reader's copy (ARC) of Dee Tenorio's Deceiving the Protector, Book 2 of Tenorio's Resurrection series. I really enjoyed the series' first book, Tempting the Enemy, so I decided to do a quick re-read before diving into Deceiving the Protector.

Here's the blurb for Tempting the Enemy from the author's website:

Detective Pale Rysen, an Alpha, is determined to secretly rebuild the Wolf packs from the ashes of genocide. When a killer starts picking off young females looking for sanctuary, it's his job to protect them. Forced to work with a hated enemy, he fears his cover will be blown.

Jade-Scarlet's membership in the powerful Order of the Sibile has always been controversial. A half-wolf, Jade's unstable psychic powers are a disappointment to her mercenary handlers. So when the Oracle commands her to work with Pale, Jade must prove herself...even if it means challenging the enigmatic shifter.

Yet Pale triggers more than her curiosity. He sends her into Heat, and the intense sexual attraction could mean losing control of her gifts—something she can't allow. As the number of victims rises, so does the danger. A murderous darkness wants them both dead. But even if they stop the killer, how long can they fight each other?

Tempting the Enemy was just as enjoyable the second go around. It was an interesting world with very likeable characters. I loved how Tenorio wrote Pale; he's a true alpha hero - honorable, possessive, but patient and tender with his potential mate. The heroine isn't a push over either. Jade is a beautiful match for an alpha; she can protect herself but knows when she needs help or should heed advice. I love this scene in which Jade allows Pale to show his possessiveness yet lets him know that its because she allows it.

She was safe. Safe and exactly where she needed to be. That is, until Rysen reached down and swept her up into his hold. Cradled in his arms, she opened her mouth to protest, but the hard command in his eyes kept her silent. Something...Wolf was going on and he needed her not to fight it...If she was right and Rysen was the Alpha of this particular group, undermining his authority would be about as healthy for her as slashing her own wrists.

Besides, his arms around her felt good.

Still. "You know I'm allowing this, right?"

His mild grunt was matched with a slight squeeze around her thighs. "If you say so."

So he knew he was being pandered to. She shrugged and slid her arms around his neck, breathing him in and letting him have his way. She pulled a touch of moonlight, just enough to make her point, and let her palm heat against his neck as they passed the two other men. Not to sizzle, just to tease. She smiled into his shoulder when she felt his breath hitch. She brought her lips to Rysen's ear. "Just so you don't forget."

The whodunit was also a nice backdrop for the growth of Pale and Jade's relationship. Definitely a nice twist. I highly recommend trying out Dee Tenorio's work. Rating: 5/5

Feeding the Habit: "Inside" by Brenda Novak

2011-05-10T15:15:00.003-05:00

I'd rather be reading Inside by Brenda Novak then sitting here at work waiting for something to do (especially since they started blocking websites at work). Inside is scheduled to release June 21, 2011, but I got an advance copy from NetGalley.

I had a chance to read a few chapters this past weekend, and so far the story is really pulling me in. This looks to be a compelling contemporary suspense novel. Just a heads up though - it was a bit confusing at the beginning of the story because Virgil is using an alias when he's first introduced. So, from page one I was trying to figure out if the blurb had the wrong name or if the character I thought was to be Virgil was actually someone else. It becomes clearer as the heroine discovers more about Virgil and the situation, but it did have me puzzled with the storyline for a moment.

Here's the back cover blurb for Inside:

Virgil Skinner served fourteen years for a murder he didn't commit. He's finally been exonerated, but he can't escape the gang he joined in order to survive. They'll do anything to keep him from telling what he knows. And if they can't get to Virgil they'll go after his sister and her kids.

The California Department of Corrections needs someone to infiltrate another gang, one that's taking control of the state's most notorious supermax. Virgil's the perfect candidate - and he'll do it in exchange for his sister's protection.

Assistant deputy warden Peyton Adams is opposed to having Virgil in her prison. How will she protect him if things go bad? Besides, she's attracted to him; she might even be falling in love with him. That makes her all the more desperate to keep him safe - and it gives him someone else to lose.

Review: Steam & Sorcery by Cindy Spencer Pape

2011-04-10T20:39:00.002-05:00

Book 1 of Cindy Spencer Pape's Gaslight Chronicles, "Steam and Sorcery" is a sweet romantic, steampunk read that takes a while to build up steam. (yeah - I went there. I couldn't resist.) I almost gave up on this after the first quarter of the book but forced myself to forge ahead. I think all the background story built up too slowly. Practically the first quarter of the book passed before the hero and heroine even appear together for more than a paragraph. I would have enjoyed this book more if the first half of the book could have been condensed into a few chapters. A few scenes were jarring to me as a historical romance reader even though the author provides an explanation. An example: the heroine, in her role as governess, is invited to dine at a dinner party - hosted by the hero's boss, a duke. The author provides an explanation, but it just didn't seemed historically accurate to the time period steampunk is set in. I understand she's not exactly of the same class as the downstairs servants, but she's not even a distant relationship or presented as such before the invite.

The children/orphans the hero takes in were interesting and definitely stole the show. I'd especially be interested in reading Wink's story. This e-book is available now from Carina Press. Below is the back cover blurb:

Sir Merrick Hadrian hunts monsters, both human and supernatural. A Knight of the Order of the Round Table, his use of magick and the technologies of steam power have made him both respected and feared. But his considerable skills are useless in the face of his greatest challenge, guardianship of five unusual children. At a loss, Merrick enlists the aid of a governess.

Miss Caroline Bristol is reluctant to work for a bachelor but she needs a position, and these former street children touch her heart. While she tends to break any mechanical device she touches, it never occurs to her that she might be something more than human. All she knows is that Merrick is the most dangerously attractive man she's ever met—and out of reach for a mere governess.

When conspiracy threatens to blur the distinction between humans and monsters, Caroline and Merrick must join forces, and the fate of humanity hinges upon their combined skills of steam and sorcery...

Rating: 2.5/5

ARC courtesy of NetGalley

Review: "Eternal Rider" by Larissa Ione

2011-03-25T12:12:00.002-05:00

Book one of Larissa Ione's new Lords of Deliverance series, Eternal Rider is a little slow in places with all the world building and numerous cast of characters. However, when the action starts you can't read fast enough in your need to discover what happens.

From the back cover blurb:

His name is Ares, and the fate of mankind tests on his powerful shoulders. If he falls to the forces of evil, the world falls too. As one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, he is far stronger than any mortal, but even he cannot fight his destiny forever. Not when his own brother plots against him.

Yet there is one last hope. Gifted in a way other humans can't - or won't - understand, Cara Thornhart is the key to both this Horseman's safety and his doom. But involving Cara will prove treacherous, even beyond the maddening, dangerous desire that seizes them the moment they meet. For staving off eternal darkness could have a staggering cost: Cara's life.

This new series stands on it's own from Ione's previous Demonica series, but characters from the Demonica series do make an appearance. Reading the Demonica series may help with understanding the world Eternal Rider is set in and the background of the characters from Demonica that make an appearance. Ione does a good job of introducing new readers to the demon world she has built (as well as reminding those already familiar with Demonica) and what happened previously in the Demonica series that affect this new series and the characters involved. I definitely recommend referencing the provided glossary before starting the book.

The ending was a little anti-climatic for me, but I did like how Ione resolved the issue with Cara and the agimortus, the object/thing/person that would convert Ares into War and trigger the fall of the world if it breaks. I'm looking forward to seeing how the other Horsemen are dealt with - especially Pestilence, who has truly turned evil.

Rating: 4/5

I'm Weak

2011-03-07T23:47:00.002-06:00

I have no willpower. I need to cut back on expenses and get myself on a budget. One way to cut back on expenses is to cut back on my spending on books. I easily spend $100+ a month on books (hard copies and e-books).

Results of the first few days into my self-imposed buying ban: purchased four books at Borders' during their going out of business sale and two e-books via Kindle. I'm pathetic.

