Janet Webb’s review of New York To Dallas: an In Death novel by J.D. Robb
Futuristic thriller hardcover released by Putnam Adult 15 Sep 11

I was so excited to have an opportunity to review this book. I have every single one of the In Death books and I re-read the futuristic series frequently, especially the earliest ones. J.D. Robb has created a world populated, at its heart, by a stronger-than-life heroine, Eve Dallas, and her gazillionaire Irish husband Roarke. What did I learn from New York To Dallas? First lesson: never, ever, ever take Eve and Roarke away from their home in New York City, at least not for almost the entirety of the book. New York hasn’t changed that much, in Robb’s 50-years-into-the-future-vision: it’s still the pulsating, vibrant, down and dirty and master of the universe center of the world, and it’s the heart and soul of Eve and Roarke’s world.

Monster McQueen escapes from prison and the first thing he does is gets a message to Eve. He’s out for revenge. Leaving trusty Peabody in charge, Eve and Roarke fly to Dallas, where McQueen has escaped. Readers know that Dallas, the city, is Eve’s childhood home and it’s the stuff of continuing nightmares for her. Brutally abused by her father, Eve eventually kills him and escapes, but she does not escape unharmed. McQueen knows of Eve’s past, which is why he lures her to Dallas. Roarke too has some history there, through his n’er-do-well con-artist father. I had expected New York To Dallas to be a very dark book, because of Eve’s childhood, and it was, sort of. Unfortunately, I feel her encounters with her memories and persons from the past are almost cartoonish: it’s a vivid, over-the-top tableau. Heath Ledger’s portrayal of The Joker came to mind: the painfulness and reality of the past was so exaggerated as to not seem real.

My biggest difficulty with the book is, with the exception of the exaggerated memories from Eve’s childhood, everything is dialed back. The intimate bedroom scenes are anything but pulsing and powerful, the violence McQueen perpetrates on his victims is distanced and almost safe. Even the futuristic setting is less of a character in the novel and more a couple adjectives and nouns. Let me be more specific: in each book details serve to deepen the In Death world. In this book, I’m not even sure what Dr. Mira is wearing … instead Robb reintroduces and reintroduces the talismans from earlier books (Eve’s grey button, the huge diamond on a chain, even Galahad the cat). I feel as if Robb and her publishers decided to dial back, even more, the intensity of the earlier books, to introduce Eve and Roarke to a new audience. This happened once before: I thought there was a huge shift in the way the books were written when Robb transitioned from paperback to hardcover, but this takes the process even further.

Even the way the crime is solved, through bank records and knowing what things Isaac liked to buy, seems so been there/done that. This is not a fresh book, Dallas is no city for this New York couple and I was very disappointed. My recommendation: if you’re curious about the In Death series, buy Naked In Death and prepare to be transported and moved. It’s truly one of the best starts to a series of all time. I cannot recommend this book: for the first time, I won’t be putting it on my keeper shelf. Robb is too good a writer not to engage her readers and this book is readable on that level—it just could have been more.

I hold J.D. Robb to a very high standard: her best is excellent indeed and justifies her phenomenal reputation and following, and I still look forward to reading the next in the In Death series.

Grade: C

Summary:

The number-one New York Times bestselling author J.D. Robb presents an intense and terrifying new case for New York homicide cop Eve Dallas, one that will take her all the way to the city that gave her her name—and plunge her into the nightmares of her childhood.

When a monster named Isaac McQueen—taken down by Eve back in her uniform days—escapes from Rikers, he has two things in mind. One is to pick up where he left off, abducting young victims and leaving them scarred in both mind and body. The other is to get revenge on the woman who stopped him all those years ago.

Read an excerpt here.

Other books in this series:

Naked in Death, Jul 1995
Glory in Death, Dec 1995
Immortal in Death, Jul 1996
Rapture in Death, Oct 1996
Ceremony in Death, May 1997
Vengeance in Death, Oct 1997
Holiday in Death, Jun 1998
“Midnight in Death,” Silent Night, Nov 1998 (anthology)
Conspiracy in Death, Apr 1999
Loyalty in Death, Oct 1999
Witness in Death, Mar 2000
Judgment in Death, Sep 2000
Betrayal in Death, Mar 2001
“Interlude in Death,” Out of This World, Aug 2001 (anthology)
Seduction in Death, Sep 2001
Reunion in Death, Mar 2002
Purity in Death, Sep 2002
Portrait in Death, Mar 2003
Imitation in Death, Sep 2003
Divided in Death, Jan 2004
Remember When, May 2004 (novella)
Visions in Death, Aug 2004
Survivor in Death, Feb 2005
Origin in Death, Jul 2005
Memory in Death, Jan 2006
“Haunted in Death,” Bump in the Night, Apr 2006 (anthology)
Born in Death, Nov 2006
Innocent in Death, Feb 2007
Creation in Death, Nov 2007
“Eternity in Death,” Dead of Night, Nov 2007 (anthology)
Strangers in Death, Feb 2008
Salvation in Death, Nov 2008
“Ritual in Death,” Suite 606, Nov 2008 (anthology)
Promises in Death, Feb 2009
Kindred in Death, Nov 2009
“Missing in Death,” The Lost, Dec 2009 (anthology)
Fantasy in Death, Feb 2010
Big Jack, Mar 2010 (novella)

Gwen’s review of Indulgence in Death by  J.D. Robb
Futuristic thriller hardcover released by Putnam Adult 2 Nov 10

By now, more than 20 books into the series, fans are pretty familiar with the characters. So it’s time to explore new territory in this modern New York City and its favorite cop.  Well, no.  Actually this book explores no new territory.  Read on to see what I thought…

Robb/Roberts is undoubtedly an excellent writer. This is a terrific book – a very good thriller with some very tense moments.  I think it gives a more in depth look into Eve Dallas as an investigator than any of the previous books.  As per usual Roarke plays a hot, Irish second fiddle to his wife, Eve. All is well with the world and Eve gets her man.

And. Well.  That’s all I could think of to say.  No new ground is broken in this book.  It’s just good reading.

If you’re an Eve Dallas fan, you’ll like it.  If you’ve not read any of the In Death books before this one it may not give you much insight into the characters, but it is a good thriller and you don’t need to have read any of the previous to enjoy the writing.

