Monday, July 03, 2006

Saturday, July 01, 2006

Wednesday, June 28, 2006

Wednesday, June 21, 2006

Thursday, June 15, 2006

The Public Domain Podcast

The Public Domain Podcast

Wanted to let everyone know about this great site!!

They take public domain novels and record them so that you can listen to them on audio. I found this through the Lostcasts podcast... so everyone pat them on the back for sharing a good resource!!

The Dark Highlander by Karen Marie Moning

Review Coming soon! A-

Sunday, June 11, 2006

Saturday, June 10, 2006

Wednesday, June 07, 2006

Tuesday, June 06, 2006

Summer Lovin' by Carly Phillips

This was the first book I have read by Carly Phillips and overall it was a sweet little story.

Of course, you all know how I hate reading books out of order... but this one was available on audio and its prequel, Under the Boardwalk, was not. So I offered it up and read the books out of order.

This story is about Zoe, who at 30 is being pressured by her family to settle down like her twin sister. Wow, could I feel that pain. It made me very sympathetic to Zoe as a heroine, but I really didn't like the hero. Let me rephrase, I liked the idea of him, a uptight, New Yorker who is tossed into a kooky family through a situation beyond his control, but the problem was I didn't believe that his actions were in character.

From the beginning I could tell that the story was going to have its moments, because there was a lot of "purple prose". Descriptions of things repeated over and over again with flowery words... adding nothing to the story itself.

The plot was decent, it only took me meeting the bad "guy" twice to figure out what the outcome was going to be, but the resolution was a good one.

Best parts of the book... the monkey and the little girl.

Friday, June 02, 2006

Date With the Other Side by Erin McCarthy

Light fluffy read with cute characters. This is the third book I have read from this author and they are all pretty good reads. Entertaining but not fabulous. This book takes place in Cuttersville Ohio, the most haunted town in Ohio. The first scene is very vivid and hooks you from the moment the heros member is caught in the holes of an antique knit coverlet. I really loved the heroine's ex-husband too. I hope that he and Amanda (the hero's boss' daughter) are highlighted in related books.

4 stars!

Thursday, June 01, 2006

Awaken Me Darkly by Gena Showalter

If you are fans of the early Anita Blake books, this one has the same sort of feel to it. The plot: Aliens live among us. There are many species that have entered our planet through portholes.. think... Stargate. They have abilities that the humans can't match, so an elite task force is created in local police forces to hunt bad aliens down and eliminate them.

Our heroine is one such hunter. Her name is Mia Snow and she has the requisite horrible background making her a very tough woman in a position of command in the Chicago PD. When her partner Dallas is injured saving her from certain death, she is forced to bargain with a very attractive alien for a way to cure him.

The mystery isn't really the key to this story's success. It's more about building the world and learning about Mia. This book could kick off a really long series if treated the right way. The writing flowed and the story engrossed. Thumbs up for this first Huntress book from Showalter.

4 1/2 stars!

Wednesday, February 08, 2006

Breaking Point - Suzanne Brockman

Breaking Point - Suzanne Brockman A+

Max and Gina's story... FINALLY. Somehow I missed this when it was released, but I am sooooo glad I found it. Max Baghet, FBI agent, has a problem with love. When you love someone, chances are you are going to lose them. So when he hears that the one woman who has snuck into his heart is killed in a Hamburg terrorist bombing he isn't surprised. But that doesn't mean it doesn't hurt. The story involves a couple of other people we have seen before in the Troubleshooters series. Molly, the aid worker returns to the forefront when her ex-lover, Grady Morant aka Jones, shows up at the camp where she and Gina are working.

If you haven't read this series... I recommend doing so. Especially
if you like romantic suspense.

Monday, February 06, 2006

Wicked Nights - Nina Bangs

Wicked Nights - Nina Bangs B

First in a Wicked trilogy. This was about a vampire, Eric, and a night radio talk show host, Donna who strike sparks off one another from the moment they meet. Eric is trying to protect his "family" from discovery so that they can all stay at the Castle of Dark Dreams, a fantasy based theme park. Donna is broadcasting her talk show from the Castle for a week, to debunk all the stories that her listeners have been giving her about the strange sexcapades that are going on there. Cosmic troublemaker, Sparkle Stardust is back with her virgin assistant to matchmake and ensure lots of sex is had by all. Great fun, though I am hoping the second book is a little more plot oriented and less sex oriented.

Sunday, February 05, 2006

The Pleasure Slave - Gena Showalter

The Pleasure Slave - Gena Showalter B+

Sexy story about a man caught in jewelry box because of a curse . I was a little leery of this one, because I read a story a wee bit like this a while back. But I was pleasantly surprised. The story was simple, but well plotted. I am sure this is a series, though I can't find evidence of a second book yet. It was a nice diversion from all the historicals I had been reading.. it bridged the gap since it had both modern day and history.

