Alicia’s review of Driven by Eve Kenin
Sci-Fi/Speculative Romance released by Shomi on 28 Aug 07

Have you ever let a book get pushed off and pushed off? Not for any good reason, you just don’t get to it? When you finally read it did you ever really regret not reading it sooner? Sybil keeps asking me, “Have you read Driven, yet? You’re gonna’ love it!” Do I have to tell her she was right, again, or can we just keep this between us?

I finally picked up Driven because I wanted to get Sybil off my back it read before Hidden. I am now kicking myself for waiting because this is an awesome book. Plot, characters, dialogue, setting… all wonderful. Not to mention, finally I got a Shomi that’s not in first person!

Set in a post-apocalyptic future, Driven is a fast paced book. Things start happening at the very beginning and they don’t ever stop for long. The way
Kenin describes the scenes kept me enthralled. The massive machines these people were using to move across the arctic waste were real to me. They are almost characters in the story. The futuristic advances were just unusual enough to fascinate me but never enough to get in the way.

Raina is a tough woman. She’s a loner because she’s sick of losing people she cares about. She also has to keep a low profile because she’s hiding from a very powerful person. She just wants to enter this race, win the prize money and scoot outta’ town. Things aren’t going to go exactly the way she has planned.

Wizard, the hero, is unusual. You get the feeling he’s a little odd when you meet him. He only gets more so as you get to know him. That’s okay, though, because he’s great in the story and perfect for Raina. Quirky heroes are a passion of mine, especially when they have a strong moral code, are tough on bad guys and have a soft spot for kids. So what if he needs to learn a little about the definition of “romance”? (This last part refers to a scene that made me laugh until tears were streaming down my face.)

I usually try to list some of the good qualities of a book and some of the bad. I just can’t think of anything to put in the minus column, here. Maybe that it didn’t jump into my hands and demand to be read sooner?

Grade: A+

Read Gwen’s review here.

ROAD WARRIOR. Raina Bowen knows she can handle herself just fine against anything the harsh Northern Waste throws at her. Until it throws her an enigmatic stranger called Wizard. First, she has to haul him out of a brawl he can’t hope to win. And next, her libido is shooting into overdrive at the feel of his hard body pressed against hers on the back of her snowscooter. But there’s something not quite right about this guy. Before she can strip bare Wizard’s secrets, they’re lured into a race for their lives, battling rival truckers, ice pirates…and a merciless maniac with a very personal vendetta.

Read an excerpt.

Alicia’s review of Netherwood by Michele Lang
SciFi/Speculative Romance released by Shomi on 26 Feb 08

On her site Michele Lang describes Netherwood as “a futuristic Robin Hood story.”  It is, but it’s way more than that.  Netherwood is Robin Hood with The Matrix and I Robot thrown in and a sort of Aeon Flux feel.

Talia Fortune is an intergalactic sheriff who has come to the colony planet, Fresh Havens, to catch a terrorist. A terrorist who has destroyed the planet’s connection to the grid, a future internet with intergalactic capability, and left it vulnerable.  Talia isn’t the good citizen she pretends to be, though. She has played, for years, in a cyber-underworld called the Netherwood. In the real world she is heir-apparent to one of the huge corporations who serve as governments in this future. In Netherwood she is Amazonia, warrior giant, and The Avenger is her lover.

Lieutenant Robert Kovner is a rebel, a freedom fighter in a war few know is coming. He is The Avenger in the Netherwood and has drawn his Amazonia here to have her with him in the safe place he is helping to create. He didn’t expect her to also be the sheriff who has come to stop him.

There are a lot of secondary characters in this book but the one that stands out most is the Gray Forest, itself. This place is a forest of sentient trees with a high ore content that creates magnetic storms. It whispers prophecies and destroys or protects those who enter according to its own choice.

The primary characters, Talia and Kovner, are unique. Talia is completely assured of herself in the beginning but quickly finds she has a lot to learn. She is fumbling to find truth. Kovner is an unusual hero. He can fight and is ex-military, but he is primarily a philosopher/prophet type. His perspective throughout the book is amazing.

Netherwood is one of those books that had me going back to re-read sections just for the beauty of the writing itself. The story and imagery are fascinating but the way they are presented should be mentioned as well. There are wonderful sections of dialogue. This is me, saying this, who hates first person books. The first person perspective fell away quickly for me as I got into the story.

This book’s adventure plot and romance co-exist about equally with the plot residing in the foreground for large chunks of time – the plot facilitates the romance. What happens around Talia causes her growth and I never felt disassociated from the characters.

I had bought Michelle Lang’s book, Mrs. Pendragon, from Triskelion way back and never read it. Yes, my ebook TBR is getting almost as big as my print one. Now that I know this author I have to go find it. Meanwhile, you need to go buy Netherwood.

Grade: A

From the back cover:

     THERE’S A NEW SHERIFF IN TOWN…
     And her name is Talia Fortune. Her mission: capture the cyber outlaw, Kovner, a man who knows she is more than just a sheriff-Talia is also a woman, with a woman’s desires. Scion of the Fortune family and primary shareholder of the mega-conglomerate FortuneCorp, she is the Hand of Fate…or at least of the Home Office. With the power to punish, she’s been sent to Fresh Havens-a corporate off-world colony run by her uncle.

     But the colony is full of hidden danger. Sabotage, deception, destruction…it will take every ounce of Talia’s strength and courage, fighting skills honed in the Amphitheatre and knowledge learned at the Academy, just to survive. Her ability to love and trust will be sorely tested, especially in the clutches of her quarry, the Outlaw of Fresh Havens, her cyber-lover and now her enemy. He and the answers lie in the Gray Forest, in a reality beyond the bubbledome, the Grid, and everything she’s ever known. Her future lies in… NETHERWOOD

     Read an excerpt.

Alicia’s review of Mind Games by Merline Lovelace
Paranormal romance released by Silhouette Nocturne on 1 Apr 08

If I’m going to read a paranormal romance, it’s probably about psychic ability. Not communicating with the dead or predicting the future, but telekinesis or telepathy. Though they aren’t as common as the witches, vamps, and weres in para romance. Happily for me, Merline Lovelace is releasing one in April, just in time for our Nocturne month!

Mind Games starts with Captain Taylor Chase approaching Dr. Mark Wolfson about helping her on a mission. He knows the person she needs to get in contact with, so he is the perfect person to help her. The problem is the affair they had almost 8 years earlier and the unfriendly way it ended.

Taylor drums up the nerve to approach Mark but immediately loses the upper hand. Mark isn’t some cool alpha hero, even if he keeps the power position in the negotiation. He’s not military, he’s a scientist, but he knows who he is and what he’s capable of and he doesn’t rattle easily.

I loved the power plays between these two. Mark gives Taylor a lot of ground out of a sense of fairness, which was refreshing. He didn’t seem to suffer too much from testosterone poisoning. Taylor gains a new, more mature perspective on their past together. The way the relationship played out was just right.

I really enjoyed reading a book where the author seemed to know what she was talking about. I’ve been around the military for 15 years. I’m not super picky about specifics – I won’t care if a rank is wrong or a bullet wouldn’t go that far. What bothers me is when an author doesn’t understand the mindset of a military character and portrays them all wrong. Merline gets the characters and it makes such a difference.

It’s not just with the military, either. The characters are what make this book so good.  Don’t get me wrong, the plot is great - there aren’t any cheap devices to make me groan – but the characters are vibrantly portrayed. You get perspective on Taylor’s past right along with her. You get Mark’s fear when something is more than he can handle. The bad guys are people you can understand, not just evil because they’re evil.

I like that Mark doesn’t suddenly have out-of-the-blue, secret professional military or law enforcement training – that really ruins a book for me. In fact, the best thing about this book is the total lack of all the things that usually mess up a story for me.

Mind Games is smoothly written, the plot is exciting, the romance is believable, and the sexual tension is perfect without being too explicit. Make that HOT… still without being too explicit. The end was sweet. I’ll be looking for more from Merline Lovelace.

Grade: A

     For Air Force special agent Taylor Chase, invading a billionaire’s island fortress was headache enough. But partnering with Dr. Mark Wolfson forced her to revisit the darkest chapter of her past. As his lab assistant, she’d been his lover—and turned into another one of his telekinetic experiments. He’d influenced her thoughts and dominated her very being, and she’d sworn off him forever.

     Yet when the sheer horror of the billionaire’s plan was revealed, Taylor and Mark realized only their telepathic bond could save them. But could they handle the deep-rooted extrasensory passion that had blown up in their faces years ago? Their very lives depended on the answer…of just who was controlling whom.…

Read an excerpt.

Alicia’s review of  Unlawful Contact by Pamela Clare
Contemporary romantic suspense released by Berkley 1 Apr 08

I had only read Pamela Clare’s historicals until now. I read this book because of what she posted about her experiences with prison and prisoners. Just the fact that she knew what she was writing about drew me in. Since Sybil had the ARC, I had to read it. I’m so glad I did.

Sophie Alton and Marc Hunter had one night together. Then Marc went into the Army. He saw it as the best way to begin his adult life. His mother was addicted to drugs and was in prison. His little sister was adopted out to a “good” family. He had been in a lot of foster homes and a lot of trouble. So, one night with Sophie and the next morning he was gone. But he never forgot her.

Sophie became an investigative reporter. Now, she has a great career and she’s saving money to put her brother through college. She’s working on prison reform and following a young mother who is cleaning up her life. When that young mother suddenly runs off with the baby, destroying her chances for full legal custody of it, Sophie is shocked. Not as shocked, though, as she is to find out the young lady is Marc’s little sister.

Sophie never forgot Marc. He has always been a special memory to her. She has even considered trying to find him, but doesn’t want to disrupt his life. When she goes to meet with a prisoner about the girl who ran, though, she doesn’t even recognize Marc in the unshaven man in front of her. Marc had hoped she wouldn’t be afraid for herself in his hands. He never thought she wouldn’t know him. She fears for her life and it cuts him to the quick.

And that’s the best thing about Marc. He loves Sophie from start to finish. Sophie has to question her own feelings because Marc is a prisoner and considered dangerous. Marc understands her hesitancy, though, because a woman with any sense would second guess herself. He’s just a good guy.