I really don’t mean to damn with faint praise. I do so very much enjoy the In Death books and want to have Roarke’s babies (though I think Eve and Roarke are getting closer to doing that themselves). It’s just that that’s all there really is to say about the book.

Grade: A

Read other reviews and information for this series here.

Summary:

First it was a limo driver shot through the neck with a crossbow. Then it was a high-priced escort found stabbed through the heart with a bayonet.

Random hits, thrill kills, murderers with a taste for the finer things in life-and death-are making NYPSD Lieutenant Eve Dallas angry. And an angry Eve can be just as an efficient and dangerous predator as the killer.

As time runs out on another innocent victim’s life, Eve’s investigation will take her into the rarefied circle that her husband, Roarke, travels in-and into the perverted heart of madness…

Read an excerpt here.

Other books in the series:

Naked in Death, Jul 1995
Glory in Death, Dec 1995
Immortal in Death, Jul 1996
Rapture in Death, Oct 1996
Ceremony in Death, May 1997
Vengeance in Death, Oct 1997
Holiday in Death, Jun 1998
“Midnight in Death,” Silent Night, Nov 1998 (anthology)
Conspiracy in Death, Apr 1999
Loyalty in Death, Oct 1999
Witness in Death, Mar 2000
Judgment in Death, Sep 2000
Betrayal in Death, Mar 2001
“Interlude in Death,” Out of This World, Aug 2001 (anthology)
Seduction in Death, Sep 2001
Reunion in Death, Mar 2002
Purity in Death, Sep 2002
Portrait in Death, Mar 2003
Imitation in Death, Sep 2003
Divided in Death, Jan 2004
Remember When, May 2004 (novella)
Visions in Death, Aug 2004
Survivor in Death, Feb 2005
Origin in Death, Jul 2005
Memory in Death, Jan 2006
“Haunted in Death,” Bump in the Night, Apr 2006 (anthology)
Born in Death, Nov 2006
Innocent in Death, Feb 2007
Creation in Death, Nov 2007
“Eternity in Death,” Dead of Night, Nov 2007 (anthology)
Strangers in Death, Feb 2008
Salvation in Death, Nov 2008
“Ritual in Death,” Suite 606, Nov 2008 (anthology)
Promises in Death, Feb 2009
Kindred in Death, Nov 2009
“Missing in Death,” The Lost, Dec 2009 (anthology)
Fantasy in Death, Feb 2010
Big Jack, Mar 2010 (novella)

Gwen’s review of The Lost by J.D. Robb, Patricia Gaffney, Mary Blayney, and Ruth Ryan Langan
Anthology released by Jove 24 Nov 09

This anthology came to me by way of Sybil and her bottomless bag o’  books.  It’s an interesting mix of all sorts of stories, some romance, some not. A nice way to while away some time waiting in line at your kid’s school at dismissal time.

I suppose there’s a common theme in the stories, though it’s tenuous.  As I write these reviews I’ll try to point out the things holding them together.  Meanwhile, on with the reviews…

Missing In Death by J.D. Robb
Futuristic Suspense (93-pages)

This is a very good entry in the Eve Dallas world.  It revolves around the mysterious disappearance of a woman on a ferry and an apparent murder with no body.

The story is delightfully twisty and turny, with lots of sleuthing by Eve and Peabody.  The story talks to old hurts and long-held revenge.  It’s a good In Death story – not the best, but still quite good.

Now to the anth title: I suppose the “lost” things in this story would be the body, the woman on the ferry, and the villain’s family.

Grade: B

Summary:

Wile investigating a woman’s disappearance on a New York City ferry, Detective Eve Dallas wonders… if she didn’t jump, and she’s not on board, then where in the world is she?

Read an excerpt here.

The Dog Days of Laurie Summer by Patricia Gaffney
Chick-lit (90-pages)

This was an odd little story.  A tad too long, and not really a romance.  However, it does describe the heroine’s love for her family, and how she falls back in love with them

I classified this as “chick lit” because it’s a nice little tale about how a woman rediscovers the love she has for her life, her family, and her self.  Prior to a literal life-changing event, our heroine, Laurie, was a pretty typical type-A personality.  She worked too much and thought too little about what was really important in her life.  The event shocks her out of this rut and spins her out into a truly odd road of discovery.

I enjoyed this story, though this kind of writing is not really my bag.

The anth title: I’m guessing the “lost” things in this story would be the heroine’s awareness of her family.

Grade: C

Summary:

After recovering from a severe accident, a woman awakens to a world as familiar as it is strange and unsettling.

Read an excerpt here.

Lost In Paradise by Mary Blayney
Paranormal/Inspirational Romance (87-pages)

This was an unusual little story.  It reads quick and has a nice pace, though I found the genre, and thus the book, a little tough to pin down.  It’s a definite “slash” book.

The romance between the main characters is a little convenient and quick.  I know that short stories and anthology entries force an author to truncate some things, but this romance felt even too quick for that.

I called this a “paranormal/inspirational” because it is the heroine’s strong faith in God and her purity that helps break a curse.  Though, in true romance novel fashion, she doesn’t remain a virgin for long with the hero’s manliness on the scene.  And this was part of my personal confusion with the book.  I didn’t know where to stand on it – figuratively speaking.

Good, but not great story.

The anth title: I suppose the “lost” things in this story is the hero and his hope.

Grade: C

Summary:

A man cursed to stay behind the walls of an island fortress finds hope in a nuirse who’s shipwrecked and in possession of the one thing that could set him free.

No excerpt available.

Legacy by Ruth Ryan Langan
Contemporary Romance (88-pages)

This was the only true “romance” of all the stories in the book. And it’s quite good.

I like the heroine, though she is a bit milquetoast for me.  The hero is extremely yummy.  Their romance develops quickly, but is believable.  The plot twists involving her family are a bit silly in their complexity and seeming secrecy, but nonetheless lend a decent amount of suspense to the story.

This is a fun romance to read.

The anth title: the “lost” things in this story are the heroine and her family.

Grade: B

Summary:

In the wake of her mother’s death, a young woman’s travels unearth a family secret buried on the grounds of a magnificent but imposing Irish estate.

No excerpt available.

I liked this anthology. The Robb and Ryan Langan stories make it worth the purchase.  The other two stories are good, but forgettable.  If you’re following the In Death stories, you shouldn’t miss this one.

