Wicked and Willing; The Real Deal

I woke up this morning to the season's first snowfall. It was beautiful! Though the fall is my favorite time of year, winter has its moments. I love being inside, curled up on my couch with a good book. I like snow, too, when it's not on the roads. I always feel nervous about driving when there's snow on the road. Luckily it has melted, so it just looks nice on my lawn and the roads are clear.

After writing a full-length review of The Bane Affair, I decided to write about a few more books today. I've read a lot in the past few weeks and I won't cover them all, but here are my thoughts on some of them:

Wicked and Willing by Leslie Kelly: 4 out of 5

Wickedly Hot was my first book by Leslie Kelly, and I've read several of her books since then. Her plots aren't terribly realistic, but her characterization is so strong that I enjoy the stories. This was particularly apparent with Wicked and Willing. The hero, Troy Langtree, makes an appearance in Two to Tangle, and I didn't particularly like him in the latter story. This book helps me understand him better and I ended up liking him very much. He meets Venus Messina, the apparent long-lost granddaughter to Troy's boss (it's a bit complicated), and they are instantly attracted. Venus and Troy have had many lovers in the past (a unique aspect I liked), but they experience something amazing when they decide to get together.

With this book, Kelly's going on my auto-buy list. Her next book will be out in December, and I'm looking forward to it. In the meantime, there are several books on her backlist for me to enjoy. Here's how I rank Kelly's books I've read so far:

Wickedly Hot: 5 out of 5
Wicked and Willing: 4 out of 5
Into the Fire: 4 out of 5
Suite Seduction: 3 out of 5

The Real Deal by Lucy Monroe: 4 out of 5

Amanda Zachary discovers that her husband has been unfaithful. She divorces her husband and decides that romance is overrated. The experience with her husband wounded her deeply; during the marriage, he undermined her confidence in large and small ways, claiming that she was fat and couldn't satisfy him. Since the divorce, Amanda has devoted herself to her work.

Enter Simon Brant, a man Amanda must persuade to accept a merger. Although they meet because of business, their interest quickly turns personal. However, Amanda can't believe that he would be attracted to her, and Simon has insecurities of his own--namely a belief that the solitary focus that makes him so good at his job also makes him unable to have a meaningful relationship.

I loved the first half of this book. I was incredibly moved by both Simon and Amanda. Amanda in particular makes an incorrect assumption that I found heartbreaking. I'd say that only 1 out of 50 books makes me cry, but this one did. Somewhere in the second half, though, I felt let down. Amanda trusted Simon very quickly; I expected her trust to come more gradually. I was frustrated by another aspect that comes late in the book (and therefore I won't reveal it here) as well. Still, The Real Deal was a strong story that was well worth reading.

Alyssa

Halloween Pages and Some Books

Happy Halloween! I haven't been scrapbooking much lately, but I thought I'd post some Halloween pages I've done in the past. Enjoy!

Boo, Page 1
Boo, Page 2
The Ghoul Wore Pink, Page 1
The Ghoul Wore Pink, Page 2
Trick or Treat, Page 1
Trick or Treat, Page 2
Trick or Treat, Page 3
Trick or Treat, Page 4

I'm woefully behind on talking about the books I've read lately, but here are two:

Miss Match by Leslie Carroll: 2 out of 5

Everyone has plots they enjoy, and for some reason, I'm drawn to stories about matchmakers and advice columnists. In Miss Match, Walker runs his mother's matchmaking service in her absence. After seeing his mother's multiple marriages fail, he has an understandably pessimistic view of marriage. Then Kate walks in, determined to try the matchmaking service and find someone she can settle down with.

