Shadow Touch by Marjorie Liu

I was lucky enough to get an ARC of this book... I promise there is a Review Coming Soon!

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The Gamble by LaVyrle Spence

Review Coming soon!

Mayhem and Miranda by Carola Dunn

Naughty or Nice by Anthology of four authors

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Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince

Review coming soon!

Fantasy by four author anthology

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Phi Beta Bimbo by Trish Jensen

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Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J K Rowling

Review Coming Soon!

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The Heiress of Hyde Park by Jacqueline Navin

The second book in the Mayfair Bride series. Just as cute as the first one. This book finds us following a woman who ran from her childhood sweetheart when he is forced by his family to marry an heiress. Only there are a few secrets she kept from him when she left.

The Aunt's story continues in this book as well, and we find out more about her secret lover. Again... there just wasn't enough there!! I can't wait to read more about this couple.

Review Chick Says:

Published by Berkley

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The Peacemaker by Lori Copeland

Lori Copeland is a new author to me, though my understanding is that she has been around for a while. I picked her up on a whim when I saw the most recent book in this Men of the Saddle series in the new books section. Since I hate to read series books out of order I picked this one up.

The story revolves around a jilted bride. She is not only left at the altar by a sweet natured scoundrel, but he also took all her money. After giving him her inheritance to invest in a business with relatives. He leaves her high and dry. So she sets out with venom in her thoughts to shoot him and get her money back, unfortunately, life on the trail is a little more than she can handle.

Now was born and raised Catholic, but I don't enjoy having religion spouted out to me in my fiction.

If she had left the Lord out of every situation and maybe only mentioned faith once I would have liked this story a lot better.

Review Chick Says:

Published by Tyndale House Publishers

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The Princess of Park Lane by Jacqueline Navin

Jaqueline Navin had a story in an anthology called "The Talk of the Ton" wih Eloise James and Julia London (both of whom I had read before) The story that she contributed to the book was cute, nothing spectacular, but it was good enough to peak my interest when I saw her three book triology.

The first book, The Princess of Park Lane, was good. We have two storylines to follow. That of a woman who is searching for family, so she takes her dead brother's diary and finds that he has left illigitmate children all over London... and beyond. The second story line is our "main character" Michaela. She is living with her mother and twosisters, so different from the twins she never feels as though she belongs. She is passionate where they are not, she has striking features where they are plain. When she finds out that her father is the late Earl of Woolrich, she realizes that everything is about to change.

I really liked the storyline of the Aunt and her secret lover. Though we only get it in bits and pieces, I am sure that their story will continue in the next book as she looks for more nieces.

Review Chick Says:
Published by Berkley

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Big Guns Out of Uniform by anthology of three authors

This anthology has two good stories.. and one eh.. okay story.

Of course, if you know me at all the author I bought the book for was Sherrilyn Kenyon. Her story was in the world of the "BAD" boys and girls. These are not stories to be taken seriously, they are fun sexy reads to take your mind off the problems of the real world. In this one, a standard teacher is given the trip of a lifetime as she is placed on an island to live out her dream fantasy. Little did she know her real life fantasy was recuperating on the other side of the island.

I have read a few of Liz Carlyle's stories, though they have all been historicals. This one was modern day and I liked it a lot. Typically, I don't like the idea of wham bam thank ya ma'am relationships, but surprisingly the romance between these two characters rang true. My only peeve, the ending was too pat.

Finally an author I had never read before. Nicole Camden. To be honest, the reason I didn't really like this story is because it was a bit too far on the far-fetched side. Selective amnesia like that is probably something that Ms. Camden researched, but it was too much for me. Though I did like the relationship that the main character had with the boys in blue.

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Published by Pocket Star

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The Words of the Pitcher by Kei Swanson

Kei Swanson is a brand new author to me, but thanks to an online contest I was prompted to go to her site.

This book, Words of the Pitcher, struck my fancy because I don't think that I have ever seen an Asian man as the lead in a romance novel. I have seen American Indian, all manner of European, Mexican, Cuban, etc etc etc (did you get the King and I reference) but this was the first time in print that I recall an Asian, and in this case Japanese, male lead.

So I was intrigued. Not to mention I love baseball and especially baseball players.. they have the most fun petting arms.