Overall Grade: B-

Blurb:

Four bestselling authors venture into a world where the rules of love, of time, and of place can be forever lost…

The Ducks are chatting once again. Welcome!

Today erotic author Lorelei James joins us to talk about her hot and sexy cowboys that her fans adore. If you love reading about cowboys, you should be reading this series. You’ll never look at those Levi-wearin’, bronc-bustin’ men the same way again. Lorelei lives in the Black Hills of South Dakota, so all things western are in her blood. She portrays a very authentic cowboys in speech as well as deed, and she writes them steamin’ hot like nobody’s business.

The sixth book in the series was just released and already those adoring fans are looking ahead to the next book. Long Hard Ride started it all just a little more than a year ago and the Rough Riders series, featuring the McKay family, was born. Just seven months later, Rode Hard, Put Up Wet followed and Lorelei’s books here a hit. A year later, to the day, Cowgirl Up and Ride hit the shelves, followed by Tied Up, Tied Down, Rough, Raw and Ready, and just last week Branded as Trouble. In between all this, her Wild West Boys, sexy cousins to the McKays, saw the beginning of their series in Mistress Christmas. On top of all this, Lorelei also writes contemporary romances which she talks about in the interview. She’s one busy lady, but she’s taken a few minutes to chew the fat with us today.  Lorelei will drop in to say hello throughout the day, so drop her a hi or a question or any comment you’d like, because she’s giving away a download for any book from her backlist and a Rough Riders T-shirt.

Be sure to check out my review of Branded as Trouble!

So let’s chat!

Duck Chat: I discovered your books late 2007 and have enjoyed every one released since then. What I didn’t know if all this time and just found out is you write mysteries under your real name of Lori G. Armstrong. Yes, I’m behind the times. Tell our readers about the mystery books you’ve written.

Lorelei James: Since 2005 I’ve written four books in mass market paperback for Medallion Press in the Julie Collins series, Blood Ties, Hallowed Ground, Shallow Grave, and Snow Blind. These “medium-boiled” contemporary mysteries are set in western South Dakota. My female lead is a private investigator, a real tough chick who smokes too much, drinks too much, and has lousy taste in men. She’s still grieving over the unsolved death of her Lakota half-brother, and righting that wrong is part of what drives her to right other wrongs, personally and professionally. Despite her tough outer shell, Julie is way more vulnerable than she wants to admit. These books are pretty much “pure” mystery, not romantic suspense, although a shady male love interest is introduced in book two. The series has been well received (Shamus nominations for Blood Ties and Hallowed Ground, a Willa Cather Literary Award for Hallowed Ground and a nomination for Shallow Grave, a High Plains Literary Award nomination for Shallow Grave, and Daphne du Maurier Award nominations for Hallowed Ground and Shallow Grave). Julie was a great character to write, but Snow Blind is the last book in the series. I have the first book in a new mystery series coming out in hardcover from Touchstone/Fireside (Simon & Schuster) in January 2010, entitled No Mercy.

DC: What made you decide to become an erotic author?

LJ: I love to read erotic romance. There’s just something about taking the sexual relationship to the edge that appeals to me.

DC: And why use a different name for your erotic romances?

LJ: Honestly? Because of shelving issues in bookstores and libraries. Since I’ve always written both romance and mystery, I decided whichever genre published me first would get my “real” name. There might be a misconception I took a different name because I’m hiding something or embarrassed about penning naughty tales. Not true. I’m very open and proud about what I write in both genres, but I’m also aware of the dividing line in genre readership: the steamy sex scenes in the Lorelei James books aren’t appealing to most mystery readers, and there isn’t enough romance/sex in the mysteries for erotic romance readers…although, I do get more crossover readership than I ever believed possible!

DC: If you could retire any question and never, ever have it asked again, what would it be? Feel free to answer it.

LJ: Where do I get my ideas from? Easy. I buy them at Wal-Mart.

DC: Your cowboys in your McKay/West family series are some hot and smokin’ men, but they’re also sensitive and loving. How did the idea for the series come about?

LJ: I’ve always loved western romances, but I grew frustrated at the lack of erotic contemporary single title western romances. And if I did find a contemporary western, it never had enough sex in it to satisfy the erotic reader in me. So I decided to write my own story, an old-fashioned saga with a new twist, featuring a family of hot cowboys and the women who love them. Instead of the wink wink, nudge nudge closing the bedroom door at the pivotal moment, I kicked that sucker wide open…and it seems to have struck a chord with those readers like me who were looking for a little more kink to their modern day westerns. Although, John Wayne probably would have run my guys out of town on a rail for their wild behavior!

I love writing contemporary erotic westerns, but I also love writing just contemporary romances, as I’ve done with my non-series books, Dirty Deeds, Wicked Garden, and Babe in the Woods. That’s where the idea for the Wild West Boys series, the West family—the McKay cousins—came about. Not everyone stays in their hometown, especially out here. In fact, most people can’t wait to move away so I wanted to write stories about men who have roots here but aren’t necessarily cowboys. Mistress Christmas is the first book in that series, and my hero, Nick West is a detective in Denver. Miss Firecracker, out in July, features Blake West, who is filling in as a bartender for his buddy, and it is set in Nebraska. Hopefully there will be more.

DC: The sixth book in the series, Branded as Trouble, was just released this last week. Would you introduce us those characters and tell us a little about them?

LJ: This is my first friends-to-lovers story.

Colt McKay has had some issues in previous books. Drinking. Drugging. Sleeping around. Pissing off his family. Shirking his duties at the family ranch. Colt sobered up (with help) at the tail end of Cowgirl Up and Ride, and he’s stayed sober for three years. He’s the black sheep of his family, and, even though it appears he’s got a handle on his substance abuse issues, his family seems to be waiting for the other boot to drop and for him to revert to his bad boy ways. India Ellison, Colt’s best friend, has been clean for eight years, and they met through A.A. Not only is India pierced, heavily tattooed, and the type to openly speak her mind, she owns a tattoo shop, which makes her a bit of an anomaly in Sundance, WY. The theme of the story is two black sheep falling in love, because, really, who to better understand you and accept who you are now? Instead of who you used to be? And it was great fun finding redeemable qualities in characters who at first glance may seem beyond redemption.

Excerpt from BaT:

Early the next morning, Colt stumbled out of his room. Despite his intent to crawl in his truck and head home, a shower was a necessity.