Unlawful Contact sizzles from beginning to end. The chemistry between the characters radiates from the pages. The plot never stalls and the emotion is high. I had to stop reading and just cry several times. I recommend you read the author’s posts about her real experiences as an investigative reporter (the first post is titled “Pamela Clare looks good in stripes…”, the rest are “Goldilocks Goes to Jail”).

This book is a must-buy.

Grade: A

     Taken hostage by a convicted murderer while reporting at a prison, Sophie Alton has no idea that the man holding the gun to her head is the bad boy who was her first love in high school. Condemned to life without parole, Marc Hunter finds himself with no choice but to break out of prison after his younger sister disappears with her baby.

     Though he regrets what he has to put Sophie through, he can’t let anything get in the way of his stopping the corrupt officials who are set on destroying what’s left of his family. But being near Sophie rekindles memories for both of them. As the passion between them heats up, so does the conspiracy to put both of them in their graves.

     Read an excerpt.

Read Gwen’s review here.

Alicia’s Lightning Reviews of The Wallflower Series by Lisa Kleypas
Historical romance series released by Avon from Nov 04 thru Jul 06

In February I read the entire Wallflower series by Lisa Kleypas. I am so glad I did. I had gotten bogged down after reading a couple of blah books. When I found myself folding laundry to put off picking up the book I was reading, I knew I needed to read a Kleypas or two.  Or four.  Here are four short reviews of the four books in the Wallflower series…

Summary of the series:

Four young ladies enter London society with one necessary goal: they must use their feminine wit and wiles to find a husband. So they band together, and a daring husband-hunting scheme is born.

Secrets of a Summer Night (The Wallflowers, Book 1)
Released 26 Nov 04
SUMMARY: Annabelle Peyton, determined to save her family from disaster, decides to use her beauty and wit to tempt a suitable nobleman into making an offer of marriage. But Annabelle’s most intriguing—and persistent—admirer, wealthy, powerful Simon Hunt, has made it clear that while he will introduce her to irresistible pleasure he will not offer marriage. Annabelle is determined to resist his unthinkable proposition . . . but it is impossible in the face of such skillful seduction.

     Her friends, looking to help, conspire to entice a more suitable gentleman to offer for Annabelle, for only then will she be safe from Simon—and her own longings. But on one summer night, Annabelle succumbs to Simon’s passionate embrace and tempting kisses . . . and she discovers that love is the most dangerous game of all.

     Read an excerpt.

Annabelle shows a lot of growth as she has to face the truth of, first, her own marriage schemes, then of her very real snobbery. Simon is, by turns, sympathetic and cold. It is all in character, though. He has the dilemma of wanting a woman he knows is coldly manipulating other men to reach her goal.

There is a battle between the hero and heroine which is quite enjoyable to follow. This book introduces the other three “Wallflowers”, as well. The bond between these friends is, for me, one of the highlights of this book. The ending is powerful.

Grade: B+

It Happened One Autumn (The Wallflowers, Book 2)
Released 27 Sep 05

SUMMARY: It Happened at the Ball…  Where beautiful but bold Lillian Bowman quickly learned that her independent American ways weren’t entirely “the thing.” And the most disapproving of all was insufferable, snobbish, and impossible Marcus, Lord Westcliff, London’s most eligible aristocrat.

     It Happened in the Garden… When Marcus shockingly — and dangerously–swept her into his arms. Lillian was overcome with a consuming passion for a man she didn’t even like. Time stood still; it was as if no one else existed…thank goodness they weren’t caught very nearly in the act!

     It Happened One Autumn…  Marcus was a man in charge of his own emotions, a bedrock of stability. But with Lillian, every touch was exquisite torture, every kiss an enticement for more. Yet how could he consider taking a woman so blatantly unsuitable…as his bride?

     Read an excerpt.

Lillian Bowman is a firecracker! She’s so outrageous I couldn’t help but love her. Marcus can’t either. He is literally unable to keep himself away from her and it’s wonderful! Her cold father and domineering mother don’t stand a chance against him.

Lillian has been the protector all her life and she holds her tough shell dear. She can cuss with the best sailor and instigated the game of “rounders in knickers” in the first book. Marcus is the one who caught the ladies in the game and was not amused. He is known for being a straight arrow. He is also well known for being forgiving, though. Lillian is wonderfully, um, “forgiven” before long.

This one is powerful all the way through.

Grade: A

The Devil in Winter (The Wallflowers, Book 3)
Released 28 Feb 06

SUMMARY:  A devil’s bargain… Easily the shyest Wallflower, Evangeline Jenner stands to become the wealthiest, once her inheritance comes due. Because she must first escape the clutches of her unscrupulous relatives, Evie has approached the rake Viscount St. Vincent with a most outrageous proposition: marriage!

     Sebastian’s reputation is so dangerous that thirty seconds alone with him will ruin any maiden’s good name. Still, this bewitching chit appeared, unchaperoned, on his doorstep to offer her hand. Certainly an aristocrat with a fine eye for beauty could do far worse.

     But Evie’s proposal comes with a condition: no lovemaking after their wedding night. She will never become just another of the dashing libertine’s callously discarded broken hearts — which means Sebastian will simply have to work harder at his seductions…or perhaps surrender his own heart for the very first time in the name of true love.

     Read an excerpt.

Ok, I know most of you have never heard of Sebastian St. Vincent, before. Sybil has certainly never mentioned him. *VBG* Well, I was the scandalous duckie who had never read Devil in Winter, until now. I hope I have a reputation for giving objective opinions because I have no choice, here, but to sigh and squee right along with her!

The romance made It happened One Autumn an “A”. St. Vincent did it for Devil in Winter. Not that I didn’t like Evie. I did. St. Vincent is just such a perfect reformed villain.

Evie is young but she comes into her own and finds strength she didn’t know she had. The other Wallflowers are here as well as a great gypsy character who I’d love to see, again. The evil relations are well done. But, really, everyone should read this book because of Sebastian St. Vincent.

Grade: A

Scandal in Spring (The Wallflowers, Book 4)
Released 25 Jul 06

SUMMARY:  After spending three London seasons searching for a husband, Daisy Bowman’s father has told her in no uncertain terms that she must find a husband. Now. And if Daisy can’t snare an appropriate suitor, she will marry the man he chooses- the ruthless and aloof Matthew Swift.

     Daisy is horrified. A Bowman never admits defeat, and she decides to do whatever it takes to marry someone . . . anyone . . . other than Matthew. But she doesn’t count on Matthew’s unexpected charm . . . or the blazing sensuality that soon flares beyond both their control. And Daisy discovers that the man she has always hated just might turn out to be the man of her dreams.

     But right at the moment of sweet surrender, a scandalous secret is uncovered… one that could destroy both Matthew and a love more passionate and irresistible than Daisy’s wildest fantasies.

     Read an excerpt.

Daisy always was the most romantic of the wallflowers. She doesn’t have to be dragged, kicking and screaming, into love. She wants to marry for love, wishes for it. When her father gives her an extremely short deadline to find it, though, she decides to quickly settle for someone she can live with.

This story is one where the hero is not what the heroine thinks he is. Matthew has worked hard to help her father build his business, but he’s nothing like her father beyond that. He’s also loved her from afar for a long, long time.

I just love books where the hero is besotted from before the start. The ones where there is something outside of himself that keeps him from making his claim. This book had every chance of being my favorite book in this series. The end was built up for a wonderful climax… but then was a little flat.

It is still an excellent book in itself and a wonderful resolution to the series.

Grade: B+

Overall Grade: A-

Alicia’s review of Private Arrangements by Sherry Thomas
Historical romance released by Bantam Books 25 Mar 08

I went into this book knowing nothing except that it was a romance and I could count on getting a happy ending. It’s a good thing I knew that, though, because this couple put me through the wringer.

We start the book with the ten year marriage about to be dissolved. Gigi has come to the end of her ability to wait for the husband she loves and wants to have a chance at some happiness. Camden, the husband, doesn’t want her for himself but still intends to make this as difficult for her as possible. We then go back to the beginning of the story. Knowing the horrible future awaiting the young couple as they fall in love and marry is kind of like watching a train wreck in slow motion, the tremendous force behind their love only making the devastation more horrible.

The book goes back and forth between the present plot and the couple’s back-story, keeping the reader constantly involved at both levels. The unfolding is exquisite. The dignity of the characters means that the pain is not portrayed in vulgar scenes. Instead it is the bleak, almost silent bleeding out of a dream.

Gigi is the daughter of new money. She intends to marry a title and is ruthless in her hunt. She’s not shy and selfless underneath. She’s not misunderstood or innocent. She’s not in desperation, trying to save some beloved family member or under threats by some evil one. She’s just exactly what she seems and is open about it from the beginning. Actually, Camden loves her that way.

Camden has been raised in the poor and untitled branch of a “good” family. He has spent his childhood in the most fashionable locations during the least fashionable seasons, when the owners were out of town and would lend out accommodations. He is a man to whom honor is everything. It is all he ever had.

The result is painful to watch. This is one of those stories that rips out your heart and pokes needles in it, slices it in pieces, puts it through the meat grinder, then puts it back where it belongs. The emotion is high and the characters well written.

The actual writing is wonderful. The dialogue is fantastic. The use of sexual tension is precise. It isn’t used to make the book “hot” until the characters are ready for it. It isn’t rushed. The setting is Victorian and we get a feel for the time without having random history lectures tossed in. The author allows sexual references without crossing the line into unrealistic erotica (which has its place but it wouldn’t be here). It simply feels like the kind of things real adults know are part of life. The plot is simple with the focus being the characters, their history and hope (or not) for the future.

The only thing bringing my grade for this book down is my feeling like Camden didn’t demonstrate nearly enough regret. Gigi groveled enough for both of them and she gets very little reassurance of his true feelings. She has made monumental leaps in character growth and none of it easily earned. While Camden was right at first, he wasn’t right for long, and I wanted to see his pain laid bare before her for all the years she paid for her sin. She learned her lesson early and well, and he knew it. I didn’t really feel he redeemed himself.

Grade: B-

     To all of London society, Lord and Lady Tremaine had the ideal arrangement: a marriage based on civility, courteousness, freedom—and living on separate continents.

