Liviania’s review of Prince of Montéz, Pregnant Mistress by Sabrina Philips
Contemporary romance released by Harlequin Presents 1 Jan 10

This was my first Harlequin Presents.  I know from the other duckies (and reviews elsewhere) that this line is a bit of a crapshoot, often full of doormats and borderline abusive men.  And yet, I picked this one blind.  I didn’t know any of the authors, so I selected based on a title that was funny but not too funny and a blurb that sounded like something I would read.  (Not that you can always trust titles and blurbs.)  So I was surprised to find that I truly enjoyed Prince of Montéz, Pregnant Mistress. 

(As for the title?  It’s accurate, but Cally Greenway doesn’t get pregnant until the last third of the novel, making it a spoiler.)

Cally became an art restorer because of Jacques Rénard’s Mon Amour par la Mer [ed.: presumably a make believe painting - couldn't find a reference to it].  In the opening chapters, which remind me of a classic children’s book, the painting is on auction.  If the museum wins, Cally will be able to fulfill one of her greatest desires.  Unfortunately, the museum loses to a private buyer.  Fortunately, an attractive man chats her up.  Unfortunately, the two of them aren’t going to be able to meet again and Cally isn’t a sleep-with-strangers kind of girl.  Fortunately, he’s so suave she decides to have some fun anyway.  Unfortunately, it was a secret moral test and she failed.

Leon has his reasons for wanting a woman who can stick to her word – he rules a country that doesn’t allow the press to write about the royal family.  He might’ve forgiven the one lie, but he knew Cally also lied to him about why she wanted to restore the paintings.  Of course, which woman is more discreet: the one who gives a non-answer to a personal question or the one who tells her life story to a total stranger because he’s hot?  Aside from that major flaw in his logic, I do understand where he’s coming from.  (And he becomes more understandable when the greedy sister-in-law arrives.)  However, Cally is most qualified so he hires her to restore the paintings.  Then, neither of them can ignore the sparks.

He does treat Cally badly at points.  I can stand it because Cally doesn’t put up with it.  She calls him out, and refuses to be live with someone who doesn’t respect her.  Her confidence was damaged by an earlier relationship, but Cally is still no doormat.  Sabrina Philips made me believe that Cally and Leon would fall for each other, and that Leon would grovel to get her back.  I believe absolutely that they’ll have happily ever after.

I was extremely nervous going into my first Harlequin Presents, but I enjoyed the foray.  I’ll be back for more, though I’ll try to remain cautious about which stories I pick.  I know I’ll be likely to try another Philips, at least!

Grade: B+

Summary:

It’s the night of a most glamorous art auction in London, and Cally Greenway is due to land the restoration commission of her dreams…. Until the paintings sell to an unknown bidder and, devastated and dashed, Cally uncharacteristically finds solace in the arms of a handsome yet ruthless stranger.

He’s the very same man who bought her precious paintings—the Prince of Montéz! Leon summons Cally by royal decree—His Majesty wants a mistress: biddable, pleasurable…and pregnant?
Read an excerpt here.

Liviania’s review of Pleasure of a Dark Prince (Immortals After Dark, Book 8 ) by Kresley Cole
Paranormal romance released by Pocket 16 Feb 10

Kresley Cole earned her place as one of those authors that I buy immediately.  (Well, that I buy the paperback immediately.)  With Pleasure of a Dark Prince, there were some unforeseen complications (also known as blatant lies on the Barnes & Noble site) that led to me telling far too many people I wanted Pleasure of a Dark Prince before I got my hands on the novel. 

Although I forgot the title the first time, prompting the clerk to ask me for a different title.  I came up with Winter’s Wicked Kiss.  Not an actual Cole title.  Given that the next cover is also black and white, it’s going to be even harder to keep the books apart.

While knowing the titles is a daunting task, the Immortals After Dark series has been fairly welcoming to newcomers.  However, Cole is starting to elaborate on couples first mentioned in earlier books.  First, the novella in Deep Kiss of Winter, “Untouchable,” tells about the last Wroth brother and his heroine, Daniela. Now, Pleasure of a Dark Prince explores Lucia and Garreth’s relationship, which was originally mentioned in A Hunger Like No Other.  (Yes, I did have to look that title up.)  I enjoyed seeing Emma and Lachlain’s relationship from the valkyrie point of view – and that a werewolf agreed Emma’s family had a right to interfere.  However, I wonder how a new reader would feel about that subplot, which moves fairly quickly.

Though the books are becoming less welcoming to new readers, the romance is still enjoyable.  I did have more problems with Garreth and Lucia than some of her other couples. Garreth’s determination is attractive, as is his desire to aid Lucia.  But he ignores her ability to take care of herself too often, and he’s dismissive of what she obviously considers an important vow.  On the other hand, Lucia seemed too reluctant to tell him why the vow is important.  Yes, it was a shameful part of her past and might make Garreth angry, but Garreth would understand her vow more if she at least told him, “If we have sex together I’ll be defenseless.”

That doesn’t mean I didn’t love them together.  It was fun to watch Garreth work his way into Lucia’s heart – and to see them figure out how to get off together without penetration.  Also, the opening scene where she keeps shooting him and he keeps flirting?  It’s awesome in a very strange way.

For fans of Regin or Lothaire, they show up a decent amount in Pleasure of a Dark Prince and it looks like they will be in Demon from the Dark, though neither will be the hero or heroine.  (For a few brief, shining moments I thought the next book would be Regin and Aiden’s.  Alas.)  Overall, this isn’t going to replace my favorites in the series.  But Cole definitely left me wanting more of the Immortals After Dark.

Grade: B-

Read more reviews and information by following this series’ tag here.

Summary:

#1 New York Times bestselling author Kresley Cole enraptures again with this seductive tale of a fierce werewolf prince who will stop at nothing to protect the lovely archer he covets from afar.

A DANGEROUS BEAUTY…

Lucia the Huntress: as mysterious as she is exquisite, she harbors secrets that threaten to destroy her — and those she loves.

AN UNCONTROLLABLE NEED…

Garreth MacRieve, Prince of the Lykae: the brutal Highland warrior who burns to finally claim this maddeningly sensual creature as his own.

THAT LEAD TO A PLEASURE SO WICKED….

From the shadows, Garreth has long watched over Lucia. Now, the only way to keep the proud huntress safe from harm is to convince her to accept him as her guardian. To do this, Garreth will ruthlessly exploit Lucia’s greatest weakness — her wanton desire for him.

Read an excerpt here.

Other books in this series:

Liviania’s review of Lured by Lori Devoti
Paranormal romance released by Nocturne Bites 1 Jan 10

I enjoyed Lori Devoti’s Unbound series and Amazon Ink, so I happily picked up Lured for more of the same.  Unfortunately, it wasn’t more but less.

Annie is attached to her PDA, the stereotypical uptight businesswoman.  She’s recently become a werewolf, but thought she found a medical trial for a cure.  Instead, it was a trap.  Now, why a woman who is attached to her PDA did not research the trial or the address is not explained.  One of the complexities of a short story is the need to develop the characters much quicker.  Character inconsistencies are that much more apparent.

Theo is the alpha werewolf who rescues Annie, and then goes back to put a stop to the men who set the trap for good.  There isn’t much more to him.  I like the idea that he’s stronger with Annie, but it feels like true love happens to fast.  I followed the plot of Lured, but I didn’t believe in it.  Perhaps I would of enjoyed it if it were by an author I had lower expectations of, but as I like Lori Devoti quite a bit, I was disappointed.  She can do better.

Grade: C-

Summary:
Theo Malone was an alpha, not a lone rogue who needed to fight for a female. Still, something about Annie Cartwell called to him. Unclaimed and unaware that she had been turned into a werewolf, she was vulnerable to other wolves…and irresistibly attractive to Theo. His wolf had never reacted so strongly to a woman before–and Annie’s new inner wolf had the same hunger for him. His scent made her feel safe, his touch soothed her…and the thought of Theo awoke fantasies of being claimed by him like she’s never had before.

But while they both longed to fully give in to their desire, Theo and Annie must struggle to control these new feelings. For someone set up Annie as bait, and no wolf was safe until he was caught….

Moon Marked by Linda Thomas-Sundstrom
Paranormal romance released by Nocturne Bites 1 Jan 10

Nikki is a hunter, waiting for some werewolves that got away. Of course, those aren’t her only orders. Jonathon is a hereditary werewolf trying to rescue Nikki, since he knows she’s in over her head. The two are instantly attracted despite their conflicting loyalties, but things become complicated when Nikki is bitten by one of the crime lord’s wolves.

As a standalone, Moon Marked is a little confusing. Linda Thomas-Sundstrom’s world is involved, and it’s hard to figure out the hierarchy of things that go bump in the night in 62 pages when there’s action and romance going on. As an introduction to her Wolf Moons series, it’s fairly effective since I do want to read more about this world. Those who are already reading this series will want to pick up this Bite, since there is some world-building that seems important. (I could be wrong, since I haven’t read the series yet.)

Grade: C+

Summary:
In the secret war between humans and werewolves, Jonathan Baird and Nikki Reese were natural enemies. Born with the genetic gifts needed to join the secret society of hunters, Nikki had been raised to see all Lycans as her enemy…even if hunting them brought on a powerful craving for sexual release.

It was that craving that drew werewolf Jonathan to Nikki. Though he also sought the rogue creatures that threatened the secrecy of his people’s existence, his organization sent him to watch her…but he lusted after her, too. When a hunt goes bad and Nikki is infected with the Lycan virus, Jonathan couldn’t resist coming to her aid, igniting an insatiable desire between them. Will their passion bring together the two rivals, or will old loyalties die hard?

Loch Dragon’s Lady by Christine McKay
Paranormal romance released by Spice Briefs 1 Jan 10

I like Ellen, though she is a bit too stubborn for her own good.  After all, she has a sensible reaction to a handsome man trying to carry her off: stab him.  Unfortunately for her, it doesn’t work since Robert is a dragon.  Christine McKay doesn’t say much about how the setting or creatures work, but she provides enough information that nothing seems jarring.

Robert enjoys being alone, but that doesn’t mean he isn’t sometimes lonely.  It’s nice to see a fairly nice guy meet someone who he can live with.  The Spice Briefs are supposed to be more erotic than the Nocturne Bites, but I believed the happily-ever-after of Loch Dragon’s Lady the most.

Grade: B

Summary:
When Robert Dunyveg finds Ellen Kildonan on his secluded Scottish isle, he thinks she’s just another tourist to spoil his peace. Though outraged by her claim that the island is hers, the dragon shifter can’t resist indulging his long-denied desire with the exotic beauty. But while Ellen has the scent of a human, she tasted of magic–and the only way to unlock the mystery of her true identity is to explore their red-hot passion even more….

Liviania’s review of My Soul to Save (Soul Screamers, Book 2) by Rachel Vincent
Young adult urban fantasy released by Harlequin Teen 29 Dec 09

My changing feelings about Rachel Vincent’s novels have been well documented on the internet.  What has been less documented is the fact that sometimes I read other people’s reviews before I write my own.  Sometimes it sharpens my focus, other times it confuses me.  For My Soul to Save, it was the latter situation.

I expected more comments about the dark ending.  I expected remarks about the social satire and thinly veiled barbs aimed at Disney, which are particularly well-timed given the public meltdown of Lindsay Lohan.  I expected comments about the gender politics.  I just didn’t expect all of the comments about the gender politics to be completely opposite of my own observations.

Many reviewers dislike Vincent’s banshees because they are hysterical women who can only be calmed by a man.  I can get behind that being a bad subtext.  Now, I can’t blame Vincent for Kaylee, as a banshee, being a screaming woman.  Bean sidhe means female fairy.  Banshees wail before deaths in the common folklore.  The man part is Vincent’s invention, so that’s what I’ll focus on.

First, Kaylee doesn’t need boyfriend Nash to stop her wailing.  She did in My Soul to Take because she had no clue what she was or how to use her powers.  Now Nash’s mother is teaching her to control her wail, she can let it out a little at a time instead of becoming hysterical.

Second, I see Vincent’s banshees not as an interesting take on gender dynamics, since the females have the most agency.  Kaylee can interfere with a Grim Reaper on her own.  She can cross over into the Netherworld on her own (perhaps unwisely).  The only thing she can’t do on her own is prevent someone’s death.  Nash, and all of the male banshees, have no power without a female banshee.  He can’t direct a soul back into a body without Kaylee’s wail.  He can’t even do that often, since it pisses Reapers off and causes someone else to die.  Males only have power thanks to the females, and even then they rarely get to use it.

But really, subtext is subtext.  What about the text?  My Soul to Save is an interesting and well-presented story.  When Nash’s deceased brother Tod’s girlfriend Addison sold her soul, she had no idea what she was getting into.  Now Nash, Tod, and Kaylee are trying to save her – unfortunately, Addison was destined to die young.  And not even Kaylee’s wail can prevent her death since she has no soul.  There are clever plans in abundance, selflessness, and a nice sense of urgency.  But hoo-boy is the ending dark.

Maybe I’m deluding myself about the gender issues, but I like my interpretation.  If I thought the series was down on women I would not be nearly as excited as I am for book three.

Grade: B

Summary:
When Kaylee Cavanaugh screams, someone dies.
So when teen pop star Eden croaks onstage and Kaylee doesn’t wail, she knows something is dead wrong. She can’t cry for someone who has no soul.

The last thing Kaylee needs right now is to be skipping school, breaking her dad’s ironclad curfew and putting her too-hot-to-be-real boyfriend’s loyalty to the test. But starry-eyed teens are trading their souls: a flickering lifetime of fame and fortune in exchange for eternity in the Netherworld—a consequence they can’t possibly understand.

Kaylee can’t let that happen, even if trying to save their souls means putting her own at risk….

Read an excerpt here.

Liviania’s review of Strange Bedpersons by Jennifer Crusie
Contemporary romance released by HQN 24 Nov 2009

I’m supposed to focus on new releases, not reprints.  I picked up this Jennifer Crusie because I know she’s a favorite of many.  (I’ve even seen her on my mother’s shelf.)  I figure it’s all right then, as there are probably a number of readers like me who are new to the romance genre and pick up a big name completely clueless as to whether it is new or a reprint.  I can say this after finishing Strange Bedpersons: Crusie earned her reputation.