Review: "In the Dark of Dreams" by Marjorie M. Liu

2010-11-17T09:00:00.004-06:00

Marjorie M. Liu's latest installment in her Dirk and Steele series is the November 30, 2010 release of In the Dark of Dreams. I haven't had a chance to read all the books in this series, but I greatly enjoyed reading The Fire King, the 9th book in this series.

One of these days I'll hunt down the rest of her backlist to read this series in order. However, while this story is part of the Dirk and Steele series and previous characters from the Dirk and Steele world make an appearance, this story can stand on it's own.

It was interesting to see how the chance meeting between the hero and heroine as young children created a bond between the two that affected their futures. Each has suffered loss and disappointment, and it was nice seeing the author have the two work to open themselves up to each other and not just rely on their bond to create an instant relationship between the two. The only time I was jarred out of the story was when the hero and heroine finally have sex. After days of running from the bad guys, swimming in the ocean, crawling through a jungle, and more swimming in the ocean, wouldn't you have wanted a shower to wash off all that salt water as soon as you were in a safe place? I'm not familiar with fishing vessels, so perhaps there wasn't a shower in the head. Books usually don't go into detail about personal needs, but I think a mention of her doing the best she could to freshen up the first morning she was on the boat would have been helpful and realistic.

My take: .

Here's the blurb for In the Dark of Dreams:

She could never forget the boy with the ice blue eyes...She was only twelve when she saw the silver boy on the beach, but Jenny has never stopped dreaming about him. Now she is grown, a marine biologist charting her own course in the family business - a corporation that covertly crosses the boundaries of science into realms of the unknown...and the incredible.

And now he has found her again, her boy grown into a man: Perrin, powerful and masculine, and so much more than human, leaving Jenny weak with desire, and aching for his touch.

But with their reunion comes danger. For Perrin and Jenny - and all living creatures - their only hope for preventing the unthinkable lies in a mysterious empire far beneath the sea...and in the power of their dreams.

SOURCE: e-ARC courtesy of HarperCollins via NetGalley

Review: "Crown of Crystal Flame" by C.L. Wilson

2010-10-25T06:00:00.147-05:00

Cover and blurb from the Author's Website:

Journey Back to the Magical World of the Fading Lands.

A Song of Love won her heart.
A Song of Darkness haunted her soul.
A Song in the Dance would seal her fate.

Seers had long foreseen an extraordinary destiny for Ellysetta Baristani. Already she had won the heart of the Fey King - the magnificent Rain, ever her ally, eternally her love. She had saved the offspring of the magical tairen and fought beside her legendary mate against the armies of Eld.

But the most powerful - and dangerous - Verse of her Song had yet to be sung.

As the final battle draws nigh and evil tightens its grip upon her soul - will Ellysetta secure the world for Light or plunge it into Darkness for all eternity? As she and Rain fight for each other, side by side, will they find a way to complete their truemate bond and defeat the evil High Mage of Eld before it's too late, or must they make the ultimate sacrifice to save their world?

My Thoughts:

Crown of Crystal Flame by C.L. Wilson was an awesome wrap-up to the Tairen Soul series. I was a bit hesitant to start this book since the previous book, Queen of Song and Souls (Book 4 of the series), seemed to drag (I actually ended up skimming it). However, this final book was action packed! Danger surrounds Rain and Elly at every turn. I was a third of the way through the book, and I couldn't imagine what else Rain and Elly would have to confront. There were definitely several chapters that ended on cliff hangers - leaving you wondering if they were going to be able to escape the threat facing them and/or their people.

***SPOILER BELOW***

Rain and Elly eventually get their happy ever after ending, but I'm not sure if I liked the way the final showdown ended. It seemed a little too pat and fairy tale like for me. I know Elly - and Elly and Rain together - are powerful, but this still just seemed a bit much to me. I guess I imagined something more complex to resolve the threat after all Elly has gone through leading up to the final showdown. Although, now that I think it over, Elly sure does escape capture quite often via fantastical rescues. Then again, this is a fantasy book. So maybe I'm being a little too critical.

I'd definitely recommend reading books 1 through 3 (Lord of the Fading Lands; Lady of Light and Shadows; and, King of Sword and Sky) prior to reading this book. I don't think I really missed much skipping most of book 4 (Queen of Song and Souls). Wilson seemed to do a decent job recapping events that were pertinent from book 4.

My take:

SOURCE: e-ARC courtesy of HarperCollins/Avon Books via NetGalley

BOOK 1 of the TAIREN SOUL SERIES

Long ago, in the magical holocaust known as the Mage Wars, the immortal Fey and their allies fought to defeat the grasping evil of the Elden Mages and their dark-gifted supporters. During those wars, in a fit of grief-induced madness caused by the death of his mate, Fey shapeshifter Rain Tairen Soul nearly destroyed the world in a blaze of tairen fire.

Now, a thousand years later, the fierce Fey king must fight to save his race from the brink of extinction and once again stop the evil rising in the homeland of his enemies, the Eld. The key to his success lies in the mortal city of Celieria, where the Mage Wars began, and with a young woman whose soul sings to him in ways no woman’s ever has, whose presence reawakens the primal fury of the tairen within his soul, and whose vast, untapped power can either save or destroy him and his people.

BOOK 2 of the TAIREN SOUL SERIES

Since her earliest memories, Ellysetta Baristani has feared magic, even as she has been inexorably drawn to all things Fey, especially the poetry and legends of Rain Tairen Soul. Now claimed as Rain’s truemate and no longer able to deny her own magic, Ellysetta is swept into the very center of a struggle filled with the magic and darkness she has always feared. The High Mage of Eld wants to capture her. The most murderous dahl’reisen who ever lived wants her dead. And her enemies will corrupt even the people she loves most in their quest to claim her magic for themselves.

BOOK 3 of the TAIREN SOUL SERIES

Returning to the Fading Lands with his Celierian truemate, Rain discovers a dissension among the most powerful members of his own council. As the Eld plot their next deadly strike, Ellysetta struggles to master her powerful magic and discover how to save the tairen, while Rain confronts open challenge to his rule and prepares to lead the Fey army to war.

BOOK 4 of the TAIREN SOUL SERIES

The first deadly battles of the new Mage Wars have been fought, and victory has been won at a terrible price. As the toll of an unfulfilled matebond and the torment of war begins tips Rain towards madness, Ellysetta knows if she cannot find a way to defeat the darkness growing inside her and complete the truemate bond, Rain will die and she will become the prophesied monster Vadim Maur uses to destroy the Fey and enslave the World.

Release Day - September 7, 2010

2010-09-07T09:00:00.076-05:00

Looks like September is going to be an expensive month for me. Here's this week's list of books that I have on my want list:

Atlantis Betrayed by Alyssa Day (Book 6 of the Warriors of Poseidon series)

A warrior’s mission, a woman’s desire…What could Christophe, powerful Warrior of Poseidon, have in common with Fiona Campbell, prim and proper Scottish illustrator of fairytales by day and notorious jewel thief known as the Scarlet Ninja by night? Answer: The Siren, a legendary Crown Jewel that Fiona has targeted for her next heist. It’s said to be worth millions, but to Christophe it’s invaluable. For the Siren also happens to be one of the missing jewels from Poseidon’s trident.

And the unnatural evil that could destroy them both... But breaking into the Tower of London is a two-person job, so Christophe and Fiona team up to commit the crime of the century. As newfound passions fire their motives--and cloud their judgment--they realize they aren’t the only ones after the priceless gem. A dark force is shadowing their every move, and threatening to shatter their trust with revenge, betrayal, and a haunting revelation about the past.

Assassin's Heart by Monica Burns (Book 2 of the Order of the Sicari series)

The truth of the soul. Lysander Condellaire never understood why he had telepathic and telekinetic powers until the night his Praetorian father tortured him and left him for dead. Now, the half-angelic, half-demonic face he sees in the mirror is a reminder of the monster he must keep hidden or face expulsion from the order of assassins know as the Sicari. But his dreams of Ancient Rome hint at a destiny he finds hard to accept, especially when it involves the woman he loves, but can never have.