     But once upon a time, things were quite different for the Tremaines…When Gigi Rowland first laid eyes on Camden Saybrook, Lord Tremaine, the attraction was immediate and overwhelming: she simply had to have him. But what began in a spark of passion ended in betrayal the morning after their wedding—and Gigi wants to be free to marry again. Now Camden has returned from America with an outrageous demand—an heir—in exchange for Gigi’s freedom.

     Gigi’s decision will have consequences she never imagined, as secrets are exposed, desire is rekindled—and one of London’s most admired couples must either fall in love all over again…or let each other go forever.

     Read an excerpt.

Read Lawson’s review

What have I missed?

Does anyone know why The Perfect Wife by Victoria Alexander, a REPRINT!, is # 1 on the NY Times Best Seller List? The reader reviews I’m finding do not compute. Who out there is buying all these books?

First the stepback:

It sits nicely on top of:

2. I HEARD THAT SONG BEFORE by Mary Higgins Clark

3. OBSESSION by Jonathan Kellerman

4. NAUGHTY NEIGHBOR by Janet Evanovich

5. THE 5TH HORSEMAN by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro

6. REVELATION by Karen Traviss

7. THE ALIBI MAN by Tami Hoag

8. PREDATORY GAME by Christine Feehan

9. DEEP STORM by Lincoln Child

10. THE OTHER BOLEYN GIRL by Philippa Gregory

11. KILLER SECRETS by Lora Leigh (I was going to go to 10 but I needed Lora in here)

Based on these reader opinions it just doesn’t compute. What do y’all think?

Alicia’s review of Sizzle and Burn (The Arcane Society, Book 3) by Jayne Ann Krentz
Paranormal romance released by Putnam on 15 Jan 08

I decided to review Sizzle and Burn in preparation for the release of The Third Circle (Arcane 4) March 25th. I’m a big JAK fan but with so many great older titles out there, I wasn’t up to date with her new ones.

Just in case you don’t know, Jayne Ann Krentz is also Amanda Quick. Krentz is the pseudonym she uses for her contemporary titles. Quick is the one she uses for her historicals. In the Arcane Society series she is including both past and present, so the books aren’t actually listed under the same author name. These books can stand alone just fine. If you read them in order you do get the history of the society and a cohesive underlying plot but, really, feel free to buy the new one first and then catch up.

Raine is a psychic who hears things by touching objects. Her experience with others with psychic gifts if pretty much limited to her aunt who suffered mentally and herself. She has had loving people she could depend on, though, and is a strong, well adjusted woman. She has helped solve crimes for years. She has a good feeling of her own self-worth.

Zack is also a psychic. He sees things instead of hearing but his gift is similar enough to Raine’s to give them common ground. He, though, has been raised in the Arcane Society. He has been surrounded, all his life, by people with gifts. He has had training on using his talent and has had the support of friends and family like himself. He has never been an outcast nor has he been afraid his gift driving him insane.

Zack and Raine’s romance starts with a bang. One thing I like about JAK is that her characters rarely wallow in exaggerated self doubt or self pity. This book is no exception. The description mentions that Raine had a recent failed relationship, and she did. It was pretty bad but she gets over it. She’s ok. She’s more than ok, in fact, she has a cocky confidence that Zack loves and so do I.

There are two suspense plots going in this story but it felt natural. She has a history of crime investigation and her gift lends itself to discovering violent crimes. It’s not far-fetched that she gets caught in another one. The Arcane Society’s arch enemy also has something going on. That’s a given. The book flowed well and never felt rushed or crowded.

With good characters, good dialogue, strong tension and a fun plot this book never disappointed. A perfect comfort read. If you haven’t tried JAK this is ok to try first (though, to me, it doesn’t touch Trust Me, Deep Waters or Absolutely Positively). I’m waiting -IMpatiently- for the next book, Arcane 4 – The Third Circle, which will be released April 22 by Putnam under Amanda Quick.

Grade: B+

Book summary:

     When Raine Tallentyre made the mistake of revealing her paranormal abilities, her most recent romantic relationship came to a hasty end. Her Aunt Vella, a gifted but troubled soul, had told her years ago to keep her talents a secret. And now that poor Aunt Vella—her last blood relative—has died, Raine has resigned herself to a lonely life.

     But when she journeys to Shelbyville, Washington, to clear out Aunt Vella’s house, Raine’s highly developed sensitivity leads her to a horrifying discovery: a young woman bound and terrified in a basement storage locker. The victim has survived, but the culprit is still on the loose. Without warning, a new man enters Raine’s life—investigator Zack Jones. Surprisingly, Zack isn’t repelled by her powers: in fact, he has them himself. While Raine hears voices, Zack sees visions and within hours of their meeting, Raine experiences an intense, thrilling intimacy—mental, emotional, and physical—she never dared to expect.

     There’s one complication, however: Zack Jones is working for the Arcane Society. This secret organization, dedicated to the study of paranormal phenomena, shattered Raine’s family with an act of betrayal long ago, and she’s not about to trust them now. But as a killer makes her his target, and a cabal of psychic criminals known as Nightshade operates in the shadows surrounding them, Raine and Zack must rely not only on their powerful abilities but on each other . . .

     Read an excerpt.

Alicia’s review of Freefall by JoAnn Ross
Romantic suspense released by Signet on 5 Feb 08

I’m a sucker for good Romantic Suspense, especially when the author has an obvious love for her subject. I only had to read the excerpt for Freefall and I had to have it. I hadn’t read JoAnn Ross before but her voice just sucked me in.

Zach Tremayne is a likable guy. He’s tough. He knows how to keep cool under stress and he cares about people in his life. He’s working through the affects of seeing some bad stuff in Afghanistan and personal guilt because he was in charge when it happened.

Sabrina Swann is harder to say if I liked her or not. She’s shaken by her recent experience. She’s obviously a force to be reckoned with when she sets her mind to something. She has a realistic approach to life in general it seems and she, too, cares about the people in her life.

But I really didn’t get to know Zach very well and Sabrina almost not at all. This book is great suspense. I was sucked into the story immediately and assumed I was going to love this book. But when the characters should have been building (this is a romance), I was left more than a little flat. There was a lot happening but not enough dialogue between the hero and heroine.

I’d say the book was just too busy. With distractions like building the fed lady character and the in-depth victim scenes, there just wasn’t enough space in the book left to really get into Zach and Sabrina. Really, all of the plot lines were good enough to be in there… but not all in one book. Well, besides the one about what happened with Zach that was just dropped. That one should have been left in and, uh, finished.

The intimacy wasn’t what I want, either. There was some sexual tension but when the consummation came I just didn’t care enough about the characters to feel involved. There was a lot of telling what they were doing but it just didn’t draw me in at all. I even put the book down afterward, assuming it was my mood. I re-read the scene the next day and still didn’t feel a thing.

A personal bad thing… Proportionally, very few soldiers who have been in combat come out the other side crazy. Sure memories bother them and there is counseling but they don’t all have black outs where they are lost to the real world or carry weapons while patrolling the perimeter back home. This book has too many characters who have extreme reactions in one place, to the point it feels like the rare is what is common. Having been around military men and women for all of my adult life, I can tell you they would be insulted that the romance industry is making it look like most of them can’t handle it.

But I have to disagree with the few reader reviews that say the last plot line that was tied up at the end was unnecessary. It was very important and had served it’s purpose by the time it was addressed directly. Any more would be a spoiler, but if you read it you’ll know what I mean. It affected the “who-done-it”. I had the bad guy figured out fairly early (not that it was obvious, I’m just good *g*) but I couldn’t just rest with it. This one issue kept me second guessing myself right up to the very end.

If I just wanted a good suspense story I would rate this book a lot better but I want characters I care about. Maybe a lot of the busyness was setting up the series? I don’t know but in it’s own right, I have to say this book fell short.

Grade: D

     Seeking refuge and determined to pull her life back together, Sabrina Swann returns to the sleepy Southern island of her childhood summers. The last person she expects to encounter there is Zach Tremayne, the boy who stole her heart when she was a girl. There’s a haunted look in his eyes that makes her wonder what kind of man he’s become.

     Zach Tremayne can’t forget the horror he saw in his last battle in Afghanistan as a Navy SEAL. Now home on Swann Island, he’s surprised to realize he can feel anything again, never mind the sudden sure of desire for this woman from his past.

     And when together they discover danger waiting in Swann’s shadows, the woman who is desperate for peace and the man who has sworn off war will realize they are willing to do anything, risk everything, to protect a love neither saw coming…

     Read an excerpt.

Alicia’s review of Let Sleeping Rogues Lie (School for Heiresses, Book 4) by Sabrina Jeffries
Historical romance released by Pocket on 19 Feb 08

I actually decided to read this book after the Valenduckie posts. I loved Sabrina Jeffries posts here at TGTBTU so it was natural to want to read her book when I got the chance. Right off, the writing style was smooth and easy to read. The kind you can just relax into and enjoy.

Since Sandy has already reviewed this book, I’ll quickly give you the basics:

Madeline is a bluestocking, intellectual type who has lost her mother and her father has had a tragic incident which has rendered him too depressed to do anything. She is supporting them both by teaching at the local school for ladies but she also hopes to meet a chemist who will support her father’s innocence. She has never had any success with attracting men because she is so smart and has a tendency to respond intellectually in conversation where most girls would titter and flirt so she is resigned to being a spinster and doesn’t dwell on that sad fact because her father’s troubles are so much more important. *sucks in a deep breath*

Anthony is a rake who hasn’t tried to suppress his inclinations since he was an eight year old boy but now he needs to get custody of his niece so he needs to convince a court that he has changed his ways and is now a respectable and responsible adult man. He approaches the school hoping that by enrolling his niece in a good school he will help his chances of getting custody of her but the school has no openings at that time and he enters into a devils bargain with Madeline to get her to champion his cause to the headmistress so that she will make an exception and enroll the girl. So, that’s basically what the story is about. *sucking air and panting*

Madeline is a very good bluestocking. Ms. Jeffries did this, not with boring text showing Madeline’s knowledge in any area, but with a conversational style. Madeline is oblivious to the normal social talk that would be expected of her and instead asks analytical questions at the oddest times. Not to the point that it becomes ridiculous but just enough that her character rings true. She isn’t some tremendous genius, just intellectual in nature.