Tess is the crunchy granola feminist.  Nick is the lawyer determined to make partner.  Together, they pretend to be affianced even though they broke up.  (Why they broke up is a bit of a headbanger.)  Nick is about to land an important client, and it matters to him who Nick is dating.  Then Tess gets further involved with Nick’s life when her best friend, retiring dancer Gina, begins to date and falls for Nick’s best friend, playboy lawyer Park.  Tess and Nick have conflicting sensibilities and desires, but an undeniable attraction to the other.

Unfortunately, Tess was the weakest part of the story.  She is utterly intolerant of other people’s points of view.  She’s that friend who tries to make you guilty for ever eyeing a cow, much less eating and wearing it.  I’m all for living in the way you prefer and not hiding your lifestyle, but people who try to shove their way of living onto others because it is the only way to really live and be a good person annoy me.  Luckily, Gina gets a great scene of calling Tess on her shit.

On the other hand, I really loved Nick.  Tess’s main issue with him is that he’s too ambitious.  However, he never comes across as ruthless or cut off from other aspects of life.  Dude wants to make partner and be secure and thus does a good job.  She’s also got a problem with the fact he isn’t instantly GGG when she tries to foist her kink on him.  Kink’s fine, but you’ve got to look out for your partner if he or she is going to indulge you.  My main problem with Nick is that he kept pursuing this crazy chick who stepped all over him.  (That, and he messed with her clothes.  He’s not perfect, but he was more likeable and sympathetic than Tess.)

This sounds really down, but it is a major compliment to Crusie that I enjoyed Strange Bedpersons despite my initial dislike of Tess.  The book is extremely funny, particularly during the final dinner scene.  Nick and Tess have enough chemistry with each other and enough willingness to compromise (even if it does come slower on Tess’s part) that I believe the happy ending, despite the relationship’s rocky beginning.  I think I will seek out another one of Crusie’s novels, though I know some of them are considered misses.  After all, it doesn’t take much work to check out the blogs and see which ones are hits.

Grade: B-

Summary:
Tess Newhart knows her ex-boyfriend Nick Jamieson isn’t the right guy for her. He’s caviar and champagne; she’s take-out Chinese pot stickers. He’s an uptight Republican lawyer; she was raised in a commune. He wants to get ahead in business; she just wants…him. But there’s no way Tess will play second fiddle to his job.

Yet somehow she finds herself agreeing to play his fiancée on a weekend business trip that could make or break Nick’s career. And while he’s trying to convince Tess that he needs her in his respectable world, Tess is doing her best to keep her opinions to herself and her hands off Nick.

Read an excerpt here.

Liviania’s review of Dream Stalker by Jenna Kernan
Paranormal romance released by Silhouette Nocturne 1 Dec 09

Jenna Kernan gets bonus points for using Lakota mythology. As urban fantasy and paranormal romance have become more popular, authors have diversified their interests from vampires.  But Native American myths remain sadly underused, possibly because many of their legends are lost to us.  Nowadays folklorists work to preserve those myths, but nothing helps more to preserve a culture than getting people interested in it.

That is not to say that Dream Stalker is a cultural artifact.  It’s a likeable story, but predictable.  Kernan’s system of Halflings is intriguing, and I hope to see her do more world-building in this Lakota influenced setting in later books.  Dream Stalker is the story of Michaela Proud, a woman who can see spirits and is on the run from the Ruler of all Ghosts, Nagi.  Her attempts to escape him attract the attention of Sebastian, who can turn into a bear.

Michaela, of course, is not just an ordinary human.  She’s a little passive for my taste, spending most of the novel following Sebastian and letting him protect her.  In the end, I can’t fault her much for that since there wasn’t a better action she could take.  She isn’t weak.  She decides what she wants and pursues it, not allowing other characters to decide what they think is best for her.  But until she began making those decisions, she felt somewhat blank to me.

Sebastian is better realized.  He wants love and acceptance, but has been burned by humans before.  A previous girlfriend took issue with the fact he could turn into a bear, increasing his wariness to become involved with a non-skinwalker.  Of course, as Michaela becomes easier to understand he tends toward silliness as he refuses to trust her.  At the point where she finally convinces him of her love, I’d understand it if she smacked him and informed him that if she didn’t love him she’s have left him five chapters ago.  (At which point every other character in the book would say, “Duh.”)

Nagi is an intense bad guy.  How do you escape someone who can track your soul?  How do you fight a spirit?  Kernan leaves Dream Stalker open ended, with Nagi plotting another way to gain power.  (In fact, it sounded like she might write a story where Nagi gets redeemed by love.  I could be wrong.)  As I said before, if she continues writing in this setting I would be happy to read more, but I’m not sure that I like the brief passage about Nagi that keeps the story from being totally resolved.

The writing and romance in Dream Stalker are slightly above average.  I wouldn’t say there was anything unusual, but the setting was fresh and there weren’t any major flaws.  Dream Stalker was pleasant, if not earth-shattering.  I hope Kernan aims higher next time, because it feels like she could write a memorable paranormal romance as opposed to a serviceable one.

Grade: B+

Summary:
Native American Michaela Proud thinks her escalating nightmares signal madness. But the truth is far worse. For she is being stalked by the god of death. And when she suffers a brutal attack at his hands, she awakens to find a devastatingly handsome stranger kneeling before her. Whose gentle touch eases her pain…and makes her feel safe.
An Inanoka shape-shifter and healer, Sebastian doesn’t want to feel anything for the beautiful woman he’s rescued. But he can’t abandon her once he discovers she has a spirit wound. As he cares for Michaela, he realizes that he can read her thoughts, emotions… and desire. Sebastian realizes that he’s found his true mate. But will she accept him once she learns his darkest secret?
Read an excerpt here.

Liviania’s review of Wicked All Day by Liz Carlyle
Historical romance released by Pocket Star 22 Sept 09

Coming off the high of Tempted All Night, I had high hopes for Liz Carlyle’s Wicked All Day.  I enjoyed Zoë Anderson in that novel and looked forward to seeing her meet her Prince Charming.  While Wicked All Day wasn’t everything I wanted and more, it was a good romance.

Zoë Anderson knows that as a bastard she will never be good enough for the upper echelons of society.  Therefore, she transforms herself into a flirt, enjoying herself and rubbing her presence into their faces.  But then her father, Lord Rannoch, lays down the law: she must become engaged or live in Scotland.  Upset, she goes to her oldest friend for comfort and things go a little too far.  Now she and Robert Rowland are engaged, though they only care for each other as friends.

Most of Wicked All Day is a bummer.  The characters seem determined to make themselves unhappy.  Zoë reveals the fragility underneath her irrepressible exterior, but it just made me ache for the bold woman she is in Tempted All Night and at the end of this novel.  Stuart, Robert’s older brother, has been getting the two of them out of trouble for ages.  He fell for Zoë long ago, but can’t spit it out.  At the time of the novel, he’s occupied with getting rid of a vindictive mistress.  But I never quite believe his reasons for not making a move earlier.

Part of the reason the characters are all determined to make themselves unhappy is the fact that they’re all determined to be martyrs for each other.  No one likes a martyr.  Things improve drastically once everyone decides to start going after what they want.  And Zoë and Stuart want each other, though both of them take a ridiculously long time to admit it.

To be honest, there is not that much wrong with Wicked All Day. There’s even a lovely secondary romance between Robin and his mistress Maria that I would love to see more of.  The sensible widow is a good match for him.  The main problem with Wicked All Day is that it is no Tempted All Night. Carlyle set the bar too high for me to be happy with the immediate follow-up.  (Note: I have now typed these two titles far too many times.  I’ve begun to call the books Wicked All Night and Tempted All Day.)

If you enjoy stories about being caught in the tangles of honor, Wicked All Day is a good choice for you.  If you hate it when the heroine or hero can’t spit it out, Zoë and Stuart might frustrate you as they did me.  But they redeem themselves in the end, because a romance isn’t a romance without happily ever after.

Grade: B

Summary:
New York Times bestselling author Liz Carlyle continues her enthralling historical series with the story of an impetuous, illegitimate beauty and the forbidding nobleman who protects her—while fighting an obsession to possess her . . .

Miss Zoë Armstrong is beautiful, charming, rich—and utterly unmarriageable. So, while she may be the ton’s most sparkling diamond, her choice of husbands looks more like a list of London’s most unsavory fortune hunters. Since a true-love marriage seems impossible, Zoë has accepted—no, embraced—her role as society’s most incomparable flirt and mischief-maker . . . until in one reckless, vulnerable moment, her future is shattered.

Stuart Rowland, the brooding Marquess of Mercer, has been part of Zoë’s extended family since she was a child. As dark and cynical as Zoë is lively, Mercer has always known they would be the worst possible match . . . until his scapegrace brother Robert does the unthinkable, and winds up betrothed to Zoë. Now, secluded on Mercer’s vast estate to escape a looming scandal and the ton’s prying eyes, Zoë and Mercer may find that a dark obsession has become a tempestuous passion that can no longer be denied . . .
Read an excerpt here.

Liviania’s review of Rage: A Love Story by Julie Anne Peters
LGBTQ Young Adult released by Knopf Books for Young Readers 8 Sept 09

Julie Anne Peters is known for writing novels about LGBTQ teens.  While the main characters of Rage are lesbian or bisexual, it’s not a focus of the story.  Johanna and Reeve are both out and comfortable with their sexuality, though every once in awhile someone says something derogatory to one of them.  The focus, instead, is on their emotional issues caused by unstable family life.

I’ve read books about abusive relationships before.  Alex Flinn’s Breathing Underwater is an excellent look into the head of an abuser, and her Diva an equally interesting portrait of the girl recovering from the relationship and beginning new ones.  Sarah Dessen’s Dreamland is an equally compelling look at a girl and why she would stay with the guy abusing her.  Rage plays with the formula by making Johanna not an ordinary girl fighting to stay with her abuser, but a girl who was severely damaged before she even entered the relationship.

When the book begins, Johanna has been fantasizing about Reeve as an escape to her life.  Her mother and father are dead; her sister stayed at college while she cared for their dying mother.  At the crucial point when she needed Tessa’s support, her sister said nothing.  With that trust broken, the only person she can rely on is her best friend Novak.  But Novak’s dating a scummy guy, and pretty soon her relationship with Johanna is on the rocks.  And Johanna’s fantasy relationship is about to become a reality.

Reeve had an abusive father, and now she’s left with her druggie mother and abusive uncle.  She also has to care for her autistic twin brother.  She’s grown up with only Robbie’s love, and she’s best at using people.  She isn’t the classic abuser, trying to keep Johanna under her thumb.  Reeve wants to push Johanna away because she understands the relationship isn’t healthy.  I half expected Johanna to erupt into a rage of her own, the psychopath upset that the reality isn’t her ideal.

Despite being almost 300 pages, Rage felt a little thin.  Rage is a psychological novel, and there’s little going on aside from a series of interconnected relationships.  It’s in Johanna’s point of view, but I still found her the most opaque character.  I understand her on a logical level, but not an emotional one.  (It’s hard to explain.) However, the supporting cast helps out by being engaging.  I can’t help but wish for more of Novak in the novel.  She’s a magnetic presence, even when her actions are repulsive.

Rage can be enjoyed even by those who dislike lesbian content.  The only actual sex scene is done subtly, and Johanna’s (explicit) fantasies are clearly marked by heading and italics.  For those who have been in abusive relationships, Rage may contain triggers.  Other than that, it’s extremely interesting on a psychological level.  But for those who prefer plot-driven fiction to character-driven, it might not be the best choice.  I have not read Peters before, but I would be willing to try one of her other novels out based on Rage. (Edit: Just looked at the author bio and I know I’ve read Define “Normal.” But it’s been a long time and I remember nothing.)  She seems to have a strong understanding of the way teenagers really act, always a bonus in YA novels.

Grade: B

Summary:
Johanna is steadfast, patient, reliable; the go-to girl, the one everyone can count on. But always being there for others can’t give Johanna everything she needs—it can’t give her Reeve Hartt.

Reeve is fierce, beautiful, wounded, elusive; a flame that draws Johanna’s fluttering moth. Johanna is determined to get her, against all advice, and to help her, against all reason. But love isn’t always reasonable, right?

In the precarious place where attraction and need collide, a teenager experiences the dark side of a first love, and struggles to find her way into a new light.
Read an excerpt here.

Liviania’s review of The Christmas Present by Tracy Wolff
Contemporary romance released by Harlequin Superromance 8 Dec 09

I understand the logic that if marketing says something sells, you should do it.  Harlequin didn’t become the powerhouse it is by making random decisions.  Still, I don’t see the point in packaging Tracy Wolff’s latest with a generic couple in front of the tree and the generic title The Christmas Present.  It hides the surprisingly dark story from the people who might enjoy it most. (It might also cause some people to be upset due to the trigger-y first chapter.)  There is an offscreen rape/murder, attempted rape, a shooting, and some other acts of violence.  The Christmas Present is not for someone looking for a fluffy holiday romance. 

The Christmas Present resembles a crime thriller, where the emphasis is placed on the romance rather than the detective story.  (That isn’t to say the plot is half-baked.  The ending to the whodunit is a bit weaksauce, but the crime elements are generally menacing, logically connected, and further the central relationship.  Plus, most of the mystery isn’t about whodunit but about finding mitigating factors and reasonable doubt.)  Diego is a young, low-class Mexican accused of brutally raping and murdering his pregnant girlfriend Esme.  Rafael Cardoza is the man who runs a community center and acts as Diego’s guardian, hoping his ward won’t be wrongfully sent to jail as he was.  Vivian Wentworth is the attorney forced to take the pro bono case by her firm despite the fact she’s a divorce attorney.

Vivian pulls the proceedings together.  As the opening, in which she is nearly raped, shows clearly, she is an outsider, over her head and vulnerable.  However, she’s also tenacious, clever, and generally the kind of lawyer kids like Diego need but will likely never have.  As in most stories of this type, things can get over the top.  But Vivian is a grounded and sensible presence, which made the story more convincing to me.

Rafael is very alpha male, but lacks some of the more annoying characteristics of that type.  He judges Vivian harshly at first, but it makes sense given his history with rich white girls.  He’s well aware of the class and race lines in the United States, and not happy about them.  Especially not when it hurts the kids he’s trying to help.  It’s hard not to like who a guy who clearly having papa bear urges and trying to protect his young.

I read this one very quickly, as absorbed in Vivian and Rafael’s pursuit of justice as I was in their attraction.  I have no idea how accurate the court stuff was, but Wolff sounded like she knew what she was writing about, which is enough for me.  The only time I came out of the story was when one passage reminded me that the book was set during December.  Until that point, I’d totally forgotten that I’d picked it up expecting it to be a holiday romance.  (I remembered Sherry Thomas recommending Wolff in her newsletter once, so I had the author’s name in the back of my head.)

