C2’s review of Heart of Steel (Iron Seas, Book 4) by Meljean Brook
Steampunk Romance published by Berkley 1 Nov 11

In the mood for a book with an unapologetically kick-ass heroine? One who doesn’t even pretend she needs a big, strong man to take care of her? What if her hero totally digs that about her and doesn’t want to change her? Intrigued??

In Meljean Brook’s latest installment in her Iron Seas series, Lady Corsair (aka Yasmeen) steps onto the main stage. She had a prominent supporting role in The Iron Duke and events that occur in that book play a very important role in Heart of Steel.

The last time Lady Corsair saw Archimedes Fox, she dropped him into the seas around Venice – and zombies were closing in! I mean, what’s a captain to do when a passenger tries to take control of her air ship? So imagine her surprise when he pops back into her life several months later? Well, kidnaps her off the street several months later…

Archimedes Fox is an adventurer – think about a Regency rake version of Indiana Jones.  In fact, his adventures are chronicled in very popular stories written by his sister.  Archimedes wants Yasmeen – he wants to seduce her, he wants to fall in love, and he wants to experience heartbreak – and he figures she is just the lady for the job to help him experience all those feelings.  She doesn’t trust men and usually uses them briefly, if she’s interested, and tosses them aside before they get close enough to betray her.  He isn’t willing to have a quick fling and be tossed aside, though. He wants to know her and is willing to earn her trust – as much as she is able to give.

Before the seduction can really begin, Yasmeen and Archimedes are swept up in a treasure hunt that is entwined with political intrigue.  And it brings up a lot of things from both of their pasts that continue to affect them.

That’s the thing about these characters – they are adults and behave as such.  They both are aware of the issues, good and bad, that have shaped their lives and know having any sort of real relationship won’t be easy. Sometimes, though, you can’t help yourself.  And once they decide to trust each other (no small thing for these two), they trust each other.  And stand together against all sorts of enemies.

If you want a story filled with adventure and intrigue and treasure hunts, with murder and mayhem and machinery, with ZOMBIES! – this is the book for you. The world Ms. Brook has built is fascinating and rich and filled with interesting characters. If you like steampunk and haven’t already started reading this series – go to the bookstore of your choice immediately. If you’ve never tried steampunk but love a good story, see above. You should try this series.

Does this book stand alone? No. Events in The Iron Duke set up this story – and besides that, it is a fabulous book. My number one read for last year! And the novella that started the series was my number two read for last year! That should tell you something, faithful reader. Sometimes the hype is true.

Grade: A+

Summary:

As the mercenary captain of the Lady Corsair, Yasmeen has learned to keep her heart as cold as steel, her only loyalty bound to her ship and her crew. So when a man who once tried to seize her airship returns from the dead, Yasmeen will be damned if she gives him another opportunity to take control.

Treasure-hunter Archimedes Fox isn’t interested in the Lady Corsair — he wants her coldhearted captain and the valuable da Vinci sketch she stole from him. To reclaim it, Archimedes is determined to seduce the stubborn woman who once tossed him to a ravenous pack of zombies, but she’s no easy conquest.

When da Vinci’s sketch attracts a dangerous amount of attention, Yasmeen and Archimedes journey to Horde-occupied Morocco — and straight into their enemy’s hands. But as they fight to save themselves and a city on the brink of rebellion, the greatest peril Yasmeen faces is from the man who seeks to melt her icy heart…

Read an excerpt. (scroll down)

Other books in the series:

Lynne Connolly’s review of The Spanish Duke’s Virgin Bride by Chantelle Shaw
Contemporary romance released by Harlequin Presents 01 Nov 07

I think there’s a conspiracy afoot. This is the second Beauty and the Beast story I’ve read recently that fails spectacularly, the other being Jennie Lucas’ The Innocent’s Dark Seduction.

It takes elements of the legend – the rose, the castle, the dark overlord, the father in trouble – and tries to update it. But it’s not the elements of the story that matter, it’s the motivations and the emotions beneath and in both examples, that’s what’s lacking. Injecting the modern parts of the story between the gaps isn’t the way to do it, neither is telling the reader the bits she should be shown – the isolation and the power of the hero, the virginal but spirited heroine.

I read this as I read most HMB’s – as a diversion, a way to take a break from a busy day, and the more I read, the more echoes came back to me of the usually reliable Lucas and her crash-and-burn book from last year, one Mrs Giggles was convinced was a parody, and for all I know might very well be.

In this one, as in most HMB’s, the heroine’s motivations are taken care of much more than the hero’s, and in this case my sympathies were all with the hero. The heroine’s father had embezzled from the Duke’s bank, and he decided to call in the debt by making her marry him for twelve months. His father’s will demanded that he marry, so he decided to marry her.

Okay, so this is where it starts to fall apart for me. The heroine’s father embezzled. That’s a crime. For the story to work, the hero has to be the sole owner of the bank, and how many banks do you know that are privately owned? Thought not. And there is a mention of “the board” in the story. In this day and age I doubt the board of any bank would condone criminal activity by one of its employees, whatever the reason for it. Javier, the hero, would have been asked to resign on the strength of that alone. There is no way embezzlement of three million pounds could be covered up, with the audits and accounts that are required, and then for the crime to be kept secret and the perpetrator not prosecuted. Crimes are public prosecutions, not private ones. So I not only found it hard to believe, I found it morally lacking. You do the crime, you do the time.

The heroine is a milk-and-water English virgin with the magic veejayjay that enslaves the hero. He marries her and he sleeps with her but they don’t have sex for months. Three months, to be exact. Nah. They fancy the pants off each other and despite a near-rape on the wedding night (but of course, being the hero, he doesn’t, it’s meant to demonstrate the violence of his emotions) she wants to bestow her precious virginity on the man she loves. Give me strength. Shaw didn’t sell me this one, though I know what she was trying to do. Stick with the myth, show how it works today. Only it doesn’t. Grace (Beauty? Go figure) got on my nerves. She wanted everything her way and she wasn’t prepared to pony up to get it. She cheated, just as her father did, by denying Javier the sex he’d bought (yes, he bought it).

And the writing wasn’t up to standard, or the editing was uneven, I don’t know which. But in the middle of the book every thought and speech was tagged, and then qualified by an adverb. In the course of one page, we get ‘she muttered helplessly,’ ‘Grace said quietly,’ ‘Grace promised gently,’ ‘Grace said anxiously,’ ‘looking blankly,’ ‘she squeezed his arm reassuringly.’

And so it goes. In the novelist’s jargon, this amounts to “telling,” ie the author telling the reader what she should be thinking instead of showing her by actions or body language. “Showing” goes to the heart of a story much more than “telling” and is one reason why I found myself thinking and reasoning, instead of getting immersed in the story. Even if you don’t know about it, all those words ending in “ly” eventually get tiring with sheer repetition (did you notice all the “ing” words I used in the last paragraph? I left them in instead of editing them out to give an example of how words can get repetitive and I bet a lot of you did notice). Any editor doing a thorough job would have sliced these out, and while I don’t doubt the competence of the editors at HMB, it might be that they are concentrating too hard on fitting the author into the mould of the line, rather than the quality of the story itself. And they have little time to work on one book, because of the rapidity of the releases.

So I found this a deeply unsatisfying read, but there are hints of what a great story it could have been, had the author had time to think it through and deepen it, and the editor time to do a proper editing job.

A D- for this one. I just hate giving F’s and there weren’t any typos that I noticed, so I seized on that to lift the grade.

Grade: D-

Blurb:

“Revenge, passion and a convenient marriage…

Duke Javier Herrera is a ruthless Spanish billionaire. He’s learnt the hard way never to fall in love. Now he needs a wife if he’s to inherit the family banking business. Grace Beresford is the daughter of a man who’s fleeced Javier of millions, and he sees an opportunity for revenge and a convenient wife.

At first, Javier doesn’t care that Grace hates him – all he wants is her body. But then he finds that even this small price is one she refuses to pay…despite their explosive mutual attraction. How long can Grace remain his wife in name only?”

Read an excerpt here.

Sandy M’s Duckies Do Series reviews of the Immortal Witches Series by Maggie Shayne
Historical/Contemporary Paranormal Romances released Dec 98 – Jan 02

Witch stories run either hot or cold for me.  I have to admit, most don’t do much for me, while a few I totally love.  This series is one I absolutely love.  I enjoyed everything about it, from the characters to the storyline to the villain.  I really like how Ms. Shayne overlaps the characters from book to book, intertwines the storylines while still making each story individual to the current hero and heroine, all the while still giving us the romance we look for.

Eternal Love (Books 1 & 2) (Reissue of Eternity and Infinity)
Released by Berkley Trade 6 Nov 07

Eternity (Book 1)
Initial Release by Jove 1 Dec 98

Raven is a young girl living with her mother in the times when anything unexplained scared people spitless and they accused innocent men and women of witchcraft.  She grows up knowing nothing of her heritage or her power and magic.  It is only as both she and her mother are about to be hanged that she learns everything.  And it is also when she finds the one man meant for her, the only one in the crowd who rails against the wrong done to her and her mother.  But not even he can do anything to save them and Raven’s life ends as he helplessly watches.

Coming back to life later is when Raven begins to learn who and what she truly is.  During the ensuing confusion, it is Duncan who dies trying to save Raven once again, and though she knows he will return to her because of his selfless act of love, it is three hundred years of loneliness she must endure before finding love again.

Of course, it’s never quite that easy either.  Duncan doesn’t remember Raven when they meet again, but he is drawn to her.  Love never dies, as they say, and in this book that is done so very well.  Evil doesn’t seem to die either.  Shayne has created several terrific villains for this series of books.  While Raven, and now Duncan, is a Light High Witch, there are also Dark High Witches, just as immortal but they must consistently kill a Light High Witch and keep their eternal-beating hearts so that they may live a stronger life.  This is done throughout the series, always in a different way, and it’s in the next book that we see it more up close and personal.

These first two books begin in the past for the characters, going through their first death, and then coming at last to present day, still fighting to stay alive and find their true love once again.  Portions of each book are also told in first person, which I enjoy — I’m a throw-back from the days of Victoria Holt, who was a master at first person — but I know there’s plenty of you out there who don’t care for it.  Don’t let that stop you from reading this series, though.  These are not the mundane witch stories we normally see.  There’s so much more going on and done in such a different way that you really don’t want to miss a word.

Grade: A+

Summary:Three hundred years ago, Raven St. James was accused of witchcraft… Only one man tried to free her from the hangman’s noose–Duncan, the town minister, who died trying to save her.Three hundred years later, the accused witch still lives and longs for her love… At last, after centuries of loneliness, Raven has found her precious Duncan. But as he awakens to the passion of his past life, so too does the evil that tore them apart. Now Raven and Duncan must prove their love for all eternity…

Infinity (Book 2)
Initial Release by Jove 1 Oct 99

We met Arianna in Eternity and learned the story of how she was able to save her sister Raven from death, knowing she would be reunited with her in the future. Once again, though, we are first taken into the past to see where Arianna hails from.  We meet her there after Raven has died and we learn how her family has basically fallen apart because of that death.  Arianna seems determined to rebel at every little thing in reaction, even defying her laird as much as she can.  It’s only Nicodimus who can rein her in, just barely.

Arianna knows nothing of her own immortality, though she’s been associating with the local “witches,” and that only fuels the gossip in a superstitious village.  It’s when she pushes everyone and everything too far that the laird demand she marry, hopefully to a man who can control her.  The only man she’ll have, however, is Nic.

As drawn as he is to the little hellion, Nic hesitates when it comes to her ultimatum of marriage.  He’d been married once and it tore his heart and soul to pieces when his family perished.  He’s sworn not to give of himself like that ever again, but he also can’t stop the jealousy when the laird’s sons show their own interest in Arianna.  So he marries her, but his plan is to live his life as usual, going back to his nomadic ways so that the evil that follows him will not harm those he loves.

Arianna wants none of that, but in the end nothing she can say will stop her husband from leaving her behind.  But as all plans are wont to do, evil rears its ugly head and it’s Nic who pays the ultimate price, his heart stolen by a dark witch.  It’s five hundred years later when Arianna discovers that there is a way to bring back those whose hearts are to beat alone forever.  Her only fear is that Nic won’t be able to forgive her for the one act she regrets with everything in her.

This time the first person is told from Nic’s point of view, which I found very compelling.  I also really liked that Duncan and Raven from Eternity are very present in this book, all without giving up anything of Nic and Arianna’s romance. So many nuances throughout each previous books are interwoven into each succeeding one to make it so much more complex.  This book is a terrific followup and we’re set up quite nicely for the next in the series.

Grade: A+

Summary:For five centuries, Immortal High Witch Nicodimus has been suspended in an eternity of darkness. His heart was stolen away in the ultimate betrayal by his love Arianna… Now Arianna discovers a way to bring him back. But the power that returns Nicodimus to her arms also summons an ancient enemy. To fight this dark danger, they must confront the past–and reclaim infinity…

Immortal Desire (Books 3 and 4) (Reissue of Destiny and Immortality)
Released by Berkley Trade 4 Dec 07

Destiny (Book 3)
Initial Release by Jove 1 Feb 01

Nidaba is the truly mysterious character we meet throughout the series.  We’re not even sure for the longest time if she’s an immortal witch, but we do know she has some connection to Nicodimus from Infinity.  In this book we learn of the characters’ history throughout the story instead of at the beginning as we did in the previous books.

Nidaba was a childhood friend of Prince Eannatum of Sumer.  She was a priestess who would be called upon for the Sacred Marriage Rite when the prince married, but before that could happen they fell in love and Natum wanted only Nidaba, even though his father had arranged a marriage to the daughter of a neighboring ruler so that their countries, once united, would reign over the entire land.  Knowing love and passion at his hands, Nidaba knows she can never truly have him.

Leaving with the knowledge she carries his son, something that will at least remind her of the man she loves, she tries to do what is best for all concerned.  When Natum’s attempts to find her end in disaster, he goes on alone, married to a woman he can never love, one who is only power hungry and believes she loves him but doesn’t really know the true meaning of the word.

Centuries later Nathan King is shocked to discover Nidaba in a hospital, under watch to prevent her from hurting herself.  Stealing her away is the only answer so that people will not know who and what she is.  Slowly but surely Nidaba returns to her former self but is still not the woman Nathan knew so long ago.  It was the loss of her son that precipitated her capture by the dark witch who tortured her and experimented on her, putting her through death and rebirth over and over again so that the woman Nathan knew seems truly lost forever.

There is still enough of her buried deep within, so he tries everything to get back what they once shared.  It’s been years since he’s had to fight evil, choosing instead to live among humans, living like he is just a man, but it is Nidaba who brings home to him he is an ancient prince, an immortal High Witch and he should live and fight as one.

In this book is where Ms. Shayne really brings things full circle, giving us all the pieces that fit together like a perfect interlocking puzzle.  Duncan, Raven, Nic, and Arianna all make appearances and are very much part of the story and the resolution.   No first person in this one.  As much as I liked the history of the characters being given at the beginning of the story in the first two books, it works in this one that it’s given throughout because of the way they find each other once again.  And at the end we’re set up perfectly for the last part in the series.

Grade: A+

Summary:She is Nidoba – a immortal High Witch so ancient, so legendary, that for thousands of years she has been the ultimate prize, relentlessly pursued by Dark Witches, she has eluded all who would kill her…until a mother’s grief makes her reckless and she is captured by a madman. After endless physical and mental torment, she escapes, but her captivity has damaged her spirit as well as her body. And though the wounds to her body have healed, the scars on her mind and soul remain.

