Beau Crusoe

I bought Carla Kelly's Beau Crusoe when I saw it in the store, but I put off reading it. What if I don't like it as much as I hope? I wondered. Then I started reading it and couldn't stop. I had to take the day off work and everything. Well, I was also having stupid stomach pains, but that's beside the point. Moving on . . .

Stranded alone on a desert island, he had lived to tell the tale. A triumphant return to the ton saw James Trevenen hailed as Beau Crusoe--a gentleman of spirit, verve and action. But only he knew the true cost of his survival!

Susannah Park had been shunned by Society. She lived content with her calm existence . . . until Beau Crusoe determinedly cut up her peace! The beautiful widow wanted to help him heal the wounds of the past--but what secrets was this glorious man hiding?

After all my worries that I wouldn't like the book, I found that reading Beau Crusoe was like visiting an old friend: 5 out of 5. Don't misunderstand me--I'm not saying that Beau Crusoe was a repeat of any of Kelly's previous stories. But it does have the thoughtful characters, vivid imagery, and easy-to-read style that is her trademark.

James's story unfolds gradually, though the direction of the story is pretty clear. The delay in giving the whole story makes the impact even stronger. Seeing how his time on the island affects James was both compelling and heartbreaking. I loved the way Susannah was so fiercely determined to find out what happened and help him. Both characters show their own strength.

Though this is a serious story, I loved the moments of levity. The toucans, for instance. Heavens! I love how that aspect plays out. Every mention of them made me smile.

But the love story is truly at the heart of Beau Crusoe, and it's a beautiful story. Once I finished it, I started rereading immediately.

Carla Kelly, it's good to read you again.

Dark Dreamers

Dark Dreamers is an anthology by Christine Feehan and Marjorie M. Liu.

Dark Dream
She's known him since she was fifteen. Every night, he is with her: his face, his voice. Tonight, Sara Marten will meet the man who is both angel and demon, salvation and temptation: Falcon--the Carpathian, the banished hero. Tonight, Sara will meet the dark-eyed destroyer destined to be her mate.

A Dream of Stone & Shadow
There are those who do terrible things in this world, and those who simply watch. Charlie would do neither. Imprisoned, his only release is through his own destruction--or through Aggie Durand. Sweet as a kiss or a rescued child, she is the one dream he does not dare desire. As an agent of Dirk & Steele, she could be his salvation. Today, Charlie's dream is waking.

I must admit I've read only a few books by Christine Feehan. In general, I thought they were OK, but they didn't make me want to seek out all of her work. In fact, "Dark Dream" is the first Carpathian story of hers I've read; I actually read books from two different series. I thought the premise of this one sounded interesting. I liked the "known him since 15, but don't know who he is" angle. However, I ended up sticking with my "OK, but not terrific" opinion.

My main reason is this: there's not much character conflict. There's a quick introduction and some initial distrust on Sara's part, but this is dispatched quickly. From almost the beginning, there's very little to keep Falcon and Sara apart. Sure, there is an evil vampire who comes after Sara, but there's very little else to the story.

If you like the Carpathian series, though, you might enjoy it more. There are other Carpathian characters as well, who I'm guessing were featured in previous stories. They help the external plot along, and if you've read the previous books, it's probably nice to get this glimpse of how the couples are doing now. Overall, this story rates 3 out of 5.

"A Dream of Stone & Shadow" is the shorter and stronger of the two stories. Liu has a knack for creating interesting situations and original characters, and she does it well in this story. I don't want to say anything more about the plot than the blurb gives away, because I want to avoid spoiling the story. Suffice it to say I thought it struck a nice balance of action and romance. The ending in particular was terrific.

The story transported me back to the magic of Tiger Eye, which I loved for its unique premise and emotional story. "A Dream of Stone & Shadow" struck me in a similar way. Aggie is a wonderful heroine. Charlie fascinated me, and I wanted to know more about him. This story rates 4.5 out of 5.

Belated TBR Challenge: Closer

September's TBR challenge was to read a series romance. I completed the challenge but never got around to writing about it, so I thought I'd do it now.

Title
Closer

Author
Jo Leigh

Year published
2006

Why did you get this book?
I like Leigh's books and usually buy them, but I got this one in a giveaway.

Do you like the cover?
Yes! I think it's a great cover, very provocative.

Did you enjoy the book?
Yes. I rate it 4.5 out of 5.

A stalker has ruined Christie Pratchett's life. He's stolen her job, her friends and her freedom. The police can't help, nor can the FBI. Now with a single call for help, it's all up to ex-Delta Force Boone Ferguson.

Boone lives under the radar . . . with a secret that could cost him big. But he's going to train Christie to become a warrior princess--and his lover. Together they're going to risk it all, on the street--and in the bedroom.

The book makes a strong start as Leigh shows us how much Christie's stalker has affected her life. The scenes from the stalker's point of view are definitely creepy. There aren't too many of them, which I appreciate. I prefer not reading too much from the bad guy's POV in books, just a personal preference.

