REVIEW: Murder on the Eiffel Tower by Claude Izner
September 3, 2008
Wendy the Super Librarian's review of Murder on the Eiffel Tower (A Victor Legris Mystery) by Claude Izner
Historical mystery hardcover released by St. Martin's Minotaur 2 Sep 08
While the United States is a publishing powerhouse, there are plenty of books published overseas that might never find an American distributor. Case in point, Claude Izner's debut historical mystery set in late 19th century Paris was first published in 2003 and is just now seeing the light of day in the U.S in 2008. Given that historical romances haven't exactly been breaking the mold with fresh, original locales, I find historical mysteries to be a refreshing change of pace when I get burnt out from reading about English dukes or American cowboys. However, while Murder on the Eiffel Tower cleansed my palate when it came to the locale, I can't say the book was entirely successful for me. Read more
Tags: 2008, Claude Izner, Fiction, Grade C, Historical, Murder on the Eiffel Tower, mystery, Review, September 2008, St. Martin's, Victor Legris series, Wendy The Super LibrarianREVIEW: Sweetheart by Chelsea Cain
August 26, 2008
Wendy the Super Librarian's review of Sweetheart by Chelsea Cain
Suspense/thriller fiction hardcover released by St. Martins Minotaur 2 Sep 08
As much as I love a good romance novel, I started out my reading life as a mystery reader. While both are genre fiction, I expect different things from each of them. In romance, I want the author to make me care about the characters. I want to become emotionally invested in their lives and struggles, which makes the happily-ever-after all that much sweeter. In mystery/suspense novels, I also want the author to make me care about the characters, but I also want what I call The White-Knuckle Factor. The kind of book that is so suspenseful, so full of thrills, that I literally cannot pry the book out of my hands. Chelsea Cain has made this her stock in trade, and this second book in her Gretchen Lowell series is a runaway freight train. Read more
Tags: 2008, Chelsea Cain, Fiction, Grade A, Review, September 2008, St. Martin's Minotaur, Suspense, Sweetheart, Thriller, Wendy The Super LibrarianREVIEW: What I Did On My Summer Vacation by Devine, Rawlins, and Hunter
August 23, 2008
Wendy the Super Librarian's review of What I Did On My Summer Vacation by Thea Devine, Debbi Rawlins and Samantha Hunter
Contemporary Romance released by Harlequin Blaze 1 Jul 08
My reading has been spotty at best this year, and during these trying times I'm glad that publishers are still churning out anthologies. While a lot of readers find anthologies to be uneven affairs, I consistently turn to them when my reading mojo is waning. I'm just now pulling out of a reading slump, and in large part I have Harlequin Blaze to thank. Quick and sexy reads seem to be doing the trick these days, and their latest anthology kept me engaged and turning the pages. Read more
Tags: 2008, anthology, Contemporary Romance, Debbi Rawlins, Grade B, Grade C, Harlequin Blaze, July 2008, Review, Samantha Hunter, Thea Devine, Wendy The Super Librarian, What I Did On My Summer VacationReview: Bound to Please by Hope Tarr
August 16, 2008
Wendy the Super Librarian's review of Bound to Please by Hope Tarr
Historical romance released by Harlequin Blaze (#407) 01 July 2008
I'll admit when I first heard that Harlequin was interested in publishing some historicals under the Blaze line I didn't get it. I mean, why? We already have the Harlequin Historical line. Why not just sex some of those up a bit? But after reading Bound to Please, the first ever Blaze historical, I think I now "get it." Since the line launched in 2001, Blaze has become synonymous with sassy, sexy reads - which is exactly what Bound to Please is, albeit set in the Scottish Highlands and not a hip, contemporary world.