I liked the fact that Walker and Kate are 30+ years old--I wish that more books out there focused on older couples. Miss Match is also humorous and witty. So why the 2? For a few reasons: (1) Although the dialogue is witty, it didn't quite sound real to me. Walker has a friend he talks with, Kate chats with her sister, and they are all witty. There is so much talk, though, that I felt almost distanced from the characters. At times their conversations seem too intellectual. (2) I was quite frustrated with Walker halfway through the novel. The man spends too much time vacillating. He knows that Kate wants a relationship that could lead to marriage, so he needs to decide either that he's willing to try or that he's not. The halfway stuff was frustrating. (3) I was easily able to put this book down. Two weeks passed from the time I started to the time I finished it. Since I read quickly, it says something when it takes me this long to finish a book.

I had better luck with Houston, We Have a Problem by Erin McCarthy: 4 out of 5. Houston and Josie are both doctors who work at the same hospital. When Houston is around, Josie becomes uncharacteristically clumsy, dropping files and folders. This behavior drives Houston crazy in more ways than one. At first, he worries about her competence. Then he realizes there's a connection between her clumsiness and his presence. So he comes up with a proposition: they'll spend a night having sex and getting the other out of their systems.

If you think this sounds cold, you'd be right. Houston starts out as a love-'em-and-leave-'em type, who thinks one night will be enough for him. After some thought, Josie agrees to the plan and they have a passionate evening until Houston is called back to the hospital and their night comes to an abrupt end.

Of course, Josie and Houston discover that the attraction is still there, and they have to decide what to do about it. I won't say much more about the plot to avoid spoilers, but circumstances ensure that Houston and Josie get to know each other in nonsexual ways, and I enjoyed learning more about both characters and seeing their relationship evolve.

Out of the three books I've read by Erin McCarthy, Houston, We Have a Problem is my least favorite. That's not saying much, though, since I still give it a 4. Her other two books, Bad Boys Online and Smart Mouth are also 4 out of 5. If you haven't read any of her books, I highly recommend them. Keep in mind that they are on the steamy side.

Back to my TBR shelf . . .

Alyssa

Agony and Ecstasy

Book reviewing isn't always fun. Yes, I love getting packages of books in the mail, I love discovering great authors I haven't read before, I love reading those rare books that rate 5 out of 5.

Writing reviews for books I don't love is challenging. Today I wrote a review for an author's first book, which ended up being 2 out of 5. I don't enjoy criticizing someone's work, especially that of a first-time author. It isn't fun, but all I can do is what any reviewer can do: offer my opinion and give as much information as I can so that people who read the review can make their own decision. If I'm not as honest as I can be about books that receive a 1 or 2, then that invalidates the power of a book that receives a 4 or 5.

Here's hoping the next one will be one of the latter.

Alyssa

Saturday: Camera Woes and The Village

On Saturday I had my annual Halloween party for my nieces and nephew. It was a hit, mainly because I had a lot of structured activities. Last year's party was very informal and not as fun. I learned my lesson.

The bad news is that I'm having problems with my camera. A certain light was blinking, which indicates either "low battery" or "take it in for repairs." I tried the repair route several weeks ago, but they said that their tests indicated that nothing was wrong. So I tried again and got that stupid blinking light. It blinks even when I use new batteries. Clearly there is a problem, but they can't figure out what it is. GRRR. I do have another camera, but I can't find it. This entire thing is frustrating.

Saturday night I went to see The Village. I typically wait until movies are available on DVD before I see them, but I saw this movie in the theatre because (1) I've never seen an M. Night Shyamalan movie in the theatre and thought it was time to do so; and (2) Joaquin Phoenix. It was definitely interesting--better than I expected after hearing reviews but still problematic.

I'm going to talk about different plot elements from the movie. I'll try to be cryptic, but if you want to avoid spoilers, stop reading NOW.

Joaquin (who plays Lucius) was beautiful. I'm prejudiced because I've loved his work in other movies, such as Inventing the Abbotts, and he's just lovely to look at. Still, I think he does a great job with this role, as does Bryce Dallas Howard (as Ivy).

The movie is also well directed. I particularly enjoyed the way hands are a central image in the story. The way Lucius takes Ivy's hand to help and guide her is sweet. I suspect I will remember these images, as I remember the moment in Persuasion when Anne sees Captain Wentworth for the first time in years, and her hand grips a chair.