As he crossed the living area, he noticed India’s bedroom door was ajar. He peered through the crack and saw India sprawled in the middle of the bed. Alone. Alone and apparently buck-assed nekkid. Red satin sheets were twisted around her long legs and long arms, covering her torso, but hinting at the curves beneath.

Colt didn’t gawk at her body to see if she was, in fact, pierced everywhere she’d hinted at being pierced. A man could only stand so much temptation. He backtracked to the bathroom.

The hot water lasted all of five minutes. And did the woman own every blasted lotion and potion known to mankind? He counted fourteen different health and beauty product bottles—after he’d knocked them all into the tub. Twice.

Still, he felt a million times better after an ice shower. His injury itched, so he took that as a sign of recovery.

He needed his caffeine fix and didn’t want to stop at the Conoco and chance running into a member of his family. He plugged in India’s fancy coffeemaker and dumped a capful of coffee beans into the grinder. While that machine whirred, he washed the glass coffee pot and the plastic filter basket. It took four cupboards before he found where India had moved the box of paper coffee filters. He filled the water reservoir, reassembled the various parts and hit start.

Colt picked up the trash in his prison room while he waited for the coffee to brew. When he returned to the kitchen, India stormed out of her bedroom.

Pity she’d put on a robe.

“The one day I get to sleep in and you’re up at the butt crack of dawn making enough noise to wake the dead?”

“Oh, I see. It’s different when you’re disturbed out of your beauty sleep. Sucks, huh?”

“Funny.”

“Besides, all I did was make coffee.”

“Then explain what you were doing in the shower? ’Cause it sure as hell sounded like you were throwing rocks.”

“If I didn’t know better, I’d think your poor head was hurtin’ and it was a hangover talkin’.” Colt clucked his tongue. “Maybe you oughta get to bed earlier if you’re so cranky in the mornin’.”

“How do you know what time I went to bed?”

“I dunno, maybe it was the slamming door at midnight that tipped me off. Or maybe it was your headboard banging against my wall until the wee hours. I got tired of it around one a.m. and listened to my iPod.”

“But Blake finished—”

“Huh-uh. I don’t wanna know about Blake’s big finish because I had enough of the pre-game.” Colt sidestepped her.

“You think I slept with him.”

He shrugged, determined not to let it show how much her horizontal mattress mambo with his cousin bothered him.

“Hey.” Her hand circled his wrist and India yanked him around to face her.

Colt looked into her angry eyes. “What?”

“You are a judgmental jerk, Colt McKay.”

“Me? I didn’t pass judgment. I just pointed out the obvious.”

“Obvious?”

“Hell, I didn’t even mention the candles and soft music and the laughter that preceded all the bedroom noises.”

“Magnanimous of you.”

“I thought so.”

“Hah! You thought wrong.” India’s finger drilled him in the chest. “And it pisses me off that you think so…lowly of me.”

“What else am I supposed to think?”

“That there’s a logical explanation.”

He laughed. “For havin’ a man in your bedroom? After midnight? With the bed slamming against the wall? Sugar, sex isn’t the logical answer, it’s the only answer.”

“Not all men have sex on the brain twenty-four hours a day.”

Tired of her baiting him, Colt crowded her. “Any man with half a fucking brain, who is lucky enough to be in your bedroom at any time, ain’t thinkin’ about nothin’ but how perfect it’d feel to have your hot little body under his. Or on top of his. Or in front of his. Over and over. And if it’d been me? Twenty-four hours would be the minimum amount of time I’d keep you in my bed.”

India stared at him. “Is that what you were thinking about, Colt? Us having sex?”

Yes. Goddammit, that was all he could think about. Why in the hell couldn’t she see it?

DC: How many more books are planned in the series?

LJ: ONE BILLION. Seriously…I don’t know. There’s a whole branch of the McKays I’ve scarcely mentioned, yet some characters’ storylines aren’t conducive to a full-length novel. I’m working through ideas for both the West and McKay cousins. I’ll probably keep writing them as long as my editor and readers are buying!

DC: I’ve heard writers often say their stories take them in surprising directions or that dialogue flows from some unknown place. Is it the same with you? Do your characters surprise you sometimes?

LJ: I think it’d get boring if everything I envisioned for a character/storyline came to pass exactly the way I’d planned it. Sometimes I veer completely off the synopsis. It’s what makes writing exciting for me; my best laid plans oftentimes are shot all to hell—and usually for the better.

DC: Do you ever argue with your characters while you’re writing? Who usually wins?

LJ: Yes. The characters almost always win. If I’m trying to force a character to do or be something and it isn’t working, most times it stops my writing flow. So I’ve learned to listen and let them take me where they want to go–sounds crazy to non-writers I’m sure, as we’re not talking about real people but figments of my imagination.

DC: What is sure to distract you from sitting down and working/writing?

LJ: Usually if I have a really great book I’m dying to read.

DC: Does your husband read your hot and steamy books? How’s he feel about them? Has he been some inspiration for writing your heroes?

JL: Yes, he reads them, but not until they’re available for sale. He is NOT my critique partner. He’s proud of me, and the books, and always says he’s the luckiest man in the world. He’s an inspiration in my real life, rather than in my fictional world.

DC: Do you think you write differently now than you did when you started?

LJ: God, I hope so. I hope I’m getting better with every book. It’s scary to contemplate that readers will always compare your most recent book to the one that got them reading you in the first place—and somehow find it lacking.

DC: When you have the time, what genre do you normally read?

LJ: Paranormal romance because it seems like the only genre I’m not writing in, so it’s purely fun. I keep up with mystery and erotic romance too.

DC: Is there a genre you haven’t tackled in your writing but would like to try?

LJ: Young adult. I’ve been kicking around an idea for a couple of years, every once in a while I’ll bring it up with my daughters…it’s the only time I ask their advice on what they’d like to read in a book.

DC: What advice would you give to your younger self?

LJ: Study harder. Knowing how to tap a keg really won’t get you very far in life.

DC: If you had never become an author, what do you think you would be doing right now?

LJ: Probably still working in my husband’s family’s firearms business, where I toiled for a decade as the bookkeeper before I got back into writing.

