2004 Year in Review

I'm pleased to present my complete reading year in review:

5 Hearts: 31
4 Hearts: 178
3 Hearts: 82
2 Hearts: 17
1 Hearts: 4
Total: 312

There are a surprising number of 4s and 5s, but I discovered several new-to-me authors this year. If I had read their books in the years they were released, they would have been spread out a bit more.

Here are the books that received 5s. They are:

Albert, Michele: Getting Her Man
Ashworth, Adele: My Darling Caroline
Atkins, Dawn: Friendly Persuasion
Balogh, Mary: Slightly Dangerous*
Brockmann, Suzanne: Bodyguard
Brockmann, Suzanne: Get Lucky
Brockmann, Suzanne: Hero Under Cover
Brockmann, Suzanne: Nightwatch
Brockmann, Suzanne: Out of Control
Brockmann, Suzanne: Over the Edge
Brockmann, Suzanne: Prince Joe
Chase, Loretta: Lord of Scoundrels
Claybourne, Casey: A Thing of Beauty
Corey, Ryanne: Lady with a Past
Dain, Claudia: The Marriage Bed
D'Alessandro, Jacquie: We've Got Tonight*
Davidson, MaryJanice: Undead and Unwed*
Guhrke, Laura Lee: Guilty Pleasures*
Harris, Charlaine: Dead to the World*
Harris, Charlaine: Living Dead in Dallas
Kauffman, Donna: Sean
Kauffman, Donna: Surrender the Dark
Kelly, Leslie: Wickedly Hot*
Kent, Alison: The Grinch Makes Good
Price, Maggie: Hidden Agenda*
Price, Maggie: The Man She Almost Married
Quinn, Julia: When He Was Wicked*
Ranney, Karen: My True Love
Roberts, Nora: Face the Fire
Roberts, Nora: Inner Harbor
Shayne, Maggie, et. al.: Night's Edge*
Simmons, Deborah: The Vicar's Daughter

I put an asterisk next to the books with a 2004 release date. In fact, I may go back to my spreadsheet and add it to all 2004 releases. I think it will put the list in perspective.

Favorite Discoveries
I've already written about several of these authors. I linked to previous blog entries when applicable.

Suzanne Brockmann: What can I say--I really like the way she portrays men. I'd be thrilled to have a Sam or Cosmo of my own. :)

Jacquie D'Alessandro: I discovered her books late in the year, and I've enjoyed everything I've read so far. D'Alessandro's dialogue really shines.

Charlaine Harris: The Sookie Stackhouse series offers just the right mix of mystery, humor, and romance. Oh, and Eric is too beautiful for words.

Leslie Kelly: Her plots may not be particularly realistic, but Kelly creates fascinating characters.

Alison Kent: Here's one writer who recognizes that readers enjoy reading about complex characters. Her Smithson Group series is particularly compelling.

Erin McCarthy: I just finished Mouth to Mouth, and it confirmed the fact that McCarthy writes interesting, versatile, and sexy stories.

Julia Quinn: It took me long enough to discover her, but I'm so glad I did. Her books are fun, compelling, and unique.

Least Favorites
Dr. Yes by Lisa Cach.

The Lipstick Diaries by Lori Soard.

Biggest Disappointments
Killer Cowboy Charm by Vicki Lewis Thompson.

Drive Me Crazy by Nancy Warren.

While both ended up being 3 reads, I hoped for better from both books.

I hope you enjoy this review. It gave me a few ideas for future blog topics. (Not that I seem to have trouble coming up with things to say.)

Take care, and I hope you have a wonderful New Year's Eve!

Alyssa

Quick Update

The doctor tells me I'm unlikely to have longterm effects from the accident. My neck still hurts, but he gave me a prescription for the pain. I'll pick that up tomorrow.

I was gearing myself up to call the insurance company about the car (I hate making phone calls to people who aren't family or close friends) when the company called me. I have an appointment tomorrow to have the damage estimated and to get a check. If the repairs end up costing more, I just need to have the repair company call the insurance company. They will also pay for a rental car during the repairs. This process is going quite smoothly so far, and I'm grateful.

I finished a review for The Romance Reader I've had on the back burner for a while. I'm hoping to get one more finished before the end of the year. I have a decent start on it.

Can you believe it's almost 2005?

Alyssa

Books, Books Everywhere

I may have spoken too soon when I said that no one was injured in yesterday's accident. I was looking forward to sleeping in today, but I woke up an hour ago with considerable neck pain. Not good. Looks like I'll be calling my doctor shortly to see if I can get in to see him today.