As for the plot: I like how you start watching the movie thinking it's about one thing and it ends up being about something else. I had a feeling that the woods were used to keep people in the village, but I didn't guess the extent or the reasons behind it. I was also surprised by the two pivotal moments with Adrien Brody (Noah). The second one (in the woods) shouldn't have surprised me, but it did.

Still, this is my least favorite of Shyamalan's movies (Unbreakable is my favorite). I felt a bit like I'd been put through the wringer when I left the theatre. First, there's the shocking moment between Lucius and Noah--it's nicely filmed and acted, but wow. I woke up in the middle of the night with that image in my head, and it wasn't fun. Powerful, maybe, but not fun.

My biggest issues, though, are ones that deal with unanswered questions. The movie implies that only a few key people know the secret of the village, but I don't understand how that can be the case. Many of the outdoor scenes show the large number of people in the village. If it was started by the smaller core group, how did the group get to be so large in such a small amount of time? Or do all of the "adults" know? If so, how do they manage to keep it a secret for so long?

Then, there's the medicine issue. Perhaps the villagers prefer the simpler way of life that the 1900s represents, but why, why, why wouldn't they take advantage of modern medicine? OK, I guess you don't want to have a modern hospital, but why not a cabinet with medicine? Why wouldn't they have it on hand? Yes, the village was created as a crime-free haven, but accidents happen. I simply couldn't get past this, and in fact, felt kind of angry about it.

Ah, well. The Village was interesting, but I doubt that I will see it again. I have four movie passes I need to use by the end of the year, though, so I'll have to see what's coming out soon. I want to see Ladder 49 at some point, but I'm not ready yet for another Joaquin-in-danger movie. (If you've seen it, please DON'T tell me how it ends.)

As for a reading update, I've just submitted a review to The Romance Reader and I'm starting another one. I've read a few books this weekend, and I'll provide a report in the next few days.

Alyssa

Indelible and Charmed

I picked up Karin Slaughter's Indelible at the library after reading a blog entry about it. It was fascinating--I read it in two sittings--but challenging to rate. If you like mystery, I'd give Indelible 4 out of 5. If you prefer romance, it's a 3.

This book is one of a series about coroner Sara Linton and police chief Jeffrey Tolliver. Though this isn't the first one in the series, I chose it because it delves into Sara and Jeffrey's early relationship. The mystery was exceptional: gripping, well plotted, and surprising. I ended up being more intrigued by the flashbacks to the early mystery than I was by the present-time plot, though they are skillfully interwoven.

Readers who want a strong romance may be disappointed. Romance is certainly part of Indelible, but I was left wanting more. Such is often the case when it comes to a book series, however, especially when you don't start at the beginning.

After Indelible, I was ready for something lighter, so I read Charmed by Nora Roberts. This book is also from a series, although it stands alone quite well. I've read the two previous books, Captivated and Entranced, both of which I liked better than Charmed. I give it 3 out of 5.

It's hard to say why I didn't enjoy Charmed as much as I'd hoped. As a book reviewer, I've learned that I can sometimes give lots of reasons why a book doesn't succeed; in this case, however, I can't point to anything and say, "I didn't like this." It's more accurate to say that I wasn't drawn into the story. Charmed ended up being an interesting read, if not a particularly memorable one.

Alyssa

Exercise in Frustration

Yesterday's trip to the gym didn't go as well as I'd hoped. My new crosstrainers are just fine--no more squashed toes for me--but I pulled a leg muscle early in my walk around the track. I ended up walking for about 30 minutes, but it hurt so much that I had to walk slowly, and my heart rate didn't really increase. My leg is feeling fine today, and I brought my gym clothes with me to work, but I'm debating whether I should try again tonight or tomorrow. Getting back in the habit of exercising has so far been an exercise in frustration.

In some good news, yesterday I got a book order I've been waiting for, and now I'm reading Charmed by Nora Roberts. I'm looking forward to reading Erin McCarthy's Houston, We Have a Problem (another book from the order), though I won't get to that until later this week.