Boone is a terrific hero, and I love how he doesn't just step in to protect Christie, but he takes steps to help her learn to protect herself. As for Christie, she is no passive victim. Yes, she is devastated by the way the stalker has isolated her. Her reactions here seem very genuine. But she also strives to overcome the problems. And the scenes with Boone and Christie just sizzle.

Was the author new to you and would you read something by this author again?
Yes and yes.

Are you keeping it or passing it on?
Keeping it.

Anything else?
The next book in this series, Relentless, comes out next month. It will be interesting to see who's in that story.

I See You

I really enjoyed Holly Lisle's Last Girl Dancing, so it was a no-brainer to pick up her next book, I See You.

For paramedic Dia Courvant, each day brings the possibility of facing blood and death. But nothing can match the horror of the day she was dispatched to the scene of a terrible car accident and resuced the sole survivor--only to find her own husband dead in the wreckage. Four years later, a series of deadly car crashes brings handsome Detective Brig Hafferty into Dia's life. She's drawn to Brig, but can she trust him enough to tell him of the terror that stalks her? For Dia has received a message warning her of danger and death--a message that seems to have been sent to her from beyond the grave. . . .

While I liked I See You, it wasn't as strong as Lisle's previous book: 3.5 out of 5. Lisle definitely knows suspense, and she does a terrific job of drawing the reader in. I was very curious about what would happen next. The first section of the story is particularly strong in this area.

The romance itself isn't as strong. It progresses a little too quickly from attraction to love. I can definitely buy that unusual/emotional situations can help a relationship skip a step or two, but I didn't get a sense that Dia and Brig know each other well enough for this.

Perfect Timing

Harlequin does time travel with this Signature Select title, which contains stories from Julie Kenner, Nancy Warren, and Jo Leigh. After reading Perfect Timing, I'm going to try some of the upcoming time-travel Blazes.

What if the best sex you ever had was . . .

200 years ago?
After breaking off her engagement, Natalie Bowman finds herself in the 1800s being auctioned off as a sex slave! She's even more shocked when the highest bidder is Andrew Greenwood--the fiance she dumped.

80 years ago?
Uptight Sylvia Preston is terrified when she time travels to a twenties party. But when Tucker Green gets her dirty dancing, Sylvia wants to see just how uninhibited she can be--in bed with Tucker.

60 years ago?
When history student Betty Kroger is transported to WWII, it feels right--and even more right to show sailor John Stevens what sex is like twenty-first-century style!

Julie Kenner's "Those Were the Days" is the first story, and it's the 80 years ago one. I liked the main characters, although I thought an extra 10 or 15 pages would have helped strengthen the connection between them. The relationship moved a little too quickly; it would have been nice to see it drawn out a little more. I liked the way Tucker put two and two together, though. 4 out of 5.

"Pistols at Dawn" is the 200 years ago story, and it's by Nancy Warren. Usually I love Warren's stories. This one I liked. Again, I think it was a space issue. I didn't know the characters enough to feel much when they broke up, which made their reunion less powerful than it could have been. I did enjoy watching them reconnect, though. 3.5 out of 5.

Jo Leigh's "Time After Time" is the best story in the anthology. Betty and John's relationship unfolds naturally, and Leigh does a wonderful job of showing the immediate attraction and making it real. John's post-war issues seemed especially realistic. The love scenes were excellent, and I loved the final scene before the epilogue. 4.5 out of 5.

The ultimate rating for Perfect Timing: 4 out of 5.

Making Him Want It

I bought Renee Luke's Making Him Want It a little more than a week ago and read it in two sittings. Although the setup struck me as implausible, I enjoyed the book: 4 out of 5.

Successful literary agent Jamal James is tired of by-the-numbers booty calls. He wants something he's never had before, something that goes deep like the no-holds-barred fantasies spun by his star erotica writer, Kat Mason. The sistah's sexy stories, published in every men's magazine, have made him rich . . . and whetted his appetite for more. Someday, he hopes to meet the mystery woman--his perfect chocolate fantasy--in person and act out every one of her sizzling tales in the flesh. For now, he'll have to content himself with some time at the Night Kitty . . .

Kat can't believe she's in this club dressed to the nines in body-hugging lingerie. She may be the hottest writer on the planet, but deep down, she's as shy and straight-laced as they come. Yeah, and she's also out of material. It's time for her to do some research--hands-on research--in a place where no one knows her, where she can be anybody indulging in a night of complete carnal pleasure. And she's just set her sights on Jamal, the one man to take her there . . .

I'm sure you can tell by reading the summary above what I mean by implausible setup. And the erotica writer who needs inspiration is familiar, although in other books I've read, the woman is a sex columnist, talk-show host, etc. I was a little uncomfortable, too, by the way Kat has to have a few drinks before she's brave enough to approach Jamal and follow through on a sexual encounter.

However, I do understand being shy, and I thought it was interesting that Kat slips into a different persona to do things she wouldn't normally do. It's not that she imagines she is someone else--it's more that the persona allows her to do something she wanted but hadn't allowed herself to do.