The consequences of desire. A gifted healer in the Order, Phaedra DeLuca witnessed her mother’s murder when she was just a little girl. The haunting memory makes her loathe everything Praetorian. When she travels to Rome in search of an ancient artifact, she must work alongside a man who once cruelly rejected her love and healing touch. But her dreams of Ancient Rome tell of an irreversible and possibly dangerous future. For the distant past and present are about to collide--with the one man she is destined to love.

Chains of Fire by Christina Dodd (Book 4 of the Chosen Ones series)

Samuel Faa, the adopted son of servants, is a gypsy lawyer with the power to control minds. Isabelle Mason of the Boston Masons is wealthy, privileged, refined, and has the gift for healing. Two of the Chosen Ones, they hide a past filled with love and betrayal, and a future denied by fate--until the day they’re trapped underground. No way out. No way to deny the passion that still burns beneath the surface. And when danger threatens, Isabelle has only one choice: to place her trust in the power of the one man she could never forgive, or forget…

Healer's Choice by Jory Strong (Book 3 of the Ghostland World series)

In a post-Apocalyptic world where supernaturals have emerged from hiding, ancient, unseen enemies play a game that began at the dawn of human civilization. War is coming and neutrality isn’t an option. For Were shapeshifters, a healer’s gift holds the key to their survival…

Born into a world of violence and paid-for-sex, Rebekka longs for a family of her own and dreams of freeing those trapped in the shapeshifter brothels of the red zone. A witch’s prophecy claims she’ll one day use her gift to heal the Weres made outcast by their mixed human-animal forms. But Rebekka knows all too well that everything comes at a cost.

Made a pawn in a game she can barely glimpse, by beings whose motives she can only guess, she must navigate a dangerous course that might well cost her life. With her gift changed in terrifying ways, a plea to save five children sends her into the arms of Aryck, a Jaguar enforcer—and into territory controlled by pure Weres.

It’s a place where humans and outcasts aren’t welcomed. Where dead ancestors watch from the shadowlands and have the power to judge and punish the living. It’s a place where plague threatens and the fate of the Weres hangs in the balance. And where the choices Rebekka and Aryck make are paid for with their hearts…if not their souls.

The Darkest Hour by Maya Banks (Book 1 of the KGI series)

The Kelly Group International (KGI): A super elite, top secret, family-run business.

Qualifications: High intelligence, rock hard body, military background.

Mission: Hostage/kidnap victim recovery. Intelligence gathering. Handling jobs the US government can’t…

It’s been one year since ex-Navy SEAL Ethan Kelly last saw his wife Rachel alive. Overwhelmed by grief and guilt over his failures as a husband, Ethan shuts himself off from everything and everyone.

His brothers have tried to bring Ethan into the KGI fold, tried to break through the barriers he's built around himself, but Ethan refuses to respond… until he receives anonymous information claiming Rachel is alive.

To save her, Ethan will have to dodge bullets, cross a jungle, and risk falling captive to a deadly drug cartel that threatens his own demise. And even if he succeeds, he’ll have to force Rachel to recover memories she can’t and doesn’t want to relive—the minute by minute terror of her darkest hour—for their love, and their lives, may depend on it.

No Mercy by Sherrilyn Kenyon (Book 19 of the Hunter series; part of the Were-Hunter series)

Live fast, fight hard and if you have to die then take as many of your enemies with you as you can. That is the Amazon credo and it was one Samia lived and died by. Now in contemporary New Orleans, the immortal Amazon warrior is about to learn that there’s a worse evil coming to slaughter mankind than she’s ever faced before.

Shapeshifter Dev Peltier has stood guard at the front of Sanctuary for almost two hundred years and in that time, he’s seen it all. Or so he thought. Now their enemies have discovered a new source of power- one that makes a mockery of anything faced to date.

The war is on and Dev and Sam are guarding ground zero. But in order to win, they will have to break the most cardinal of all rules and pray it doesn’t unravel the universe as we know it.

Cruel Enchantment by Anya Bast (Book 2 of the Dark Magic series)

Even the most powerful hands need a delicate touch…

Emmaline Gallagher is a master of wielding personal glamour. As a free fae who lives among humans, she must hide her true self at all times as she works undercover within the powerful Phaendir—for if certain factions within the Phaendir gain control, the fae will be wiped from existence. Now, an object of fae power lies within a locked ancient box. And there is only one fae who can forge the key.

Known as “the Blacksmith” Aeric O’Malley can create or destroy almost anything with his forging skills. Emmaline has come to him in need, but he and Emmaline have a past—and he has spent centuries wanting to take revenge on her for her transgressions. But now that he has her within his grasp, something about her keeps him from exacting his vengeance—or is it merely her glamour blinding him?

Trapped by fate, Emmaline must hope that she can reach Aeric’s furious heart before it’s too late…

What are you looking forward to this week?

Release Day - August 31, 2010

2010-08-31T04:00:00.003-05:00

Here's this week's list of books that I have on my want list:

Midnight Crystal by Jayne Ann Krentz (Book 3 of the Dreamlight Trilogy; Book 9 of the Arcane Society series)

For many earthly centuries, a legendary curse has plagued the Winters family, stemming from the tumultuous founding of the Arcane Society. But now, on the futuristic world of Harmony, the curse’s final mystery will be unraveled...

Adam Winters has enough responsibility as the new head of the local Ghost Hunter Guild without being saddled with the family curse. He’s convinced his recent nightmares and hallucinations will lead to him becoming a psychic rogue—unless he can find a stolen relic and a woman who can read dreamlight.

Marlowe Jones rides into his life on a motorcycle and with a dust bunny at her side. Though a descendant of the rival Arcane family, she’s just what Adam needs: a psychic private investigator and dreamlight reader extraordinaire.

Together, amid the glowing catacombs and steamy underground jungles of Harmony, Adam and Marlowe must break the curse, save the entire underworld—and fight a passion that could destroy them both...

Renegade by Lora Leigh (Elite Ops series)

As a bridal shop owner, Mikayla Martin helps make women’s wedding dreams come true. Her own life, however, has become a nightmare since she witnessed a murder—and got an up-close-and-personal look at the killer. What’s worse: She knows she knows him. But the police, after doing an alibi check, don’t believe her. It’s up to Mikayla to prove them wrong…and do whatever it takes to solve the murder by herself.

Elite Ops agent Nikolai Steele, code name Renegade, is asked to pay an old comrade a favor. This friend swears he’s no killer—and Nik believes him—even though he’s been mistaken as one by Mikayla. So Nik goes to set her straight…but the moment he lays eyes on the fiery and determined beauty, he knows he’s in too deep. A woman this irresistible can only mean trouble and, sure enough, after sticking her nose in one too many places, someone wants Mikayla dead. Now Nik must find a way to keep her safe, clear his friend’s name, and find the real killer, who remains on the loose…

When Blood Calls by J.K. Beck (Book 1 of Shadow Keepers series)

FYI: J.K. Beck is the newpen name for Julie Kenner.

Sara Constantine is one of the country’s most tenacious prosecuting attorneys—and she’s just secured a well-earned promotion. At first she’s thrilled. Then she finds out her new job involves prosecuting vampires and werewolves. And nothing prepares Sara for the shock she receives when she meets the first defendant she’ll be trying to put away: Lucius Dragos, the sexy stranger with whom she recently shared an explosive night of ecstasy.

When Lucius Dragos kisses the beautiful woman sitting next to him at the bar, he’s only hoping to blend into the crowd and avoid the perceptive gaze of the man he’s following…and planning to kill. But what starts as a simple kiss to secure his cover ignites into a fierce hunger that leads to an all-consuming passion. Charged with murder, Luke knows Sara will do whatever it takes to see him locked away—unless he can convince her that he’s not the monster she thinks he is. And that might mean making the greatest sacrifice a vampire can make.

