Haunted

I've been looking forward to Silhouette's new Nocturne line since I first heard about it. Lisa Childs's Haunted is my first read.

Ariel Cooper is about to marry her soul mate, but she has a secret. She can see ghosts.

For years Ariel's resented her gift, believing it a curse. She's been hiding it from her powerful, brooding fiance, David, afraid that he wouldn't understand. But now she has to tell him. Twenty years ago, she and her two sisters were separated to protect them from a man who had vowed revenge on the women in her family. And someone has resumed the hunt.

Ariel knows she must warn her sisters before it's too late--the killer is closing in and his power is growing stronger. With David's help, they begin the search. But the closer Ariel comes to finding her sisters, the more secretive he becomes. Can she trust the man she plans to spend eternity with? Or has he been waiting for the perfect moment to destroy her?

I thought the premise was interesting, and I wanted to like the book. It didn't quite work for me, though. Childs's writing style is nice. However, I wanted to see more romance. I think it would have helped if Ariel's emotional tie to David had been clear from the beginning. What was clear was that they were engaged, but I wasn't quite feeling the love. They argue in their first scene, then she runs away. The rest of the book sees her coming back to him, wondering if she can trust him, analysis of his suspicious behavior, running away. Repeat.

The trouble was since I hadn't seen David and Ariel happy together, I wasn't terribly invested in their romance. This needed to be established for the story to work for me. Haunted gets a 2.5 out of 5, but I might try the next book in the series. Elena intrigues me, so I'm curious about her story.

Audiobooks

I've got a column about audiobooks at Romancing the Blog today. I came up with the topic because I've been shifting my audiobooks from the flimsy paper boxes they come in to vinyl containers from AudioEditions.com. Kind of expensive when you add the cost of the audiobook and the binder, but based on how often I listen to my audiobooks, I think it will be worth it. At the very least, I'm hoping it will help me keep better track of my cassettes.

Yes, it's true, I have more than a dozen books on cassette. The reason--my car has a tape deck, not a CD player. I've still switched to CDs, but I don't want to buy CDs for the ones I already have. Most of my audios are of the In Death series, although I have several others as well. I use them a lot from the library as well.

Anyway, I hope you'll stop by and read the column.

My contest is still running. Visit this blog entry to read the details.

Drop Dead Gorgeous

I loved last year's To Die For by Linda Howard, so I was excited to read Drop Dead Gorgeous, the sequel. Once I got it, though, I was a little reluctant to read it. Why? Because I liked To Die For so much, and I worried I wouldn't like this one. Needless to say, I got over it and read the book.

Blair Mallory has already survived one murder attempt. Now, while planning her wedding and dealing with holiday-season madness, Blair once again dodges a bullet. Or, more precisely, a Buick. And though the driver's identity remains a mystery, his or her murderous intentions are all too clear.

Or are they? After all, Blair's homicidal ex-husband and his partner-in-crime/wife are safely behind bars. And even Wyatt Bloodsworth, Blair's police detective groom-to-be, isn't inclined to believe she's being targeted again. All of which makes Blair wonder if her close call was simply a mishap. But the wondering stops when she narrowly cheats death again in another seemingly innocent accident. Two strikes is all it takes to convince Blair that she's back in someone's crosshairs. And the only thing more frightening is that Wyatt still doubts her. That means this time no one will be watching Blair's back when she sets out to get the drop on her would-be killer--before whoever it is finally drops her.

Though I was more ambivalent about Drop Dead Gorgeous, I still liked it: 4 out of 5. It was great to see the continuing adventures of Wyatt and Blair, and I loved seeing them work out an issue. They are quite different, and I thought their disagreement and reconciliation was beautifully portrayed. I liked that the sensuality level went up a notch in this book as well.

As for what I was ambivalent about . . . it's a bit tough to explain, but I'll give it a shot. In To Die For, the juggle for position between Blair and Wyatt was fresh and cute. In Drop Dead Gorgeous, the juggle continues, but at times it seemed excessive, almost mean-spirited. Some things aren't worth fighting about just to have the upper hand, you know?

Still, I enjoyed the book and would certainly read another sequel, though it might be pushing it to have someone else coming after Blair. It will be interesting to see what develops.

Coming Soon . . . and a Contest!

I've got a bunch of partially written reviews that I need to finish and post. Watch for more in the next few weeks. Coming up: reviews of Linda Howard's Drop Dead Gorgeous, Elizabeth Hoyt's The Raven Prince, and Kink by Sasha White and Saskia Walker.

Speaking of which, I'm hosting a contest with the prize being a copy of Kink.



I'll be interviewing one of the authors, Sasha White, and I want your help. So, visit her site, return to this blog entry, and post a few questions for her. I'll compile a list of questions and will draw the name of one person who suggests questions. Sound good? I'll take questions on this post until January 31.

The Rules of Seduction

Madeline Hunter's books tend to be hit or miss with me. The Rules of Seduction turned out to be a big hit: 4.5 out of 5.

He enters her home without warning or invitation--a stranger of shadowy motives and commanding sensuality. Within hours, Alexia Welbourne is penniless, without any hope of marriage. Until Hayden Rothwell takes her to bed. When one impulsive act of passion forces Alexia to marry the very man who ruined her, Hayden's seduction of Alexia is nearly complete. What Alexia doesn't know is that her irresistible new husband is driven by a secret purpose--and a debt of honor he will risk everything to repay. Alexia is the wild card. Reluctant to give up their nightly pleasures, Hayden must find a way to keep Alexia by his side . . . only to be utterly, thoroughly seduced by a woman who is now playing by her own rules.

Some of Hunter's books I've started and not finished. The Rules of Seduction, though, just drew me in and didn't let go. Hayden is a hero who's caught by a promise. When he discovers a man's embezzlement, he promises not to tell anyone why the man had to move to the country. That man is Alexia's cousin, and his explanation paints Hayden as the bad guy, which causes problems for Alexia when she realizes she is attracted to Hayden.

I like this book for many reasons. Although Alexia feels conflicted about Hayden, I like the way she faces her attraction for him and takes responsibility for her feelings. Once they are married, she doesn't hesitate to defend him, even though she doesn't know the truth of what happened. I found this admirable.

And Hayden is wonderful. I loved watching him try to make life easier for Alexia even before he fell for her. His concern for her continues after their marriage, when he gives her the opportunity to make her own decision about him. The ending is just terrific.

I'm having a good run of historicals lately. I hope it continues.

13: 2007 Books I Want

Thirteen 2007 Books I Want to Read

It's a new year, which means a new year of books are ahead. Here are 13 books I'm excited about.

1. All Together Dead is the next book in Charlaine Harris's Sookie Stackhouse series. Sookie is off to a vampire convention, which should put her in some interesting moments. Anyone else wonder if a blond male vampire on the cover means we'll be seeing a lot of Eric? I can only hope . . .



2. Beau Crusoe is Carla Kelly's long-awaited next novel, now only two months away. I've really missed her books, so I'm thrilled to see this one is finally coming out.



3. Fire Study is the third novel in Maria Snyder's series. I can't find a cover for it, and I don't believe it's coming out until late this year, but I'm looking forward to the continuing adventures of Valek and Yelena.

4. Innocent in Death is the next book in J.D. Robb's long-running In Death series. I love reading about Eve and Roarke.



5. Amy J. Fetzer's next book is Intimate Danger. I like Fetzer's writing style and her combination of fast-paced action and explosive romance.



6. Carrie Vaughn's next book is Kitty Takes a Holiday. Should be interesting to see what happens next. In my opinion, the more Cormac, the better.



7. I adore Kelley Armstrong's writing, and it's going to be a long wait until May when I can get No Humans Involved. OK, I guess the wait could be longer (knock on wood), but it sure seems long to me. I'm ready for the next installment in the Otherworld series and for a glimpse into the mysterious Jeremy.



8. I'm eagerly anticipating Gena Showalter's The Nymph King not only because she's a terrific writer, but also because a sexy vampiress named Alyssa is in this book (I won a contest).



9. After reading The Stranger I Married, I'm even more anxious to read Sylvia Day's Passion for the Game. She writes in several genres, but her books are one reason I'm excited about historicals again. And I don't think the cover for this book could be more beautiful.



10. Room Service is an upcoming book from Amy Garvey. I have no idea what the story is about, but whatever it is, I'm going to get it. I love Garvey's writing.



11. After reading Jill Shalvis's Aussie Rules, I'm excited to read Smart and Sexy. The awesome cover doesn't hurt, either.



12. Sarah Mayberry has become one of my favorite writers for Harlequin Blaze. March's Take on Me kicks off a new trilogy. I want them. All.



13. Judging from the cover, MaryJanice Davidson's Betsy looks like she'll be getting married at last in Undead and Uneasy. I've heard some things about this book that make me think there will be some dramatic plot elements that should make it an interesting read.



Now I just have to figure out how to be patient as I wait for the release of these books . . .

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Hard Evidence

After reading and liking Pamela Clare's Extreme Exposure, I was excited to read Hard Evidence. It has some good moments but isn't as strong as its predecessor: 3 out of 5.

After the murder of a teenage girl, a mysterious man in a black leather jacket was seen lurking near the crime scene. Investigative reporter Tessa Novak has him in her sights as the culprit . . .

That man was Julian Darcangelo, an undercover FBI agent working with the Denver police. He's closing in on the trail of a human trafficker and killer. Tessa's accusations could blow his cover, and he wants her off the investigation.

But just as Tessa has made Julian a target of interest, she is now a target of the killer. And as they are forced to trust each other, their physical attraction escalates as intensely as the threat from a ruthless murder who wants to see both of them dead . . .

Tessa is the book's biggest challenge. I can sum up her character in one word: frustrating. She witnesses a murder and receives a number of warnings, but she continues to barrel forward with her investigation. I just didn't quite get why she was so persistent when backing off a bit would have been safer. I understand that she wants justice for the murdered girl, but she seems bent on pursuing that her way, and it led her into danger more than once. It's true that journalism can be a dangerous business, but I thought she could have achieved her ends in a safer way.

Late in the story, Tessa receives some doctored photos showing her head on a multilated body. She tells Julian she hadn't known anyone would do something like that to a woman. This seems like a strange comment for an investigative reporter to make. She's on the crime beat, and she hadn't realized how bad people could be? Maybe I've watched too many episodes of American Justice, but still . . .

Despite the challenge of Tessa, I did enjoy some things about the story. The romance itself is good, with steamy and well-written love scenes. Julian is intriguing, and I liked the way Clare slowly reveals his history.

British Bad Boys

I'm a big fan of Nancy Warren's Harlequin novels. I've enjoyed her books for Brava to varying degrees. British Bad Boys falls right in the middle: 3 out of 5.

George and the Dragon Lady
George Hartley is high on the list of England's most eligible bachelors: he's young, single, gorgeous--and, as the 19th Earl of Ponsford, lives in a castle. Granted, the castle has seen better days . . . but nights with the Earl are what LA TV producer Maxine Larraby keeps thinking about . . .

Nights Round Arthur's Table
Seattle thriller author Meg Stanton desperately needs a quiet place to work. Stag Cottage in the English countryside is perfect . . . until she meets local pub owner Arthur Denby. He's as dark and brooding as one of her imaginary villains, and Meg always falls for her villains. But there's nothing imaginary about the things Arthur does to her after last call . . .

Union Jack
Former head chef and current love cynic Rachel Larraby can't believe she got dragged across the pond for a catering job. Weddings--ugh, she's had enough personal experience, thanks. And though perennial best man Jack Flynt is quite smashing, she can keep it to just a steamy fling. Until this very bad bloke starts looking at her with those forever eyes . . .

The premise is an interesting one, and I looked forward to reading this book. What I discovered is a good read that could have been better if each story had been longer. All three stories feature a British hero and American heroine who meet each other for the first time in the story. Warren does a terrific job of showing the physical chemistry the characters share, but the depth in the relationships isn't entirely believable.

In the first story, for instance, one passage summarizes the discussion between George and Maxine where they talk about their pasts, their emotions, etc. The summary keeps the novella short, but I found myself wishing these conversations could have been included rather than merely mentioned. It lessened the impact and left me wanting more.

I had similar feelings about the other two stories. They were good, but lacking the depth I love in Warren's longer work. "Union Jack" is my favorite of the three stories, partly because of its pitch-perfect ending.