After more than four thousand years, her destiny has finally found her…

Nathan King now has the peace he craved in the life he created for himself – until the day he sees her again. Can it really be Nidabe – the love he thought lost to him so many centuries ago? But the woman he finds is not the fierce, proud girl of his cherished memories – now her eyes are haunted by a pain so deep, and a hatred so bitter it divides them still. but if he is to understand the source of her anguish and reclaim the passion that was once theirs, he must face the truth that the evil that tore them apart once again stands between them and their chance at forever.

Immortality (Book 4) (from the Out of This World anthology)
Initial release by Jove 8 Aug 01

This novella picks up immediately where Destiny leaves off, only now from the point of view of Puabi, the wife of King Enntanum four thousand years earlier.  She is tired of trying to gain Natum’s love, even in the modern world where he calls himself Nathan King, and when Nidaba is once again in Nathan’s life, Puabi has to again fight them both just as she did before.  And as they did before, they have beaten her, left her to die in the fire that is devouring Nathan’s home, and Puabi has at long last lost her will to live.  Throwing herself over the cliffs into the ocean, she welcomes death, somehow knowing that her immortality will not save her this time.

It’s not immortality but Matthew Fairchild who saves Puabi this time around.  He’s ensconced himself on his private island to grieve for his wife and child who he’s recently lost when he discovers Puabi in the waters just offshore.  He’s stunned when he realizes her resemblance to his dead wife and and he feels a pull to this woman that he’s never experienced before.   It’s during their efforts to outrun an approaching storm that the truth is revealed and Matthew finds out what really happened to his wife and son.

I wasn’t sure I’d like this short story all that much because it’s about one of the villains of the last two books, but Ms. Shayne pulls it off and you want Puabi to finally find happiness if at all possible.  With a couple of twists here and there, she does pull it off and gives a different happily ever after than we’ve gotten with the previous three books.  A good story, not quite as good as the others, but I enjoyed it nonetheless.

Grade: A-

Summary:

Her name is Puabi—and she’s an Immortal High Witch whose past is littered with dark secrets. Convinced she has eluded death for the last time, she is shocked to find herself being rescued by a mysterious stranger who fills her with a desire she thought was lost forever…

His name is Matthew Fairchild—and he is a millionaire tormented by guilt over the tragic death of his wife. The last thing he expected to encounter was a beautiful woman who possessed an uncanny resemblance to the woman he loved and lost. But Puabi is like no one he’s ever met before. Is it possible this enigmatic beauty can heal the bitter wounds that have nearly cost him his heart?

This is a terrific series of books with complex characters and plot, storytelling that is compelling, and love and romance portrayed with longing, integrity, and that is never ending. These books will be sitting on my shelf for quite a long time.

  Overall Grade:  A+

Gwen’s Quick Quacks of Three Books and Three Scotsmen
Historical romances released between November 2007 to November 2008

So I’m sitting here with another pile of books I’ve read but haven’t reviewed, and decided I better do something with them before Sybil kills me.  But, as I have no time to do the full, long, well thought out reviews right now, you’re getting my crib notes – normally scribbled in the back of an ARC or on one of those big Post It notes.  Sometimes even a cocktail napkin.  Served with good single-malt Scots whiskey, of course…

Highland Captive by Hannah Howell (author’s site is dismally out of date)
Historical romance released by Zebra 4 Nov 08

This was a readable, typically Howell book.  It was a little long (I read the ARC, so perhaps the final release will be shorter).  I kept thinking it was over but it kept going.  I really got to know both the hero and heroine.  Howell, in typical fashion, managed to create some very good characterizations, including the secondary characters.  There were her typical complete story arcs with very little meandering – you stay on the H/H the whole book.  I did have some temporal confusion after heroine is rescued and a couple of other moments in the book, but these were small prices to pay for a good meaty story.  Howell always brings an emotionally satisfying Highlands romance.

Grade: B-

Summary:

New York Times bestselling author Hannah Howell breathes life into the enchanting beauty of the Scottish Highlands in this epic romance between a strong-willed captor and the striking young woman he both confines and protects…

The windswept Scottish Highlands hold great beauty, but also great danger. So when Aimil Mengue is abducted by a feuding clan, she is right to fear for her life-and her virtue. For Aimil’s keeper is the infamous warrior Parlan MacGuin. Aimil sets out to hate him, but Parlan is more honorable-and infinitely more alluring-than expected. Though betrothed to another, Aimil cannot deny her startling desire for the man who holds her captive…

Parlan MacGuin knows well his reputation as a fierce warrior; he uses it to claim land and lovers. But beautiful Aimil is a different type of conquest. Now Parlan feels an unfamiliar longing for the woman he keeps at ransom as their forbidden passion threatens to spark an unstoppable blood feud-or forever fill their hearts…

No excerpt available at the time the review was written.

The Highlander (Medieval Warriors Trilogy, Book 3) by Heather Grothaus (holy crap! this author is Sybil’s TWIN!)
Historical romance released by Zebra 1 Sep 08

I found this book to be readable.  I didn’t hate it, but I’m not rushing out to buy more of Grothaus’s work.  I don’t have a bone to pick with her writing – it was excellent and the story was engrossing, if a bit long. It had some interesting paranormal elements, but isn’t strictly a paranormal romance. What I didn’t like was her lead characters.

I found the heroine, Evelyn, to be immature and prone to silly outbursts, and the hero, Conall, a bit wishy-washy.  Every time she got good and mad, she’d throw a temper tantrum and throw something at the hero – and not small somethings!  She threw a stool at him – nailed him right in the head and lots of crockery that in that day and age, I imagine was difficult to come by.  And Conall was a bit of a milquetoast about it all.  I’d have bent her over my knee and spanked her – and not the fun kind either!  I felt like she was a coward thru much of the book.

The last two or three chapters were the best in the book.  We finally got away from dealing with just the two lead characters and more into the mildly paranormal storyline and history of why these characters were in the situation they’re in.

The setting was interesting and new to me in a romance and an interesting study of early Scots life.  It takes place in the Scottish Highlands only ten years after William the Conqueror’s Norman conquest of the Saxons at the Battle of Hastings in 1066.  I think perhaps this novel isn’t an entirely accurate depiction of early Saxon/English life or peerage (the heroine is English, not Scots), but that’s a small price to pay for a fiction novel.

Nevertheless, I found this to be a readable, if forgettable, book.

Grade: C

Summary:

From Heather Grothaus comes a tale of desire and deception in Scotland, AD 1076, and of the couple whose love could bring two clans together — or rip them apart… When Evelyn Godewin departs from her native England, she’s looking for a new beginning. Yet fate has other plans in store for her when she’s left stranded alone in an unforgiving highland forest, hunted by wolves as winter sets in.

Determined to make the best of her surroundings, Evelyn seeks shelter in an abandoned cottage in the woods. But when Conall MacKerrick, a highland chief, bursts into the cottage and accuses her of trespassing, Evelyn tells him a lie she knows she will regret one day. Much to her surprise, she finds herself falling in love with the highlander… Conall MacKerrick believes his clan is cursed, and when he meets Evelyn he thinks he has found the key to lifting that curse. He must marry her — or at the least, get her with child. Seducing the striking beauty is the only way to save his people and his pride. Even as he begins to trust that she will heal not only his people’s troubles, but his own heart, he discovers the secret that could destroy their newfound love…

No excerpt available at the time this review was written.

Other books in the series:

The Warrior (Brotherhood of the Sword, Book 3) by Kinley MacGregor
Historical Romance released by on Avon 27 Nov 07

I went back and looked.  I never reviewed this book!  Nobody on the site reviewed it.  I dimly remember reading it – when I’m not sure, but I’m pretty sure I did.  Anyhow, here’s the review.  I loved it.

I particularly liked the heroine, Catarina (wasn’t the heroine in Taming of the Shrew also a “Catarina”) and loved how the hero, Lochlan, comes to love her – all her contrariness included.  Cat is accepted and loved for who she is and I so love to hear that in a book. Lochlan never tries to change her, despite his initial misgivings.

The story is involved and a bit twisty.  We travel all over France at the time of one of the Philip’s reigns (mid 1200′s?), pursued by various factions set on kidnapping Cat for one reason or another.  We end up in England by the end of the book.  The royal linkages were interesting and brought a surprising element to the story.

This entry in the series is not directly about one of the Brotherhood, but rather one’s older brother, Lochlan.  It describes Lochlan’s search for his missing brother, a member of the Brotherhood, and its heartbreaking end.  I loved how the hero and heroine come to love and respect each other.

All in all, a very entertaining entry in MacGregor’s world universe.

Grade: A

Summary:

Lochlan MacAllister was born to lead. Ruthlessly groomed to take control of his clan, he has given his life to his people. But when he learns that the brother he thought was dead might still be alive, he embarks on a quest to find the truth.

Catarina wants a life of freedom. But now Catarina’s royal father wants to use her as a pawn to ensure a treaty between conflicting lands. So much so that he’s willing to kidnap his daughter to force the issue. But when she escapes, fate throws her into the path of a man she loathes.

Lochlan is stunned to find the shrewish Cat being hauled away by unknown men. Unwilling to see even her suffer, he frees her only to learn that she has her own demons to fight. When their fates intertwine, two people who know nothing of trust must rely on each other, and two enemies who have vowed their eternal hatred must find common ground, or see their very lives shattered.

Read an excerpt (nice long one).

Other books in this series:

Liviania’s review of Hot Mama (Bigtime #2) by Jennifer Estep
Paranormal romance release by Berkley 6 Nov 07, re-release 5 Aug 08

Immediately after finishing and loving Karma Girl, I instantly delved into the next Bigtime story. Estep kept me up way past my bedtime. Both books are fast paced, well plotted, and impossible (for me) to put down. [Ed.: float your cursor over the cover to the left to see the original cover.]

I’ve had a terrible time trying to write this review because it keep sounding like a lame rephrasing of the blurb and my Karma Girl review. I believe this is caused by the fact I read the two books back-to-back, no pause for anything. (It was late. I’d already eaten and such, so why stop when I was having such fun?) Hot Mama possesses the same feel of Karma Girl – it is upbeat and draws upon the appeal of the more campy comics. In other words, it’s a light-hearted good time with violence and sketchy, sketchy science.

This time around, Striker and Karma Girl are gone on their world tour honeymoon and it is up to the other three members of the Fearless Five to keep Bigtime, NY safe – both from ubervillains Siren and Intelligal, and vigilante Johnny Angel. At the same time Fiera must maintain her personal life as Fiona Fine, which is heating up for the first time since the death of Tornado, her fiancé.

I liked Fiona a little less than Carmen. This is partially from just finished Carmen’s book. Fiona spent many of the pages hostile to her because of her role in Tonado’s death and thus Carmen’s point of view highlighted her flaws. Seeing things through Fiona’s view was different, but at first I had a little residual hostility on Carmen’s behalf towards her. As the book continued, I did fall into her narration, but I still like Carmen better.

Jennifer Estep did do well with letting Fiona put the pieces of the story together. At one point she’s somewhat willfully ignorant, but then she faces the obvious and confronts Johnny Angel. The villains’ identity being obvious to the reader but not the characters still doesn’t work as well in textual novels as in graphic ones, but it fared better here than in Karma Girl. (Maybe the villains’ identities aren’t even noticeable to other readers. It’s entirely possible that I’ve simply read to many comic books in more formative years.)

And here’s where that retread of the first novel’s review shows up. I like Estep’s characterization. Not only is the heroine well-realized, weeks after reading the novel I can still remember Fiona’s assistant who believes her boss has bulimia. The ongoing secondary romance gets some nice moments as the two involved fight over their relationship’s future. Characters are always important to me, particularly in a romance, so this trait of Estep’s writing will definitely keep me coming for more.

Grade B+

Summary:
She can melt steel – and men’s hearts …

By day, Fiona Fine is a successful couture designer, catering to the high society players of Bigtime, New York. By night, she’s Fiera, a superstrong superhero who can create and manipulate fire with her bare hands. Fiera, along with the other members of the heroic Fearless Five, make life miserable for the ubervillains who want to take over the city.

But Fiona’s personal life isn’t so fine. She still misses her fiancé, who was killed by ubervillains a year ago. But men admire Fiona’s smoking assets, and she decides to get back in the dating game – especially after she meets Johnny Bulluci. But this notorious playboy has plenty of secrets to go along with his sexy smile. And, with two new ubervillains in town who are intent on raising hell, Fiona’s love life might just crash and burn …
Read an excerpt here.

Other books in the series:

Sandy M’s review of Caine’s Reckoning (Hell’s Eight, Book 1) by Sarah McCarty
Historical Romance released by Harlequin Spice 1 Nov 07

I loved this book. I absolutely loved everything about it. The characters are very true to life, good or bad.

Caine Allen is a Texas Ranger and head of Hell’s Eight, a spread nearly the size of Texas where he and other men who have lost loved ones in Indian massacres have found a home and a family of sorts. Caine is a hard man because of the hard life he’s led living in a hard land during hard times. He’s also a good and honest man, a man who looks out for those under his protection and for those who have a place in his heart. He and two of his men, Sam and Tracker, have been hired to rescue a town’s kidnapped women. When they come upon the kidnappers and their victims, only one woman is fighting back and what a job she is doing on not one, but two of the evil cowards and she wins Caine’s admiration and respect right off the bat.

Desi is a feisty hellcat when she has to be. Most of the time, however, she’s afraid of every sound and movement and doesn’t trust a soul. She’s been held captive since her family was killed by Indians. And it’s not the Indians who have kept her in chains and used her for their own twisted ways. The town’s gambler is Desi’s guardian and that’s the first thing, besides her fear, that bugs Caine about the entire situation when he returns the women to the townsfolk. As determined as he is not to leave her with such lowlifes, Desi herself is more determined to remain free and she even fights Caine for that freedom. But at the end of it all, they end up married so he has the right to take her away from the hell she’s been living in for years.

From this point on this story becomes an emotional ride for Caine, Desi, and the reader. Caine does his best to hold himself in check when he tries to love Desi. He doesn’t know the whole story yet and every time she jumps at his touch or she expects anger from him when she does something “wrong,” he vows to get his hands on the men who abused his wife as horribly as they did. Caine is soft and sensitive to her every need, her every want, her every desire. It’s fascinating the way he comes across on the page being the hard man he is but knowing he has to gently love this injured, scarred, and scared woman.

Desi’s issue is trust. She hasn’t had any for anyone in a lot of years and with every flinch at Caine’s touch, it seems as though her trust is gone forever. What she doesn’t know is that Caine is not about to give up because this woman, his wife, although she deserves better than the likes of him, she is only one for him. Seeing Desi’s trust grow in each and every scene between these two characters is wonderfully done. And when Desi finally truly opens herself to Caine, it’s a scene not to be missed.

The secondary characters are all simply terrific. The other Hell’s Eight men have their own demons to fight and they’re going to be great but hellacious reads as they come along in the series. I’m especially taken with Tracker and Shadow, who are brothers, and look forward to their stories. The villains are also written quite well and are characters who you love to hate. James, the aforementioned gambler, is a complete but terrifying asshole, along with his cronies, and it’s so nice when their time comes due.

There’s not one thing I didn’t like about this book. I’m just sorry I waited so long to read it after everything I heard about it when it was first released. I won’t be doing that with the newest edition in the series, Sam’s Creed, which was released just last month. I will be reading it very, very soon.

Grade: A

Read other reviews by clicking on the Caine’s Reckoning tag.

Summary:

Caine Allen is a hardened Texas Ranger, definitely not the marrying kind. But when he rescues a kidnapped woman and returns her to town, the preacher calls in a favor. One Caine’s honor won’t let him refuse.