I’ll definitely pick up another book by Wolff.  I may also start reading the Harlequin blurbs closer, as clearly the title and cover can’t be relied on.  (I knew this, but old habits are hard to break.)  This book contained a number of things I enjoy, including racial tensions and action, as well as a convincing romance.  The Christmas setting wasn’t saccharine, but a bittersweet reminder that even as the season draws people together, there are still bad things happening out there.  As The Christmas Present is a Harlequin, there is a happy ending.

But Wolff makes her characters earn it.

Grade: A

Summary:

Rafael Cardoza needs a lawyer. A good one well versed in criminal law is the only hope to save the wrongfully accused kid from Rafael’s community center. So how does he end up with uptown divorce attorney Vivian Wentworth? The chances of her successfully defending this case are slim to none. If Rafael were smart, he’d show Vivian the door.

Too bad his attraction to her is clouding his judgment. And when he can finally see past his libido, he realizes that there’s more to Vivian than her family name and her designer clothes. In fact, she’s working so hard to clear the kid’s name, they just might win. It’s the best Christmas gift Rafael could receive…or would that be Vivian agreeing to stay with him?

Read an excerpt here.

Warning: The excerpt contains the attempted rape that I think is trigger-y.

Liviania’s review of Tempted All Night by Liz Carlyle
Historical romance released by Pocket 17 Feb 09

Once you’ve read three or more books by the same author, you’ve made some decisions about what that author’s books are like.  Character or plot driven, good or bad at weaving an action plot with the romance, better at beginnings or endings, etc.  After reading Liz Carlyle’s Never trilogy, I’d decided that she wrote frothy, light historicals that were better when focused on the romance.  After reading Tempted All Night, I was stuck thinking, “Damn, Liz.  You sure fooled me.”

I feel in love with this book the moment I finished the prologue.  Lady Phaedra Northampton is alone and dressed as a servant in a bad part of London when scandalous ne’er-do-well Tristan Talbot notices her.  Despite his slight inebriation, he escorts her home, getting her safely out of the dangerous situation she got herself into, and keeping his hands to himself despite his attraction.  He’s honorable and sexy and won my regard quicker than any other romantic hero I can remember.

But you are of course wondering why I was so surprised by Tempted All Night.  Perhaps it’s the fact the heroine is not a virgin.  Perhaps it is the search for a missing mother that is as compelling as the romance.  (And the romance is hot.)  Perhaps it is the S&M brothel.  You heard me right, S&M brothel.  The instant my fellow historical romance loving friend came over, I shoved this book into her hands.  I felt like I’d gotten rid of my shame of romance covers, doing it in front of two guys.  They instantly demanded she read some of it, and she promptly opened the book to an S&M brothel scene, making me wish I had been subtle about handing her the book.  But I digress.

I don’t want to say too much about the plot, as it’s fun to uncover Phaedra’s secrets as you read.  She’s a fabulous heroine.  She’s prim and proper in public, especially compared to her friend Zoë Anderson.  But when society isn’t looking she feels quite free to be improper and get things done.  She’s a good match for Tristan, who has been acting out to spite his father Lord Hauxton, who is in the foreign office.  But now that he’s on his deathbed, Tristan is secretly taking over his job.  They appear to be opposites but act with similar attentions.

I think fans of Carlyle’s other works will love this one.  It has her wit and style, but it’s still surprising.  She’s not treading water but trying something new, and it pays off in spades.  I wouldn’t be at all surprised if Tempted All Night shows up in my Best Books of 2009.  To me, it has a perfect combination of hero, heroine, and plot.  I hope this one wins Carlyle some new fans, since it will also appeal to those who don’t like their historicals frothy.  (As for my friend who borrowed it . . . well, she liked it too.)

Grade: A+

Summary:
Even the most careful lady can be swayed by a scoundrel . . .

Lady Phaedra Northampton is a proper English miss—but burdened by a dark secret. She’s buried her shame in running her wealthy brother, Lord Nash’s, households while hiding behind a sharp wit and dull wardrobe . . . until a reckless village maid’s disappearance pulls her into London’s seedy underworld.

A former mercenary and jaded spy-for-hire, Tristan Talbot, Lord Avoncliffe, now does little, and manages to do it scandalously. Though Tristan’s an out and out rogue, when his dying father begs him to delve into the secrets behind a notorious brothel—a perfect task for his talents!—Tristan can’t refuse. Is the brothel a front for a notorious Russian spy ring? Tristan is on the hunt—until his path collides with the oh-so-tempting Lady Phae.

Soon what should be a simple assignment becomes deliciously complicated . . . when deception and desire lead to an explosive passion—and deadly foes!
Read an excerpt here.

Liviania’s review of Newly Fallen by Megan Hart
Paranormal romance released by Spice Briefs 1 Dec 09

I’ve followed the advice of several of the other duckies in the past.  Today it was limecello’s turn.  Anyway, I know that limecello loves Megan Hart.  Megan Hart just released a Spice Brief, the perfect way to try out her writing without committing to a large page count.  This is only my second foray into the Spice line, so it was also a chance to get a feel for that.

Let’s start with the line.  I’m clearly not an expert, but I believe the Spice books are spicy, the closest thing Harlequin publishes to erotica.  While Newly Fallen includes several explicit sex scenes, they don’t really set off my spicy meter.  They’d be fine in almost any romance, though slightly less concentrated. However, I have never been one to read a story for the sex scenes.  (Not that a good sex scene isn’t a bonus.)

Lilly Gold is celebrating Hanukkah alone when a man falls into her yard.  We’re given a brief explanation that she’s always accepted unusual things to explain why she isn’t freaking out that she has a strange naked man in her yard that knows her name.  But hey, I’ll go with it.  It’s a short story and Hart needs to move onto the relationship as quickly as possible.

Unfortunately, the romance fizzled for me.  Lilly and Zacharias played games some before falling into bed, but it still seems like most of their interaction was the sex.  I’d buy that it was good and thus they wanted to develop something different, but instead there was instant falling in love.  It felt too easy.

Hart’s writing was competent.  I was excited to see a Hanukkah story instead of a Christmas one.  I enjoyed that Hart used the holiday in a meaningful way instead of leaving it as window dressing.  The story was sweet.  But in a short story about a miraculous love, I need to believe in the love and I didn’t.  I found it very disappointing.  (Perhaps it’s lime’s fault for talking her up so much!)

As it is, I still need to try a full-length Spice.  But I probably won’t go for a Hart first.

Grade: D+

Summary:
Faced with spending her first Hanukkah alone, Lilly Gold wishes for a miracle that would change her life just a little bit. Then her prayers are answered–in a big way–when the most perfect naked man appears in her yard during a blizzard.

Zachariah tells Lilly he’s been sent to be–and do—anything she wants. And for eight passionate days, trapped together by the snow, he does just that, giving Lilly all the pleasure she could have hoped for. But when their holiday is over, only another miracle can keep their affair from ending, too…
No excerpt found.

Liviania’s review of Going Bovine by Libba Bray
Young adult released by Delacorte 22 Sept 09

I’ve got to admit: I actually don’t like the Gemma Doyle books that much.  I know, I’m a young adult fantasy lover with a thing for strong heroines.  But in the end, Libba Bray left me somewhat cold with her bestselling trilogy.  Going Bovine, on the other hand, is a cow of a different color.  It’s an absurdist, magical realist, road trip adventure about a guy with a fatal illness.  Bray takes something that should be depressing and turns it into a clever satire with plenty of laughs.

The narrator Cameron hits all of the right notes.  He’s your basic, unambitious sixteen-year-old boy.  It’s kind of sad that the blurbs give away that he’s been diagnosed with Creutzfeldt-Jacob’s disease (Mad Cow for humans), as it builds slowly in the novel, with Cameron having no clue what’s happening to him.  What follows is the saddest part of the novel, as Cameron slowly loses more and more control of his body in the hospital.

Then he meets an angel named Dulcie who tells him to set out with his roommate, hypochondriac dwarf Gonzo, and find Dr. X before he destroys the world.  It is a trip that will end up involving jazz, bland smoothies, a band even bigger than the Beatles, and the Norse god Baldur trapped in the form of a lawn gnome.  (Baldur tends to steal the show.  But hey, he is a god.  Perhaps.)  That is, if Cameron actually goes on a trip at all.  Wherever he goes, the fire giants still manage to find him and cause him unimaginable pain.

Whenever I read a book with a premise like Going Bovine’s, I always wonder if the author will have the guts to kill off the main character in the end.  And with Cameron, you really do wonder if Bray will have the guts to kill off such a great character.  He begins the novel going nowhere, but by then end he’s clearly going somewhere.  Deadlines do work wonders on high school students.

In addition to the character development, humor, and crazy adventure, there is (as mentioned) excellent satire of modern adolescence.  Going Bovine will be particularly entertaining to anyone who dislikes MTV and its slate of reality programming.  There’s also some fun stuff to learn.  Perhaps Going Bovine will cause someone to become interested in physics.  There are also physics Easter eggs.  For instance, there is an important band known as the Copenhagen Interpretation.  The Copenhagen Interpretation relates to quantum physics in some way.  (I wasn’t paying attention when the TA mentioned it.)

I still don’t like the Gemma Doyle books, but now I feel like I’m a Bray fan.  She pulls off dark humor with a heart, which is a feat for any author considering the distance between the two.  And for those who can’t do without it, there’s also a bit of romance.  Let’s not forget that Cameron is sixteen years old.  Any truly great adventure has to involve a girl.  If the girl is a punk angel . . . well, that just makes it even more awesome.

Grade: A+

Summary:
Can Cameron find what he’s looking for?

All 16-year-old Cameron wants is to get through high school—and life in general—with a minimum of effort. It’s not a lot to ask. But that’s before he’s given some bad news: he’s sick and he’s going to die. Which totally sucks. Hope arrives in the winged form of Dulcie, a loopy punk angel/possible hallucination with a bad sugar habit. She tells Cam there is a cure—if he’s willing to go in search of it. With the help of a death-obsessed, video-gaming dwarf and a yard gnome, Cam sets off on the mother of all road trips through a twisted America into the heart of what matters most.
Read an excerpt here.

Liviania’s review of The Fire King (Dirk & Steele, Book 10) by Marjorie M. Liu
Paranormal romance released by Leisure Books 28 July 09

Marjorie M. Liu has written a large number of books in the Dirk & Steele series.  The Fire King is my second, and just as satisfying as the first one I read.  Liu is very good at explaining the essentials and moving on so that you do not feel lost despite the fact she’s written so much in this world.  The Fire King does get surprisingly dark for a romance, as there is discussion of genocide.

I’ve got a bit of a chip on my shoulder about rape in books, particularly UF.  It’s becoming a generic angsty moment, and only a few authors handle the psychological ramifications well.  (For the majority, this TV Tropes article is apt.)  That’s part of why I found Soria interesting.  She’s got a tragic past that left her with only one arm.  Liu went for something other than the obvious, which I appreciate.  Soria did seem a little too tough to be real at points, but I still liked her because Liu was doing something different.  Soria also has a cool power: she can understand any language.

It comes in handy when the Dirk & Steele agency comes into contact with Karr, a man who only speaks a long dead language.  It turns out he’s a Chimera, created by two different types of shape-shifters having a child.  The normal shape-shifters have attempted to hunt the Chimeras to extinction and to make interspecies romance taboo.  It would be standard to have the Chimeras be deeply wronged by their enemies.  Instead, Liu allows them to have a point.  The Chimeras do eventually go insane and then go on a killing rampage.  It doesn’t mean that the Chimeras deserve to die, but it does make the situation somewhat more complex.

Soria and Karr are also backed by an interesting cast.  It makes me wonder who has shown up in past novels and who will show up in future ones.  Some, like the grad student doing field work, I suspect are one-offs.  Others, like Soria’s Tarantino-esque bodyguards, I hope are or will be in other books.  As for the plot, it was okay.  The adventure parts, with Soria and Karr running from the shape-shifters, were exciting.  Why Karr was still alive after 3000 years and all was pretty much an info dump.  Liu didn’t reinvent the wheel with the plot, but it was fun enough.

I enjoyed The Fire King, although my previous exposure to Dirk & Steel (The Wild Road) was better.  Liu’s writing itself is entertaining.  Her prose flows well and describes things rather nicely.  Soria and Karr weren’t the most empathetic leads, but I still liked them since they were something different.  (Okay, Soria more than Karr.  A hero who will probably go crazy has been done in UF and paranormal romance.)  Add in a globe-trotting setting (Mongolia), humorous and ambiguously villainous secondary characters, and chase scenes and you’ve got a summer blockbuster.

In other words, Liu gave me something that I could think about but didn’t really demand it and kept me happy for an hour or two.  Though The Fire King probably won’t top my list of the year’s paranormals, I think it’s a worthwhile read and not just one of the carbon copies that it’s getting harder and harder to avoid.

Grade: B

Summary:
Long ago, shape-shifters were plentiful, soaring through the sky as crows, racing across African veldts as cheetahs, raging furious as dragons atop the Himalayas. Like gods, they reigned supreme. But even gods have laws, and those laws, when broken, destroy.

Zoufalství. Epätoivo. Asa. Three words in three very different languages, and yet Soria understands. Like all members of Dirk & Steele, she has a gift, and hers is communication. When she is chosen to learn the dead language of a shape-shifter resurrected after thousands of years of icy sleep, she discovers a warrior consumed with fury.

Strong as a lion, quick as a serpent–Karr is his name, and in his day he was king. But he is a son of strife, a creature of tragedy. As fire consumed all he loved, so death was to be his atonement. Now, against his will, he has awoken. Zoufalství. Epätoivo. Asa. In English, the word is despair. But Soria knows the words for love.
Read an excerpt here.

Liviania’s review of Intertwined by Gena Showalter
Young adult urban fantasy released by Harlequin Teen 1 Sept 09

I like Gena Showalter’s adult books.  I like young adult books.  It stands to reason that I’d enjoy Gena Showalter’s young adult fiction.  (Yes, I know that is not a logically sound argument.)  For the most part, I did.  Intertwined shares many characteristics with her adult fiction.    It’s fast-moving, with a large cast of characters and multiple plots.

Now, a large cast of characters works well in a romance series where you know each of the heroes and heroines will eventually get their day in the limelight.  It’s a little different when the character development left for later books is that of the voices in the protagonist’s head.  They are separate from him, but it feels like a large piece of Aden Stone is missing since most of the people who commentate on his actions and helped shaped his life are two-dimensional.

