Review: Beach Blanket Bad Boys

Beach Blanket Bad Boys by Linda Lael Miller, Alison Kent, Lucy Monroe, Jill Shalvis, Susanna Carr, Morgan Leigh is 311 pages. Being a Brava book you need to add in the previews at the end, three books at about 20 pages.

Now don't get me wrong, I am one of those people that hate to miss the previews at the movies so I like the way Brava teases you with their other books. The only time previews annoy the shit out of me is when they preview the book, in the book. How difficult is it to take out the preview or put in a different one? That screams of apathy to me. And with as much money as I spend on books, publishers showing me they don't care or are not paying attention, make me want to spend my money elsewhere.

hmmm but I digress... I did have a point. Oh yes, so we are looking at about 290 pages for SIX authors. I really need to look at those types of things before buying anthologies.

That being said the stories are pretty short, quick to read but fun for the most part.

Batteries Not Required by Linda Lael Miller headlines the pack and I am not really sure why. I know she has written tons of books (4 in my tbr) but I would have thought Alison Kent or Jill Shalvis would lead. But again I digress.

At 33 pages this is one of my faves of the group. In fact I would have loved it to be longer. Gayle's reason for leaving her small hometown, and bad boy Tristan, in the manner she did is really a lil thin. But Gayle and Tristan grab you from the start and make you go with the flow.

Sara Smiles by Alison Kent (47pgs and five books tbr) is a story that could happen to any woman. And to me that is interesting. I love fantasy and can go for a ride on many different topics and plots but I also like it when you can almost touch a story. Sara's bad boy, Jax is a lil melodramatic due to the size of the story. You don't get a chance to flush him out as much as a longer novella would but you can still feel his pain and see where his angst comes from.

Now both BNR and SS are the type of novella’s that starts with the h/h having a history and I have to confess I like that. It is easier to buy the falling in love and marriage and baby carriage in 24 hrs or so when there is a foundation to build on. But a good writer can sell me on love at first sight. Lucy Monroe tries a lil too hard in Seducing Tabby (44pg none in tbr). I am not sure what I didn't like about the story. I didn't hate it but it was very eh. Maybe the woe is me everyone loveses my sister and not me plot is just too cooked for me. Although I did love the spin she put on it with Tabby and Helen both loving and respecting each other and not fighting to get the hero. And the hero, Calder was just a little too perfect.

Jill Shalvis is the first author in the bunch I have read. Captivated (53pgs and 3 books tbr) was the hottest of the stories in the bunch, sez I. And that was a little surprising. Not that I didn't expect Shalvis to create some steam but I expected all the stories to be spicier than they were. Not erotica, or woo hoo lets have a threeway with an alien sex but Brava! Sorry I am getting off track again.

I didn't like Ella, she was TSTL and I sort of got the impression she was suppose to start out that way (forgive me jill if I am wrong). She grows up in this short tale and is much more likeable at the end and James (her soon to be ex) does some changing for the better as well. And hell to be able to have character growth and steamy ocean sex in 53 pages says something good. At least I think so.

Sister Switch by Susanna Carr (46pgs no tbr) had me groaning at the summary and not in a good way. I am just not much for twin stories and for the old switcharoo. And honestly I almost just skipped this story completely but I had wanted to try Carr. I could have skipped it I think. And since this was just a 46pg story I do plan on reading her again. The whole plot of the story was just ick and I am not one of those 'omg marriage is holy and not to be screwed with' people. So for me to go ick and roll my eyes, that says something. I did like how Nick had her number from the get go and the nice tightly wrapped up HEA for everyone at the end. But still I rolled my eyes. Might just be me.

Morgan Leigh is an author who has given me quite a few novellas's to like. hee given me, yes they were written just for me. I allowed the rest of the world to buy them cuz I am nice like that. Spencer For... Ever (46pgs no tbr) isn't her best but is still good. Arden is a woman who was a wuss in the past and now knows what she wants and is going to get it. She might make an ass of herself along the way but she is damn well going to try. I like that in a woman. And woo hoo once again some steam.

Don't get me wrong they all get it on, hell in BNR they do it on a pool table, but I just expected more from bad boys. Someone get Shannon McKenna on the phone. To hell with bonding with her new baby we need smut.