Close Quarters by Lucy Monroe (Book 5 of The Goddard Project series)

OPPOSITES ATTRACT.

IF THEY DON’T COMBUST FIRST.

To some, he is an assassin. To others, he’s merely the man who gets the job done when no one else can. Now politico-military black-ops leader Roman Chernichenko has to take out the leak in an espionage plot that could destabilize all of Africa. Nothing will distract him from his mission. Not even the deliciously appealing blonde who’s awoken his deepest desires—and just happens to be his target...

Tanya Ruston is a beautiful and brainy do-gooder—and now Roman is supposed to dispose of her when all he really wants to do is seduce her. Soon it’s clear Tanya’s no information agent—and now that his conscience has gotten the better of him, he and Tanya are on the run from the good guys and bad. If they’re going to make it out alive, Roman will have to act fast—and stop thinking about how he’s going to get his feisty new charge down the aisle...

What are you looking forward to this week?

Release Day - August 24, 2010

2010-08-24T09:22:00.000-05:00

Here's this week's list of books that I have on my want list:

Demon From the Dark by Kresley Cole (part of the Immortals After Dark series)

A dangerous demon she can't resist...Malkom Slaine: tormented by his sordid past and racked by vampiric hungers, he's pushed to the brink by the green-eyed beauty under his guard.

A maddening witch he aches to claim...Carrow Graie: hiding her own sorrows, she lives only for the next party or prank. Until she meets a tortured warrior worth saving.

Trapped together in a savage prison...For them to survive, Malkom must unleash both the demon and vampire inside him. When he becomes the nightmare his own people feared, will he lose the woman he craves body and soul?

Sin Undone by Larissa Ione (last book of the Demonica series)

HER TOUCH IS DEADLY

As the only female Seminus demon ever born, master assassin Sinead Donnelly is used to being treated like an outcast. She spent decades enslaved, and now vows she'll die before she'll relinquish her freedom again. Then Sin's innate ability to kill her enemies goes awry: She creates a lethal new werewolf virus that sparks a firestorm of panic and violence.

HIS HUNGER CAN'T BE DENIED Half-werewolf, half-vampire Conall Dearghul is charged with bringing in Sin to face punishment for the plague. And she's no stranger: He's bound to her by blood, and the one sexual encounter they shared has left him hungering for her raw sensuality. Worse, Sin is the underworld's most wanted and Con soon learns he's the only one who can help her . . . and that saving her life might mean sacrificing his own.

Bond With Me by Anne Marsh

This will only be available as an e-book at this time; the trade paperback from Dorchester Publishing will not be available until May 2011.

Fallen angels… They rule Moscow’s seedy underworld, promising untold pleasure to the females who dare to mate them. That promise – and Brends Duranov’s own raw sexual power – has hopefuls mobbing the velvet rope outside his elite club G2’s. But Mischka Baran has no intention of hooking up with one of the Fallen. Not even after Brends gives her an unforgettable taste of the sin and seduction he can deliver with those wicked lips. She’s after information, not a stint as some Goblin’s toy of the month. What she doesn’t know is that with a sadistic killer carving up his brethren, Brends is playing for keeps, hunting the one woman whose bloodline can end the mayhem, whose bond can restore his lost wings.

What are you looking forward to this week?

Release Day - August 3, 2010

2010-08-03T01:01:00.001-05:00

Here's this week's list of books that I have on my want list:

Nauti and Wild anthology with Lora Leigh and Jaci Burton
Whisper Kiss by Deborah Cooke(Book 5 of Dragonfire series)
Burning Up anthology with Angela Knight, Nalini Singh, Virginia Kantra, and Meljean Brook

I'm really looking forward to Meljean Brook's novella in the Burning Up anthology. It's a companion novella to her new steampunk series, The Iron Seas. The first novel in the series is The Iron Duke, due out October 5, 2010. What are you looking forward to this week?

Feeding the Habit: Sins of the Heart by Eve Silver

2010-07-26T13:36:00.002-05:00

This past weekend, I read Eve Silver's newest book, Sins of the Heart. It's book one of her new Otherkin trilogy. I enjoyed reading her latest paranormal. It was interesting to see bits and pieces of various beliefs regarding the underworld and hell meshed together in Silver's new world. The heroine's loneliness felt a bit spoon-fed. Yes, she's been alone since she's been a teen. Why doesn't she try to make friends though? What's stopping her? The relationship between the hero and heroine seemed more one-sided. The hero seemed to be the one doing more of the giving then the heroine, but I guess you could assume that was due to the heroine being afraid to connect since she'd lost her family when she was young.
However, I do like the new world Silver has put together, and I'm interested in seeing how the overall arc of the story resolves itself as well as how the other soul reaper brothers meet their fate. My take: .

There's also an electronic prequel, Sin's Daughter, that I'm mulling over whether I want to buy.

Here's the blurb for Sins of the Heart:

Half human, half god, Dagan Krayl is the Underworld's most powerful soul reaper. When one of his brothers is murdered, Dagan must use every ounce of his power to hunt down those responsible for his brutal death. But he must move swiftly—and carefully—if he's to have any chance of resurrecting his brother.

Yet that resurrection could wreak havoc on the mortal world. As an Otherkin, Roxy Tam has sworn to protect the human race, and it's her mission to stop Dagan. But when she sees him face-to-face, she realizes that she has seen him once before—a meeting that changed her life forever.

Neither Dagan nor Roxy expect to join forces for the sake of mankind. Or to have their loyalties tested as they struggle against the potent desire that threatens to consume them both…

Release Day - July 26, 2010

2010-07-26T13:05:00.000-05:00

Looks like I'm a series-type of reader. Here's this week's list of books that I have on my want list:

Water Bound by Christine Feehan (Book 1 of Sea Haven:Sisters of the Heart series)
Wait for Dusk by Jocelynn Drake (part of the Dark Days series)
Eternal Kiss of Darkness by Jeaniene Frost (Book 2 of Eternal Kiss of Darkness series)
Ruthless by Anne Stuart (Book 1 of House of Rohan trilogy. The ebook prequel, The Wicked House of Rohan, is available for free online at Barnes and Noble)

What are you looking forward to this week?

Release Day - July 6, 2010

2010-07-06T10:14:00.000-05:00

What an abudance of great reads! Here's this week's list of books that I have on my want list:

Bonds of Justice by Nalini Singh (part of the Psy-Changelings series)
Demon Blood by Meljean Brook (part of the Guardians series)
Undead and Unfinished by MaryJanice Davidson(part of the Queen Betsy series)
Chains of Ice by Christina Dodd(Book 3 of the Chosen Ones series)
Twice Bitten by Chloe Neill(Book 3 of the Chicagoland Vampires series)

What are you looking forward to this week?

Release Day - June 29, 2010

2010-06-29T00:00:00.006-05:00

Here's this week's list of books that I have on my want list:

I'll Be Slaying You by Cynthia Eden
Love in the Afternoon by Lisa Kleypas

What are you looking forward to this week?

Release Day - June 15, 2010

2010-06-15T00:00:00.001-05:00

Here's this week's (short) list of books that I have on my want list:

That Perfect Someone by Johanna Lindsey (part of the Malory Family series)

What are you looking forward to this week?

Release Day - June 1, 2010

2010-06-01T08:37:00.000-05:00

Here's this week's list of books that I have on my want list:

Time Weaver by Shana Abe
Beast Behaving Badly by Shelly Laurenston (part of the Pride Stories series)
Dreamveil by Lynn Viehl (part of the Kyndred series)
True Vision by Joyce Lamb (Book 1 of True series)
Red Demon by Deidre Knight (part of the Gods of Midnight series)

What are you looking forward to this week?