I loved Anthony’s predicament of having to discuss with innocent young ladies subjects that are totally inappropriate. He is so cute when he’s squirming! But the best part is his name for his manhood *snicker*. I’ll make you read it, but it’s great!

Take this book lightly. Don’t read it when you want deep relationship building because it would be weak in that area. They fall in love pretty quickly and, maybe, a bit too easily. For me it wasn’t a problem. The strong dialogue and wit along with the punch-in-the-gut moments of sexual tension make this book a joy to read. The kind of story you can trust to whisk away the real world for a while. It’s fun.

Grade: B

From the back cover:

     When Madeline Prescott took a teaching position at Mrs. Harris’s School for Young Ladies, it was to help restore her father’s reputation. Instead, she’s in danger of ruining her own. The devilishly handsome Anthony Dalton, Viscount Norcourt, has agreed to provide “rake lessons” to Mrs. Harris’s pupils so they can learn how to avoid unscrupulous gentlemen, and Madeline is to oversee his classes. She has always believed that attraction is a scientific matter, easily classified and controlled — until she’s swept into the passionate desire that fiercely burns between her and Anthony. Nothing could be more illogical than risking everything for a dalliance with a rake — even one who’s trying to behave himself. Yet nothing could be more tempting….

     Read an excerpt.

Alicia Thomas’s review of Unleashing the Storm (ACRO Series, Book 2) by Sydney Croft
Contemporary paranormal romance released by Delta 26 Feb 08

This book is the second in a series about a secret agency called ACRO. You can read my review of the first book, Riding the Storm, here. Since the first book was one of my top reads last year I had to read the second one.

Kira Donovan is a tough woman. She’s had to be. She’s pretty balanced considering her life, though. Besides being able to talk to animals an having some animal traits (like the heat season every year) she’s a pretty normal woman.

Tom Knight, known as Ender, is an assassin and a loner. He is supposed to bring Kira in to ACRO. The enemy wants to use her as a bridge between animals and humans to create biological weapons. So, Ender has to keep her out of enemy hands. He has to bring her in or he has to kill her.

In spite of the hero having orders to possibly kill the heroine, this book is lighter than Riding the Storm. This is partly due to the theme being communicating with animals rather than awe inducing weather. It is also partly due to the heroine being so sweet and innocent. Not sexually, of course, and yeah, I said she’s tough but she’s straight forward and basically just good.

But I said light-er, not light. The nature of ACRO means there will be darkness in the corners. The secondary characters and secondary story lines are all pretty dark and intense.

Very sexy with good characters and a fast moving plot but lacking some of the intensity of the first book.

Grade: B

From the back cover:

     Feel the heat. Hear the roar. The fever has begun.

     There’s a storm rising. Electricity crackles in the air. For Kira Donovan, it’s that time of year again: when the need floods her flesh, when almost any man-the bigger and the stronger the better-will do. For Kira, an animal psychic, the heat is a matter of life and death, and this year it has come at just the right time. Tom Knight, a natural born predator, has arrived at her isolated Idaho farm-for reasons all his own…

     At first Kira isn’t interested in Knight’s motives. She only needs him-his body, his hands, his scent. But soon, through a daze of desire and distrust, Kira discovers Knight’s world-the world of a covert operative, one man among dozens of secret agents waging an astonishing global war. Knight’s mission is to bring Kira–kicking and screaming if necessary–into the Agency for Covert Rare Operatives and harness her extraordinary gift. He never expected the powerful emotions she would ignite in him, or the fierce desire to keep her safe from harm. For as darkness gathers around them, Kira is feeling the heat once again, leading them both on a wild ride of delicious thrills…and terror beyond imagining.

     Read an excerpt.

Read Alicia’s review and Gwen’s review of Book 1, Riding the Storm.

Other books in this series:

Alicia’s review of The Stolen Princess by Anne Gracie
Historical romance released 2 Jan 08 by Berkley Sensation

After eight years fighting in the war, Gabriel Fitzpaine is unable to settle into civilian life. He’s restless, feeling guilty and useless. All of a sudden he finds just what he needs, a damsel in distress! Oh, yes! And a ruthless, vile, dangerous villain! He has purpose, again.

Princess Caroline (Callie) has had a horrible time of it. She struggled all her life to please, first her exacting father then her critical husband. A year ago her husband was killed and someone started trying to kill her son. She’s been raised to have proper manners and an impeccable public face. Now she has to run and hide, doing for her son and herself with no help. Or so she intends.

She had loved, before, and had it tossed back in her face. She had tried in vain to please men all her life. She is finally free of men and their demands and she intends to stay that way. Boyish charm will not sway her. Really. It won’t. Neither will kindness toward her son who has known little kindness.

But Gabriel has no idea she doesn’t trust a man’s kindness. He loves Callie from the beginning and is somewhat confused by her behavior. I love books where the hero is just in love with the heroine and Gabriel is besotted. He’s so happy to be around her he jokes and plays like a boy. But he’s a man and a warrior, too, who is ready to do what it takes to protect her and her son.

This story has a prominent suspense plot but it just isn’t the focus. The book is about the characters. I believed the characters. They were consistent and their actions made sense for them. They change as they learn more, too. Gabriel, as he learns the danger Callie is actually facing and Callie as she sees the man Gabriel really is. And, of course, the dialogue is wonderful!

I can count on Anne Gracie to make me laugh. She doesn’t cram humor in where it doesn’t fit. She has witty characters who use humor naturally. She creates situations that are just funny. This book was no exception. I giggled over several pages and sniffled over others.

If you like sweet stories with witty dialogue and just a little spice get this book. It’s not to be missed.

Grade: B+

From the back cover:

     The estranged youngest son of an earl, Gabriel Renfrew earned glory and honor on the battlefield, but now, without purpose, he finds himself deliberately courting danger. One night he races his horse along a death-defying moonlit cliff-and stumbles upon a beautiful woman obviously in need of saving.

     A princess on the run, Callie has disguised herself and her son, the Crown Prince, as commoners, hoping to protect him from those intent on stealing the throne. She has no choice but to trust the handsome ex-officer who’s come to her rescue, even when he insists that only a marriage of convenience will provide her the ultimate protection. Can her new husband keep Callie and her son safe from assassins? And what will he do to her heart?

     Read an excerpt.

Alicia’s review of Guarded Heart (Masters at Arms) by Jennifer Blake
Historical romance released 1 Feb 08 by Mira

I read this book for a few reasons. First, I read Clay a couple of years ago and loved it. I wanted to read the rest of the Louisiana Gentleman series but it never happened for one reason or another. Bad TBR management for the most part. So, when I saw an ARC was available from her I had to check it out.

It sounded good. A woman learning from a sword master. Very cool. And a historical set in New Orleans. I couldn’t wait. Then it came in the mail from Sybil and I started reading it.

[Ed.: Author has a site with nothing on it but a couple of links so-so book videos.  Bad author!  No bonbons for you!]

I couldn’t understand half of the dialogue. I enjoy historicals and usually have no trouble at all reading books imitating Medieval or Regency English. But here there was a lot of innuendo, poetic phrasing, and French, too. It was plainly intelligent authorship, from the parts I could follow. There were just too many parts I couldn’t follow.

There was also a lot of “info dumping.” I love the setting and can see that Blake does, too, but I would have preferred little references that I could look up on Wikipedia later. Instead there were descriptions and explanations of non-relevant subjects in the middle of the story. I just wanted to get on with it.  After about fourteen chapters I had gotten the style down and it was a lot easier to read. I still had to skim a lot of extra verbiage but I was into the story, so that helped.

The characters are good. The heroine, Ariadne, is torn. She lost her brother when he moved away. Then she lost him, forever, to death. She has no other family left and has sworn to avenge his blood, herself.  Gavin is a great hero. I love his smooth handling of Ariadne and her shocking demands. He understands her at every turn and is there for her, even when it doesn’t seem to make sense that he would be.

One other problem I had was a credibility issue. She just hadn’t been having lessons enough to have the second-nature responses she is given toward the end of the book. She also could never have been able to hold off a man with the brute strength of her attacker for as long as she did, especially with a heavy weapon. But this was a small part of the book.

Mostly, this was a beautiful book. The way the tension built between Ariadne and Gavin was exquisite. The dialogue was intelligent and artful. I was reminded of reading Shakespeare. Wonderful, but just so bloomin’ much work!

So, I recommend this book but make sure you are the right audience for it. This one is for those who enjoy deeper historicals and aren’t afraid of some hard words.

Grade: C+

     The New Year begins with a lady’s intriguing proposition for Gavin Blackford-though not the sort he’s accustomed to. Alluring widow Ariadne Faucher requests private lessons from the rakish sword master in order to challenge her sworn enemy to a duel.

     Though disinclined at first to teach a woman, Gavin is fascinated by this statuesque beauty, cloaked as she is in grief and mystery. Ariadne proves a quick study with a blade, her resolve fueled by a vendetta that is all she has left in the world. Their lessons crackle with undeniable electricity but the secret of her all-consuming vengeance may have rendered her heart impervious even to such a virtuoso as Gavin.

     Read an excerpt.

Alicia’s review of Make Me a Match (One True Love, Book 1) by Diana Holquist
Contemporary romance released 1 Sep 06 by Forever

Sybil did not get me a copy this book. *pout* I didn’t mind too much – it is definitely worth the money.  I’m going backwards, here, because I read the sequel, The Sexiest Man Alive, first. MMaM is the first book in the One True Love series. Since nobody told me about Diana Holquist until her second book was out, I didn’t get these straight. Worse than that, this is the only other book listed for Diana Holquist. Man, this is the shortest glom. Well, at least I can look forward to Hungry for More in September 2008

Dr. Cecelia Burns has built her life around escaping her gypsy roots. She wants stability and respectability. She does not want true love. True love makes people do foolish things.

Enter her psychic sister who embraces her gypsy-ness to the n’th degree. She just happens to show up at Cecilia’s engagement party dressed in full psychic gypsy style. The doctor and lawyer guests assume she’s the entertainment for the evening, especially when she offers to give a psychic reading on who Cecilia’s real “one true love as destined by fate”. The problem is Cecilia knows her sister can actually answer this question… and it won’t be her fiancé.