In the meantime, wish me luck at the gym.

Alyssa

Embraced by Love and The Bane Affair

On Friday, I helped fill orders at my company's warehouse instead of doing my regular job. I was on my feet for 8 hours, and I have new respect for what the warehouse employees do as well as renewed respect for those whose jobs requires them to be on their feet all day. Yikes! My Media Play trip after work felt very much like a reward. Three of the books I special ordered had arrived, so I bought them. I also couldn't resist buying The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes DVD set, featuring Jeremy Brett. His portrayal of Holmes is simply brilliant.

Here's what I really want to know: why is it that it feels like I just left work 10 minutes ago? It's Sunday PM, and I can't figure out where the weekend went. I didn't do many of the things I was hoping to do: scrapbook, straighten up my living room, set up my stereo system, writing another review. I did get some reading done: Suzanne Brockmann's Embraced by Love and Alison Kent's The Bane Affair being the most notable. Both books were 4 out of 5. (How long can my good luck last? I hope I'm not in for a run of books rated 1 or 2 out of 5.)

Embraced by Love is one of Brockmann's recently reissued non-SEAL books from 1995. It's a romance (as opposed to romantic suspense she often writes these days) about a married couple who experience several challenges. Cooper and Josie have been married for 5 years. Josie owns a computer company, and she's a workaholic. This has created tension in their marriage more than once, and the couple is in for a rough patch when Josie accepts a job that is likely to keep her working overtime at the office for more than a year. Compounding the problem is the fact that Josie's brother and sister-in-law are killed in a car accident, leaving her and Cooper to care for their two small children. This forces Josie and Cooper to analyze their priorities and to decide what is most important to them.

I initially wondered whether I would like the book; a discussion on one of my e-mail lists made me worry a little. I shouldn't have. Though I could tell that this is one of Brockmann's earlier books, the character development is still there. Josie and Cooper are very real people, and even when I didn't agree with their choices, I could see where they were coming from. I enjoyed seeing them interact and grow.

Alison Kent is a fairly new author for me. I read her story from the Jingle Bell Rock anthology, but that's about it. I was intrigued by the plot of The Bane Affair, which features Christian Bane, an agent with the Smithson Group. His mission is to go undercover to discover what happened to a scientist who has disappeared. The mission brings him into contact with Natasha Gaudet, goddaughter of the man who happens to be Christian's main suspect.

I'm a sucker for a well-portrayed wounded hero, and Christian is that and more. Although he's attracted to Natasha, he struggles to keep his emotions uninvolved. The last time he fell in love with a woman, he was on assignment and the woman betrayed him. Christian is determined not to make the same mistake twice. In spite of this resolve, he can't help but feel something more than physical for Natasha. It's easy to see why. Natasha is equally compelling. Though she has confused lust and love in the past, she's willing to go after what--or who--she wants. Thank heavens, this is no standard woman-in-danger story; Natasha is smart, courageous, and compassionate.

My only quibble with The Bane Affair was that it ended a little too abruptly. I wanted to see a few of the potential loose ends tied up, and I wanted a little more with Christian and Natasha. But that didn't keep the book from being very enjoyable, nor will it keep me from buying the next one in the series, The Shaughnessey Accord. It looks like I'll be making another special order.

Alyssa

A Run of Good Reads

Whenever I read several good books in a row, I always wonder when my good luck will end. Thankfully, it hasn't happened so far. Here are last week's reads:

Cabin Fever by Marilyn Pappano: 4 out of 5
Hers for the Weekend by Tanya Michaels: 3 out of 5
Scandal by Pamela Britton: 4 out of 5
Magnolia Sky by Susan Crandall: 4 out of 5
The Duke and I by Julia Quinn: 4 out of 5

All were quite enjoyable, though Cabin Fever and Scandal were my favorite of the five. Cabin Fever brings together a single mother and an ex-con. The result is a sweet, emotional love story that succeeds for several reasons: the main reason being the characters. Nolie and Chase are complex individuals with well-developed strengths, insecurities, and histories. Their story is the third book I've read in Pappano's Bethlehem series, and it's easily my favorite.