Release Day - May 4, 2010

2010-05-03T00:00:00.001-05:00

Here's this week's list of books that I have on my want list:

Running Scared by Shannon K. Butcher
The Demon in Me by Michelle Rowen (Book 1 of Living in Eden series)
Shadow Marked by Anna J. Evans
Love in the Time of Dragons by Katie MacAlister (Book 1 of Light Dragon series

What are you looking forward to this week?

Release Day - April 27, 2010

2010-04-26T10:16:00.000-05:00

Here's this week's list of books that I have on my want list:

Blood Born by Linda Howard and Linda Jones
Wild Fire by Christine Feehan (book 2 of Leopard series)
Stealing Kathryn by Jacquelyn Frank(book 2 of Gathers series)
Men of Danger anthology with Lora Leigh, Red Garnier, Alexis Grant, and Lorie O'Clare
Lover Mine by J.R. Ward (book 8 of Black Dagger Brotherhood series)

What are you looking forward to this week?

Release Day - April 6, 2010

2010-04-06T10:00:00.001-05:00

Here's this week's list of books that I have on my want list:

Sweet Temptation by Maya Banks(Book 4 of Sweet series)
Lion's Heat by Lora Leigh (part of Breeds series)
Jared by Sarah McCarty (part of Shadow Wranglers series)

What are you looking forward to this week?

Release Day - March 2, 2010

2010-03-02T00:00:00.001-06:00

Here's this week's list of books that I have on my want list:

Born to Be Wild by Christine Warren (part of The Others series)
Black Jack by Lora Leigh ((Book 4 of Elite Ops series)
In Bed with the Duke by Christina Dodd
Delicious by Shayla Black
Shalador's Lady by Anne Bishop (part of the Black Jewels series)

What are you looking forward to this week?

Today's Fix: Twice as Hot

2010-02-28T19:01:00.003-06:00

Yesterday, I read J.D. Robb's latest book in her In Death series, Fantasy in Death. I can't believe I've been reading this series since it started back in 1995.

Here's the blurb for Fantasy in Death:

Bart Minnock, founder of the computer-gaming giant U-Play, enters his private playroom, and eagerly can't wait to lose himself in an imaginary world—to play the role of a sword-wielding warrior king—in his company’s latest top-secret project, Fantastical.

The next morning, he is found in the same locked room, in a pool of blood, his head separated from his body. It is the most puzzling case Eve Dallas has ever faced, and it is not a game...

NYPSD Lieutenant Eve Dallas is having as much trouble figuring out how Bart Minnock was murdered as who did the murdering. The victim's girlfriend seems sincerely grief-stricken, and his quirky-but-brilliant partners at U-Play appear equally shocked. No one seemed to have a problem with the enthusiastic, high-spirited millionaire. Of course, success can attract jealousy, and gaming, like any business, has its fierce rivalries and dirty tricks—as Eve's husband, Roarke, one of U-Play's competitors, knows well. But Minnock was not naive, and quite capable of fighting back in the real world as well as the virtual one.

Eve and her team are about to enter the next level of police work, in a world where fantasy is the ultimate seduction-and the price of defeat is death...

**********

Tonight, I'm planning on reading Gena Showalter's Too Hot to Handle, her follow up to Playing with Fire. It's book two of her Tales of an Extraordinary Girl series. The main character Belle reminds me of Blair Mallory, the seemingly ditzy, but very likeable, character from Linda Howard's To Die For (a great book I'd recommend as a fun read). Here's the blurb from the back of Too Hot to Handle:

Belle Jameson is finally starting to feel like a normal girl again. Her job as a parnormal investigator is going well, she's learned to control her supernatural abilities (mostly) and she's just gotten engaged to Rome Masters, the ultra-sexy operative who once tried to neutralize her!

But planning a wedding is never easy, especially when the bride keeps accidentally torching her dress, the groom returns from a dangerous mission with selective memory loss and the man responsible now wants Belle for himself. With Rome's ex determined to win him back and a new band of supervillians on the horizon, it will take all Belle's powers - plus a little help from her trusty empath sidekick - to save the day, salvage the wedding and prove that true love really does conquer all.

Release Day - February 23, 2010

2010-02-23T00:00:00.001-06:00

It's another short list for me this week. This week's list of to buy books:

Fantasy in Death by J.D. Robb

What are you looking forward to this week?

Today's Fix: Unknown

2010-02-20T11:21:00.002-06:00

I'm planning on reading Rachel Caine's Unknown today. It's book two of her Outcast Season series. I enjoyed the previous book Undone. I haven't read any of the books from her Weather Warden series yet, but the Outcast Season series is of the same world. Here's the blurb from the back:

Living among mortals, Cassiel has begun to develop a reluctant affection for them - especially the intriguing Warden Luis Rocha. As the mystery deepens around the kidnapping of innocent Warden children, Cassiel and Luis are the only ones who can investigate within both the human and the Djinn realms.

But the more Luis and Cassiel search, the more dangerous the trail becomes, reaching not only into a fanatical splinter group, but into the highest ranks of Cassiel's immortal kin. An outcast from her own kind, Cassiel must now rely on her own limited earthbound powers to save the young Wardens...if it's not already too late.

Release Day - February 16, 2010

2010-02-16T00:00:00.000-06:00

A short list this week. Here's this week's want list:

Pleasure of a Dark Prince by Kresley Cole

What are you looking forward to this week?

Today's Fix: First Drop of Crimson

2010-02-09T20:51:00.002-06:00

Tonight I'm reading First Drop of Crimson by Jeaniene Frost. It's book one of her Night Huntress World series and was released today. Here's the blurb from the back:

The night is not safe for mortals. Denise MacGregor knows all too well what lurks in the shadows – her best friend is half-vampire Cat Crawfield – and she has already lost more than the average human could bear. But her family’s dark past is wrapped in secrets and shrouded in darkness – and a demon shapeshifter has marked Denise as prey. Now her survival depends on an immortal who craves a taste of her.

He is Spade, a powerful, mysterious vampire who has walked the earth for centuries and is now duty-bound to protect this endangered, alluring human – even if it means destroying his own kind. Denise may arouse his deepest hungers, but Spade knows he must fight his urge to have her as they face the demon nightmare together…

Because once the first drop of crimson falls, they will both be lost.

Feeding the Habit

2010-02-01T15:29:00.000-06:00

How do you feed your book habit? For a week, I've been lurking on Amazon, Borders, and Barnes & Nobles' websites (as well as local book stores) checking on the availability of various books. It drives me crazy when I see that a book is available for order on-line but not in stock at the store yet. Do I buy it on-line and anxiously await the order to be shipped, or do I gamble and hope it hits the shelves early (or even on time)? Which route will get me the book the quickest? Decisions, decisions.

I'm anxiously awaiting my Barnes & Noble order right now. Since I placed my order mid-week, I had to wait 2 extra days due to the weekend. But today when I get home I will be able to finally read Nalini Singh's Archangel's Kiss, the follow up to Angel's Blood. Yesterday, I actually looked forward to Monday because I knew UPS would be delivering my books to me. I can't wait to get home to start reading!

Release Day - February 2, 2010

2010-02-01T00:00:00.000-06:00

I'm starting off February with a stack of books to read. Here's this week's list of books that I have on my want list:

Accidentally Demonic by Dakota Cassidy (Book 4 of Accidental series)
In the Warrior's Bed by Mary Wine (follow up to In Bed with a Stranger)
Undone by Rachel Caine (Book 2 of Outcast Season series)
Archangel's Kiss by Nalini Singh (Book 2 of Guild Hunter series)
Blood Magic by Eileen Wilks (Book 6 of World of Lupi series)
Back in Black by Lori Foster
Nauti Deceptions by Lora Leigh (Book 5 of Nauti Boys series)
Promise Me Tonight by Sara Lindsey (Book 1 of Weston series)
Moon Craving by Lucy Monroe (Book 2 of Children of the Moon series)

What are you looking forward to this week?