The other main storyline belongs to Mary Ann, a girl who can quiet the voices in Aden’s head.  Showalter does pull off a nice trick by making them only friends – their real love interests quickly come to light.  (Of course, by giving them each a romance, Showalter gives herself two more characters to deal with.)  That’s eight leading characters.   It’s ambitious, and Showalter does as well as she can, but sometimes it’s overwhelming.

At this point, the love interests feel somewhat obligatory.  They played into the plot, but I’m not entirely sure I buy the chemistry.  (Mary Ann and her guy work more for me, since they do get in some bonding time that doesn’t seem entirely hormonally fueled.)  However, I do have hope for them and the rest of this series.

Shortly before Showalter begins tying up some of the plot questions raised in Intertwined, she brings completely new ones into play.  I definitely want to read the next book to find even more answers.  Intertwined can be confusing, but it does promise that much of that confusion will be resolved.  With most romance novelists I feel character is their strong suit, but with Showalter I find her plots the most attractive.  They’re labyrinthine, but she knows how to resolve enough to be satisfying while leaving some mystery.  (One note on her characters: Showalter is one of the best writing paranormals to convince you that her characters’ powers do have truly awful downsides.)  Overall, I thought Intertwined was flawed, but worth reading for fans of urban fantasy.

Grade: B-

Summary:
Most sixteen-year-olds have friends. Aden Stone has four human souls living inside him:

One can time-travel.

One can raise the dead.

One can tell the future.

And one can possess another human.

With no other family and a life spent in and out of institutions, Aden and the souls have become friends. But now they’re causing him all kinds of trouble. Like, he’ll blink and suddenly he’s a younger Aden, reliving the past. One wrong move, and he’ll change the future. Or he’ll walk past a total stranger and know how and when she’s going to die.

He’s so over it. All he wants is peace.

And then he meets a girl who quiets the voices. Well, as long as he’s near her. Why? Mary Ann Gray is his total opposite. He’s a loner; she has friends. He doesn’t care what anyone thinks; she tries to make everyone happy. And while he attracts the paranormal, she repels it. For her sake, he should stay away. But it’s too late….

Somehow, they share an inexplicable bond of friendship. A bond about to be tested by a werewolf shape-shifter who wants Mary Ann for his own, and a vampire princess Aden can’t resist.

Two romances, both forbidden. Still, the four will enter a dark underworld of intrigue and danger but not everyone will come out alive….
Read an excerpt here.

Liviania’s review of (Re)cycler by Lauren McLaughlin
Young adult released by Random House 26 Aug 09

I read Cycler because I enjoy novels that tackle gender issues, but I found it disappointing.  But when Sybs asked me to review (Re)cycler, my basic reaction was, “Why not?”  I’m glad I did that, because this is one sequel that is far better than its predecessor.  I recommend skipping Cycler and going straight to (Re)cycler.  It might be a little confusing, but Lauren McLaughlin does a fine job of summarizing what came before.

First improvement?  Jack gets something to do.  He’s no longer stuck in a room with nothing to do but read porn.  Instead, he’s trying to find friends despite the fact he’s never been socialized.  He did get secondhand experience from Jill, and quickly finds himself reacting to situations like a girl rather than a teenage guy.  While struggling with his masculinity, his relationship with Ramie becomes more strained as she follows her own interests and dreams.  (And I think Ramie may have some interest in Jill that causes frustration.)

As for Jill, she’s been separated from her boyfriend and finds herself in control of her body for shorter and shorter periods of time.  It’s a nice reflection of the way she’s trying to take control of her body by losing her virginity.  It’s a prickly topic that I don’t want to get into in a book review, but McLaughlin does a very good job of showing how girls are supposed to be good and supposed to put out and how it becomes more complicated when you’re taught your first time should be special but also that you shouldn’t make a big deal of it because then you’re letting the patriarchy win.

And here’s another advantage of both Jack and Jill being out: wacky hijinks.  (I’m surprised that no one thinks Jack/Jill is a crossdresser.)  The change between the two has become a lot more fluid, which leads to a lot of awkward situations, including Jack getting stuck naked in an alley.  It’s often ridiculous, but it falls on the side of funny rather than stupid.

(Re)cycler is a great examination of what it means to be in your late teens and deciding who you are.  Jack wants to be a man’s man, but he’s doesn’t really know what that means and is uncomfortable with the fact he’s subconsciously gendered female.  Jill wants to be feminine, with a proper romance and everything, but worries that she can never be a real girl since she does share a body with a guy.  I like that both of them are somewhat scared of Jack’s relationship with Jill’s boyfriend, Tommy.  (I do miss Tommy being on the scene, though there are several interesting new characters on the scene.)

I hope there’s a third book in the series.  I feel there are enough ends left open to justify it, even if (Re)cycler’s conclusion is much more solid than Cycler’s.  McLaughlin has matured her characters into people I’d like to spend more time with, in addition to improving her presentation of ideas.

Grade: B+

Summary:
How do you grow up, if who you are keeps changing?

Jill McTeague is not your average high school graduate, she’s a scientific anomaly. Every month for four days she turns into Jack, a guy—complete with all the parts. Now everyone in her hometown knows that something very weird is up with her. So what’s a girl (and a guy) to do? Get the heck out of town, that’s what! With her kooky best friend, Ramie, Jill sets out for New York City. There both she and Jack will have to figure out everything from the usual (relationships) to the not so usual (career options for a “cycler,” anyone?).

As in Cycler, the first book featuring Jack and Jill, author Lauren McLaughlin deftly weaves the downright mundane with the outright bizarre in a story that, while defying classification, is peopled with characters that readers can fully relate to.
Read an excerpt here.

Liviania’s review of Apocalypse Happens (The Phoenix Chronicles, Book 3) by Lori Handeland
Contemporary paranormal romance released by St. Martin’s 3 Nov 09

On some level, I know this series is not as good as most of the other urban fantasy I read.  On the other hand, I find it extremely enjoyable.  I actually skipped the second book, but I could easily pick up what occurred and go from there.  (Though I do want to read it now, since quite a bit happened.)  I think that may be why I like this series.  I tend to like things that entertain me no matter what, and let’s face it: stuff happening is entertaining.  (That’s part of why post-season one Heroes sucks.) 

Oddly, there’s one aspect of The Phoenix Chronicles that both weakens and strengthens it for me.  [SPOILERS FOR SECOND BOOK.]  Elizabeth Phoenix becomes a vampire because her ghostly mentor tells her she needs an evil side.  Now, she has a collar to keep her vampire self under wraps, but sometimes she hears whispers of her own evil desires.

Watching Liz struggle with the darkness she’s taken into herself is interesting.  At the same time, it seems like a heinously bad idea even if it does help her and on-again off-again love Jimmy Sanducci at times.  She’s the leader of the good side.  Personally, I’d want my leader more on my side than a failing enchanted necklace that isn’t that hard to unclasp.  But that’s just me.

As for her love interests, there’s a nice balance of Jimmy and Sawyer.  Due to the events of Doomsday Can Wait and the beginning of Apocalypse Happens, Jimmy understandably wants space.  But Liz needs to get closer to Sawyer in order to go after Apocalypse Happens’ Big Bad, and perhaps discover once and for all whether he really is on her side.  And you know all that stuff happening?  I can’t wait to find out what happens in the relationships in the fourth book, Chaos Bites, due to everything that happens in the climax.

I also appreciate that Lori Handeland is finally revealing some information about Liz’s biological heritage.  But that brings the book once more to Sawyer’s tendency to do squicky things despite being the hero.  In Any Given Doomsday, he drugs Liz then sleeps with her.  This time it was more consensual, but he still keeps to the line of not being as sexy as he should be for the narrative due to bad behavior.

I will be back for the fourth outing since I find the Phoenix Chronicles fun.  I think most will find them fun, but for those who are exacting in their requirements for paranormal romance, this might not be the series to pick up.

Grade: C+

Read more reviews on this series by clicking on its tag here.

Summary:

Elizabeth Phoenix is one of a select few with the power to battle those who have escaped from the darkest level of hell—demons bent on destroying humanity and reclaiming earth once and for all. Liz is determined to stop yet another Doomsday. But this time, it’s going to be more difficult than ever because someone she thought was dead isn’t dead anymore…and is bound and determined to destroy Liz and everyone she loves in the upcoming Apocalypse.

Liz has arrived in Los Angeles to ferret out a nest of varcolacs: half human, half dragon creatures who crave the destruction of the sun and moon. But before she can prevent the kind of eclipse that would bring the world to an end, Liz must mine the depths of her own heart. She and her former lover Jimmy Sanducci have some personal demons to battle—and there’s always her mentor, the Navajo shaman Sawyer. Is he on their side or isn’t he? In the end, the three of them must find a way to fight together…or perish alone.

Read an excerpt here.

Other books in the series:

Chaos Bites (Book 4), Spring 2010

Liviania’s review of The Darkest Whisper (Lords of the Underworld, Book 4) by Gena Showalter
Paranormal romance released by HQN 25 Aug 09

This was my second Lords of the Underworld novel and third Gena Showalter overall.  Now, she’s no Kresley Cole, but I definitely enjoy her writing.  She pulls you into the story and gets things moving immediately.  Heck, The Darkest Whisper begins mid-battle.  That’s the kind of badass beginning an immortal warrior and his harpy love deserve.

And if you like your romantic leads best when they’re overcoming large obstacles, you’ll love Sabin and Gwen.  Sabin, like all the Lords of the Underworld, contains a demon.  His is Doubt, constantly needling at the psyches of those around him.  His girlfriends have a tendency to kill themselves, which puts a real damper on his love life.  It doesn’t help that he’s totally focused on the leader of the Hunters, Galen, and willing to use anybody if it means reaching his goal.

Gwen, on the other hand, grew up confused by the conflict of her violent harpy nature with her softer, angelic side.  It undermined her confidence and turned her into a meek, scared woman.  Being captured and forced to watch other women tortured didn’t do much to make her feel better about herself.  She’s exactly the sort of woman Sabin should avoid.  Yet Showalter makes it work.  Gwen’s confidence grows quickly, but naturally.  In the end you might wish she decided some things differently, but her decisions were true to her character.  She’s soft-hearted, but knows she can defeat anyone in the room if she needs to.

I find it hard to discuss The Darkest Whisper critically.  Showalter made that part of my brain click off.  She made me sit back and relax, and I let her since I needed it.  I must say I admire how she handles her massive cast.  The others aren’t enigmas waiting for their own books, but receive a decent amount of character development and have adventures unrelated to the main couple.

I particularly enjoyed the interaction between Torin and Cameo.  Theirs is an unusual relationship for a romance, including the fact they have to stick to sex acts like mutual masturbation due to Torin’s condition and don’t intend to ever love each other.  (Also, Torin was attracted to Nïx’s ears, which makes me long for an even fuller crossover between the Lords of the Underworld and the Immortals After Dark.)

I also enjoyed the development of Gideon.  He is hard to understand when outside his POV, since he can’t say what he means.  But inside he’s extremely interesting – devoted to Paris and enjoying his demon, since it comes with a nice set of benefits.  The others tend to angst about it at least a little more, so it’s a nice change of pace.

I do enjoy how the series arc is developing.  Searches for artifacts can be annoying, but Showalter downplays that aspect of it.  She focuses more on what the enemy is doing to defeat the Lords, what Cronus is up to in his position of power over the Lords, and what might happen to them once they do manage to gather the artifacts and restore Pandora’s Box.

It makes it worth coming back for the story, not just for seeing a favorite character pair off happily ever after.

Grade: B+

Read other reviews on this series by following its tag here.

Summary:

New York Times bestselling sensation Gena Showalter returns with her long-awaited next installment of the Lords of the Underworld series…

He is the keeper of Doubt and his entire world’s about to be rocked.

Bound by the demon of doubt, Sabin unintentionally destroys even the most confident of lovers. So the immortal warrior spends his time on the battlefield instead of the bedroom, victory his only concern…until he meets Gwendolyn the Timid. One taste of the beautiful redhead, and he craves more.

Gwen, an immortal herself, always thought she’d fall for a kind human who wouldn’t rouse her darker side. But when Sabin frees her from prison, battling their enemies for the claim to Pandora’s box turns out to be nothing compared to the battle Sabin and Gwen will wage against love…

Read an excerpt here.

Other books in the series:

Two Quick Quack DNF Reviews by Liviania

It’s rare that I don’t finish a book.  I try to pick up stuff that I think I’ll like and then I’m generous with giving it time to get good.  Generally, I feel picking a book up is a commitment.  It was in late junior high before I began not-finishing books.  On the other hand, it’s something I feel I need to do more.  There’s too much out there to read to waste time on books I’m not into.  However, the reasons I’m not into something may be wildly disparate. 

Soul Catcher (The Outsider, Book 1) by Leigh Bridger
Paranormal romance released by Bell Bridge Books 20 Oct 09

Soul Catcher has an awesome premise.  Reality is made of multiple dimensions and some beings like to travel among them.  Livia is born again and again to throw out unruly demons who negatively affect Earth.  Born with her are a group of protectors, to insure she can do her job.

How do they do so?  Why, they let her grow up ignorant of what her creepy paintings mean and only give her the truth once she’s brutally raped by her demonic enemy who apparently gets her every life.  I had to throw the book at the wall due to this passage:

“We’re here to help you. . . . If you listen to your soul and see past the surface, the evil souls will never seduce you again.”

I stiffened.  “I wasn’t seduced.  I was raped and nearly beaten to death.”

“Yes, but he lured you.  He charmed you.  And all because you didn’t recognize his evil soul hiding behind his handsome face.”

Yeah Livia.  It was your own damn fault you got raped.  Certainly not mine.  I mean, my purpose in being reborn isn’t to help you.  I haven’t known you for years in which I could’ve given you this info dump.  No, there’s no way my teaching you about your powers earlier could’ve prevented the rape.  Not that even then it would still be his fault, since he’s a rapist, not anyone else’s for failing to defend adequately against rape.  Because, you know, not being able to defend yourself against rape means you wanted to get raped.  It means you deserved it.

Book. Wall.  (Followed soon after by the trash can, is my recommendation.)