Friday, February 03, 2006

Deadly Kisses - Brenda Joyce

Deadly Kisses - Brenda Joyce A-

Francesca Cahill book - nine? Anyway, this time Calder's ex-mistress is found dead in the home he was trying to oust her from. Fran and her cop companion, Rick Bragg, must uncover the truth, thwart a blackmailer, and find a way to keep Rick's brother, Calder out of prison for Daisy's murder. I absolutely love this series. I want to be Fran!! :-D Also there is some plot movement in the secondary characters lives, however... this is the last Cahill book for "a while" according to the author she has to follow her muse. Which angers me just a bit.. I want her muse to follow FRAN!

Thursday, February 02, 2006

The Reiver's Bride - Amanda Scott

The Reiver's Bride - Amanda Scott B+

Book Four of The Secret Clan. This one wasn't as good as the last ones, though I was totally into the secondary plot line on this one. The secret clan, since I don't think I explained it before, are fairies and pixies and such. They are each assigned a highland family to protect. In this one they are searching for Claud who's evil father has put him into the body of a mortal. So the entire story I was trying to figure out who's body he was in. Thankfully, I was right with my first guess!! Yeah me!

Wednesday, February 01, 2006

The Highland Bride - Amanda Scott

The Highland Bride - Amanda Scott A

Book three of The Secret Clan. This one is about Babs, Patrick's little sister, and the Black Fox. I really liked Alex, the hero, and the Black Fox was a little bit Robin Hood, a little bit Zorro, and a little bit the Lone Ranger. LOL The story was really good as well, and you know me...Happy Endings!!

Tuesday, January 31, 2006

Island of Dreams - Katherine Stone

Island of Dreams - Katherine Stone C

Way too much funk-i-ness going on in this one. Again, the characters were pretty good, and I wanted to make sure everyone had a happy ending. But over all, too much imagery, not enough plot movement. From the beginning of the book I knew which character was Grace, but it took way too long for everyone else in the story to figure it out.

Monday, January 30, 2006

The Bartered Bride - Mary Jo Putney

The Bartered Bride - Mary Jo Putney C+

Typically I like historicals, however this one just made me cringe at points. The characters were compelling, but my god, can this poor heroine have any more problems!! Yeesh! I really liked the end though... so that redeemed the book back up to the score of C+.

Sunday, January 29, 2006

The Hidden Heiress - Amanda Scott

The Hidden Heiress - Amanda Scott B+

Second of the Secret Clan series. This one was a little better than the first. I think because I liked the heroine more in this one that I did in the first. They are sisters but for some reason I liked this one more. It may be because the book is sort of a play on the Cinderella story. Evil "stepsisters" and "stepmother" make her work hard and not have any fun.. she gets dressed up to go to a ball.. that sort of thing made it more of a fairy tale.

Friday, January 27, 2006

It Had to Be You - Susan Elizabeth Phillips

It Had to Be You - Susan Elizabeth Phillips A-

Very cute story based around football and family. (Can I just say I love books based around sports.. I am such a guy sometimes) The characters are ones that I met in another of SEP's books. One is the coach of the Chicago football team (not the Bears) who has decided to marry someone simple and sweet, then he meets the new owner of his team. She is a bombshell and as dumb as they come... or is she!

Thursday, January 26, 2006

The Abducted Heiress - Amanda Scott

The Abducted Heiress - Amanda Scott B-

First of the Secret Clan series. I happened upon this series because I went to school (well actually she was in my brother's class) with a girl named Amanda Scott. LOL so I thought I would make sure she wasn't an author and I didn't know it. It was an entertaining book, not by the Amanda Scott I knew, and the characters were easy to like.

Tuesday, January 24, 2006

Devil's Due - Rachel Caine

15. Devil's Due - Rachel Caine A

Good follow up to the first book, but I was disappointed in the ending. I wanted more info about what happens next!! The characters in these two books were so vivid and compelling I didn't want the book to end.

Monday, January 23, 2006

Memory in Death - JD Robb

16. Memory in Death - JD Robb A+

Ahhhhh, ever pleasing Eve and Roarke continue their life amidst death and evil. Something I really liked about this book.. everything wasn’t tied up nice and tidy by Christmas.. like in real life, Eve had to force herself to put work aside in order to enjoy her holiday.

Saturday, January 21, 2006

Katie Fforde - Second Thyme Around

Katie Fforde - Second Thyme Around B+

This was my first book by this author, and I really enjoyed her humor. There were a few moments when I wanted to smack the heroine and tell her to wake up. But it was overall a sweet story about two people who loved young, screwed it up, and were able to reconcile.