Scandal is different from Cabin Fever in style, setting, and tone, but it's still excellent. At the beginning of the story, Rein inherits money and a title, if he can live for four weeks without using his money or telling anyone who he is. This challenge brings him into Anna's world, one in which a well-bred young woman lives in impoverished circumstances. Unfortunately, Rein brings danger with him . . .

Rein is one of the most best things about the book--I enjoyed his devotion to Anna, even though it takes time for him to acknowledge his feelings and to decide what he really wants. Even as he believes that he only desires her, his actions reveal how much he cares. The mystery was also interesting.

Tomorrow I'm off to Media Play to pick up some of my special orders. That will be a nice treat after the week I've had. Some work weeks seem longer than others, and this has been one of them. I'm ready for the weekend.

Alyssa

Cinderella Story

I've been to the gym twice this week, although the second time I did more hobbling around the track than walking. Turns out that the shoes I bought back in grad school are half a size too small--my poor little toes still feel squashed up. Is this how Cinderella's stepsisters felt, I wonder? In any case, I stopped at the store on the way home and bought some new crosstrainers. Now I'm praying there's no problem when I go to the gym tomorrow night.

I finally finished one review for The Romance Reader and I'm working on another one. I'll post links once they are available, and I'll also post a reading update. Watch for it in the next few days. First, though, I'm going to soak my feet . . .

Alyssa

Appointments Kept and Missed

A few weeks ago, I went to the dentist for the first time in years (bad, I know). I made an appointment to have a crown done and two cleaning appointments. My crown was scheduled for today, but the office called me last week and said they wanted to reschedule. Unfortunately, we got our wires crossed. They called me at work today asking where I was, and I said I thought we had rescheduled. Well, they meant that the first cleaning was rescheduled, not the crown. Oops. So I've made another appointment, this time for October 27.

However, I did keep another appointment I made with myself: to go to the gym. I've had a membership for years, but have been avoiding that just as I've been avoiding the dentist. But I am determined to lose weight again (I lost 50 pounds several years ago, but gained it back) not because I care so much about the actual numbers, but because I want my fun clothes to fit me again. More energy would be nice, too. Today was my first day back to the gym in much, much too long. I did my usual routine of machines for 10-15 minutes and fast walking for 40 minutes, and I can tell it's been a while. It was good to be back. Now I've dug out my exercise clothes and plan to hit the gym again tomorrow.

I went out to my garage during the weekend and brought in a few more boxes of books. I suspect that once I realize what I have, my top 100 list will be obsolete. There are more boxes, too. I have no idea where I'll put all of my books! I found some bookcases online that are designed specifically for paperbacks, but I haven't made up my mind about whether I'll try one and see what I think.

Speaking of books, I've read a number of books recently, but I won't allow myself to write about them here until I'm done with my book review. I need to get it finished.

Alyssa

Suzanne Brockmann

I started reading Suzanne Brockmann in February of this year. I was at the bookstore and remembered that I had read about the famous couple Sam and Alyssa online, so I bought Gone Too Far. I can tell you from first-hand experience that the book has a much bigger impact when you have read all of the ones in the Troubleshooters series first. When I first read it, I rated Gone Too Far a 3 out of 5 and wasn't sure whether I'd read any of her other books.