Her one true love’s name happens to be Finn Concord, widower and father to an eight year old who is too smart for her own good. I liked Finn a lot.  His character was very real to me and his qualms made sense. His handling of events in the book weren’t always the best choices but they were in character.

Cecelia has blocked off her life, completely denying her childhood and family. She has good reason to recoil from her past, but it is still part of who she is and the internal struggle is wrenching. When she starts changing it isn’t easy for her, and it isn’t easy for Finn to trust her.

I love this author and I adored this book! The wacky characters are fantastic, and there is laugh-out-loud humor but it never gets in the way of the story. I can’t quite give this one the absolute top grade, like I did the last one, but it is still very excellent.

Grade: B+

From the back cover:

     Cecelia Burns has it all until her long-lost, psychic sister, Amy, shows up to tell her that her One True Love as destined by Fate is dying. If Cecelia wants to save her only chance at True Love, she’s got to ditch her perfect life and find a stranger. Fast.

     Read an excerpt.

Other books in this series:

Alicia’s review of The Harlot’s Daughter by Blythe Gifford
Historical romance released 1 Oct 07 from Harlequin

I love early medievals, so The Harlot’s Daughter, set in 1386 looked like a good choice. I was also pulled in by the choice of story. The major events happened and a lot of the characters were actually real people. I just love historicals like that.  Though I was slow to get into it at first, I liked the poetic style and the metaphors and symbolism. It was done well but I didn’t see the characters all that clearly and started thinking the book would be shallow. I was wrong. It was just starting.

Lady Joan, called Solay, the eldest daughter of Alys Piers, mistress to the late King Edward III, shows up at court hoping to gain some support for her mother and sister. Through the unfair dealings of the legal system they have lost everything but the house they live in and have been selling their belongings in order to eat. Solay has been raised to mistrust everyone but particularly men and especially men of the law.

Lord Justin Lamont is a sergeant-at-law. He is part of a council set up by Parliament to straighten out the financial mess King Richard has made. He’s not a favorite of the king, of course, but he has the law and truth on his side. He has become the man who tells the king bad news, because he’s not afraid to do it.

This book explores, rather well, the question of whether law and truth can be counted on to win in an arena where the very authorities are corrupt. Both Justin and Solay have to face, over and over, their own belief systems. Gifford doesn’t go for the simple answers. These are complex characters in complex situations.

A big plus for me, this heroine is a totally different kind of person. I don’t think she’s much like any other heroine I’ve ever read. She’s smart, but she has been raised to be very cynical and will do what it takes to provide for her mother and sister. She’s not selfish or greedy but it’s not surprising she comes across that way. Her loyalty is to the only two people she’s ever been able to trust. Anyone else is fair game for serious manipulation. I was reminded, time and again, of the senator/president’s wife in the first season of 24. But Solay grows through her relationship with Justin and is an excellent heroine.

Unexpectedly, Justin grows a lot, as well. I would have assumed the guy with the high moral values and faith in truth and right would simply have to be patient and soon he would waltz right on in to his HEA. But his world was just too black and white and he comes through his own trials a different man.

The author had me in tears for the characters within the first third of the book, which isn’t easy to do. I don’t buy cheap plays for emotion. Ms. Gifford earned every tear.

Grade: B+

From the back cover:

Betrothed to a man she must betray. She is the illegitimate daughter of a dead king, trying to regain a place at court. He is the powerful lord determined to stop her. And around every corner lurks treason that could threaten them both.

Read an excerpt.

Alicia’s review of Kidnapped! by Jo Leigh
Contemporary romantic suspense released 1 Sep 07 by Harlequin Blaze

I enjoy Jo Leigh’s writing. Let me say, first, that I’ve only read her Blaze titles. The plots move and the dialogue is enjoyable. I can count on her books when I need to unwind. They don’t ask too much from me.

Tate is friendly but flawed as a result of tragic events in her past. She doesn’t want a lot. She’d just like to have a chance to go out with Michael like a normal person would.

Michael is in a security job when he’d really rather still be in the military because of his younger brother. He’s not bitter, though. He’s a nice guy. He likes Tate a lot and sees what her life is really like better than most people.

The beginning of the book just zips happily along. I cringed when the brother is introduced, just like I was supposed to. I felt sad for Tate but respected her struggle to overcome her weakness. I wanted to swoon over Michael’s integrity and loyalty. I felt her friend was a real friend. Good to go.

Then, I hit a speed bump after the action got going. I hit the limit of my believability threshold when Michael and Tate got naked together when the bad guys could come in at any time. It may seem like a small thing and I’m sure lots of people will just ignore it and love the book but when it happened a few more times (not exactly, but in similar ways they weren’t acting like they were in a life or death struggle) it ruined my enjoyment for a good portion of the story.

BUT… the hot scenes were very hot. I liked the scene where she comes into her own with the bad guy and I enjoyed the dialogue at the end of the book.

Grade: C

From the back cover:

     Okay, it’s certainly an unconventional way for Manhattan heiress Tate Baxter to conquer her fears. But when your whole life takes place behind the tinted windows of a limo and your household staff are all gun-toting ex-CIA, drastic measures have to be taken. Especially when one member of that staff has got her all hot and bothered.

     Chauffeur Michael Caulfield has just one assignment — keeping Tate safe. But when she’s kidnapped for real, the only way he can save her is to become a prisoner with her. He may be just “the help,” but as her take-charge protector, he’s the Michael of her sexual fantasies. Maybe a man she can trust and even dare to love? Except once out of his uniform, he isn’t exactly laying bare all his secrets — to Tate.

     Read an excerpt.

You can find Devon’s Review of Kidnapped! here…

Alicia Thomas’s review of Secret Obsession by Leigh Wyndfield
Contemporary romance released 4 Feb 08 by Samhain

I picked up Secret Obsession because I enjoyed another book of hers I read (True Seeing which has been re-released in a revised version as Hot Visions). I enjoy Leigh Wyndfield’s writing so I read her when I can.

This story is a clan/feud story. It is set on a fishing community island in the northeast where the people have governed themselves for generations and have their own way of doing things. They’ve been getting along for a couple of generations but about 70 years ago there was a feud that hasn’t been forgotten. Someone is trying to start trouble, again, and Wade and Clem are working together to stop it.

Clemant Taylor is a good strong character. She wasn’t actually raised on the island. Her grandmother had left before her mother was born and Clem grew up on the mainland, spending her summers and holidays on Blue Island. She knows the way the outside world works but Blue has always felt like home. She is a complex character who felt real to me, not contradictory. She had strengths and weaknesses that I could buy into.

Wade Tawes is an islander. He’s not knowledgeable in the ways of the world but he’s smart and he’s got rock-solid, do-right character. He is ready to do whatever he has to do to stop the feud and to keep Clem with him. If he can’t do both, though, he’s going to keep Clem. They’ve hidden their relationship for sixteen years and he’s had enough. I loved the way Wade was presented as having had a simple life without making him less than smart and capable. I adored the way he loved Clem.

This story is basically a mystery and pretty well done. It’s not a grip-your-seat, type or one where you are stopping to speculate who-done-it, but it is enjoyable and never seemed to drag. Also, it is erotic, so it has content appropriate for the genre, but the story doesn’t rely on it. It’s a good light mystery romance where the love scenes happen to be more explicit.

Grade: B

From the back cover:

     Running from his bed might save her sanity, but he won’t let her go without a fight.

     Three years ago, Clemant Taylor left Blue Island to escape her secret obsession with Wade Tawes, the son of her clan’s greatest enemy. But when the head of her family becomes ill, she is forced to return to Blue-at the risk of succumbing once more to Wade’s irresistible sexual lure.

     Promising herself she won’t be enticed again into having mind-blowing sex with him, she vows to focus only on stopping the escalating violence between their clans and the collapse of the island’s way of life.

     Wade Tawes, now the head of a family that has long sworn to seek retribution against the Taylors, is stuck between loyalty to his clan and his love for Clemant. He doesn’t know how he’ll do it, but he plans to force his family to accept his choice, after he finds out who’s really behind the vandalism that is ripping the island apart. And after he convinces Clemant that she really does love him.

     But the feud heats up, blood is spilled, and pressure for revenge mounts on both sides. Wade and Clemant must find a way to heal the rift between their clans-or their world will implode, leaving them both empty and alone.

     Read an excerpt.

Alicia Thomas’s ROB review of Twist by Colby Hodge
Urban fantasy/SciFi romance released 29 Jan 08 by Love Spell (Dorchester)

I asked to review Twist because I enjoy SciFi Romance and this looked like an interesting idea. I really enjoyed a similar title from Dorchester, Wired. Before you read further, know that this will definitely be an “out of my box” review as the book contained elements that I don’t generally seek out for my own personal enjoyment. Since adult romance readers are probably still feeling out where Shomi will take them, I’ll go ahead and tell you what I found.

First, this book is not SciFi Romance. It is Urban Fantasy Romance. I don’t read much (almost none?) Urban Fantasy. So, I am in no position to compare this book under standards of the genre. The romance is pretty light. Strictly as a romance reader, I would have liked some warning so that’s what I’m trying to do, here for you.

Twist is not serious or intellectual. It is not about analytical speculation into time travel. It is like a cross between Buffy and the movie “The One”, where the plot was just an excuse to have the fight scenes. At one point Abby thinks, “I almost imagined myself in the middle of a low-budget action movie.” I giggled out loud because that’s what I had been thinking, all along.

Even though there is snark and humor that is not in character with the severity of what is happening at the time, it is obvious the book is to be read for fun without looking too deeply. The quips and references to movies, along with the appropriate T-shirt sayings, were fun even as I was rolling my eyes. I will be telling my kids “Ninjas are way cooler than pirates” for a long time to come.

The problem I had was the author obviously wanted emotional depth but kept breaking it with out-of-place comments. For me, it goes one way or the other. If you want the emotion, leave off the humor for a bit. If you break the angst with a silly comment, don’t expect the reader to have rapport with the character. This is why I don’t get upset when Daffy Duck gets his beak blown off. I am in fun mode, not serious mode. I can’t do both at the same time.