In any case to get back on track. This is a good book. The bits that you are shown of Japanese culture are insightful. It is obvious that the author enjoys the nuances that are different from our life in the US.

I wasn't thrilled about the heroine. She seemed to be a bit of a pushover (as much as I like alpha males I can't stand weak heroines) but all in all she was a likeable character.

Review Chick Says:
Published by Red Slipper

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Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J K Rowling

What can I say, I was a hold out. I thought that Harry Potter was overhyped gumbledeegoop. I can admit when I was wrong. See watch... I was wrong. J. K. Rowling has created a world with great character depth, fabulous fantasy storylines and an overall theme of good versus evil.

This the fourth book in the series is the best of the lot so far. We see growth in both Harry, Voldemort and the rest of the cast of characters. I see a lot of foreshadowing in this book as well. The huge number of theories that are floating around the web and teen discussions all over the world are completely understandable to me now.

I can't wait to read the next book. And in fact put it on hold before I even reviewed the book here on the site.

Also, since the movie opened this weekend, I waited to see it until after I had read the book. My feelings were it was a much better adaptation of the original story in the book than any of the previous three stories. Of course that may be because it had a lot more depth and excitement to delve into than the prior books.

Review Chick Says:

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Embers of Time by Eugenia Riley

Eugenia Riley is a brand new author to me. I hadn't read any of her books and actually got this one through a group of other books that I bought on Ebay. Never the one to toss a book without reading it. I decided to try this one to see how it was.

The best part of the story was the two children. Their brief scenes at the beginning of the book is what forced me to continue to the meat of the plot. The main characters were okay. They are pretty static from start to finish. Other than the hero finally having to believe instead of only trusting what he can see.

If you like time travel pieces though, this one isn't bad. Some of the dialogue made me cringe. I wasn't alive in the late forties, so maybe that's how they really spoke to one another (but lord I hope not!).

Review Chick Says:

Published by Lovespell

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Windfall by Rachel Caine

Rachel Caine has redeemed herself in this fourth book of the Weather Warden series. (If you recall I was a wee bit disappointed in book three) Though I was a bit upset at how we ended the book, I think it was a great story from start to finish.

Poor Jo is struggling to make ends meet now that she is no longer a weather warden working as a weather girl at a local news station. Little does she know that her boss, a weatherman with an unnaturally high prediction rate is causing the wardens to look a little to closely into what she is up to.

Not to mention her sister shows up on her door step sans well.. anything.

Oh and did I mention her Djinn boyfriend is perilously close to becoming a scary ifrit.

Poor Jo.

Where is a hot hero when you need one??

Great story and I can't wait to read the next in the series!

Review Chick Says:

Published by ROC - Peguin Group

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Serenity the novelization by Keith R.A. DeCandio

Keith R. A. DeCandido has written four other movie adaptations. After reading this one... I am glad I don't have to read the rest.

The book is a basic transcription of the screenplay... with a few mentions of things that happened in the Firefly series to tie into it. The content of the story wasn't bad, but the writing style was just not something I enjoyed.

There are some small moments of redemption of the book in the scene on Haven when the Operative attacks and the opening two pre-story background chapters. Those were three areas of well written prose. However, once we get into the meat of the story. Eh... let's just say already knowing the plot I struggled to finish.

I guess I am asking a lot to want the book to be as engrossing as the movie. But I truly think that this could have been a much better book than what was produced.

Don't get me wrong, Keith is a very nice guy and I enjoyed the interview that Eric and I did with him on Fireflytalk. It's entirely possible that I may have expected too much of this book because its from a series and movie that I am so involved with.

Review Chick Says:

Dumping Billy by Olivia Goldsmith

Review Coming soon!

The Snow White Bride by Claire Delacroix

Claire Delacroix's medievil books are typically very good. This one was okay. I think the whole triology is good but nothing spectacular.

This is the story of the brother, Alexander. He has managed to marry off his two eldest sisters in the most unusual fashion in order to keep his family afloat. The sisters are both home for the Christmas holiday and they, with the rest of the girls left at home meet a most unusual woman in thier family chapel.

The story of course is about the girls getting revenge on their eldest brother by hooking him up with this beautiful woman on the run.