As you can tell, I changed my mind. I bought Prince Joe, thinking that I'd try her Team 10 series from the beginning, and I loved it. I figured I would stick with Team 10 until I saw a copy of The Unsung Hero at a used bookstore. It looked new, and I knew it was the first one in the Team 16 series, so I bought it. The book stayed on my TBR shelf for several weeks before I picked it up, read it . . . and was hooked. That required another bookstore trip so I could pick up the books between The Unsung Hero and Gone Too Far. Here's how I rate them:

The Unsung Hero: 4 out of 5
The Defiant Hero: 4 out of 5
Over the Edge: 5 out of 5
Out of Control: 5 out of 5
Into the Night: 4 out of 5
Gone Too Far: 3 out of 5 the first time; 4 out of 5 after second reading

Perhaps it's a cliche, but Sam and Alyssa are my favorite of Brockmann's couples. (See my scrapbook pages below; they are part of my All About Me album.) Of course, I didn't have to wait between installments of the books, so there wasn't time to become too frustrated or impatient. One of the scenes in Over the Edge ranks in my top five list of love scenes. (By the way, there's an interesting blog topic. I'll have to give it some thought.) It's the one where Alyssa goes to Sam's hotel room hours after she's just told him, "I don't even like you." Sam, however, has realized that he's in love with her. Most of the scene is told from Sam's perspective as he wrestles with his conflicting emotions: hurt and anger that Alyssa won't come to him unless she's had a few drinks first; overwhelming desire for her; fear of telling her how he feels; and love. All of Sam's feelings result in a scene that takes my breath away.

That's what I enjoy most about Brockmann's writing: her talent for writing compelling stories that include genuine emotion, and her ability to get into a character's head and take readers with her. This section from the scene described above illustrates what I mean. As Sam and Alyssa make love, he struggles to put aside all of his feelings and focus on "pure sex." Eventually, though, the emotions break through:

He couldn't stop himself from thinking anymore. She was what he'd been missing all those months. It wasn't just great sex that he'd been longing for, as much as he'd tried to tell himself otherwise. It was Alyssa. Her voice in his ear. Her smile lighting up his world. Her take no shit, take no prisoners attitude. Her ability to take what he dished out and give it back to him in large quantities. He didn't just want her, he loved her. And he didn't just love her, he liked her. The world was fifty-two thousand times a better, more interesting, more exciting place to be when he was with her. And that was when they weren't having sex.

Men in fiction with that kind of devotion and love for a woman are irresistible. The fact that I wouldn't typically be interested in someone like him--a cocky, foul-mouthed cowboy--somehow makes him even more appealing, because Brockmann shows us who he really is.

Sweet Thing, Page 1
Sweet Thing, Page 2

Alyssa

J.D. Robb

I didn't discover J.D. Robb (or Nora Roberts, for that matter) until last year. Once I started reviewing at The Romance Reader, I looked around the reviews section to see what I'd been missing. I noticed that J.D. Robb consistently received high reviews, so I bought Naked in Death and sat down to read. Once I finished it, I returned to the bookstore for the next two books in the series: Glory in Death and Immortal in Death. And that led to more reading and more bookstore trips. I've read everything through Visions in Death, many of them more than once.

There's so much I could say about why I love the In Death series. I love the characters: the tough, edgy homicide cop, Eve Dallas, and the suave, beautiful billionaire Roarke. They are fascinating characters individually and together. I appreciate the fact that they are imperfect, and I love how each book shows the negotiation and progression of their relationship. The secondary characters are intriguing--my favorites are Mavis and Dr. Mira. And I love the witty banter and wordplay in scenes such as this one:

Roarke: "It's always a pleasure working with you, Lieutenant."
Eve: "Just remember who's in charge."
Roarke: "I've no doubt you'll remind me. Regularly. Next time we make love, you can wear your badge. In case I forget who's in charge."
Eve: "Nobody likes a smart-ass."
Roarke: "I do. I love one."

I've introduced the In Death books to two sisters and four coworkers. Too bad I don't get a commission, huh? In August, I decided to go to Maryland to meet the woman behind the stories. I bought a bagful of books, which Nora signed for me. (You can see pictures from the book signing in this blog entry.) I have all of the books, and I'm buying autographed copies through Turn the Page bookstore as they are released in hardcover. I'll receive the hardcover Glory sometime next week. Survivor in Death is the next J.D. Robb novel, and it's due out early next year.

One of my scrapbooking goals has been to create more pages about myself, my hobbies, and my interests. I did two pages about my appreciation of the In Death series.