Tags: Bound to Please, Grade B, Harlequin Blaze, Historical Romance, Hope Tarr, July 2008, Review, Scotland, Wendy The Super LibrarianREVIEW: A Mother’s Wish by Karen Templeton
August 15, 2008
Wendy the Super Librarian's review of A Mother's Wish by Karen Templeton
Contemporary Romance released by Silhouette Special Edition (#1916) 1 Aug 08
Every year I always manage to discover at least one new-to-me author. Sometimes it's from picking up a book that's been languishing in my To Be Read pile, but often times it happens thanks to recommendations from other online readers. Sybil turned me on to Karen Templeton earlier this year, and I'm still trying to come up with a proper thank you. This is now the fourth book by Templeton that I've read, and like the previous three, it's a real gem. Read more
Tags: 2008, A Mother's Wish, August 2008, Contemporary Romance, Grade B, Karen Templeton, Review, Silhouette Special Edition, Wendy The Super LibrarianREVIEW: Lifelines by C.J. Lyons
August 12, 2008
Wendy the Super Librarian's review of Lifelines by C.J. Lyons
Romantic suspense released by Berkley 04 March 2008
Every once in a while a book comes along that just doesn't work for me, and I can't seem to put my finger on why. It's competently written. It's got an interesting storyline. The characters seem like intriguing people. But it doesn't grab me. That's usually when I fall back on clichés. Such is the case with C.J. Lyons' debut novel. By the final 100 pages, the appropriate cliché finally came to me: Too much of a good thing. Read more
Tags: 2008, Berkley, CJ Lyons, Grade C, Lifelines, March 2008, Review, Romantic Suspense, Wendy The Super LibrarianHappy Harlequin News
August 1, 2008
When I learned a couple of years ago that RWA was planning on hosting their annual conference in San Francisco in 2008, I immediately marked it on my calander. Mostly because it meant I could avoid flying the "friendly skies" and drive. I don't know about you all, but flying for me these days is on par with getting a root canal, a bikini wax and your finger nails pulled out....all at the same time.
REVIEW: Sleep Softly by Gwen Hunter
July 16, 2008
Wendy the Super Librarian's review of Sleep Softly by Gwen Hunter
Romantic suspense released by Mira 01 February 2008
When my older sister was pregnant with my nephew she went through a phase where she couldn't read about "anything bad happening to children." This coming from a woman who used to read early Stephen King horror novels in my parents' basement, in the middle of the night. Even factoring in her pregnancy hormones, I suspect this is what will keep a lot of readers away from Gwen Hunter's latest, despite the fact that it's not a terribly gory read. Sometimes the mere suggestion and an active imagination are too much to overcome.
Tags: February 2008, Grade B, Gwen Hunter, Mira, Review, Romantic Suspense, Sleep Softly, Wendy The Super LibrarianReview: The Angel and the Outlaw by Kathryn Albright
June 25, 2008
Wendy the Super Librarian's review of The Angel and the Outlaw by Kathryn Albright
Historical western romance released by Harlequin Historical 01 Dec 2007
As a fan of American-settings and western romances, I've often wondered why authors/publishers don't use the state of California more often. It really is a locale that offers a wealth of possibilities - from the gold rush, to the mountains, to the coast-line, to the desert, to large cities, to the middle of nowhere - California in the 19th century was a fascinating place. This was the main reason why I was so drawn to Kathryn Albright's debut. She sets this story near San Diego, along the southern California coast line, and gives the troubled hero the job of maintaining the local lighthouse.
Tags: December 2007, Grade B, Harlequin Historical, Historical Romance, Kathryn Albright, Review, The Angel and the Outlaw, Wendy The Super Librarian, WesternREVIEW: Hidden Legacy by Margaret Way
June 18, 2008
Wendy the Super Librarian's review of Hidden Legacy by Margaret Way
Contemporary romance released by Harlequin SuperRomance 1 May 08
The entire time I was reading Hidden Legacy I was struck by the notion that I was not the intended audience for the story. The only way to describe this book is that it reads like a category romance I could have found on the shelves of my local public library....20 years ago. Old-fashioned doesn't necessarily make a "bad" read, but coupled with an everything-and-the-kitchen-sink style plot and a heroine I never really warmed up to? Let's just say it didn't go well.
Tags: 2008, Contemporary Romance, Grade D, Harlequin, Harlequin SuperRomance, Hidden Legacy, Margaret Way, May 2008, Review, Wendy The Super Librarian