Sorry, fine, I have Out Of Control and Behind Closed Doors to read she can go bond. OH and I found Return to Me. I am rambling again. Sorry it is the drugs for my migraine. Oh who the hell am I trying to kid, I fucking ramble.

This is the first Bad Boys book I have read cover to cover in one sitting. And if you were looking for a good book to kick back on the beach with or by the pool, I would say this is for you. Short, sweet and a lil smutty, you can't go wrong with that.

***(notes the number of pages I prolly very badly tried to calculate in my head and the number of books I have by the author to be read)

Trade up for Grabs

Do you have a trade size book you don't want? Wanna trade?

I have Beach Blanket Bad Boys and am not keeping it. I will blog more on it later, it was a fun quick book but nothing I am gonna keep.

The only trade size that is out that I want on my list is Star Quality or any EC author, I don't have too many of them in print.

This will go off to the ubs on Friday if no one wants it. But I figured I would ask here first since it is new and I know you guys would give it a good home ;).

You can post here or email me at redwyne at gmail dot com.

Tags: 2005, Trade request

I have a dream

oh yes I do... and that is to find the time to blog about

books I have read:
Against the Wall by Rhyannon Byrd
Bite of Magick by Rhyannon Byrd
Ordinary Charm by Anya Blast
A Valentine Wedding by Jane Feather
August Men series
Beach Blanket Bad Boys by lots of people
Jamie by Lori Foster

sybil answers your google searches part deux

spoilerwhores

and I need to answer maili's email

but for now I will pout that I have too much work to do and go do it

“Oh My Gosh, How many books are you buying”

add a wide eye eight year-old stare to that line and you have my library trip today with my bestest friend and her little girl...

Good fun. And there were more books this time and a later start time so all in all it rocked.

total = 40 books 10 bucks

Wild Hawk - Justine Dare (rec'ed by Kristie J)
Journey Home - Susan Kay Law (I have been having a bitch of a time finding her older books)
Till Dawn Tames the Night - Meagan McKinney (maili rec'ed this and I haven't been able to find it)
Texas Destiny and Texas Glory by Lorraine Heath (all I cound find was Texas Splendor)

Those five books alone would have made the trip worth it, and the money but I was also able to get:
The Lion's Lady - Julie Garwood
Night Fire, Night Shadow and Night Storm - Catherine Coulter
Morning Glory - LaVyrle Spencer (never read her, xina rec)
The Eagle and the Dove, Valentine*, Venus*, Velvet - Jane Feather
The Price of Innocence and In My Dreams - Susan Sizemore
Daniel's Bride, High Country Bride, Lily and the Major*, Caroline and the Raider* - Linda Lael Miller
My Lady's Pleasure - Julia Justiss**
The Bride Fair*, The Bartered Bride and The Prisoner - Cheryl Reavis**
Scandal's Reward - Jean R Ewing (I might have to do the may contest after all)
The Wild One* - Danelle Harmon
Simmer All Night - Geralyn Dawson
Sioux Splendor - F. Rosanne Bittner
Tame the Fury - Cait Logan
Once Upon a Midnight Moon - Carol Finch
Midnight in Ruby Bayou - Elizabeth Lowell (one day I will read her RS)
The Engagement - Kate Bridges **
The Norman's Bride - Terri Brisbin **
The Law and Miss Hardisson and WildWood - Lynna Banning **
Wyoming Wildcat - Elizabeth Lane **
The Marshal and Mrs O'Malley and Prairie Bride - Julianne Maclean

The * are dupes that I bought, two because they were better copies than the ones I had and the others by accident. The ** are Harlequin Historical.

All in all it was a pretty good deal. And I will go again in a few weeks, after I find room for some of these books. sheeze. Now I need to get dressed again and go to my mothers. Completely bites since I was home for the night and about to sit down with a book, or five.