DC: Favorite author:

LJ: Mystery: Sue Grafton; Romance: J.D. Robb

DC: Favorite book:

LJ: Of all time? Gone With the Wind

Lightning Round:

- dark or milk chocolate?
milk
- smooth or chunky peanut butter?
smooth
- heels or flats?
flats
- coffee or tea?
Coffee in the morning, iced tea in the afternoon
- summer or winter?
summer
- mountains or beach?
I love the beach, but I live in the mountains
- mustard or mayonnaise?
mayonnaise
- flowers or candy?
Is this a trick question? Flowers…unless the candy is chocolate
- pockets or purse?
Purse, a huge purse that carries everything
- Pepsi or Coke?
Diet Pepsi
ebook or print?
Both – the Sprint “whispernet” feature for amazon kindle isn’t available out here in the Wild West, hence, I returned my Kindle…but I know if I had one, my cyber TBR piles would be catching up with the piles of books in my library. I have an ebookwise that I use, but getting the titles in their preferred format is a pain…and limited without converting the files…which is a pain.

And just for some extra fun:

1. What is your favorite word?
*see answer #7
2. What is your least favorite word?
Grimace or padded
3. What turns you on creatively?
Depends on the day. What I have for deadlines and/or family commitments is usually the deciding factor of what I work on–for me there is no waiting for the muse. I put my butt in the chair and get to work even if I don’t feel like it
4. What turns you off creatively?
Sometimes what turns you off personally is great for inspiring creativity
5. What sound or noise do you love?
The bell ringing on the front door when my kids and my husband come home
6. What sound or noise do you hate?
The new neighbors’ stupid barking dogs and the wild turkeys constant gobbling, clucking and screeching during mating season—which is right now
7. What is your favorite curse word?
*Fuck. It can be a verb, a noun, an adjective, an adverb when used properly (or improperly?) I get in trouble for using it too much in real life…and sometimes in fiction
8. What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?
As long as we’re pretending…I’d love to be an international spy like Sydney Bristow on “Alias”—cool disguises, hot men, and that air of mystery
9. What profession would you not like to do?
I wouldn’t like to be the person from the state highway department who has to pick up dead animal carcasses from the roads and ditches. Lots of dead critters on the roads here in South Dakota, and in the summertime, I can’t imagine the smell
10. If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you
arrive at the Pearly Gates?
“Wow. We must’ve really lowered our standards.”

Thanks so much, Lorelei, for being with us today!

Are you tired of reading 2008 wrap-up lists yet?? Too bad! Read on, suckers gentle readers.

My top 10 books I read in 2008 (in no particular order): 

	Heart Fate (Celta’s HeartMates, Book 7) by Robin D. Owens Fantasy romance released by Berkley Trade Sep 2008 A series that just keeps getting better and better!
	Flat-out Sexy by Erin McCarthy Contemporary romance released by Berkley Sensation Nov 2008 Sweet, sexy, fun read! The internet buzz sucked me in and I’m glad. )
	Innocent In Death by J.D. Robb Futuristic romantic suspense released by Berkley Aug 2007I purposely keep myself behind in this series but I’m catching up – oh noes! I must pace myself better.
	Pleasure Unbound (Demonica, Book 1) by Larissa Ione Paranormal romance released by Forever Jun 2008 An excellent start to a new series! With a looonnngggg wait between books one and two. However, books two and three will be out back-to-back. Yay!
	Gabriel’s Ghost by Linnea Sinclair Sci-Fi romance released by Bantam Oct 2005  Sully! Does anything else need to be said? I didn’t think so.
	Grimspace by Ann Aguirre Sci-fi romance released by Ace Feb 2008
	A Lady’s Secret by Jo Beverley Historical romance released by Signet Apr 2008 I love the Mallorens and this was one secret I was glad to see revealed.
	At the Bride Hunt Ball by Olivia Parker Historical romance released by Avon May 2008An excellent Avon debut! Ms. Parker’s website says she is working on the sequel.
	Just the Sexiest Man Alive by Julie James Contemporary romance released by Berkley Oct 2008 More online buzz I couldn’t ignore and another excellent debut.
	With Every Breath by Lynn Kurland Fantasy time-travel romance released by Jove May 2008One of my very favorite authors! She doesn’t get the attention she deserves, says me.

A side note – I have got to change my rating system, dang it all. I suppose I’ll go back to numbers. I always have too many books with the same rating and then I can’t sort them properly.

Honorable Mention:

	Josh Lanyon’s Adrien English Mysteries – yup, I read them all in 08…I can haz moar, plzkthx?
	J.L. Langley’s Englor Series – just so fab!

Gwen’s review of Suite 606 by J.D. Robb, Mary Blayney, Ruth Ryan Langan, and Mary Kay McComas
Paranormal fiction anthology released by Berkley Jove 4 Nov 08

At first glance, this anthology seems to be a mixed bag of stories, covering all kinds of time periods and topics.  And, well, it is and it isn’t.  It all comes together in the end (wink wink).  It was very entertaining, even if I didn’t like all of the stories.  Read on to see what worked and what didn’t… 

Ritual In Death by J.D. Robb
Futuristic suspense thriller, 80-pages

The In Death books are less about the romance than they are the mystery and suspense.  Don’t get me wrong – the relationship between Eve and Roarke is still a key element – and, ohmigawd, is he ever still the HOTTEST hottie on paper – but it’s not why we’re here.  We’re here to solve a series of grisly deaths, one of which takes place in Suite 606.

We get a tiny taste of the paranormal in this story – more perhaps than has been present in the other In Death stories/books.  Remembering, of course, it’s set in the year 2060, so “paranormal” is subjective.  RID has more to do with “sensitives” and some woo-woo elements, but the key to the story is definitely solving the murder.  Something Eve, her man, and her crew does with rapid ease.

This was a very satisfying In Death story, if a little brief.  It’s not necessary to be familiar with the In Death world to enjoy this story.

Grade: B+

Summary:

J.D. Robb plunges Lieutenant Eve Dallas into the violent aftermath of a ritualistic murder — and into the mind of an alleged witness who can’t remember a thing to save his life.

Read an excerpt.

Love Endures by Mary Blayney
Historical paranormal romance, 79-pages

This story was a little more traditional paranormal romance than the Robb entry.  The hero, Stephen, is a bit long-suffering to be attractive to me, and he takes FOREVER to make his intentions known to our heroine, Summer (isn’t that an odd name for a Regency era heroine?).