Release Day - January 26, 2010

2010-01-26T10:11:00.005-06:00

Here's this week's list of books that I have on my want list:

Ecstasy Unveiled by Larissa Ione (Book 4 of Demonica series)
The Elusive Bride by Stephanie Laurens (Book 2 of Black Cobra series)
Twice as Hot by Gena Showalter (Book 2 of Tales of an Extraordinary Girl series)
Spider's Bite by Jennifer Estep (Book 1 of Elemental Assassin series)

What are you looking forward to this week?

Feeding the Habit: Lead Me On by Victoria Dahl

2010-01-04T23:27:00.004-06:00

My first read of 2010 was Victoria Dahl's "Lead Me On", her follow up to "Start Me Up". It took me a while to find it. B&N didn't have any copies available on the two occasions I looked for it. I ended up picking up a copy at Borders.

"Lead Me On" was a cute, easy read (My take: ). Jane Morgan is the prim and proper office manager for an architect. However, it's a sham. After a wild childhood, she changed her name and looks, and vowed to live a quiet, normal life. When she meets Chase, a tattooed, steel-toed wearing demolitionist, she convinces herself that she deserves a fling after maintaining her good girl image for a decade. But Jane soon discovers that what she thinks is wrong for her may be exactly what she needs and that looks are deceiving.

Release Day - December 1, 2009

2009-12-01T00:00:00.003-06:00

Here's this week's list of books that I have on my want list. Looks like I'm starting December with a nice chunk out of my wallet.

A Mermaid's Ransom by Joey W. Hill
Hunter's Need by Shiloh Walker (part of her Hunter series)
Darkscape: Redemption by R. Garland Gray
Wild Instinct by Sarah McCarty
Born of Ice by Sherrilyn Kenyon

What are you looking forward to this week?

Release Day - November 10, 2009

2009-11-10T15:07:00.002-06:00

Here's this week's list of books that I have on my want list. It's looking like the month of November will not be a big book-buying month for me.

Ice by Linda Howard (it's in hardback, but I like Howard's writing)

What are you looking forward to this week?

Release Day - November 3, 2009

2009-11-03T00:00:00.002-06:00

Here's this week's list of books that I have on my want list. It's short due to last week's early release/shipping of various books by Barnes & Noble.

Kindred in Death by J.D. Robb (Death series)

What are you looking forward to this week?

Update: I forgot the following were also on my list:

Bite Marks by Jennifer Rardin (Jaz Parks series)
Born of Fire by Sherrilyn Kenyon
The Untamed Bride by Stephanie Laurens (this one actually came out last week)

Release Day - October 27, 2009

2009-10-26T00:00:00.005-05:00

I can't wait for my Barnes & Noble order to come in this week. Lots of good reads - most are continuations of a series as well as early releases. Here's this week's list of books that I have on my want list:

The Queen of Song and Souls by C.L. Wilson (the fourth book in her wonderful Tairen Soul series)

Possess Me at Midnight by Shayla Black (Doomsday Brethren series)

And here are the early releases (already being shipped by Barnes & Noble):

Blaze of Memory by Nalini Singh (I LOVE this Psy/Changeling series)

Winter Kiss by Deborah Cooke (Dragonfire series)

Mane Squeeze by Shelly Laurenston (this a part of the very humorous Pride series)

Heart Change by Robin D. Owens (Heart series)

Darkness Unleashed by Alexandra Ivy (Guardians of Eternity series)

Finding the Lost by Shannon K. Butcher (book 2 of the Sentinel Wars series)

Possess Me at Midnight by Shayla Black (Doomsday Brethren series)

Me and My Shadow by Katie MacAlister (Silver Dragons aeries)

Skin Game by Ava Gray (Ann Aguirre's new persona for paranormal romances and the first of her new series)

What are you looking forward to this week?

Release Day - October 6, 2009

2009-10-05T13:27:00.003-05:00

A short list this week. Here's this week's list of books that I have on my want list:

Demon Forged by Meljean Brook
Shadowlight by Lynn Viehl

What are you looking forward to this week?

Oops..I forgot to add that I'm looking forward to buying Virtually Hers by Gennita Low. This follow up to Virtually His (which is in paperback format only) is coming out as an e-book from Samhain Publishing.

Release Day - September 29, 2009

2009-09-28T00:00:00.001-05:00

Here's this week's list of books that I have on my want list:

Seduce Me in Shadow by Shayla Black
Big Bad Wolf by Christine Warren
Born of Night by Sherrilyn Kenyon
The Renegade Hunter by Lynsay Sands
Tucker's Claim by Sarah McCarty
Love You To Death by Shannon K. Butcher

What are you looking forward to this week?

Release Day - September 22, 2009

2009-09-22T12:59:00.005-05:00

This week's want list is very sparse. I just need to hold out until next week when there are half a dozen "auto buys" coming out for my reading pleasure.

Tempt Me at Twilight by Stephanie Laurens

I stumbled across two books on my to buy list out prior to their release date at my local Wal-Mart last week (almost jumped up and down when I saw them): Covet by J.R. Ward and the anthology Hot For the Holidays by Lora Leigh, Angela Knight, Anya Bast, and Allyson James.

What are you looking forward to this week?

Largest Library in the World

2009-09-17T12:08:00.011-05:00

I recently fulfilled a childhood dream - I actually got to visit the Library of Congress a.k.a. the largest library in the world. It was beautiful. Unfortunately, you couldn't actually see the books - the library stacks aren't open to the public and are shelved in 3 buildings on Capitol Hill and off-site storage facilities. The Library of Congress is a research library, and the books are available for viewing by the public on the premises - you just have to get a library card from them. I wish there had been time for me to go get a library card even though I never would have had the opportunity to use it since I don't live in the area.

The Thomas Jefferson Building, which is the original separate Library of Congress building, has a beautiful foyer with artwork referencing literature and the search for knowledge. We weren't allowed to take pictures of the reading room so I've borrowed a picture from the Library of Congress's website of the Main Reading Room (see picture below).

I encourage all booklovers to visit the Library of Congress if you are ever in Washington, D.C. Half of the Library's book collection is in languages other than English. Besides books and other printed materials (like telephone books, newspapers, and maps), they also have audio and video recordings, photographs, baseball cards, etc.

Review: "The Wild Road" by Marjorie M. Liu

2009-09-02T12:17:00.005-05:00

After reading Marjorie M. Liu's The Fire King I had to go find her other Dirk & Steele novels. The first bookstore I hit only had The Wild Road, the 8th book in the series (looks like I'll be reading the series backwards). I realized as I started reading it was about a character that had appeared in Liu's contribution to the Dark Dreamers anthology.

The Wild Road was a quick read. It's about Lannes, a gargoyle, whose brother is a member of the detective agency Dirk & Steele. Lannes keeps himself isolated from others after - sure no woman could love one such as he. However, on one of his rare visits to the city to visit an old friend, he stumbles across a woman covered in blood trying to steal his car. She has no memory of who she is and is desperate to get away. Lannes finds himself wanting to help her discover who she is and how she lost her memory. They soon discover that their histories are connected. I didn't feel this story was as cohesive and as emotionally charged as The Fire King, but it was still satisfying. My take: ½

Review: "The Fire King" by Marjorie M. Liu

2009-09-02T12:05:00.003-05:00

I believe that The Fire King by Marjorie M. Liu is her first full length novel that I've read (if you don't count her contribution to the Crimson series). I know I've seen her Dirk & Steele books on the shelves at the bookstore before, but I've never actually bought one. However, her 9th Dirk & Steele novel, The Fire King, seemed interesting enough to buy after I read some of the posted excerpts. Liu's Dirk & Steele novels follow various agents of Dirk & Steele, an international detective agency that is (unknown to the general public) composed of psychics, shape-shifters, and legendary creatures.