From the moment he beds Desi, Caine knows turmoil will follow. Desi might have the face of a temptress, but she also has a will of iron and while she needs his protection, she’s determined that no man will control her again. They establish an uneasy bond, but it still isn’t enough for Caine. He wants all Desi has to offer. He wants her screams, her moans, her demands…everything. Yet there’s still a bounty on Desi’s head and keeping her satisfied is proving easier than keeping her alive.

Read an excerpt.

Other books in this series:

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

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

~ The Kiss by Sophia Nash – regency historical romance

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

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

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

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

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

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

Grade: A

Summary:

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

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

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

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

Read excerpts (scroll down).

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

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

Grade: B-

Summary:

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

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

Read an excerpt (scroll down).

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

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

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

Grade: C+

Summary:

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

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

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

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

Read an excerpt.

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

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

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

Grade: A

Summary:

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

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

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

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

Read an excerpt.

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

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

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

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

Grade: C

Summary:

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

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

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

Read an excerpt.

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

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

Grade: B

Summary:

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

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

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

Read an excerpt.

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

Finn’s review of To Catch a Cheat by Kelley St. John
Contemporary romance released by Forever 1 Nov 07

Marissa Kincaid is a serial cheater dater. She only seems to date men who cheat. She and her friends decide to start a database of cheaters to warn other women of the horrible men who have broken their hearts.

Marissa decides to start with the first boy that cheated on her Trenton Jackson, he dumped her the night of the Sadie Hawkins dance and went to the movies with another girl. Trenton Jackson finds out and sees a way to get some great free publicity for his site DieHardAtlanta.com.

So Trenton starts a site called TheGirlLies.com and puts Marissa on it. Well a popular radio show gets a hold of it and invites the dueling duo to the studio to give an on-air interview. That’s when the sparks really start to fly. Speedy and Coleman move the two into an apartment for a week to see if they are still enemies at the end. If they are then Marissa and Trenton get a 7 figure add campaign for their sites.

I loved this story! It doesn’t hurt that Marissa’s friend Amy is a retired sex toy designer (which makes me want to read her story). It adds a lot of hilarity to this little tale. I love Petie the salt-n-pepper schnauzer, probably because I have two myself. They tend to carry non-appropriate things around in their mouths at the most inopportune moments! Great story, great love scenes, and a recipe to boot!

Grade: A

     Summary:

     Marissa Kincaid has a gift for dating the terminally unfaithful. After she finds her latest boyfriend lip-locked to another man, she decides to strike back by creating TheGuyCheats.com, a virtual Wanted poster for serial cheaters. Soon Marissa is spending almost all her time getting even—instead of getting a guy.

     Enter Trenton Jackson, Marissa’s first crush from way back. Now Atlanta’s golden boy publisher, Trent is falling for the feisty siren Marissa has become and he’s determined to prove that he knows how to be true. But with Marissa afraid to ever trust a man again, Trent will have to do a lot of teasing, squeezing, and pleasing… before he can kiss away her fears and open her heart to love.

     Read an

Gwen’s review of One Knight Only (Bladesmen, Book 2) by Julia Latham
Historical romance released by Avon 27 Nov 07

There were a few things I liked about this book, but more I didn’t like or simply felt ambivalent about. Not a promising way to start a review, I realize, but bear with me while I explain what struck me – perhaps they’ll be things you like about a book. Me? Not so much.

Gak. I wrote the review and realized there was more I didn’t like about this story than I liked. So read on if you dare.

Besides. I figure if I didn’t get some reviews in soon, Sybil was going to take away my Duckie Club card.

This is the second book in Latham’s loosely related “Blademen” series (my name for it not hers). The heroes and heroines are thrust together against the backdrop of medieval England and all the resident political turmoil and intrigue that was part of the English court at the time. And so we come to the first thing that I didn’t like about the book: this whole political intrigue thing seemed forced to me.

The Bladesmen, or League of the Blade, is a supposedly “secret” society of talented swordsmen and noble fighters who help those in need – a secret that everyone seems to know about. Think Robin Hood, but no stealing from the rich thing and presumably no green tights. But, they’re good guys doing largely good deeds and protecting the innocent all in support of the greater good, if not necessarily in support a governing authority of some kind. This is the second thing I didn’t like: the whole concept of the Bladesmen seemed too contrived and and a little too convenient throughout the book. I never did buy into it.

The last important element of the story is, naturally, the hero and heroine’s relationship. Philip and Anne come from similarly humble origins, though Philip seeks to better himself thru an advantageous marriage. Anne seeks the same thru admittance to the “secret” society and be the first Bladeswoman – her only recourse since, as we’re told repeatedly, she’ll never make an advantageous marriage since she was born poor and was shunned by uncaring parents. This leads us to the last thing I didn’t like about the story: I never understood exactly the H/H’s backgrounds and some of the details seemed to shift occasionally. I hate that – when at the beginning we’re given one detail and by the end of the book it has changed, or morphed into something convenient. It’s like the author had to write themself out of a sticky plot point and the only way to do that was to change an early detail. I always wonder why they don’t go back and change the earlier detail so they synch up, but hey, I’m not a writer.

There were a number of other smaller things I didn’t like about the book. Such as, if Lady Rosamond – whom Anne, a maidservant, is impersonating on a trip around the English countryside to find a new husband said Lady – ends up seeing any of the husband candidates again, how on earth is she going to keep them from feeling like fools that her servant duped them during the earlier visit? I mean, they have a resemblance in coloring and general shape, but do not look alike – as is noted by many characters. Big ol’ hole in the plot, to me.

So, here we are. We’re in a setting that isn’t wholly believable, with plot devices that don’t ring true, and a hero and heroine whom we wonder if we ever really know even a couple of hundred pages in. Not a good place to be while reading a book. This is when things get truly far-fetched: the h/h get shown into the presence of King Henry to discuss some conspiracy with him and negotiate with him about the details. Uh. No.

There’s a lot of dithering at the end of the book. They’re rushing all over London, trying to save this person or that, catch this criminal and another. None of which are doing much to further the romance. And, after all, the romance is why I’m reading the bloody thing, isn’t it?

If you are a Julia Latham fan, you may like this book. If you like stories with some intrigue, you may like this book, but I think you’ll have as many eye-rolling moments as I did. I can’t recommend this book.

Grade: D

Read Lawson’s review here. She liked it more than I did.

The blurb:

A dangerous journey, two people in disguise–and a love that won’t be denied.

Daring and adventurous, Anne Kendall would give anything to join the secret band of warrior knights known as the League of the Blade, and she eagerly agrees to a perilous masquerade. But then Sir Philip Clifford, a reckless, brutally handsome knight, joins their party, bringing back memories of stolen kisses, passionate longings, and one night when she would have done anything to be his.

Anne would prefer to concentrate on the dangerous mission at hand…..but the glorious, savage passion that begins to develop between her and this unruly warrior may prove him to be the knight of her dreams…and her fantasies.

Read an excerpt.

Sandy M’s review of The Accidental Mistress (Mistress Trilogy, Book 2) by Tracy Anne Warren
Historical Romance published by Ballantine 27 Nov 07

I loved the hero and heroine in this book. Before they meet they each have taken steps to insure their futures, one to marry to carry on the family line and the other to never marry and have an independent life. Even their first meeting is fun and humorous and later their love affair is romantic and lovely but doomed to be lasting, but the author keeps everyone’s hopes up in a lively albeit dangerous way.

Lily is quite inventive in getting out of marrying the lecher her stepfather has promised her to. She fakes her death by swimming into the ocean in the middle of a storm, and then, dressed in men’s clothing, makes her toward London. On the way, however, during a stopover at an inn, her masquerade is discovered by Ethan, Marquis Vessy, a handsome man who pays attention and figures out the young boy traveling alone is really a woman, an intriguing woman with an adverturous spirit and courage to boot. I so enjoyed the scenes between these two when Ethan buys “Jack” a meal and keeps pressing food on her, telling her when he was young he never seemed to be able to get enough to eat. She has pluck and keeps shoveling the food in. He even offers her a cheroot when she shows interest as he lights up, and it’s quite humorous to see her try to keep her disguise in place when Ethan is trying to expose her.

They even play a delightful game of guess “Jack’s” real name as they head toward London together due to Lily refusing to tell him anything about herself. Secrecy is utmost in her mind, the only way to insure her stepfather never finds her. When they part ways, they can’t get each other out of their minds and fortuntely fate brings them together again.

Ethan is like a man possessed trying to get Lily in his bed, even going so far as to give her driving lessons and promising to keep their outings platonic, which he does do an admirable job of until her last lesson and then nothing but seduction is on his mind. Things don’t go quite as planned and Lily is then adamant they not see each other anymore, she’s still very skittish about marriage and having someone else, especially a man, control her life. But the time they spend apart is hell on them both, and when Ethan pushes his way into her home to talk and to hopefully seduce once again, the passion between them erupts and flares and eventually leads them into a secret affair that flourishes beyond their expectations. And just when they both come to their own conclusions about what they want from one another, outsides sources from different fronts conspire to keep them apart.

But they bring out the best in each other and Ethan is now as inventive as Lily in ways to get they want and need to be together, coming up with a plan to rid himself of a fiancee he doesn’t want. The scenes between them when Lily finds out Ethan is engaged are heartbreakingly wonderful, as is the scene when he finally rescues her from her fate that’s worse that death.

I’m hoping the other two books in the trilogy are this fun, romantic, and uplifting. It was simply a pleasure to read this one.

Grade: A

     From the back cover:

     To escape an arranged marriage, spirited Lily Bainbridge has staged her own death and, disguised as a boy, fled to London and a life of freedom. Yet her plans to masquerade as an independent widow are thwarted by an encounter with a powerful and dangerously attractive marquis who wants to make her his mistress. Lily is afraid that if she gives him her innocence, he’ll steal her heart.

     Having agreed to a marriage of convenience to honor his family duty, Ethan Andarton, the Marquis of Vessey, has no intention of abandoning his rakish ways. Then fate intervenes in the guise of an impetuous young lady—a woman bold enough to scheme her way to London, who tempts him with her mystery and her sensuality. Kiss after kiss, caress after tender caress, Ethan vows to discover all of Lily’s hidden secrets. For beneath the layers of her clever ruse lies a burning passion that will ignite a tempestuous love neither of them can deny.

     Read an excerpt here.

Connie’s review of Trapped by Chris Jordan
Suspense Thriller from MIRA 1 Nov 07

Jane Hartley’s 16 year old daughter fought and beat leukemia when she was a young child. And since she beat it, Kelly has been fighting her mother’s desire for her to ‘take it easy’. This all comes about in the first chapter as Jane is ‘tsk, tsk’ing a young, tattooed woman, who is too stupid to have on a helmet, while holding onto her boyfriend (with one hand!) as he recklessly drives his motorcycle on the freeway.

Of course, she is shocked to see the young woman is her daughter. Suddenly, everything Jane thought she knew about Kelly disappears faster than you can say ‘Myspace.’ Sadly their mother/daughter relationship isn’t the only thing that is missing – so is Kelly. And the police seem to think she has ran off with motorcycle driving bad boy (boyfriend?) Jane knew nothing about. [Ed. note: she is still only 16! I don't understand why that wouldn't be an issue!]

So she does the only thing she can think of doing and hires a former F.B.I. agent to help locate Kelly. And things go from bad to worse – not only did her 16 year old daughter have a boyfriend she knew nothing about, she met him online and Seth is no boy but an adult.

They are finally lead to Florida but really on their own because they keep hitting walls and no one seems to be able or want to help them. Even though Kelly is something of a brat you want her to be okay. She is a childhood survivor of leukemia, Jane’s been thru the pain once before, and there is no fear worse for any woman then losing her child.

I read this book with my breath held hoping everything would be fine. Yes this is MIRA and is published from Harlequin but make no mistake – THIS IS NOT A ROMANCE.  Honestly, that was disappointing because all the pieces were in place and it could have tied up very nicely on the romance side of things without taking away from the suspense plot, but, the author (a man) didn’t go that way.

The characters are really enjoyable – one of my favorites would be “Fish” – but it does drag in places. And gets to be too detailed and boring in spots. Over all not a bad story, but if the ending had tied the characters together, I would have ended up much happier as is I was left with a very confused feeling at the end of the book.

Grade: C -

Read an excerpt.

“Mom, I need your help. Please call—” That’s it. The call cuts off in midsentence. No static. Nothing.

Just an overwhelming silence.

Long Island single mom Jane Hartley is frantic when her sixteen-year-old daughter, Kelly, a survivor of childhood leukemia, disappears from her bedroom one night. To Jane’s frustration, the police believe that Kelly ran off willingly with her boyfriend, Seth. Unaware that her daughter even had a boyfriend, Jane soon discovers that Seth is no boy. He is an adult—a man who, after meeting Kelly on the Internet, took the teenager on one thrill-seeking ride after another. From motorcycles to skydiving, Jane’s little girl has been hiding some dangerous secrets.

Like mother, like daughter.

Adamant that Kelly is not a runaway but, rather, is being held against her will, Jane hires ex-FBI agent Randall Shane to follow the trail of her missing child. But every step brings them closer to a cold-blooded predator lurking in the shadows… coiled around Jane’s shameful secret…waiting to strike.

Read an excerpt.

Sandy M’s review of His Captive by Diana Cosby
Historical Romance published by Zebra on 1 November 2007

The hero and heroine in this book have one of the best battle of wills. One that leads to doubt and vulnerability for both characters right up to the bitter end. She vexes him constantly and at the same time tames him with her love, while he shows her that not all is fair in war, but honor and loyalty are what make a man.

Nichola is a woman who has had to run things since her brother took over after the death of their parents. Griffin does nothing but drink and whore around, leaving her to deal with the responsibilities he should be taking care of. They are out of money, out of heirlooms to sell, and Nichola is ready to hand the reins back over to the baron. Before she can do so, however, Griffin is off again and luckily for him it’s perfect timing. Unluckily for Nichola, the timing couldn’t be more off. She is suddenly face to face with a dangerous-looking man in her home.

Even from this moment, Nichola is a heroine to be reckoned with. She might be frightened with a stranger breaking into the castle and who seems to know its secrets, but she never backs down and never lets him see her fear. Because her brother has left again, it is Nichola who is taken captive by the handsome Scot who intends to hold her for ransom. You have to love a woman who doesn’t give up and tries to escape her captor at every opportunity. And this is a heroine who uses her brain, bides her time, and makes good use of every advantage.

Of course, the handsome Scot, Alexander, is just as strong, just as determined, and spurred on by loyalty to his country. He is taken with Nichola from the very start, would love to have her in his bed, and it takes every ounce of self-control not to give in to those desires — and not to tie her up and gag her to keep her from making his life miserable her with escape attempts. She does give him a very hard time during their journey to his home where his brothers are awaiting his return with the baron, so he has even more vexation ahead of him when they learn who his captive really is. He has to get there first and that captive is determined not to get there at all, but this time Alexander wins this particular battle. Nichola is thrust among people who view her as the enemy. Alexander has promised to protect her, but little does he know where the danger to Nichola will truly come from.

As much as I liked the trouble Nichola dished out to Alexander and their clashes of stubbornness, I also enjoyed the interaction between Alexander and his brothers. You can feel the love and respect they have for one another and you experience how they kid and joke around with each other. Unfortunately, you also see how war can eat away at those who are dealt swift and terrible blows by their enemies, as Alexander finds out at the hands of someone he loves and trusts. Nichola discovers the same but in a totally different way.

In checking the author’s website, it’s nice to see she’s continuing the story of the MacGruder brothers and Duncan’s story, His Woman, will be out in December. His Captive is a very good start to a series that can only get better with each book.