In other news, I assembled the second of two new bookcases yesterday. I have lived with piles of books in my bedroom for long enough. I'll still have books everywhere, but at least now they will be on shelves instead of in piles against the wall.

I've finished entering my 2004 reads into a spreadsheet. My book count for the year is now well over 300. Oy!

Alyssa

Hot Target

After spending the day reading Hot Target, all I can say is it's an engrossing read: 4 out of 5.

Navy SEAL Cosmo Richter has a month away from his work for SEAL Team 16 when his mother breaks her wrists. She doesn't want him hovering as she recovers, however, which means he's free to help Troubleshooters, Inc. with an assignment to protect a movie producer who has been receiving death threats. Trouble is that J. (Jane) Mercedes Chadwick doesn't want help or protection.

Well, I never thought I'd say this, but when it comes to favorite Suzanne Brockmann heroes, Cosmo gives Sam a run for his money. I'm really, really attracted to the strong, quiet, and mysterious type, which means Cosmo's close to perfect. Patrick Lawler, one of the narrators of the Hot Target audiotape, describes Cosmo as "A warrior's poet, gentleman's gentleman. And multidimensional." This description is right on target. (Excuse the pun. I couldn't resist.) I can't say enough about how much I like Cos.

Jane is also a terrific character and a great match for Cosmo. I appreciate the fact that she doesn't put herself in stupid situations--you know the kind I mean, where the heroine does something stupid just so the hero can jump in and look all manly. None of that here. And the conflict of interest angle--Cosmo is Jane's bodyguard, after all--is acknowledged and dealt with.

As for the subplot with gay FBI agent Jules Cassidy, I'll admit it pushed me right out of my comfort zone. I was hoping for sweet, but it leaned toward sordid at times. One situation in particular disturbed me and would have done so if the players were heterosexual. And damn it, poor Jules deserves better all the way around.

As with the other Troubleshooter books (Flashpoint is the exception), Hot Target includes a World War II subplot. It's smoothly integrated into the book without being overwhelming.

Lest you think I've set aside my feelings for Sam, I will tell you that I loved the Sam and Alyssa short story. Told from Sam's point of view, it describes his feelings when Alyssa goes on an out-of-country mission without him. It gives a nice glimpse at some of the previous Troubleshooters characters and tells a touching story at the same time.

Alyssa

Crash

This has been a surprising day. After spending the morning and afternoon with Hot Target, I ventured out to run an errand and was rear-ended. Ouch! My rear bumper is all mangled, the lights are broken, and the trunk won't close. I felt bad for the girl who hit me, though. She was terribly upset. I think she is 17 or 18, and she was driving her brother's Dodge 4 x 4. No damage to it, and none of us were injured. Looks like I will be out getting repair estimates in the next few days. :(

Alyssa

It's Here!

I'm sitting at my computer in my jammies when the doorbell rings. Great, I think. I'm expecting an order from Signals, so it must be here. I run down the stairs, open the door, and see a package--not from Signals, but from Suzanne Brockmann. My autographed copy of Hot Target, which I ordered through her virtual signing but wasn't expecting for two or three more days, is here!

I'm outta here. I'm getting off the computer and am also hastily revising my plans for the day. I'm going to start with the Sam and Alyssa story at the end of the book. :)

Alyssa

In Progress

I'm entering all of the books I read this year into a spreadsheet. Note to self: Do this once a month next year so that you don't end up spending hours at the computer in December. I've read an amazing number of books this year: 281 and counting. No wonder my eyesight got worse last year. I have been careful to wear my reading glasses lately, so perhaps that won't be the case next year.

Alyssa

Three More Books

I turned 34 today, and so far I've managed to avoid the painful self-analysis I sometimes subject myself to on my birthday. Instead, I dedicated myself to spending some of the flex-plan money I must use by the end of the year by buying colored contact lenses. My eyes are naturally dark brown, and I discovered that the dark color makes it impossible to get the rich blue, green, or violet colors that you see in ads for colored contacts. In fact, the best color of the five I got might be the one that makes my eyes light brown instead of dark brown. But then, I'm blind without my contacts, and I had to take one of them out so I could try the different colors. This meant I couldn't see at all very well. I'm in for an adventure in a few weeks once the new contacts arrive. It should be interesting.

Here's another reading report--again, these are shorter than usual so I can cover more books:

Forbidden by Janelle Denison: 4 out of 5.
Forbidden combines two of my favorite plot elements: cops and heroes who have loved the heroine from afar. In this case, the heroine was married to the hero's partner. When the husband is murdered, the heroine is in danger. This means, of course, that the hero must step in to protect her.