Making Him Want It is part of Kensington's Aphrodisia line. I've bought a few of them since the line's debut, and they all include a warning on the back cover: "This is a REALLY HOT book." The "warning" is definitely accurate. The sex in this book is explicit, and there's plenty of it.

What makes the book good is the way the sex is integrated into the story. Skipping over these scenes would involve skipping over part of the plot and character development. I particularly liked the scenes where Jamal and Kat realize they love each other; they are especially well done.

I did have a few quibbles. First, Kat mentally refers to the size of Jamal's dick (for example: "Ten-Inches-of-Yummy") too often. Don't get me wrong--Jamal is yummy. I just thought this particular point was brought up so much that it overshadowed his other qualities. I didn't mind a few references, but at some point it crossed the line for me and seemed more like objectification.

Second, their relationship proceeds with Jamal discovering who Kat is, but she doesn't know him. This isn't bad in itself, but I had a problem with the way he reveals his identity. Since I'm about to give spoilers, you'll have to click and scroll over the white space below if you want to read it. Instead of privately telling Kat that he is also her agent, he decides to let her find out when she attends a publicity party as the guest of honor. Surely he would realize this is a bad way to surprise someone. I know this kind of revelation is more dramatic, but still . . .

Despite my quibbles, I enjoyed the book and found it a good read. I'm looking forward to Luke's next book.

Hot Ticket

I'm slowly, but surely, beginning to read again. I just finished sports-themed Hot Ticket: 4 out of 5.

Deirdre Martin's Same Rink, Next Year
Once a year, concierge Tierney O'Connor hooks up with the same hot goaltender at the hotel where she works. It's a perfectly uncomplicated arrangement--until a blizzard turns their annual one-nighter into a lost weekend steamy enough to melt the ice.

Julia London's Lucky Charm
Uninhibited radio host Kelly O'Shay loves to take on the egos of overpaid sports stars. Then she goes after hot-shot shortstop Parker Price, whose losing streak takes an unexpected turn when he goes head-to-head with his lovely nemesis--on the air and off.

Annette Blair's You Can't Steal First
Famous for his big numbers at bat, Juan Santiago's struck out only once in his life--with Quinn Murdock. Now the Red Sox star player is getting one more shot with the sexy sporting goods magnate. But first he has to prove he's not just playing the field.

Geri Buckley's Can't Catch This
Lindy Hamilton got her two-timing boyfriend right where it hurts--by stealing his pricey tickets to the Florida Moccasins football game. When she discovers that the really interesting action is in the stands, it proves to be the hottest season opener on record . . .

Lucky Charm is the first (and longest) story in the anthology, although it's listed second on the back cover. It gets the book off to a good start. I'm not usually a fan of the mouthy, tear-down talk-show host, but after Parker and Kelly's initial meeting, I enjoyed watching them spar. I've sometimes mentioned about previous stories how much I like it when a hero falls hard for the heroine. In this story, there's a nice role reversal. Yes, Parker falls for Kelly, but she falls hard too, in such a way that leads to a sweet moment at the end of the story. Lucky Charm receives 4 out of 5.

Same Rink, Next Year comes next, and I'm afraid it suffers in comparison to Lucky Charm. Where the latter is fast-paced, the former moves more slowly. While I liked Tierney and David, the set up for their story wasn't particularly believable. They spend all year looking forward to spending one night together? This didn't quite gel for me. There are some nice moments while they get to know each other: 3.5 out of 5.

You Can't Steal First ends up being the best book in the anthology--and, I admit, it's the biggest surprise to me. I didn't finish the last book I tried by Annette Blair. This story, though, I loved: 5 out of 5. When I look at the seperate elements of the story, I realize that I've seen some things before: two high-school sweethearts, cruelly parted by fate; a demanding parent; a hero who's not as much a womanizer as he's made out to be.

In this case, though, the story adds up to more than the sum of its parts. Quinn and Tiago are unforgettable characters, and as much as I liked the dialogue in Lucky Charm, I liked the banter and chemistry in You Can't Steal First even more. I just flipped through the story again to find a quote to post, but I don't want to spoil any of it. This is a very, very good story. I'm going to have to give Blair's single titles another try.

The final story in the book is Can't Catch This, and I'm afraid I can sum it up in three words: can't remember this. It's a nice enough story about a woman who meets and begins dating the cousin of a football player. The story isn't bad, but as I said, it's not especially memorable either: 3 out of 5.

Deep Breath

I've read and enjoyed Alison Kent's SG-5 series since reading The Bane Affair, so I was excited to read the latest book, Deep Breath. I wasn't disappointed: 4 out of 5.

When a guy stops at a roadside diner, he expects bad chili, not a hostage situation. But that's where SG-5 operative Harry van Zandt finds himself when an armed cartel blows through the door. They're not after him but the woman in the next booth, and their message is clear: she's got seventy-two hours to locate and deliver a valuable historical document or her brother dies. And if Harry wants to live, he'd better go with her.