I have to say, I was caught off guard near the end starting with a particular scene at secondary character’s, Jaime’s, cottage and through the end of the book.  The emotion I needed was there. I had to put the book down and cry a little and then carry on. Oops, getting misty, again, right now.

So, read this one if gore doesn’t bother you.  Oh, did I mention that?

I wiped my hand across my chin and felt something sticky. “What is it?” I said as I looked at the white thing on my hand.

“Looks like from an eyeball,” Jamie said.

And read it if you don’t need the science to be addressed. And if you don’t mind that the focus of half of the book is action scenes. And if out-of-the-blue jokes from angry, murderous people don’t throw you off. And if you can overlook the several plot holes that I had a hard time getting over. If none of that bothers, a lot of people will enjoy Twist, so just make an informed decision.

Grade: D+

Blurb:

     Abbey Shore never intended to be the savior of the world; it was just something that happened-like her father’s tragic death and the fact that she’s now poor and “flipping” houses in the Chicago suburbs to finish college. And there’s more: behind a crumbling wall in her current renovation, a swirling vortex hides. It’s a gate, a portal-and it will not only cast her into the arms and power of the enigmatic yet doomed Dr. Shane Maddox, but also into the clutches of Lucinda, the eerie, leather-clad beauty who shadowed his every move in the Sacred Heart ER. Abbey will soon be one hundred years in the future, in a dying land filled with roving bands of humans fighting for survival, and the “ticks” against whom they fight. Oh yes, Abbey’s life has had a…TWIST. 

     Read an excerpt.

Alicia Thomas’s review of Mine to Possess (Psy-Changelings, Book 4) by Nalini Singh
Paranormal romance published 5 Feb 08 by Berkley

I’ve gotten a bit cynical. I had started waiting for a series to lose its ‘new car smell’ before I started to read it. Luckily for all of us, Singh’s still sparkles four books in.

I noticed I tend to comment on the blurbs. I guess it’s because they sell the book or not, when the reader has no other experience with the author. This one is just kind of “blah.” It isn’t wrong. It just doesn’t capture the energy of the book.

Clay’s animal didn’t just cause him to kill. He was protecting Tally from an immediate threat and, in his rage, took it too far. She was a child and the horror of what she saw stayed with her. She lied through a third party to avoid him and it was a bitterly harsh measure. Tally has a lot fear and confusion and since a lot of it involves Clay, he is hurt by it, too. I loved Clay more than Tally for a lot of the book. I had as much trouble as he did forgiving her for the lie. These two have a lot of past history to get through before they can get their HEA.

But it’s all handled beautifully. I had tears at the end. The characters are alive and the dialogue sparkles. If you haven’t read any of Singh’s Psy-Changeling books, they need to be read in order. Start with Slave to Sensation, but start soon. You need to hurry and get to this one.

Grade: B+

Blurb:  Clay Bennett is a powerful DarkRiver sentinel, but he grew up in the slums with his human mother, never knowing his changeling father. As a young boy without the bonds of Pack, he tried to stifle his animal nature. He failed…and committed the most extreme act of violence, killing a man and losing his best friend, Talin, in the bloody aftermath. Everything good in him died the day he was told that she, too, was dead.

Talin McKade barely survived a childhood drenched in bloodshed and terror. Now a new nightmare is stalking her life–the street children she works to protect are disappearing and turning up dead. Determined to keep them safe, she unlocks the darkest secret in her heart and returns to ask the help of the strongest man she knows…

Clay lost Talin once. He will not let her go again, his hunger to possess her, a clawing need born of the leopard within. As they race to save the innocent, Clay and Talin must face the violent truths of their past…or lose everything that ever mattered.

Read an excerpt and an excerpt.

Other books in the series:

A

Read Gwen’s review of Book 3, Caressed by Ice here.

Alicia Thomas’s review of Sundial by Carrie Lofty
Time travel short story ebook published Dec 07  by Wild Rose Press

Sundial is a short story, only 67 pages and is the first thing I’ve read from Wild Rose Press.

The biggest factor in Sundial is the style. The whole feel of this story is disjointed but in an artsy kind of way. It’s like Picasso does time-travel romance. I enjoy some of the weird IFC movies, etc., so once I figured out what I was reading I enjoyed it. I did have immediate negative reaction, though, and had to come up from there.

First off, we aren’t told just how young Mark is so his attitude seems really off. Also, the masturbation scene is really stupid. He gets caught because he sets himself to get caught, in my opinion. Who does that sitting outside a door the other person may walk through soon? And this brain damaged person has the nerve to act surprised! This is in the very beginning, though, and things got better quickly.

The author calls Mark shy but I’d say wary is a better word. He’s a consummate actor, with a natural talent and having honed his skills out of necessity. he is direct and strong, so he’s not shy. He’s been living in an unstable environment since he was 16, which is a vulnerable age, and he never knows when he may just disappear into his old life. He comes across as cold, at first, but bitterness toward circumstances isn’t an unusual response for a teenager. Due to what’s happened with his life, in some ways he’s less mature for his age and in other ways he’s much more.

I haven’t said much about Amber but really, Mark is the star of the show. She’s a good enough heroine and in the end she pulls off a good climax but there’s not a lot to say about her. The vast majority of the struggle, pain and growth are Mark’s.

Now I have to grade this. This one is hard. It will be sad if it misses the audience who will enjoy it because it definitely isn’t for everyone. It will be a gem for those looking for something unusual. I’ll give a general grade with a strong recommend if you think you may go for the style. I’ll be looking for more from this author.

Grade C+

Blurb:   Amber Schulman stepped into a lush English garden in 2007, only to arrive in breathtaking Sorrento, Italy in 1958. The only person who understands her confusion is fellow time traveler Mark Lacey, a New Yorker who comes from the land of cassette tapes and Reaganomics. His dark, world-weary eyes beckon her with secrets and sensuality. But why does he seem so familiar?

Trapped in the past since he was a teen, Mark wants nothing to do with another whining newcomer. But the blue-eyed Aussie might be able to answer the one question that haunts him: Do I ever get back to 1987?

From soccer to samba to sex, Amber tempts him with a zeal for life and love, pulling him free of his lonely isolation.

But getting home could prove easier than they imagined. How will their love endure if Amber returns to her time and Mark to his?”

Read an excerpt.

Alicia Thomas’s review of Virgin Slave, Barbarian King by Louise Allen
Historical romance published 1 Dec 07 by Harlequin

I’m always looking for historical romances set in unusual times and places. Virgin Slave, Barbarian King definitely fit the bill. I had to read it right away.

Julia has been raised as a very “civilized” and proper Roman senator’s daughter. She is used to cleanliness and luxury. She is not used to hairy men or doing household chores. She is also not used to warm relationships and a sense of belonging.

Wulfric saved Julia from being raped (and who knew what next) by lower class Romans during the chaos of the sack of the city by his people. The Visigoths didn’t rape or murder the people, they took wealth to help pay the debt the treacherous Romans had refused to acknowledge. He kept her even though she didn’t know how to cook or clean and had a terrible attitude. Wulfric is appalled that Julia thinks he would force her to sleep with him. I had a hard time believing this man could be true.

I mean, weren’t “barbarians” horrible immoral rapers and pillagers who took slaves with brutality and forced their wicked intentions on them? A check on Wikipedia shows that was not always the case. Allen presents the Goths as having a code of honor higher than the Romans and this turns out to be the truth. Gasp! You mean I can actually let myself believe this wonderful hero could actually have existed? Yes!

I know, I know! I’ve heard it a thousand times, “Don’t go to romances or movies to learn your history,” but I really don’t do that. Honest! I use them to get a vision for a setting. Then I go look it all up to find out the truth. Virgin Slave, Barbarian King is fiction but the presentation of the principal parties involved (under light, quick inspection) rings true.

So, with historical accuracy out of the way, what about the characters? Wulfric is a great hero. He’s exactly what you’d want a hero to be. He’s a little too perfect but it’s ok. Julia has a lot to learn and she changes and grows through the book. Wulfric is a constant while Julia is doing all kinds of crazy things. They are fun.

They did, though, carry on the “I can’t let (him/her) know I love (him/her)” way too long. And I’ve gotten so used to heroines knowing not to interrupt a fighter’s concentration during a battle, it shocked me that Julia actually did this. So, a few things niggled at me. Over all, though, this book is a great read for any historical buff.

Grade: B

Blurb: Julia Livia Rufa is horrified when barbarians invade Rome and steal everything in sight. But she doesn’t expect to be among the taken! As Wulfric’s woman, she’s ordered to keep house for the uncivilized marauders. Soon, though, Julia realizes that she’s more free as a slave than she ever was as a sheltered Roman virgin.

It would be all too easy to succumb to Wulfric’s quiet strength, and Julia wants him more than she’s ever wanted anything. But Wulfric could one day be king, and Julia is a Roman slave. What future can there be for two people from such different worlds?

Read an excerpt.

Alicia Thomas’s review of Scions: Resurrection (Scions Trilogy, Book 1) by Patrice Michelle
Paranormal romance published 1 Jan 08 by Silhouette Nocturne (Harlequin)

Book 2 – Scions: Insurrection (1 May 08)
Book 3 – Scions: Revelation (TBA)

Resurrection is the first book in the Scions Trilogy. Jachin Black is a vampire who has been banished from his people. He lives as an assassin to pay for the blood he must consume. He despises the humans who created then tried to destroy his kind.

Ariel Swanson is an author who has just published her first novel. She wrote it as therapy for facing her fear. You see, every other member of her family was killed by vampires. She doesn’t know her “fiction” novel is actually a prophecy that the vampires have hinged their hopes on for years.

This story is fast paced from the word go. Jachin and Ariel are on the run for almost three quarters of the book but I never got bored. The characters are compelling and the world is fascinating. The world was so intricate I expected to plow through flaws and contradictions but I didn’t find any. I may have been too busy enjoying the book, but nothing caught my attention.

Something did pull me out of the story a little. The whole vampire/werewolf thing was based on genetic engineering and breeding. Near the end suddenly there were elements that were pure fantasy. Nothing tacky or anything. It was just a surprise and it made me stop and re-read to make sure I was following correctly.