Killer Books, Page 1
Killer Books, Page 2

Scrapbooking about books is fun--I know I'll do more of it.

Alyssa

Audiobooks

I started listening to audiobooks earlier this year, when our local B. Dalton went out of business and was selling everything for 50% off. I decided to try Imitation in Death, by J.D. Robb. Listening to books was a new experience for me. Susan Ericksen reads all of the J.D. Robb books, and at first I didn't like Roarke's voice. I had imagined his accent to be more subtle. But I got used to it, and now I enjoy Ericksen's performances immensely. Some of my favorite moments: the scene in Glory in Death when Eve shows Roarke that she is wearing the diamond he bought for her; in Portrait in Death when Eve confronts Roarke about why he is acting so detached and distant.

I listen to audiobooks in the car--my round-trip commute is about an hour, and it sure beats listening to the radio and hearing ads half the time. I also listen to them at times while I'm editing, but it depends on what kind of work I'm doing. I typically listen to books and authors I've read before: J.D. Robb, Nora Roberts, J.K. Rowling, and Suzanne Brockmann. I've only listened to unabridged versions; I know that the abridged ones would only frustrate me. While I own all of the unabridged J.D. Robb books available, I get most of the others from the library. With its elements of performance, listening to audiobooks is like watching a play. That may be another reason I enjoy it so much, since I adore the theatre.

My latest audiobook purchase is Suzanne Brockmann's The Defiant Hero. In my opinion, reader Carrington McDuffie gets Sam's accent right, although I also like Deborah Hazlett's portrayal in Gone Too Far. I'm looking forward to the unabridged version of Immortal in Death, which will be available on November 9.

Alyssa

A Stranger's Wife and Borrowed Dreams

Today is the first day this week I managed to drive my car to work without experiencing awful back pain. Here's hoping the pain-free car trips continue.

As you might have guessed, I read books pretty quickly. I've read a few more in the past few days: A Stranger's Wife, by Maggie Osborne, and May McGoldrick's Borrowed Dreams.

In A Stranger's Wife, Lily Dale is released from prison under one condition: that she help Quinn Westin in his campaign for governor of Colorado by posing as his wife, Miriam. Lily looks just like the missing woman, but she needs lessons in being a well-bred woman to be completely convincing. She is convincing enough, however, to make Quinn uncomfortable. Lily looks just like his wife, but in many ways she is completely different and irresistable.

I was drawn into the story from the start. What I appreciated most is that the characters are real, with strengths and weaknesses that make them multidimensional. The two main plots--Lily and Quinn's romance and the mystery of Miriam--are both well developed. The distrust issues went on too long for my liking, but A Stranger's Wife is a memorable book: 4 out of 5.

I started reading May McGoldrick's Borrowed Dreams on my flight home from a book signing at Turn the Page bookstore. I made it through the first 50 pages and then set it aside for lack of interest. The heroine seemed too good to be true, and the story gets off to a slow start. Today I decided I wanted to finish the book, and I'm pleased to say that most of Borrowed Dreams is much better than the beginning; this book, too, earned 4 out of 5.

Millicent Wentworth agrees to marry Lyon Pennington not despite his ill condition, but because of it. Millicent's first husband (now deceased) was physically abusive to her, and she never plans to marry again. Lyon's mother convinces her to change her mind, saying that she will pay her first husband's debts if she agrees to marry Lyon. She claims that there is no hope that he will recover.

Lyon does recover when Millicent learns that much of his condition is caused by the overuse of laudanum, and she weans him from the drug. Though Lyon regards her with anger and hostility at first, he soon realizes how much he cares for Millicent. Their scenes made me smile, and I loved Lyon's patience and tenderness.

Next up: Marilyn Pappano's Cabin Fever.