This was a nice romance, but the woo-woo elements were a little too contrived to be totally believable.  The Suite 606 in this story is a special place couples can go to work through misunderstandings without the pressures of the outside world impinging on them, including time – days can be passed in a matter of moments to the outside world.

This was an entertaining, brief story, but largely forgettable.

Grade: B-

Summary:

Mary Blayney investigates the connection between a ghost, a magic coin, and a deception that has kept two lovers apart for years.

[From the author's site]  Despite the best efforts of a ghost, love stands the test of time as Summer Cassidy and Lord Stephen Bradley are reunited after a five year separation.

No excerpt available.

Cold Case by Ruth Ryan Langan
Contemporary & Historical romantic suspense, 70 pages

This was my least favorite of the four stories.  There’s a little bit of time-travel involved (not much of a spoiler to tell that about the story).  The premise is a little grim and there’s no real resolution to the story’s main tension.  It’s hinted at, but we never see the resolution.

In my opinion, this lack is in large part due to the story’s brevity.  Perhaps with more pages, we could have seen the hero solve the “old” crimes, put the ghosts of the past at rest so to speak, and begin living the life he envisions in this small Vermont town.  Sadly, Langan doesn’t take us there.  Instead, she spends far too much time in a grim farmhouse of the past, reliving two women’s very grim life.

Also, this story’s hero represents something of an overused character these days – a big city cop who is used up, just lost his partner in a shooting where he blames himself for the death, and is wandering in search of his soul.  Yawn.

This was well-written, but too dark for my taste, though perhaps others won’t have the problems with it I did.  The Suite 606 here is the room number our hero would have had in the original hotel and the one he gets in the Inn at the end of the story.  Not a horrible story, but I wanted a lot more.

Grade: D+

Summary:

Ruth Ryan Langan brings a lost man out of a pounding storm and into the arms of a welcoming woman to face a breathtaking twist of fate.

No excerpt available.

Wayward Wizard by Mary Kay McComas (no author site with current info found)
Time-travel romance, 95-pages

This was my favorite of the four stories, other than the In Death story – which, to be honest, is in a class all its own, I mean, Roarke? Thank you.  I really enjoyed McComas’s writing style, once I got used to it; she writes her character’s thoughts in a bit of a frenetic style that takes some practice.  This was the first of her writing for me but won’t be the last.  The characters are fresh, funny, real, and someone to cheer for.  The plot is interesting and unique.  The emotions were literally wrung out of me – I was tearing up several times (the mom in me) – and I loved the romance, loved the heroine’s confession, etc.

I thoroughly enjoyed this story and believe anyone reading the book will, as well.  I don’t remember which of the many places they stayed in was Suite 606.  And there’s an interesting tie-in to the other stories that I won’t spoil, but it’s a ton of fun.  The ending is a peach.

Grade: A

Summary:

And Mary Kay McComas follows a mother, her son lost in the threads of history and an impaired wizard who must return them to fulfill his own destiny — in time.

No excerpt available.

I enjoyed this anthology.  As with most anths, I felt some stories were better than others.  The clever twist in this one makes it a lot of fun to read.  I won’t spoil the twist, except to tell you that it had me going back and re-reading portions of each story to relive the moments.

I recommend this to anyone who is a fan of any of these authors, or anyone looking for a quick airport read.  You won’t be disappointed.

Overall Grade: B

I figured that if I wait until I have time to do full reviews of these six books, airborne porcine would be commonplace. So I decided to just do it – write a bunch of quick hits. These are all over the place as far as genre and release dates, so bear with me. Below are short reviews for:

~ A Lick of Frost (Meredith Gentry, Book 6) by Laurell K. Hamilton – fantasy fiction

~ The Kiss by Sophia Nash – regency historical romance

~ The Last Warrior by Karen Kay – American west historical romance

~ Creation in Death by J.D. Robb – Furturistic thriller

~ How to Propose to a Prince (The Royle Sisters, Book 3) by Kathryn Caskie – regency historical romance

~ Midnight Rising (The Midnight Breed, Book 4) by Lara Adrian – contemporary paranormal romance

A Lick of Frost (Meredith Gentry, Book 6) by Laurell K. Hamilton
Fantasy fiction released by Ballantine (hardcover) 23 Oct 07

This is a very good entry in the Merry Gentry world. We finally learn what Frost is and where he comes from. Plus the overall plot in this slow moving series actually moves forward in steps in this book and not in the millimeters it had before. Love the cover, too.

Grade: A

Summary:

I am Meredith Gentry, princess and heir apparent to the throne in the realm of faerie, onetime private investigator in the mortal world.

To be crowned queen, I must first continue the royal bloodline and give birth to an heir of my own. If I fail, my aunt, Queen Andais, will be free to do what she most desires: install her twisted son, Cel, as monarch . . . and kill me.

My royal guards surround me, and my best loved-my Darkness and my Killing Frost-are always beside me, sworn to protect and make love to me. But still the threat grows greater. For despite all my carnal efforts, I remain childless, while the machinations of my sinister, sadistic Queen and her confederates remain tireless. So my bodyguards and I have slipped back into Los Angeles, hoping to outrun the gathering shadows of court intrigue. But even exile isn’t enough to escape the grasp of those with dark designs.

Now King Taranis, powerful and vainglorious ruler of faerie’s Seelie Court, has leveled accusations against my noble guards of a heinous crime-and has gone so far as to ask the mortal authorities to prosecute. If he succeeds, my men face extradition to faerie and the hideous penalties that await them there. But I know that Taranis’s charges are baseless, and I sense that his true target is me. He tried to kill me when I was a child. Now I fear his intentions are far more terrifying.

Read excerpts (scroll down).

The Kiss by Sophia Nash
Historical romance released by Avon 26 Feb 08

This was a very nice historical. Some of the details surprised me – I haven’t seen too many authors deal with characters in quite so real a way before and it was refreshing. I did think The Big Misunderstanding was carried on about 50 pages too long, however. I just wanted to see the hero and heroine get together and see how they overcame their collective histories. Enough preamble already. Would have gotten an A from me if that had happened.

Grade: B-

Summary:

He had once been her cherished childhood companion, and then the man she lusted for in secret, but Georgiana Wilde hasn’t seen recently widowed Quinn Fortesque since the day he married another woman and shattered her heart. Then fate intervenes and brings the man she dreams about each night back to her . . . .