The story is cute and the outcome a bit predictable, but that doesn't stop the story from being an entertaining read. My complaint.. there are huge storylines left open. The "death" of their Aunt and Uncle in the second book was not resolved. The youngest sister's need to go to the place where they were entombed is thwarted by another of her brothers. His story of the ravens leaving Ravensmuir is left to remain a mystery. PLUS, we are left wondering what happened to the little fairy that held a grudge against their aunt.

There is just a lot she left open for another triology... which is irritating to someone who thought all would be resolved in this book.

Review Chick Says:

Published by Warner Books

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Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J K Rowling

So I have decided never to watch a movie before I read the book ever again!

I enjoyed this book even more than I have the previous two and I have come to the conclusion that it was because I didn't know what would happen next.

Getting a little bit more about Harry's parents and the past was great. The plot itself was a bit slow to unfold and then we tumbled into it full force. I never would have guessed the eventual result, though I did figure out what Hermoine was doing in order to take so many classes.

I plan to see this movie and then read Goblet of Fire before I go to see the newest movie in the theatres in a couple weeks.

Thank you to the girls at bookloversgroup for making me read this series. And Janetlee, I will never doubt you again... I'm not worthy! :-P

Review Chick Says:

Published by Arther A Levine Books

A Garden in the Rain by Lynn Kurland

After reading Dreams of Stardust, I was informed that Lynn Kurland had a series of books based in that universe. So off I trotted to find more. This one was in the new book section at the library.

There is a bit of supernatural in it, which was very nice, but over all I had to fight to keep my attention on the book. It typically takes me a few hours to read a romance.. this one took a day and a half.

The hero, Patrick, was great.. dark, brooding, Scottish... carried a big sword. The heroine, Madelyn, was engaging, bucking her typical behavior and trying to make the best of her bad luck. I couldn't stand her ex-fiance Bentley and the "trouble maker" that causes the problems in the end seemed a bit odd. Though I believe his prescence was to lay a foundation for another book.

The reason I think I found it slow moving is because the plot was inconsistant. Patrick's job is to protect people, but he failed to see the danger to our fine heroine.

Don't get me wrong, I will definately have to go back and find the rest of this series, since it is a different series than I had started with the other book. I did enjoy the story overall.

Review Chick Says:
Published by Berkley

Bachelor Boys by Kate Saunders

I think I found this book by Kate Saunders while searching through the new materials at the library website ... I have no idea!

However, much to my surprise, it was a really cute book. The gist is that Cassie is asked by her close friend, and surrogate mother, Phoebe, to find wives for her two wastral sons. Phoebe is sick and dying and Cassie would do anything to make her happy, with the exception of married one of Phoebe's sons herself. So she agrees to find them each suitable spouses and suddenly she is matchmaking for every one of her friends which is great, except things aren't going so well between her boyfriend Matthew and herself.

I actually cried a bit and laughed a bit and got angry a bit... there was "a bit" of everything here.

The writer and story live in GB and to be honest this is the first book by a british author I have read that wasn't a comedy romance. It was a nice change.

Review Chick Says:Published by St. Martin's Press

Moon's Web By CT Adams and Cathy Clamp

You just KNEW I had to read the second book. It was just sitting there on the shelf calling to me!

CT Adams & Cathy Clamp developed the world of the Sazi by leaps and bounds in this continuation of the story of Tony and Sue. The plot was a little more complex in this book, and in fact, there were several plotlines carried throughout the book. Most of the characters from the first book return for at least a scene or two, though the setting has moved to Chicago.

By the end of the story we are completely set up for the next book in the series. Actually, it sets us up for at least a couple of the plots to come.