Also, the end was a bit drawn out. I knew the ends needed tying off but it seemed to drag a little. I also waited for him to have to redeem himself for being a hired gun but it never happened. I closed the book with a warm feeling, though, and that’s what I want from Silhouette. So, very enjoyable but with a few minor problems and one I can’t really forgive.

Grade: C+

Blurb:

     Everyone believed vampires were extinct. Everyone was wrong.  When Ariel Swanson wrote a novel about vampires, she hoped it would exorcise her fear of the creatures that had, not so long ago, terrorized the human population.

     Instead, it brought her to their attention.  And to the attention of Jachin Black a man banished from the Sanguinas, a vampire clan, and forced to hunt among the despised humans. For he clung to the prophecy given years ago, of a better way for his kind to live a prophecy Ariel unknowingly used as the basis of her novel.

     Ariel hates and fears vampires. Jachin despises humanity. But the prophesy and passion bind them in ways they could never have imagined. Ways that may heal the past, and change the future.

     Scions: A prophecy reveals hidden secrets and holds the key to fulfilling their ultimate desires.

     Read an excerpt and an excerpt.

Alicia Thomas’s review of To Have and to Hold (Wyckerley Trilogy Book 2) by Patricia Gaffney
Historical romance republished 4 Mar 2003 (orig. 1995) by NAL Trade

Blurb:

Suave, cynical, and too handsome for his own good, Sebastian Verlaine never expects to become a magistrate judging the petty crimes of his tenants and neighbors. Nor can the new Viscount D’Aubrey foresee that when a fallen woman appears before him, he’ll find himself beguiled against all reason to alter her terrible fate…

Rachel Wade has served time in prison for her husband’s violent death, but she soon discovers that freedom has its own price. For no one will offer her a second chance but a jaded viscount who needs a housekeeper. Scorned by the townspeople of Wyckerley as D’Aubrey’s mistress, tempted beyond her will by the devilish lord, Rachel risks all she had to claim a life of her own…and a love that will last for all time.

Excerpt.

To Have and to Hold is my first book by Patricia Gaffney. I didn’t read it on recommendation. I didn’t even notice it is the second in a trilogy until after I had read it. (It stands alone just fine, by the way.) I picked it up because it is a paperback and I’m trying to clear out space. I’m buying, almost exclusively, ebooks. I got a pleasant surprise, though the book itself wasn’t always a pleasant experience.

Rachel was eighteen years old when she was married to an older, abusive man. After one week he was murdered. At the beginning of this book she has been out of prison for a little while and has been picked up for vagrancy because no one will give her a job.

Sebastian Verlaine is a bored aristocrat who has spent his entire life in self centered pursuit of entertainment.  He decides to take Rachel as his housekeeper, couching it in the guise of helping her but he only wants to seduce her. From the beginning, it is clear between them that this is his intent, although it isn’t said.

Sebastian isn’t a nice guy. He isn’t pushing her in order to break her free of her fear. When he finds out she’s been sexually abused, he’s intrigued and curious about what happened to her. Her fear of him alternately entices and repulses him. He is the darkest hero I’ve ever read (beating all of the Anne Stuart heroes I’ve read, hands down). He’s been a spoiled bully all of his life and doesn’t intend to stop now.

The book is so painful to read, for such a long time, that I often wondered, “Why am I still reading this?” But I’m glad I pressed on. I won’t give any spoilers, here, but Gaffney pulls off the redemption of Sebastian. I’ll answer spoiler questions in the comments if anyone wants.

Grade: B

Alicia’s review of All Through the Night by Suzanne Brockmann
Romantic Suspense published hardcover 30 Oct 07 from Ballantine

This is the spot where I say why I picked up the book. Duh. I’ve been waiting to read Jules’ story for years. All Through the Night does not stand alone. I’m writing this review assuming you’ve been reading Suzanne Brockmann’s Troubleshooter series, already.

How this book hits will depend on where you’re coming from. This is not the first Brockmann book to try if you’re not a fan, already. There is some suspense but every aspect of the plot has the sole purpose of resolving Jules and Robin’s relationship.

There’s a terrorist incident that feels kind of just stuck in there. It shows how that aspect of Jules’ job is going to affect their relationship. There’s a stalker but he’s just there to force the Adam issue. There is a secondary romance which I enjoyed a lot but even that was involved with Jules and Robin. If you’re looking for classic Suzanne Brockmann romantic suspense you may be disappointed.

On the other hand, this is Jules’ story! I had no problem with everything being about the romance. I loved seeing Jules so happy and I totally believed Robin had it together. When a story is built up this much there’s a danger that the realization of the HEA will fall short of my expectation. The end of All Through the Night left me with a good, solid, satisfied feeling.

So, bearing in mind the grading system here says a “C” is still a good book, that’s where I’m going with this one. There are a lot of things that feel sort of cheated in the story but they were sacrificed for a worthy cause. If you are a Troubleshooters fan, don’t miss All Through the Night.

Grade: C+

It’s Christmastime in Boston, and this year the silver bells will be wedding bells as FBI agent Jules Cassidy ties the knot with the man of his dreams, Hollywood heartthrob Robin Chadwick.

The pair plan a quiet, intimate ceremony, to be witnessed by family and close friends from the FBI, SEAL Team Sixteen, and Troubleshooters, Incorporated, including Sam Starrett and Alyssa Locke. But the holiday season brings more to the happy couple than they expect.

A waterfall coming through their kitchen ceiling, a bat colony in the attic, old family tensions.even an international incident can’t dampen their spirits. But add to that a parade of unexpected guests, including a reporter looking for a scoop, an ex-lover hell-bent on causing trouble, and a dangerous stalker, and suddenly the wedding is poised to unravel in chaos.

But nothing will stop Jules and Robin from getting their happy ending, because along with a guest list featuring the most elite counterterrorism force in the world, they have their own secret weapon – true love.

read an excerpt

Alicia’s review of Into the Storm by Suzanne Brockmann
Romantic Suspense published hardcover by Ballantine 15 Aug 06 & mass market 31 July 07

I got so behind reading Brockmann’s books. I wasn’t crazy about Breaking Point so I put off reading Into the Storm way too long. This book felt just like old times.

Jenk is just a nice guy, well, and a SEAL. He almost gets killed and decides he wants to move ahead with the wife/family thing before it’s too late. So, he looks at the situation and chooses the person he wants to marry an starts working toward the goal.

When his SEAL team is set to train against the Troubleshooters and Lindsey Fontaine walks into the meeting room, the two have instant chemistry. The problem is, oops, she’s not the one he’s decided to woo and marry. The target bride is the inept receptionist Lindsey’s been struggling with recently because Jenk got her hired. No matter that said prospective bride still thinks of Jenkins as her friend’s almost invisible little brother.

Lindsey and Jenkins are really good together. I liked the way they interacted. Brockmann built heat, as usual, very well without being explicit. Mark Jenkins’ personality stayed true in his patience with Lindsey’s personal baggage. Lindsey is tough without being hard. She also has a great sense of humor.

As familiar couples get their HEAs I’m looking to see which new characters are going to be getting books. We get a little more of Sophia and Decker and Dave. Jules is mentioned but not seen. We get a lot of Izzy Zanella. I’m wondering if we’ll see the victim, Beth, again.

The suspense was great. If you don’t want to read about a serial killer, don’t read this book because the suspense side of the book is strong. I enjoyed it. It’s well done and quite creepy. He’s not so easy to just take out. The storm is almost another character. Everything the rescuers do is pitted against this huge, fierce entity which almost defeats them all by itself.

Grade: B+

Blurb:

     In a remote, frozen corner of New Hampshire, a Navy SEAL team and the elite security experts of Troubleshooters, Incorporated are going head-to-head as fierce but friendly rivals in a raid-and-rescue training exercise. Despite the frigid winter temperatures, tension smolders between veteran SEAL Petty Officer Mark “Jenk” Jenkins and former cop turned Troubleshooter Lindsey Fontaine after an impulsive night goes awry. And then, suddenly, Tracy Shapiro, the Troubleshooters’ new receptionist, vanishes while playing the role of hostage during a mock rescue operation.

     Teaming up with the FBI to launch a manhunt in the treacherous wilderness, Jenk and Lindsey must put aside their feelings as a record snowstorm approaches, dramatically reducing any hope of finding Tracy alive. The trail is colder than the biting New England climate until a lucky break leads to a horrifying discovery-a brutally murdered young woman wearing the jacket Tracy wore when she disappeared. Suddenly there is a chilling certainty that Tracy has fallen prey to a serial killer-one who knows the backwoods terrain and who doesn’t play by the rules of engagement.

     In a race against time, a raging blizzard, and a cunning opponent, Jenk and Lindsey are put to the ultimate test. Rising everything, they must finally come together in a desperate attempt to save Tracy-and each other.

     Read an excerpt.

Alicia’s review of Sexiest Man Alive (One True Love, Book 2)by Diana Holquist
Contemporary romance released 1 Oct 07 by Warner Forever

Diana Holquist is a new author for me. I missed reading her first book, Make Me a Match because, to be honest, I didn’t hear about it.  I read Sexiest Man Alive without knowing it was a sequel. It stands alone just fine. I will be getting MMaM ASAP.

Our heroine, Jasmine Burns, is tragically shy around men. It isn’t even shyness, it’s a phobia. She can’t have a conversation with a man she finds attractive in any way without throwing up and/or running away. Luckily, she doesn’t need to date. Her sister is a gypsy psychic who tells who someone’s “One True Love as destined by Fate” is, just by touching them. That makes it simple, right? Of course, her sister only gets a name, so there could be more than one person with that name. And if the name happens to belong to the biggest sex symbol movie star alive, then it just has to be someone else with the same name… right? Because anything else would just be laughable… wouldn’t it?

Sexiest Man Alive is sweet, sexy, funny and very, very, good. Ms. Holquist’s wit kept me turning pages right through the night until the book was done. All of the characters had depth. My eyes misted several times. I laughed a lot. I felt Jasmine’s mortification and her triumph. And best of all I believed Josh’s love. This book is up there with my favorite Vicki Lewis Thompson titles (and way better than her less-than-great books).