Grade: B-

From the back cover:
STRANGERS

With a wastrel brother and a treacherous former fiancé, Lady Nichola Westcott hardly expects the dangerously seductive Scot who kidnaps her to be a man of his word. Though Sir Alexander MacGruder promises not to hurt her, Nichola’s only value is as a pawn to be ransomed.

ENEMIES

Alexander’s goal is to avenge his father’s murder, not to become entangled with the enemy. But his desire to keep Nichola with him, in his home—in his bed—unwittingly make her a target for those who have no qualms about shedding English blood.

LOVERS

Now Nichola is trapped—by her powerful attraction to a man whose touch shakes her to the core. Unwilling and unable to resist each other, can Nichola and Alexander save a love that has enslaved them both?

Read an excerpt here.

I have really enjoyed Karen Templeton’s last few novels but latest trilogy is amazing.

The entire Guys & Daughters series (Dear Santa, Yours, Mine…or Ours? and Baby, I’m Yours) have been books I want to put into every readers hand and say, over look the title, over look what you ‘know’ or think you know about Harlequin, romance novels, Silhouette Special Edition and if you have never tried the line why not start here.

I will have reviews for all three books up up this month, trying to decide should I do a combo review, go backward (the one on the shelves is Baby, I’m Yours (if you are reading the series get it NOW) or start with this book - Dear Santa.

But really, if you haven’t already, you will be buying all three, so might as well get started now…

So click the link read the summary and excerpt… check out Holly’s review and come back tomorrow and check out Karen’s guest post (as well as we will have more excerpts and contests and reviews – oh my!).

Are you going to love it as much as me – I hope so. Do I think it will change your mind about what you expect from SSE – yes. Could you hate it, sure. Either way you will never know until you buy it and read it.

Grant Braeburn might be insanely rich, but emotionally, he’s bankrupt. No surprise, then, that his marriage failed…or that he’s somehow never really connected with his three-year-old daughter. Then his ex is killed in a car crash, leaving Grant a woefully inept single father. Haley will never want for anything material, but how on earth do you explain to a small child that she’ll never see Mommy again?

Desperate, he turns to Mia Vaccaro, Justine’s best friend and Haley’s “aunt”…even though he and Mia basically can’t stand each other. But the down-to-earth lawyer-turned-party planner will do anything to help the little girl she loves with all her heart, even if it means sharing a mansion with a man whose favorite beverage might as well be O positive…and who has a secret that could not only shatter Mia’s faith in her old friend, but, as Mia and Grant find common ground in their concern for a hurting, confused child, could destroy the future, as well.

“Mrs. Braeburn had emergency contact information in her purse. And the glove compartment.” The doctor— middle-aged, still not comfortable with making these sorts of calls, Grant guessed—paused. “And her briefcase.”A humorless chuckle released the vise constricting Grant’s lungs. Catching himself, he sank into a leather club chair facing the window. “I’m sorry—”

“Shock often produces seemingly inappropriate emotions,” the doctor said kindly. “It’s a coping mechanism. So the pain doesn’t overwhelm us.”

“It’s not…” Outside, rivers slammed against the paned windows. Grant shook his head to clear it. “Justine and I were divorced more than a year ago.”

“Ah. Yes. Of course.” A pause. “I understand you have a daughter?”

Grant shut his eyes, willing his brain to assimilate… anything. “Yes. She’s here. It’s my weekend.”

“Then…you’ll tell her?”

“Of course,” Grant said, even as he thought, How the hell do you tell a three-year-old her mother’s dead? He sucked in an acid-tinged breath, then asked, “Justine…she was alone? In the car?”

“Yes.”

“What happened?”

Another pause, then a measured, “She apparently took a curve too quickly, hit a patch of wet leaves and lost control. She may have been on her cell phone.”

Typical, he thought bitterly. Justine would practically have a panic attack if she lost contact with the outside world for more than five minutes. With each breath, Grant’s lungs eased. Slightly. “I suppose I’ll need to make arrangements?”

“There’s no other family, then?”

“Not to my knowledge.”

“Mr. Braeburn, I could…give you some names if you, or the little girl, would like to talk to someone?”

“Thank you. But I have my own contacts. Should the need arise.”

“Of course. If there’s nothing else…?”

“No. No, wait…”

“Yes?”

A second’s wrestling preceded, “Her face?”

The doctor hesitated, then said, “She’d been a beautiful woman, I take it?”

For some time after the call, Grant stood staring into the late day dreariness outside, the phone still clamped in his chilled hand. An odd, tight smile pulled at his mouth. He could just imagine Justine’s soul—if she had one—floating over her lifeless body, wailing over losing her looks. Especially considering the megabucks she’d invested in them—

“Mr. B.? Everything all right?”

Grant turned; his housekeeper’s puglike face was more deeply creased than usual, worry peering out from light brown eyes framed in drooping crow’s feet. Etta Bruschetti didn’t exactly fit the mold of who one generally found keeping lives and houses intact in this part of the world. But the smart-mouthed brunette kept him honest, on his toes and from believing his own press. It also didn’t hurt that she cooked as though she’d been personally instructed by God.

He returned his gaze outside and said quietly, “Haley’s mother was killed in a car crash a few hours ago.”

“What? Ohmigod, you’re not serious!” Etta pressed a broad hand to her generous chest. “God, that’s awful. That poor woman!”

One side of Grant’s mouth twitched. “Oh, come on, Etta…I know how you felt about Justine.”

“Okay, so maybe I wasn’t exactly all broken up when the two of you split. But I wouldn’t wish somethin’like that on anybody, you know what I mean?”

Even though the question was rhetorical, Grant nodded anyway. Etta stuffed her hands in the pockets of the white utilitarian apron she wore over her sweatshirt and jeans, the closest she came to a uniform unless Grant entertained. Which he hadn’t since the divorce. “Guess that means the baby’s gonna be living here full-time now, huh?”

His thought processes hadn’t gotten that far. But of course, he realized with a slug to his midsection—Justine’s death made him a single father.

One who had thus far bungled this fatherhood thing like nobody’s business.

“Yeah,” he finally said on a stream of air. “It does.”

A few minutes later, he climbed the stairs to his daughter’s bedroom, where Haley would spend hours at a time playing with her extensive stuffed toy and doll collection. At first, Grant had assumed Haley simply hadn’t inherited her mother’s sociability gene. Eventually, however, he’d realized the child simply preferred the company of her “friends” to him.

His heart racing, he stood outside his daughter’s partially open door, steeling himself as he listened to her nonstop chatter. Just like her mother, who’d never been at a loss for words, either. A good trait in a lawyer, Grant supposed. Swallowing sawdust, he knocked softly, then pushed the door open.

Instantly, the chatter stopped. A goofy-looking stuffed lion—Justine’s last present to her, Grant realized with a punch to his gut—clutched in her arms, Haley glanced up at his entrance, her expression a disturbing blend of caution and indifference. Selfishly—and guiltily—Grant had often wondered if perhaps a more outgoing child would have helped him overcome his own ineptitude, would have shattered by now whatever had kept him from feeling what other fathers felt for their children.

At least, some fathers.

Still, he wasn’t immune to his daughter’s almost painful beauty, with her dark blond curls and enormous, thick-lashed brown eyes, her fair skin with its perpetual faint blush. She also seemed frighteningly bright for a child who wouldn’t be four for another several weeks. But then, what did he know?

“Did Mommy call?” she asked with her customary directness, and his insides twisted. Without fail, Justine always called Haley during these weekend visits, even when she was away herself. Whatever had happened between him and his ex-wife, Justine had been completely devoted to their daughter.

In fact, his ex-wife had been completely besotted by Haley from the moment the doctor had laid the messy, squalling child in Justine’s arms…while Grant had only been bewildered. By the baby, by the unexpected—in this case—mother-daughter bond, by the cozy, exclusive world the two of them had with each other from day one. A world to which Grant had never been able to figure out the secret password that would have gained him entrance.

Flexing his hands at his hips, Grant crossed the hooked rug covered with dozens of multicolored pastel butterflies, eternally in flight in a pale blue sky, to sit heavily on a faux-painted toy chest. Too astute by far, Haley watched him, her gaze steady. Judgmental.

Grant stared at his folded hands for a long moment, realizing he had no idea what the hell he was doing. What he was supposed to do. This was the kid who used to scream bloody murder if she lost sight of her mother for more than a few seconds—how on earth would she react to this?

“Daddy?”

The word was flat, perfunctory. She might as well have been calling him a plate or a chair or a tree. She kept her distance, hugging that lion, eyeing him suspiciously.

“Are you mad?”

“No,” Grant said, surprised she would read his hesitation as anger. “But I have something to tell you. Something sad. And I’m not sure how to go about it.”

She waited, frowning, not so much trusting as curious, he thought. He took a deep breath and plunged.

“Mommy was in an accident,” he said quietly, his heart punching his rib cage. “In her car. And she got hurt very badly. So badly, the doctors couldn’t fix her. And… and she died.”

Haley stilled, her gaze fixed on his. Then she lowered her eyes to the lion and started stroking his mane, curling her small fingers through the golden fluff. From underneath her lashes, she peered at him again. “Died? Like Grandpa?”

She’d still been a baby when Grant’s father had died, much too young for Patrick Braeburn’s death to have made an impact. And Justine’s parents had both been gone long before she and Grant married. With a pang, Grant realized death was just a word to the little girl, a word without any real relevance or meaning.

“Yeah. Like Grandpa.”

Another moment or two passed before she said,

“Mommy says the doctor always makes you better.”

“They tried their hardest, they really did—”

“So Mommy’s coming back. She always comes back. Always.”

“Not this time,” Grant said over the nausea. “She can’t.” Hugging the lion more tightly, Haley kept her eyes locked in his for several seconds before returning to the other side of the room, where she squatted in front of her dollhouse and began one-handedly rearranging things, as if she’d somehow sucked the news inside her. Almost light-headed with uncertainty, he wondered if he should hold her. Ask her if she was okay. Something.

“Haley? Do you…want to talk?”

She swept one hand through her curls in a gesture that was her mother to a T. “No, thank you. I’ll talk to Mommy when she comes.”

Oh, God. “Haley, Mommy’s not coming back—”

But she was shaking her head, the curls a blur as her movements became more and more agitated. “No, she’s coming back, an’ we’re going to the toy store when we get home, she promised.” Her eyes veered to Grant’s, dry but determined. “She promised.”

“Haley, honey—”

Grant reached for her, but she lurched backward, stumbling over a stuffed beagle lying sideways on the lacquered, honey-blond floor to land on her bottom.

“No!” she bellowed, frantically scrambling away, crab-style, to plaster herself against the wall underneath one window, between a pair of white bookcases crammed with books and games and puzzles. “I don’t want you! I want Mommy!”

Despite the wet-clay feeling of helplessness swamping him, Grant crouched in front of his daughter, who shoved the heels of her sneakers into the floor, pressing further into the wall. “It’s okay,” he said as she started to whimper, “I’m going to take care of you now—”

“No!” she shrieked, launching the stuffed lion at his chest. “I wanna go home! I want to talk to Mommy now!”

Grant sprang to his feet and crossed to the other side of the room, ramming his hand through his hair and trying to catch his breath. Rain still slashed at the windows, pummeled the roof, the normally comforting sounds of a rainy fall Saturday barely audible over Haley’s hysterics. Juggling millions of dollars of other people’s money, taking risks that most human beings wouldn’t dare…no sweat. How to comfort his daughter—how to even get over the first hurdle, of getting her to understand what was going on? Not a clue.

He glanced over at his little girl, huddled in her niche. She’d grabbed the lion again, clutching it to her and rocking, her face smashed into the thing’s mane. After a moment, Grant lowered himself onto the edge of Haley’s bed, a white four-poster smothered in yellow and white gingham ruffles. From ten feet and a world away, she glanced over, then scootched sideways to give him her back, clumsily scrubbing the back of her hand across her dripping nose.

“Go ‘way.”

“I can’t.”

“Why?”

“Because Mommy wouldn’t want me to leave you alone.” Haley tossed a withering look over her shoulder, then pulled her knees closer to her chest, a tiny, stricken figure in her little corduroy skirt and sweater. And Grant, who was not by any means a religious man, found himself praying— pleading—to be shown what to do.

Etta appeared at the doorway, phone in hand, frown in place. She motioned Grant over, then whispered, “It’s that friend of Justine’s. Mia Vaccaro? She said she and Justine were supposed to get together this afternoon, but she won’t answer her cell. Wants to know if you know anything.”

With a last glance at his daughter’s fragile-looking back, Grant took the phone, thinking this was why he’d never been a big fan of that whole prayer business to begin with.

Because all too often, the answer is exactly what you don’t want.

Where is she?” Mia tossed in Grant’s housekeeper’s direction as she catapulted herself through the mansion’s open door, simultaneously unwinding her scarf and shrugging out of her tweed jacket.“Upstairs, in her room,” the older woman said, relieving her of the garments. “But—”“Thanks.”Mia strode across the black-and-white tiled floor in the mini-rotunda that served as a vestibule, deaf to the screams of Money, money, money! reverberating from the high-ceilinged space. That she’d made it up here in one piece was a miracle in itself, considering all she really wanted to do was curl up in a corner somewhere until the world made sense again—

“Mia. Wait.”

The deep voice hit its mark like a sharpshooter’s bullet. Already at the foot of the curved staircase, Mia spun around, her gaze colliding with a pair of steely lasers, nailing her to the spot. Not until then did she realize she was panting, as though she’d run all the way from Manhattan instead of driven. Vaguely, it dawned on her that she hadn’t even changed clothes after she’d talked to Grant, that she was still in the same rumpled jeans and who-gives-a-damn hoodie she’d been wearing to schlep fake fall foliage to the Pierre for the Chins’ anniversary party the next night, that her tortoiseshell clip was hanging by maybe two teeth to her long, thick hair.

That she looked every bit the scatter-brain he undoubtedly thought she was.

“Grant! I’m sorry, traffic was a bear on the Henry Hudson, I got here as soon as I could!”

One side of his mouth ticked. Grant Braeburn’s version of a smile. “Clearly. Thank you. Before you go up. . .?” He gestured toward a room off the entryway. His office, if she remembered correctly. She’d been in the house before, of course – for the wedding, once after that for dinner with Christopher, a night branded in her memory as somewhere between miserable and excruciating. But she wasn’t here to see Justine’s ex, she was here for the little girl who’d wrapped herself around Mia’s heart from the first time she’d laid eyes on the baby when she was less than a day old.

“Mia!” came the imperious tone when she started upstairs. “We need to talk!”

“Later!”

She’d already reached the landing when his fingers wrapped around her arm. A lesser woman might have been intimidated – or, in other circumstances, turned on – by the man’s grip. Or at the very least, let out a soft, feminine squeal of surprise. Instead, Mia went for the severely pissed off look. One that nicely complimented Grant’s own.

“Dammit, Mia – I don’t want you breaking down in front of Haley.”

“Not a problem,” she said, yanking out of his grasp and striding across a billion bucks’ worth of Oriental runner toward Haley’s room. Whatever issues Grant had with her – or she, him – would have to wait. Preferably until they were both dead and buried—

The thought literally made her stumble, although she righted herself before Grant could notice. She hoped. But despite the heartburn-from-hell dissolving her digestive system as they spoke, she wasn’t about to crumple.

Not yet, anyway.

Grant loomed behind her, much too close, as, through Haley’s open door, Mia could see her sitting quietly in the middle of her bed in her teddy-bear-flecked pajamas, sucking her thumb – a habit given up months ago. And clutched to her small, far-too-fragile-looking chest, Mia realized with another fiery blast to her midsection, was the stuffed lion Justine had only just given her.