Grade: DNF

Summary:

From the gothic eccentricity of Asheville, North Carolina, to the terrifying recesses of the Appalachian wilderness, from modern demonology to ancient Cherokee mythology, Soul Catcher follows the tormented journey of folk artist Livia Belane, who has been stalked through many lives by a sadistic and vengeful demon. Livia and her loved ones, including her frontier-era soulmate and husband, Ian, a Soul Hunter, have never beaten the demon before. Now, in this life, it’s found them again.

Read an excerpt here.

—

Blood Kin (Blood Lines, Book 3) by Maria Lima
Urban fantasy released by Juno/Pocket 27 Oct 09

Blood Kin has an interesting cast.  The heroine is heir to quite a bit of power, but she has no clue about any of it and would rather remain the family outcast.  She’s got a fairy cousin, a gay werewolf brother, and a vampire boyfriend.  It could be ridiculous, but Keira Kelly’s voice is down to earth.  I’m also willing to forgive a lot in a book that praises the Texas landscape this much.

So why am I setting Blood Kin down?  Because I’m on page 140 of the ARC and nothing has happened, that’s why.  Keira’s grandmother called her home to Canada since she’s now the heir.  Keira says her goodbyes and goes to Canada.  Due to weather, Keira and entourage are stuck in the city for a bit until they can go to the homestead.  In the city, they discover that there’s possibly a Sidhe around that possibly killed a random musician.

I’ve been having a rough couple of weeks.  I need something more compelling than “I kind of like the characters.”  I may try Blood Kin again when I’m less busy, but for now it’s putting me to sleep.  It’s a generally accepted rule of plot that something needs to happen before the book is halfway over.

Grade: DNF

Summary:

The perils of power…

Keira Kelly has come into her full powers, and they are frighteningly strong, creating a distance between her and her human friends in her beloved Rio Seco.  It is time to obey her great-great-grandmother Gigi’s orders and rejoin her family in northwest Canada, where Keira can learn to handle her dangerous new skills.

She’ll have friends with her every step of the way — her shapeshifter brother Tucker, his beloved Niko, and, to Keira’s dismay, her cousin on her mother’s side, Daffyd ap Geraint, the Sidhe prince who suddenly appeared in her life and now refuses to leave — but her vampire lover Adam has insisted on staying in Texas.

And while there are certainly perks to being Family, such as a private Learjet for the flight to Canada and a fabulous penthouse condo overlooking Vancouver, there are threats looming that nobody, not even Gigi, anticipated. Keira’s Sidhe inheritance from her mother is far more important than anyone ever realized, and the fate of the Family may depend upon what she does next….

Read an excerpt here.

Liviania’s review of Ice Song by Kirsten Imani Kisai
Science fiction/fantasy released by Del Rey 19 May 2009

Sybil quickly figured out that I enjoy stories that play with gender.  Many people are intrigued by what separates men and women, but I enjoy that separation even more when it’s illuminated by a blending of the characteristics.  Therefore, a story about a main character who transitions from female to male naturally seemed right up my alley.

Unfortunately, that’s one of the weakest aspects of the story.  Sorykah doesn’t become Soryk until over a hundred pages into the novel.  Then, she only stays Soryk briefly; it’s just long enough to meet a girl, become attached, have sex.  The relationship does spur on many later events in the novel, but it felt clumsy.  Until the finale, Soryk doesn’t serve much purpose other than having sex and preventing Sorykah from moving forward in her quest since he has no clue what her quest is.

Fortunately, Kirsten Imani Kasai imagined an interesting world.  Many people are born with strange deformities in this dystopia, and discriminated against.  One man, the Collector, enjoys experimenting on them and has just stolen Sorykah’s twin babies.  He’s incredibly creepy, and his servants provide the most intriguing point of views.  After all, those who work for him are the same as those he hunts.  But they do have their reasons.

I like Ice Song best when it’s being a straight ahead sci-fi adventure about a mother and her allies against the man who stole her children.  The relationship between Sidra and Soryk becomes touching after its clumsy start, so I could forgive the seeming gratuity of it.  But I find the other sex scenes in the book fairly unpalatable, as – this is something of a SPOILER – Sorykah is forced to prostitute herself in order to receive information about her children.  This interlude did explore the consequences of the setting, but I just feel like I’d be more interested in the questions it presents in a different book.  Here it slowed down the action.  It seemed to me like Kasai tried to inject some eroticism, but only made the sex disturbing instead of titillating.

Ice Song was not what I was expecting.  I mostly enjoyed it, though the parts I didn’t like I really didn’t like.  The unevenness took away from the reading experience.  I may pick up something else by Kasai in the future since this is her first novel.  Though the execution was clumsy, she had several ideas that I would love to see her explore again once she gains more experience.  I would recommend Ice Song to fans of dystopian fiction who don’t mind fantastic elements, since the worldbuilding was the strongest part of the novel.

Grade: B-

Summary
There are secrets beneath her skin.

Sorykah Minuit is a scholar, an engineer, and the sole woman aboard an ice-drilling submarine in the frozen land of the Sigue. What no one knows is that she is also a Trader: one who can switch genders suddenly, a rare corporeal deviance universally met with fascination and superstition and all too often punished by harassment or death.

Sorykah’s infant twins, Leander and Ayeda, have inherited their mother’s Trader genes. When a wealthy, reclusive madman known as the Collector abducts the babies to use in his dreadful experiments, Sorykah and her male alter-ego, Soryk, must cross icy wastes and a primeval forest to get them back. Complicating the dangerous journey is the fact that Sorykah and Soryk do not share memories: Each disorienting transformation is like awakening with a jolt from a deep and dreamless sleep.

The world through which the alternating lives of Sorykah and Soryk travel is both familiar and surreal. Environmental degradation and genetic mutation run amok; humans have been distorted into animals and animal bodies cloak a wild humanity. But it is also a world of unexpected beauty and wonder, where kindness and love endure amid the ruins. Alluring, intense, and gorgeously rendered, Ice Song is a remarkable debut by a fiercely original new writer.
Read an excerpt here.

Liviania’s review of Freudian Slip by Erica Orloff
Contemporary paranormal romance released by HQN 1 June 09

I decided to read Freudian Slip because it looked fun, little more than a cute title and pair of legs on the cover.  I now need to get to my local secondhand bookstore in order to search out Erica Orloff’s backlist.  After all, until I read her previous novels I can’t properly consider myself a fan.  But Freudian Slip is enough to make me a fan of Orloff on its own merits. 

Kate just discovered her fiancé David in bed with her best friend Leslie, only to go home and discover her apartment burgled and her dog missing.  Julian just got shot and is comatose in the hospital.  Neither one of them is having a good day.  Then Julian discovers he’s supposed to act as a guide for Kate and help her discover what she needs.  The problem is that Julian is a grade-A jerk obsessed with lesbian porn and drugs.

Kate does not begin the novel entirely unconfident.  But she is in a bad place, and needs to feel she’s beautiful and attractive again.  It’s wonderful to watch her rebuild her life and to see Julian get over his self-obsession by focusing on someone else’s needs.   Julian could be very easy to hate, but Orloff does an incredible job with his character.  His past behavior is explained, but never excused, and the changes in his character seem organic rather than forced.

Developing an afterlife is always tricky, but Orloff really nails it.  Though the structure is Judeo Christian based, she incorporates other religions and doesn’t preach.  She’s also created one of the most terrifying hells I’ve ever read.  It’s simple, but she describes it in an incredibly chilling manner.  It definitely made me more worried about Julian signing his soul to hell.  It also provides a brief moment of pity for the demon characters who have to live that way.

Orloff also navigates the difficult waters of Kate’s grief for her father, a firefighter who died in 9/11.  She shared a close relationship with him, and was additionally hurt by her mother’s quick remarriage.  It’s been several years, but she never dealt with her grief and her current stress level forces her to face her issues.  And I love that she gets a therapist instead of just relying on the voice in her head.  I also love the balance Orloff strikes between dealing with Kate’s romantic troubles and her other issues.  She adds substance without making Freudian Slip angsty or depressing.

Freudian Slip is cute, like I hoped when I saw the cover and title.  But it feels like much more.  The characters had incredible chemistry and a true series of obstacles to overcome.  Some plots did feel dropped unexpectedly – what did happen to Leslie’s soul?   Or David’s?  Yeah, they did something bad, but Julian was forgiven for worse.  However, I didn’t those questions didn’t come to mind until after I was done reading.  Orloff pulled me in and didn’t set me free until the last page.

Grade: A

Summary:

When shock jock Julian Shaw is shot, he expects a white light, or perhaps his dearly departed grandmother. What he gets instead is a Guide, Gus, and an assignment: a lovesick Kate Darby, whose life is a mess. A romantic comedy . . . between Heaven and Hell.

Read an excerpt here.

Liviania’s Quick-Quack Review of Queene of Light (Lightworld/Darkworld, Book 1) by Jennifer Armintrout
Paranormal romance released by MIRA 29 Sep 09

Jennifer Armintrout wrote a popular series about vampires, and now she’s moving onto that other familiar supernatural creature, faeries.  I enjoyed her premise, since posits the opposite of many supernatural “coming-outs.”  The humans remain more powerful, and the supernatural is forced to live in the sewers.  But the Seelie and Unseelie still don’t like each other, causing life in the sewers to be sharply divided.

Ayla, an assassin, is looked down-upon because of her half-human heritage.  She takes pride in her job, but the only way to improve her lot is to marry Garret, the queen’s brother, who has been pushing his suit.  Of course, she sees him as her mentor only, not as a love interest.  But in the sewers she runs across the Death Angel Malachi and fails to kill him, as she is sworn too.  Unfortunately, she finds herself more drawn to him than wanting to kill him.

I found both Ayla and Malachi to be interesting characters. While Ayla is strongly shaped by the prejudices of her people, Malachi is much less familiar with society.  Ayla tries to do her best based on what she knows of the world, although her decisions might not always be the best based on what the reader knows.  I also liked the side characters, from the mad queen to the strange Keller who aids Malachi.

I must admit, I also enjoy the political maneuvering of Garret.  He’s unlikeable, but understandable.  His mad sister is not a great ruler and he can’t take the throne since he’s male.  If he were more honorable and less selfish, he could have been the hero of a similar story.

There were not many twists and turns in Queene of Light, but there was an enjoyable story set in a solid world.  I look forward to the other two novels in the series to see what Armintrout will do with her sewer-bound faery land.  I may also pick up the aforementioned vampire books, to see if her premise in them is as inventive.

Grade: B

Summary:

An unimagined destiny an undeniable passion.

In a time not long from now, the veil between fantasy and reality is ripped asunder creatures of myth and fairytale spill into the mortal world. Enchanted yet horrified, humans force the magical beings Underground, to colonize the sewers and abandoned subway tunnels beneath their glittering cities.

But even magic folk cannot dwell in harmony and soon two Worlds emerge: the Lightworld, home to faeries, dragons and dwarves; and the Darkworld, where vampires, werewolves, angels and demons lurk.

Now, in the dank and shadowy place between Lightworld and Darkworld, a transformation is about to begin….

Ayla, a half-faery, half-human assassin is stalked by Malachi, a Death Angel tasked with harvesting mortal souls. They clash. Immortality evaporates, forging a bond neither may survive. And in the face of unbridled ambitions and untested loyalties, an ominous prophecy is revealed that will shake the Worlds.

No excerpt found.

Hello!   Today NYT-bestselling author Libba Bray is visiting the Pond on her Going Bovine tour, between stops to Teen Reads and YA Books Central.

Going Bovine is Libba’s fourth novel, following the successful A Great and Terrible Beauty, Rebel Angels, and The Sweet Far Thing.  This Texas-born minister’s daughter now lives with her husband in New York, where she plays in a band in addition to writing.

I had fun with this interview due to Libba’s sense of humor – I couldn’t bring myself to delete her answers to the questions I didn’t have time to send her. You may notice some similarities to a Duck Chat. I think Sandy’s done a great job of making them emblematic of the Pond, so I asked permission to use some of her questions. But on to the interview! (After all, you’re here for that, not my babbling.)

L: Based on your blog and involvement in the all-YA-author band TIGER BEAT, music is fairly important to you.  What songs do you associate with Going Bovine?  Does music help you write or do you need a quieter environment?

LB: I’m a stone-cold music freak. A music nerd. A musicaholic. I love everything about it. And yes, music really helps me write. I make an iPod playlist for every project, and part of the writing process for me is trying to figure out what songs set the mood for the book. I’ll add and delete songs as I go along and get a better sense of what’s what.

For Going Bovine, I picked songs for Cameron’s life before he’s diagnosed and songs for the journey/quest he takes after his diagnosis. So, in the beginning, there’s Add It Up/The Violent Femmes (the ultimate adolescent angst rant) and Pompeii AM Gotterdammerung/The Flaming Lips, which gives me a sense of existential loneliness, of trying to outrun your demons. Later on, there are funny-weird songs, like Mama Told Me Not to Come/Three Dog Night. There are thoughtful songs: Pink Moon/Nick Drake and Trouble/Ray LaMontagne. There are songs that impart a sense of impending doom, like Klaus Nomi’s version of Purcell’s The Cold Song.

The last song on the playlist is Joy/Apollo 100. Isn’t that where we’d all like to end up? (Not necessarily in a discofied version of Bach but Joy for sure.)

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

LB: Being at home. I really need to get out to another space so I won’t see the laundry, hear the phone, check the refrigerator for food distractions. If I write from home, I need the company of other writers to help me focus.

L: Do you feel there is an artistic and/or technical difference between Going Bovine and the Gemma Doyle trilogy, beyond the obvious difference in genre and tone?

LB: Hmmm. I think I’d probably be the least qualified person to answer that as the writer. That’s really more of a reader/critical question, and if I’m in that head space, I’m not in a creative head space, you know? What I will say is that there are more obvious allusions in Going Bovine—Don Quixote, Norse mythology, Greek mythology, Ovid. But yeah. I’ll have to let others answer that.

L: Your popular Gemma Doyle trilogy is a paranormal period piece.  Going Bovine is contemporary and satirical.  You’ve published short stories in different kinds of anthologies, from 21 Proms to Vacations from Hell.  Clearly you’re comfortable switching genres.  Is there one you find easiest to write? Hardest?  What themes do you feel unite your works?

LB: Wow. Great question. I do love to switch genres. My husband (literary agent, Barry Goldblatt) once asked all of his clients whose career path they admired and I said, “Johnny Depp.” I love that he can just disappear into characters as far-ranging as Ed Wood and Edward Scissorhands, Sweeney Todd and Captain Jack Sparrow. I want to play in a big sandbox with all the toys. J Humor is probably the easiest thing for me to write, but a particular voice in humor—sardonic, surreal, absurdist. The hardest thing for me is linear thought. I am total stream-of-consciousness, often to my detriment. I like to weave in lots of plot strands but considering that I can’t even take an organized trip to the grocery store, this is a challenge. Plot takes a lot of work. A LOT of work. Argh.