The Fire King introduces us to Karr, a dangerous desert creature that has been awaken against his will after centuries of sleep. Soria left Dirk & Steele after losing part of her dominant arm and is still attempting to come to grips with the loss of the limb. Soria has the gift of communication - the ability to absorb languages with proximity, and she is brought in to question Karr and determine if he is a danger to the agency and humans. The story of the various groups attempting to get their hands on Karr, and Soria and Karr's attempts to evade capture provide the action to the story. I like how Liu provides the reader Soria's background bit by bit. Both Karr and Soria are alone - Karr because no one has seen one of his kind in thousands of years, and Soria because her friends stopped seeing her after the loss of her arm. It was enjoyable reading about how these two loners find themselves no longer alone. My take:

Release Day - September 1, 2009

2009-08-31T09:02:00.007-05:00

Here's this week's list of books that I have on my want list:

Can't Stand the Heat by Louisa Edwards
Dark Slayer by Christine Feehan
Storm of Shadow by Christina Dodd
Heat Seeker by Lora Leigh
Must Love Hellhounds anthology with Charlene Harris, Nalini Singh, Ilona Andrews, and Meljean Brook

What are you looking forward to this week?

Release Day - August 25, 2009

2009-08-24T00:00:00.006-05:00

Here's this week's list of books that I have on my want list:

Obsidian Prey by Jayne Castle (another Ghost Hunters book)
Belong to the Night an anthology with Cynthia Eden, Shelly Laurenston, & Sherrill Quinn
Passion Untamed by Pamela Palmer
Dark Slayer by Christine Feehan
Hunting Ground by Patricia Briggs (an Apha & Omega book)
The Darkest Whisper by Gena Showalter (from her Lords of the Underworld series)

I'm on the fence about two books I read review of in RT Reviews - Night's Cold Kiss by Tracey O'Hara and The Prince of Frogs by Annaliese Evans. The reviews of the book look good, but I haven't read these authors before. Since I recently took a pay cut at work (darn this economy!), I'm going to have to put myself on a budget. So, I'm not sure if I want to get these two books. Has anyone read these yet? I understand Evans' book is a follow up to Night's Rose. Was it good?

What are you looking forward to this week?

You Know You're Addicted To Books When...

2009-08-20T15:15:00.006-05:00

Barnes & Nobles' Facebook page asked this question of it's fans last week. There really are people out there like me! Here's a sampling of some of the comments that I found to be very relatable:

"You buy a purse that a book will fit into all the time." (I'm actually looking for one now although e-books tide me over occasionally.)

"You have books piled in front of your bookshelf as well as stacked on every single shelf." (...and by the bed, and the couch...)

"Everyone knows your name at the bookstore."

"When you know that new books come out every Tuesday and you have dates of each writer you like and when the books come out."

"Your biggest budget item is B&N."

"You read two books in less than 24 hours and yes they were more than 300 pages a piece."

"You don't have room in your backpack for school books in your backpack because there are too many 'for fun' books."

"You forget to eat." (or consciously decide to wait to eat until after you finish your book - even if it's not going to be for another hour).

"You've read a whole section of the library." (I did this in elementary and middle school.)

"You lose sleep because you have to finish a book." (I now have a rule I try to follow: don't pick up a book after 9 PM on a work day.)

"You take 5 paperbacks with you for a two day trip."

"You get in trouble for reading in school, and your parents tell you to stop reading so much." (Could have been worse if my teachers had caught on to my "book in the lap with the text book on the desk" trick.)

"You read your favorites over and over and..."

"You're bored so you look at your old books to re-read."

"You snap at loved ones when they talk while you are reading."

I wonder if there's a help group for book addicts. Really, we suffer from addiction symptoms like junkies. I get cranky if I don't get to read every few days (if not more often). I know the location of every major bookseller in town (as well as a few independent and used book stores). I use e-books to tide me until the next release date. All my extra money goes to supporting my habit. I skip meals (and let's not even talk about house chores) in order to finish a book instead. I spend more time reading than I do interacting with other humans (I assume talking with others similarly addicted does not count as socializing).

Hello, my name is Eva, and I'm a book addict.

Fated - Free Novella

2009-08-17T16:44:00.004-05:00

Shayla Black has her free Doomsday Brethren novella, Fated, up on her website for download beginning today. I enjoyed Tempt Me With Darkness, the first novel in the Doomsday Brethren series. I'm happy to have this novella to tide me over since Seduce Me in Shadow, the next book in the series, doesn't come out until late September.

Of course, it's also a double-edged sword. It'll just remind me of how anxious I am to find out more about the characters and their world. I know the author's can't control how quickly they can write or how fast the publishers can get books out, but I still say "Write faster! Please?" to all my favorite authors.

Upcoming Posts

2009-08-13T12:07:00.003-05:00

I've been a little busy (OK, I've been busy watching Psych, In Plain Sight, Burn Notice, and Eureka), and I'm behind on my posts. I should have reviews of my recent reads in the next few weeks up. They'll include Marjorie M. Liu's The Fire King and The Wild Road, Lora Leigh's Bengal's Heart, and the anthology Out of the Light, Into the Shadow that has stories by L.L. Foster/Lori Foster and Erin McCarthy.

Early September looks like a great book buying time with a ton of books on my to buy list hitting the shelves. I'll share my to buys each week in my weekly "Release Day" post. Happy reading!

Making My List

2009-08-13T11:54:00.004-05:00

I finally have a chance to read the latest issues of RT Bookreviews (which I still want to call Romantic Times). I love going through it and making my list of books to buy (or at least check out). I make my list and immediately go on-line to see when the books are scheduled to hit the shelves.

How do you decide what books to buy? I generally go off the review summaries in RT, but I also check author's websites and excerpts on books I'm undecided on. I usually end up buying 99% of the books on my list along with a few books that catch my eye on the shelves at the bookstore. Do you end up getting everything off your list? Or do you break your list up by must-buy and maybe's for further evaluation at the store? Do you even make a list?

Review: "Mastered by Love" by Stephanie Laurens

2009-08-13T11:53:00.002-05:00

In Stephanie Lauren's final Bastion Club novel, "Daziel" Royce Varlsey, the new Duke of Wolverstone, has returned to his childhood home upon the death of his father to deal with his estate and his future - a life out of the spy business. He discovers Minerva Chesterton, the young girl his parents adopted, is now the chatelaine. (I'll admit it - I had to look up chatelaine to confirm my definition of the word. In this sense, chatelaine means: the mistress of an elegant or fashionable household - not necessarily just a castle, as I had originally thought.)

As the new duke, Royce has to marry soon. He soon discovers that he wants Minerva as his wife, but Minerva doesn't think she can handle having Royce as a husband. The Wolverstone clan is not know for their fidelity. Royce has to draw upon his skills (in and out of bed) to convince Minerva she is the only one he wants - now and forever. My take:

Review: "Spider-Touched" by Jory Strong

2009-08-04T07:46:00.003-05:00

Jory Strong's "Spider-Touched" take us back to the post apocalyptic world she created in "Ghostland". In "Spider-Touched", we're introduced to Tir and Arana. Tir has no memory of his past but knows that he absolutely hates humans since they are the ones who have kept him enslaved him via a collar that mutes his powers. Arana, is a human thief who is taken prisoner and has a deadly spider tattoo. The two meet when Arana, upon escaping her prison, frees Tir from his shackles. Their paths converge as Arana seeks revenge for the death of her two friends while Tir seeks the key to removing his collar and gaining his freedom. Characters from "Ghostland" also make an appearance in "Spider-Touched". My take:

Review: "A Duke of Her Own" by Eloisa James

2009-08-04T07:45:00.007-05:00

I had not read any of Eloisa James' books prior to reading her newest Duchess book, A Duke of Her Own, this past week. If this book is an indication of James' other books - particularly her Duchess series - then I deserve a kick for not picking up her books before this. In A Duke of Her Own, Leopold Dautry, the Duke of Villiers, needs to marry - and marry nobly. Since his options only include daughters of dukes, he's limited in his choices - Eleanor, the beautiful and intelligent daughter of the Duke of Montague, or Lisette, the beautiful and free spirited daughter of the Duke of Gilner?