“Hey, little bit,” she said softly, and the child’s head shot up. A second later she’d streaked across the room to wrap her arms around Mia’s thighs.

Then she tilted her head back, hope and worry and confusion tangled in her eyes. “Did Mommy come with you?”

Crap. Mia glanced over at Grant, whose glower had rearranged itself into something much more worrisome, then lowered herself to one knee, lumpy throats and heartburn-from-hell be damned.

“No, baby,” she said softly, brushing Haley’s curls off her cheek, praying she was striking the right balance between reassuring and serious. “Mommy’s not here.”

Haley disengaged herself to swing back and forth, clutching the toy. “Then are you going to take me back to the city?”

Slowly, Mia shook her head. “No, sweetie-pie. You’re going to stay with your daddy now.”

The little girl frowned. “Daddy said Mommy got broken an’ the doctors couldn’t fix her.”

“That’s right,” Mia said, swallowing back tears.

Soft brown eyes shifted from Mia to Grant and back again. “Like Hump-y
Dump-y?”

“Yeah, baby. Like Humpty Dumpty.”

“But Hump-y Dump-y’s not real. Mommy said.”

Bugger. “Well, that’s true, but—”

“So where is she?”

Oh, brother. Mia glanced up at Grant, desperately hoping for a bone, here. Justine hadn’t been particularly religious that Mia knew of, and Grant’s spiritual bent was anybody’s guess. However, since no bone seemed to be forthcoming, Mia decided to go with thirty years of Catholic indoctrination and let the chips fall where they may. “She’s in heaven, sweetie. With the angels.”

“What’s heaven?”

Ah. Clearly she was introducing new material. “Someplace really, really nice where people go after they die.”

“It’s far away?”

“Yes. Very far.”

Her brow puckered, Haley fingered Mia’s loose hair. “C’n you get there in a taxi?”

“No.”

“How ‘bout an airplane?”

“Nope.”

Almost expressionless, Haley looked at her for a long moment, then down at the lion. A second later, she held the lion out to Mia, who wagged one of the lion’s floppy paws and said softly, “Who’s this neat guy?”

“That’s Henry. Mommy gave him to me.”

“I know. I was with her when she bought him for you.”

“You were?”

“Uh-huh.”

After another moment’s thoughtful consideration, Haley leaned over and whispered, “I have to go to the bathroom,” and Mia whispered back, “Okay,” and the little girl bounced off, Henry safely tucked under one arm. Mia struggled to her feet; her hands stuffed in the front pocket of her hoodie, she frowned toward the bathroom door.

“You’ve already gotten ten times farther than I could,” Grant said behind her, the words brittle as dry sticks. Mia turned her frown on him, thinking And whose fault is that? From what Justine had said, the man hadn’t even tried to fight for joint custody. Not that Jus would have given it to him, but still.

But this was hardly the time to call him on any of it. She walked to the other side of the room, idly poking through the little girl’s collection of Dr. Seuss. “Weird, isn’t it?” Mia said, sliding Horton Hears a Who back into the bookcase. “To think there’s a time when we have no concept of what death means.”

“Do we ever?” he said softly.

She had nothing to say to that.

After several excruciatingly awkward moments, they heard a flush, then the water running. A minute later, Haley emerged from the bathroom, Henry still in tow. “Henry had to go pee-pee, too,” she said, climbing back up onto her bed. “He feels much better now. ‘Cept he’s sad.”

“Oh?” Mia said, sitting beside her. “How come?”

“’Cause he misses his mommy.”

Mia braced herself, even as she forced a smile to her lips. “But he has you to take care of him, right? So maybe he’ll stop feeling so sad.”

Haley’s eyes swerved to Grant, then back to Mia. “But I’m not as good as her, she reads stories to him an’ buys him ice cream and toys and stuff to make him feel better after he gets his shots. Who’s gonna read to him if his mommy doesn’t come back?”

Was this normal, Mia wondered, that despite “Henry’s” being sad, Haley herself seemed more perplexed than unhappy? Mia reached out to smooth Henry’s flyaway mane. “Well, I suppose you could read to him,” she said, but Haley shook her head.

“I can’t tell what all the words are yet. Mostly I just look at the pictures.”

“Ah. But you know, I bet Henry would like looking at the pictures with you. Or maybe,” she added with another darted glance in Grant’s direction, “Henry’s daddy could read to him? Why not?” she added when Haley shook her head again, more vigorously this time.

“’Cause I don’t think he knows how, either.”

“You don’t think his daddy knows how to read?” Mia said, her words piercing Grant’s almost palpable stillness.

Haley hugged the toy harder. “I don’t think he knows how to read to Henry.”

“Well. . .maybe Henry could show him?”

A faint crease marring her brow, Haley seemed to think this over for a second before she shrugged and said softly, “Maybe.” Then she yawned and knuckled her eyes, a sleepy, overwhelmed little girl whose mother was dead and whose father, Mia uncharitably thought, had turned out to be a major disappointment.

“C’mon,” she said gently, tugging the covers out from under the itty-bitty butt. “Time for sleep.”

Without protest, Haley squirmed underneath the covers, hugging Henry. “Will you be here when I wake up?” she asked, and Mia’s heart broke.

“Oh, honey. . .I wish I could, but I’ve got work to do in the city tomorrow. But I’ll be back soon.”

Wide eyes searched hers. “You promise?”

Damn. But then, what were the odds of her being creamed by a semi or offed by a trigger-happy mugger or a flowerpot falling on her head within forty-eight hours of Justine’s death? So Mia sucked in a huge breath that was equal parts prayer and will-power and said, “I promise, baby,” she said, then bent over to wrap the little girl in her arms. “Big squeezies. No – biiiig squeezies!” she said again, and Haley strung her tiny arms around Mia’s neck and hugged her for all she was worth. Then they rubbed noses and Mia laid her down again and gave her about twenty kisses before finally tearing herself away.

As she stood, however, she mouthed, “Your turn,” at Grant. Who, after a moment’s panicked eye-lock, moved toward the bed. . .only to pivot back to Mia with a weird mixture of sorrow and relief on his face.

“She’s already asleep,” he whispered, and Mia thought, You wanna bet?

Grant trailed her down the stairs, thinking about God-knew-what, Mia thinking that as much as she hated, hated, leaving Haley, she could not wait to blow this joint. Preferably while her guard was still firmly in place. But when she zeroed in on the curvy-legged table in the foyer where Etta had parked her stuff, Grant said behind her, “Don’t go yet. Please.”

She owed this man nothing. Not her time, and certainly not her emotional energy. That particular on-switch had been disabled a long, long time ago. So more fool she for whatever it was that derailed her, made her turn back. Provoked an actual flicker of sympathy at the vulnerability in those icy eyes.

“I really have to get back—”

“Ten minutes,” he said, and she sighed and dumped everything back on the table, then tromped back across the foyer, past the Jackson Pollack dominating the east wall, underneath the opera-house-sized crystal chandelier suspended from the twenty-foot ceiling, over the Persian rug larger than her first apartment.

Money, money, money. . .

Grant stood aside to let her enter the office, gesturing for her to sit. Anywhere, apparently. At least a half dozen chairs begged for the privilege, mostly contemporary leather numbers in rich browns and tans, a tweedy club chair or two for variety. Funny, she would have expected lots of chrome and glass, assorted shades of black.

An open stainless steel casket, maybe, discretely placed in a far corner.

Mia briefly shut her eyes, picturing nuns the world over sighing in dismay. However, the only alternative to the grossly inappropriate flashes of black humor that overtook her whenever she was majorly stressed was grief-induced catatonia. And anyway, she could have sworn the casket comment had been in Justine’s voice, accompanied by a burst of laughter and a lifted glass of Chablis.

Shoving aside an image of Justine as Mia last remembered her – runway beautiful and pulsing with energy, her eyes sparkling with mischief as they tromped down Madison Avenue arm-in-arm on a spur-of-the-moment shopping spree – Mia flopped down in one of the leather chairs. Still, the image, and the truth, lurked at the edges of her consciousness, waiting to pounce.

Ten minutes, she thought, her jeans rough against her palms as she scraped them over her thighs. I can hang on for ten more minutes—

“Were you able to eat before you came up?” Grant asked quietly, his brows slightly dipped. Mia shook her head. “Would you like something, then? A sandwich, at least—”

“No, I’m good.” Except she then realized her mouth felt like she’d been French kissing a blow-dryer. “I could use some water, though.”

With a curt nod, Grant crossed to the small bar on the other side of the room, his loose-fitting black sweater (fine-gauge, she was guessing cashmere), the matching cords, doing nothing to disguise the six-foot-plus package of solid, pulsing testosterone underneath. On paper, the man looked good. Okay, in person he looked good – all head-turning gorgeous with his dark hair and those eerie gray eyes, tall and fit and broad of shoulder, the way leading men used to look before somebody decided, for some inexplicable reason, that potent masculinity was overrated.

Add smart (investment whiz of the straw-into-gold variety) and insanely rich (ditto), and. . . Well. Mia supposed she could see the attraction. If one were into men whose beverage of choice was Type O Positive.

She shut her eyes again. Go straight to hell, do not pass Go, do not collect two hundred dollars. . .

“Here you go.”

Jumping slightly, Mia opened her eyes again to see an uber-masculine hand proffering a heavy, deeply etched glass and a parchment-colored cocktail napkin. “Thanks,” she muttered, gulping down half the glass as Grant – still standing, still watching her – took a measured sip of his own drink. Something ambery and undoubtedly potent. And even more undoubtedly expensive.

“Are you all right?” he asked, startling her enough to make her hand jerk, sloshing water over the edge of the glass.

“I’m fine,” she said, dabbing at her front with the napkin. She tried a smile, then thought, Why? “Although to be frank, I don’t think it’s really hit yet.”

Grant lifted his drink to his lips, then, inexplicably, relieved her of the damp, crumpled napkin before striding back to the bar to dispose of it. “I assume you and Justine were still close?”

“Uh, yeah. Sure.” She waited out the twinge of hurt, of uncertainty. “It’s been a strange couple of years,” she said, fingering the glass’s rim. “Lots of changes for both of us. So we didn’t see each other as often as we used to. Before, you know. She married you. Especially once I left the firm.”

Another image blossomed in her mind’s-eye, Justine hooting with unladylike laughter in the middle of the sidewalk, making strangers (in Manhattan!) smile. Deep inside, grief stirred and stretched. Not yet! Mia thought, swallowing it down. “But I’d never had a friend like Jus.” After a moment’s contemplation of her drink, she took a sip, then said, “Although I suppose that was due as much to timing and circumstance as anything. You know,” she filled in at Grant’s speculative look, “both being the new kids at the firm at the same time, not to mention new to the city, neither of us having a sister. . .”

Her hand shook when she lifted the glass again. “But I always knew I could count on her. Trust her. And I can’t believe. . .” Her eyes filled. “I can’t believe she’s g-gone,” she whispered.

And the floodgates gave way.

(c) 2007 Reprinted with permission of Harlequin Enterprises, Ltd. All rights reserved.

Sandy M’s review of Naughty by Nature (Carlisle Family, Book 3) by Barbara Pierce
Historical romance released by St. Martin’s 27 Nov 07

Barbara Pierce has become an all-time favorite of mine.  Her books an auto-buy. The Carlisles are a fun and scandalous family with friends of the same attributes, as evidenced by the hero in this book. These books are full of famlial love as well as romantic love, and if you haven’t read about this raucous brood yet, you are missing a great time.

What I loved most about this book is the different side we see of Ram – the sensitive, emotional side – but the rogue is still present. We also find out what it is in his past that has brought him to this point in his life and made him the man he is. The scenes with his sister, especially when we learn why it is Margaret is the only sister left, are quite emotional.  In addition, although it breaks his heart to force her to rejoin society after so many years of hiding, he has decided to stand firm and make sure she begins to live again.

Then he literally bumps into the most intriguing woman and, though she awakens a different kind of passion in him than he’s used to, he employs her to help his sister.  Ms. Pierce’s wonderful writing shows us how difficult a situation he’s made for himself because he’s never crossed that line with an employee, and some things in life just have to have their own way no matter what you do.

Patience has had her own downfall in life and is hiding a horrible secret.  She is now trying to eke out a living as an actress in a traveling company. Fortune begins to smile on her when she agrees to take Ram’s job. She realizes all Margaret needs is female camaraderie and guidance.  Margaret’s changes are astoudning to Ram, that is when he is able to keep his mind and hands off the delectable Patience.

I enjoyed the relationship between Ram and Patience. They both try to stay away from one another, knowing a relationship would be frowned upon, but their attraction is just too strong. I also liked the mystery that came as a surprise later in the book, which is when we meet up with the Carlisles in full force. In times of crisis you know who your friends are, and Ram’s friends never hesitate when he asks for help.

The wit and humor between Ram and Patience is never ending, their love grows despite everything. Throw in the rowdiness of the Carlisles to continue the banter and fun and you have a book that is quite satisying in every way.

Grade: B+

From the back cover:

     TWO LOVERS WILL RISK EVERYTHING…

     Patience Rose Farnaly was easily lured away from her wealthy family by the false love of a dangerous man. Rather than face a grim future on the streets, Patience struggled to find honest work as an actress. But when the irresistibly charming Earl of Ramscar offers her legitimate employ in London as a lady’s companion to his sister, Patience snaps up the chance…although her attraction to Ramscar leaves her on shaky ground.

     FOR A MOMENT OF PURE CARNAL BLISS…

     Ever since a devastating fire left his sister brutally scarred, Ramscar vowed to protect the little family he has left. Now that Patience has been hired to be his sister’s companion, his conscience is clear—even if his imagination won’t let him rest. Haunted by fantasies of the beautiful, beguiling Patience, it’s only a matter of time before they enter into an illicit affair—one that might threaten Ramscar’s status among les sauvages nobles if Patience’s dark past comes to light…and could destroy them both.

     Read an excerpt.

Other books in this series:

Sandy M’s reviews of The Return to Troublesome Gulch (Books 1, 2, and 3) by Lynda Sandoval
Contemporary romance 1 Sep 07, 1 Nov 07, and 1 Jan 08 by Silhouette

I received the second book in this series, not realizing it was part of a series until I was finished with it. But after the emotion I went through while reading this book, I had to find the first and third books immediately. I’m glad I did. All three are full of emotion from laughing to crying to being royally pissed off, but at the end you’re cheering for these characters and their triumphs for truly surviving and living again after a tragic night that changed their lives forever. All three stories take place twelve years after that tragic night.

The Other Sister (Return to Troublesome Gulch, Book 1)

Although this first book has some very teary-eyed moments, it’s the laughter that makes it worthwhile, and it starts from the very beginning. Faith is trying to be an adventure-loving adrenaline junkie like her older sister, one of the victims of that long-ago prom night tragedy. Taking a leap of faith, she throws herself down a snowy mountain that is way beyond her skill level on skis. She doesn’t make it far and ends up careening down the mountain instead. Enter Brody, who disppeared twelve years ago and hasn’t told anyone he’s back in town, and the fun begins. The wit, the banter, the teasing, the laughs continue throughout the book, interspersed with some very tough moments for Brody, the first survivor we meet who thinks Faith and her family hate him since that fateful night. This is a terrific start to this series to learn what happend all those years ago and to be introduced to these victims and their families all learning how to live again.