This story includes some familiar elements--Paige doesn't want to become involved with another cop, and she and Josh have to work undercover to capture her husband's killer. Still, Forbidden is well done.

Christmas on Snowbird Mountain by Fay Robinson: 4 out of 5.
This is a sweet Christmas story about two people who find love when they aren't looking for it. Susannah's mother died more than a year earlier; since then, she's been traveling and trying to complete the items on a wish list, such as performing in a ballet and creating a beautiful work of art. The latter wish brings her to Snowbird Mountain and a mosaic artist named Ryan.

Christmas on Snowbird Mountain is enjoyable largely because of Ryan. Though naturally reserved, he recognizes his feelings for Susannah and dedicates himself to making her happy. He fulfills some of the items on her wish list in a beautiful way. Susannah is more stubborn. After caring for her mother through a long illness, she avoids developing ties with anyone, but eventually she can't resist loving Ryan and his young daughter.

[Note: While looking for Robinson's website, I discovered that she died in 2002. How sad.]

The Grinch Makes Good by Alison Kent: 5 out of 5.
Another good book to read during the Christmas season or any time of year. I think I've missed out by not discovering Kent's work before this year, but that doesn't stop me from enjoying it now. The Grinch Makes Good is spectacular both for what it doesn't do and for what it does. What it doesn't do is start with a character that hates Christmas and turn him into a jolly lover of the holidays (though Duncan is a good lover--whew!). I've read stories with this plot, and they can be incredibly cheesy and unrealistic. Not so here. Instead, this story explores the lives of these two characters, Brooke and Duncan, so that we see the reasons for their feelings about the holidays as well as the reasons they are so good for each other.

The Grinch Makes Good is the best book I've read so far by Alison Kent, and I know it won't be the last.

I'm planning a long year-in-review report, which will take some time, since I'm transferring my written notes to a spreadsheet. I hope to post it later this week.

Alyssa

Post-Holiday Reading Report

I had a lovely Christmas, and I hope you had one, too.

I've done so much reading lately that I'll never get caught up if I write long analyses, so I'm going for short and sweet:

While Others Sleep by Helen R. Myers: 3 out of 5.
Myers was one of my favorite series writers--I simply adored her Silhouette Shadows books: Night Mist, Watching for Willa, and Whispers in the Woods (my favorite of the three, which made my top 100 list). She also wrote some wonderful Silhouette Romances and Desires, such as Invitation to a Wedding and Just a Memory Away.

After reading four of her single titles, however, I'm forced to admit that I don't enjoy them as much as I did her series books. While Others Sleep is an interesting story with strong characters, but they have only one meeting by page 150. After that point, things speed up. Myers has a gift for dialogue and for creating memorable characters, and these qualities are evident in While Others Sleep. It just takes much too long to get there.

Sadly, I think I'll look for her future books in the library instead of buying them new.

The Husband She Couldn't Remember by Maggie Shayne: 3 out of 5.
After reading Shayne's short story in Night's Edge, I wanted to try one of her longer books. I actually enjoy amnesia stories as long as they are done well. I've read quite a few bad ones. The Husband She Couldn't Remember was enjoyable, but nothing about it stood out. I'm still planning to try another of her longer books. Feel free to make suggestions.

Unforgettable by Meryl Sawyer: 2 out of 5.
Another amnesia story. The hero in this one drove me crazy. He couldn't decide whether she was a "floozy" or not, so he kept making 180-degree turns in his treatment of her. The reading experience nearly gave me whiplash because of it.

Again the Magic by Lisa Kleypas: 4 out of 5.
On rare occasions, I will read a book or watch a movie that I enjoy as I'm reading or watching, but afterward I find that I don't like it as much as I thought I did. I'm not sure if that makes sense or not, but this was the case for me when I saw Shakespeare in Love. Likewise, Again the Magic was a book I enjoyed more while I was reading it than I did after I finished.

Kleypas is a strong writer with a talent for writing passionate love scenes. I have to admit that I'm a bit tired of reading the seduction-as-revenge plot. The most frustrating thing about this book, however, is something the heroine does to the hero toward the end of the story. I understand the fear that led her to the decision, but I can only describe her behavior as cold. I thought McKenna forgave her much too quickly.

I'll stop for now, but I'll write again soon about more of the books I've read.

Alyssa

Happy Holidays!

I intended to write a reading update before Christmas, but I got caught up in holiday preparations. I've just now finished wrapping gifts; tomorrow morning I will go to my parents' house to open presents and enjoy the day.