Harry has his own undercover mission to finish, but with a trigger-happy band on their trails, it'll have to wait. Not that he minds helping Georgia McLain. The tough treasure hunter is as smart as she is sexy. She's also desperate. That artifact could finally clear her late father's name. She needs Harry if she's going to double-cross these thugs and keep it for herself, and her gratitude is the kind that could turn a guy's head. Too bad that document is also of vital importance to the Smithson Group, and Harry's top-secret mission is to get it before it falls into the wrong hands. Now, the beautiful, infuriating woman he's starting to fall for could lead him right to what he needs--and what she so desperately wants.

Out in the open road with a price on their heads, two unlikely lovers are caught in a game of secrets, lies, betrayals, and desire, where trust is risky and love is no time to catch your breath . . .

I've noticed that I tend to rave about the hero when I write about characters. I obviously pay a lot of attention to heroes, sometimes to the point of slighting heroines. In Deep Breath, I liked Harry--what's not to like about a man who's willing to help a woman in a dangerous situation? Who then finds himself conflicted about the possible contradictions of helping her and completing his mission?

But I also found myself noticing and appreciating Georgia's complexity. She's a confident woman with a tendency to apologize, and I love how this played out in her and Harry's first love scene. Her worries about how he'll view her during this scene seem very real for a woman in her mid-30s, who hasn't had especially positive experiences in the past.

I also thought Georgia's desire to clear her father's name is realistic. I liked the way this particular plot thread plays out, although I don't want to go into details to avoid spoilers. Let's just say I thought it was a realistic resolution.

The suspense thread in Deep Breath is a little stronger than the romance (I usually prefer the opposite), but the romance is satisfying nonetheless.

Undercover Lover

It took me a while to read Katherine D. Jones's Undercover Lover. I kept picking up the book, reading a few chapters, and putting it down. It picked up as I kept reading but ended up being an average read: 3 out of 5.

From Texas to Teaneck, someone is killing wealthy married couples and clearing their homes of luxury items. According to law enforcement, an undercover couple stationed in one of the targeted cities is their best shot at stopping the brutal crime spress. Enter Special Corruption Unit agents Roderick Radford and Helene Maupin . . .

Professionally, posing as husband and wife should be a breeze for Roderick and Helene. But personally, it's a different story. For the pair bring to their mission a history of repressed emotions and unconsummated passion. Helene has loved Roderick for years, but an unhappy past--and an intimate secret--have kept her from wholeheartedly pursuing him. Confused by Helene's mised signals, Roderick has kept his feelings in check, even taking on assignments that put distance between them. But now, as their clandestine kisses leave them yearning for more, and their work puts their lives at risk, they may discover that losing each other is one risk that isn't worth taking . . .

Let's start with what I like. I love cabin romances where the hero and heroine are forced to be together for an extended period of time. Here, the nature of their undercover work ensures they remain in close quarters. This results in some great tense moments where Rod and Helene have to face what they're feeling.

Rod is a wonderful beta hero who's devoted both to his mission and to Helene. He's considerate and incredibly patient--so much so that he edges toward too good to be true at times. I also like the cover.



My main problem was the heroine. The back cover blurb says Rod is "confused by Helene's mised signals." That made two of us. Helene is reluctant to enter a long-term relationship that will lead to commitment or marriage. Because of her family background, I understood why she felt this way. I didn't understand why she kept doing this push/pull thing with Rod. It wasn't fair to him, and she didn't seem to realize that often.

The pacing really varied. Helene and Rod would have a few conversations, then six weeks would go by. This gave the book a hurry up and wait kind of feeling, and was one reason I found it easy to set the book aside. The pace improved toward the end of the story when it was no longer making start/stop jumps.

Champagne Rules

I kept being drawn toward Champagne Rules by Susan Lyons during trips to the bookstore. After reading the review of it by Paperback Reader, I decided to give it a try. I'm glad I did, because the book is very good: 4 out of 5.

When Suzanne Brennan met Jaxon Navarre, she had yet to experience the ultimate in pleasure . . . but his tender initiation made her wildest dreams come true. Their brief, passionate affair had nothing at all to do with . . . forever. Four years later, the same rules apply. Keep it light. Keep it simple. And keep it sexy. Very, very sexy. In Jax's bed, Suzanne finds that desire goes deeper than she ever imagined and erotic pleasure has a whole new meaning. But when it comes right down to it, she's ready to break every rule in the book for him . . .

The story starts in Crete, where Suzanne and Jaxon meet on the beach and subsequently find a cave where they have sex. They don't exchange names or numbers, they just spend an afternoon together, then walk away.

Four years pass, but Jaxon and Suzanne haven't forgotten about each other. Suzanne finally decides to post an online ad to try and find her one-time lover, and Jaxon finds it because he has been searching the Web regularly to try and track her down.

What follows is a reunion that starts as a continuation of their previous affair, but which ultimately grows into something more. It's this process that I found most interesting. They start with what Suzanne calls the Champagne Rules--they'll meet on occasion and enjoy each other, just as you would enjoy the occasional champagne.

Jaxon is focused on his career and doesn't think he has time for a real relationship. Suzanne wants to get married and have a steady home life, and doesn't think she can have one with her fantasy man. But their feelings for each other soon overcome their plans.

I like the characters--Suzanne and Jaxon struck me as very real people. At times I thought there was a little too much interaction with the friends. Suzanne's circle of friends helped distinguish her as a person, but they also dominated the story at times. Still, I enjoyed Champagne Rules and would definitely recommend it. I plan to pick up Lyons's next story.

TBR Challenge: Secrets of a Summer Night

I'm pleased to say that I've already completed this month's TBR challenge.

Title
Secrets of a Summer Night

Four young ladies enter London society with one common goal: they must use their
feminine wit and wiles to catch a husband. So a daring husband-hunting scheme is born.

Annabelle Peyton, determined to save her family from disaster, decides to use her beauty and wit to tempt a suitable nobleman into making an offer of marriage. But Annabelle's most intriguing--and persistent--admirer, wealthy, powerful Simon Hunt, has made it clear that while he will introduce her to irresistable pleasure he will not offer marriage. Annabelle is determined to resist his unthinkable proposition . . . but it is impossible in the face of such skilled seduction.

Her friends, looking to help, conspire to entire a more suitable gentleman to offer for Annabelle, for only then will she be safe from Simon--and her own longings. But on one summer night, Annabelle succumbs to Simon's passionate embrace and tempting kisses . . . and she discovers that love is the most dangerous game of all.

Author
Lisa Kleypas

Year Published
2004

Why did you get this book?
I like Lisa Kleypas, so I ordered this last year when she did a signing through Turn the Page bookstore.

Do you like the cover?
It's OK. Not bad, but not especially memorable either.

Did you enjoy the book?
Yes, although my feelings about the book are similar to what I thought about the cover. It's a good book, but isn't quite great. I like both Annabelle and Simon, but Annabelle spends a lot of time reminiscing in the later part of the story, and this slowed down the pace a bit. I think I would have liked it more had these scenes been shown instead of remembered.

I enjoyed the interaction between Simon and Annabelle, especially when they are at Lord Westcliff's estate. Rating: 4 out of 5.

Was the author new to you and would you read something by this author again?
Not new to me, and I've ordered the next one in the series, It Happened One Autumn.

Are you keeping it or passing it on?
It's autographed, so I'm definitely keeping it.

Playing Easy to Get

I was in a chat room, minding my own business, when Nicole cornered me and said I needed to read the anthology Playing Hard to Get. (OK, she didn't really corner me; she just mentioned it.) So I read the book this week and would describe it as pretty average: 3.5 out of 5.

From New York Times bestselling author Sherrilyn Kenyon comes "Turn Up the Heat,'' the story of an average woman who wins the vacation of a lifetime--a trip to Sex Camp. But what Allison George gets is a race for her life with none other than an ex-Mafia hit man who is now being sought by his prior employer. Vince Cappelleti knew the island was a risky proposition, but he'd run out of options. Now the only thing he wants in his sights is Allison, but in order to have a future with her, he must first deal with his past.

Jaid Black's sizzling hot "Hunter's Oath" sends grief-striken Sofia Rowley to the Arctic Circle, where her brother, a U.S. Army officer, was lost in a deadly helicopter crash. She's about to take a shocking journey into a secret underground world where Viking bride-hunters auction off their bounty . . . and where a strapping warrior vows to make this beautiful Outsider his.

Possession and passion entwine in Kresley Cole's sultry story, "The Warlord Wants Forever." Nikolai Wroth, a ruthless vampire warlord, searches for his Bride--the one woman who can render him truly alive. When his fevered chase leads to Myst the Coveted, a Valkyrie seductress who craves only freedom, a battle of domination and desire begins. Will the power of her seductive wiles overcome his strength? Or will she surrender and experience the deliciously agonizing lust that Nikolai has endured waiting for his one and only Bride?

"Turn Up the Heat" starts with an appealing fantasy--leaving an oppressive place of work to have your fantasies fulfilled on a private island. But the characters don't quite engage me. The story is just too short to create a solid connection with Allison and Vince. The pacing was good, and I wanted to know what would happen, but the story didn't quite cross the line from good to great: 3 out of 5.

I had a similar issue with the length of "Hunter's Oath." I was definitely intrigued by the story, although the Viking society is ruled by a bit too much testosterone. There's also a woman I wanted to bash over the head. (You'll know the part I mean when you read it.) There is a clash of ideologies as well. I thought it was resolved a bit too easily with only one conversation. Again, this is where another 20 pages would have helped: 3 out of 5.

It probably won't surprise you to know that the longest story is the one I enjoyed most. This is the first time I've read anything by Kresley Cole, and the world she creates in "The Warlord Wants Forever" is a compelling one. Neither Myst nor Nikolai are perfect characters, which is something I appreciate. In this case, I found my sympathy going back and forth between them: 4 out of 5.

The Givenchy Code

My ongoing unofficial TBR challenge is to read books I started but hadn't finished. Julie Kenner's The Givenchy Code is a book I started last year, then set aside.

As if a recent breakup, scrounging for rent money, and lusting after designer shoes weren't enough to make graduate student Melanie Prescott's life challenging, suddenly she's practically living The Da Vinci Code. A mysterious stranger is sending obscure codes and clues her way and she soon discovers she had to solve them in order to stay alive. With stakes like that, her dissertation on "the derivation and primary characteristics of codes and ciphers used by prevailing nations during wartime" is looking a little less important than it was yesterday. Right now she's just worrying about living to see tomorrow. The only bright spot in the whole freakish nightmare is Matthew Stryker, the six-foot tall, dark, and handsome stranger who's determined to protect her. Well, that and the millions of dollars that will be her reward if she survives this deadly game. And she'd better survive. Because that's a heck of a lot of money to be able to spend on shoes and handbags and sunglasses and
dresses, and, well, it's hard to be fashionable when you're dead.

I picked this one up again after reading Rosario's review, and I'm glad I did: 4 out of 5.

I started and set aside this book around the time Paperback Reader reviewed the book. Here's a quote from that review: "Problem is, the first thirty pages are so weighed down with designer-name dropping that it's tempting to put the book aside. However, once the initial onslaught of labels ends, the book takes off in a steady rhythm with increasing danger."

The first part of the quote is exactly what happened. I read the first thirty pages and grew frustrated with the whole name-dropping thing. I must also confess that I'm growing tired of shoe-obsessed heroines. When shopping consumes Melanie (Mel) through the first section, I gave up. After reading Rosario's review, I picked up the book again, and discovered that I had quit one chapter before the real action begins. After that, we start to see what Melanie is made of, and I came to like her much more than I had in the beginning.

The clues are quite well done. I certainly couldn't have deciphered them, but I didn't feel cheated or alienated from the story because of it. I simply enjoyed following Mel and Stryker on their journey. We get less of Stryker's point of view, but I liked him very much and thought he was terrific.

So the end result was that I liked the book, although I'm still wondering why someone would pay that much to play this "game." And I'm glad the celebratory shopping wasn't described in great detail. I'll probably get the next one in the series, The Manolo Matrix.

Shadow Touch

I've been looking forward to Marjorie M. Liu's Shadow Touch for a while, and I had a chance to read it. I wasn't disappointed.

Elena Baxter can work miracles with her hands. She can coax bones to knit, flesh to heal. She can mend the mind. She has been doing such work for almost all of her twenty-eight years. That is why she will be taken.

The media called it a rampage of terror, the recent murders. But fighting crime is why Artur Loginov joined Dirk & Steele. The international detective agency specializes in the impossible, and their creed is simple: Help those in need, no matter how difficult, and no matter what, keep the secret safe. For the agency helps its employees. Dirk & Steele gave the Russian emigre purpose, protection, community . . . and refuge from his past, for who can trust a man who can start a fire with his mind, or shape-shift, or read others' thoughts as easily as drawing breath? For his similar talent, Artur will be taken.

Into the darkness Elena and Artur will be drawn, into the clutches of evil. Cornered, isolated, caged, they will fight for their very souls. But salvation awaits. It exists in a form least expected: a dream of a face, a brush of a mind, the hind of a kiss, and finally, at long last . . . a shadow touch.

After reading Tiger Eye, I knew I enjoyed Liu's writing. That book is certainly no light tale. Nevertheless, I confess that I was surprised by how dark Shadow Touch is. Artur and Elena are abducted early in the story and they remain imprisoned for more than 100 pages. The two meet in a corridor and develop an instant connection, a connection that becomes the basis for a compelling romance.

The first section of the book is completely riveting, since it's clear that the abductors will stop at nothing to achieve their ends. The most pressing question is whether Elena and Artur will escape. I read this part in one evening, then raced home from work the next day to finish it. The next part of the story shows Artur and Elena on a quest.

Characterization is the best part of the book. The world of Dirk & Steele is intriguing, and the adventure is gripping, but without strong characters, the story wouldn't be as strong as it is. Elena and Artur are complex people I liked, rooted for, and wanted to know more about.

I especially enjoyed the ending. I don't want to give it away, so I won't go into detail, but a certain possibility is suggested early in the story, and I was fascinated when it played out in just that way. I hope this is sufficiently vague, but you'll understand when you read it.

I did wish there had been more sex, but the structure of the story didn't allow for it. There is still physical and emotional connection.

At any rate, I enjoyed the book and definitely recommend it: 4 out of 5. I can't wait until the next installment.

TBR Challenge: Jacob's Faith

My personal TBR challenge in November has been to read my review books and other books I started but hadn't finished. I picked up Jacob's Faith by Lora Leigh several times this month and finished it yesterday: 3.5 out of 5.

1. Title/Author
Jacob's Faith by Lora Leigh.

2. Brief Synopsis
I'm too tired to write one. This is from the back cover.

They are a new breed, a new race. Engineered rather than born, trained rather than raised, and their unique genetics have created more than one surprise . . .

Jacob left Faith six years before, unaware that the mark he left on her also left her in an agony of sexual heat that never dimmed. Now Jacob and Faith are together again, but surprises lurk around every corner and dangers as dark and deadly as their very creation surround them in more ways than one.

3. Copyright Year
2003.

4. Indicate if you liked or disliked it?
I had a hard time getting into it; I don't know how many times I picked it up, read a chapter or two, and put it back down. Part of that is probably the fact that I've been a bit distracted this month.

Still, I think part of it is the story itself. Jacob and Faith cover the same territory for a lot of the middle part of the book. He doesn't believe he can love, while she demands it, they have sex, repeat. This section is where I kept putting the book down. It improves toward the end of the story.

In the end, though, I liked it enough to look for the next book in the series (see number 8 below).

5. Was the book designated a DIK or Five Heart book at any of the review sites?
Not sure.

6. Do you agree or disagree with the reviewers?
Not applicable.

7. Is this a new author for you?
No. I read her short story in Hot Spell.

8. Would you read more by this author?
Yes. The epilogue hooked me, even as I recognized it as a hook into the next book. In this case, it worked.

TBR Challenge: The Marine's Kiss

My informal TBR challenge for November is to read books I started but set aside before finishing. So I revisited The Marine's Kiss, which I bought and started on a recent trip and set aside when I returned home. It wasn't the book's fault that I didn't finish; I didn't unpack immediately and ended up getting distracted by other books. I'm glad I came back to it; it's a nice story: 4 out of 5.

1. Title/Author
The Marine's Kiss by Shirley Jump.

2. Brief Synopsis
Jenny is surprised when her ex-boyfriend, Nate, returns home and agrees to help in her elementary school classroom. What she doesn't know is that the injury that brought him home also means he must leave the Marines, so he's in town for good.

3. Copyright Year
2005.

4. Indicate if you liked or disliked it?
I liked the story. There are fun moments in the classroom and great chemistry between Nate and Jenny. It's a light read. The conflict is interesting: she wants someone who will stay and he hasn't been content in the past to stay in one place. I did think the resolution was a little rushed. Jenny kept saying no to a relationship and then she said yes. It wasn't clear what had changed to make her take the risk. Still, The Marine's Kiss was a cute book.

5. Was the book designated a DIK or Five Heart book at any of the review sites?
I didn't check.

6. Do you agree or disagree with the reviewers?
Not applicable.

7. Is this a new author for you?
Yes.

8. Would you read more by this author?
Yes.

Hot Spell

I think this book has one of the coolest covers of the year.



That, in combination with a desire to read books by two of the authors in this anthology, made me snatch it up when I saw it in the store. I'm pleased to say that it was well worth the money spent: 4.5 out of 5.

Emma Holly's "The Countess's Pleasure" is the first story in the book. I actually read it last. Based on comments on other blogs about Holly's books, I wasn't sure what to expect or what I would think. People seem to really like or really dislike her work. I ended up really liking "The Countess's Pleasure."

A countess named Georgiana goes to a sex club of sorts where she sees a man she finds appealing. He turns out to be an indentured servant who is working off a family debt. Georgiana offers him money for a night of pleasure. Although Iyan has not sold his services before, he agrees.

As I mentioned, I wasn't sure what to expect from Holly's story, and I was a little surprised that the hero was introduced as a stage performer. Not surprised enough to stop reading, though. Once I started this story, I read it in one sitting. The characters are very vivid and interesting. This story reminded me of Robin Schone's The Lady's Tutor. It isn't an exact parallel, but the initial approach of the heroine and the intense sexuality are similar. This was a terrific story, especially for its length: 4.5 out of 5.

The second story is "The Breed Next Door," by Lora Leigh. Tarek is a Breed, a race that was created rather than born. He has been attracted to his neighbor, Lyra, since moving in. When a man breaks into Lyra's house and she is forced to stay with Tarek, Tarek learns that she is his mate.

I was intrigued by this story and the Breed world. I got a kick out of Tarek's reaction when he was told that Lyra was his mate. The length of the story is its main drawback; it could have used another 15 or so pages so that the shift from lust to love wasn't so quick. I also wanted to see more about how Lyra and Tarek would merge their lives when outside the bedroom. Still, it's a solid novella: 4 out of 5.

"Falling for Anthony" by Meljean Brook is the third and longest story. Spoilers ahead (click and scroll over the white space if you want to read them): When Michael leaves England and is attacked and killed by a strange creature, he is given a choice--die or become a guardian. He becomes a guardian and is soon assigned to a task involving the woman he loves.

I was impressed with the complexity of the world Brook creates in so few pages. It's fairly complex. My summary doesn't begin to explain it, and it's really better to read it for yourself. I did have a quibble with the heroine. I thought her reaction to learning of her father's infidelity was extreme. I don't require a heroine to be perfect for me to like her, but I couldn't relate to this particular element. However, I like how Emily accepts her past and doesn't beat herself up over it. As for the hero, Anthony is just beautiful. The love scenes are hot and compelling. "Falling for Anthony": 4.5 out of 5.