Grade: B+

From the back cover:

You gotta have faith…

Years after a prom-night accident claimed his best friend, Brody Austin decided it was time to stop running-and return to Troublesome Gulch, Colorado, to overcome the pain and guilt. Right away, a chance encounter on the ski slopes brought Brody face-to-face with his best friend’s kid sister, Faith Montesantos. Boy, was she all grown up! And yes, the vivacious high school guidance counselor still missed the older sister she’d lost, but she chose to focus on the joyful memories of their short time together…and seemed determined to teach Brody to do the same. He had hoped to conquer the demons of his past, but in Faith he found the key to his future…

Read an excerpt. 

Deja You (Return to Troublesome Gulch, Book 2)

Of the three books, this one is my favorite. It’s the most emotional of the trio. We’re thrown into Erin’s nightmare immediately as she hightails it out of town after fighting a fire throws her for a loop full of horrific memories and she’s running from and searching for something she can’t name. Her scars seem to go deeper than the other suvivors of that night, she lost a little more than the others. On her meandering quest she runs into Nate and they have a hot and heavy one-night stand. Erin relies on her friends to get her through the resulting pregnancy when she can’t locate Nate months later. It’s fate that brings him to the Gulch and he learns he’s going to be a father. The ensuing emotion between these characters is heart-wrenching. It brought me tears several times, but the turmoil is definitely worth it in getting to know Nate and Erin.

Grade: A-

From the back cover:

Burning out of control…

When a deadly apartment blaze sparked memories of the prom night accident that took her fiancé and unborn baby, firefighter Erin DeLuca ran…and lost herself for just one night. Erin was left pregnant, and the stranger who’d offered solace was nowhere to be found.

Until he showed up in Troublesome Gulch. And irony of ironies, Nate Walker was a pyrotechnics engineer-and when he saw the mystery woman who got away, now very pregnant, his entire being lit up. For Erin, it was a déjà vu moment brighter than any fireworks display-not about reliving pain, but about the joy of being in the arms of a loving man….

Read an excerpt.

You and No Other (Return to Troublesome Gulch, Book 3)

This third book gives us a villain who’s tyranny will make you so angry you want to spit and you can’t wait until he gets what’s coming to him. Cagney’s family has always been dysfunctional thanks to her father, the chief of police. His control over her is what led to her being a victim on prom night. It also led to the love of her life leaving town that same night without a word to anyone, and it isn’t until Jonas comes back to Troublesome Gulch for his own revenge that they both find out what Cag’s father had done to help alter their lives so dramatically. This lawman is one mean, controlling asshole. But when Jonas and Cagney finally overcome their animosity toward one another and the truth comes out, that’s when the fun begins. As they say, payback is a bitch, and it comes none too soon for all of these characters.

Grade: B

From the back cover: 

The boy is back in town…

Twelve years ago, Jonas Eberhardt was run out of Troublesome Gulch on prom night by the jack-booted police chief. Even worse, the chief’s daughter, Cagney Bishop, love of Jonas’s life, seemed to go along with Daddy’s wishes. But the boy from the wrong side of the tracks made millions, and he’s back to fund a youth center for troubled teens…and rub the naysayers’ noses in it. Especially Cagney’s.

Cagney Bishop’s prom night had ruined her chances of happiness-until seeing Jonas reopened a door in her heart she thought was sealed forever. But is Jonas there to get even…or get true love back on track?

Read an excerpt.

I love the emotion of this series. Family and friends stick together no matter what, a town becomes bigger and better, its citizens become closer, and they all learn how to heal and love as a result of tragedy. I also like how Ms. Sandoval intersperses the characters throughout each book. These friends are there for each other and you feel the love between them on every page.

There is to be another book next year, Lexy’s story, and that one can potentially be a real tear jerker. Too bad there’s such a long wait for it. But these three books are a great start. Life and living from tragedy, true friends, love and happiness. How can you go wrong with that?

Holly’s review of Dear Santa by Karen Templeton
Contemporary romance published 01 Nov 07 from Silhouette Special Edition

Do you ever read a book and think, “Wow!”? Ever finish it and sigh and think to yourself, “I loved that book”? That’s what happened to me with this one. I admit to loving category romance, at least on occasion (I feel you can overdose on them, too, if you aren’t careful), but lately they’ve been hit or miss for me. This one was a definite hit.

The story opens with Grant receiving news that his ex-wife – and the mother of his only child – has been killed in a car accident. And that just sets the tone for the entire book. Emotional. This book was an emotional roller coaster ride.

Grant’s character was an extremely compelling one, because although he was emotionally closed off, you could tell he really wanted to do right by his daughter, to be the father she needed him to be, he just didn’t know how. He grew up with emotionally closed off parents, and that was all he knew. Some of the best scenes in the books are the ones that focus on Grant and Haley. I think Karen Templeton did an excellent job of showing us the longing in Grant, his need to be the man his daughter needed him to be, and his frustration when he wasn’t able to fulfill that roll for her.

His heart racing, he stood outside his daughter’s partially open door, steeling himself as he listened to her nonstop chatter. Just like her mother, who’d never been at a loss for words, either. A good trait in a lawyer, Grant supposed. Swallowing sawdust, he knocked softly, then pushed the door open.

Instantly, the chatter stopped. A goofy-looking stuffed lion—Justine’s last present to her, Grant realized with a punch to his gut—clutched in her arms, Haley glanced up at his entrance, her expression a disturbing blend of caution and indifference. Selfishly—and guiltily—Grant had often wondered if perhaps a more outgoing child would have helped him overcome his own ineptitude, would have shattered by now whatever had kept him from feeling what other fathers felt for their children.

Haley, for a three-year-old, displayed some disturbingly adult traits. I found myself wondering at times if those traits were ones I could truly attribute to someone so young. But once I factored in the grief of losing her mother, and her inability at that age to understand exactly what death is (something the author was sure to mention, which helped) I was able to move past my issues and enjoy her character. My heart hurt for her. Losing her mother – her anchor – at such a young age is something I can’t imagine, but we saw flashes of a precocious child and I couldn’t wait to see more of her. My heart broke when she would turn her big, wary eyes onto her father.

The weakest link in this story is Mia, the heroine. She’d been burned by her fiancé some time back, and had no love for Grant after his divorce from her best friend. While I think the author meant to show us that her insecurities and emotional issues were the result of losing her best friend and being hurt by her former fiancé, it didn’t ring true for me. Especially after seeing glimpses of her loving family. As the story progressed and Grant’s true nature was revealed, Mia’s hesitation became tiresome. I wanted her to realize Grant was someone she could lean on, someone she could trust and have faith in, and when she did it came a bit too late for me.

I enjoyed Mia’s interactions with Haley, and the chemistry between Mia and Grant is believable. I think part of my frustration stems from the fact that I truly wanted them to be together. It was obvious to me, as the reader, that they were perfect for each other. And it became obvious to Grant as well. But Mia…well, I suppose it just took her a bit longer to figure it out. And when a secret Grant had been keeping comes out, Mia’s reaction was just a bit too over the top for me. So I was somewhat surprised by her abrupt turnaround after.

But I think the overall story arc, the relationship between Grant and Haley, and the interactions with the secondary characters more than made up for what I found lacking in Mia’s character. I can even understand where her issues stemmed from, so I guess I can’t be too harsh.

If you’re in the mood for an emotional read, one that will suck you in and pull something from you as a reader, this is the book for you.

Grade: A

Blurb:

HIS DAUGHTER’S BIRTH MADE HIM A FATHER. BECOMING A DADDY WOULD

TAKE A BIT LONGER….

Connecticut mogul Grant Braeburn never thought he was father material, even though his nearly four-year-old daughter should have convinced him otherwise. But then his ex-wife’s death made him Haley’s permanent parent. Her only parent. He needed help, in a hurry.

It came in the form of Mia Vaccaro, the lively, lovely party planner who had been his ex-wife’s best friend. Mia was the only one who could touch Haley’s broken heart. And, Grant was becoming increasingly aware, his as well….

Read an excerpt.

Read more from Holly at The Book Binge.

Gwen’s review of For A Few Demons More (Rachel Morgan & The Hollows, Book 5) by Kim Harrison
Paranormal fantasy published 20 Mar & 27 Nov 07 by Eos

My relationship with the Rachel Morgan books is complicated.  I both love and hate them.  I care about the characters, enjoy the action and predicaments, but I want to throw the book at the wall regularly when a character (usually Rachel) does something stupid.  There are many TSTL moments in a Rachel Morgan book.  Despite this, Harrison manages to work the characters thru these moments and the plot actually ends up moving along because of them, not in spite of them.  That’s the one thing I really like about these books – the plot moves.  It rolls unpredictably, jarringly, inexorably along.  And that is what makes these such page-turners, despite the flaws.  The reader just has to know what happens next.

This book was released in hardcover (the author’s HC debut) 20 Mar 07 and in mass-market paperback 27 Nov 07.  There have been some people decrying the fact that one of the main characters is killed off in this book; they felt cheated that an expensive hardcover rattled their Rachel-world.  There are others new to the series who were irritated that this book didn’t stand-alone; they felt cheated that an expensive hardcover wasn’t readable on its own.  None of those things bothered me. To begin with, brave authors take plots and characters to unpredictable and sometimes undesirable places and I think they’re allowed to do that, applaud it, in fact.   Lastly, buying an expensive hardcover of a book in the middle of a series you’ve never read may not be the smartest thing to do; but to then be irritated that you don’t understand all of the plot points or the characters is a bit simple-minded.

Rachel Morgan books are not a typical romances - they are paranormal fantasies set in an alternate reality.  None of the books have had an HEA, strictly speaking, though they all end on a somewhat upbeat note, even if the characters are all very changed by the events.  This one is no different, even with the tragedy.  I won’t give any spoilers other than what I have already, so forgive the vague wording.

I really liked all of the secondary characters in this book.  We get to know quite a bit more about the elf, Trent, and his second, Quen.  We get some tantalizing glimpses into the politics of the whole demon ever-after.  We get a glimpse of a new, sexy demon named Minias and let me just say that I’ll never quite look at my sneezing attacks in the same way again.  All of this serves to give us a very fun story and is setting the stage for Book 6, The Outlaw Demon Wails, coming in hardcover 26 Feb 08 (terrific excerpt up on Harrison’s site, just click on the title). I am really looking forward to it – can’t wait to see what new trouble Rachel gets into.

This was a good book for fans of the Rachel Morgan series and I highly recommend to to you fans out there.  Needless to say, it does not standalone so it would be a poor choice for readers new to the series.

Grade: B+

     Blurb: Despite dating one vampire and living with another, Rachel Morgan has always managed to stay just ahead of trouble . . . until now.

     A fiendish serial killer stalks the Hollows, and no one living in or around Cincinnati—human, inhuman, or undead—is safe. An ancient artifact may be the key to stopping the murderer—a mysterious relic that is now in the hands of Rachel Morgan, fearless independent bounty hunter and reckless witch. But revealing it could ignite a battle to the death among the vast and varied local supernatural races.

     Rachel’s been lucky so far. But even she can’t hide from catastrophe forever.

     Read an excerpt.

Other books in this series:

Sandy M’s review of What Lies Between Them by Jodi Lynn Copeland
Erotic contemporary romance ebook released 29 Nov 07 by Cerrwiden Press

For the most part, I liked this book. Both main characters are strong, they’ve come a long way from their time together ten years past, and they both still have feelings for the other no matter how desperately they deny it to themselves. The storyline isn’t a complicated one, it is feelings and lies that complicates lives in their small hometown.

Matt and Autumn have secrets about their past together that now keeps them apart, plus Autumn has a humdinger of a secret when she returns home and delaying telling Matt is the worst thing she can do. Matt is a man’s man; he’s made something of himself after coming from the wrong side of the tracks, and he sure does look good in a pair of Levis. That makes the already hot love scenes flame up a little bit more. The secondary characters are few, but they spice up the story, especially Autumn’s parents. Her father is always there for her and it’s her mother who gives us extra spiciness in her opinions concerning her daughter’s life.

The story moves along at a pretty good pace, but it does get bogged down by repetition. Autumn’s goal when she returns home is to prove to everyone she’s not the impulsive wild child she was before college. Well, that was pounded into me throughout — over and over again. As was Matt obsessing over Autumn’s deceased husband being the love of her life/soulmate, she’ll never be available, so he might as well give up. I believe an author should have faith that her readers will keep in mind the important parts of the story after they’ve been told something a couple of times. Repeating it over and over only hinders the story’s progression and the reader’s enjoyment.

Along those same lines, I wanted an example of what Autumn had done when younger to make an entire town gossip and look down their noses about her, and perhaps not re-elect her mayor father. I can see where her parents would want to see changes after dealing with her when younger, but I can’t see the town punishing her father for her misdeeds. If I had that example, this probably wouldn’t have bothered me.  However, all I got was Autumn speaking without thinking and throwing herself at Matt and kissing him silly. As fun as that is, it’s not enough.

I did let my slight irritation go because I liked the characters and their dilemma. I liked their squabbles and they way they handled them. I liked Matt in Levis. And I liked the way Autumn took the first step in the solution to their dilemma, especially when she realizes Matt is really serious this time about calling it quits. How they eventually work it out is intelligent, with feeling, and they do it together.

Grade: B-

Blurb: “You didn’t lose me, Matt. You let me go. You walked out when I was ready to spend my life with you.”

They were the last words Matt expected to hear out of Autumn’s mouth, and the only ones that could stop him in his tracks. They were also lies. No one who cared so deeply could fall into another man’s arms days after leaving him behind.

Matt has transcended both Autumn’s deception and his humble beginnings. Now a successful, well-respected rancher, he isn’t about to fall victim to his dreams of the past and back into her arms. Not even if the fire between them still burns…making his dreams seem more like hopes for the future.

Rekindling an old flame was the last thing on Autumn’s mind upon returning to Wyoming after her husband’s death. She should hate Matt, who not only broke her teenaged heart but failed to show up at his one-time best friend’s funeral. Only it isn’t hatred Autumn feels…but desire that threatens to burn beyond control.

Read an excerpt.

Lawson’s review of Lord of Scoundrels by Loretta Chase
Historical romance reprinted by Avon November 27, 2007

I am probably one of a very few people who may admit the reprint was the first time I’ve read this book. It tends to top lists, at least it has on a few that I’ve seen. I wanted to check out what all the love was about and I really enjoyed Not Quite a Lady and wanted to read more from Chase. What Scoundrels gave was not what I had expected. With so many people liking this book so much I was expecting a different book than I got.

Scoundrels is a ‘Beauty and the Beast’ story and Jessica makes a decent Beauty. She’s called a femme fatale like her grandmother, though she’s turned down many proposals and wants instead to open a curio shop in London. Intelligent, independent heroines are usually a good sign in a book. Especially due to the fact she doesn’t cower to the hero at his most belligerent.

The Beast is not really a beast, he’s just a jerk. Why is Sebastian, Marquess of Dain, so well loved by romance readers? He’s belligerent, spoiled, selfish, obnoxious, emotionally stunted and likes himself that way. There’s lots of back story about abandonment and having a horrific Italian nose and getting hazed horribly at Eton. Where that could create sympathy for the now bad marquess, it just made him turn out to be a bully with the attitude of a four year old.

Though he can be charming and congenial, it’s only when he chooses to be. How Jessica falls for him beyond basic animal attraction I don’t understand. And speaking of animal attraction… Sebastian wants her so bad, but what annoyed me was how he thought of himself. A overlarge beast of a man who could break his fragile, delicate wife with his animal urges and lovemaking.