Library Sale Casualties

I started to post the books I brought home today and noticed that there were a few from my last library sale that I never blogged about...

so without further ado (these have all been traded back to the ubs):
Killer Curves by Roxanne St. Claire
This was my first book by this author and maybe I am just not that into NASCAR but I didn't really care much for the book. I found myself skipping large parts of the book. The start of the book finds the daughter walking in on the dad screwing his assistant. And I can see how that can upset a person, but she isn't 16. Celeste is suppose to be an adult and acts somewhat childish about the whole thing. But you can't really expect anything different from a woman who gets engaged because the guy asked her in front of her parents and she didn't' want to disappoint her daddy.

In fact that might be why I disliked the book so much, the start of the novel was just stupid. Add in a secret daddy plot, kidney thing, psycho NASCAR groupie and a mother that thought her husband did her a favor by holding her 4 year-old daughter over a cliff to keep her from jumping and you have a book I think was a waste of paper.

Sweet Texas Kiss by Rebecca Sinclair
Dallas, does what any tomboy does when her daddy orders her to marry, she asks her ranch foreman to teach her to be a lady. ::blink:: Nick is a hottie and has a rep with the women so I am thinking she just thought if any man knew what made a man pick up a chick it was Nick. But I am not sure if that is the right way to go about finding a hubby. But hey in 1994 romanceland it is. The book is light fluff and was a fast cute read. Nothing to strain your brain on, although people that hate romances that happen between people where with man knew the woman as a child will not like this book.

The Calhouns two books Suzanna & Megan and Catherine, Amanda & Lilah by Nora Roberts - started both but couldn't get into them. Since so many people said not to start with these they went bye bye. I really don't think I am gonna be one to like mz roberts voice but I shall try again some day.

Against the Rules by Linda Howard
I liked this book. And after reading the back I am surprised. I didn't think I was going to care for it much. It wasn't something I kept but it was enjoyable. Again you have a hero that knew the heroine when she was a child. He is the ranch foreman her father took in under his wing and pretty much saved his life. When the daddy dies and the ranch is left to Cathryn Ashe, Rule Jackson stays on. In his oh so alpha way he runs the roost.

After a sweaty, taking virginity afternoon, Cathryn freaks and runs off to school. I think Rule is pretty much in limbo waiting for her to grow up. Of course while Cathryn is away at school rule is rude enough to be fucking other women but hey Cathryn gets married, so you can't blame the guy.

Damn looking at the prices online for this book, I should have kept it.

Rough Wrangler, Tender Kisses by Jill Gregory
skim skim skim skim
didn't like it, maybe it was my mood but it just didn't grab my attention

Almost Like Being in Love by Christina Dodd
eh
I haven't read the first one of the series or that third and don't see that changing in the near future. I still plan on trying her historicals but don't see picking up another one of her contemporaries.

The plot was silly, the chick stupid and the guy was suppose to be a really smart undercover Special Forces agent - I didn't buy it.

The days take

geeze wasn't someone suppose to be watching me or something? next thing you know, I am gonna have to be responsible for my own actions...

But hey I could drink my money away or have a shoe habit or whatever

hi my name is sybil and I am a bookaholic

Trade:
Men of August - Marly's Choice By Lora Leigh
Thanks nicole! I really need to set up a trade list or something.

Used:
Southern Comfort by Karen Kelley
I have never heard of this book or this author. Anyone have an opinion?

Widow's Little Secret by Judith Stacy
I am a Harlequin Historical whore, what can I say.

Letters From a Stranger, Forever and a Day and Unspoken Vows by Connie Rinehold
Kristie J made me do it. Well she rec'ed Letters and I am easy.

New:
Jamie by Lori Foster
This is the end of the Visitation series. I really didn't think I would like this and had Just Say No to Joe forever before I read it. For whatever reason it completely caught my interest. Lori Foster is a hit or miss author for me. I hope this ends the series well.

Beach Blanket Bad Boys by Linda Lael Miller, Alison Kent, Lucy Monroe, Jill Shalvis, Susanna Carr, Morgan Leigh
note to self: order trade size books from amazon or bamm. I just paid 15.00 bucks for this. The line up of authors is great so I am hoping it was worth it and it is the second of the bad boy books I have bought new. So all in all it is worth the price. But the next one, will be purchased online.