Grade: A+

From the back cover:

Jasmine Burns’s One True Love as destined by Fate is named Josh Toby. Of course, he might not be THE Josh Toby, the biggest movie star of the decade. After all, a shy girl like her could never be loved by a movie star like him? Could she?

Read an excerpt.

Other books in this series:

Alicia’s review of Riding the Storm (ACRO Series, Book 1) by Sydney Croft
Paranormal romance released by Delta Trade Paperback 28 Aug 07

I went into this book pretty blind.  Sybil gave me some books and said, “These need to be reviewed, do any interest you?”  When I read the blurb, this one sounded good and I just dove right in.  The story is so good, I had to double check that it is an erotic title.  Believe me, it is erotic, but it in no way sacrifices quality authorship.

This book is the first in a series about a secret agency called Agency for Covert Rare Operatives, or ACRO.  This agency is a para-military organization that finds and trains people with rare, special abilities.  They have psychics, telekinetics, mediums, people who control or release energies, all kinds of cool stuff.  Very X-Men, very well done and very fun!

Remy is a tortured hero but he isn’t cold hearted.  He’s not one of those heroes you almost hate until he redeems himself near the end of the book.  I felt for him the whole way.  His character held through the book.  His choices and actions rang true to the end.

Haley isn’t quite as well drawn.  For example, it says that she has never liked military men, instead preferring the corporate suit types.  But, even if she has strong feminist feelings, she doesn’t come across as a fem-dom.  So she would have wanted a man she could respect… and she, knowing what went into military life from personal experience, would have respected military men more than suits.  But I still liked Haley.  She’s a strong woman but not unbelievably so.  She’s very real-feeling in the way she struggles to face bizarre circumstances.

I loved the storms!  The weather and its effect on the characters is so well written that I felt tlike I was there.  This was a big draw for me to read the book in the first place.  DH and I stood outside during parts of Hurricane Rita because we just loved the passion of the storm. This book captures this beautifully!  And Remy and Haley do all the things I wish I’d been able to do.  Yummy!

Now for what I read at the end… The author, Syndey Croft is actually a team!  The books are a collaborative effort between Stephanie Tyler and Larissa Ione.  I’d never have guessed from reading the book.  How they can make such a wonderful, cohesive finished product amazes me.  I can’t believe I have to wait for the next book (March 2008)!

Grade: A-

Blurb:

     A storm’s rage. A woman’s desire.  A man with the power to set them both free.

     He can summon lightning at will. Emerge unscathed from the center of a tornado. Strip a woman down to her barest defenses through the sheer force of his sexuality. He’s gorgeous, dangerous, and the target of parameteorologist Haley Holmes’s latest mission. Haley has been dispatched to the Louisiana bayous to investigate the phenomenon known as Remy Begnaud – a man with a gift he never wanted: the ability to control a storm’s fury. But even a woman trained in bizarre weather phenomena has no defense against the electrifying power of the ex-Navy SEAL… a power his enemies would kill to control.

     With her agency monitoring their every move, Haley’s job is to seduce Remy, gain his trust-and help him harness his extraordinary gift. But who will protect her from this voracious lover who’s introducing her to a new world of erotic thrills-a man who grows increasingly insatiable with each new weather event? Haley knows a big storm is approaching and with it will come unexpected delights. But so, too, will the storm unleash her greatest fears: an enemy bent on destroying Remy. And her worst fear of all–falling in love with this magnificent man, then having to betray him.

     Read an excerpt.

The Courtesan’s Daughter by Claudia Dain
Review by Alicia Thomas

This book caught me by surprise. I went into it blind. I didn’t even read a blurb, first, and this was my first book by this author. I spent the first chapter confused, then realized it was funny! Very funny! After I caught the author’s style I giggled happily through the rest of the book.

Basically, this is a book about Caroline, a young lady whose mother is infamous among the Ton because she was a very popular courtesan before marrying her father, the count. Not only that, but she still stands in the shadow of this amazing widowed countess who holds all who behold her in her thrall.

Raised to be a proper lady but having too questionable a heritage to make a proper wife, Lady Caroline must think of some way to proceed with her life. As it doesn’t look as if she will marry, she decides to follow in her mother’s footsteps and become a courtesan, herself.

Little does she know that while she is coming to this decision her mother is arranging another solution. The Countess’ solution to Caroline’s lack of a proper husband? She’ll buy her one.

This is a very character driven story. We are much more in the ladies heads than the men’s but it gives just the right mood for this book. The Countess is witty and very worldly-wise. She manipulates everyone and they all love her! I did, too.

Caroline is quite a dingy girl. Before you start labeling her “tstl” let me say that Claudia Dain is not! You can tell when a heroine is poorly written. It’s a different thing when the author is bright and writing a character who’s not quite thinking straight. (Come on, you Garwood fans!) Caroline makes some huge errors in judgment that lead to situations that are priceless!

Now, our hero, Lord Ashdon, is less open to us. His feelings and motivations are kept more obscure. He’s enjoyable but not necessarily a strong character. He’s a sexy but basically generic romance hero. The women make the book.

I have to say, sexy is not bad! The sexual tension in this book is strong and quite… uh… effective… Considering how little actually happens in some scenes the heat level is impressive.

I did feel there were some excess family scenes that didn’t contribute enough to be included. I understand that this book the first of a series and I really liked the characters but they took a lot of time away from the story at hand. I felt it made the end drag a little.

For those who like witty use of words this book is a treat. There are plays on words and turns of phrase that are set up early in the book and are carried throughout the story to wonderful effect.

Fun and sexy.

Grade: B

Award-winning author Claudia Dain tells a tale of impropriety and independence, and a mother and daughter determined to bend the rules of society in their favor.

Young Lady Caroline’s prospects for a suitable match are severely limited by her mother’s infamous past. Before Lady Sophia Dalby entered London society, she was a highly desired courtesan. What man of title, position, and wealth would marry a courtesan’s daughter?

Sophia’s solution is to purchase a husband for Carolin – the Earl of Ashdon – agreeing to settle his gambling debts if he will take her daughter’s hand. Insulted, Caroline refuses to have a husband who was bought for her.

But after meeting the fiery Lord Ashdon, she wonders if it wouldn’t be satisfying to have him pay for her, perhaps with a priceless pearl necklace? With Sophia pulling the strings, Lord Ashdon may get more than he bargained for and Caroline may get just what she wants.

Alicia’s review of Wired by Liz Maverick
Urban Fantasy/SciFi romance released 3 Jul 07 by Dorchester Shomi

This is the first book in Dorchester’s new line, Shomi. Since I’m always looking for serious SciFi Romance, I have kept tabs on their website from the day I heard about it.

I read the first chapter of Wired before it was released and couldn’t stand the wait to be able to finish the book. I hate that the reviews I’ve seen (even Publishers Weekly!) give a spoiler! I don’t care that the scene is in the first chapter. It is just so much better to let it unfold properly! When I read it, during the time that Roxy doesn’t know who the men are, I didn’t either. That’s the way it should be! That first scene is just so wonderful! Many things happen in that short time that make you go “what?!” and are explained later in the book. Why mess it up?

At first I thought this book would be like Terminator but it isn’t. This book is like a cross between the movies Frequency and Paycheck. A lot more about the puzzle of changing the past than about the action scenes. I absolutely loved this aspect of it.

I usually have trouble with books written in the first person. This book kept me so captivated I totally forgot it was first person. If I had any problem, it was wanting so badly to know what was going to happen next that my eyes would jump ahead and I’d have to drag myself back to where I was. The first person POV was essential to this book because Roxy doesn’t know who to trust. Seeing either of the other main characters’ thoughts would have ruined this, entirely.

Character growth is important to me and I don’t think I’ve ever seen a character grow more in one book than Roxy does in Wired. She sees herself as helpless, paralyzed by fear, at the beginning of the book. The lady at the end of the book would seem to be another person entirely, except we saw her become that person.

Ms Maverick’s imagination is superb. I liked the smartie. It seems like the direction technology could go. I loved the motoway. The idea of motorcycle/roller coasters replacing most city traffic is very cool.

Now for the cons. Please remember that as bad as this part may sound, I did enjoy the book. It’s almost like I’d have half the book rated A++ and the other half rated C-. The negatives are pretty bad.

• First, Roxy behaves in some pretty unbelievable ways, at times. She just seems to let it go way too easily that someone has tried to kill her. She doesn’t just trust them, she jumps right into romantic feelings for them. Even if she’s confused about who’s the bad guy, it would be much more natural for her to be immune to any advances, not drawn. She also does something, at one point, to make herself and one of the guys unable to respond to any threat in a capable manner.
• The romance is, actually, really weak. There was nothing that showed me either H/H actually loved each other. I liked the hero but I didn’t see any explanation for some of the things he did. We’re supposed to accept he had some kind of good reason, or that it wasn’t what it seemed, but it wasn’t nearly enough for me.
• There were, also, a lot of scenes where things just happen. They almost seem like they were, maybe, stripped to cut word count or something. There’s little description or explanation, just this is what happened. And often they were things that I felt wouldn’t work. So, I’m wondering if Ms. Maverick had a good explanation that she took out or if she couldn’t make the scene work, so just skimmed over it. These scenes felt like a different style of story than the rest of the book. More James Bond than Paycheck.
• The end of the book is in this second style, and I found it a little unsatisfying.

Overall there were so many positives about this book that even though it had a few flaws that will put some people completely off, I would recommend it. If you can just accept stuff and enjoy the ride, it’s still fun.

Grade: B-

From the back cover:

     Seconds aren’t like pennies. They can’t be saved in a jar and spent later. Fate seeps through cracks and shifts like fog. Pluck a second out of time or slip an extra one in, the consequences will change your life forever. Is the man you love really the man you think you know, or is there a version of your life in which he’s your enemy? If you didn’t know who or what you were before, would you take a chance on becoming that person again?

     L. Roxanne Zaborovsky is about to discover fate is comprised of an infinite number of wires, filaments that can be manipulated, and that she’s not the one at the controls. From the roguishly charming Mason Merrick—a shadow from her increasingly tenebrous past—to the dangerously seductive Leonardo Kaysar, she’s barely holding on. This isn’t a game, and the pennies are rolling all over the floor. Roxy just has to figure out which are the ones worth picking up.

     Read an excerpt.