Sebastian has no good opinion of himself, he believes his own worst detractors and those who want to tear down his ego, though it just makes him more malicious and doesn’t let him grow up emotionally. There are some token villains and consequences of a misspent youth that must be dealt with, but when the HEA comes it seems that Sebastian hasn’t grown much and Jessica has become more of his mother than his wife, dealing with his tantrums and fight or flight mentality and offering herself for breeding purposes.

After reading Scoundrels, I wonder if I missed something. A continual top 10 on reader’s lists made me expect the best but end up disappointed in this one. Maybe I was just in the wrong mood or don’t get Sebastian in the right way. Is there anyone that wants to share why they loved this book so much? For me, I’ll read the next Chase and hope it’s more like Not Quite a Lady instead of Lord of Scoundrels.

Grade: C-

Burb: They call him many names but Angelic isn’t one of them…
Sebastian Ballister, the notorious Marquess of Dain, is big, bad, and dangerous to know. No respectable woman would have anything to do with the “Bane and Blight of the Ballisters”–and he wants nothing to do with respectable women. He’s determined to continue doing what he does best–sin and sin again–and all that’s going swimmingly, thank you…until the day a shop door opens and she walks in.
She’s too intelligent to fall for the worst man in the world…
Jessica Trent is a determined young woman, and she’s going to drag her imbecile brother off the road to ruin, no matter what it takes. If saving him–and with him, her family and future–means taking on the devil himself, she won’t back down. The trouble is, the devil in question is so shockingly irresistible, and the person who needs the most saving is–herself!

Read an excerpt.

Sandy M’s review of Savage by L.A. Day
Erotic sci-fi romance novella released by Ellora’s Cave 7 Nov 07

I had high hopes for this book. It started out quite well in the first chapter, a good storyline and interesting characters, some great flashbacks to fill in the characters’ history. It was when I was just a little way into chapter two that it all fell apart for me.

Savage is definitely an alpha male, a shapeshifter who’s ashamed of his feral half, especially because he scared Alaya on their wedding night when his passion for her forced his shifting. And because he’s also a sensitive man and he loves his young wife, he stays away for three years, giving her time to grow up. He’s decided to finally go to her again when he learns her home has been attacked, so he rushes to her without thought or rest after a month-long mission. So far, so good.

To his relief Savage finds Alaya alive and unharmed, something not afforded the other people held hostage by Alegra pirates. This is where the story goes downhill. It’s the sex scenes. Savage decides he has to have his wife now while hostages are being tortured and raped. He’s waited three years, but he can’t restrain himself for a couple more days. And the descriptions of those scenes left me rolling my eyes with the silliness they invoked and the dialogue was inane. There was a couple of good spots, but that’s not saying much when ninety-eight percent of the chapter is one long sexfest. And the way Savage initiated Alaya into sex was a little callous to me.

The rest of the book that had nothing to do with sex was good, which wasn’t much because of the length of the story, but what there was of it I liked. There was a twist or two that worked very well, but even those were overshadowed by more alpha lovin’ that just didn’t cut it.

I thought this book was right up my alley because of the shapeshifting. Little did I know that there just wasn’t a whole lot of shifting going on.

Grade: D-

Blurb:

Savage, a bounty hunter and half-Rabian shifter, needs a woman. He needs his wife, Alaya.

He’d left her alone on their wedding night three years ago after she’d screamed in fear when he’d become highly aroused and started to shapeshift. Now it is time to face his demons — to consummate his marriage or end it.

Fate steps in, sending them headlong into danger. Seeing her again ignites his desire, and jealousy arouses his dominant nature. Using her passions against her, he persuades her to submit to him for all to hear. But even if Alaya can adapt to his feral lust, unseen danger lurks, waiting to rip them apart again.

Read an excerpt.

Gwen’s review of Midnight Awakening (The Midnight Breed, Book 3) by Lara Adrian
Contemporary paranormal romance released by Dell 27 Nov 07

I really liked this novel. Adrian doesn’t drag us thru some sudden soul-mating, nor does she bank on a mysterious physical bonding thing. She lets the hero and heroine get to know each other thru the course of the book. Their relationship grows naturally (well, vampire naturally) and evolves.  It was a nice change and very deftly done. 

The suspense is very well drawn and the characters believable throughout the book. I loved that Tegan was the “unapproachable warrior” at the start and he was still one at the end, only he had a woman in his life. It was nice to see him not turn into some love-struck dummy, even if he WAS in love.

What I didn’t like was how the opposite could not be said for the heroine, Elise. At the beginning, she was a kick-ass warrior herself – kicking butt and taking names (well, cell phones). But by the end of the book, she regresses into a woman who was too soft to fend for herself. It was depressing.  I wanted her to kickass again!  I wanted her to succeed over the baddies!

Even with that flaw, I still liked this book. Midnight Breed is an excellent series and is evolving to be very different from Ward’s BDB.  I’m really looking forward to the next entry – Midnight Rising, coming out 25 Mar 08.

I recommend this book to anyone who is a fan of the vamp genre or Adrian’s writing. If you’re new to the series, you may be a tad at sea with a couple of details, but I don’t think it will keep you from enjoying the book.

Grade: B-

Blurb:

With a dagger in her hand and vengeance on her mind, Darkhaven beauty Elise Chase prowls Boston’s streets in search of retribution against the Rogue vampires who took from her everything she cherished. Using an extraordinary psychic gift, she tracks her prey, well aware that the power she possesses is destroying her. She must learn to harness this gift, and for that she can turn to only one man – he deadliest of the Breed warriors, Tegan.

No stranger to loss, Tegan knows Elise’s pain. He knows fury, but when he slays his enemies it is with ice in his veins. He is perfect in his self-control, until Elise seeks his aid in her personal war. An unholy alliance is forged – a bond that will link them by blood and vow – and plunge them into a tempest of danger, desire, and the darkest passions of the heart…

Read an excerpt.

P.S.  Did anyone else notice how this cover’s colors are the “wine, gold, and indigo” the Breed male’s body glyphs are supposed to be when they’re aroused?

Other books in this series:

Connie’s QQ review of Unmanned by Lois Greiman
Mystery published 06 Nov 07 by Dell

Psychologist Christine McMullen seems to have a lot of people trying to kill her, of course her family is reason enough. Mostly she just needs to get laid but our cop is holding back.

The author has a lot of sassy things to say but I see that wearing thin over time. Liked the dog.

Grade: D

Sybil’s review of Unmanned by Lois Greiman

I typed this up about 1am this morning and before I knew it was 3:30 and I had read the book. A couple of things to note: this is a mystery, number 4 in a series, 1st person, naughty words a plenty, fucktard usage made me giggle and there no HEA. Unnerved is set to come out in 2008.

This is the only book in the series I have read and it is cute, fun, flirty and if I had read all four books and if Christina and Rivera have been dancing around each other the whole time I would be really annoyed. So it would be interesting to see what someone thinks who is a reader of the series.

I can’t make up my mind really why I liked this book. Christina gives new meaning to stupid at times. Rivera can be something of an ass. I have no clue why Christina deals with her family or why her brother Pete didn’t make me throw the book at the wall.

But Chrissy and Rivera are cute together. And banter goes from sweet to hawt and I will be checking out the next book because if these two end up together I would be interested in reading more. But I couldn’t do another book of lusty wooing. I don’t think Chrissy can either since she was about ready to go off and get down with just about any man who wanted her. And of coure they ALL did.

Connie said it best, Christina seriously needs to get laid.

Grade: B-

Even in a city of long, tall beauties, psychologist Christina McMullen is used to getting hit on. But she’s definitely not accustomed to having a hit on her. Until the day a charming stranger shows up at her door and someone guns him down right in front of her.

For Chrissy, shootings and explosions are what pass for normal in her tempestuous relationship with sexy LAPD lieutenant Jack Rivera. But the real mayhem begins when her brother Pete blows in from the Windy City trailing clouds of trouble in the form of a pregnant girlfriend, “borrowed” money, and a mobster named “D.” Chrissy always said her family would be the death of her… but even L.A.’s sassiest shrink isn’t prepared for the truth behind her brother’s link to the dead stranger… or the killer who threatens them both.

read the excerpt

Gwen’s review of Enchanted directed by Kevin Lima
Live-action/animated movie released 21 Nov 07 by Andalasia Productions

I saw this film this weekend with my 8-year old daughter.  We went on a complete whim.  We just left her father at the airport so he could return to England where he lives, and the curtain-climber was sad.  So we showed up at the theater with no clear plan and no idea what was showing.  Boy did we get lucky.  Enchanted was worth every penny of the matinee-priced tickets and then some.  Even if I had had to pay for the full-priced tickets, I would have been happy.  It was that good.

What I think I liked the most about the film was it didn’t take itself too seriously.  It was not openly a farce, but neither did it try too hard.  Plus it had the most wonderful HEA(s) I’ve seen in a long while.

Amy Adams was AMAZING as Giselle.  I loved her character.  Susan Sarandon was a wonderful villain.  Timothy Spall (Nathaniel) played a very good henchman – actually a bit sad.  Patrick Dempsey and James Marsden were both very good heroes.  Pip, the chipmunk, was very funny in New York.

The romance was believable and so nicely done, I was smiling like a besotted idiot at the end.  In addition to being completely suitable for kids, it would make a terrific date night movie – I’d be shocked if you’re not feeling romantic at the end.

I totally recommend this movie, whether or not you have kids.  You will not regret the entertainment dollars spent.

Grade: A+
Blurb:

In an animated fairy tale world, a young girl meets and falls in love with the handsome prince of her dreams. News of this romance upsets the prince’s mother, the evil queen, who uses her black magic to send the girl hurtling out of the animated world into the one place in the universe where there is no true love: modern day Manhattan. The now-real girl has to survive in New York City and find her way home again to her true love.

Watch the trailer.

Lawson’s review of Blood Brothers (Sign of Seven Trilogy, Book 1) by Nora Roberts
Paranormal romance released by Jove 27 Nov 07

This is the first in Roberts’ new Sign of Seven Trilogy. The next two, The Hollow and The Pagan Stone, will be out in May 2008 and December 2008, respectively.

Caleb Hawkins, Fox O’Dell and Gage Turner have been best friends basically since they were born. Since they were born on the same hospital on the same day, it’s not much of a stretch to believe that’s true. On their tenth birthday they decide to go out camping in the woods outside of Hawkins Hollow, near a site called the Pagan Stone. After doing the things that ten year olds do when they’re away from prying eyes (like drinking some liberated beer and getting sick from cigarettes), things go awry when they unknowingly release a demonic force that had been trapped in the Pagan Stone.

After the demon had been released Caleb, Fox and Gage aren’t the same. As well as being impervious to physical harm, each has a gift. Caleb can see the past, Fox the future (ie read minds) and Gage can see the future. These things help the boys when the demon goes on a week long chaos spree starting the seventh day of the seventh month. Though the demon disappears, seven years later things happen again starting July 7 and continuing for seven days.

Quinn Black has come to Hawkins Hollow to write a book about the events that happen every seven years. She likes uncovering ghost stories and finding about the strange things that sometimes happen in small town America. Things in Hawkins Hollow are different than any other story she’s written before, since she begins to have nightmares and see things that show the signs of the demon starting way too early.

Quinn and Caleb work together to discover the cause of the early start and are joined by Fox, and later Gage as well as Layla Darnell and Quinn’s research partner Cybil Kinski. When Quinn decides to stay in Hawkins Hollow until July, Caleb realizes he doesn’t have a chance for his heart is lost to her. But what can he do to protect her from the mounting evil that he helped release 21 years earlier?

There are so many things going on during the plotting of this story. In wonderful Roberts style, they’re all given time to grow and the groundwork is deftly laid for the rest of the series. Though Fox and Layla, and Gage and Cyb will be the center of the next two stories, they’re thrown together in this first installment and there’s a great hint as what is to come.

The leads of this story, Quinn and Caleb, are very cute. They’ve got pretty similar personalities and when Quinn seems to get a bit too boisterous, Cal is there to help her calm down. Or when Cal goes overboard into male brooding territory, Quinn makes him smile and see how he can work life to his benefit. Even though there are dark forces at work, both Quinn and Cal realize their attraction and love can withstand it.

Since Cal can see the past (coincidentally Quinn can too, though being in Hawkins Hollow is what “awakens” her ability), there’s a running theme in the book of the impact the past can have on the present. Everything started not when the boys were camping, nor in the 1650s when the demon was trapped in the stone, but way back when in the mists of time in Eastern Europe. The ties the men and women have to each other through the past give a good foundation for why things are happening and what needs to be done to change things.

I did have a couple of issues with the story. There were definitly some horror elements dealing with the demon. It manifests itself as a child with red eyes and fangs, and horror is not something I generally like that much. Especially with demonic children. Though it worked with the story, it wasn’t something that worked with me personally. Being scared and horrified is not a viable form of entertainment, in my opinion.

The other thing was the fact that with all the discovery of the past and connections, there wasn’t a lot of time to spend getting to know Quinn and Caleb. Their attraction and backstory was halfway handed to the reader, so that it would be accepted and it seemed to happen so fast. . .there was, to me, barely any time between them meeting and them jumping into bed. There was some great chemistry, but it seemed a bit forced and rushed so that the story could be wrapped up within the time frame of a few weeks.

Overall it was a good, fast read and Roberts’ characters worked well together. The groundwork has been laid and I want the next in the series.

Grade: B

Blurb:
     In the small village of Hawkins Hollow, three best friends who share the same birthday sneak off into the woods for a sleepover the evening before turning 10. But a night of pre-pubescent celebration turns into a night of horror as their blood brother oath unleashes a three-hundred year curse.

     Twenty-one years later, Cal Hawkins and his friends have seen their town plagued by a week of unexplainable evil events two more times – every seven years. With the clock winding down on the third set of seven years, someone else has taken an interest in the town’s folklore. Quinn is a well known scholar of local legends, and despite Cal’s protests, insists on delving in the mystery. But when the first signs of evil appear months early, it’s not only the town Cal tries to protect, but also his heart.

     Excerpt.

Lawson’s review of One Knight Only by Julia Latham
Historical romance released November 27, 2007 by Avon

The action follows about three months after Thrill of the Knight. Anne is working with the League of the Blade, again in disguise. This time she’s impersonating a woman who overheard a plot to overthrow King Henry. On a journey through England Anne runs into Sir Phillip Clifford.

Phillip, after being rejected from joining the League, has been traveling earning a fair living fighting in tournaments. He’s shocked to see Anne in disguise and joins her group to help protect her. Things get complicated since months before they’d nearly become lovers, though Anne had run when Phillip’s honesty guaranteed she’d be a momentary companion.

Anne still desires Phillip, but she’s got bigger plans than a man in her life, for she wants to become the first woman in the League. As things become more dangerous, Anne and Phillip risk more than they can probably wager to be together.

Anne has a lot on her mind. There have been a number of things changed in her life since we last saw her. Becoming someone else, especially another noblewoman Anne starts to loose herself. With Phillip around, she keeps her own identity, with some sexy results. Though there are Bladesmen around, Anne and Phillip manage to get some time alone, especially since he has a habit of dropping off roofs to enter her room.

Though Elizabeth from Thrill doesn’t make an appearance, John does, as well as the villain, Viscount Bannaster. Not as evil as he was before, Bannaster has an integral role. It’s hard to believe after his actions toward Elizabeth Bannaster is a good guy, but apparently he’s the hero of the next story, so it will be a wait and see game.

One thing I had a problem with was the dialogue. Reading things in 15th century English would be hard, but the pacing and syntax (whoa, big word) used didn’t fit with the rest of the tone of the story. I had to remind myself and stop to repicture the characters in my head several times so that I kept in line with the history and not the dialogue.