From what I gather reading this book and excerpts from previous Duchess books, Villiers is a notorious scoundrel who appears in each of the previous Duchess books. I hope all of the heroes in the other Duchess books are as delicious as Villiers. I can't wait to scoop up the rest of this series. My take:

Release Day - August 4, 2009

2009-08-03T00:00:00.005-05:00

Here's this week's list of books that I have on my want list:

Devil in My Bed by Celeste Bradley
Bad Moon Rising by Sherrilyn Kenyon (another Dark Hunter book)
I Can See You by Karen Rose (although I'll probably wait for the paperback version to come out)

What are you looking forward to?

Oops! I forgot to add Bengal's Heart by Lora Leigh to the list.

Review: "Storm of Visions" by Christina Dodd

2009-08-01T16:01:00.010-05:00

Storm of Visions is the first in Christina Dodd's new series, "The Chosen Ones". It's a paranormal romantic suspense novel about a group of people with ESP (called the Chosen Ones) who battle a group called The Others (who carry out the work of the devil). This first book introduces us to the psychic of the group, Jacqueline. Jacqueline is (literally) dragged back by her former lover, Caleb (her adoptive mother's bodyguard), to the group of six newly appointed Chosen Ones just before an explosion wipes out all the previous Chosen Ones. This new group has the duty of trying to work together, fight the Others, and figuring out who among them is a traitor.

The first few chapters were a bit confusing until you realize that Jacqueline actually knows the man who shows up in her house. It was also a bit slow going through the first half of the book, but I consider that a given since this is the first book of a new series. The author has a lot of world building to lay down while not giving away too much of future storylines. The next book in this series looks intriguing (it's the story of the mind controller of the group), and I look forward to seeing how this series plays out. My take:

Surprise!

2009-07-29T09:52:00.006-05:00

I love it when I go to the bookstore and find that a book I'm waiting for is out early. I went into to Borders last night to pick up a copy of Patricia Brigg's Hunting Ground (and to use my Borders rewards). Unfortunately, my Borders didn't have the book in yet (bad bookstore), but they did have a couple of other books I wasn't expecting out yet. I took home Christina Dodd's Storm of Visions (the first of her new series) and Eloisa James' A Duke of Her Own. I haven't read any of Eloisa James' books before, but I'm looking forward to reading her new book after skimming through the first chapter at the bookstore.

Lori Foster/L.L. Foster and Erin McCarthy's new anthology Out of the Light, Into the Shadows was also out on the shelves, but I'm going to wait to buy it at Barnes & Nobles to get my discount. I also originally had Elizabeth Bevarly's Neck & Neck on my list, but after skimming the first part of it at the store, I changed my mind - it didn't really draw me in. How do you decide on whether or not to buy a book that you're on the fence on? Do you read a bit of it like I do to decide?

Release Day - July 28, 2009

2009-07-27T00:00:00.002-05:00

Here's this week's list of books that I have on my want list:

Hunting Ground by Patricia Briggs
Breaking Loose by Tara Janzen
Obsession Untamed by Pamela Palmer (another Steele Street book)
Mastered by Love by Stephanie Laurens (the last of the Bastion Club books)
Tasting Fear by Shannon McKenna

What are you looking forward to?

Review: "Storm Cycle" by Iris Johansen & Roy Johansen

2009-07-26T00:37:00.011-05:00

I finally find some time to sit down with a book this weekend. I stopped by the bookstore on Saturday to see if some of the books scheduled to be released next week were out early. No luck, but I did pick up Iris Johansen & Roy Johansen's new book Storm Cycle. I think this is the Johansen's second mother-son piece (based on the cover jacket blurb). It was a good read. Lots of action with just a tad bit of romance thrown in. The romance aspect was a bit predictable and not really necessary, but it didn't really get in the way of the story. It's an action book with 2 mysteries. Why is someone trying to kill Rachel, a computer genius who is trying to find a cure for her younger sister's rare illness? And, will Rachel and Tavak, an enigmatic adventurer that Rachel joins forces with, find an ancient collection of tablets that may contain cures for various diseases (including the illness Rachel's sister suffers from) before the men hired by the owner of a pharmaceutical company looking to maintain his bottom line?

I liked learning about the technology they mention in the book. They were nice enough to include an Author's Note at the end regarding more information on the subject. Overall, the book was good. My only regret - I wish I was half as smart as the two main characters. My take: ½

Life Getting In My Way

2009-07-22T23:12:00.004-05:00

Family and personal obligations have kept me from starting a book for over a week now! I want to read, but I don't want to start a new book since I know I don't have the time to read it in one sitting. I prefer reading books straight through with minimal interruptions. If I pick up a book with a minimal amount of time to read, I know I'll end up skimming through the book trying to find out what will happen. Do you read your books in one sitting or do you break it up in parts - reading when you have the time?

Review: "Burn" by Linda Howard

2009-07-12T23:55:00.018-05:00

I picked Linda Howard's new hardback Burn to read this weekend. It's about a lottery winner who is on a charity cruise and is coerced into cooperating with a mysterious (and, of course, gorgeous) man doing surveillance on a man in the stateroom next to her room. I liked the book except for the slow and choppy beginning. It starts out in present time, moves back 7 years to when the main character, Jenner, wins the lottery, and then moves forward to the time leading up to the cruise. Starting the book felt like coming into a movie half-way in. You're sort of lost and trying to figure out if you're even in the right place. Then, the chapters leading up to when Jenner wins the lottery seem sort of extraneous. I think it could all have been explained in a few pages and in a different manner that didn't slow down the pace.

However, once the cruise begins the pace picks up and remains pretty steady through the rest of the book. It was a little bit disconcerting at times to read about what was happening off the ship (I had to re-read character names to realize they were talking about characters on shore), but I guess there's no help for that since it's necessary to let the reader know what was happening with other characters. Overrall, though I enjoyed Howard's new book. It had the some of the same humor she used in To Die For and Mr. Perfect. And of course her heroine isn't anyone's door mat even if she's being held hostage. My take:

My TBR Pile - In Color

2009-07-12T12:34:00.007-05:00

I'm trying out this online library catalog called LibraryThing. I currently use Collectorz's Book Catalog to catalog my library, but I wanted a program that allowed me to share my collection with others. And since LibraryThing has a widget that is easy to set up I signed up. So, this morning, instead of reading (or doing chores and errands) I am adding more details to the list of to-be-read books I uploaded to LibraryThing late last night. I didn't add my entire library (it was time consuming enough just to set up my initial catalog) - just the books in my TBR pile. I think the widget looks pretty cool. Check it out - it's at the top of my page.

Candace Havens Signing

2009-07-11T12:14:00.011-05:00

Candace Havens is doing a book signing in Hurst, Texas this afternoon to celebrate the release of her new book Dragons Prefer Blondes. If it wasn't a 4+ hour drive and I didn't already have plans for this afternoon, I might have considered attending the signing. I love getting my books signed by the author. I believe they say it's more lucrative if the autograph isn't personalized in books, but I still prefer the personal touch. It must be hard to come up with something short and witty though.

I like Haven's Caruthers Series. They're quick reads that mix a little fashion, a jetsetting life, some paranormal beings, and romance within some eyecatching covers.

Roberts or Howard?

2009-07-10T12:06:00.008-05:00

Which new book do I want to start off the weekend - Nora Robert's Black Hills or Linda Howard's Burn? An adventure in the Black Hills of South Dakota or and an adventure at a charity cruise aboard a luxury liner? Ahh, the life of a reader is a well traveled one.

My First Blog

2009-07-09T14:05:00.008-05:00

So, I'm going to give this blogging thing a try. Considering that I'm usually reading or procrastinating, I hope I will be able to make time to update this blog after each book. I'm not good with summarizing, so the blogs will probably just consist of raves or complaints regarding each book. We'll see...