Bad in Boots - Colt's Choice by Patrice Michelle
I love a good western, make it a hot western and I am in heaven. I have only read one story by Patrice Michelle Hearts Are Wild with Cheyenne McCray , Patrice Michelle , Nelissa Donovan and I enjoyed her story. This is the second in the Bad in Boots series and in sybilfashion I don't have the first one yet. oops I do have Dragon's Heart, A Taste for Passion (vamps) and A Taste for Revenge (vamps) to read. She does say there will be more BiB books coming as well as the vamps.

Beauty Like the Night by Liz Carlyle
New to me author, I am really enjoying her backlist.

Marry the Man Today by Linda Needham
I am not really sure why the hell I bought this. I have only read two books by Needham and didn't like either. I am trying to cut back on my 'spy' books. And she is a dreaded avon author (looks at kristiej). I didn't even know about this book and honestly, ::hangs head:: the cover caught my eye. It is purple with a carriage and really pretty font. I picked it up and was in a rush (got there 20 mins before they closed). I am going to look up what I can on the book and I MIGHT go back and exchange it tomorrow for something else. Ten to one I throw it in the tbr pile and use it for that avon post I am going to someday do.

Hero, Come Back by Stephanie Laurens, Christina Dodd, Elizabeth Boyle - talked a lil about this one earlier

Master of Pleasure by Jessica Trapp - talked a lil about this one earlier

hee and the library sale is tomorrow at 11 Then I think I am set for the week. The thing that really sucks ass, is I am going into work in the morning. le sigh I would have had more time tonight to read the shit load of books I have but real life got in the way.

Tags: Alison Kent, Christina Dodd, Connie Rinehold, Elizabeth Boyle, Harlequin Historical, Jessica Trapp, Jill Shalvis, Judith Stacy, Karen Kelley, Linda Lael Miller, Linda Needham, Liz Carlyle, Lora Leigh, Lori Foster, Lucy Monroe, Morgan Leigh, Patrice Michelle, stephanie laurens, Susanna Carr

Throwing the baby out with the bathwater

Sooooooooo The Rogue and One Night of Sin are both available at BAMM. Waldenbooks said they will put out One Night of Sin when they get it in. They just put out Jamie.

So if I go into Waldenbook I will have no choice but to buy four books. What? How can I have the will power to walk in there buy ONE book while they have a buy 4 get one free. And this does mean they will have Master of Pleasure, since I just bought it and it could have been one of my 4.

I haven't done the math, is it cheaper to buy 4 and get one free at walden's or cheaper to pay for all five at Wal-Mart prices.

Do I chance ordering them, The Rogue, Jamie ONoS from BAMM, then knowing I could get my hot lil hands on them sooner? Cuz if it works like it should, I would think I would have The Rogue and ONoS faster by ordering them and Jamie can wait and would save me from myself and a walden's trip.

I guess worse case, I end up with two copies and I am sure I could find a good home for the other.

oh you know I still have a 10 cert to use at amazon as well... Good thing I got paid yesterday. Or I could be good and just go home and read the books I have.

And it goes a lil something like this

Well for those 10 or so people that keep hitting my blog looking for Master of Pleasure by Jessica Trapp, it is out at walmart.

hee and yes I bought it. I almost made it to Saturday. I picked up Hero, Come Back with stories by Stephanie Laurens, Christina Dodd and Elizabeth Boyle. I was sort of iffy on it but in Return of the Warrior there is a mail in coupon for two dollars off (as there was in Lady in Red for Return of the Warrior) this sort of marketing so works on me. So they are mine all mine.

I hope MoP is good, I like the idea of the hero being the one sent off to be a sex slave instead of the chicka.

There is a library sale tomorrow! yyyyaaayyyyyyyyyyy and they are nice enough to start it at 11, so I think I shall go.

Forgive Me

For I have sinned... I bought a book.

BUT I really don't think it counts because it wasn't for me. *I* already have a copy of said book and purchased it because it was brand new tradesize at a usb and I knew of a good home for it.

See that doesn't count, right?

Anyone have any comments on Katherine Kingsley? The book that I am thinking of looking for is In The Wake of The Wind. I have never heard of the author.

2 questions

Is there a way to track the comments you leave in other blogs. Like a setting or something in your profile?

Is there a way to expand how many subjects/posts display in the list in your sidebar? Or would I need to completely change my template?

anyone... anyone...

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