As for uniting themes, I’d say most of the characters I write about are outsiders in some way. They’re loners who long to belong, to be a part of the world, but who secretly suspect that they will not be able to. They are afraid of their own messy human vulnerability.

Any resemblance to the author is purely coincidental.

L:  What genres would you like to explore in the future?  Do you think you’ll write a non-YA title in the future?

LB: I’d like to explore everything: Mystery, romance, horror, Haiku performance art in Pig Latin. Screenwriting. Playwriting. Everything. I really love writing YA. There is one adult novella I’ve been kicking around for about ten years. I hope to finish it before the next ten years are up. And at some point, I really would like to write another play. I love theatre.

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

LB: Oh yeah. And they flip me the bird and say, “Screw you. We’re doing it this way. And you know what? It’s going to take even longer to write this book because of it! Ha!”

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

LB: Q: Where do your ideas come from?

A: I stole them from the last person who asked. And then I lay him/her in a shallow grave deep in the forest where no human ever goes. But that was a long time ago, and I’m in need of new ideas. By the way, did you tell anyone you were meeting me here today?

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

LB: Oh, absolutely. The whole process surprises me. I’m always amazed by people who seem to be The Book Whisperers and who can prove to their books that they are the Alpha Writer who will be obeyed. For me, writing a book is more like a relationship between two strong-willed people. You each have illusions about the other, about how this thing is going to go, and at some point, you’re going to have those illusions challenged: One day, your loved one tells you he’s quit his job so the two of you can take an RV across America. And you think, “Are you insane? Wait, I didn’t sign up for this. This was supposed to involve a Craftsman bungalow and children who learn Chinese as a second language. Let’s stick to the plan.”

And he says, “Yes, but I don’t think you really want that. And neither do I. I think there’s something profound waiting for us out there.” He pats the side of the RV, and you feel slightly panicked. “Let me get this straight: You want me to abandon the plan we had and take a crazy, who-know-where ride in THAT? It says ‘Love Machine’ on the side in bubble letters, for Christ’s sakes! And who is that person in the clown suit? He scares me. We’ll probably need shots.” And your loved one offers you his hand and says, “Trust me.”

The temptation is to cut and run. To refuse his open hand and say, “No. We are not doing this,” and try to change the person into an accountant with a steady paycheck who works well on paper. But if I resist that temptation, if I allow the person to be who he is, if I have some trust and take the ride, he’ll probably show me who I really am, too.

I just try to be really open, to remove the blocks as they come up—and they do come up. They say that there should be conflict in your writing. I also think there should be conflict between you and the book. That you should feel a little scared by the book you’re writing. Otherwise, it’s probably not worth a damn.

L: I love the title Going Bovine.  Was it your title, Random House’s marketing department, or some other source?  Were any other titles considered?

LB: That one’s all mine. It’s funny with titles. It seems like they either spring from your head fully formed or you kill yourself trying to come up with them. That one sprang fully formed. Thank you, universe.

L: What has been your favorite book cover from all of your releases and why?

LB: Going Bovine. Trish Parcell Watts, who has done all of my covers, is fabulous, and I think she outdid herself with this one. I mean, she found an anxious-looking cow! How inspired is that? I think it does a terrific job of describing the book with minimal fanfare. Trish is so talented. I’m lucky to know her.

L: How about your least favorite cover?  What would you change to make it more palatable?

LB: My least favorite cover was the first cover concept for Rebel Angels. That first concept was a little slicker and magazine spread-ish, and I felt that it didn’t really fit the book. (Authors don’t get cover approval, by the way.) But we all sort of came to the conclusion that the cover wasn’t exactly right and that it needed to look stylistically like a companion to the first book. After much thought and consideration, Random House decided to go with the cover you see now, which was more in fitting with the tone of A Great and Terrible Beauty. Like I said, I think Trish does great work.

L: What’s it like to be part of the New York Young Adult literary scene?  It seems like there are a number of close relationships between the authors as well as a variety of events designed to get local teens reading.

LB: You make me sound like I lead a very glamorous life. The truth is, there’s a lot of laundry and early morning soccer matches and wondering what exciting things can be done to dinner.

But yes, there is a wonderful NYC YA scene. Maybe it’s that YA has been so marginalized by the adult writing community and many factions of the mainstream press (Really, if I read one more story that starts off with something along the lines of, “Well, I don’t usually bother reading that crappy, emo YA…” I will scream. Why is that okay? Why is it okay to denigrate an entire area of literature—and be wrong about it? But I digress.) but the young adult writing community tends to be pretty supportive of one another. We attend each other’s events. We publicize each other’s events and retweet those good reviews. I feel quite lucky to be part of such a great group of human beings, not to mention great writers.

David Levithan really should get a lot of credit for fostering these close relationships in the New York community. He’s the one who organized YA Author Drink Night once a month. And this year, he started the NYC Teen Festival, which was a success and will start up again next year. Sometimes, we writers get together to work; sometimes we get together to hang out and eat guacamole and watch movies and kvetch.

L: Which of your narrators do you empathize most with?  Who from your non-POV characters?

LB: Whomever I’m writing at the time. J

With my non-POV characters, I can relate to some of Gonzo’s little phobias and to Dulcie’s free-spirited delight in simple things and the Gorgon’s attempt to accept what is and Mrs. Nighwing’s desire to do the right thing. I’m glad I got to spend a fair amount of time with all of them.

L: Question about novel

LB: Answer about novel.

L: Question about novel

LB: Witty and profound answer about novel.

L: Question about novel

LB: Slightly contentious answer about novel with a smart, rhetorical question at the end.

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

LB: Wear sunscreen. Also, seat belts. And don’t quit piano lessons.

L: 10 seconds on your blog (or a viewing of your book trailer) reveals a wild sense of humor.  What were your biggest comedic influences?  Do you ever worry about jokes falling flat or do you just blurt them out before you have time to overthink it?

LB: Sadly, I often blurt things out before I have a chance to think about them. It might explain my limited social pool.

My biggest comedic influence, hands down, was Monty Python. That just shaped my whole world. Also, National Lampoon magazine (especially the writing of Doug Kenney and P.J. O’Rourke), Saturday Night Live, The Carol Burnett Show, Douglas Adams, Kurt Vonnegut, Tom Robbins, Woody Allen, my parents, Mel Brooks, bands like The Tubes, movies like Harold & Maude, Spinal Tap, and The Graduate, drag queens, The Rocky Horror Picture Show.

Really, it explains so much about me. Like the uncomfortable laughter at my dinner parties.

L: If you were a book, what would your blurb be?

LB: “Libba Bray, the novel, is a wild, rollicking ride of odd quirks, strange delights, and quiet insights with an edgy punk beat you can dance to. But beneath the book’s gimlet-eyed quips and Absurdist humor lies a surprisingly tender heart concerned with the fragile beauty of trying to be fully human in an often inhumane world.”

L: What would be your “voice’s” tagline?

LB: It’s always the ministers’ daughters you have to watch out for.

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

LB: I’d be a bitter alcoholic. Or dead.

Lightning Round:

- dark or milk chocolate? Milk
- smooth or chunky peanut butter? – Chunky
- heels or flats?  Converse. So, flats.
- coffee or tea? Both
- summer or winter? Both
- mountains or beach? Beach
- mustard or mayonnaise? Mustard. (Mayo. Eww.)
- flowers or candy? Candy flowers.
- pockets or purse? Pockets.
- Pepsi or Coke? Coke.
- ebook or print? PRINT!

And just because:

1. What is your favorite word? Redemption. Also, wow. I say “wow” a lot, I realize.
2. What is your least favorite word? I’m a writer. I don’t have any least favorite words.
3. What turns you on creatively, spiritually or emotionally? Everything. And music twice.
4. What turns you off creatively, spiritually or emotionally? Mediocrity. And my own tendency toward artistic self-flagellation.
5. What sound or noise do you love? My son’s laughter
6. What sound or noise do you hate? Vomiting.
7. What is your favorite curse word? Motherfucker. (I’m smiling just typing it.)
8. What profession other than your own would you like to attempt? Musician or humanitarian aid worker.
9. What profession would you not like to do?  Submarine commander (claustrophobia)
10. If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates? Great to see you again.

Thanks for visiting the Pond, Libba!

Liviania’s Quick Quack Reviews of A Bunch of Category Romances by a Bunch of Authors
Paranormal and contemporary romances released Jun-Jul 2009

That’s right, I’m back in the US and all moved into my apartment.  But . . . I’ve got a lot to catch up on.  So here’s some short reviews of various Harlequins I read on vacation.  That’s the lovely thing about eBooks – you can take them anywhere without affecting the weight of your baggage.  [Gwen ed.: we made her save room in her luggage for booze and chocolate souvenirs for us ducks.] 

The Highwayman (Wicked Games, Book 1) by Michele Hauf
Paranormal romance released by Silhouette Nocturne 1 Jul 09

This is my second exposure to Michele Hauf, the first being a Nocturne Bite.  I enjoyed the short story, but found it a bit thin.  It can be hard to develop two characters in a very limited page count.  Luckily, the hero and heroine of The Highwayman get more development, though part of the hero’s reasoning still remains opaque to me.

Aby is a familiar – in the case, a familiar is someone who brings demons into the world through having sex.  Max has a deprivation demon trapped inside of him, making him unable to sleep, orgasm, or feel full.  This has made him a little testy.  But he’s found a way to escape his fate with Aby’s help – but he still plans to kill her afterwards, even after he gets to know her.  I prefer my heroes to be less intent on spilling the heroine’s blood.  Especially when they’re an otherwise reasonable person and the heroine has given them no reason.

Max’s stubborn homicidal tendencies would annoy me more if the plot didn’t work so well.  It moves right along, building the mythology of familiars, revealing Max’s past, and moving the characters to France for the final showdown.  It’s quick and fun, just like a category should be. I look forward to the second book in the miniseries, Moon Kissed, available September 1.

Grade: B

Summary:
.
Max Fitzroy, the legendary Highwayman, had slain scores of demons with a razorlike whip and a burning need for revenge. Now, to rid himself of the demon inside him—who’d cursed him with immortality and stolen all sensual pleasures—Max needed a witch’s familiar, the one creature he’d made a career of killing.
.
But the Highwayman wasn’t prepared for the familiar named Aby. The sleek and sexy conduit to the demon world saw past his swirling shadow as easily as he scaled the walls she’d erected to protect herself. Max needed Aby to grant him his freedom, and then he needed to slay her. But how could he destroy the only creature he’d desired in centuries?
.
Read an excerpt here.

Wild Wolf (The Pack) by Karen Whiddon
Paranormal romance released by Silhouette Nocturne 1 Jul 09

I haven’t read any of Karen Whiddon’s other Pack books, but she quickly sketches out the important parts of her world and moves onto the relationship and plot. Simon is a member of the Pack, charged with finding feral werewolves and deciding whether they can be rehabilitated or need to be put down. Raven is a feral werewolf, living along after a traumatic experience with a mad scientist.

I can buy that feral werewolves are dangerous. Raven manages to fit into wolf society because she is sane – she just doesn’t want to live among humans because of her past. Since she is reasonable and Simon can see it, things have to go terribly awry in order for the plot to have enough excitement. And go awry they do.

Seeing how corrupt this segment of the Pack has become really makes me wonder how Whiddon set this up in the previous novels. It seems like something that was probably building. I love that Wild Wolf gives a sense of the larger world while standing fine on its own. The leads work well together. Both of them are strong, neither deferring to the other. Raven’s got as much alpha instinct as Simon does. It’s a nice change.

Grade: B+

Summary:
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Turning her back on humans because of her ability to shape-shift into a wolf, young and beautiful Raven doesn’t believe she needs anyone. Until the day a darkly handsome man appears near her remote cave…and she watches him turn into a wolf.
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Simon Caldwell has been sent to assess the threat of a new feral wolf prowling the Rockies. But he’s wholly unprepared for his intense attraction to Raven. His investigation is about to take a deadly turn as he and Raven become the hunted. Now their very survival depends on Simon’s ability to win what this wild wolf holds most dear!
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Read an excerpt here.

Return of the Wolf by Karen Whiddon
Paranormal romance novella released by Silhouette Nocturne Bites 1 Jun 09

After finishing White Wolf, I headed happily into this Bite by the same author. Three tries later and I still haven’t finished the sixty or so pages of this story, so I’m giving up. It begins slow, with the hero and heroine fishing together. They’re instantly attracted – Gideon knows she’s his wolf’s mate, and Memphis believes their reincarnated lovers.

I couldn’t sympathize with either of the characters. Memphis especially seems rather dippy. It takes quite a bit to make the destined lovers work, and I wasn’t buying. It didn’t help that I found the beginning boring. Fishing just doesn’t appeal to me.

This may work for others, but for me it’s a pass.

Grade: DNF

Summary:
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When Gideon Aronditis meets his new client Memphis Ayers for a fishing expedition, they both feel an instant attraction–and sense that they’ve met before. For shape-shifter Gideon, the explanation is clear: Memphis is his true mate and destined to be with him. Yet Gideon refuses to accept Memphis’s belief that knew each other in a past life, even though she has seen Gideon in her dreams for years. Can Memphis convince Gideon of the truth, or are they doomed to lose each other once again?
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No excerpt found.

The Illegitimate King (The Castaldini Crown, Book 3) by Olivia Gates
Contemporary romance released by Silhouette Desire 14 Jul 09

I liked the summary of this one, even though I’m not that familiar with the line. Clarissa and Ferruccio would have had love at first sight, if they hadn’t managed to deeply insult each other at first conversation. Ferruccio pursued Clarissa for years, and now has the leverage to make her romance him since she’s trying to convince him to accept the position of king of Castaldini. (Yes, the country name is ridiculous.)

This one had a few problems. Ferruccio could be kind of sleazy and their inability to communicate doesn’t bode well for a future relationship. (That doesn’t prevent a baby-filled epilogue since this is the end of a miniseries. If I were one of the wives, I’d insist on condoms. That many pregnancies takes a toll on the body.) Still, it was a perfect vacation book. It kept me interested and there was definitely sexual tension.

I might skip the first sex scene. It includes such awful descriptions as Ferruccio “feeling like a sword just out of the fire” to Clarissa. Not all of it is that painful, but none of it is sexy. It does get better, but that one scene is truly awful.