Returning to the estate on family business, Quinn would like nothing more than to turn the land over to Georgiana and leave the memories of his former life behind. But then the brooding marquis finds himself under the spell of the beauty he once left behind. With her barely concealed passions, Georgiana melts his coolly guarded heart. Suddenly his well-ordered world is in danger of crashing down. And it all began with just one kiss . . . .

Read an excerpt (scroll down).

The Last Warrior by Karen Kay
Historical sorta paranormal romance released by Berkley 4 Mar 08

Even I, Nathan Kamp’s #1 Fan, have to admit that this is a craptastic cover. Totally not the author’s fault, but I do with the publishers could have found a model who looked remotely like a Native American.

This was an okay book. The premise was a little unbelievable, and the author didn’t do much to suspend my disbelief. It was a decent poolside read, though. Nice romance and interesting time period (1892).

Grade: C+

Summary:

Many centuries ago, a village killed the children of the Thunder God. For their crime, the Creature bannished them to live a half existence in the land of mists, neither dead nor alive.”

But once in a generation, a brave is given the opportunity to save his clan. In 1892, that warrior is Black Lion

There was only one way for Black Lion to melt the Thunder God’s anger; listen for a sacred white-man’s song — and sing it perfectly with the one who introduced him to it. He joins Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show and travels to London, where he encounters the daughter of two opera singers — the most beautiful woman he’s ever seen. However, Suzette Joselyn is already engaged to another man…

But the two are destined to meet again when Suzette shows up in America, pregnant and abandoned by her fiance. Reunited with Black Lion she finds it impossible to turn down his offer of marriage to save her child from life as a bastard. But she doesn’t realize that her brave new husband is consumed with a mission that may force him to choose between his people and the woman he loves…

Read an excerpt.

Creation in Death by J.D. Robb
Futuristic thriller released by Putnam (hardcover) 6 Nov 07

I’m an Eve & Roarke fan from way back (Roarke = dark chocolate in my fantasies). I feel CiD is the least “romantic” of all the In Death books. It is definitley more a “thriller” than a “romantic suspense”. I also get less of the “futuristic” sense in this book than is evident in the other In Death entries. Nevertheless, the tension is very high throughout and I really had the feeling of “time running out” the whole time I was flipping pages faster and faster. Terrific read.

I was a little disappointed by something that Eve asked Roarke to do at the end, though – it seemed dishonorable to me and a little out of character. But it’s something I think will likely create an interesting problem for our hero and heroine in future books.

Grade: A

Summary:

NYPSD Lieutenant Eve Dallas keeps the streets of a near-future New York City safe in this extraordinary series. But even she makes mistakes, and is haunted by those she couldn’t save-and the killers she couldn’t capture. When the body of a young brunette is found in East River Park, artfully positioned and marked by signs of prolonged and painful torture, Eve is catapulted back to a case nine years earlier. The city was on edge from a killing spree that took the lives of four women in fifteen days, courtesy of a man the media tagged “The Groom”-because he put silver rings on the fingers of his victims.

When it turns out that the young brunette was employed by Eve’s billionaire husband, Roarke, she brings him in on the case-a move that proves fitting when it becomes chillingly clear that the killer has made his attack personal. The victim was washed in products from a store Roarke owns, and laid out on a sheet his company manufactures.

With the Groom’s monstrous return, Eve is determined to finish him once and for all. Familiar with his methods, Eve knows that he has already grabbed his next victim. Time is running out on another woman’s life.

And chances are he’s working up to the biggest challenge of his illustrious career-abducting a woman who will test his skills and who promises to give him days and days of pleasure before she dies: Eve.

Read an excerpt.

How to Propose to a Prince (The Royle Sisters, Book 3) by Kathryn Caskie
Historical romance released by Avon 26 Feb 08

I mostly didn’t like was irritated by this one, but it was readable. The heroine kept insisting that the hero was her soul mate (not in so many words, thankfully) and that they would be married, all because of a dream she keeps having. Perhaps I would have believed it more if the author hadn’t kept hammering it in, over and over again. The heroine comes off as a little desperate and the hero a little callous.

I REALLY hated some of the details at the end. They made me want to say “then why the f__k have you dragged your characters through all that crap!?” – but the author wiggles out of it at the very last. Barely.

Notwithstanding the teeth-grindingly irritating details, it’s another poolside read if you’re a fan of light historicals. Not awful, but not great.

Grade: C

Summary:

If the tiara fits, wear it! And that is exactly what Elizabeth Royle intends to do. After all, if you can’t be acknowledged as the daughter of a prince, the least you can do is marry one.

When Elizabeth Royle, youngest of the notorious Royle sisters, comes face-to-face with her future husband, a man she’s seen only in her dreams, she nearly swoons–especially when she discovers he is a prince. But her ecstasy is short-lived as she quickly learns that the man she longs for is soon to be betrothed to someone else–a princess no less. A lesser woman would give up, but Elizabeth is a Royle, after all.

Refusing to surrender her dreams of a royal wedding, Elizabeth takes the position of lady-in-waiting to the princess, determined to get close to her perfect match. But the lover she desires is not who he seems…and only once she discovers the true man behind the crown will she find the perfect love she’s been longing for all her life.

Read an excerpt.

Midnight Rising (The Midnight Breed, Book 4) by Lara Adrian
Contemporary paranormal romance released by Dell 25 Mar 08

This was a good entry in this series. However, I don’t recommend it if this is your first foray into it. I liked how Adrian made the hero a little more “human” – well, as human as an alien vampire can be, I suppose. Good read with some interesting twists.

Grade: B

Summary:

In a world of shadows and dark, consuming hungers, desire is the deadliest weapon…

For journalist Dylan Alexander, it began with the discovery of a hidden tomb, thrusting her into the center of a gathering storm of violence and secrets. But nothing is as dangerous as the scarred, lethally seductive man who rises from the shadows to draw her into his world of dark desire and endless night.

Fueled by pain and rage over a shattering betrayal, the warrior Rio has pledged his life to the war against the Rogues. He will let nothing stand in his way—least of all a mortal woman with the power to expose the entire vampire race. For an ancient evil has been awakened, and a stunning darkness is on the rise. Suddenly Dylan is powerless to resist Rio’s touch, even as she uncovers a shocking link to her own past. And now she must choose: Leave Rio’s midnight realm, or risk it all for the man who has shown her true passion and the infinite pleasures of the heart. . . .