When I responded to a post about this book on the McNally's email group from Jim Butcher's website Cathy herself responded with these words:

"... You'll be happy to know that we have TWO Sazi books in 2006 (plus one that's the beginning of a new world, called TOUCH OF EVIL. That one will be out in March.) The next Sazi is CAPTIVE MOON and will be out in August. However, it WON'T be in Tony's POV. We're going to start to follow other characters as well, but we're planning another Tony book in 2007. Captive Moon features Antoine Monier, the French councilman for the cats at the end of Moon's Web. HOWLING MOON will be out in mid-December and follows Raven's father, Raphael Ramirez, in Boulder (Lucas's pack). Hope you'll like them too! :D Cathy"

I, for one, will be watching for their new releases. Although, I really hate waiting almost a year for the next book! :-D

I enjoyed the development of both Tony and Sue throughout the story. Meeting the new characters was a bit overwhelming at times, but it is evident that each and every one of them will eventually have a part in the plot. The main mystery was sidetracked a bit by everything else was going on but the climax was really well written. However, there were parts of this story that I thought were a bit rushed at the end, almost like "oh my gosh we better get these plot points in before the deadline". The overall feeling I was left with though was very good.

Review Chick Says:

Published by Tor Books

Hunter's Moon by CT Adams and Cathy Clamp

So I started a new series tonight.

As you will come to see I am quite partial to series books. There is nothing better than falling so in love with a group of characters that you can't wait to find out just what will happen to them next.

I am currently on a sci-fi romance kick. They are witty, exciting and extremely creative. The worlds that are created in some of these books are so real that you wonder if you won't run into a Vampire or shapeshifter one day.

The book I finished today was by CT Adams & Cathy Clamp. This is the first book I have read by this duo. I got the recommendation to read their book off a couple of sources.. one was the McNally's email group from Jim Butcher's website. The second time I heard it mentioned was a yahoo group, run by my friend Merry Book Lovers Group (thanks Janetlee.. cause I am fairly positive you mentioned it).

Hunter's Moon is the first of the Sazi books. Something I really enjoyed about this book that you don't typically get in romances is it was entirely written the hero's point of view (POV for future reference cause this will probably be the ONLY time I spell it out!) Since I am not a male, I can't even begin to guess if his thoughts are really how a guy would think. However, this character was completely believable and you were even able to get the female's POV through a very creative process (which I can't tell you about cause its a semi-spoiler). Kudos to the authors.

Tony is an assassin, a mob assassin, for hire. Sue Quentin is at the end of her rope and ready to kill... so she goes to a professional, namely Tony. When she meets her assassin he isn't exactly what she had in mind. He's not scary, well not that scary, and he listens to her vent her frustration, and well the sparks that jump between them could light up Great American Ballpark. So like any red-blooded American woman.. she falls for him. The hitch, he's a werewolf.

The plot of this story is mainly to survive another day, which in Tony's world isn't always a given. A supporting cast of characters that will make you cringe, laugh out loud, want to cry, scream 'bloody hell', and smile in satisfaction. By the end of the book you are craving the next, just to see what happens next. Of course isn't that they sign of "the beginning of a beautiful friendship".

Review Chick Says:

Published by Tor Books

The Wild Swans by Kate Holmes

No its not by that KATIE HOLMES! She was too busy making Dawson suffer at the time it was written.

I digress..

This Kate Holmes' real name is Anne Holmberg. She is a.k.a Anne Avery, if my information is correct. In which case.. I own quite a few of her books. Most of them are of this genre, fractured faerie tale adaptations and historical sweet fluff.

I want to make a point here... fluff is a good thing. So I don't want anyone to misunderstand me when I say fluff. There is enough angst in the world without having to read it all the time too. :) Three cheers for HEA's! This is an abbreviation that yall will have to get used to if you read my blog and listen to my show... HEA is a "Happily Ever After".

And sometimes you just like the girl to win the boy and make babies.. or not make babies... doesn't matter.. they live happily and that is good! :)

Man.. do I babble or what?

On to "The Wild Swans"... This was a cute book based on the Hans Christian Anderson tale the The Wild Swans. Princess Arianne has twelve.. no I didn't stutter... count 'em twelve younger brothers, who have a tendency to get themselves, and consequentially Arianne, into trouble. When they anger an ogre, Arianne is forced to knit them twelve shirts of nettles (prickly little things if you didn't know) that are collected by the light of the full moon. Oh and did I mention that she can't speak or sing until she is finished. Nothing like making it a little more difficult now is there. When an exasperated King makes the vow that he will marry the first female that doesn't chatter his head off meets the silent and beautiful Arienne... well. Let's just say the feathers will fly.

Review Chick Says:

Published by Love Spell