If you like family secrets or the other novels in this miniseries, you’ll probably like this one. The Illegitimate King made me want to try to the previous two novels, even with all of it’s problems.

Grade: C+

Summary:
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Once, she’d scorned him. And illegitimate secret prince Ferruccio Selvaggio had sworn he would make her pay. Now, Princess Clarissa D’Agostino was in his power. It was time to teach her a lesson…. The future of the kingdom rested on her. Clarissa knew she had to do whatever it took to convince Ferruccio to accept the crown and save them all. Even if it meant marrying a man who believed the worst of her. Even if it meant giving him her heart.
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Read an excerpt here (click “Read the prologue”).

Endless Summer by Julie Kenner, Karen Anders, and Jill Monroe
Contemporary romance anthology released by Harlequin Blaze 1 Jul 09

Normally I would separate all the novellas, but these are intertwined so I’ll do them as one. I picked up this anthology since I enjoy Julie Kenner’s paranormal books and wanted to try one of her contemporary offerings. It helped that Endless Summer, as the name implies, was a surfing collection. I enjoy surfing stories even though I’ve only been to a beach where you actually could surf once.

I’m not which of the stories was my favorite. I liked Drea, from Jill Monroe’s story, the best of the heroines because of her strong personality. I liked Zach, from Karen Anders’ story, the best of the heroes. Due to an injury, he became overly cautious. It’s a change from the take-charge hero. He’s also not afraid to design clothing. Now that’s a man. Kenner’s Laci and Taylor were a bit more bland. And Laci makes the classic mistake of not explaining why she’s angry. For some reason I want my romantic leads to communicate well even though I know miscommunication is a standard part of life.

But while each story had elements I liked, part of the reason I can’t pick a favorite is that nothing really stood out. While perfectly readable, each story was by-the-numbers – not what the risk-taking heroines deserve. I read these stories just yesterday and they’re already fading from my mind.

Grade: C+

Summary:
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Summer has never been sexier!
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Making Waves by Julie Kenner, Laci Montgomery is determined to be pro surfing’s Golden Girl. Does she need help from her ex—hottie sports promoter Taylor Dutton? No way! Well, not unless she’s on top…
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Surf’s Up by Karen Anders, After a crash meeting in the waves, surfer J. C. Wilcox and entrepreneur Zack Fanning practice daring moves that would make fish blush. But is it just sexy fun in the sun—or are they ready to risk their hearts?
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Read an excerpt here.
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Wet and Wild by Jill Monroe, Daredevil Rookie of the Year Andrea “Drea” Powell needs a sponsor. Superstar pro Kirk Murray needs a flashy new surfer to back. The explosive results heat up the competition…and the bedroom!

Liviania’s review of Carter Finally Gets It by Brent Crawford
Young adult released by Hyperion 7 April 09

I may be twenty, but I still enjoy young adult novels.  They’re usually quick, fun, and willing to experiment with genre.  And, like adult novels, I don’t really care whether one is aimed at guys or girls.  Carter Finally Gets It is definitely aimed at teen guys, but I think the girls could still enjoy it.

Carter’s your basic horny fourteen-year-old, starting his freshman year of high school.  (For the first bit, he’s your basic horny thirteen-year-old, which bothers me a little.  For some reason I’m much more cool with the idea of a fourteen-year-old being sexually active rather than a thirteen-year-old.  Of course, even then, I’m glad he doesn’t go past heavy petting in the book, because I think even fourteen is young for sex.)  He wants to be popular and get a hot girl, but doesn’t really know how to go about either.

I love that he kind of stumbles into both.  Carter gains glory through sports and is smart enough to date the girl who says she’s interested in him.  Unfortunately, he messes things up with Abby when he agrees to go out with the hottest girl in the grade.  Then he’s got to get the girl back.  I love that Brent Crawford isn’t afraid to allow Carter to be a jerk.  He’s just a kid; some of his decisions are going to be less-than-admirable.  But Carter always manages to redeem himself since he’s, in general, a good guy.

Now, while I say teen girls will probably enjoy this, I probably wouldn’t have liked this one much until I was an older teen.  But I’m sure there are others who would enjoy it just fine during or before their freshman year.  I think actual adults would enjoy it to, as long as they don’t mind reading about young teens.  It’s a very funny book.  Carter Finally Gets It relies on an engaging protagonist and humor to carry one of the world’s most basic plots.  And I don’t want to give away the end, but what happens after swim season ends is awesome.

Grade: B+

Summary:

Meet Will Carter, but feel free to call him Carter. (Yes, he knows it’s a lazy nickname, but he didn’t have much say in the matter.)

Here are five things you should know about him:

1. He has a stuttering problem, particularly around boobs and belly buttons.
2. He battles Attention Deficit Disorder every minute of every day…unless he gets distracted.
3. He’s a virgin, mostly because he’s no good at talking to girls (see number 1).
4. He’s about to start high school.
5. He’s totally not ready.

Join Carter for his freshman year, where he’ll search for sex, love, and acceptance anywhere he can find it. In the process, he’ll almost kill a trombone player, face off with his greatest nemesis, suffer a lot of blood loss, narrowly escape death, run from the cops (not once, but twice), get caught up in a messy love triangle, meet his match in the form of a curvy drill teamer, and surprise the hell out of everyone, including himself.

No excerpt found.

Liviania’s review of My Soul to Take (Soul Screamers, Book 1) by Rachel Vincent
Young adult urban fantasy released by Harlequin Teen 1 Aug 09

My changing position of Rachel Vincent’s adult series has been well-documented on both this site and my own blog. As I wanted to like it from the start and am thoroughly enjoying it now, I wanted to see what her young adult series was like. Plus, the ladies of TGTBTU got me reading Harlequins, and I wanted to see what the publisher would do with its new YA line. The verdict? My Soul to Take is a good start.

Kaylee has panic attacks. That is if, by panic attacks, you mean beginning to scream uncontrollably when encountering certain people. She’d like to keep this on the down-low . . . but now one of those people she was sure would die is dead, and no one knows what killed the girl. I’ll forgive quite a bit more in a teenage protagonist than I would in an adult, but Kaylee plays things pretty smart. She reaches out to people who seem like they could help, being cautious but realistic about being in over her head.

One of those people is uber-hot and cool Nash, who can calm her down when she’s panicking. He might know what’s going on, but Kaylee’s reluctant to trust him due to his playboy reputation. Seriously, I love how sensible Kaylee can be. She doesn’t instantly trust him, but nor does she instantly push him away. She works to get to know him. Watching them get closer together is fun. Yeah, they’re drawn to each other, but they don’t just rely on the magnetism. They talk. I do love them as a couple. (The ending does have interesting implications for the possible love triangle. Usually I love triangles, but I just think Nash and Kaylee are so cute together.)

As for the world-building, Vincent does a good job of combining her own mythology with the old Irish tales of bean sidhe. My Soul to Take focuses on the banshees and reapers, and I look forward to learning about even more powerful and dangerous creatures. I find it refreshing that Kaylee doesn’t rank that high on the abilities scale. What she can do is impressive, but rather specific and with numerous drawbacks. Vincent definitely doesn’t shy away from the potential consequences.

Kaylee and Nash don’t forget that they’re trying to catch a murderer. Things fall apart some, logically, once the culprit is revealed, but I still enjoyed the story. I could let the logic go some when I was enjoying the action and last minute reveals. I am eager to read the next Soul Screamers book, not just for the romance, but to see what happens to Kaylee’s family. I’d also like to see more of the world’s politics. Who knows what consequences Kaylee and Nash’s actions will have on interspecies relations? (Rachel Vincent, that’s who. And possibly anyone who has read her early drafts.)

Unlike the Werecats, Vincent has me hooked from the first book with this series. I also recommend reading the prologue, My Soul to Lose. It’s longer than many Nocturne Bites, giving ample opportunity to sample the writing style and decide whether you like the main character.

Grade: A-

Summary:
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SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH KAYLEE CAVANAUGH
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She doesn’t see dead people, but…
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She senses when someone near her is about to die. And when that happens, a force beyond her control compels her to scream bloody murder. Literally.
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Kaylee just wants to enjoy having caught the attention of the hottest guy in school. But a normal date is hard to come by when Nash seems to know more about the need to scream than she does. And when classmates start dropping dead for no apparent reason, only Kaylee knows who’ll be next…
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SOUL SCREAMERS
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The last thing you hear before you die…
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Read the prequel here.
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Read an excerpt here.

Liviania’s review of Thorn Queen (Dark Swan, Book 2) by Richelle Mead
Urban fantasy released by Zebra 28 Jul 09

I have been wanting to try Richelle Mead because of her Vampire Academy series.  I’m starting to burn out on vampires, but that doesn’t mean I’m not attracted to the mention of them.  Of course, I’m all for the fey.  Eugenie Markham is a shaman, dedicated to banishing the fey and demons from the human world.  But things have gotten a little less black and white for her recently.

Thorn Queen can be read without reading the first novel Storm Born.  I can guarantee this as I have yet to read the first novel and could understand what’s going on.  I would like to see more of her conversion, as she doesn’t take any fey banishing jobs in the novel.  (She does miss one and cancel others.)  Yes, she now rules a fey country and needs to learn how to do it well, but that seems to have happened at the very end of the last book.  I can still see her continuing with her job.  (Otherwise, Eugenie’s shifting mindset is well-portrayed.)

There are two main love interests: Kiyo and Dorian.  Kiyo’s a good guy shapeshifter and veterinarian, doing his best to keep Eugenie from getting too deep into politics.  Unfortunately he’s busy with the imminent birth of his child by another woman.  Dorian’s the bad boy, a fellow ruler who wants Eugenie to become more ruthless.  He also wants her child, since Eugenie or her half-sister is destined to bear the conqueror of the human world.  In many ways, he’s more helpful than Kiyo even though he’s more dangerous, which complicates her choices.

I liked Eugenie’s point of view.  She’s pretty straightforward, but she’s stuck in a position where she has to make hard choices.  (For example, what to do with her teenaged half-sister who is determined to get pregnant – that is, if she finds her.)  She doesn’t have much of a support network in the gentry world, since she grew up in the human one.  She also seems to be the only person who cares about the fate of some teenage girls that went missing near her country’s border.

The climax put me off some, when I found the story to otherwise be an engaging urban fantasy.  It makes sense given the series’ plot, but it’s a – I don’t want to say “plot device” – [thing] I’m getting tired of.  It seems to me like some serious shit is getting taken lightly.  I don’t mean to come down on Mead, who I don’t think took it lightly… but to me, it was a somewhat depressing end to an otherwise fast and funny read.

I am going to try to find a copy of Storm Born, and I’m sure I’ll pick up the next in the series.  The sour note was more of my own issues than a fault in the writing.

Grade: B-

Summary:
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Eugenie Markham is a shaman for hire, paid to bind and banish creatures from the Otherworld. But after her last battle, she’s also become queen of the Thorn Land. It’s hardly an envious life, not with her kingdom in tatters, her love life in chaos, and Eugenie eager to avoid the prophecy about her firstborn destroying mankind. And now young girls are disappearing from the Otherworld, and no one—except Eugenie—seems willing to find out why.
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Eugenie has spilled plenty of fey blood in her time, but this enemy is shrewd, subtle, and nursing a very personal grudge. And the men in her life aren’t making things any easier. Her boyfriend, Kiyo, is preoccupied with his pregnant ex, and sexy fey king Dorian always poses a dangerous distraction. With or without their help, Eugenie must venture deep into the Otherworld and trust in an unpredictable power she can barely control. Reluctant queen or not, Eugenie has sworn to do her duty—even if it means facing the darkest—and deadliest—side of her nature…
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Read an excerpt here.

Other books in this series:

Liviania’s review of The Confessions of a Duchess (Brides of Fortune, Book 1) by Nicola Cornick
Historical romance released by HQN 1 Jun 09

I not only write reviews for TGTBTU, I also read them.  Nicola Cornick earned praise from both Sandy and Wendy TSL.  (I think it was this review that really made me want to read one of hers.)  Thus, I began The Confessions of a Duchess with high expectations.  Unfortunately, it did not live up to them, though I may try the other novels in the miniseries.

Sir Montague is the squire of Fortune’s Folly.  Because he’s rather odious, former housemaid/current heiress Alice Lister rejected his proposal.  Thus he reinstates the Dame’s Tax: if a woman doesn’t marry, half of her fortune is his.  Among the fortune hunters that pour into the town is Derek Ansthruther, who needs a rich wife in order to provide for his siblings and make his boss happy.  He also has a mystery to investigate.  (So little attention is paid to the mystery I’ve already forgotten the details of the whodunit.)

Laura Cole, the eponymous duchess, is dismayed because she bore Derek’s child after a one-night stand.  She’s terrified he might reveal that Hattie is a bastard, despite the fact he has firsthand experience of the ridicule that natural children encounter.  I think this might have been my first “secret baby” book and I already know why people make fun of them.  As Laura falls deeper in love her reason for pushing Derek away just sounds stupider and even more flimsy.

I was more interested in the secondary romance, that of Miss Alice Lister who sets the whole thing off and the rake Miles Vickery.  If I didn’t like them, I wouldn’t be interested in picking up the next Brides of Fortune Novel, The Scandals of an Innocent.  Laura and Derek were keeping themselves apart, which got old fast.  (And then they give away twenty-thousand pounds that they could really use.  Yeah, the people giving the money were odious, but I didn’t see it as smart or heroic.)

As far as Regency romances go, The Confessions of a Duchess is serviceable.  But the genre is rife with serviceable novels, and I expected more of Nicola Cornick.  Perhaps next time.

Grade: C

Summary
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Laura, Dowager Duchess of Cole, has sworn never to marry again. But the arrival of Dexter Anstruther, the man with whom she once shared one forbidden night of passion, throws her plans and her heart into turmoil. Laura knows that the secret she is keeping from Dexter would destroy any chance of a future together. But can she keep her secrets and keep Dexter at arm’s length when he is so determined to rekindle their passion?
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Read an excerpt here.

Liviania’s review of Amazon Ink by Lori Devoti
Urban fantasy released by Pocket 26 May 09

I discovered Lori Devoti through this site, and instantly snatched up her trilogy about hellhounds.  I enjoyed all three, which definitely made me want to read Amazon Ink.  I also liked that it was about a tattoo artist, since I have a fondness for the culture.  (No, I have no tattoos of my own.  I’m too young.) Unfortunately, we don’t get much tattooing with in the book.  We do get Mel’s sexist attitude, which she works to overcome.