I will post about some of my recent reads soon. In the meantime, I wish you a happy holiday season.

Alyssa

Surprise

My birthday is coming up (December 27), and my department has a habit of decorating the cubicles for birthdays. I figured today would be the day, since most of us (myself included) are taking all of next week off. I'll be working tomorrow, but no one else in my department will be here.

So, I come walking into the office this morning, and I see the back of a party hat sticking up as I head toward my cubicle. I turn the corner to see a life-sized Legolas (Orlando Bloom) in my cubicle. He's wearing a Lord of the Rings party hat. Well, I wasn't expecting that. At that point I started laughing so hard that I was on my knees.

One of my coworkers took a picture through her phone. If I can figure out how to upload it, I will. Otherwise, I'll upload it here tonight.

Too funny.

Alyssa

Hot Shot

Do you ever read a book that you know is well written, but you still didn't enjoy it? Such was the case for me with Hot Shot by Susan Elizabeth Phillips: 2 out of 5.

Susannah Faulconer experienced significant hardships as she grew up. Her grandmother regularly locked her in a closet. Then, when she was living safely with her mother and stepfather, she was kidnapped for a few days. These experiences led her to retreat within herself; she coped by becoming the perfect daughter.

All that changes when she meets Sam Gamble, whose passion is computers. Sam wants Susannah to convince her business-minded father to invest in his computers. Sam represents many things to Susannah--freedom and passion in particular--and she eventually runs away with him, leaving her father-approved fiance at the altar.

I wouldn't particularly describe Hot Shot as a romance, though there are romantic aspects. In fact, the story would have received a 3 if the romance in the second half had been stronger. The book covers several years and describes the background for several of the characters. In spite of these descriptions, however, I didn't connect with the characters. I understood that their backgrounds had some effect on them, but I didn't think this was portrayed as vividly as it could have been.

This is the first book I've read by Phillips, and I have to admit that I don't feel inclined to read any of her other books. There is a lot of story here, it's well researched and written, but I wasn't moved emotionally. I am interested in hearing if Hot Shot is fairly representative of her style, so feel free to comment.

Alyssa

The Wedding Journey

I was rummaging through a box of books when I found Carla Kelly's The Wedding Journey. I bought it when it first came out, set it aside to read later, and stuck it in a box when I moved. It's taken this long simply to find it again. What a treat! Kelly wrote one of my favorite Regencies--Summer Campaign--and it was lovely to read her writing again. The Wedding Journey earns a 4 out of 5.

The book opens with hero Jesse Randall already in love with the heroine, Elinore (Nell) Mason. Jesse is an army captain and skilled surgeon, while Nell is the impoverished daughter of a military man. Nell's father frequently gambles and has indebted himself to Major Bones. After Nell's mother dies, Major Bones calls in the debt, saying that he'll take the money or he'll take Nell.

The plan is foiled when Jesse marries Nell and raises enough money to pay the debt. Major Bones doesn't take the loss lightly. He arranges to have their small group left behind during the next march. Thus, Nell and Jesse's wedding journey is arduous and daunting.

Regular readers of this blog know that I'm more interested in character-driven than plot-driven stories. Kelly delivers exceptionally well; her protagonists are complex, likeable, and interesting. The story is told primarily from Jesse's point of view, though we get glimpses from Nell's perception. Jesse is a wonderful beta hero: gentle and kind, yet strong and principled.

Major Bones is one bad, bad villain. He's terribly frightening because he is so real--there are people like him out there, and they can do considerable damage when they have positions of authority.

Nell's father was an interesting character. At first, he seems to be shallow and selfish, with few redeeming qualities. As the story progresses, his character gains more depth.

The romance was a little slow to develop, which makes sense given the circumstances. I thought the ending was fitting. Major Bones ends up exactly where he should, as do Jesse and Nell.

Alyssa

Moonlight and Mischief

When I started read romance novels in college, Regencies were my line of choice. I still love the genre but don't read as many as I used to. So many of them seem formulaic. You could make this argument about any genre, I suppose, but I've been disappointed in many of the Regencies I've read recently.

I decided to give Rhonda Woodward a try, so I picked up Moonlight and Mischief on my last bookstore trip. The first two-thirds are excellent, but the last third is problematic. The result: 3 out of 5.

Lord Haverstone, known to his friends as Stone, loses a fortune at cards. As he leaves his club, he's approached by young Steven Thorncroft, who tells him about his well-dowered sister. Stone is amused by Steven and invites him to a house party he's hosting in a few months. Steven's sister, Mariah, is upset when she hears what Steven did. Her parents are already pushing her to marry a titled man, and she resents feeling pressured.