Also, on a historical note, if the king had found out that a servant had been impersonating a noble, especially to other nobles, there would have been stiff repercussions. Even if an organization such as the League existed and was doing it to save the king’s life. It’s that pesky class structure thing again (hmm. . .that’s popping up quite a bit) and the English at the time wanted to keep class lines in place. Especially since there were still many plots among nobles to overthrow the king.

As annoying as those could be, I generally liked Anne and Phillip, though in the end she does something pretty stupid, I sympathized with her struggle to find her own independence and Phillip’s struggle to find out exactly what his destiny is. And considering I struggled through (and put down) two books over the last week and this one held my interest enough to finish and the characters were still likable in the end, the things I didn’t like I think have to slide.

Grade: B-

Blurb:

     She knew she would have to risk her life . . .

Daring and adventurous, Anne Kendall would give anything to join the secret band of warrior knights known as the League of the Blade, and she eagerly agrees to a perilous masquerade. But then Sir Philip Clifford, a reckless, brutally handsome knight, joins their party, bringing back memories of stolen kisses, passionate longings, and one night when she would have done anything to be his.

But not her heart . . .

Anne would prefer to concentrate on the dangerous mission at hand . . . but the glorious, savage passion that begins to develop between her and this unruly warrior may prove him to be the knight of her dreams . . . and her fantasies.

Read an excerpt.

Gwen’s review of Sexy Devil by Sasha White
Single author anthology, paranormal erotic romance published 27 Nov 07 by Aphrodisia

I drool every time I see this cover, and it’s a lot since I have a couple of very juicy (very well used) bookmarks with this image on it.  And I sigh, and daydream. Heck, I just all around lust.  Makes me smile in places you can and can’t see.

This is a single author anthology of three related stories. 

The first, The Devil Inside, has some minor paranormal elements and is mostly about the relationship between the hero, Caleb, and the heroine, Gina.  It’s a very sweet and hot story.  Poor Caleb is about as uptight as you can get.  Gina isn’t.  You can imagine the fun the author had with those scenes.  The erotic scenes are very hot and I kept waiting for the two to have sex in public – it would have been scorching.  I liked this story – it’s all about letting go and trusting.  Nice story.  The Devil Inside, Grade: B+

The second story, Devil’s Jewel, is centered on Gina’s older brother, Angelo Devlin (“Angel” to Gina, “Devil” to his friends) and his love interest, Jewel.  This story is mostly paranormal elements and just a smidge about the relationship.  It was a terrific story about how Devil and his partner, Drake, team up with Gina, Caleb, and Jewel to rescue Jewel’s sister from a demon.  Pretty intense fight scenes, and a couple of very hot erotic scenes, made this for an entertaining read.  Devil’s Jewel, Grade: B

The last story, Mountain Retreat, is a short one about an acquaintance of Gina’s, a policeman named Mac, and his childhood sweetheart, Nikki.  They were separated at the end of high school but they never forgot each other.  Fifteen years have gone by and the feelings are still there.  There’s a complication, though.  She’s a recently turned werewolf and she’s terrified she’ll hurt him.  Nonetheless, she needs his comfort, security, and love or she feels she won’t survive.  This was a very sweet, short story.  I loved Mac by the end.  Mountain Retreat, Grade: B

This was a terrific anthology.  I have really enjoyed White’s writing so far (Trouble was a blast).  Here’s to keeping the quality, and the steam, at full blast!  And, Sasha, if you will send me the telephone number of that cover model, I’ll be your BFF.  ;-)

Overall Grade: B+ 

     Blurb:

     The Devil Inside
     Workaholic Caleb Mann used to think blind dates were a waste of time, but when his ex-girlfriend calls him boring in bed, Caleb becomes bent on changing his image fast – with the help of the incredibly sexy woman standing in front of him. He barely knows his date’s name, but her sassy mouth is almost hypnotizing, in more ways than one, and he can’t stop fantasizing about replacing the sleek motorcycle between her firm thighs and letting her ride him all night long…

     Devil’s Jewel
     Ex-soldier and psychic hunter Angelo Devlin has seen evil first-hand. He knows how perilous his assignments can be, and he doesn’t welcome outside help, which makes his run-in with Jewel Kattalis all the more infuriating. But instead of sending her away, he wants to grab her, take her, and tease every inch of her beautiful body. This woman may be more dangerous than any mission he’s ever been on before…

     Mountain Retreat
     This story isn’t mentioned in the blurb.  It’s a shorty at the end about a new werewolf and her childhood sweetheart finding each other again.

     Read an excerpt (from Devil’s Jewel).

What’s next for this author:

 Wicked, releasing 2 Jan 08 by Berkley Heat

Gwen’s review of Atlantis Awakening (Warriors of Poseidon, Book 3) by Alyssa Day
Paranormal romance released by Berkley 6 Nov 07

When I read the first Warriors of Atlantis novel, Atlantis Rising, and the subsequent short story in Wild Thing, I was not overwhelmed with the writing and the characters.  It was interesting, but a little “same song second verse” to me.  But, I withheld my judgment because I could see the promise, if not the actual delivery, in those entries to the series. 

However, this book was a different story.  It was interesting, full of rich characterizations, and just plain fun to read.  Day has managed to make this a world I want to revisit.  The baddies are a a bit cariacature-ish, but still nasty enough to add some tension.  Her secondary characters were more fully explored in this entry.  You start to see the complexities behind some of the plot points as she explores these other people.  It really whetted my appetite for more books.

What is especially done well is the relationship between the hero and heroine, Ven and Erin.  I believed in it and wanted them to be together by the end.  I sincerely liked both of them and really respected Ven’s fighting ability.  It is a really cool relationship of mutual respect and love.

I highly recommend this book for those of you following the series, and it could standalone, if you haven’t read the earlier two entries.  Very fun, quick read.  (Plus the covers are scrumptious!)

Grade: B-

Blurb:
.
Ven has served as leader of the Seven, the elite guard sworn to serve the high prince of Atlantis, for more than four hundred years. But Prince Conlan – Ven’s older brother – wants Ven to act as general to the ragtag group of human rebels who have been battling the vampires and shape-shifters on their own. Ven reluctantly agreed, but nobody ever warned him that the rebel was beautiful . . . and a witch.
.
Read an excerpt and an excerpt (register on Day’s site to see excerpts – it’s painless).

Other books in the series:

Gwen’s review of Saint City Sinners (Dante Valentine, Book 4) by Lilith Saintcrow
Futuristic Urban Fantasy released by Orbit 1 Nov 07

It’s nearly impossible to review a Dante Valentine novel on its own.  Each of the now four books is dependent on the others.  I also recommend reading the glossary before you start.  Yes, the glossary and I heard some of you groaning out there. Remember, Saintcrow hasn’t created a small world here.  It’s complex and about 100 years in the future with magic, weres, nichtvren (vampires), demons, witches, psychics, humans, and myriad other beings all living together. This alternate world fits over what we know like a loose framework.  Like one of those crocheted ponchos you wore as a kid, you can see what’s underneath but you were still covered.  It’s truly fascinating and has some interesting political and religious differences. 

In this book, Dante continues on rocky footing with Japhrimel – her Fallen Demon.  They love each other, and Japh will do quite literally anything to keep Danny safe, including things that make her hate him.  I keep reminding myself that he’s demon not human, so his motivation is a mystery to an extent.  Toward the end of the book we find out more about why he must keep Dante alive. I’m still not sure if it’s because he loves her, or for selfish reasons, or both.  It’s a conundrum I hope is resolved in Book 5.

Saintcrow’s characters have lives of immense proportions.  They’re fighting life and death struggles every day, making small steps forward, bigger steps back.  For example, there’s a rebellion in Hell – or, what we think of as Hell since it’s Lucifer’s domain – and the politics of this has dragged Dante and Japh into a fight that is not their own, but one they cannot avoid. It must be dealt with if they’re to stay alive.

By the end of this book, Dante has had enough.  She burns for revenge.  Longs for it.  Lives for it.  She has reached the end of her patience and is ready to take the fight to her enemy(ies).  Just as she reaches critical mass, Lucifer brings her to him and says, “Come in, Dante.  Sit down. Let us better understand each other.”  Chills went up my spine when I read that.  And it’s the last line in the book.  Talk about a cliffhanger!

Saintcrow has penned another true piece of literature with Saint City Sinners.  I haven’t felt like this about a series since I read Herbert’s original Dune books.  I can not wait for the next and supposedly last (gosh I hope not) entry in this series, To Hell and Back (Book 5), releasing 1 Jan 08.  I’m going to re-read the series in order, just to get into the flow of the story again.  It is, quite simply, riveting.

Grade: A

Read my review of Book 3, The Devil’s Right Hand.

Blurb:

Saint City has always been Dante Valentine’s home. It’s where she grew up, it’s where her dead are buried, and it’s where she learned to hunt.

Now, one call from an old friend will bring her back to investigate a murder too close to home for anyone’s comfort. But the one person she trusted has just betrayed her.

Sometimes revenge is best served demon-hot…

Read an excerpt.

Other books in the series:

Lawson’s review of An Affair Before Christmas (Desperate Duchesses, Book 2) by Eloisa James
Historical romance released by Avon 13 Nov 07

The Duke of Fletcher is lucky in the fact that he loves his wife. They married for love four years ago after having met in Paris during Christmas. Poppy is a dear wife and she has made a wonderful duchess, except for one thing. Though he loves her, and she loves him, Poppy does not desire her husband. She doesn’t realize that simple thing is why her marriage is failing because she feels she’s not that type of person. Proper ladies, according to her mother, do not enjoy or even like those bedroom activities. 

Fletch is frustrated with his wife and has been doing all he can to get her to notice him for the past year. Tired of her behavior as a cold fish in bed, he quits visiting her all together and has determined to get some good sex he needs to find a mistress. He finds it harder than he realized, for Poppy has many friends in society and he really doesn’t want to stray anyway, since he does love his wife.

Poppy knows she can’t please her husband and she decides to do what her friend Jemma Bradshaw did when faced with a husband’s actions: she leaves. Poppy stays with Jemma for a time and Fletch does what he can to get his wife back, but he fears it may be too late. Her harridan of a mother has ruined Poppy’s opinion of herself and of men. Or has she? Poppy begins to act like herself and not a proper duchess and realizes the best thing about being married to the man she loves is what he can do for her, in and out of bed.

This is the second in the Desperate Duchesses series. Though the first one seemed to concentrate more on the other characters rather than the hero and heroine of the story, Affair gives the reader time to really get to know Poppy and Fletch.

Poppy has lived her life not to disappoint anyone since her mother is a controlling, overbearing person who is jealous that her daughter is a duchess and she’s not. Though Poppy gains some self confidence thoughout the book, it’s bothersome that she never gives her mother the set down she deserves. In fact, everyone is just scared of Lady Flora and avoid her rather than giving her a taste of her own medicine.

The Duke of Villiers makes an appearance as well, though he spends the majority of the book bedridden because of an infected wound he recieved from a duel that occured at the end of the last book. Villiers becomes involved with Miss Charlotte Tatlock, who comes to visit him while he’s bedridden with a fever. Charlotte is now distracted by Villiers and doesn’t flirt with the Duke of Beaumont, which leaves him time to remember how intelligent, charming and desirable his own wife Jemma is.

Though Jemma is scandalous, she is a caring soul and those other desperate women, duchesses or not, turn to her for advice and she gives the right advice. Because when Poppy sheds her perfect duchess image (including disgustingly unhygienic Marie Antoinette hair) and begins to explore her own interests with Jemma, Fletch falls in love with his wife all over again because she’s finally able to be herself. Rediscovering herself brings out her natural passions and gives a new level to her marriage and she’s finally able to enjoy the act.

Lucky woman is married to a man who wants to give her pleasure and loves her enough to give up sex as long as she comes home. Le sigh.

Definitely a recommended read due to the continuing stories of Jemma and Elijah, as well as Villiers and a truly desperate duchess getting a happily ever after. The set up at the end of Affair gives several possibilities for the next book in the series, and makes me wonder who will win the chess match with Jemma (yep the second game was played and now there’s a need for a third on both sides) Villiers or her husband? Who is the next book going to be about? How desperate is Harriet, Duchess of Berlow going to become (since she was hardly in this one)? My desperation for answers has increased. . .

Grade: B+

Blurb:

Magic under the mistletoe . . .

One spectacular Christmas, Lady Perdita Selby, known to her friends and family as Poppy, met the man she thought she would love forever. The devilishly attractive Duke of Fletcher was the perfect match for the innocent, breathtakingly beautiful young Englishwoman, and theirs was the most romantic wedding she had ever seen. Four years later, Poppy and the duke have become the toast of the ton . . . but behind closed doors the spark of their love affair has burned out.

Unwilling to lose the woman he still lusts after, the duke is determined to win back his beguiling bride’s delectable affections . . . and surpass the heady days of first love with a truly sinful seduction.

Read an excerpt.

Lawson’s review of Hot Mama (Bigtime #2) by Jennifer Estep
Paranormal Romance Released by Berkley November 6, 2007

Life in Bigtime, New York has been going well since the Fearless Five defeated the Terrible Triad. The citizens of Bigtime have a new superhero to admire in Karma Girl and ubervillains have been few and far between for awhile. Fiona Fine is helping her new friend Carmen Cole get ready for her big wedding to local heartthrob and billionaire Sam Sloane.

Fiona doesn’t want to admit she’s a little jealous of Carmen and Sam’s big day. Being Bigtime’s hottest fashion designer by day and Fiera by night makes a girl not want to admit she’s vulnerable. It doesn’t help that her fiance had been killed by the Terrible Triad a year earlier and Fiona is still recovering. But at the wedding a couple of things happen.

Fiona meets an interesting new romantic possibility in Johnny Bulluci and the two new villains in town decide to make a showing and steal some jewelry. As Fiera, she’s able to stop the two girlie villains and she realizes that Johnny Bulluci could be an option for returning to the dating scene. Especially since though he comes from Bigtime old society, he’s a real down to earth sort of guy.

As things heat up in Fiona’s love life with Johnny, her superhero life with the two new villains and a resurfacing (and possibly resurrected) superhero named Johnny Angel. With a secret identity, a new love in her life and trying to bring down those who want to take over Bigtime, perhaps Fiona’s gotten herself in too hot of water this time to pull it all together.

Being a closeted comic book fan, this was a fun, witty, fast read. It seriously saved me from absolute boredom and dealing with idiotic educational theory at an inservice.

One of the best things about Hot Mama was half the time I forgot it was in first person. The narration was flawless and characterization so well drawn the use of first person didn’t distract from the story. Fiona isn’t a mess, she’s just a normal person (uh, with superpowers) with normal problems like juggling her job, her love life and her personal time. And Fiona is definitely real. In Karma Girl, it took me some time to warm to her, but right off the bat, Fiona is the star of the show, but she doesn’t overwhelm the story or the secondary characters.

Johnny is a great foil for the hot tempered Fiona. He’s passionate, but with a steady calmness that helps to balance Fiona and give her what she needs. With Fiona being a strong, independent, take charge heroine, Johnny can more than stand on his own with her. And dear lord is he sexy. Though things seem to happen rather fast, the romance is believable and wonderfully realistic. It should provide a couple of new fantasies to add to a few dirty minds.

The rest of the characters are well drawn and work well with the plot, even the villains, though they are rather two-dimensional. But then, what comic villains aren’t? The superheros are meant to be the central characters and fighting villains is only part of the hero’s journey. The other members of the Fearless Five that battle with Fiera have their own side stories going on that mirror the main story in all the best ways possible.

Definitely a great sequel to a good book and when Jinx (the next in the series) comes out this reader will be begging to get it early.

Grade: A