Friday, January 20, 2006

Anyone But You by Jennifer Crusie

Anyone But You by Jennifer Crusie A-

Crusie tickles my funny bone with everything she writes, but I identify with most of her heroines so easily. This story takes place in Cincinnati (well Riverbend) and its the story of a 40 yo divorcee trying to get a handle on life post being a trophy wife. Insert 30 yo hot doctor in her apartment building, a not so perky dog, and a best friend who is writing a novel of her sex ploits and let the games begin.

Tuesday, January 17, 2006

The Romantic by Madeline Hunter

The Romantic Madeline Hunter B+

This is part of a series (which I didn't know until I had already bought it) and I broke my own rule and read them out of order. However, the characters were good and the storyline was sweet (almost too sweet) so it was an enjoyable read.

Sunday, January 15, 2006

Blue Diary by Alice Hoffman

Blue Diary Alice Hoffman C+

This book had SO much potential. The story line was one filled with fodder for the imagination, but by the end of the book, all I felt was cheated that the story didn't end. If I find out there is a sequel to this book.. the rating would probably go up

The Royal Pain by Mary Janice Davidson

The Royal Pain Mary Janice Davidson A-

Very sexy sequel to The Royal Treatment, this book follows the world of Princess Alexandra while she figures out how to cope with the fear of losing her family. Insert hot marine biologist (named Sheldon for goodness sake) and you have the all-cure... sex! LOL This book was hilarious at times and creative, and not soo far fetched that anything was absolutely unbelievable in the world that was created... however, there was one moment when Sheldon's best friend turned down sex.. which shocked the heck out of me! That moment was sort of unbelievable, but hey.. maybe some guys do have scruples.. lol I just haven't met them!

Saturday, January 14, 2006

Dark Lover by J.R. Ward

Dark Lover by J.R. Ward - A

Yall were right... Dark Lover was very good. The whole time I was rooting for Butch (who's girl I picked out for him about two seconds after meeting her character) to NOT die. I was afraid both he and Marissa's brother were going to go into cahoots to try and destroy Wrath.

Thankfully, my imagination's path was not the one that JR's took! I loved the story and the world that has been created... I can't wait for Rhage's book!!!

Friday, January 13, 2006

Unleash the Night Sherrilyn Kenyon

Unleash the Night Sherrilyn Kenyon A-

I love the Dark Hunters... but oh how the Were's are holding their own. Wren is an outcast from the world of his people, both his mother's family and his father's are ashamed of him. Sanctuary has been his home for most of his life but when he finds he is attracted to a human woman he threatens to upset the precarious balance of Sanctuary

Monday, January 09, 2006

Blow Me Down by Katie MacAlister

Blow Me Down by Katie MacAlister = B-

Took me a while to get into the whole Pirate world when I realized that the MC wasn't going to get out of it for most of the book. I would have liked to see them get in and out instead of being stuck there. I liked the thought that went into the reasoning of why they couldn't get out and how they were able to see one another as they were through brain wave activity. I know its not technically possible.. but its a very cool concept. Hell I might get into multi-player online role- playing games if I thought they could be as realistic as this one!

Saturday, January 07, 2006

Angel Falls by Kristin Hannah

Angel Falls by Kristin Hannah = B+

I kept talking about this one while I was reading it. Most of this book I was on the edge of my seat wondering who Mike was going to choose, her husband or the hollywood star. The ending was a bit disappointing. Both because of character development and how quickly everything was "resolved"

Friday, January 06, 2006

Night Game by Christine Feehan

Night Game by Christine Feehan = A-

I was very excited to finally read this one and I wasn't disappointed.

Flame and Gator were both very fun to read about. The interesting plot twist that occured about halfway through this book makes me believe that they are going to get even better.

Wednesday, January 04, 2006

Wedding Survivor by Julia London

Wedding Survivor by Julia London = B+
This one was a cute little story as well... my only problem with it was the whole Survivor bit in the middle. Now I understand that a lot of people like Survivor, but if she hadn't referenced it two or three times I would have enjoyed the book more. It kept bringing me out of the action. Some of the stuff that the characters did was amusing... I especially liked the sandwich canon.

Tuesday, January 03, 2006

Manhunt by Janet Evanovich

Manhunt by Janet Evanovich = C+
I should just stop reading these rereleases. I liked the story and there were a lot of funny moments in the book, but again there were parts that seemed straight out of plum. The main characters in this one were more unique, but the situations and supporting cast were typical JE slapstick.

Monday, January 02, 2006

Bad Attitude by Sherrilyn Kenyon

Bad Attitude by Sherrilyn Kenyon = A

Much better than the small books, getting in depth with more characters in BAD was nice. The plot was a little overshadowed by the romance but hey.. I didn't mind! :-D

Sunday, January 01, 2006

There's Something About Christmas by Debbie MacComber

There's Something About Christmas by Debbie MacComber = B-

Cute story where Christmas ties two completely opposite characters together and teaches a bah-humbug man how to love the holiday and someone else.