Read an excerpt.

And that’s it for now folks! I have a couple of others, but I’m saving those for a “themed” post (can you say, “Kresley Cole is a Goddess”? I knew you could).

Sandy M. and Teddypig (aka the West Coast side of The Pond) have compiled a list of upcoming books that we here in The Pond cannot wait to read!! Some of the biggest names in the industry are taking risks and releasing work far outside of their usual comfort zones. WOOT! Bring ‘em on!


Joey W. Hill ~ The Greek Billionaire Vampire’s Secret Baby
Greek billionaire Stakeros Nachos Monsteranni III was captivated by Mary-Kate. But their passionate affair was cut short when Mary-Kate’s mother attempted to pound iron stakes into his coffin. Seven months later, Stakeros is shocked to see Mary-Kate again during a trip to the local blood bank. She’s struggling to make ends meet as a trained Phlebotomist and she’s visibly pregnant! If she’s carrying the Monsteranni heir, that can mean only one course of action for Stakeros: She must become his love slave!

N.F. Roberts ~ Born to Death
The Concannon sisters of western Ireland are post modern women of ambition and talent, bound by the timeless spirit of their land and a terrible blood thirst. This is a tale of Howitzer Concannon, assassin daughter of Maggie Concannon and some nameless sequel hunk Nora never got around to writing about. Almost fatally injured in a plane crash the government of Ireland decides to rebuild Howitzer, augmenting her with cybernetic parts which give her superhuman strength and speed. After accidentally stabbing Police Lieutenant Eve Dallas 45 times during an electrical storm, this complexly wired woman, whose tacky superhero costume includes a short skirt and horizontally striped stockings, must seek to sooth the distraught Roarke Dallas. Will his wounded heart be slowly healed by a gentle and forgiving love?

Karen Marie Moning ~ The Highlander’s Bad Touch
Journey to a world of disco magic, breathtaking sensuality, thrilling time-travel….

Journey to the world of The Bad Boy Highlander. Crisscrossing Castro Street and the centuries, here is a novel as gripping as it is awesome– an electrifying adventure that will leave you breathless….

I am Dogbert MacKilted, a man with one good conscience and thirteen inches, driven to sate my darkest desires …

Forced through time, he winds up on the dance floor of the infamous Castro Bar Badlands, where Dogbert looks out over a sea of sweaty gyrating male flesh with a funky beat. A sixteenth-century Scot trapped between queens, he is fighting a losing battle with horny men seeking to get his phone number, dooming him to an eternity of sexual pursuit. When Anita Man, Drag Queen extraordinaire, student of life, girl on the go, and Sister of Perpetual Indulgence in training, buys him a drink, she finds the insatiable alpha male an irresistible lure especially when she realizes he has no underwear under there. Before long, Anita is caught up in an ancient prophecy that will sweep her back in time to medieval Scotland. Plunged into a world without Cover Girl makeup or a decent bartender, our Drag Queen will soon face the challenge of a lifetime: fighting thirteen vicious jacked up ugly ass bitches for the heart of one irresistible man who better take her home soon… if he knows what the hell is good for him.

Sherrilyn Kenyon – The Devil Needs a New Swan Hat (Dark Hunters, book 542)
Siyphfer had just perfected his best Tina Turner impersonation when, thinking he was only entering another talent show, he was instead tricked into Artemis’ service as a Dark-Hunter. This immortal has dreamed only of regaining his crown and seeking revenge on the vicious evil nasty queen who betrayed him. But when a hot young fashion designer, Christian Siriano, in perilous danger from that man eating bitch, Heidi Klum, suddenly appears in his life, Siyphfer knows that he just may have found the answer to all his prayers… a love that will cross realms to bring him a fabulous new swan hat

The incomparable Cassie Edwards has just announced the title of her next upcoming release!

Out of print for years, this classic will soon be re-released for a whole new generation to discover!

Gwen’s review of Dead of Night (Anthology) by J.D. Robb, Mary Blayney, Ruth Ryan Langan, and Mary Kay McComas
Paranormal anthology published 30 Oct 07 by Jove

Eternity in Death by J.D. Robb (103 pages)

Futuristic.  As usual, this is a fantastic Eve Dallas story.  She confronts some personal demons and a ‘vampire,’ all with Roarke steadfastly by her side.  I love Roarke. I want to have Roarke’s babies, hysterectomy notwithstanding.

Read an excerpt.

Grade: A

Amy and the Earl’s Amazing Adventure by Mary Blayney (81 pages)

Timetravel.  This was an amusing story about a young American woman and a young British man being thrust into Regency England by a magical coin.  The whole magic coin thing was a little fuzzy, and Regency England wasn’t that attractive, but it was a cute story.

No excerpt found.

Grade: C

Timeless by Ruth Ryan Langan (90 pages)

Timetravel.  This was a story about a young woman who finds herself in medieval Scotland, the wife of a famous laird and mother to his son.  It was a sweet story with some tragedy.  The villain was telegraphed early, but it was a good story with some excellent character development.

No excerpt found.

Grade: B

On the Fringe by Mary Kay McComas (97 pages)

Contemporary.  This is a Jimmy Stewart-esque “It’s a Wonderful Life” alternate reality romance using a magic carpet.  It was very confusing at the end just who was having the alternate reality and who was real, but it was a good story.  It was nice reading that the heroine was older, and not in superb shape, and that they were “normal.”  Fast, fun read.

No excerpt found.

Grade: B-

This was one of the better anthologies I’ve read.  None of the stories were weak, and the Robb story was exceptionally strong. It was a quick, fun read.

Overall grade: B
Blurb:

Nora Roberts, writing as J.D. Robb, puts futuristic lieutenant Eve Dallas in a supernatural showdown with a most seductive criminal: a vampire… An ancient coin whisks an American woman and a modern-day earl into the past-and into each other’s arms-in a stirring tale from Mary Blayney… When a city girl visits a Scottish castle in Ruth Ryan Langan’s story, she is thrust into a timeless romance with a mighty Highland laird… And Mary Kay McComas gives an unhappy wife a magic-carpet ride into an alternate reality to show her the grass isn’t always greener.