Alyssa

Charlaine Harris

Since I mentioned Charlaine Harris in my last blog, I thought it would be a good time to talk about her. I learned about her when I read MaryJanice Davidson's Undead and Unwed. There was an excerpt for Dead to the World, the fourth book in Harris's Sookie Stackhouse series, at the end of the book. I was intrigued enough by it to find out more. I learned it was part of a series, so I checked out the first two from the library: Dead Until Dark and Living Dead in Dallas. I read them in two days and went in search of Club Dead, the third in the series. Here's how I'd rate the books:

Dead Until Dark: 4 out of 5
Living Dead in Dallas: 5 out of 5
Club Dead: 4 out of 5
Dead to the World: 5 out of 5

These stories are told from the perspective of Sookie Stackhouse, a telepath. Sookie lives in a world where vampires are recognized by society, though they are not accorded equal rights in all regards. Because of her ability to read the thoughts of others, Sookie is viewed with skepticism and hostility by many people in her town. Her life changes when vampire Bill Compton walks into it. Sookie discovers that she can't read his mind, a fact she finds both surprising and comforting. In Dead Until Dark, Sookie falls in love with Bill and comes into contact with other vampires who value her telepathic abilities.

The Sookie Stackhouse novels feature elements of humor, mystery, and romance. Sookie's world is peopled with vampires, shape-shifters, werewolves, and other beings. Sookie herself is what I enjoy most about the series. She's down-to-earth and optimistic, with a wry sense of humor. The fifth book won't be out until next spring, and it will be interesting to see who Sookie finally ends up with romantically, though I think that decision is probably several books down the road. My vote is for Eric, who plays an ominous role in Dead Until Dark, but still manages to be appealing. You have to love a guy who is willing to wear pink lycra when you need him to.

Alyssa

Pulled Muscle Results in Another Weekend Reading Marathon

Yesterday I went to Media Play with a list of books I wanted to buy. When I buy new books, I usually buy them from Media Play. (Their Replay program offers certificates for $5 off with each $100 purchase--on triple point days, you essentially receive $5 every $35 purchase.) This time they had one of the five books on my list, so I placed a special order for the rest. I ran some other errands with my sister, one of which involved buying a cabinet. I suspect that I pulled a muscle when I helped her carry it into the house. I went home, took a nap, and when I woke up, I realized that I had pulled a muscle in my back. Ugh.

So, instead of the cleaning marathon I was planning, I had a reading marathon instead:

Hot Stuff, by Carly Phillips. This is the next book I'm reviewing. I'll start writing the review tonight if my back will allow it. I've read other books by Phillips, and this is the one I enjoyed most. 4 out of 5.

Night's Edge, by Maggie Shayne, Barbara Hambly, and Charlaine Harris. This was my Media Play purchase. All three stories have supernatural elements; the first two focus on ghosts, while Harris's story is about vampires. Please excuse the pun, but Night's Edge was a haunting read. All three stories are engaging. I read Shayne's story right before going to bed last night, and I worried that I would have nightmares. I've never read Hambly's work before, but I'll definitely seek her out now. Harris's story, "Dancers in the Dark," is set in the Sookie Stackhouse world, though it's not a Sookie story. I liked Sean very much. This is the darkest story of the three. I give this anthology 5 out of 5.

Wickedly Hot, by Leslie Kelly. Wow--the title is apt. I loved this story, not just because it was a good change after the dark stories of Night's Edge, but because I fell in love with the characters. Ryan Stoddard goes to Savannah, Georgia to track down the woman who conned his grandmother out of a painting. Jade Maguire wants revenge against the man who dumped her sister. Sparks fly from their first meeting. Wickedly Hot includes a plot element I don't usually like--revenge via bondage--but Kelly illustrates that it's all in how the story is executed. This aspect didn't work in a book I reviewed recently, but it worked here. Another 5 out of 5.

A Question of Intent, by Merline Lovelace. A military story by an author I haven't read before. While I liked the characters, Jill and Cody, the story is more plot than character driven. By the end of the book, I knew Cody's (and some of Jill's) backstory, but I wanted more interaction between them. 3 out of 5.

That's it for now. I think I'll try ice on my back.

Alyssa