Mel is an Amazon.  After reading the book, I’m still not entirely sure what that entails.  It’s a race of women who can breed with humans, and specialize in weapons, artistry, hearth skills, or priestess skills.  Years ago, Mel left the tribe, taking her daughter.  Her mother and grandmother followed her into exile.  Now she’s getting drawn back in, since someone has been killing young Amazons and leaving them on her doorstep.

I liked Mel.  There are clearly things wrong with the Amazon system, and Mel sees well enough to try to change things.  But she’s clearly a first generation progressive, constantly tangled up by her own prejudices.  (She won’t hire men.  Over a decade as a single mother and she can’t bake, since hearth skills are wimpy.)  Yet she works to be self-aware and tries to accept new attitudes.

There are two love interests, though things don’t go very far with either one.  Reynolds is the detective investigating the girls’ deaths.  He didn’t have enough screen time for me to really get a feel for him or become invested in his relationship with Mel.  It seemed more like a physical attraction.  Peter is the tattoo artist she hires, despite being a man.  He quickly becomes helpful and interacts not only with Mel, but her family as well.  Of course, their relationship is impaired by his sometimes lack of honesty.  Mel left the tribe because of people taking action behind her back, and the events of Amazon Ink do nothing to sooth her trust issues.

Amazon Ink really focuses on a society in flux.  There are girls who are influenced by Mel’s example.  Dana, whose specialty is the hearth, is one of them and one of my favorite characters in the story.  She doesn’t make the best moves but she has a good heart.  Others distrust her no matter what she does.  After all, Mel is fomenting rebellion among the younger generation based on her legend alone.  The mystery never fades to the background, but it’s pretty quickly solved based on very little of the character’s actual detective work.  The romance barely makes it to kissing.  I found it enjoyable and a nice change of pace.  Those picking it up for the standard urban fantasy formula might be less pleased.

This was a good introduction to Mel’s world, and I look forward to what Devoti will do in the next installment now that she’s built up the characters and society.  (I am just one opinion, but I vote that some more Mel/Peter action next time around will not go amiss.)

Grade: B-

Summary:
Meet Mel: Business owner. Dedicated mom. Natural-born Amazon.
It’s been ten years since Melanippe Saka left the Amazon tribe in order to create a normal life for her daughter, Harmony. True, running a tattoo parlor in Madison, Wisconsin, while living with your Amazon warrior mother and priestess grandmother is not everyone’s idea of normal, but Mel thinks she’s succeeded at blending in as human.

Turns out she’s wrong. Someone knows all about her, someone who’s targeting young Amazon girls, and no way is Mel going to let Harmony become tangled in this deadly web. With her mother love in overdrive, Ms. Melanippe Saka is quite a force…even when she’s facing a barrage of distractions — including a persistent detective whose interest in Mel goes beyond professional, a sexy tattoo artist with secrets of his own, and a seriously angry Amazon queen who views Mel as a prime suspect. To find answers, Mel will have to do the one thing she swore she’d never do: embrace her powers and admit that you can take the girl out of the tribe…but you can’t take the tribe out of the girl.

Excerpt available here.

Liviania’s Duckies Do Series reviews of The Wallflowers Series by Lisa Kleypas
Historical romances released by Avon Oct 2004 – Jul 2006

Four girls approach the Season no longer believing they have any real chance.  It is not their first and they still have no prospects.  Annabelle Peyton has beauty, but no money.  Lillian and Daisy Bowman have scads of money, but they are uncouth Americans.  Evangeline Jenner has money, but she is also common – as well as exceedingly shy.  But these wallflowers make a pact: from oldest to youngest, they’ll help each other find a husband. 

Secrets of a Summer Night (Book 1)
Released 26 Oct 04

Together, they manage an invite to Lord Westcliff’s country estate.  Annabelle knows this is her last chance to catch a husband.  There are no end of offers for her to be a lord’s mistress, but she’d work any job before that.  Especially before becoming Lord Hodgeham’s mistress.  Her mother has been sleeping with him to pay the bills, but he wants to move onto the younger model.  Neither Annabelle nor her mother has any intention of allowing that to happen.  Of course, the husband hunting would be easier if her brother Jeremy’s former peer Simon Hunt didn’t keep getting in the way.

This was my introduction to Lisa Kleypas after hearing all the other ducks rave about her, and it’s a good place to start.  The Wallflowers are hilarious, especially Lillian Bowman.  Annabelle is a great heroine.  She’s practical and strong-willed.  She knows what men want from her and she also knows not to sell herself short.  There are some jobs she could take.  She wants to marry more to help keep her brother and mother afloat as well than to just provide for herself.  It’s nice to see a heroine with dedication to her family who knows not to martyr herself for them.

Simon Hunt is a good match for her, since he pairs sensibility with romanticism as well.  (He is unfortunately blind to the fact Annabelle intends to become no man’s mistress.)  And the men get dialogue as snappy as the women.

“Westcliff,” Simon asked conversationally, “does it ever occur to you that you might occasionally be wrong?  About anything?”

The earl looked perplexed by the question.  “Actually, no.”

It’s a nice, straightforward romance that manages to capture the historical feel quite well.  Simon and Annabelle’s relationship is cute, as are their friendly and familial relationships.   Kleypas does inject the right amount of drama with the loathsome Lord Hodgeham and some last minute fireworks.  Secrets of a Summer Night isn’t revolutionary, but it is solid.

Grade: B+

Summary:
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Four young ladies enter London society with one common goal: they must use their feminine wit and wiles to find a husband. So a daring husband-hunting scheme is born.
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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.
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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.
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Read an excerpt here.

It Happened One Autumn (Book 2)
Released 27 Sept 05

With Annabelle happily married, it’s Lillian’s turn to find a husband.  “Marry Lillian; you’ll get a million,” the saying goes.  But her mother wants nothing less than a titled husband for her.  Lillian would prefer love. And she just received a magic perfume made from the Lady of the Night orchid, and she and the other Wallflowers are eager to test it out.

I do love Lillian.  She boldly states her opinions, though they might go over easier if she were less rude.  Her dialogue is full of zingers that play well off of the other’s conversation.  It wouldn’t be a fun story if she fell for a man without her strength of will.  So who can avoid being steamrolled by Lillian?

None other than equally steamroller-like, but more staid, Marcus Westcliff.  He hasn’t thought much of Lillian’s character since he caught her playing Rounders-in-Knickers, but he has thought of her.  It’s fun to watch the controlled man come undone over his attraction.  He could end up being a total prig, but Kleypas both lets the reader into his mind and allows him to come alive in his scenes with Lillian.  And it is fun seeing that kind of character set back on his heels, as Lillian puts it.

On the other hand, Lillian has another viable suitor – the handsome and charming Sebastian, Lord St. Vincent.  He’s a rake and after her money, but they do enjoy each other’s company.  He definitely has the turn of phrase down to match wits with her.  You can see why Lillian is tempted by his offer of marriage even as she falls in love with Westcliff.

I enjoyed the love triangle, but one of the faults of the romance genre is that it’s pretty easy to tell which man will win even without knowing which one is the hero of the next novel beforehand.  This one definitely wasn’t my favorite entry in the series.  Kleypas does a good job with him, but I just don’t like Westcliff as much as the other heroes.

Grade: B-

Summary:
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It Happened One Autumn is the story of Lillian Bowman, a bold and headstrong American heiress, and Marcus, Lord Westcliff, the most eligible peer in England. But even though Lillian is hunting for a husband, Marcus is the last man she would ever consider marrying.
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Read an excerpt here.

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

I had high expectations for this one since I’ve heard Sybil’s praise of it (and St. Vincent).  Unlike most stories, it opens with the marriage.  Evie can’t stand living with her abusive relatives one moment longer – especially since they’re going to marry her to a loathsome cousin so that they can control her money.  She also wants to be with her father as his final days approach.  The only way for her to escape is to marry.  She knows St. Vincent needs money enough to accept her offer, so the two head off to Gretna Green.  The only catch is that she’ll only sleep with him once.

Evie is a total sweetheart, though Kleypas puts steel under her caring exterior.  Evie needs it in order to escape her family and live in her father’s gambling hall.  She deserves someone who will watch out for her, so it’s very nice to watch St. Vincent mature into the role.

While St. Vincent has done some villainy in the past, he can be redeemed.  And it’s not a cliché, love of a good woman redemption, though Evie’s love does factor in.  St. Vincent flourishes when given responsibility, as he begins to pay attention to the gambling hall he will inherit and adapts his skills to the task of bringing in new and more respectable customers.  When given something to do other than drink and go wenching, he rises to the task.

It’s easy to see why this one ranks so high on Sybil’s list.  Evie and St. Vincent have tangible chemistry as well as being great characters in their own rights.  There’s a stronger plot running alongside the romance than in the other Wallflower books, due to Evie’s variety of family troubles.  It adds some moments of danger throughout the novel.  In addition, I like the character of Cam Rohan, the gypsy Evie grew up with.  I even bought a copy of his story, Mine Til Midnight.  (As of writing this review I haven’t read it, but I do look forward to it.)

I did notice, while reading Devil in Winter, how good Kleypas is with continuity.  She strings little details like Evie’s cold feet throughout the story, mentioning it enough that it sticks in your mind without becoming intrusive.  Those details are part of what makes her characters so attractive.

Grade: A-

Summary:
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A devil’s bargain…
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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!
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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.
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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.
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Read an excerpt here.

Scandal in Spring (Book 4)
Released 25 July 06

The youngest Wallflower finally gets her chance to marry, though it may come sooner than she wants when her father gives her an ultimatum.  If she doesn’t have a fiancé in two months she must marry his protégé Matthew Swift.  As Daisy recalls, he’s coldly ambitious, not to mention scrawny and pale.  Once more the Wallflowers set out to Westcliff’s estate to gather eligible men together for Daisy to choose from.

At this point I realized that I’m confused by the titles of the series.  Annabelle was summer, so she can have a just born baby in spring.  But Lillian was autumn, so she can’t physically have a healthy baby in spring – there’s only six months between the two.  So I’ll choose to ignore the titles since I was mostly ignoring the timeline anyway.  It’s just one of those things that bothers me if I think about it.

I empathize with Daisy, who is the Wallflower I’m probably most like.  She enjoys reading fiction and is not grounded in reality sometimes.  She’s the least practical of the Wallflowers and wants romance, rather than an arrangement with a business associate of her father.  However, she is pleasantly surprised when she becomes reacquainted with Matthew.

Matthew has grown up and filled out.  (Though he’s secretly still a total dork, since he’s been in love with Daisy for as long as he’s known her.)  Though Daisy realizes she’s not all that adverse to marrying him, he doesn’t want to marry her due to the secrets of his past.  And even if he does clear up the troubles from his past, Lillian doesn’t approve of the match.  She’s hormonal, protective, and holds a grudge.

Reading about Matthew and Daisy falling in love and then working to be able to marry is fun, though Scandal in Spring is not as dramatic as Devil in Winter.  Matthew balances Daisy well, as many of the characters note.  It’s a strong finish to the tales of the Wallflowers, as all four previously unmarriageable ladies end up with love matches.

Grade: B

Summary:
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Read an excerpt here.

I’m glad I gave Lisa Kleypas a chance.  The Wallflowers series is composed of four solid historical romances that showcase a nice variety of heroes and heroines.  I love the friendship the heroines form as well as the one that already exists among Simon, Westcliff, and St. Vincent.  This series also made me want to find copies of Kleypas’s contemporaries.

Overall grade: B+

Liviania’s review of His Cavalry Lady (Aikenhead Honors, Book 1) by Joanna Maitland
Historical romance released by Harlequin Historical 1 Mar 09

What’s this?  A Harlequin Historical review by someone other than Wendy the Super Librarian?  Could it really be?  I must admit, I don’t pick up much historical fiction. It’s not my favorite genre.  (I should note that I evaluate Romancelandia different from standard history.)  But I’ve really wanted to read a couple of the recent HH releases, because their summaries hit my buttons.  This one had cross-dressing and Russians.  Cross-dressing!  Russians!  Tell me you don’t want that in your Regency!

Joanna Maitland hooked me from the beginning.  The Tsar has decided to honor one of his enlisted soldiers for saving the life of an officer, but our heroine knows the jig is up when he reveals a letter from her father.  However, he decides to let her continue with her disguise since she’s demonstrated she is a valiant soldier and grants her a new name, Alexei, attached to nobility so that she can be an officer.  Fast forward and she’s part of his retinue during a visit to England, set to spy on a spy – Dominic Aikenhead, Duke of Calder.

Dominic is in charge of the ill-named Aikenhead Honors, a generally nice guy who happens to pass on some of the sensitive information he comes across.  He could be the stuffy type, but his interactions with his brothers and Alex show off his sense of humor.  He’s the honorable guy who most find less interesting than a bad boy, but I really liked him.  (For those who prefer the bad boys, the other Honors fulfill that role.)

The structure of the story helps.  Since Dominic thinks Alex is a man, they first develop a solid friendship.  Dominic enjoys Alex’s company because of her wit, skill, and attention to duty rather than a pretty face.  They earn each other’s respect before anything romantic occurs, and it allows me to forgive Maitland when they go far pretty quickly.

As far as I can tell, the history is well-done.  Maitland owns up to changing the timeline of some events in the author’s note, but it matters more that she gets the feel of the societies correct.  Alex, while half-Scottish, was raised in Russia and fought for Russia.  Dominic is English and likewise loyal to his country.  It is fun to watch Dominic teach Alex about English culture . . . and to see the Russians make Dominic perform a salutation he finds humiliating.  (Plus, Russians are awesome but they seem to pop up less than Vikings, Highlanders, and sheiks of questionable ethnicity.)

I haven’t read anything else by Maitland, but I know I’m picking up the other Aikenhead Honors books.  I liked what I saw of the Knight and Knave and thoroughly enjoyed the way Maitland told the first story.  I’m very good I had His Cavalry Lady with me on the long bus ride.

Grade: B+

Summary:
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Alex instantly fell for Dominic Aikenhead, Duke of Calder, knowing that he would never notice her–because to him she was Captain Alexei Alexandrov, a young man and a brave hussar!
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Alex longed to be with her English duke just once, as the passionate woman she truly was. To be swept off her feet, wearing the finest of gowns, would be a dream come true. But there was danger in such thoughts. What if Dominic ever found out the truth?
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Read an excerpt here.

Other books in this series: