Buried by Books: Romance and Mystery Reviews

TBR Challenge Review: Locked and Loaded by HelenKay Dimon

2012-01-31T09:05:00.000-08:00

Format: ebook, mass market
Pub Date: August 2011
Publisher: Harlequin
FTC: Purchased myself

Yes, I'm nearly 2 full weeks late posting again. January was the month that turned my home into La Casa de Plague. Everyone was sick. Strep, ear infections, chest colds... I'm determined to get my groove back, though.

January's theme was category romances. I'm not much of a category reader anymore. I think I just got out the habit. Or had a few too many stinkers in a row. But having read and loved HelenKay Dimon's story in Holiday Kisses, I decided to try her category romantic suspense book, Locked and Loaded , that has been languishing, unread, on my digital TBR.

I think I'm going to have to go back and find HelenKay's full length books, or something that's not romantic suspense, because this one didn't work for me the same way her novella did. Her voice was...different, and I'm not sure if it's the genre, format, or just the book.

The plot revolves around WitSec and a private for-hire security team. Maybe I would have liked this one more if I had read the previous installments in the series, but I doubt it. The heroine felt flat to me. And the hero wasn't much better. Neither had much discernible emotion. At least of the romantic kind.

My Grade: C-

The Blurb:

Nothing was as it seemed… Not even the protection Maddie Timmons was promised when she'd entered the Witness Security Program. One of her handlers was missing, the other had burned her, and now Maddie was at risk.

All that stood between her and certain death was one sexy stranger.

Deep undercover, Recovery Project agent Adam Wright vowed to keep Maddie safe from the leak at WitSec. But Adam wasn't prepared for the confident woman he'd rescued, the sensuous lover who got under his skin. He could do nothing about her past being taken away, but he'd do anything to secure her future…even if it meant forsaking his own…

Recipe: Caramel Pecan Brownies

2012-01-26T06:00:00.000-08:00

Caramel Pecan Brownies
These were originally from a Pillsbury pamphlet cookbook. I have no idea what issue. I've been making these for years, usually when I run out of baking chocolate and only have cocoa on hand.

1 cup sugar
1/2 cup butter
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 eggs
2/3 cup flour
1/2 cup baking cocoa
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup coarsely chopped pecans
12 caramels
1 tablespoon milk

Heat oven to 350°F. Grease bottom and sides of 8 x 8 inch square pan. Mix sugar, butter, vanilla and eggs in a large bowl. Stir in flour, cocoa, baking powder and salt. Spread in the pan as evenly as possible. Sprinkle with pecans.

Bake 20-25 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.

Heat caramels and milk in saucepan over low heat, stirring frequently, until caramels are melted.* drizzle over warm brownies. Cool completely, about 1 hr. Cut into 4 rows by 4 rows. 16 brownies.

*You can also pop the caramels and milk in the microwave and cook on high for 30 seconds. Stir and heat in 15 second intervals until drizzling consistency.

When is a Bookstore Not a Bookstore?

2012-01-26T05:30:00.000-08:00

On a whim, I decided to pop on in to my old Barnes and Noble in Reno, NV. A place where I worked for 3 years right out of college. Where I did just about every job imaginable. And where I discovered the wonders of genre fiction.

This is the place that had over 200,000 books on the shelves during inventory. Two glorious stories of bay after bay of books.

That store is gone. Wiped away to make room for a Nook ereader showroom and a toy store. No, it's still Barnes and Noble. But the space devoted to books is easily half of what it was back in 2003. Or even 2007. Genre fiction is now squished in with fiction and literature. The space that used to house mystery, romance and sci fi is now filled with other topics.

And the history section. Oh the history section made me weep. It really did make me tear up. And it was after snapping this picture that my husband made me leave the store. Because that sadness was quickly changing to anger, and I was going to say something unkind to a store employee soon.

Here is where the history section was. Archaeology, World War II, biographies...all were housed in this part of the upper story. Now, it's nothing but toys from the escalator to the elevator. Fully 1/4 of the upstairs is nothing but toys.

I get having to diversify. I do understand the declining sales problem and narrow profit margins. But this feels like a violation. When books are no longer granted shelf space, why go into a bookstore? The serendipity of discovering a new book to try isn't going to happen if there's a toy section where those books used to be.

One more reason not to go into a brick and mortar store. Stick a fork in me. I'm done.
***
UPDATE:

Seems as if this is part of B&N's CEO William Lynch's master plan to "save" the chain. There was a lovely, adoring article from the New York Times over the weekend all about how "visionary" he is. Blergh. My favorite part of the article is this: BEFORE Mr. Lynch joined Barnes & Noble in 2009, he had never sold a book in his life. Color me unsurprised. B&N has a long tradition of hiring executives with zero bookselling experience. This move to turn the store into ToysRUS seems to be evidence of that. I don't think it's going to work when you're alienating the book buying public.

New Website Spiffiness

2012-01-25T19:59:00.000-08:00

In case you missed my celebration on Twitter, here's the big news:

Suzanne Enoch finally updated her website! Yea!

http://suzanneenoch.com/index.html

No more autoplay music. Up-to-date book info! Book lists. Coming soon section with titles and release dates. I'm in a happy place after seeing how much more useful this site is.

So far, eagle-eyed people (not me) have only spotted a few minor errors (a few mislabeled foreign editions and the wrong publisher credited for her latest book.) Not bad for such a hefty revamp.

Don't get me wrong. I adore Suzanne Enoch's books. Really. But I get frustrated when authors I adore fail to maintain their websites because I can't direct others there for information.

Now, if we could only get Linda Howard to actually *have* a website, we'd be all set.

Way to go, Suzanne! Here's hoping the new look pays off with hefty sales and some good buzz.

Hump Day Movie: Joy Ride

2012-01-25T10:33:00.000-08:00

It's been a long time since I've done a Hump Day movie post. This time, I thought I'd stick close to home.

Here it is: the one and only movie Hubs is in. It's just a few seconds. You don't see his face and he is uncredited. But he is there in the background, driving a truck in BFE Nevada. For which he made an obscene amount of money per hour. No wonder budgets are so high on movies.

His favorite part was the fact that a coworker was also on set driving a truck. But Hubs was the only one to make the finished film. There may have been some immature ribbing about that, too.

Random fact: the working title of this movie was Squelch. What is a squelch? In this context, it has to do with a CB radio. After asking Hubs to explain it to me 3 different times, I still don't understand exactly what it is. Nothing new there. Which is probably why they changed the name, come to think of it.

Review: In the Bleak Midwinter by Julia Spencer-Fleming

2012-01-20T16:51:00.000-08:00

Format: ebook, mass market paperback
Pub Date: 2003
Publisher: Minotaur
Length: 370 pages
FTC: Purchased myself

In an effort to read more mysteries this year, I picked up Julia Spencer-Fleming's much lauded first Clare Ferguson novel, In the Bleak Midwinter. Featuring a female Episcopal priest and a police chief, the novel is a mixture of genres that pushes a few buttons, surprises, and ultimately satisfies. With a few eye rolling episodes excepted (more on that later).

Clare Ferguson is the new priest for Millers Kill, a smaller town in upstate New York. Used to warmer climes, Clare is woefully unprepared for northern winters, and thus is constantly without warm boots, warm jackets, or a suitable car for the snow. Her day to day challenges are placed on the back burner when she finds an abandoned baby on the steps of her church. An event which causes her to cross paths with Russ Van Alstyne, the chief of police.

Russ is, not really surprisingly, astonished to discover that not only is the new priest of St. Alban's female, she's, smart, funny, approachable and down to earth. She convinces him to let her ride along on an evening patrol to gauge what kind of needs the town has and ends up discovering the body of a young girl, partially frozen in the snow. Unable to just let the police handle it, Clare continues to insert herself into both investigations: the search for the baby's parents and the quest for a killer.

This book hits quite a few of the mystery genre conventions: priest, plucky female amateur detective, small town with old fashioned values. But it also brings with it an incredibly vivid cast of characters and some unexpectedly gutsy choices.

Personally, I loved the friendship that develops between Clare and Russ. At first, it's companionable. And neighborly. And then it becomes clear that there is an attraction between the two. The only problem? Russ is married. Very, very married. And this edge to relationship is one of the book's strongest elements. It hovers in the background, largely unspoken and never acted upon. But the tension between the two is so strong that at times it rivals the suspense from the story.

The dual mysteries, no surprise, are related, and as Clare continues to interfere with/assist the investigation (and Russ), she finds herself in danger multiple times. And this is where I have some problems with the book.

Romance gets a bad wrap as a haven for Too Stupid To Live heroines (TSTL). Especially romantic suspense. These are the women who are so determined to prove they are capable and independent that they a) ignore sound advice and put themselves and everyone else in danger or b) think they are more competent than they are and put themselves and everyone else in danger. Or some combination of the two. Mystery has its own list of TSTL heroines. Some of the most popular female characters do this ALL THE TIME. And I hate it. But I really hate that the author chooses to pull the TSTL card with Clare.

Clare, the former army pilot, doesn't have enough sense not to drive a tiny 2WD car in the snow to a remote area without telling anyone where she's going. And I'm just not buying that particular piece of characterization. That's not being impetuous. That's being stupid.

But aside from that, and a few other niggling episodes where Clare inexplicably loses her common sense, this book was everything everyone promised it was. It was memorable, it was heart wrenching, it was suspenseful, and it was entertaining. I can't wait to pick up the next in the series, and I'm glad to be discovering it so late. There are plenty of books to enjoy.

My Grade: B+

Quickie Review: In Pursuit of Eliza Cynster by Stephanie Laurens

2012-01-19T12:28:00.000-08:00

Format: mass market, ebook
Pub Date: September 27, 2011
Publisher: Avon (Harper Collins)
FTC: Purchased myself

In preparation for the last in the Cynster sisters trilogy due out the end of this month, I picked up the 2nd book in the series to make sure I didn't miss anything important. I wish I hadn't bothered. If you've read Viscount Breckenridge to the Rescue , I can honestly say that there is no reason to read this book. It is a complete rehash of the first book, with a more delicate heroine, a scholarly hero, and villains who are worse than the original group in menace.

After finishing this book, I did what I usually do, and offered it to my mom who is another Stephanie Laurens fan. That same night, I got a text message from her: "Haven't I already read this?" Her confusion was understandable since it is the Exact. Same. Plot. There are some minor characters who are interesting and some Scottish elements I found intriguing. And the ending has some information that ties in with the last book, too. But otherwise? This book was phoned in.

It's not horribly written, and if you haven't read the first in the series, the repetition will probably not make you grind your teeth as badly, but this is a watered down version of what Stephanie Laurens is capable of, and extremely disappointing. Buy it used, borrow it from a friend, or try to get it from the library. This one is not worth your money.

My Grade: D

The Blurb:

Three heros, three rescues, three weddings.

The pleasure of your company is requested
at the wedding of Miss Eliza Cynster

...but not until she's rescued from a daring abduction by the most unexpected of heros!

Brazenly kidnapped from her sister Heather's engagement ball, Eliza Cynster is spirited north to Edinburgh. Desperate and determined to escape, she seizes upon the first possible champion who happens along - gentleman scholar Jeremy Carling.

Villains and rescues are a far cry from Jeremy's expertise, yet he cannot abandon a damsel in distress. But danger lurks and hurdles abound in their race to escape the mysterious laird, until a final confrontation on a windswept cliff reveals what their future life could hold - if both are bold enough to seize and own the unexpected love they now share.

The Case of the Creeping Crud

2012-01-19T12:09:00.000-08:00

Apologies for the radio silence and missing of the very first TBR Challenge post of the year! The kids got me sick. Again. But it seems as if the fever has subsided and my mom has stopped giving me pitying looks as she helps with the kids. So here's hoping there will be a lot more posts coming soon!

Review: Holiday Kisses by Jaci Burton, Shannon Stacey, HelenKay Dimon, and Alison Kent

2012-01-06T09:17:00.000-08:00

Format: ebook
Pub Date: December 5, 2011
Publisher: Carina Press
Length: 103,000 words
FTC: review copy courtesy of the publisher

I read this around Christmas time, but with all of the craziness going on, I didn't get the review up in a timely manner. But for those who read holiday books year round (like me) here's what I thought of the second Carina Press holiday anthology: overall, very good, although as is typical with anthos, there were some I liked more than others.

This Time Next Year by Alison Kent

Alison Kent was a new-to-me author, but I will definitely be looking for more of her books. I loved her characters, their quirks and the dialogue. The hero, especially, was fully formed and had tons of baggage. The only thing I didn't like was that our heroine was supposed to be a nurse, but displayed very little medical knowledge. That seemed weird. Plenty of 'trapped in a snowstorm' delightfulness here.
My Grade: B

A Rare Gift by Jaci Burton

I've read Ms. Burton before with mixed results. Often her books just don't work for me, emotionally. All the pieces are there, but they just don't "click" with the emotional side of my reading. That was the case here. Calliope is the younger sister of Wyatt's ex-wife, Cassandra. Still gun-shy after his marriage ended badly, the last person he wants to get involved with is Calliope.

In this case, I liked the characters, but felt like too much was left unexplained. Maybe I missed it, but the pain/rage from Wyatt was never fully explained. The antipathy he felt towards his ex seemed a bit excessive for a marriage that ended due to "wanting different things from life." And the resolution/confrontation scene at the end of this novella felt off. No big reveal. No emotion at all, really. I liked the main romance, but the back story and conflict just didn't work for me. (Also, even though families do stupid things with names, having two characters whose names are so similar is confusing. Calliope and Cassandra should have been named something else IMHO.)
My Grade: C

It's Not Christmas Without You by HelenKay Dimon

Although I have a couple of her books in my digital TBR, this is the first work by HKD that I've read. Shame. On. Me. There was a big of a tug-of-war between the Shannon Stacey story and this one as to which is my favorite, and this story won. I loved her voice. I loved the characters and the plot. I loved the pacing. Everything. I even loved that there are still some issues to work out at the end. Emotionally, this one got to me. I must have bawled through at least a 1/3 of it. This is a fabulous story with intense emotion, believable conflict, and flat-out wonderful writing.
My Grade: A

Mistletoe and Margaritas by Shannon Stacey

I've loved everything Shannon Stacey has released with Carina. Everything. And this one was no exception. I'm a huge sucker for friends-to-lovers stories, but this had a twist with the 'best friend's girl' angle thrown in. A story of love, loss, and hope, it was the perfect ending for the collection.

My Grade: A

My Grade: B+
The Blurb:

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like...Love!
A man gives the gift of trust and receives a second chance at love in return. A woman helps to heal the wounded heart of a soldier. A couple finds that true love knows no distance. And a young widow learns that there can be two great loves in a lifetime. Love, romance and passion come together in this collection of four seasonal shorts.
Anthology includes:
This Time Next Year by Alison Kent
A Rare Gift by Jaci Burton
It's Not Christmas Without You by HelenKay Dimon
Mistletoe and Margaritas by Shannon Stacey

2011 Reading Challenge Overview

2012-01-04T19:47:00.000-08:00

I didn't meet my reading challenge goal of 115 books, but I don't think I did too badly this year. I read 103 books, including novellas and audio books and not including rereads. I also managed to read quite a few authors who were on my List of Shame. Which resulted in a couple of backlist gloms.

For a reading goal this year, I think I'm going to stay at 115. And I'm going to try to whittle away some more at my LOS. Another goal is to read more mystery. I only read 7 books that are true mysteries. 12 if I count the Sci-Fi caper-ish books of Gail Carriger and the one steampunk mystery by George Mann. That's right around 10% of my reading, which is a little low. I'd like to be more balanced. And maybe sneak a non-fiction title in there, too.

I was able to take a few authors off of the List of Shame this year: Patricia Briggs, Larissa Ione, Gail Carriger, Nalini Singh and Ilona Andrews being the most noticeable ones. Of course, I have a few more authors to ADD to the list, too, including Julia Spencer Fleming.

How did your reading challenges go? Any goals for this year?

Happy New Year!

2012-01-01T10:46:00.000-08:00

Wishing health and happiness to everyone in 2012!

Recipe: Cashew Brittle

2011-12-21T15:32:00.000-08:00

I'd never made brittle before, so this was an experiment for me. It turned out, especially with the helpful high altitude directions. I'm not a huge cashew fan, but had received some as a gift. They're pretty good in this! If cashews aren't your thing either, you can substitute unsalted, raw Spanish peanuts.

This is from Betty Crocker Cookies and Bars November 2005.

Ingredients:
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon water
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 cup water
1 cup light corn syrup
3 tablespoons butter
2 1/2 cups (12 oz) cashew halves

Heat oven to 200 degrees F. Grease two 15x 12 inch cookie sheets with butter; keep warm in oven. (Keeping sheets warm allows the candy to be spread 1/4 inch thick without it setting up.) Grease long metal spatula with butter; set aside (I didn't bother with this and had no problems with sticking.)

In small bowl, mix baking soda, 1 teaspoon water and the vanilla; set aside. In 3 quart saucepan, mix sugar, 1 cup water, and the corn syrup. Cook over medium heat 25-35 minutes, stirring occasionally, to 240 degrees (soft ball stage) or until small amount of mixture dropped into a cup of very cold water forms a soft ball that flattens when removed from the water.

Stir in butter and cashews. Cook 10-15 minutes, stirring constantly, to 300 degrees or until small amount of mixture dropped into cup of cold water separates into hard, brittle threads. Immediately remove from heat. Quickly stir in baking soda mixture until light and foamy.

Pour half of mixture onto each cookie sheet and quickly spread about 1/4 inch thick with buttered spatula. [except for the cashews which are way thicker than that ;) ] Cool completely, at least 1 hr. Break into pieces. Store in airtight container at room temperature

HIGH ALTITUDE:
(3500-6500 feet)

Candies should be cooked for a shorter time at high altitudes. There is an approximate decrease of 2 degrees for every increase of 1,000 feet in elevation.

For example: I live at 3500 feet, so I reduced my temps by 6 degrees and everything turned out great!

TBR Challenge Review: Pleasure Unbound by Larissa Ione

2011-12-21T05:00:00.000-08:00

Format: Mass market paperback
Pub Date: July 2008
Publisher: Grand Central (Hachette)
Length: 389 pages
FTC: Traded for it through Paperback Swap over a year ago

So December's optional theme was holiday stories. Any holiday. And, being the holiday junkie I am, I didn't have any in the TBR. I read those as soon as they get into my hot little hands. So, I picked a demon book instead. Yeah, that just screams Ho Ho Ho doesn't it?

The main reason I picked this particular book is because Larissa Ione is on my List of Shame. The list of authors I haven't read yet, and anytime I mention that fact, I get exclamations of incredulity directed at me. Enough already! I've read her. And...

I regret to say that I'm not sure what the buzz is all about. I did not love this book as much as I'd hoped to. Mainly because the I-so-horny demon stuff just didn't work for me. And since that was pretty much the premise of the whole book, it was a struggle to finish.

Eidolon, a demon doctor on the verge of changing into a rampaging monster if he doesn't find a mate, spends pretty much the entire book with a hard-on. That's not an exaggeration. If he's not having sex, he's thinking about having sex. Which, yeah, is probably true of most guys anyway, but hearing about his swollen member every other page got tedious.

Now I'm no prude with my reading material. I don't mind sex scenes. I don't mind explicit sex scenes. What I do mind is when the entire novel revolves around sex, and I'm supposed to buy the sexual relationship turns romantic relationship when all the characters do is get nekkid.

Our heroine was little better. A demon slayer who is actually part demon and doesn't know it. Her character has to come to terms with some serious changes in her life. She has a growth arc, which probably would have worked for me a little better if it wasn't squished in the last 100 pages.

Although the writing is descriptive and the demon world building was well done, I think it's safe to say this just isn't my cup of tea. I'm hoping her newer series works a little better for me.

My Grade: C

Review: His Mistress By Christmas by Victoria Alexander

2011-12-13T08:00:00.000-08:00

Format: Hardcover (also available as an ebook)
Pub Date: Oct 1, 2011
Publisher: Kensington
FTC: Review copy courtesy of the publisher

If you're looking for an angsty, deep book about the holidays, this isn't it. If you're looking for a clever book about two people who stumble into love around Christmas, this is the book for you.

Set in the late 1800s in England, His Mistress by Christmas is a dialogue-heavy book where most of the plot is carried by the characters' interactions. And not just between the heroine and hero. As is typical with Ms. Alexander's style, there are friends and family littered throughout the novel. Each unique, interfering, and with their own opinion about the main romance.

I really liked the guy chasing the girl dynamic, but felt like there just wasn't that much conflict in this book. There really is little doubt as to how it will progress...excepting, of course, the family invasion at their romantic Christmas getaway.

I do have to say that I don't think this is hardcover worthy. It's cute, and I may read it again, but it's not something I want to add to my hardcover romance collection. Unless you're giving it as a gift, I'd suggest waiting for paperback. But if you don't want to wait, you can get it for about the price of a trade paperback from Amazon.

My Grade: B-

The Blurb:

For three years, Lady Veronica Smithson has been a happy, independent widow. Still, the right gentleman could provide the benefits of marriage without the tedious restrictions. And in Sir Sebastian Hadley-Attwater, renowned explorer and rogue, Veronica is sure she has found him.

Sebastian will inherit his fortune in a matter of weeks—if his family deems him responsible enough. There’s no better way to prove his maturity than with a home and a wife. But though the lovely Veronica will share his bed, she refuses to marry.

An intimate sojourn at his new country house will surely change her mind. For Sebastian never takes no for an answer. And even in the midst of mischief-making relatives and unexpected complications, he intends to persuade his Christmas mistress that they belong together—in this and every season to come…

Pearl Harbor Rememberance Day

2011-12-07T09:29:00.001-08:00

This year marks the 70th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor. With all of the attention given to September 11 every year, it's easy to forget that it wasn't the first time we had been attacked. And we aren't the only ones to have to deal with the horror of the war that followed.

Over 1,000 men lost their lives on the USS Arizona, alone. Many of them are still entombed there. I hope we continue to mark the anniversary of the attack as a way to honor those who were killed as well as the entire generation (my grandparent's generation) who served or grew up during WWII.

FDR's Pearl Harbor Address:

Life has put together a collection of rare photos of the aftermath of the attack, which you can see here:

Recipe: Caramel Pecan Shortbread Cookies

2011-12-05T09:11:00.001-08:00

This is the most-requested cookie on my holiday cookie tray. The recipe is from Land o Lakes.

Cookie
1/2 cup butter, softened
1/4 cup powdered sugar
2 tablespoons firmly packed brown sugar
1 cup all-purpose flour
3/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt

Topping
30 unwrapped caramels
1 tablespoon half and half
1/2 cup chopped pecans

Heat oven to 325°F. Combine butter, powdered sugar and brown sugar in large bowl. Beat at medium speed, scraping bowl often, until creamy. Reduce speed to low; add flour, baking powder and salt. Beat until well mixed.

Press dough evenly into 8-inch square baking pan lined with aluminum foil; prick with tines of fork every 1/2 inch. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until golden brown. Lift cookies from pan using aluminum foil. Immediately cut into 20 (approximately 4x1/2 inch) sticks. Cool completely.

Place caramels and half & half in microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on HIGH, stirring twice, until caramels are melted (1 to 2 minutes). Dip ends of shortbread sticks into melted caramel mixture; roll in pecans. Place onto waxed paper; let stand until set.

Review: Scandalous Desires by Elizabeth Hoyt

2011-12-03T17:39:00.001-08:00

Format: mass market paperback
Pub Date: November 2011
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Length: 370 pages
FTC: Review copy courtesy of the publisher

I haven't read an Elizabeth Hoyt book in a long, long time. I'd forgotten how awesome she is. Her heroes, especially, are always a bit edgy, which I love.

This book is for all of those who are suffering under Regency England overload. Not only is this not set in a shiny ballroom, stuffed full of eligible aristocrats, the hero is a river pirate. That's right, a RIVER PIRATE. How awesome is that? And although there is a baron as a secondary character, most of the characters are of common stock.

At its core, Scandalous Desires is about the redemption of Charming Mickey O'Connor, the river pirate. It's about how a man who breathes violence and regrets none of his thousands of terrible deeds, is haunted by his dealings with one innocent woman. And how that woman, devastated by his actions, learns to forgive and love him.

I really enjoyed the atmosphere and grit in this book. The violence, the grime, the horror of life in the slums of London. Too often, the ugliness is glossed over in historical romance, and that's not the case here. Into this world, Hoyt brings characters who have real personalities, real wants and desires, and complex motivations we don't always understand. I also appreciated the crudeness. That Hoyt doesn't try to sanitize the salacious thoughts of a pirate by substituting less offensive words.

As much as I loved this book, there are some irritating issues that keep this from being an A read. Not the least of which is the heroine. I get that we're supposed to love the juxtaposition of saint and sinner. Of Madonna and the Devil. But I really did not like the hit-you-over-the-head glorification of motherhood. Babies are not sexy. And I say this as a mom of two. Having a young child around, no matter the nursemaids to take care of necessities, is a mood killer for me.

I also have some issues with the hero. Part of what sets this book apart from the crowd is its earthiness. It has moments of crudeness, of filth and squalor, of ugliness. This isn't a romance fantasy, but a tale of two people who live in a "real" world with all of its warts showing. And Mickey is a part of that ugliness, low born accent and all. To have him turn off the accent and get rid of his persona at will felt like it undercut some of what made this book different.

I haven't read any other books in the Maiden Lane series, so I can say with confidence that this book can be read as a stand-alone. There is some obvious backstory that would probably be enriched by reading in order, but it wasn't important enough to detract from understanding the book.

If you're looking for a historical romance that doesn't fit the usual mode, I recommend giving this one a try.

My Grade: B

The Blurb:

Can a pirate learn that the only true treasure lies in a woman's heart?

Widowed Silence Hollingbrook is impoverished, lovely, and kind—and nine months ago she made a horrible mistake. She went to a river pirate for help in saving her husband and in the process made a bargain that cost her her marriage. That night wounded her so terribly that she hides in the foundling home she helps run with her brother. Except now that same river pirate is back...and he's asking for her help.

"Charming" Mickey O'Connor is the most ruthless river pirate in London. Devastatingly handsome and fearsomely intelligent, he clawed his way up through London's criminal underworld. Mickey has no use for tender emotions like compassion and love, and he sees people as pawns to be manipulated. And yet he's never been able to forget the naive captain's wife who came to him for help and spent one memorable night in his bed...talking.

When his bastard baby girl was dumped in his lap—her mother having died—Mickey couldn't resist the Machiavellian urge to leave the baby on Silence's doorstep. The baby would be hidden from his enemies and he'd also bind Silence to him by her love for his daughter.

Happy Holiday Season!

2011-12-02T08:30:00.001-08:00

November was a really bad month for my blogging and reading. Here's hoping December is much, much better!

I'm super excited today because it is our tree lighting here in town. We call it Sparkle, and for us it means that the merchants stay open late (instead of closing up shop at 6pm), there are free nibbles everywhere (including the best pumpkin fudge at the Drug Store), and everyone who has moved away that can manage comes back for a holiday visit. It's like a giant, town-sized reunion.

And let's not forget the Truckers' Light Parade. Yes. It is exactly what it sounds like. Big rigs, tow trucks, fire trucks, log trucks, snow plows etc are decorated in Christmas lights and driven around Main St. It's as silly as it sounds, but the kids are always wowed by it.

So, anyway, today is the official kick-off-the-holiday-season day in my neck of the woods. What do you do in your area?

December 1 is World AIDS Day

2011-12-01T15:28:00.001-08:00

It seems as though AIDS has faded into the background of our consciousness these days. Or it's mentioned in passing as an epidemic in Africa. But AIDS is a global epidemic. Having grown up during the height of the epidemic, when diagnosis meant a quick and painful death and there was no drug cocktail to prevent HIV from becoming AIDS, I haven't forgotten. People are still being infected. People are still dying from this disease. And there is still NO cure.

Please take a moment today to think about this disease and those who suffer with it.
http://aids.gov/world-aids-day/
http://www.worldaidsday.org/

TBR Challenge Review: Zero Dog War by Keith Melton

2011-11-16T10:32:00.001-08:00

Format: ebook
Pub date: Feb 2011
Publisher: Samhain
FTC: Purchased myself
Why it was in the TBR: Bought it based on tons of positive buzz on release day, then never read it. Yeah, I suck.

These last few months have been crazy busy with RL obligations and events, so my reading tally isn't very good. It's pretty dismal, actually. The TBR Challenge is a good way to force my procrastinating self to finish a dang book, though. This month's theme, something other than romance, was also a good excuse to dig through my Kindle backlog and find a book I'd forgotten I had.

Of course, I'm working on over two weeks late with the post, but better late than never!

The Zero Dog War is a campy extravaganza of over the top humor, action, a smidge of romance, and more zombies than you can shake a stick at. Or a knife for that matter.

My husband became very annoyed by the chuckles and snorts of laughter coming from me as I read this in the car. I don't think a page went by without me making some sound of audible mirth.This kind of humor won't work for everyone. It's like those B movies on Syfy: intentionally so silly at times that it mocks itself and the readers. And I'm okay with that. If subtlety is your thing, this book is not for you.

A few choice quotes:

"'What if my destined mate walks past? She won't recognize me if I hide my wang.'"

"He didn't sparkle either. Only fairies sparkled, and mostly when you lit them on fire."

"That was the problem with zombies. They sported a whole fuck you, I'm dead attitude I hated."

There were some pacing problems for me about 3/4 of the way through (although that could just be lingering reader inattention disorder that has messed up my reading groove for the last month). And at times, the similes seemed a little too plentiful. Everything was like something else. If you're not simile-sensitized, it's probably not noticeable.

Overall though, this was a hilarious, fun, and relatively fast read. I hope we get more of these characters in future books. They are a hoot.

My Grade: B+

The (very long!) blurb:

After accidentally blowing up both a client facility and a cushy city contract in the same day, pyromancer and mercenary captain Andrea Walker is scrambling to save her Zero Dogs. A team including (but not limited to) a sexually repressed succubus, a werewolf with a thing for health food, a sarcastic tank driver/aspiring romance novelist, a three-hundred-pound calico cat, and a massive demon who really loves to blow stuff up.

With the bankruptcy vultures circling, Homeland Security throws her a high-paying, short-term contract even the Zero Dogs can’t screw up: destroy a capitalist necromancer bent on dominating the gelatin industry with an all-zombie workforce. The catch? She has to take on Special Forces Captain Jake Sanders, a man who threatens both the existence of the team and Andrea’s deliberate avoidance of romantic entanglements.

As Andrea strains to hold her dysfunctional team together long enough to derail the corporate zombie apocalypse, the prospect of getting her heart run over by a tank tread is the least of her worries. The government never does anything without an ulterior motive. Jake could be the key to success…or just another bad day at the office for the Zeroes.

Audio review: Angel's Blood by Nalini Singh

2011-11-09T10:33:00.000-08:00

Format: Audible download
Release Date: 5/7/10
Publisher: Tantor Audio
Length: 10 hrs 32 min
Narration: Justine Eyre
FTC: Purchased myself

I've been steadily working my way through the shamefully long list of authors I haven't tried yet, but who have been recommended to me from multiple sources. At a blogger dinner I attended back in April, everyone was raving about Nalini Singh. Most of the praise centered around her Psy-Changeling series, but it was the Guild Hunter books that appealed, so I started there.

My first thought on hearing about the series was angels? Call me a traditionalist, but I just don't see angels as all that sexy. But Ms. Singh changed my mind. In her world, angels are not celestial beings. They are immortals, powerful and deadly. They are also the creators of vampires, choosing from among the mortals who apply for immortality in exchange for 100 years of servitude to their makers. This intertwining of angels and vampires was such a unique angle that I was intrigued.

It is this contract of servitude that creates a job for another paranormal being: a hunter. Hunters are genetically gifted with an ability to scent vampires. And the best one in New York is Elena Deveraux, a fact that brings her into contact with the bad-ass archangel of New York, Raphael.

I really enjoyed the sexual tension in this book. The multiple layers of attraction, the knowledge that such an attraction is dangerous. The fact that Raphael isn't human and doesn't play by human rules. All of that helped keep the book emotionally charged while still telling the story of another angel turned monster and the savagery he leaves behind. I think the book is a bit genre blending because it doesn't quite follow the conventions of paranormal romance, but it does have romantic elements. It also has some pretty hot scenes, which makes it not fit quite comfortably in urban fantasy either.

It could be the format that made it more noticeable, but there were some phrases I felt were a bit overused. That were a little eye-rolling at times. But other than that one little issue, I felt the book was solidly written.

The narrator has a bit of a nasal whine to her voice, which annoyed me at first but I gradually got used to it. She does have different voices for the characters (a must!) and does a good job putting emotion into the performance.

If audio's not your thing, that's ok. This book is also available in mass market paperback and as an ebook.

My Grade: A-

The Blurb:

Vampire hunter Elena Deveraux is hired by the dangerously beautiful Archangel Raphael. But this time, it's not a wayward vamp she has to track. It's an archangel gone bad.

The job will put Elena in the midst of a killing spree like no other—and pull her to the razor's edge of passion. Even if the hunt doesn't destroy her, succumbing to Raphael's seductive touch just may. For when archangels play, mortals break.

So You Think You Can Write: Harlequin Conference November 7-11

2011-11-04T11:11:00.000-07:00

Want to write a romance novel? Harlequin is holding its 2nd annual So You Think You Can Write event November 7-11, 2011. More information can be found on the website: http://www.soyouthinkyoucanwrite.com/

From the press release:

So You Think You Can Write allows hopeful romance novelists to spend an entire working week with more than 50 Harlequin editors through social media tools such as podcasts, videos, webinars, blog posts, community discussions and Twitter. Aspiring authors have the opportunity to learn valuable insider tips and have their writing samples critiqued by professional editors.

There's a contest to go along with it that includes a chance to receive a publishing contract with Harlequin.

You can also find more information by following along on Twitter.

Heroes and Heartbreakers: RIMBYs

2011-11-01T10:59:00.000-07:00

How do you feel about romances in your backyard? Love them? Hate them? C'mon over and chat with me at Heroes and Heartbreakers today.

Review: Romancing the Countess by Ashley March

2011-10-31T08:34:00.000-07:00

Format: mass market, ebook
Pub Date: September 6, 2011
Publisher: Signet
Length: 320 pages
FTC: Review copy provided by the publisher

I'm not normally a fan of books that deal, even indirectly, with infidelity. It's just not a favorite theme of mine. Romancing the Countess surprised me, though, by the way it takes two characters linked by that ultimate betrayal and fashions a new, happier story for them.

I think this is one of those books that people will love or hate. It's hard to assign a grade to, at least for me, because it is so very angsty. Sebastian, in particular, is wounded by the discovery that the wife he loved so deeply was having an affair and died while trying to leave him. He's angry as well (with good reason) and I felt for him.

The writing is excellent. So good, that I felt Sebastian was damaged. Too wounded for me to believe he would recover so quickly from it to fall in love again. Especially with someone who could daily remind him of that betrayal. This was a deep, well done story, but because I'm unsure of the HEA, I'm lowering the grade just a little.

My Grade: B+

The Blurb:

Sebastian Madinger, the Earl of Wriothesly, thought he'd married the perfect woman-until a fatal accident revealed her betrayal with his best friend. After their deaths, Sebastian is determined to avoid a scandal for the sake of his son. But his best friend's widow is just as determined to cast her mourning veil aside by hosting a party that will surely destroy both their reputations and expose all of his carefully kept secrets...

Leah George has carried the painful knowledge of her husband's affair for almost a year. All she wants now is to enjoy her independence and make a new life for herself-even if that means being ostracized by the Society whose rules she was raised to obey. Now that the rumors are flying, there's only one thing left for Sebastian to do: silence the scandal by enticing the improper widow into becoming a proper wife. But when it comes to matters of the heart, neither Sebastian nor Leah is prepared for the passion they discover in each other's arms....

The woods are lovely, dark and deep

2011-10-27T11:03:00.000-07:00

Since I am suffering from earthquake hangover due to the 4.7M earthquake that woke me out of a nice, comfy snooze last night, I decided today would be the day I took a walk in the woods. There's a lovely outdoor education program up here, with equally lovely trails situated near our elementary school. I figured if kids can walk it, I can too.

So, huffing and puffing (and toting my camera) I walked up Boyle's Ravine. At least a little way.

This doesn't look too bad, right? It gets steeper. Wheeze.

The weirdness of evergreens mixing with fall foliage.

It was really, really cold. See? I have proof.

Not sure what causes these spots (I'm guessing an unsexy fungus) but they look pretty cool hanging by their lonesome from the empty branches.

I could hear water the entire time, and finally found it towards the end of my walk.

Right when I get ready to go, the sun makes an appearance over the ridge. Could've used that earlier Mr. Sun. Brrr.

Walking back to the car, I spotted this busy little guy. He glared at me for a little bit, but wouldn't drop the acorn so that he could yell, too.

All, in all, a nice walk. I am now frozen to the bone, cannot feel my rear end, and am contemplating something warm for lunch...

Hump Day Classic Movie: The Watcher in the Woods (1980)

2011-10-26T03:00:00.000-07:00

Raise your hand if this movie scared you as a child/adult. When I was little, The Watcher in the Woods was constantly on the television. And no matter how many times I saw it, it scared me. Something about Bette Davis's creepiness gives me the chills even now. (Although NCIS junkie that I am, I can now enjoy the incredibly young David McCallum aka Duckie)

Honestly, it's hard to believe this is a Disney movie. Disney is so toothless anymore. But if you need a Halloween movie that is spooky without being gory, this is it. (I know I mentioned this in passing last year, but it really does deserve its own Hump Day post.)

The trailer is available on youtube here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3DFacqQp8uw

If you want something more modern this Halloween, try Monster House. It's a little intense for really young children, but it has lovely animation and lots of heart.

TBR Challenge Review: Soulless by Gail Carriger

2011-10-25T09:53:00.000-07:00

Format: ebook (also available on audio and mass market paperback)
Pub Date: 2009
Publisher: Orbit
Length: 384
FTC: Purchased myself

*Spoilers*

I am a sucky TBR Challenge participant. This makes the third month in a row I've procrastinated on my challenge read. Although it's the first time I've actually MISSED the posting day. Apologies for my suckiness.

Anyhoo, this month's topic was paranormal or romantic suspense. I finally managed to read a book I've had on my Kindle for months (maybe a year?) and whose praise I've been hearing for even longer: Soulless by Gail Carriger.

Billed as a steampunk romance, I can say with confidence that it's really not. There are a few scattered elements that may qualify, but they are minimal window dressing. Gaslight? Maybe. Paranormal? Definitely.

Alexia Tarabotti is an on-the-shelf spinster with a forthright attitude and a penchant for parasols. [If this sounds familiar, it is. There are a lot of echoes from Amelia Peabody in this book.] She's minding her own business in the library during a ball when a vampire attacks her. After accidentally staking said vampire with her very sharp hairpin, she and the werewolf alpha, Lord Maccon, try to discover what prompted the attack and discover something far more sinister going on in the streets and houses of London.

I had a few instances where Alexia seemed to act out of character. Where I just didn't buy that she'd react a certain way. Or that Lord Maccon would allow certain things to happen. Both were usually when Lord Maccon and Alexia were... intimately involved. I can understand Alexia being overwhelmed by the chemistry between her and Lord Maccon. I can understand Lord Maccon focusing intently on Alexia. What I found hard to stomach was that either could so forget themselves when IN DANGER.

I also had some issues with the ending. I felt let down, and I'm really not clear as to why. It could be that after the teasing throughout the book, the final 'act' as it were was too easy for both of them.

Despite it's lack of substantial steampunkery, I really enjoyed this book. Gail Carriger's voice is light, cheeky and fun to read. Vivid characters, palpable chemistry, and a sense of ridiculous make this a keeper for me. I'm definitely going to be reading the next book in the series.

"I did not do anything. You opened the door. I simply fell out of it. A man was attacking me with a wet handkerchief. What else was I supposed to do?"

Lord Maccon could not say much in response to such an outlandish defense.

So he merely repeated, "A wet handkerchief?"

My Grade: B+

The Blurb:

Alexia Tarabotti is laboring under a great many social tribulations. First, she has no soul. Second, she's a spinster whose father is both Italian and dead. Third, she was rudely attacked by a vampire, breaking all standards of social etiquette.

Where to go from there? From bad to worse apparently, for Alexia accidentally kills the vampire -- and then the appalling Lord Maccon (loud, messy, gorgeous, and werewolf) is sent by Queen Victoria to investigate.

With unexpected vampires appearing and expected vampires disappearing, everyone seems to believe Alexia responsible. Can she figure out what is actually happening to London's high society? Will her soulless ability to negate supernatural powers prove useful or just plain embarrassing? Finally, who is the real enemy, and do they have treacle tart?

SOULLESS is a comedy of manners set in Victorian London: full of werewolves, vampires, dirigibles, and tea-drinking.

Review: Viscount Breckenridge to the Rescue by Stephanie Laurens

2011-10-21T11:14:00.000-07:00

Format: Mass market pb
Pub Date: August 2011
Publisher: Avon
Length: 440 pages
FTC: Purchased myself

I am a hopeless Stephanie Laurens addict. Hope. Less. I own most of the original Bar Cynster in hardcover. A Secret Love is one of my all-time favorite books. But even I had to admit that the last series Stephanie Laurens put out was...not good. A few of the books in the Black Cobra Quartet were downright unreadable. At least for me. With this book, she's returning to her successful Cynster series and sounding more like her old self.

For the uninitiated, Stephanie Laurens has a very specific voice. Certain phrases crop up. And there are OMG-will-it-never-end? sex scenes. And horse metaphors. But the books are STILL addictive.

Viscount Breckenridge to the Rescue takes us back to the Cynster family via the younger female cousins. Heather Cynster is one of the younger sisters of Gabriel and Lucifer. [Here is where I cheat and go to SL's website to peek at her family tree.] She's all grown up and on the hunt for a hero. Enter the patronizing Viscount Breckenridge, whose attempts to shield her from scandalous happenings at a very naughty party results in her being kidnapped and him being forced into charging to the rescue.

If you like the older books by Stephanie Laurens, you will probably enjoy this one. It's not as good, or as tightly plotted as those early books, but it has the same vibe. It doesn't have the same emotional intensity, but it does have the same level of sensuality you'd expect from this author. The kidnapping plot is a bit...odd. The lack of obvious peril mutes the tension a bit. And there's a return of the Lady of the Vale woo woo stuff that first appeared (then promptly disappeared) in Scandal's Bride .

On a personal reading note, I was unable to find her standard phrase, "her lungs seized." I was quite disappointed by that, as it's kind of like an Easter egg hunt. I spent the whole book looking for that phrase. Dang it.

My Grade: B-

The Blurb:

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 . . .

Review: Joanne Fluke's Lake Eden Cookbook

2011-10-20T10:31:00.000-07:00

Format: Hardcover, ebook
Publisher: Kensington
Pub Date: October 1, 2011
Length: 320 pages
FTC: Review copy courtesy of the publisher

I've seen a few cookbooks based on popular series come and go over the years, but this is the first one that I can say did a good job capturing the feel of the series on which it was based.

There are zero pictures in the Lake Eden Cookbook. It is, instead, a hardcover copy of what one would expect from a real community cookbook. The kind you buy from churches or as a fundraiser where everyone contributes a recipe or two and the notes/serving suggestions are delightfully informal. There's even a full color map of the town on the endsheets.

The recipes themselves are mostly baking ones (in line with what Joanne Fluke's readers would expect). There are a few, homey recipes for main dishes as well. This book has all of the recipes from the series so far as well as about a dozen new ones. The only thing that bugs me is that the butter used is "salted" and I'm an unsalted butter purist. *Shrug*

Bottom line: This is a well done series tie-in book. It might not fit the bill for those who want photos to work from, but it will make an excellent holiday gift for any culinary mystery fan. Well done.

My Grade: A-

Hump Day Movie: Once Bitten (1985)

2011-10-19T16:30:00.000-07:00

I'm not a huge Jim Carrey fan. Most of his movies annoy the heck out of me. But I have a soft spot for this one.

Don't get me wrong. Once Bitten sucks. (Pun intended) But it's also fun to watch Carrey at the beginning of his career, before he went all crazy and weird and was just plain goofy.

Plus, how can you resist with a plot like this: A vampire Countess needs to drink the blood of a virgin in order to keep her eternal beauty. It seems that all is hopeless, until she bumps into Mark Kendall.

Cookbook Review: Junior's Dessert Cookbook by Alan Rosen, Beth Allen

2011-10-14T10:01:00.000-07:00

Junior's Dessert Cookbook: 75 Recipes for Cheesecakes, Pies, Cookies, Cakes, and More

Format: Hardcover
Publisher: Taunton
Pub Date: October 2011
Length: 192 pages
FTC: Digital review galley from the publisher

I was looking forward to reviewing this cookbook, since I loved the original Junior's cookbook. But unfortunately, the recipes were not to my taste. I love baking, as followers of the blog know very well, but not when every recipe calls for dozens of ingredients and the instructions take up two full pages.

The few easy recipes in the book are so overly simplistic, they feel like filler.

Bottom line is that I wasn't even tempted to try the recipes. I was turned off by their complexity. This might work for someone with pastry chef-like dedication or someone who really wants to stretch their abilities. But for the average, everyday chef, it's a small book filled with yummy looking, but intimidating recipes. I'd far rather buy most of these desserts than make them. And maybe that's the point?

Also, this is a hardcover with a list price of $25 for a grand total of 75 recipes and 192 pages. No. Just no.

My Grade: C-

Tis the Season to be Sinful by Adrienne Basso

2011-10-13T08:30:00.000-07:00

Format:Mass Market, ebook
Pub Date: October 1, 2011
Publisher: Kensington
Length: 343 pages
FTC: Review copy courtesy of the publisher

There's a lovely, old-fashioned feel to the prose in Tis the Season to be Sinful. It's one of the few books I've read recently that feels thoroughly steeped in the period. But, unfortunately, the conflict is all over the place, the characters somewhat shallow, and the holiday elements seem more engaging than the romance.

My problems with the book center mainly around the lack of focus to the story. It seems like it's just not sure which problem it wants to explore about our hero (our heroine seems marginalized throughout.) Do we explore the working class values of the American? His inability to join in with Christmas festivities? His absence from the new home he married to get for months on end? Or his strained non-relationship with his wife's children? There are so many different mini-conflicts in this book that all are dealt with in an unsatisfying and superficial way.

While this book did its job, it's not something I'll be reading again. I loved the holiday elements, but for some reason, the romance was just...ok. Since I did manage to read it in only a couple of sittings, I'm giving it higher marks than it might sound like it deserves.

My Grade: C

The Blurb:

The Season For Surprises. . .
Juliet Wentworth knew what she was getting into: a marriage of convenience that will save her estate and protect her family long into the future. But she wasn't expecting to find the passion of a lifetime in her new husband's arms. After just one night, Juliet knows a marriage in name only will never be enough. . .
The Season For Seduction. . .
Richard Harper's beautiful new bride has him reeling with desire--and running for cover. After all, falling in love was never part of the bargain. Yet when Christmastime celebrations bring him back to their country manor and back into Juliet's arms, Richard finds his wife is determined--and all too able--to win over his heart, one kiss at a time. . .

Review: A Beginner's Guide to Rakes by Suzanne Enoch

2011-10-12T09:08:00.000-07:00

Format: mass market paperback, ebook
Pub Date: October 4, 2011
Publisher: St. Martin's
Length: 339 pages
FTC: Review copy courtesy of the publisher

Let's just get this out of the way: the title, A Beginner's Guide to Rakes, has zip to do with the story. Nada. Zilch. Squat. It's a throwaway title. And that pisses me off a little because this plot could have had so many good titles for it. Some hint about the contents. But...no. There is no guide. And the "hero" isn't really a rake, either.

The basic premise: a destitute widow blackmails an old lover into funding her plans for a gaming club. The club, the Tantalus Club to be precise, is located in the downstairs portion of her only remaining residence, having sold all other property to settled her deceased husband's debts.

When I heard Enoch was moving to a new publisher, I was, quite frankly, a bit worried. She has a unique voice. Her characters are nearly always smart, witty, and give as good as they get. That isn't missing here, but the book as a whole reads a little more bitter and sharp in tone than most of Enoch's backlist. There's very little real humor here. And nearly no family dynamic, which tends to soften some of the Enoch books.

Some people might have a hard time with Diane, our heroine. She's a bit unsympathetic. Not that our hero is any better. Even though she's supposed to be emotionally wounded etc etc, I felt like she was nearly emotionless. Perhaps a few scenes showing her vulnerability might have helped, but as it was, I had a difficult time believing she would soften towards the hero, Oliver, no matter the inducement.

(Also, I was a bit squicked out to have h/h essentially barter about a sexual encounter. When one or both parties was still filled with antipathy towards the other. It's a personal preference, so others may not be bothered by it, but I prefer at least some level of respect before our lead characters get nekkid.)

I have to say that while I enjoyed the banter, which at the beginning was so laden with vitriol I had a hard time believing Enoch wrote this, I found some of the dialogue to be a bit anachronistic. I can't pinpoint which phrases, while probably correct, felt modern, but it was an niggling irritation. Which is weird since I'm not usually bothered by that in most historicals. It could be just because most historicals don't have so much dialogue in them all at once. I'm not sure. But it did rip me out of the story a time or two.

The pair are constantly fighting: Diane shoots the hero in the arm, throws a candelabra at his head...not to mention the nonstop verbal assaults:

"I'm afraid the detriments of your character far outweigh the benefits of your body."
"You didn't think that then."
"I was stupid and lonely. Now I am neither. [...] I want you out of my private rooms."
"I'll leave your rooms, he agreed. "For now. But I'll wager everything I own that I won't be leaving your thoughts. "
Arrogant Man. "No, both you and the rats in the cellar have my attention."

Overall, this was a well crafted book with realistic (if irritating) characters. But it's definitely not one of Enoch's better books. I hope the next few in the series aren't as biting in tone as this one is, because while I love the give and take of snappy banter, I didn't enjoy the shrillness of this book.

My Grade: B-/C+

Disclaimer: I read this book in the middle of horrible reading slump. That may have affected my enjoyment of it.

The Blurb:

All of London is abuzz with the return of the utterly alluring, recently widowed Diane Benchley. Will she remarry? What will she do with her late husband’s fortune? Sociey is shocked by her announcement—at the Grand Ball, of all places!—that she plans to open an exclusive gentleman’s gaming club in the family mansion. But no one is more stunned than the Marquis of Haybury, Oliver Warren.

Years ago, Oliver and Diane shared a private indiscretion. Now Diane threatens to reveal Oliver’s most ungentlemanly secrets…unless he agrees to help her. A notorious gambler—and rake—Oliver is overqualified to educate Diane in the ways and means of running her establishment. But striking a deal with Diane might just be the biggest risk Oliver has ever taken. This time, the only thing he has to lose is his heart…

Hump Day Movie: Muppets from Space (1999)

2011-10-12T08:33:00.000-07:00

With the new Muppet movie coming out soon, Muppets are back in style. At least in this household. The boys are finally enjoying our (vast) collection of Muppet movies. And while I love The Great Muppet Caper or the original Muppet Movie, my favorite is Muppets from Space. It's one of the newest muppet movies, and has some of the newer characters I adore. Like Pepe the Prawn.

The plot revolves around Gonzo. We all know he's a "whatever." But what we don't know is exactly what that is. We find out in this movie. And, as with all of the Muppet movies, there are some hilarious cameos. My favorite is Ray Liotta's where Miss Piggy fogs his brain with a mind control perfume.

A big part of what makes this fun for me is the soundtrack. It's wall to wall funk. An usual choice for the Muppets, but I think it works.

And, while looking up info on the new movie, I discovered a wealth of Youtube videos featuring muppets: classics and new ones! Including this one, which is so silly I was gasping with laughter.

Happy Fall!

2011-10-06T14:07:00.000-07:00

Review: Bad Boys Do by Victoria Dahl

2011-10-02T02:30:00.000-07:00

Format: mass market paperback, ebook
Pub Date: September 27, 2011
Publisher: HQN
Length: 384 pages
FTC: Review copy courtesy of the publisher

Without a doubt, this is my favorite book of Victoria Dahl's new Donovan Brothers brewery trilogy. A sexy, vulnerable and yummy hero and a smart, compassionate, and sexually insecure heroine. With plenty of sizzle and outrageous humor to keep the pages turning.

Victoria Dahl's heroines are always interesting. Olivia is fascinating. I love that she's a mix of repressed sexuality and insecurity combined with a level headed competency.

Jamie is probably Dahl's best hero. He's so vulnerable. Sexy but with this inner core of neediness that just gets to you. In the first book of the series, he seems immature, selfish, but possessing a good heart. The second book, his book, shows that the immaturity isn't as real as his family perceives. His family really doesn't know him that well.Which is part of the tragedy in Jamie's life. Despite being so charming and friendly, no one is truly close to him.

What I loved about this one is that Jamie has a lovely growth arc. And Olivia follows him from the beginning until the end. She's far more aware of just who Jamie is than his family. He lets her in, in part because she has no expectations of him. No predetermined ideas of where he fits in. Which in turn, allows him to be himself with her.

The chemistry between Olivia and Jamie is immediate. Even if Olivia doesn't think she's in his league.

"...his green eyes twinkled. God, could he just do that on demand? What a terrible and deadly skill. She averted her eyes in self defense and kept her eyes down until he was gone."

There's a minor age difference in this book, too. Olivia is older than Jamie by a few years. And that plays into their interaction quite a bit. At first, that age difference allows Olivia to pretend the relationship is a purely superficial one.

"She couldn't pretend that Jamie Donovan's charm wasn't part of what she wanted. That charm felt like magic dust being sprinkled over her skin, and she wanted everyone to see the glow. Including her ex-husband. She'd was the magic off later and everything would be fine."

Olivia is convinced that she can't have a relationship with Jamie because he's far more sexually experienced than she is. Far more confident. And Jamie is convinced that he's too much of a flake, too untrustworthy to ever deserve someone like Olivia.

"He'd never tell Olivia this in a million years, but dating her definitely felt more...grown-up than he was used to. Less like a hookup and more like time with an interesting woman. Not the he wouldn't hook the hell out of her given the opportunity."

I felt like the ending was a little rushed and the misunderstanding a little manufactured. But this was an otherwise wonderful book, with realistic characters and a huge dollop of angsty emotion and humor. I feel like reading it again, now.

My Grade: A-

The Blurb:

Olivia Bishop is no fun. That's what her ex-husband said. And that's what her smart bob and glasses imply. So with her trademark determination, Olivia sets out to remake her life. She's going to spend time with her girlfriends and not throw it all away for some man. But when an outing with her book club leads her to a brewery taproom, the dark-haired beauty realizes that trouble—in the form of sexy Jamie Donovan—may be too tempting to avoid.

Jamie Donovan doesn't mean to be bad. Sure, the wild streak in his wicked green eyes has lured the ladies before. Now it's time to grow up. He's even ready for a serious romance. But how can that be when Olivia, the only right woman he has ever met, already has him pegged as wrong?

Review: Unclaimed by Courtney Milan

2011-10-01T14:02:00.000-07:00

Format: mass market, ebook
Pub Date: October 2011
Publisher: HQN (Harlequin)
Length:432 pages
FTC: Digital review copy courtesy of the publisher

**Spoilers**

I love Courtney Milan's writing. It's very smart, with smart characters, smart dialogue and smart premises. Sometimes, though, it's a little too smart. And that was the case with Unclaimed.

The concept of this book was definitely unique: a virgin hero and a courtesan heroine. Everyone struggles with the concept of chastity in this book. Especially the heroine:

"But you're–you're—A virgin?"
There was a note of amusement in his voice. "True. But just because I don't believe in poaching out of season doesn't mean I can't hunt."

I loved Mark Turner. I loved his honesty, his self awareness, his compassion. I did not love the heroine. It wasn't her profession. It was her choices. It was her mercenary nature. It was her lack of honesty throughout the first 2/3 of the book.

If you can remember back to my honesty in romances rant a few months ago, THIS is the book that set me off. I can understand the use of dishonesty as a plot device. I get the concept of needing a conflict to keep the story moving forward. But you lose me when one of the characters is still keeping secrets or actively plotting against the other more than halfway through the book.

I ended up not hating the book as much as I'd assumed I would. Ms. Milan tied everything up for me in a way I found acceptable (if not totally believable considering the massive LIES throughout the book). If dishonesty doesn't set your teeth on edge, you'll likely enjoy this book more than I did.

My Grade: B-

The Blurb:

Her only hope for survival…
Handsome, wealthy and respected, Sir Mark Turner is the most sought-after bachelor in all of London—and he's known far and wide for his irreproachable character. But behind his virtuous reputation lies a passionate nature he keeps carefully in check...until he meets the beautiful Jessica Farleigh, the woman he's waited for all his life.

Is to ruin the man she loves…
But Jessica is a courtesan, not the genteel lady Sir Mark believes. Desperate to be free of a life she despises, she seizes her chance when Mark's enemies make her an offer she can't refuse: seduce Mark and tarnish his good name, and a princely sum will be hers. Yet as she comes to know the man she's sworn to destroy, Jessica will be forced to choose between the future she needs…and the love she knows is impossible.

Author Interview: Ashley March

2011-09-28T00:30:00.000-07:00

Please join me in welcoming historical romance author Ashley March to the blog! Her new book, Romancing the Countess, was released earlier in the month.

Why historical romance?  

Thanks so much for having me today, Amber! The simple answer to this question is that it’s the type of romance that hooked me on the genre. I think my first year of reading romance mostly consisted of historicals checked out from my local library, and my favorite authors were Jude Deveraux and Catherine Coulter.

My love in reading historical romance has led me to a love for writing it. But now I realize that I also write it because I love exploring relationships in different time periods and countries. There are a lot of possibilities when the entire world’s history and cultures are open to you.

Are there other genres you're interested in exploring?

Yes! For romance specifically, my first contemporary novella will be released in the SWEET TALK ME anthology out in November of this year. I have plans for a contemporary series after that, but no finalized details yet on when it will be published. I also have a few ideas for YA romance… The funny thing about writing is that it seems the longer you write, the more your mind is open to all sorts of stories.

I also have a few mainstream ideas, although I’m not sure when I’ll have the time to write them. One’s a book of my heart, though, so I hope it’s soon. =)  

How do you balance mom duties with writing?

I don’t sleep very much. In fact, as I answer this specific interview question, it’s currently 12:30am. But I’m having fun, and that’s what matters to me the most. =)

Apart from that, I have an absolutely terrific husband. We’re both staying at home right now, and we usually take shifts with the girls during the daytime so that we can each have time to work. At night after the kids go to bed, I work until early morning. He helps out a ton with the cooking and cleaning and other household chores so I can devote most of my free time to writing and the writing business.  

Who is your favorite fictional character? 

I’ve answered about literary fictional characters in the past, but I’m going to have to answer the question now with a cartoon fictional character. I LOVED Darkwing Duck. =) So much, actually, that I know I’m going to be buying the DVDs for my daughters when they get older. (I have to admit, though, that Bugs Bunny is a very, very close second.)

Both your hero and heroine in Romancing the Countess have experienced unfaithful marriages. Did that create any special challenges when telling their story? 

In my mind I knew this was a very special story right from the beginning. I didn’t want to treat it irreverently and gloss over the characters’ individual pain. But in the end, it’s still a romance, and the most challenging part was at the beginning, when I had to walk a very thin line between allowing the characters space to move on individually before the time came for their romance to start developing. I had to show that, even though they didn’t immediately fall in love, there was still something there between them, an awareness—not a sexual awareness, necessarily—but still something that made them take notice of one another.

You begin each chapter with an excerpt from letters written by the hero's unfaithful wife (and written to the heroine's cheating husband). And throughout the course of the novel, your heroine, Leah, reads them. I thought that a unique (and brave) idea. Did you start out with those epigraphs in mind or were they something you added as the novel progressed?

Thank you. To be honest it was something my editor suggested when the book was finished, so I went back through and added them after the story was already complete. And I think she’s a genius for the idea, because I believe it adds an entirely new depth to the story that we wouldn’t have without it. The deceased spouses become part of their own romance in a way, instead of the typical villains they would have been otherwise.  

What are you working on now?

I’m currently hosting a reader-interactive online novella on my website each week (see www.ashleymarch.com/novella), where readers can read a new chapter every Tuesday and then vote for what they want to have happen next in the story. When the novella is finished it will be self-published, with 25% of proceeds going to a charity I choose (probably something to do with children).

I’m also finishing edits for my third Signet book. MY LADY RIVAL is the launch of a new Victorian series called A Belgrave Square Affair, and I’m so excited to share these characters with my readers! It is scheduled to release on May 1, 2012.

I also have a few other projects in the works for both 2011 and 2012. Readers can keep up with all the details for what’s coming next by visiting me at www.ashleymarch.com/coming-soon or by subscribing to my newsletter at www.ashleymarch.com/email.

Alright, I have to hear it. Whether you were born in the first half of the 20th century or the second half, I’m sure you watched cartoons. What is your favorite cartoon character?

One random commenter will be chosen to win a copy of my newest book, ROMANCING THE COUNTESS (open internationally)! Also, find out how to win the ROMANCING THE COUNTESS Book Tour Grand Prize of 50+ romance novels by visiting www.ashleymarch.com!

Recipe: Fresh Peach Cake

2011-09-27T13:27:00.000-07:00

Thanks to a generous neighbor, I had a few peaches to use up. This is a wonderful breakfast cake and goes together fairly quickly. I made it without the pecans, and it tasted just fine. Although I bet it would be way more delicious WITH.

I bet this would be just as yummy with other fruit as well.

Fresh Peach Cake by Ina Garten
Ingredients

1/4 pound (1 stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 1/2 cups sugar, divided 2 extra-large eggs, at room temperature
1 cup sour cream, at room temperature
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
3 large, ripe peaches, peeled, pitted, and sliced
1/2 cup chopped pecans

Directions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 9-inch square baking pan.

In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the butter and 1 cup of the sugar for 3 to 5 minutes on medium-high speed, until light and fluffy. With the mixer on low, add the eggs, one at a time, then the sour cream and vanilla, and mix until the batter is smooth. In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. With the mixer on low, slowly add the dry ingredients to the batter and mix just until combined. In a small bowl, combine the remaining 1/2 cup sugar and the cinnamon.

Spread half of the batter evenly in the pan. Top with half of the peaches, then sprinkle with two-thirds of the sugar mixture. Spread the remaining batter on top, arrange the remaining peaches on top, and sprinkle with the remaining sugar mixture and the pecans.Bake the cake for 45 to 55 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Hey, Look! I'm at H&H

2011-09-27T10:54:00.000-07:00

Today, I'm over at Heroes and Heartbreakers talking about single genre romance readers. I'd love for you to stop by and say hello! (It's my very first blog post there, so I'm a teensy bit nervous.)

Banned Books Week September 24-October 1

2011-09-24T12:05:00.000-07:00

I'm always surprised by the books people choose to take issue with. Here is a list of books challenged in May 2010-May 2011.

(PDF) http://www.ala.org/ala/issuesadvocacy/banned/bannedbooksweek/ideasandresources/free_downloads/2011banned.pdf

Included in the list:

Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
The Catcher in Rye by JD Salinger
Snow Falling on Cedars by David Guterson

TBR Challenge Review: No Mercy by Sherrilyn Kenyon

2011-09-21T20:55:00.000-07:00

Format: Hardcover (also available in mm paperback, ebook)
Pub Date: September 2010
Publisher: St. Martins Press
Length: 343 pages
FTC: Purchased myself

Once again, I'm squeaking in under the wire on the TBR Challenge post. This month's theme is series catchup...a book from a series you're behind in. With the publication of Retribution, I was 2 books behind in the Dark-Hunter series. The last book I read, Bad Moon Rising, was so awful that I refused to buy another Kenyon book in hardcover. And since my library's romance selection sucks...well, it's been a year since No Mercy came out and I'm just now getting to it via a remaindered copy I picked up on clearance.

The good news? No Mercy doesn't suck nearly as hard as Bad Moon Rising did. It's a complete book (which BMR wasn't), the characters don't have a personality change mid-book (which BMR did), and the dialogue is far less sappy and more snarky. Which is something I had forgotten about the Dark Hunter series and really enjoyed while reading No Mercy.

The bad news is that this still isn't nearly as good as the early books in the series. There's so much backstory that I have forgotten. So much stuff that needs to be explained that it detracts from the main romance. And there are still some continuity errors or confusing passages that had me making a frowny face trying to figure out who was doing what when.

As for the romance aspect, it takes only a fraction of the page time. I did enjoy that there is no damsel in distress here. No wimpy heroine who needs protection. Sam is a badass Amazon turned Dark-Hunter. And Dev is a smoking hot bear. The romance itself felt very rushed, but that's to be expected from Kenyon's novels anymore.

Kenyon hasn't moved off my library/used book only list, but I'll definitely be moving the next books in the series up the TBR wishlist.

My grade: C+

The Blurb:

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.

Get Ready for Banned Books Week: September 24-October 1

2011-09-20T17:02:00.000-07:00

Catcher in the Rye . . . Harry Potter . . . Captain Underpants . . .
Every year, there are hundreds of attempts to remove books from schools and libraries. Celebrate YOUR freedom to read and right to choose your book during Banned Books Week, September 24 to October 1, 2011. For more information, visit http://www.ala.org/bbooks.

Recipe: Blackberry Swirl Pound Cake

2011-09-15T11:42:00.000-07:00

Blackberry Swirl Pound Cake
Recipe from Martha Stewart
(Photos and adjustments are mine)

I made this the other day to use some of the blackberries I had picked off of the vine. The berries are late this year, so I only managed to pick a few cups. Fortunately, this recipe only takes 1 1/3 cups (which means it won't cost you an arm and a leg if you have to buy your berries).

Ingredients:
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature, plus more for pan
6 ounces blackberries (1 1/3 cups)
1 1/4 cups plus 2 tablespoons sugar
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon coarse salt
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/2 cup sour cream, room temperature

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly butter (I use butter spray) a 5-by-9-inch loaf pan and line with parchment, leaving a 2-inch overhang on all sides; butter parchment. In a food processor, puree blackberries with 2 tablespoons sugar. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, salt, and baking powder.

In a large bowl, using an electric mixer, beat together butter and 1 1/4 cups sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs and vanilla and beat to combine, scraping down bowl as needed. With mixer on low, add flour mixture in 3 additions, alternating with sour cream, beginning and ending with flour mixture.

Transfer half the batter to pan (smoothing the layer down) and dot with 1/2 blackberry puree. Repeat with remaining batter and puree. With knife or skewer, swirl batter and puree together. Bake until golden brown and a toothpick inserted in center of cake comes out clean, about 1 1/4 hours. Let cool in pan on a wire rack, 30 minutes. Lift cake out of pan and place on a serving plate; let cool completely before slicing. (Yes, you really do need to let it cool. This is a delicate, dense cake that slices beautifully when cool).

(My attempt didn't swirl as well as it should have, but tasted fine just the same. The blackberry ends up with a taste and texture similar to jam.)

Happy Holidays! Oh wait...

2011-09-14T10:08:00.000-07:00

It seems like Christmas merchandise creeps onto the shelves earlier and earlier every year. I've spotted Christmas crafts in July, and the holiday decorations are popping up in big boxes as soon as the back to school promos come down.

And with the holiday decor comes the holiday romances. Many of them with publication dates of September and October. Before Halloween! And there are a ton of them coming out this year. (See pictures and links below the break.)

I personally love holiday romances, but they do seem kind of risky for authors. Their sales season is fairly short (although there are some, like me, who read them all year long.) And so many of them center around Christmas, which means they risk alienating those who celebrate other winter holidays like Hanukkah or Kwanza.

What do you think of holiday romances? Do you love them, hate them, or just feel kind of meh? And are you like me, and read them all year long or do you only read them close to the holidays?

September 20

September 27

October 1

October 4

October 18

October 25

Hump Day Classic Movie: The Last Starfighter

2011-09-07T10:40:00.000-07:00

My husband did the snoopy dance in the middle of Safeway when he spotted this little gem on Blu-ray. He loves those early 80s space movies. Loves, loves, loves. Me? I like them in a campy way, but still make fun of the horrible special effects. I almost prefer the string method of spaceship effects in those 1950s movies to the early computer animated stuff.

In this movie, a teenager stuck in the middle of nowhere, living with his family in a trailer park, dreams of doing big things. But circumstances constantly force him to put others before himself. His only escape is a video game (a really primitive arcade style game!) called the Last Starfighter.

After one really bad day, he retreats to the game and manages to break the all time record. Little does he realize that the game was a test, and soon he's recruited by an alien(!) to become a Starfighter.

Yes, it really is that silly. But other than a few explosions and some mild sexual references, it's much tamer than anything but children's movies being put out today.

Stuck in a Rut: The Dreaded Reading Slump Hits

2011-08-31T08:55:00.000-07:00

I've been a little quiet on the blog this last week. And that's due in part to the fact that I haven't managed to finish a book ALL WEEK. I normally read 2-5 books a week, depending on length and what else I have going on in my real life. Not getting even one book read? It's a horrible feeling.

It's not that I don't have plenty to read. I'm in the middle of 6 books right now. I seem to be getting to about the 100-150 page mark and then losing interest. I'm in the home stretch of summer, only 1 more week until school starts for the kids, but I just can't seem to finish *anything*. It's really annoying.

I'm reading all kinds of different genres, so I don't think that's it. Maybe I need a reread or a novella to break me out of this funk. What do you do when a reading slump hits?

Waiting on Wednesday: Devil's Kiss by Zoë Archer (Hellraisers #1)

2011-08-31T08:35:00.000-07:00

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted over at Breaking the Spine. It highlights books we just can't wait to get our greedy, book-loving hands on.

I adored the Blades of the Rose series by Zoe Archer. I love her writing, period. So, naturally, I can't wait to read her new series: the Hellraisers.

Pub Date: December 6, 2011
Publisher: Kensington
Format: mass market paperback, ebook
Length: 370 pages

The Blurb:

A Handsome Devil
1762. James Sherbourne, Earl of Whitney, is a gambling man. Not for the money. But for the thrill, the danger--and the company: Whit has become one of the infamous Hellraisers, losing himself in the chase for adventure and pleasure with his four closest friends.

Which was how Whit found himself in a gypsy encampment, betting against a lovely Romani girl. Zora Grey's smoky voice and sharp tongue entrance Whit nearly as much as her clever hands--watching them handle cards inspires thoughts of another kind...

Zora can't explain her attraction to the careless blue-eyed Whit. She also can't stop him and his Hellraisers from a fiendish curse: the power to grant their own hearts' desires, to chase their pleasures from the merely debauched to the truly diabolical. And if Zora can't save Whit, she still has to escape him. . .

Waiting on Wednesday: Dark Predator by Christine Feehan

2011-08-24T03:43:00.000-07:00

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted over at Breaking the Spine. It highlights books we just can't wait to get our greedy, book-lovin' hands on.

This one is a shout out for my mom, the hopeless Christine Feehan addict. There's a new Dark series book coming out on September 6th. Which means only 2 more weeks of waiting for her. This is the story she's been waiting years for.

Dark Predator
Format: Hardcover, ebook
Pub Date: September 6, 2011
Publisher: Berkley hardcover
Length: 384 pages

The Blurb:

As brutal as the undead he hunted, Zacarias De La Cruz was a master executioner. Now his stark and savage journey has ended. For his brothers, Zacarias had walked to the edge of madness, but with centuries as a killing machine now left to the past and without a hunt to define him, Zacarias wonders, for the first time in his life, who he really is.
The answer awaits him back home, in Peru, in the betrayal of a woman who is readying her trap, in the vengeance of an old enemy, in the inevitable consequences of a bloody family legacy-and in the deliverance of a lifemate he never could have imagined...

Recipe: Blueberry Scones with Lemon Glaze

2011-08-18T08:29:00.000-07:00

Recipe by Tyler Florence (with a few adjustments by moi.)

Blueberry Scones:
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons sugar
5 tablespoons unsalted butter, cold, cut in chunks
1 cup heavy cream, plus more for brushing the scones
1 cup fresh blueberries

Lemon Glaze:
1/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
1 cup confectioners' sugar, sifted
1 lemon, zest finely grated
1/2 tablespoon unsalted butter

Directions
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
Sift together the dry ingredients; the flour, baking powder, salt, and sugar. Using 2 forks or a pastry blender, cut in the butter to coat the pieces with the flour. The mixture should look like coarse crumbs. Make a well in the center and pour in the heavy cream. Fold everything together just to incorporate; do not overwork the dough. Fold the blueberries into the batter. Take care not to mash or bruise the blueberries because their strong color will bleed into the dough. (I usually end up moving the blueberries around by hand, as the dough is really stiff and not really amenable to "folding.")

Press the dough out on a lightly floured surface into a rectangle about 12 by 3 by 1 1/4 inches. Cut the rectangle in 1/2 then cut the pieces in 1/2 again, giving you 4 (3-inch) squares. Cut the squares in 1/2 on a diagonal to give you the classic triangle shape. Place the scones on an ungreased cookie sheet and brush the tops with a little heavy cream. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes until beautiful and brown. Let the scones cool a bit before you apply the glaze.

Mix the lemon juice and confectioners' sugar together in a microwave-safe bowl. Stir until the sugar dissolves. Add the lemon zest and butter. Nuke it for 30 seconds on high. Whisk the glaze to smooth out any lumps, then drizzle the glaze over the top of the scones. Let it set a minute before serving. (The glaze has been halved from Tyler's original recipe. It is a thin glaze that disappears into the scone and leaves behind a tart/sweet shiny finish. If you want a thicker glaze, add more powdered sugar.)

These are tender, moist, and not too sweet.

My self congratulatory picture at left confirms it!
<--------

TBR Challenge Review: Mesmerized by Lauren Dane

2011-08-17T19:27:00.000-07:00

Format: Trade Paperback
Publisher: Berkley Heat (Penguin)
Pub Date: April 2011
Length: 294 pages
FTC: Purchased myself

The blurb:

Andrei Solace delivers death on silent feet as an assassin for the Phantom Corps. Mercenary Piper Roundtree thought she was over him. But against the backdrop of an impending war, their passion is rekindled. Now the lovers must join forces- in more ways than one-to save the Known Universe before the Imperialist enemy hurls it into irreversible chaos.

I'm a little late today getting this review written because...um...I just finished the book. Which I started today. This month's TBR Challenge theme was "spicy." I picked this book up at the RT Convention signing back in April. (Along with about 50 other books from the signing and convention.)

I'm struggling to give a grade to this book. It was compelling enough to read off and on all day. I didn't feel the urge to walk away from it. But I also felt really disconnected from the two main characters. I didn't plug-in to their emotions in the way I prefer. I'm not sure if it's something about Lauren Dane's voice that didn't click with me or if I was just too hung up on the Star Wars/Star Trek parallels.

We have the Federation (Star Trek) and the Imperial forces (Star Wars). Moving on...

After a brief 20-something page introduction of young Andrei where I was flailing around trying to understand the world building Dane attempts to describe, we meet Piper...a smuggler on a desert planet.

(More beloved science fiction standards: smuggling, desert planets...)

Piper involves herself in Andrei's mission to discover just what the Imperial forces are up to. What follows is a series of action/adventures interspersed with steaminess. For once, I didn't feel like the sex scenes were unnecessary or poorly timed (with a notable exception when Piper and Andrei get it on while waiting for pickup from their back up teams...on a planet that had been bombed.)

Even though my nerdy brain kept coming up with obvious parallels in the Star Wars and Star Trek universes, I liked the mix of politics, special ops, and futuristic touches. I just wish I could have spent more time in the lead characters' heads or tapped into some angsty emotions.

My Grade: B-

Waiting on Wednesday: To Wed a Wild Lord by Sabrina Jeffries

2011-08-17T08:15:00.000-07:00

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted over at Breaking the Spine. It highlights books we just can't wait to get our greedy book loving hands on.

I've read 3 out of 4 of the books in this series and have liked them all. (I will probably go back and read the one I missed, too.) I have to admit, I'm not a fan of this cover, though.

To Wed a Wild Lord

Format: Mass market paperback, ebook

Pub Date: November 22, 2011

Publisher: Pocket

Length: 384 pages

The Blurb:

Like everything daredevil Gabriel Sharpe does, pursuing Virginia Waverly is a high-stakes game. Ever since her brother Roger died racing Lord Gabriel, Virginia has yearned to take her revenge on the reckless lord by beating him at his own sport. But when she challenges Lord Gabriel to a race, the hellion who has always embraced his dark reputation as the “Angel of Death” counters with a marriage proposal!

Gabe knows Virginia's family is in dire financial straits—why shouldn’t she marry him and solve both their problems? She claims to be appalled by his proposal, but her response to his kisses says otherwise. So when the two of them begin to unravel the truth behind Roger’s death, Gabe takes the greatest gamble of all, offering the cunning and courageous beauty something more precious than any inheritance: true love.

Indie is NOT Self Pubbed

2011-08-15T12:35:00.000-07:00

I'm a little irritated this morning. There's been a brief discussion on Dear Author and a lengthier one on Twitter about this issue, but I still feel the need to rant a bit.

Self publishing is the bastard stepchild of the book world. The only thing worse according to many is vanity press. Self publishing has a reputation that makes that term synonymous with a slush pile of unedited, poorly written dreck.

Now that publishing is changing, and self publishing is having a few successes, there are some self published authors who are trying to use the term "indie" to refer to themselves. The problem is that the term is already taken. If self pubbers want to use a different term to describe themselves, more power to them. But they shouldn't do it by preempting a term that has been in use in the publishing business for decades.

An indie author is someone signed with an indie press. An indie press is also sometimes known as a small press, but not always. An independent press is to publishing as an independent record label is to the music industry. It's not owned by a large conglomerate which is then owned by an even larger media company. It's a stand-alone business.

Wiki has several pertinent sentences as well:

The terms "small press", "indie publisher", and "independent press" are often used interchangeably, with "independent press" defined as publishers that are not part of large conglomerates or multinational corporation.

and this

The majority of small presses are independent or indie publishers, this means that they are separate from the handful of major publishing house conglomerates, such as Random House or Hachette. The term 'indie publisher' should not be confused with 'self publisher', which is where the author publishes only their own books.

We don't consider an indie music artist as someone putting out records in his or her basement. We consider them musicians signed with an indie label instead of one of the big music companies like Sony or Warner. The same concept applies with indie authors and indie pubs.

Why does it matter? It matters because conflating indie with self publication confuses the reader. And confusing/deceiving the reader is a bad thing. I don't care how many extra sales you think you'll get, once deceived, a reader will not only NOT buy your book, they'll tell every other person they can not to buy your book.

Indies are true publishing houses. They are a PRESS. They publish more than the work of a single author. They have editors who acquire or reject based on taste and quality. This is an entirely different thing from self publication.

Most writers I know are aware that words have power. How you use them is important. Using a term that means something specific to many people in the industry and pretending it means something else is a choice. And I'm not going to have a very high opinion of those who engage in that practice.

Don't like the self-pub label? Fine. But don't steal a well known industry term and use it to mask what you're really doing.

It's Fair Time!

2011-08-14T07:54:00.000-07:00

If I've been MIA on the blog and Twitter lately, it's because I've been spending all week at our county fair. In the small town universe, the fair is a big deal. Sure, it's old fashioned, but it's also THE place to see everyone. Like a mini reunion. And then there's the bragging rights. We have an "art barn" where everyone enters their paintings, drawings, and photos. There's the Home Arts area that showcases the baked goods, jellies, and quilts. And there's the animal area where local 4H members show off their various animals.

Like this smug guy here.

Our fair is actually a 2 county fair. My county is small (only 20,000 people), but the neighboring county is even smaller. And although we live in the mountains, it's also a big agricultural area with ranches just about everywhere.

And then there's the fair parade which starts with the firing of the anvils. Basically two anvils stuck on top of each other with a little gunpowder or accelerant in the middle. Then a long pole is heated up in this forge-type thing. Put the super heated pole end on the anvils and BOOM! The sound can be heard over a mile away where the parade starts. (You can tell the veteran parade goers by the fingers in their ears).

Review: Good Girls Don't by Victoria Dahl

2011-08-13T07:11:00.000-07:00

Format: Mass market paperback; ebook
Length: 384 pages
Publisher: HQN (Harlequin)
Pub Date: September 1, 2011
FTC: digital review copy courtesy of the publisher
*Mild spoilers*

Good Girls Don't is the first full length book in Dahl's new Donovan series. In typical Victoria Dahl fashion, it's filled with snappy dialogue, hunky guys, and a heroine that elicits some divisive reactions among readers.

I had some issues with the heroine in this book. I didn't dislike her, but failed to understand the source of her never-ending mistrust and need for keeping secrets. For me, being scared of a rift in the family didn't seem sufficient motivation to go behind her family's back and "fix" something by making a deal that threatened her financial security. And her insistence on covering for her adult brother seemed more than a little bit unhealthy.

I also didn't understand why Luke doesn't bother correcting all of the horrible misconceptions floating around town about him. Sure, when he isn't dating, it doesn't seem to matter. But once he became interested in Tessa, there didn't seem to be a sufficient reason to not come clean immediately about the truth of each "damning" situation that cast a bad light on his character. You'd think, as a cop, that kind of perceived dishonesty and scummy reputation would bother him.

The romance also seems to occasionally take a backseat to a number of subplots: a break-in at the brewery, a business deal with a not-so-nice family... I'd have preferred to have more page time with the hero and heroine.

What saved this book for me was the large cast of secondary characters and the humor. I was so disappointed in the prequel novella found in the Guy Next Door anthology because it was missing the author's trademark humor. Well, it is back with an extra helping of involuntary snorts of laughter. If you're looking for a book with witty banter and a sly sense of humor, this is it.

My Grade: B

The Blurb:

With her long ponytail and sparkling green eyes, Tessa Donovan looks more like the girl next door than a businesswoman – or a heartbreaker. Which may explain why Detective Luke Asher barely notices her when he arrives to investigate a break-in at her family’s brewery. He’s got his own problems – starting with the fact that his partner Simone is pregnant and everyone thinks he's the father. The last thing he needs is a nice girl like Tessa getting under his skin.

Tessa has her hands full, too. Her brother’s playboy ways may be threatening the business, and the tensions could tear her tight-knit family apart. In fact, the only thing that could unite the Donovan boys is seeing a man come after their “baby” sister. Especially a man like Luke Asher. But Tessa sees past the rumors to the man beneath.

Maya Banks Book Video by Tessa Dare

2011-08-11T07:39:00.000-07:00

As part of Operation Auction, Tessa Dare offered up a book video (in a similar style to those for her Stud Club trilogy). I laughed myself silly watching this. Congrats to Tessa on a fabulous job and to Maya Banks for an awesome book video. And I say that as someone who doesn't like book videos.

Hump Day Movie: Mr. Frost (1990)

2011-08-10T06:44:00.000-07:00

It's hard to believe that this movie is NOT available on DVD. I personally find it one of Goldblum's creepier movies. And it highlights both his appeal and his incredible skills with dialogue. Parts of it are available (potentially infringing) on Youtube. You can find used copies on VHS, if you happen to still have a VCR laying around.

Here's a brief synopsis from wiki:
A police detective named Felix Detweiler visits the palatial French estate of Mister Frost, whose first name is never given, to investigate a report of a dead body. Frost, with very little prompting, cheerfully admits that he has many bodies buried in his yard.Frost is arrested and ultimately placed in an asylum, not having spoken a word for two years. During this time the police are unable to establish his identity. The detective leaves his job and becomes obsessed with Frost and the 24 corpses dug up from his garden. Frost's long silence is broken when he encounters Sarah Day, a doctor at the asylum. Frost refuses to speak with anyone but her, then tells Dr. Day that he is, in fact, Satan. He reveals that he plans to goad her into murdering him.

This came out about a year before Silence of the Lambs, but it is similar in style. It's a dialogue-driven film, filled with philosophical discussions between doctor and patient. It has a very early 90s/late 80s aesthetic, though, so be warned.

You can watch the trailer here. It's really awful, though, so it's no wonder the public's reception of this movie was tepid.

Waiting on Wednesday: The Bite Before Christmas by Lynsay Sands and Jeaniene Frost

2011-08-10T00:10:00.000-07:00

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted over at Breaking the Spine. It highlights books we just can't wait to get our greedy book loving hands on.

The Bite Before Christmas by Jeaniene Frost and Lynsay Sands
Pub Date: October 25, 2011
Publisher: William Morrow
Format: Hardcover, ebook
Length: 352 pages

Sands and Frost write very different paranormal romances, so I'm intrigued to see how well these mesh in this hardcover release.

In Lynsay Sands' "The Gift," Katricia Argeneau knows grey-eyed cop Teddy Brunswick is her life mate. She just needs to convince him they belong together, and being snowbound in a secluded cabin will make this a Christmas neither will forget.

It's "Home for the Holidays" in Jeaniene Frost's Night Huntress series. Cat and Bones may long to wrap presents and set up a tree, but this Christmas, an evil vampire and long-buried family secrets will threaten to take a bite out of their holiday cheer.

Dishonesty in Romance

2011-08-05T07:02:00.000-07:00

I really need to stop reading books where the hero or heroine keeps secrets. I've just been reading too many of them lately, and my tolerance is so low that even a whiff of it sends my blood pressure up.

I know that books need conflict to work well, but there's something about the 'I have a secret agenda' plot that drives me absolutely up the wall. Especially when the hero or heroine is STILL lying midway or later in the novel. For me, it comes down to trust.

Trust is important in a relationship. Without it, I'm not going to believe that a couple will ever have a lifetime Happily Ever After. Chemistry or attraction is all well and good, but without trust, I don't believe love can last.

I guess that makes me old fashioned in a way. But it's why I can't stand cheating in books, either. I'm not saying the 'secret agenda' plot can never work, but it loses its believability for me when it continues past the very beginning of the novel. Because I consider any hero or heroine who forgives someone who has been lying to them for so long as TSTL. How on earth can they ever trust that person to be honest with them when every aspect of their association is based on lie after lie?

Am I the only one who hates this trope with a passion? Are there more dishonest heroines these days or am I just noticing them? Are there any other plot devices that drive you up the wall or lead you to put a book down as a DNF?

Waiting on Wednesday Real Men Will by Victoria Dahl

2011-08-03T11:19:00.000-07:00

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event (although I've been slacking of late) hosted over at Breaking the Spine. It highlights books we just can't wait to get our greedy, book-loving hands on.

I've read the first two in this series via Netgalley. (Yeah, yeah, I broke my NG boycott for them. What can I say? I'm weak). The first one (out August 30th) is good, the second one is better. I'm unsure how much I'll like the 3rd one. Why? Because I didn't like the prequel story set up contained in the Guy Next Door anthology. And because the oldest brother is a bit of an uptight jerk.

But it's Victoria Dahl, so I want to read it anyway. Like RIGHT NOW. Anyhoo...

Real Men Will by Victoria Dahl
Publisher: HQN (Harlequin)
Pub Date: October 25, 2011
Format:mass market, ebook
Donovan Brothers Brewery #3

The Blurb:

It was meant to be a one-night stand. One night of passion. Scorching hot. Then Beth Cantrell and Eric Donovan were supposed to go their separate ways. That’s the only reason he lied about his name, telling her he was really his wild younger brother. Hiding his own identity as the conservative Donovan. The “good” one.

But passion has its own logic, and Eric finds he cannot forget the sable-haired beauty with whom he shared one night of passion. When Beth discovers that Eric has lied, however, she knows he cannot be trusted. Her mind tells her to forget the blue-eyed charmer. If only every fiber of her being did not burn to call him back.

Monday Crankiness

2011-08-01T17:35:00.000-07:00

I have a case of Monday Crankies. Everything seems to be setting me off. Today, two things involved RT Magazine. Well, sort of.

First, there's the giant advertisement in the magazine by Avon promoting its k.i.s.s. and teal awareness campaign for ovarian cancer (September, page 7). That's a good thing, right? Right. But amongst the many participating new release titles, I spotted something odd. Avon had chosen The Deed by Lynsay Sands as a title to include in the program. My problem with that? It's not a new release. It's a reissue of a Sands backlist title that Avon purchased from Dorchester when they (Dorchester) first started having financial problems.

A little sleuthing around online revealed a bit more. While Amazon marks this book as a reissue in the product details, nothing on the front cover gives any clue that it's not a new book. And Barnes and Noble has no mention whatsoever of its "classic" status.

Avon has this on part of their site: The deliciously witty first novel from Lynsay Sands. For me, that isn't enough. I want it to clearly state that it is a reissue. Because that could easily be read as 'debut' rather than a reissue. And I think it's in poor taste to essentially hide that fact by sticking this book in a campaign featuring NEW RELEASES whose sales count towards additional charity donations from Avon.

Okay, moving on...

Flipping to the back of the RT magazine, I see the announcement that they've done away with the Mr. Romance competition. Not news to me, having heard the announcement on Twitter weeks ago. What IS news is their idea of a replacement event. Basically, after the Giant Book Fair (open to the public as well as registered conventioneers) they are hosting a "meet and greet" type of event where readers can mingle with authors, and publishers can give away stuff if they want. This event is ALSO open to the public. At least those who paid (usually $5) to attend the signing or those registered with the convention.

My issue with this? RT charges a heck of a lot of money for the convention. The parties and events are a big reason for attending. So why in the world are they opening this event up to people who didn't fork over nearly $500?

My second issue is that the event is completely uneventful. It's lazy, unimaginative, and a really dumb idea. Mr. Romance was a sit-down event. After a huge signing, everyone is tired. The very last thing they're going to want to do is visit with authors they've already visited with while getting their books signed. And authors aren't going to be shown to their best advantage, as they'll likely be bone-tired, potentially cranky, and just not in the mood to be enthusiastic for even more milling hordes of readers.

This, RT, is not a replacement event. It's a cop-out. You might as well have just left that block of time free of any events.

(There's a 3rd irritant, but this is a lingering one from the 2011 convention. The "Teen Day" promises to be bigger and better in 2012. Oh. Joy. As if YA hadn't already taken over the majority of the convention, they're making it bigger and better. /sarcasm.)

What do you think? Does it irk you when publishers aren't upfront about reissues? What do you think of Avon using a backlist title in a charity fundraising campaign? And what do you think about RT's idea to replace Mr. Romance with the Meet the Authors free-for-all?

Review: Turn It Up by Inez Kelley

2011-07-28T16:57:00.000-07:00

Format: ebook
Publisher: Carina Press
Pub Date: August 1, 2011
FTC: digital copy provided by the author because she knows I love witty banter

The Blurb:
Dr. Bastian Talbot and self-proclaimed sex goddess Charlie Pierce heat up the air waves with their flirty banter as radio hosts Dr. Hot and the Honeypot. Off the air, they’re best friends…but Bastian wants to be so much more. He wants Charlie—in bed, and forever.

Problem is, Charlie doesn’t do commitment. Sure, she’s had X-rated fantasies of Bastian, but he was always just a friend—until he impulsively proposes and unleashes the lust they’ve been denying for years. Charlie’s willing to explore where their wild chemistry leads, but she won’t marry him. And he won’t have sex with her until she accepts his proposal, despite her seductive schemes.

What are Dr. Hot and the Honeypot to do? Ask their listeners for advice on how to tame a sex kitten and turn a perfect gentleman into a shameless lover. The Race to Wed or Bed is on…who will turn up on top?

I loved this book. I really did. A steady, responsible hero with a sense of humor, a heroine not afraid to embrace her naughty side, some sexy and outrageous banter, and S'moregasms*. Can't ask for much more than that.

This is a friends to lovers story. One of my favorite tropes in all of romancelandia. And I'll admit that I enjoyed having the man be the one pining for more from his "friend."

One of the best things about Turn it Up is that the characters are mature. They are adults. They both have issues, although the heroine has the lion's share of them. But they also have a deep respect for each other than creeps into their dialogue on their show. There's already an element of trust, which gives Bastien something to build on. And unlike some books I've read where the heroine's skittishness about commitment made no sense, Charlie has plenty of reasons to think of herself and her relationships the way she does.

What really made this book shine was the banter. I can't say enough about it. The late night talk show format gave a perfect excuse for lots of interplay and dialogue, and Ms. Kelley used it to full advantage. I laughed out loud through most of the book, frantically highlighting passages that made me smile.

A few favorites:

"An aroused woman is a beautiful thing."
"Now, see, I'm not too sure about that. Orgasms cause some seriously painful-looking faces."
His deep laugh filled the radio room. "That may be, but it's just the intensity of release. Like jumping off a cliff. You're not going to be smiling when you hit the ground but the flight down is fantastic."

"Hit the ground? Dang, Doc, what kind of women are hanging out with if you equate an orgasm with pulling a Wile E. Coyote off a cliff?"

***

"There's no such thing as a cold shower for the heart."

***

"I'm sorry. Can we chalk it up to blue balls talking?"
"Wow, your balls sound just like you."

Turn It Up is outrageous, sexy, witty, and incredibly moving. I highly recommend it for fans of contemporary romance.

My Grade: A

*S'moregasms are made like regular s'mores. Only difference is you swap out the Hershey's bar with a full size Reese's Peanut Butter Cup.

Hump Day Classic Movie: The Black Cauldron (1985)

2011-07-27T07:44:00.000-07:00

Before Disney princess marketing took over absolutely everything, Disney sometimes put out darker pictures. But nothing, I think, quite as dark as the Black Cauldron. Even with a Disney spin, this movie earned a PG rating from the MPAA. The first PG rating for Disney's animated division. And audiences were not quite as willing to embrace that darker vision.

Very loosely based on the Chronicles of Prydain series by Lloyd Alexander, the movie bombed at the box office. I personally think it's one of the better movies from the mid-80s that Disney put out. It's not a musical, although there are elements of music throughout. It's a little rough around the edges, but I like the dark tone of the film. The creepiness. For fans of animation, this is a must-see film.

You can see a clip on youtube here: http://youtu.be/OlT3XbfU6e8

Cilantro Jalapeno Deviled Eggs

2011-07-23T05:42:00.000-07:00

This is my husband's favorite deviled egg recipe. The original version was from a cilantro cookbook, although we've tweaked it a bit.

Cilantro Jalapeño Deviled Eggs
12 eggs, hardboiled, peeled and halved
1/2 cup Cilantro Aioli (recipe follows)
Salt
24 small springs of cilantro

Transfer yolks to a bowl and mash with Cilantro Aioli, adding salt to taste. Using a spoon, melon baller, or pastry bag, fill egg white halves with yolk mixture. Garnish with spring of cilantro before serving.

Cilantro Aioli
1 cup mayonnaise
1 clove garlic
2 tablespoons chopped cilantro leaves (or a good handful unchopped)
1/4 cup lime juice
1 jalapeño

In food processor, combine mayonnaise, garlic, cilantro, lime juice, and jalapeño. Pulse to blend until fairly smooth. Add salt to taste.

Makes a little over 1 cup. You can mix sour cream with leftover aioli to make a terrific sauce for tacos.

TBR Challenge Review: When Beauty Tamed the Beast by Eloisa James

2011-07-20T05:46:00.000-07:00

This month's TBR Challenge theme was fairy tales. And, since I'm lazy, I went with the most recent and accessible matching title.

Format: mass market
Publisher: Avon
Pub Date: February 2011
Length: 372 pages
FTC: Purchased myself
Why it was in the TBR: picked it up during a Walmart excursion because I liked the cover. Yes, I am that shallow.

I used to be a rabid Eloisa James fan. Even when she was pilloried by readers and reviewers for writing wallpaper (and doing a substandard job with historical accuracy), I loved her. Especially the Essex sisters series.

But her Georgian romances left me cold and I drifted away.

When Beauty Tamed the Beast isn't set in any particular time period, but I can honestly say that the entire book felt anachronisitic. It felt entirely too modern for me, and I'm sure much of that was the dialogue. I like witty banter as much as the next gal, but not when it's hollow. And that's what much of the dialogue felt like to me: too modern, and without any emotion whatsoever.

This is one of the few books I've read recently that redeemed itself towards the end. I had to force myself to get past the first 2/3 of the book because...I hate House, the TV series James used as a basis for her hero. I really, really hate that series. So it stands to reason I wouldn't be all that fond of the literary version, either. It wasn't until the hero and the heroine had to finally stop acting so cavalier about everything that I became involved with the story.

There's some spoilery for why the book gets more serious (which I won't go into), but I did end up liking that final third of the book and the growth of both the hero and heroine that I revised my grade upwards.

My Grade: B

The Blurb:

Miss Linnet Berry Thrynne is a Beauty . . . Naturally, she's betrothed to a Beast.
Piers Yelverton, Earl of Marchant, lives in a castle in Wales where, it is rumored, his bad temper flays everyone he crosses. And rumor also has it that a wound has left the earl immune to the charms of any woman. Linnet is not just any woman.
She is more than merely lovely: her wit and charm brought a prince to his knees. She estimates the earl will fall madly in love—in just two weeks.Yet Linnet has no idea of the danger posed to her own heart by a man who may never love her in return.
If she decides to be very wicked indeed . . . what price will she pay for taming his wild heart?

The Romance Masquerade

2011-07-16T08:06:00.000-07:00

No, I'm not talking about the silly thing found in historical romances where rich people dress up and wear masks. I'm talking about when romance books masquerade as something other than romance. These are the books that non-romance readers forget to sneer about.

Catherine Coulter, Jayne Ann Krentz, Susan Elizabeth Phillips, Nora Roberts and Diana Gabaldon are a few authors I can think of whose books are often shelved outside the romance area. Sometimes in mystery or fiction. During my tenure at BN, I spent quite a lot of time of escorting a confused buyer from the romance section to the fiction section when they were searching for Jennifer Crusie books or any number of other "romances in disguise."

Anyone who has followed the blog for awhile knows that I'm not a fan of my local indie. But I did manage to find some romance there. Just not in the romance section. And invariably, it was a big name author. In my observation, big names in romance seem to more frequently warrant the general "Fiction" label from the marketing department for their books. Which in turn allows them to skirt the stigma romance continues to suffer under and sell more to a wider audience. (Women's fiction and chick lit offer great camouflage, too.)

The other way to avoid the romance label is to have a book originally published in hardcover. Mass market is still the dominant format in romance (although that's quickly losing ground to ebooks.) Hardcovers have several advantages over the disposable mass market: suitable for gift giving, institutional sales, collectibility. People don't tend to think of hardcovers and romance in the same sentence. (We won't mention trade paperbacks because...I hate them. A lot.)

So, what's my point? I guess it's that those without the romance label have an advantage. Because romance readers know who writes their favorite books even if the spine says "fiction." But the fiction label (and potential to be shelved in the Fic/Lit section instead of romance) means that the audience is wider than just romance readers. My secondary point is that those indies (and libraries) who don't stock "romance" but do stock those masquerading authors should be called on it. Repeatedly. A romance is a romance no matter what the packaging says, and stores that decline to carry books based on what's slapped on the spine are doing a disservice to their customers.

(Thanks to Lisa Hendrix, Evil Wylie, and Megan Mulry for their insights into the publishing biz. Any errors in the above post are my own.)

Review: Changeling Dream by Dani Harper

2011-07-14T08:58:00.000-07:00

Format: Trade Paperback
Publisher: Kensington Brava
Pub Date: June 28, 2011 (different version prev. pubbed as Heart of the Winter Wolf)
Length: 376 pages
FTC: Review copy courtesy of the publisher
(Spoilers!)

This one surprised me by how much I liked it. It's sort of like a Rip Van Winkle werewolf story, which is unusual by itself. But it's also set in Canada, which I found a bit refreshing, too.

Dani Harper has a strong voice, something I always appreciate. There's nothing worse than picking up a book that reads just like every other book out there, but thankfully that wasn't the case here.

James has spent the last 30 years in wolf form, eschewing his human half as a way to escape the grief of losing his wife and unborn child in a horrific act of violence. It's not until Jillian, a new vet at his brother's clinic, arrives that he has any interest in slowly returning to life as a human. And once he does, he discovers that time felt differently in wolf form, and the world is far different from the one he left.

Jillian is a victim of a violent assault, but she's used the experience to make herself strong. Her only concession to weakness is dreaming about a white wolf, something that brings her comfort and a feeling of safety. She gets a bit of a shock, though, when she discovers after her move to a new vet clinic that her dream wolf is 100% real. And not a normal wolf at all.

My only problems with the book were in the very end.

****Spoiler****

I am not a fan of the whole accidental pregnancy trope. And while I get that the dangers faced by Jillian are supposed to echo what happened to James in the past, I still didn't like it. Especially since no one bothered to tell Jillian that birth control doesn't work all that well with Changelings. What is that? An "oops?" Seems like important info to have. (Or at the very least, someone should have told James to use a condom).

****End Spoiler****

My other problem with the book was that James never really found the time to tell Jillian who and what he was. He plans a life with her, but won't tell her the truth? She only finds out when there's no other option but to tell her. And even then, it's not James who reveals what he is, but his family.

I also found the whole terminology thing (Changeling) to be a bit hokey and awkward—capitalized throughout the text, no less. But it wasn't disruptive enough to really annoy me.

Book history: Dani Harper has been totally upfront about this being a reworked version of an older title, Heart of the Winter Wolf. You can read the whys and hows here.

Cover critique: I can't figure out what is up with this cover, but it looks like Photoshop gone terribly wrong. Is that her back?...but then we have the necklace. And her head looks almost Exorcist twisted. It's definitely not a sexy cover.

My Grade: B+

The Blurb:

In times of stress Jillian Descharme has always found calm in her dream of a great white wolf with haunting blue eyes. But she is startled when the visions return and this time seem so real. Late at night he comes to her, speaks to her, touches her.

Thirty years ago James Macleod lost his wife and unborn child to a killer bent on destroying the Changelings. Though he longed for death, his animal instinct fought for survival and James has been a wolf ever since. Yet now a woman has reawakened the man in him, taming wild instincts but arousing still wilder needs. With his ancient enemy hunting the legendary white wolf, James must fight for new life, new hope, new love.

Review: Never Cry Wolf by Cynthia Eden

2011-07-11T07:58:00.000-07:00

Format: Trade Paperback
Publisher: Kensington Brava
Pub Date: July 2011
FTC: Review copy courtesy of the publisher

I've been meaning to read Cynthia Eden's books for quite some time. Her romantic suspense books come very highly recommended, but I haven't heard much about her paranormal series. I've been on a bit of a shifter binge lately, so Never Cry Wolf fit right in.

I have no idea why, but the pack came off a bit like a biker gang. It's likely the absence of women shifters in this story, but there doesn't seem to be any community here. And that's what I like about shifter books: the way packs have both an animal hierarchy and a human support system. It felt weird not to find that here.

My other problem is that I've clearly been stuck right into the middle of a series. And Eden doesn't provide a lot of back story about what's happened previously. Sure, the main story stands alone, but various characters were dropped in with little explanation, and although it's clear I'm supposed to care about them, I really never connected at all.

And the lying. Oh, the lying. The heroine wouldn't know the truth if it bit her on a sensitive area. I can understand part of the deception, but there comes a point where trust is irrevocably broken. And I didn't believe Lucas would be so forgiving. But that's me.

Overall, this was a decent shifter story, but not one of my favorites. It's worth reading, but don't expect to be wowed.

My Grade: C+

The Blurb:

Running With A Dangerous Crowd

Lucas Simone is not the kind of guy you mess with. He's big, he's strong, and his eyes hint at a wilder side most women can't handle. Of course, that's because his predatory instincts are no metaphor—he's a genuine Grade-A top-quality werewolf, tough enough to fight his way to dominance over the scariest pack on the West Coast. There's only one chink in his armor. Unlike most alpha dogs, Lucas has a reputation for protecting the weak and innocent.

Sarah King is counting on that protective impulse—it's the only thing standing between her and certain death. There are only two problems: one, she's not quite as innocent as she'd like Lucas to believe. And two, if he doesn't stop stoking Sarah's animal lust, it's only a matter of time before her own wild side gets unleashed. . .

Sunday Drive

2011-07-10T16:41:00.000-07:00

We went on a family drive to the Lakes Basin today. It's a gorgeous area in a neighboring county. Partly in Plumas National Forest and partly in Tahoe National Forest.

The boys love the Sand Pond area. There's a lovely interpretive trail there, but it took a beating this winter.

I'm not really sure what these are. They look very, um... yeah. Suggestive.

Review: Playing Dirty by Susan Andersen

2011-07-07T09:28:00.000-07:00

Format: Mass market; ebook
Pub Date: July 26, 2011
Publisher: HQN (Harlequin)
Length:
FTC: Review copy from publisher via Netgalley

Way back in 2008, Susan Andersen was publishing a trilogy about 3 childhood friends. The first book, Cutting Loose, came out and I loved it. [Anyone looking for a rugged, hunky hero should check that book out!!] The second, Bending the Rules, came out 11 months later in summer 2009. It was ok, didn't love it like the 1st but didn't hate it either. Then I waited for the 3rd book. And waited. And waited some more. Turns out that Harlequin had up and decided to not publish the 3rd book!

Oh, I was pissed. As were the other rabid Susan Andersen fans who wanted that last story. We sent letters to her publisher. We gnashed our teeth on social networks and blogs.

Finally, HQN relented. I haven't heard exactly what had to happen behind the scenes to make this happen, but we FINALLY have the last story in the trilogy. Hot damn!!

Playing Dirty is a classic story of betrayal. Sort of a lovers to enemies to lovers story. And I'll admit, given what the hero does to the heroine, I didn't think Andersen could pull off a reconciliation that I'd believe.

The Blurb:

When high school golden boy Cade Gallari publicly revealed he’d slept with “fat girl” Ava Spencer to win a bet, he broke her heart. Now a decade older and a head-turner with her own concierge business, Ava isn’t the gullible dreamer she once was—and she plans to prove it when Cade, hotter than ever, breezes back into town with an offer she can’t refuse.

A documentary film producer, Cade is shooting a movie about the mysterious mansion Ava inherited. And he wants her as his personal concierge. She’s certainly professional enough to be at his beck and call without giving him everything he wants. Like another shot at having her in his bed. But Ava doesn’t count on Cade’s determination. Because he’s never gotten over her. And he’s not above playing dirty to score a second chance at a red-hot future…

Now, the whole "sleep with her on a bet" thing has been done before. But I've seen it mainly in historicals. This one...this one hurt. Take a teenager already insecure about her appearance (and getting put down at home by her mother about her weight) and have the guy she thinks she loves (and has just slept with) announce to the entire high school cafeteria that he'd slept with her on a bet.

Yeah. Ouch. I'm not sure I'd ever be able to get over something like that. Sure, it was high school, but some things scar you. And this did scar Ava.

Fast forward a decade. Ava is drop dead gorgeous but still hypersensitive about her weight. She's a successful personal concierge. And Cade, a documentary filmmaker, needs her help. Both for access to the mansion of his latest film's subject, and for her community connections. Watching these two people, both responsible and likeable adults, work through their issues kept me glued to the book. It is soaked in emotion, something that so few books seem to accomplish any more.

There's a side mystery in this book (but as with the other two books, you know right from the beginning who the bad guy is and what he wants). I'm not really sure the book needed that because there was SO MUCH internal tension. But it didn't harm the book either, so I'm not going to complain.

I honestly didn't think I'd be able to accept a Happily Ever After for these two. I bled for Ava. And even though we get some reasons for Cade's actions and he is genuinely remorseful, it took some doing for me to buy into their relationship. But in the end, I did believe that Cade and Ava could get beyond their past. That's some masterful storytelling there.

My Grade: A

Waiting on Wednesday: Wolf at the Door by MaryJanice Davidson

2011-07-06T10:33:00.000-07:00

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted over at Breaking the Spine. It highlights books we just can't wait to get our greedy, bibliophile hands on.

I admit, the Betsy vampire series didn't really work for me. But I've adored Davidson's other series: the werewolves, the mermaids... Her humor is so quirky.

Wolf at the Door by MaryJanice Davidson
Publication Date: October 4, 2011
Format: Trade paperback

The Blurb:

Rachel, a werewolf/accountant, is asked to keep one eye on Vampire Queen Betsy Taylor and the other peeled for a rogue werewolf who's itching to start a war. But her attention is mostly on a sexy, mysterious stranger she wishes she could trust.

Review: The Osiris Ritual by George Mann

2011-07-06T09:44:00.000-07:00

Format: Hardcover (also available in Trade Paperback, ebook)
Publisher: TOR
Pub Date: August 2010 (orig. published in the UK in 2009)
Length: 319 pages
FTC: Review copy courtesy of the publisher

Egyptian artifacts, steampunk, and mystery together in one book? Yes, please. I was so excited to get my hands on this book. I'm an Egypt nut. And although I'm fairly new to the steampunk subgenre, it is definitely growing on me.

I was worried that I would be a little lost coming into the series in the middle, but this stands alone just fine. There are a few references to previous cases, but nothing that makes this book difficult to understand. In fact, the best parts of this book are the mystery aspects.

I really liked both Sir Maurice Newbury and his assistant Veronica Hobbes. I thought it a little odd that they seemed to be working two different cases instead of both working on one main case. That was jarring (although the cases tied together later on). The murder scenes are a bit gruesome, so those who dislike violence or gore might want to steer clear.

The steampunk was perhaps the weakest element of the book. There's passing mention of airships, a few automobile references, but the majority of the steampunk elements in this book were medical. I've read other books (like Meljean Brook's Iron Duke) that incorporated medical advances with steampunk engineering, but I don't know how common that is. The medical contraptions were the only steampunk devices described with any real detail. Everything else is scenery, mentioned in passing.

My biggest problem with this book was that it wasn't all that original. The Egyptian angle lent something fresh, but the steampunk elements weren't anything ground breaking, and the opium addicted investigator was downright derivative.

Despite those drawbacks, I am looking forward to the next book in the series. The book was a fun romp through a Sherlock Holmes meets Jules Verne type of adventure. Hopefully we'll get more emotional interaction between Newbury and Hobbes next time. And more detailed steampunk.

My Grade: B-

The Blurb (from Goodreads):

A steampunk mystery adventure featuring immortality, artifacts, and intrepid sleuths Sir Maurice Newbury and Miss Veronica Hobbes

Sir Maurice Newbury, Gentleman Investigator for the Crown, imagines life will be a little quieter after his dual successes solving The Affinity Bridge affair. But he hasn’t banked on his villainous predecessor, Knox, who is hell-bent on achieving immortality, not to mention a secret agent who isn’t quite what he seems....

So continues an adventure quite unlike any other, a thrilling steampunk mystery and the second in the series of Newbury & Hobbes investigations.

Happy Independence Day Part 2

2011-07-04T16:53:00.000-07:00

Wishing everyone a safe, happy, and healthy Fourth of July!

Happy Independence Day!

2011-07-03T09:39:00.000-07:00

This time tomorrow, I will be sitting in a chair watching a neighboring town's 4th of July parade.

And I will be taking pictures. Like the ones I took last year. Hopefully, I won't be as unobservant. Last year, I was so entranced by the little red Rudolph nose that I completely missed the other alteration to this sign.

Yeah. Not sure how I missed the giant deer dong.

Hope everyone has a safe, happy, and fun Independence Day celebration. Me? I'm going to watch some cheesy parades and take more pictures of the "local color."

RITA winners!

2011-07-01T17:27:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to all of the RITA and Golden Heart Winners. Winners were announced tonight at the RWA National conference in New York City.

Waiting on Wednesday: The Sexiest Vampire Alive by Kerrelyn Sparks

2011-06-29T16:35:00.000-07:00

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine. It highlights books we just can't wait to get our greedy, bibliophile hands on.

Pub Date: September 27, 2011
Format: mass market; ebook

I love funny paranormal books. They're my weakness. I love funny books in general, but mix in some vampires, shifters or other beings and I'm in heaven. While I've liked some of the Love at Stake series more than others, I'm still anxiously awaiting this one!

The Blurb:
Finally, it’s Gregori’s turn!
He was both a playboy and a vampire…and impossible to resist.
At the end of Vampire Mine, a terrible thing happened—a video was released that proved the existence of vampires. Now Vamps fear the worst, the Vampire Apocalypse! Will mortals start hunting vampires down and staking them in their death-sleep? At an emergency meeting, Coven Masters from around the world decide how to proceed. They need an emissary to open negotiations with the President of the United States. They want their emissary to be modern, safe, and harmless. A Vamp who has never bitten a mortal. A Vamp who has been entirely bottle-fed. Their choice—Gregori!

Now Gregori has the fate of the entire Vamp population on his shoulders. Can he keep them safe? Or will he succumb to his playboy ways and doom them all?

Review: Unlocked by Courtney Milan

2011-06-28T16:25:00.000-07:00

Format: ebook
Pub Date: May 30, 2011
Length: novella (approx 28,000 words or 111 pages)
FTC: Purchased myself

I'm sure most of you have heard the buzz about this book. Not because of the novella itself, but because of the publishing back story: this is a self-published book. And since we have been trained for years to equate self-published with crappy books, the fact that a traditionally published author would go that route is news. What's even better news is that this novella is indistinguishable from the traditionally published material I've read from Ms. Milan. Except, perhaps, the quality is far superior to the sloppy formatting often found in NY pubbed ebooks.

Courtney Milan's Unlocked is a perfect example of a shorter romance done right. I read somewhere (a blog interview perhaps?) that Milan writes a short completely differently from a full length novel. And it shows!

While not skimping on the characters or emotions, Milan crams a lot of information in this slim story. And she does it skillfully employing something I wish other writers would do: implied passage of time. Months pass in these 111 pages, but Milan doesn't make the mistake of telling us all about them. She simply jumps forward. And by adding that time element, she adds depth to the relationship between the hero and heroine. She gives the reader some plausibility that these two have had the time to work out some forgiveness. Even if the reader doesn't get to listen in to those months of conversations. It takes the 'abrupt' out of an attitude change and allows continued suspension of disbelief.

Redemption stories are particularly hard to pull off in a short format. Instead of two strangers, you have two people who have a deep and not particularly good history. The need for groveling is a given, but too much can weigh the story down.

What makes this work for me is that Evan is remorseful from the very beginning. He's appalled at what his immature self caused. And was unaware of how deeply he had wounded Elaine. Once he reenters society, he doesn't fall back into old habits. Even further, he says something to others who haven't stopped tormenting Elaine. And when they won't stop, he finds a way to shield her from the worst of their machinations. He owns his misdeeds and then does everything in his power to make things better.

I can't think of anything I would change about this story. Not a single thing.

My Grade: A

(At 99 cents, this is a bargain!)

The Blurb:

A perpetual wallflower destined for spinsterhood, Lady Elaine Warren is resigned to her position in society. So when Evan Carlton, the powerful, popular Earl of Westfeld, singles her out upon his return to England, she knows what it means. Her former tormenter is up to his old tricks, and she’s his intended victim. This time, though, the earl is going to discover that wallflowers can fight back.

Evan has come to regret his cruel, callow past. At first, he only wants to make up for past wrongs. But when Elaine throws his initial apology in his face, he finds himself wanting more. And this time, what torments him might be love…

Review: The Alpha and the Omega by Patricia Briggs

2011-06-23T21:18:00.000-07:00

Format: ebook; available in print as part of an anthology
Pub Date: Oct 2008
Publisher: Berkley
Length: 160 kb, 86 pages (accord. to Goodreads)
FTC: Purchased myself

Having just finished up the Mercy Thompson series on audio, I had a craving for more Patricia Briggs books. And since the next Mercy book isn't scheduled for publication until 2013, I debated trying the Alpha and Omega series. After getting used to Mercy's first person narrative, I wasn't sure if the 3rd person POV would work for me. Thankfully, it did.

I'm very glad I listened to advice I received on Twitter to read this story BEFORE reading the official first novel, Cry Wolf. Because this story contains the entire set up for the book. I think I would have been left feeling like I got dumped in media res if I didn't have the story to fill in the blanks. And that would have been annoying.

The story opens with Anna, a werewolf who has been victimized by her pack, screwing up the courage to place a call to the Bran, Marrok (aka the leader of all werewolf packs in North America.) Deciding that Anna's pack is out of control and drawing too much attention to the wolves (and having already been made aware of the problems in Chicago), Bran sends his problem solver (read assassin) son Charles to meet with Anna and determine the best way to deal with the "situation."

Upon his arrival, Charles discovers that Anna is far more than the submissive wolf he had assumed she was at first glance. She is an Omega. A wolf outside the pack structure. Something rare and precious. And is also surprised to find his wolf responding to her and becoming interested in taking her as a mate.

Briggs is my kind of writer: she writes great, interesting characters. I think I got a bit more out of the story because I had read the Mercy series. Which meant I knew the characters who are mentioned but never appear "on screen."

The ending was a little abrupt, but that's not really unusual for novellas. Once you read on in the series with Cry Wolf, the ending doesn't seem as abrupt. Which is probably because Cry Wolf is really a continuation of Alpha & Omega. I could easily see A and O being included or reworked into another edition of Cry Wolf.

I'm not sure how well this novella will work for those new to Briggs's werewolfy world, but upon rereading, I don't think it would be too difficult to understand the world building or details included. A reader would get far more out of this story, though, if he or she has read Moon Called.

My Grade: B+

Hump Day Classic Movies: Highlander (1986) Flash Gordon (1980)

2011-06-22T07:22:00.000-07:00

I was listening to Queen on the way home the other day and got to thinking about how many movies during the 1980s featured their music. At least a handful. But there are two movies that feature so many songs, I immediately think of them when the songs are playing.

Flash Gordon is a truly awful film. It's in the so bad it's funny genre. I suspect it was meant to be, but was a box office flop anyway. The actors who play Flash and his love interest are truly terrible actors. But there's also Timothy Dalton and Max von Sydow. You can find the soundtrack as a digital download.

The other big movie featuring Queen's music was, of course, Highlander. Personally, I am not a huge fan of the movie. It's ok. There's just too much sword play for me. And I can't stand Christopher Lambert. But the music? Love it.

But both films do have cult followings, so what do I know? If you haven't watched either of them, you should definitely give them a try. Even if you have to shut your eyes and just listen to Brian Mays's songs.

Waiting on Wednesday: Head Over Heels by Jill Shalvis

2011-06-15T13:04:00.000-07:00

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted over at Breaking the Spine. It highlights books we just can't wait to get our greedy, book-loving hands on.

Head Over Heels
Format: Mass Market, ebook
Pub Date: November 22, 2011 (Available for preorder)
Publisher: Forever/Hatchette

I think it's pretty obvious that I am a huge Jill Shalvis fan. The Lucky Harbor series is classic Shalvis, with wonderfully believable characters, lots of humor, and that elusive something extra that has you flipping the last page with a sigh of regret that the journey is over.

Head Over Heels is #3 in the trilogy. And features a classic oil and water personality trope that promises to be sizzling hot and hilarious. I can't wait!

The Blurb:

Breaking rules and breaking hearts

Free-spirited Chloe lives life on the edge. Unlike her soon-to-be married sisters, she isn't ready to settle into a quiet life running their family's newly renovated inn. But soon her love of trouble--and trouble with love-draws the attention of the very stern, very sexy sheriff who'd like nothing better than to tame her wild ways.

Suddenly Chloe can't take a misstep without the sheriff hot on her heels. His rugged swagger and his enigmatic smile are enough to make a girl beg to be handcuffed. For the first time, instead of avoiding the law, Chloe dreams of surrender. Can this rebel find a way to keep the peace with the straitlaced sheriff? Or will Chloe's colorful past keep her from a love that lasts . . . and the safe haven she truly wants in a town called Lucky Harbor?

TBR Challenge Review: Sugar Daddy by Lisa Kleypas

2011-06-15T08:02:00.000-07:00

Format: Mass Market paperback
Pub Date: 2008 (orig. pubbed as a hardcover in 2007)
Length: 418 pages
FTC: Purchased used
Why it was in the TBR: Wanted to try Kleypas's contemporary debut

I've been meaning to read this book since it came out in hardcover back in 2007. Of course, I rarely buy romances in hardcover, so I waited until I found a used paperback copy at the local thrift store. And then it sat neglected on the shelf for another couple years. Ah well.

I pulled this out thinking it would match this month's contemporary romance theme. Turns out I was wrong. This isn't my idea of a contemporary romance. It's more of a women's fiction/straight fiction novel. The focus isn't on a main couple, something I need to have to qualify a book as a romance.

Told in the first person from Liberty's point of view, this book reminded me of Larry McMurtry's books. Not sure why other than being set in Texas, but it definitely didn't feel like a romance—from the very first page.

The first 2/3 of the book follows Liberty's life from her early teens to her early twenties. We watch as she goes from a bookish teen to a surrogate parent for her baby sister. All the while, earning her own way in the world with hard work and determination. That determination eventually lands her a job working for a rich older man who hires her as his assistant and allows Liberty and her sister to move in to his mansion.

Which sets the stage for the last 1/3 of the novel where Liberty and her employer's oldest son, Gage, go from adversaries to lovers. Just in time for Liberty's childhood flame to reappear out of nowhere to stir things up.

The writing is lovely, filled with emotion and angst. I'm sure I'm not going to forget this book anytime soon. But what didn't work for me was the fact that we spend the first 2/3 of the book with Liberty falling in love with Hardy, pining for Hardy. Then the last 1/3 with Gage. The "love triangle" wasn't a triangle at all. Hardy's reappearance felt a little off. I get that the author wanted Liberty to fully get over her childhood love in order to embrace her future, but this just felt hinky.

Lots of emotion, interesting characters, but I felt a bit cheated by the fact that this clearly isn't a romance. Not sure if that's the publisher's fault or my own to be honest.

My Grade: B-

The (not quite accurate) blurb:

Liberty Jones has dreams and determination that will take her far away from Welcome, Texas—if she can keep her wild heart from ruling her mind. Hardy Cates sees Liberty as completely off-limits. His own ambitions are bigger than Welcome, and Liberty is a complication he doesn’t need. But something magical and potent draws them to each other, in a dangerous attraction that is stronger than both of them.

When Hardy leaves town to pursue his plans, Liberty finds herself alone with a young sister to raise. Soon Liberty is under the spell of a billionaire tycoon—a Sugar Daddy, one might say. But the relationship goes deeper than people think, and Liberty begins to discover secrets about her own family’s past.

Quickie Audiobook review: River Marked by Patricia Briggs

2011-06-14T11:13:00.000-07:00

Format: Audio download
Length: 8 hrs 54 minutes
Narrator: Lorelei King
Pub Date: March 2011
FTC: Purchased myself

I've listened to the entire Mercy series in the last few months. I haven't reviewed them (bad Amber) except for the first one, but I have been flying through them as much as the format would allow. Although I loved the previous installments in the Mercy Thompson series by Patricia Briggs, I just didn't enjoy River Marked. At least until the last 1.5 hrs of it.

Maybe it's because Briggs played with her formula, but due to certain developments, there is no romantic tension in this book. None. And that was part of what I loved about Mercy.

There was also a huge emphasis on Native American religion and mythology. Something that quite frankly bores me to tears. I liked the fey, the vampires, the werewolves etc. I have zero interest in characters from the Native American creation myths come to life. It's just not my cup of tea.

Another irritant was the limited number of characters in this book. Because Mercy and Adam are on their own, we see the rest of the larger cast of characters only at the beginning and the very end. Or through an occasional phone call. Taking these two out of their circle of family and friends did not work for me at all. Those relationships are what keep the series afloat and provide much of the charm.

The last part of the book was much, much better. Probably because we get some action. There's a huge battle, filled with terror, loss, angst, and lots of emotion.

The narration, as always, was terrific. The characters sound unique without being grating, and Ms. King manages to convey character emotions and attitude.

I found myself really disappointed in this book, even though the ending did bring up the grade quite a bit. The pace, the lack of romantic tension, the vague sense of stagnation where nothing really happens all made this a meh listening experience for me.

My Grade: C

Hump Day Classic Movie: Green Card (1990)

2011-06-08T07:22:00.000-07:00

I just finished reading Yours to Keep by Shannon Stacey. The plot involved a pretend engagement, and some of the kooky things that happened reminded me so much of the movie Green card starring Andie MacDowell and Gerard Depardieu (in particular, the Photoshopping element that paralleled the fake photos in the movie.)

Green Card is a sweet romantic comedy that I personally haven't watched in a very long time. Hard to believe the movie is over 20 years old now.

Waiting on Wednesday: One Grave at a Time by Jeaniene Frost

2011-06-08T05:54:00.000-07:00

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted over at Breaking the Spine. It highlights books we just can't wait to get our greedy, book-lovin' hands on.

One Grave at a Time
Pub Date: August 30, 2011
Length: 384 pages
Blurb: Goodreads description (may have spoilers in it!)

I still haven't read book #5 in this series (although it's in the TBR), but I love this series a lot. In fact, I have them on audio also, and my husband loves them too.

Quickie Review: Snowball in Hell by Josh Lanyon

2011-06-06T10:08:00.000-07:00

Format: ebook
Pub Date: (newly revised edition, April 2011)
Publisher: Carina
Length: 44,490 words
FTC: review copy via NetGalley

I'm incredibly late posting this review, but I blame the winter blues. Why? Because it's still acting like winter here. And thanks to someone on Twitter, I have a name for it: June-uary. Seriously. We've had maybe 1 day in the last month that hit 70 degrees. Anyhoo...my review:

I love Josh Lanyon's writing. Something about the mystery noir sensibility just makes me happy. And setting this one during WWII? Total win. Finding a genre for this novella is a bit difficult. I'd say it was a m/m historical romantic suspense. And I think that's where my problem lies...I'd have preferred this story as a mystery.

Don't get me wrong, I don't mind the explicit scenes, but except for one...they seemed unnecessary to the plot. As if the author had added them to artificially turn up the heat level to match the preferences of the current crop of m/m readers.

The setting and characters are well done as always, though, and the mystery was believable. This is a very atmospheric piece of writing. It expertly captures the feel of the old film noir movies without overdoing it. And it made me care about the two lead characters enough to hope there are other stories in the works.

And props to Josh Lanyon: I didn't guess whodunnit. At all. I had part of the mystery figured out, but not who the murderer was. That's a rare thing for me.

My Grade: B

The Blurb:

Los Angeles, 1943
Reporter Nathan Doyle had his reasons to want Phil Arlen dead, but when he sees the man's body pulled from the La Brea tar pit, he knows he'll be the prime suspect. He also knows that his life won't stand up to intense police scrutiny, so he sets out to crack the case himself.
Lieutenant Matthew Spain's official inquiries soon lead him to believe that Nathan knows more than he's saying. But that's not the only reason Matt takes notice of the handsome journalist. Matt's been drawn to men before, but he must hide his true feelings—or risk his entire career.
As Nathan digs deeper, it becomes increasingly difficult to stay one step ahead of Matt Spain—and to deny his intense attraction to him. Nathan's secrets may not include murder, but has his hunt put him right in the path of the real killer?

Review: Summer at Seaside Cove by Jacquie D'Alessandro

2011-06-06T09:31:00.000-07:00

Format: ebook, mass market paperback
Pub Date: May 3, 2011
Publisher: Berkley
Length: 368 pages
FTC: Purchased myself

Summer at Seaside Cove is the perfect beach read: heartwarming and hilarious. As a longtime fan of Jacquie D'Alessandro's books, though, I didn't expect anything less.

Mainly known for her historical romances, Jacquie D'Alessandro's unique sense of humor translated well to this contemporary romance. It took a bit longer than normal for her voice to shine through, but once it did, I was smiling my way through the rest of the book.

As with most small town romances, the story begins with an outsider escaping city life for less than cosmopolitan surrounds (in this case, a barrier island in North Carolina.) Jamie Newman arrives in Seaside Cove determined to recharge over the summer from a painful breakup. Her vacation starts out on a less-than-auspicious note, though.

The decapitated, plastic pink flamingo, standing assfeathers deep in what looked like poison ivy, was Jamie Newman's first clue that doom had followed her from New York. The pictures of the "cheerful, cozy, inviting" beach house posted on the rental Internet site [...] must have been seriously Photoshopped.

Trapped due to the lack of other rentals in the area (and the fact that she sublet her New York apartment before leaving,) Jamie decides to stay despite the questionable state of the cottage and the presence of her irritating neighbor/landlord Nick Trent. As the summer progresses, Jamie finds herself fitting into the small town and reluctantly growing closer to Nick.

For his part, Nick tries to steer clear of his irritating yet incredibly attractive neighbor. She's a temporary resident with a life in New York. The last thing he needs is to get entangled in her drama (which followed her from the big city) or her life. But the attraction proves too much.

   He need to go home. Now. Instead he took a step closer to her.
   He heard the faint snap of Dorothy Ernst's bug zapper across the street and his lips flattened into a grim line. He knew exactly how those poor fried bastards felt. They probably screamed, Stay away from the light! even as they flew right into it, unable to resist the tempting allure. Even knowing it was bad for them. Even knowing they were headed for doom.
   It really rankled that he was apparently no smarter than a damn insect.

I'm a sucker for romances that are enemies (or adversaries) to lovers. It adds that special spark, the sizzle, that keeps me flipping the pages. And it's a great source of humor in this book.

Also in keeping with the small town romance trope, the town is filled with quirky residents. But what makes this book special is that every single one of those characters pops off of the page. They are all memorable and so much a part of the story that you don't resent time away from the main story/romance to learn more about them.

Fans of Jill Shalvis or Lori Wilde will adore Summer at Seaside Cove. I know I did.

Cover critique: I think this is the wrong cover for this book. If I didn't know Jacquie D's writing, this cover wouldn't entice me to buy. It looks very women fiction-ish, when this is 100% romance.

My Grade: A

The Blurb:

After Jamie Newman's half sister Laurel steals her boyfriend, Jamie leaves New York and the humiliation behind for the island of Seaside Cove, North Carolina. But the cozy cottage she booked turns out to be a rundown bungalow. And she's not alone. Her drama-prone mother, angst- ridden niece and newly dumped Laurel all follow her down. With a cottage this crowded, will she ever have a chance at finding love again?

June is Audiobook Month!

2011-06-02T16:39:00.000-07:00

In honor of audiobook month, I'm going to attempt to post all of those audio reviews I've been neglecting to finish. I've listened to quite a few, but just haven't gotten around to posting my thoughts on them.

One thing I do know about audiobooks: the narrator is extremely important. Many non-audiophiles are leery of audiobooks because they feel like it's just too weird to have someone read a story to them. And that's where a narrator comes in. The best narrators perform a book, rather than just read it. In fact, I often search Audible.com by narrator to find new authors to try.

My favorite narrators:

Barbara Rosenblat: She does all of Elizabeth Peters's books, but my favorites are the Amelia Peabody series. She also does Katie MacAlister's dragon series and the Recorded Books version of Kathy Reich's Tempe Brennan series.

Jim Dale: Famous for his Harry Potter narrations, he also does the Peter and the Starcatchers series.

Jim Frangione: It took a bit of time for the voice of JRWard's Black Dagger Brotherhood books to grow on me. Now I can't imagine anyone else reading them.

Waiting on Wednesday: Viscount Breckenridge to the Rescue by Stephanie Laurens

2011-06-01T05:36:00.000-07:00

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted over at Breaking the Spine. It highlights books we just can't wait to get our greedy, book-loving hands on.

August 30, 2011
448 pages
Avon

I admit, Stephanie Laurens's last series just didn't do it for me. I read the first two, then DNF'd the 3rd one. I never bothered to try the last one in the series. But this book marks a return to the Cynster universe. It's part of a new trilogy about Cynster Brides...presumably in-law sisters or some of the younger Cynsters that were too young in the previous books. Details are still sketchy (Ms. Laurens doesn't have any info on her website yet, either).

Edited to Add: Sometime after scheduling this post, Ms. Laurens added more info to her site:

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

The next two in the series are: IN PURSUIT OF ELIZA CYNSTER (September) and THE CAPTURE OF THE EARL OF GLENCRAE (October)

Review: Murder Under Cover by Kate Carlisle

2011-05-30T07:27:00.000-07:00

Format: Mass Market
Pub Date: May 3, 2011
Length: 304 pages
Publisher: Obsidian
FTC: Review copy provided by Jane Rotrosen Agency

I love cozy mysteries, but I am finicky about the whole amateur sleuth aspect of them. Sure, part of the appeal of the genre is watching how ordinary people deal with death and mysteries, but too often they veer into what's known as TSTL (too stupid to live), endangering themselves and everyone around them. Thankfully, this isn't one of those books.

Brooklyn Wainwright is a rare book restorer and binder. When her friend brings home a rare copy of the Kama Sutra to clean, restore and appraise, she's ecstatic. Until people start dying around her. Again. Thankfully, she has her lover, former spy and security expert Derek, to help keep her safe.
Brooklyn is smart enough to let Derek, the security expert, deal with most of the dangerous stuff. She calls the cops when she needs to instead of pretending she can handle everything herself. In other words, she does everything those TSTL heroines never do: acknowledges where her expertise is and isn't and lets the professionals do their jobs.

The author does an excellent job portraying the various people who live in and around San Francisco. All of the characters are vibrant and complex, but with their own flair, motivations and personalities. There are commune members, artists, a gay couple or two, a British ex-spy and more. But what makes this special is that there isn't any special attention given to how motley the group of friends, family and acquaintances really is.

There's a nice romantic element here that readers of romances or romantic suspense will appreciate. The heat level is quite tame, but I enjoyed the banter and insecurities between Brooklyn and Derek.

This is definitely not a mystery for those who love to be stumped, though. I figured out the plot by page 100 or so. With the who and why to come just a few chapters later.

My Grade: B+

The Blurb:

When she receives an exquisite copy of the Kama Sutra from her best friend, Robin, to appraise and restore, Brooklyn Wainwright anticipates both recreating a beautiful book and spicing up her love life. But then Robin's apartment is ransacked, and the great guy she recently met is murdered in her bed. Now Robin is the #1 suspect. Obviously, exploring the Kama Sutra's bliss will have to wait until after Brooklyn finds the killer...

I Think Mother Nature is Confused...

2011-05-26T07:14:00.000-07:00

A Conversation about Audiobooks with the Hubs

2011-05-26T06:13:00.000-07:00

I really wish my husband would write a review for me, but then...he hates writing anything. He hates reading, too. But he's an avid audiobook "reader."

The other day, we were talking about what appeals to him and what he's been listening to. Here is a paraphrased transcript of that conversation.

Me: Do you want me to buy the newest Black Dagger Brotherhood book for you?
Hubs: No. Why bother? That last one [Lover Mine] ruined the series for me.
Me: Why?
Hubs: The ending. She [the author, JR Ward] turned Xhex into a wimp. She's a badass. She wouldn't be out there getting all teary-eyed over a dress. Or her mom.
[breaks out in falsetto with effeminate hand waving]
Look at my dress! It's so pretty!!!
Me: What are your favorite series or authors right now?

Hubs: the Mercy series and the Magic (Kate Daniels) series. [Patricia Briggs; Ilona Andrews]
Me: Why? What do you like about them?
Hubs: the Mercy series has great characters. I like the fact that there's a ton of paranormal creatures: vampires, werewolves, fey... The Kate Daniels series is more f-ed up. Darker. Plus I can catch more detail each time I listen to the books. They're pretty complex.
Me: The next Mercy book isn't due out until 2013. What are you going to listen to until then?
Hubs: Why don't you ask those people you're always twittering at?
Me: Ok. I will. I know you have a weakness for sarcastic women [coughs self-consciously]...what other personality types do you like to listen to?
Hubs: I like the guys to get their hands dirty. I don't want them to be straight arrows. They need to be smart enough to break the rules when they have to. If they can't do that, the stories need to make me laugh.
******

OK...I got a few audiobook recommendations from Twitter the other day. But I can always use more. My husband listens to fantasy, mystery, paranormal romance and urban fantasy. He really likes series, too. He drives for a living, so he goes through several audiobooks a week.

So far, he's listened to Stephen King's Dark Tower series, the Night Huntress Series by Jeaniene Frost, The Mercy Thompson series, the Kate Daniels series, the Dragon series by Katie MacAlister. He's also liked a few of the Iris Johansen forensic books and loves the In Death series by JD Robb. He enjoyed the one Barry Eisler book I downloaded for him.

He hated the Amelia Peabody series (sigh), couldn't stand the Carpathians by Feehan and disliked the Tempe series by Kathy Reichs.

Any more audiobook suggestions?

Review: Shadow Guard by Diane Whiteside

2011-05-25T10:28:00.000-07:00

Format: Trade paperback
Length: 242 pages
Publisher: Brava (Kensington)
Pub Date: April 2011
FTC: Review copy courtesy of the publisher

An intriguing premise is ruined by amateurish writing and vague world-building in this paranormal romantic suspense.

I was looking forward to reading this book, despite that awful cover. The blend of magic and police work intrigued me. But what killed this book for me was the writing. More specifically, the over use of similes.

I'm not sure who edited this, but it's downright criminal to let so many slip past. Sometimes, there were 3 or more PER PAGE. I'm not saying don't use them, but use them sparingly!! (A simile is the use of like or as when describing something.) I am honest about my horrible grammar lapses, but when the writing kicks me out of a story because someone is too fond of a word, phrase or style, there's a problem.

A few choice ones (trust me, there are plenty more where these came from):

(The very first sentence)
Snow coiled like serpents through the trees' barren branches

[...] like dolphins riding the current.

Something shimmered under its surface, like a network of stars.

[...] his jaw clenched tight as that of a prison guard standing watch over dangerous inmates.

And those are just the most obvious ones in the first 26 pages.

My other main complaint: the world building was a little too sparse. I understand not wanting to bog down a story with too much detail, but I struggled to understand the way this world worked. We don't get any real detail until midway through the book, but by then, I didn't care to learn more about the world.

The book is also a bit choppy, but that could be partly my fault, as I kept putting the book down to bang my head against the wall when another "like" or "as" popped up. I know I'm harping, but I can't recall a worse case of this. Ever.

The characters were interesting, the premise good. But I just couldn't get past the vague nature of the world and the abuse of the poor simile. For someone not as picky about word usage or content with vague paranormal detail, this might not be so bad.

My Grade: D

Waiting on Wednesday: The Many Sins of Lord Cameron by Jennifer Ashley

2011-05-25T07:32:00.000-07:00

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted over at Breaking the Spine. It highlights books we just can't wait to get our greedy book-loving hands on.

The Many Sins of Lord Cameron ( #3 in series)
August 2, 2011
320 pages
Berkley Sensation (Penguin)

The Blurb:

Lord Cameron Mackenzie is intrigued when he finds the pretty widow, Ainsley Douglas, hiding in the window seat of his bedchamber. Cam remembers Ainsley Douglas all right—six years ago, he’d caught her in this very bedchamber, during a house party in the Mackenzies’ Scottish manor. Enchanted by her ingenuous excuses, he decided to seduce her, but stopped shy when she’d made a rather touching appeal about her “good husband who didn’t deserve to be heartbroken.”

Later, Cameron learned that her visit to his bedchamber was part of some female intrigue against him, the kind his late wife used to practice. Ainsley protested her innocence, but Cameron’s anger made him never want to see her again. Now she’s back, at another houseparty—and Cameron finds the gray-eyed minx in his bedchamber, again. Her excuses are just as ingenuous, but this time Cameron is determined to teach her a lesson.

They have unfinished business, Cameron tells her. He asks her how many of her many buttons she’ll let him unclasp, promising that before the houseparty is over, she’ll be asking him to undo them all.

Ainsley’s dismay is real. She’s on a mission to prevent embarrassment to Queen Victoria, and time is running out. Though the needs he’d stirred long ago during her unhappy marriage rise again, she knows it would be foolish to fall for love-them-and-leave-them Cameron Mackenzie.

But he asks her a question that challenges her beliefs about love and happiness, and she finds herself risking all to be with the black sheep of the Mackenzie family.

Gone Fishin'

2011-05-22T16:18:00.000-07:00

It's finally warm enough here to get out and enjoy the sunshine. Today, we went fishing.

With a few breaks for catching lizards and playing in the dirt.

TBR Challenge Review: How to Woo a Reluctant Lady by Sabrina Jeffries

2011-05-18T11:49:00.000-07:00

Publisher: Pocket
Format: Mass Market
FTC: Purchased myself

Why it was in the TBR: I bought this when it first came out in February, got about halfway through it, then set it aside. Not because I didn't like it, but because I got distracted by other authors and shiny newer releases. Since it fit perfectly with this month's theme, I decided to pull it back out again, saving it from languishing on the "get to eventually" TBR currently residing in boxes.

I read the first book in this series, but not the second. How to Woo a Reluctant Lady (HTWARL) is the 3rd in the "Hellions of Halstead Hall" series. [I'm not sure why, but long pretentious series titles irritate me. Especially multi-syllabic ones with cutesy alliteration. Which is weird, because I usually love alliteration. Anyhoo...] Thankfully, HTWARL is fine as a stand-alone book.

What makes this book is the hero, Giles. He's very intelligent, very arrogant, but also sexy and determined. I loved the trial details and the focus given to his profession. He's a very yummy barrister who *gasp* works for a living. I found that refreshing. I also liked that our heroine, Minerva, grows to understand and respect what he does.

The story is fantastic until about midway through, when it loses steam for some reason. I'm sure that's probably why I ended up putting it aside. It's not bad, but it definitely loses something. Especially when Giles decides to lie to Minerva within a week or so of promising honesty. If he can't keep a promise for a week, how is he supposed to keep his vows for a lifetime?

Overall, though, I enjoyed the book. Especially Giles. Yes, I've said that already, but he is memorable. And that's a rarity these days among the throngs of arrogant historical heroes.Those who dislike Regency or early Victorian spies should avoid, though, as there is a bit of that type of activity in the story.

My Grade: B-

Waiting on Wednesday: When Tony Met Adam

2011-05-18T06:41:00.000-07:00

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted over at Breaking the Spine. It highlights books we just can't wait to get our greedy book-loving hands on.

I'm a big fan of Suze Brockmann's Troubleshooters series. And if you've read any of the last few books, you'll be familiar with Adam Wyndham. While I'm not quite sure how Suze will make Adam less of a prick and more sympathetic, I can't wait to read this short story anyway.

When Tony Met Adam
Pub Date: June 6, 2011
Publisher: Random House
Format: Ebook

The Blurb:

Tony Vlachic, a ruggedly handsome Navy SEAL, has kept his sexuality a secret for years under the threat of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” That is, until he meets Adam Wyndham, a charismatic yet troubled film star. Tony knows that by approaching Adam in front of his teammates he’s jeopardizing his military career. And Adam, nursing a broken heart, has no interest in a relationship. Still, neither man can deny their instant attraction.

Tony didn’t become a SEAL by accepting rejection, and his pursuit of Adam leads to one unforgettable night. But the next morning, Tony is ordered to ship out to Afghanistan, and he’s forced to leave Adam with too much left unsaid. As Tony enters a dangerous war zone, Adam, back in Los Angeles, struggles with the demons of his past, while dealing with the very real possibility that Tony could be killed in action. Half a world apart, both men must face their feelings for each other—and decide if what they’ve found is worth risking everything in the name of love.

Review: Devious by Lisa Jackson

2011-05-16T19:03:00.000-07:00

Pub Date: April 2011
Format: Hardcover
Publisher: Kensington
Length: 439 pages
FTC: Review copy courtesy of the publisher

AAR has a blog post about authors repeating themselves that's feeling very timely right about now. Because as much as I love Lisa Jackson's Bentz and Montoya books, the newest installment, Devious, should be titled Déjà Vu.

In other words, it's another book about two detectives in New Orleans investigating priests, nuns, and a scandal or three involving the Catholic Church.

The surprising thing for me is even with the 'haven't I read this before?' vibe, I enjoyed the book immensely. But there are a few problems...

As with many of Ms. Jackson's books, there is a romance inside the suspense. This time, it's between Valerie and her estranged husband, Slade. Valerie, a former cop, has moved from Texas to New Orleans to start over after leaving her husband (whom she believes slept with her sister). Slade travels to New Orleans determined to sort out the mess of his marriage. He arrives right before the police, who notify Valerie that her sister, Camille, has been murdered.

I had some serious issues with Valerie's character. Valerie is supposed to be a former cop. But she doesn't really act like one. There's no observational skills, no awareness of her surroundings, no real indication that she'd ever been a cop other than a passing reference or two to things she "should know because she's a cop."

I also had some issues with how choppy the whole book was. We jumped from one point of view to another, then another. We see things from at least 10 different character's viewpoints. Which means we never get to spend time in any one character's head, getting to know them and learning their quirks. One particular irritant is the use of first person, present tense to show a killer's POV. I am not a fan of 1st person present. Especially when the rest of the book is told in the 3rd person.

Loose ends: I hesitate to count the number of loose ends this story has. Aside from some obvious sequel baiting, I'm not really sure why the book ended where it did. Several characters, both good and bad, are left in a bit of limbo. If those threads get tied up in another book, I can only hope that it's not another one set in or near a Catholic anything. Because I'm honestly getting more than a bit fed up with the same basic premise/setting/plot.

In spite of all of the flaws the book had, I found myself sucked in. I enjoyed the mystery, but I felt like Ms. Jackson didn't take enough time and care with this story. It's not one of her better books, but fans will probably enjoy it anyway.

My Grade: C

The Blurb:

The crime scene at St. Marguerite’s cathedral in New Orleans is shocking, even to seasoned detectives like Rick Bentz and Reuben Montoya. A novice nun named Sister Camille has been found dressed in a yellowed bridal gown and viciously garroted, her body covered with an altar cloth.

Valerie Houston is devastated by her sister’s death. For weeks, she’d begged Camille to leave St. Marguerite’s, where she seemed determined to live as some kind of martyr. But Camille had a knack for making bad choices — she joined the convent in part because she’d fallen for Val’s soon-to-be ex-husband, Slade.

Convinced the police aren’t doing enough, Val begins to investigate. Slade, on a mission to repair their marriage, is determined to help her. But the deeper Val’s inquiries go, the more twisted the case becomes. St. Marguerite’s is far from the tranquil retreat many believe, and everyone, from handsome Father Frank O’Toole to the mysterious Mother Superior, has their own agenda. Despite their closeness, even Camille had a hidden life Val never suspected. But someone knew about Camille’s past — and Val’s, too. Now she has no choice but to catch a devious, depraved killer intent on purging St. Marguerite’s of all its sins — before she becomes the next victim…

Lemon Curd Bars ( with coconut and pecans )

2011-05-13T12:41:00.000-07:00

This recipe, from the 2010 Better Homes and Gardens Christmas Cookie magazine, was the surprise star of my cookie trays. My husband, who is not all that fond of lemon desserts, had to admit he was WRONG about these being "gross." Something he declared after finding out that not only were these lemon, they had coconut and nuts as well. I ended up having to hide them from him to save enough for the trays!

The coconut makes these chewy. I haven't tried making these with almonds, but they're delicious with pecans. I use Trader Joe's lemon curd. Because I'm lazy. But you could probably make your own. If you're ambitious.

Lemon Curd Bars
1 cup butter, softened
1 cup sugar
2 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 10-12 oz jar lemon curd
2/3 cup flaked coconut (I used sweetened)
1/2 cup sliced or slivered almonds or coarsely chopped pecans

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees Line a 13 x 9 x 2 inch baking pan with foil, extending foil over edges of pan. Grease foil, set pan aside.

2. Beat butter with an electric mixer on medium to high speed for 30 seconds. Add sugar. Beat until combined, scraping bowl occasionally. Beat in flour and baking powder until combined. (Mixture will be crumbly). Remove 2/3 cup of crumb mixture; set aside. Press remaining crumb mixture evenly onto the bottom of prepared baking pan.

3. Bake crust in oven for 5-8 minutes or until top is golden (that's about 10-11 minutes for me up here in the mountains). Remove from oven. Spread lemon curd over hot crust to within 1/2 inch of edge. (Try to avoid having lemon curd touch the edges of the pan, because it can scorch). In a medium bowl, stir together reserved crumb mixture, coconut and nuts. Sprinkle coconut mixture over lemon curd.

4. Bake for 18-20 minutes or until edges are golden and topping is lightly browned. Cool in pan on a wire rack. Using edges of foil, lift uncut bars out of pan. Cut into 32 bars.

Store in a single layer in covered, airtight container for up to 3 days in the refrigerator.

Waiting on Wednesday: Heart of Steel by Meljean Brook

2011-05-11T05:40:00.000-07:00

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted over at Breaking the Spine. It highlights books we just can't wait to get our greedy, book-loving hands on.

Of all of the over-hyped books last year, the Iron Duke was one that truly did live up to its buzz. It was so refreshingly different from anything else I'd ever read. The next book in the series, Heart of Steel, comes out November 1st.

Heart of Steel by Meljean Brook
Pub Date: November 1, 2011
Format: Trade Paperback; ebook
Length: 384 pages
**This cover may not be the final version.**

The Blurb:

Return to the gritty, alluring world of steampunk with the New York Times bestselling author of The Iron Duke.
Growing up in the dangerous world of the Iron Seas, the mercenary captain of the airship Lady Corsair, Yasmeen, has learned to keep her heart hard as steel. Ruthless and cunning, her only loyalty is to her ship and her crew-until one man comes along and changes everything...Treasurehunter Archimedes Fox isn't interested in the Lady Corsair-just the captain and the valuable da Vinci sketch she stole from him. When it attracts a dangerous amount of attention, Yasmeen and Archimedes journey to Horde-occupied Morocco- and straight into enemy hands.

Also looking forward to:

The Naked King by Sally MacKenzie
Pub Date: June 7, 2011
Publisher: Zebra (Kensington)
Length: 353 pages
Formats: Mass Market, ebook

I am a Sally MacKenzie junkie. I know her books can be rather predictable, but I love them anyway. They always manage to tug on my heartstrings. Even when they are being a bit silly and funny. There's just something about the dialogue, the characters, and MacKenzie's sense of the absurd that make these so fun.

I've heard this is the last book in her Naked series, though, which has me a bit bummed.

The Blurb:
Indiscretion Is Just The Beginning. . .

One night of slight overindulgence—oh, all right, he was drunk—and Stephen Parker-Roth finds he must betroth himself to prevent yet another scandal. But his "intended" is lovely, a redheaded beauty under her horrendous, unfashionable bonnet, and before long, he's congratulating himself on compromising such an excellent candidate—and anticipating what other naughtiness they'll get caught at before the wedding. . .

Lady Anne Marston has long since given up any thought of marriage. That is the price she pays for the mistakes of her past. But one little conversation with a handsome rogue should never have led to a sham engagement. Even if it did end in a rather shocking kiss...in broad daylight. . .on the front step of London's premier gossip. Now, trapped between a secret and a lie, Anne must somehow disentangle herself from this charming, maddening man before the truth comes out—or her heart gives in. . .

Review: Bless the Bride by Rhys Bowen

2011-05-09T08:56:00.000-07:00

Pub Date: March 1, 2011
Format: Hardcover
Length: 272 pages
FTC: Review copy provided by Jane Rotrosen Agency

I have been in a history mood lately, so I dug out this copy of Bless the Bride . I had stalled on it a few months earlier, but sometimes finishing a book is more about mood and less about the book. I think this was one of those cases.

Set at the turn of the 20th century in New York City, Bless the Bride is the 10th installment in the continuing adventures of Molly Murphy, Irish immigrant and female amateur detective.

Overall, this felt like a novella and not a novel. At 272 pages, it is quite short. Which means that something had to give. And for me, that was the relationships. We get very little time between Daniel and Molly. In fact, we get far more time with Molly's neighbors than we do between the affianced pair.

But more than the length, the glaringly obvious history research annoyed me. I like that sort of information to be woven into the narrative, and here it seemed to be just stuck in there at random. I sincerely doubt whether a character would know the name of a Congressional Act well enough to trot it out during a casual conversation.

"Never become a citizen, even if you were born here?"
"That's right. Thanks to the Exclusion Act."

Awkward! It's mentioned again, later. Now, I can conceivably see Chinese-American or Chinese immigrants knowing the name of the law that codified discrimination against them, but it doesn't flow well. It would be far better to simply state "the law," then include the name of the law in an author's note at the end.

There are other examples, all relayed to Molly during conversation, that seemed just as stilted. Just as obvious of an info-dump. Maybe I'm too well-versed in 19th and early 20th American history, but it felt like a history lecture instead of a novel. As if Ms. Bowen didn't trust her readers to believe her research without pointing out specifics for verification.

Also, the mystery is entirely predictable. I missed some of the clues, but honestly, there were a few too many. I wasn't at all surprised, except for how slow Molly seemed to be about using her observations to help solve the crime.

Although I did enjoy the setting and characters, the lackluster mystery and unsubtle history lessons made this just an average read. I'm rounding up a little because despite the annoyances, I enjoyed the book while reading and am probably going to hunt up an earlier installment in the series to read.

My Grade: C+

The Blurb:

With Molly Murphy's wedding to Daniel Sullivan quickly approaching, she heads to the Westchester County countryside, where his mother can lend her a hand and advise her on a bride's proper place. And shockingly, Molly seems to be agreeing. She has already promised that she'll close up her PI business and settle down after marrying, but she isn't a married woman yet. So, when she gets word of a possible case, she sneaks back into the city to squeeze in a little more sleuthing before the wedding bells can ring. A wealthy Chinese immigrant wants her to find his missing bride, and Molly—sure she isn't getting the whole story—suspects that his bride ran off. But where could she go? The only Chinese women in early-twentieth-century New York are kept under lock and key, and Molly can't help but wonder if she's saving the woman from the streets or helping to lock her away for good.