The day of the house party arrives, and Stone has forgotten about the invitation until Steven and Mariah (along with their mother and younger brother) show up on the doorstep. It's soon clear that Mariah and her family, who are involved with trade, are not like Stone and his friends. They are refreshingly free of the guile and ennui that's so common with Stone's set.

Things take a dramatic turn when Mariah unexpectedly sees Stone embracing a married woman from the party during a walk outside. This event sparks an honest conversation and leads to an unlikely friendship.

I enjoyed Stone and Mariah's conversations. They were honest and engaging, so it was easy to see why they began to care for each other. While they are in each other's company, Moonlight and Mischief moves along wonderfully. Two-thirds of the way through the book, however, circumstances separate them and bring the story to a grinding halt that lasts until almost the end. To make matters worse, Mariah does something near the end that made me want to scream.

The chemistry between Mariah and Stone shows skill; I will not hesitate to try Woodward again, though I might wait for future books until I can get a copy from the library. The slow ending, however, was a disappointment.

Alyssa

Return of the King

I bought the extended version of Return of the King on DVD yesterday. Tonight I watched the first half. So far I'm enjoying it. I especially like the added scenes with Denethor and Faramir. The sacrifice of Faramir scene is my favorite; I think it is particularly well done. Watching the movie reminded me how much I love the music. I think a replay of the soundtrack is in order.

To commemorate the first half of the extended edition, I'm posting a link to my autographed picture of Orlando Bloom (Legolas). That man is beautiful.

{Picture edited out so it stops coming up on web searches}

This might be a good time to mention my autograph collection. I have hundreds of autographs that I've collected over 7-8 years. I used to write to celebrities, and I received dozens of autographs through the mail. These days I usually buy them or get them in person (when I'm lucky enough to do so). I bought this one of Orlando.

Alyssa

Shopping Spree

Last year when I was making decisions about my health care flex plan, I set aside a big chunk of money thinking that I would need it for my dental work. I didn't need as much dental work as I thought, however, which leaves me with a considerable amount of money to spend by December 31. Too bad I can't spend it on books. :)

This afternoon I bought a second pair of reading glasses. I'll now have one pair at home and one at work. First aid kits and toothbrushes will be next. I'm also considering colored contact lenses. Yes, I'm not kidding about the fact that there's still a lot of money left. Since it's on the use-it-or-lose-it principle, I'm going to use as much as I can.

Alyssa

Speaking of the Suitable Wife . . .

. . . I was reminded why I don't usually read the Harlequin Presents line. Here are the October titles:

• Mistress to Her Husband


• The Greek Tycoon's Love-Child


• Constantino's Pregnant Bride


• The Greek's Royal Mistress


• The Italian's Suitable Wife


• The Australian's Convenient Bride

This line just isn't my thing.

Alyssa

The Italian's Suitable Wife

I picked up The Italian's Suitable Wife on my last trip to the used bookstore based on the fact that I liked The Real Deal and wanted to try something else by this writer. While Monroe is a skilled writer, this book is mired in cliches: 2.5 out of 5.

The Italian's Suitable Wife is from the Harlequin Presents line and includes an amazing number of romance conventions: the young, virginal heroine, the wealthy older hero; the evil other woman. In this case, they are Gianna, Enrico (Rico), and Chiara respectively. Gianna has known Rico and his family for years. When he is in an accident, she rushes to his side. His fiancee, Chiara, rarely visits him in the hospital, and they eventually break up. Rico proposes to Gianna; they marry and return to Rico's family home so he can recuperate.

The main characters come straight out of central casting. Gianna is the self-sacrificing heroine who rushes to the hero's side when needed. She is literally self-sacrificing--she loses her job because she stays at the hospital 24/7. Rico is powerful, wealthy, and domineering. Gianna and Rico do have moments when they are more fully developed. While I couldn't help rolling my eyes about some of the plot developments, Monroe's writing kept me reading. However, I'm not likely to seek out her other Presents books. I think I'll stick with her Brava single titles.

Alyssa

Same Job, New Digs

Today marks day two in my new office. I haven't changed jobs, just locations. It's interesting. I still have three boxes to unpack, but they'll have to wait while I get caught up with projects. As with any work location, there are some good and bad things about the place.

Good

• My cubicle is right by the window, so I have sunlight! I was actually right by the window at the old location, but the high cubicle walls meant I didn't get much light.


• I like the new cubicles. The walls are lower, so things are more open. We'll see how I like this in the long run. There's not much privacy, but it does seem like there's more room.


• The drive to the new office takes only 20 minutes. It took between 30 and 40 to get to the old office. It wasn't much further away, but I had a lot of stop-and-go traffic.

Bad

• While I like being by the windows, the sun is almost right in my eyes for two hours in the afternoon. Hopefully we'll get blinds or shades of some kind. Otherwise, I'll have to get some sunglasses. :)


• It's a good five-minute walk to the lunchroom, and they don't want us to eat at our desks any more. Honestly, I like having a private lunch, and that's not really going to happen.


• The new office is at least 10 minutes away from restaurants and stores. It won't be so easy to just run out and buy lunch.


• No more covered parking.

Looks like I'll also start going to a different library. This won't be too difficult, since the county has several to choose from. I'm stopping by a new one after work, and we'll see if it's too far out of the way.

Alyssa

I Take That Back

In this blog entry, I mention my worst read of the year from the books I reviewed for The Romance Reader. I must now state that I was incorrect. Today I read the new worst read of the year: Lori Soard's The Lipstick Diaries. What's so bad about it? Flat characters, inane actions, and UGH! I could keep going, but it's just too painful. I'm working on the review now.

My head hurts.

Alyssa

Call Me

Since I have been reading and enjoying Alison Kent's Smithson Group series, I decided to start looking for her backlist. Call Me is Kent's first Harlequin Temptation, and it's an interesting story: 4 out of 5.

Harley Golden owns an antique store. After her divorce, she focused her time and energy on her business. She hasn't had time for a relationship and is still wary after her husband's infidelity. Then she meets Gardner Barnes during a recent flight. He gives her one of his business cards with two words written on the back: "Call me." After an inner debate and a discussion with a friend, Harley calls him. They have several phone conversations before they see each other again.

I read Call Me in one sitting. The dialogue is terrific, and the phone calls set up Harley and Gardner's relationship nicely. They have wonderful chemistry. I'm definitely going to keep looking for Kent's backlist.

The relationship seems rushed at times, and I was surprised by how quickly Gardner brought up the issue of having children. There are also some romance cliches, such as Harley's desire not to get involved with an attractive man because of her ex-husband, and Gardner's desire to stay emotionally aloof. In both cases, however, Call Me shows that a common scenario can create a powerful story as long as it's done well.

Alyssa

Reviewing Year in Review

Every year the reviewers at The Romance Reader share their year in review with each other. Here's my year in review:

5 Hearts: 1
4 Hearts: 11
3 Hearts: 6
2 Hearts: 6
1 Heart: 2
Total: 26

Yikes! Am I missing some? I did stop writing reviews for a few months in the spring because of work commitments, and I haven't finished my December reviews, but I thought I'd done more than that. Ah, well, there's always next year. Anyway, here are the specifics:

Top Reads

Charlaine Harris: Dead to the World
The fourth book in her Sookie Stackhouse series. I think Harris just gets better and better.

Erin McCarthy: Smart Mouth
McCarthy has a talent for balancing humor and drama. Not to mention spicy love scenes.

Alison Kent: The Bane Affair
This is Kent's first book in her Smithson Group series. The characters really come to life, complexities and all.

Linda Lael Miller: Don't Look Now
I hadn't read Miller in years, and this book was a great way to revisit her. It's an interesting romantic suspense, the first in a trilogy.

Most Disappointing Read

Nancy Warren: Drive Me Crazy
The book earned a 3, but the characters seemed terribly shallow at first. It took some time before they seemed to be normal human beings.

Worst Read

Sari Robins: One Wicked Night
In one word: frustrating.

I'm still trying to read try my next review book, which is failing the put down-pick up test.

I will provide a complete book-reading year in review in late December or early January.

Alyssa

It's Official

I got my Christmas bonus today. Yippee! I'm going to pay off a few bills, do some Christmas shopping, and buy one or two things for myself.

I've also made hotel reservations for the Target Tampa event in January. Looks like I'm going. :)

Alyssa

Just a Little Bitter

Remember that work project I took home over Thanksgiving? I found out today that they really like last year's wording, so they just want to use that, along with a few minor changes. I wish I had known that before we met twice to discuss what they wanted and before I spent between 20-30 hours working on the blasted thing.

Some days, I really hate writing.

Alyssa

Stalemate

Most true-crime stories include a trial and a verdict. That's not the case with John Philpin's Stalemate.

There's a crime--many of them, in fact: the disappearances of several young girls in California, including Amber Schwartz, Michaela Garecht, and Nikki Campbell.

There's a suspect: Tim Bindner, who has taken a strong interest in the disappearances of these (and other) girls.

There's circumstantial evidence: (1) Bindner made frequent visits to the cemetery where kidnap victim Angela Bugay is buried (interestingly, another man was arrested and convicted of Angela Bugay's murder); trained police dogs later tracked the scents from two of the missing girls to the cemetery. (2) Bindner inserted himself into the case by conducting searches for the girls and by contacting the parents. (3) A witness claims to have seen Bindner shoving a young girl into his car the same day one of the girls disappeared.

There are more things that seem suspicious, but there isn't enough evidence to charge Bindner. Stalemate is a fascinating account of the investigation. It includes interviews with Bindner as well as with the primary investigating officer and the mother of one of the victims.

Did Bindner have anything to do with the disappearances? He hasn't been convicted, but many of the things I read suggest his involvement. Tim Bindner remains a suspect.

Stalemate: 4 out of 5.

Alyssa

Missing Markers

I created two scrapbook pages tonight. Once again, I must postpone the journaling until I find a certain marker. I'm not sure where my markers are hiding. I have a set of 48 colors, but the ones I need are kicking around somewhere in my scrapbook room. Looks like I have some searching to do this weekend.

I'm bravely posting links to the photos, which are from 9th or 10th grade (I'm not sure which). I interviewed a BYU football player, Jason Buck, for a school project. My glasses are hideous! Oh well. Enjoy!

Interview, Page 1
Interview, Page 2

Alyssa

Book-A-Holic

My office is moving this weekend, and I've been doing some packing this afternoon. Not an easy task, since I've been in this particular office for five years. Anyway, I realized that I have been getting through the ordeal by thinking about several books I'm expecting:

• A new batch of review books


• Alison Kent's The Samms Agenda


• Books from the Rhapsody book club (I couldn't resist their latest mailing)

As I thought about these books, I remembered that I made two--yes, two!--trips to the used bookstore last week. OK, they were different stores, but still. I have plenty of books to last me a while, but I'm still excited for more. In the meantime, I really need to finish John Philpin's Stalemate and Jodi Thomas's A Texan's Luck.

My name is Alyssa, and I'm a book-a-holic.

Alyssa

Story of Blogging and Murder

I check out the Crime News 2000 site every few days because it provides links to interesting crime stories. (I'm sure John also visits this site. LOL!) This morning's visit resulted in additional surfing that led to this story about a young girl who allegedly conspired to have her mother murdered. She had a blog where she apparently wrote about her bad feelings toward her mother. The blog is still online, though all entries after March 29 have been deleted. The girl has been charged with murder.

Strange.

Alyssa

Kiss the Bride

Since I've read and enjoyed two of Meg Cabot's books, I decided to try one of her historical romances, published under the name Patricia Cabot. My first selection was Kiss the Bride. I liked this book in addition to Boy Meets Girl and The Boy Next Door. Kiss the Bride: 4 out of 5.

When Emma Van Court's family opposes her marriage to Stuart Chesterton, she elopes and moves with him to Scotland. Six months later, she is a widow. Stuart's cousin James Marbury hears about his death and journeys to Scotland, where he discovers that Emma is being wooed by several men for an inheritence she will receive once she remarries. James is determined to prevent her marriage to another. He has no need of the money, but he has always loved Emma.

Cabot's trademark humor is much in evidence here. In addition to the humor, Kiss the Bride includes amusing dialogue, likeable main characters, and undeniable chemistry. This book is terrific, and I'll definitely look for her other historicals when I make my next used bookstore trip.

I made my Christmas card today. Links to the scans are below, though it didn't scan as well as I'd hoped. I used white ink and silver Pearl Ex powder on the stamped images on the outside of the card. Pearl Ex gives it a bit of sparkle that's difficult to see in a scan or photograph. The scan of the inside of the card shows a smudge on the left that isn't actually on the card. (I guess I'd better clean my scanner.) The blue is more navy than the scan shows. When I tried to darken it, it looked almost black, so I left it lighter than it actually is.

Christmas Card, Outside
Christmas Card, Inside

Last but not least, here are two pages I did with photos from the Utah Shakespearean Festival. Before the plays, they have an outdoor greenshow with performers in costume.

Greenshow, Page 1
Greenshow, Page 2

I will add the journaling once I find my brown marker. It's in my scrapbooking room somewhere . . .

Alyssa

His Every Kiss

Laura Lee Guhrke has become one of my auto-buy authors. Guilty Pleasures is one of my favorite 2004 reads. Her latest book, His Every Kiss, is a wonderful story with strong, compelling characters: 4 out of 5.

Dylan Moore is a prolific and renowned composer when tragedy strikes. A head injury results in nonstop buzzing in his ear. He can no longer hear the music that has always run through his head and led to his compositions. In despair, Dylan decides to kill himself in a music hall. Once there, he hears a violinist playing a piece of his music. The mystery woman tells him he cannot kill himself, and for just a moment, Dylan hears music again. But the woman leaves before he learns her name.

Years later, Dylan still cannot compose music. Every so often, he releases a new piece of music from his early unpublished work so that no one will know the truth. Dylan now lives a life of pleasure found in alcohol, gambling, and women. One day, he sees the mysterious woman who saved his life. He decides to find this woman who makes him hear music again, and he learns that her name is Grace Cheval.

Dylan and Grace are fascinating characters. Dylan is no pseudo-rake, even though his bad behavior is about numbing emotional pain. Grace is a widow whose husband was an artist, so she is reluctant to put herself in a position where she will act as Dylan's muse. There's more, of course, because Guhrke is skilled with characterization.

I enjoyed several moments in His Every Kiss:

• The exchange of notes where Dylan asks her to meet with him and Grace makes excuses to avoid it.
  
• Dylan and Grace's chemistry.


• The end of the book, where Dylan must win Grace back.

This lovely book makes me excited about Guhrke's next release, which is due out next summer. In the meantime, I'm still looking for three books on her backlist.

Alyssa

Killing Time

I can't believe it's already December 5. Where did November go? I haven't even started making Christmas cards yet; that will be my task this week. I'll post a scan of my card once I design and create it.

This should be an interesting week. I'm going to the dentist tomorrow for a filling. On Friday, I will receive my Christmas bonus. I'm still trying to decide whether I will attend Suzanne Brockmann's Target Tampa event. One of my coworkers reminded me that I will also get a check soon for my five-year anniversary with the company. I will make a decision soon, because if I'm going, I need to make travel plans.

On to a reading update. After reading several of Leslie Kelly's books, I was looking forward to Killing Time. It turned out to be a so-so read. I liked the main characters, but too many things were going on in this book for me to completely enjoy it: 3 out of 5.

Mick Winchester is surprised to see Caroline Lamb in his hometown. Caro was the college lover who broke his heart when she broke up with him. Now, she's in town to film a reality show, Killing Time in a Small Town.

Caro is equally surprised to see Mick. She's never been able to forget about him, and she's just as attracted to him as ever. The attraction only increases when she rents a room in his house.

There's a lot to like here. I particularly liked Mick, the charismatic small-town bad boy who isn't as bad as people think he is. He never got over Caro, but he doesn't know how they can make their relationship work; after all, she lives in California. She didn't trust him to be faithful in college, and he worries that history will repeat itself.

Killing Time includes several subplots. They come together nicely in the end, but they also drag down the story. I also thought that Mick and Caro took too long to discuss their relationship. They are definitely hot together, though. ;) Kelly writes good love scenes.

Still, my favorite Leslie Kelly book is Wickedly Hot.

Alyssa

Brighter Than the Sun

I read another Julia Quinn novel last weekend: Brighter Than the Sun. I enjoyed it very much and can't believe it's taken me so long to discover Quinn's novels. Better late than never, I suppose. This book rates 4 out of 5.

Charles Wycombe literally drops into Eleanor (Ellie) Lyndon's life when he falls at her feet from a tree after having too much to drink. Ellie helps him home, but not before he asks her to marry him. He hasn't fallen in love with her; instead, he needs to marry in the next few weeks to keep his inheritance.

At first, Ellie refuses the offer, but she reconsiders after her father's new fiancee creates a list of men Ellie could marry. This, combined with her knowledge that the woman will make her life miserable, makes Ellie think again. She enjoys Charles's company, and they marry a few days later.

The most obvious thing about this book is how funny it is. From the first moment, when Charles falls at Ellie's feet, there's a lot to smile about. I loved Charles's lists, for instance, which have headings such as, "Activities to Pursue with Wife," and "Five Ways Ellie Can Move Herself from the Study to the Bedroom." I won't spoil it for you by listing the five ways. It's much better if you find out for yourself. :)

There are some sections in the middle that move slowly, but overall, Brighter Than the Sun is an excellent read, my second favorite Quinn novel--When He Was Wicked is my favorite.

Speaking of bright, here are two scrapbook pages of my nephew's 13th birthday party. It's nice to be scrapbooking again.

Birthday, Page 1
Birthday, Page 2

Alyssa