Completing this collection is "The Blood Kiss," by Shiloh Walker. When his brother is kidnapped by a vampire leader, Roman retaliates by saving his brother and taking the vampire's daughter, Julianna. While Julianna has no particular affection for her father, she doesn't appreciate being kidnapped after she helps Roman rescue his brother.

I've read one other book by Walker, Her Best Friend's Lover, which I enjoyed, but I liked this one even more. The attraction between Julianna and Roman was immediate and believable, and the conflicts were interesting. I liked one of the twists at the end, when one character ends up being different than he/she appeared earlier in the story.

I'm very glad I bought Hot Spell. Now I have some research to do about the authors' upcoming and/or connecting books.

Beyond the Dark

I picked up this anthology primarily because I like Evelyn Vaughn, but it also sounded like an interesting read for Halloween. It ended up being one of those anthologies where all of the stories would have been better if they'd been longer. Overall, Beyond the Dark was a 3.5 out of 5.

"Forever Mine" by Linda Winstead Jones is the first story in the book. I loved the idea behind this story. Miranda, the heroine, accidentally runs over and kills an ex-boyfriend who has been stalking her. Now he's a ghost, and he's still stalking her, saying that she is his forever. So Miranda calls a psychic to see if he can help her get rid of the ghost.

As I said, I loved the set up, but this story definitely needed to be longer. There's a lot to cover--the ghost, the hero and heroine's first meeting, the investigation, the flashback to previous lives (since this is stated on the back cover, it's not a spoiler). With so much going on, the romance seems a little rushed. Even 30 more pages would have helped. The resolution seemed a little anticlimactic as well. This story is 3 out of 5.

Evelyn Vaughn's story, "Haunt Me," is the second and best one of the anthology. It's also the longest, which might be one reason I liked it. One thing I like about Vaughn's books is that she's not afraid to try something different with her stories. "Haunt Me" has plenty of different going on. For one thing, the hero has been in a car accident and is lying comatose for most of the story. This scenario brought tears to my eyes several times. Second, one of the villains is a creature that feeds off the pain and anger of others.

Despite the obvious challenges of these scenarios, I liked the story. There is a nice balance of flashbacks and current action, and we do get to see the hero and heroine interact with each other despite the coma. I was hoping for more happiness at the end to offset the hero's coma for most of the story, but I still liked it: 4 out of 5.

The third novella is "Soul of the Wolf" by Karen Whiddon. It's the story of a woman who is investigating the death of an ex-boyfriend. The boyfriend's cousin, an FBI agent, joins the investigation and finds himself falling for the woman his cousin loved.

I liked this set up for the story, although I was taken aback by the fact that the heroine's breakup with the ex-boyfriend occurred only a month before. This made it seem a little too soon for her to become involved with someone else. The resolution to the suspense aspect of the story seems a little abrupt, as well. The couple falls in love quickly, which isn't surprising in a novella, but it's not entirely satisfying. As with the first story, this novella could have used another 30 pages. I may try one of her full-length books to see what I think.

The Murder of Lil Miss

The Murder of Lil Miss chronicles the murder of Lisa Marie Kimmell and the subsequent investigation and trial. The author is Lisa's mother, Sheila Kimmell. I found it to be an exceptionally well-written book that offered tremendous insight about how one person's death affected an entire family: 4.5 out of 5.

Regular visitors of my blog will not be surprised to hear that this case was profiled on Unsolved Mysteries. That's how I learned about it, and it's one of the cases that really stuck with me. I always wondered if it would be solved. It was solved, but it took 16 years to get there.

Lisa disappeared during a road trip. Her car had personalized license plates that read "Lil Miss," and people searched for Lisa and her car for a week. Lisa was found murdered eight days after she disappeared. The subsequent investigation was frustrating for family members and investigators. Leads didn't pan out, and politics plagued the investigation.

The breakthrough occurred when a DNA match was made and a suspect, Dale Wayne Eaton, was identified. Lisa's car was found buried on Eaton's property. Eaton was eventually found guilty and received a death sentence.

I liked getting a more complete story about what happened and what the family went through. No family should suffer like that, and this book showed the Kimmells to be strong and admirable people.

TBR Challenge: Go Fetch

I decided the TBR challenge (paranormal romance this month) offered the perfect opportunity to read the second book in Shelly Laurenston's werewolf series. The first is Pack Challenge, which I really enjoyed. Go Fetch was also wonderful: 4 out of 5.

1. Title/Author
Go Fetch by Shelly Laurenston.

2. Brief Synopsis
Conall has wanted Miki ever since he first saw her, but she's continually given him the brush off. When she is attacked by unknown people, Conall becomes more protective than ever, even though Miki can take care of herself. She finds herself liking to have him around, however.

3. Copyright Year
2004.

4. Indicate if you liked or disliked it?
I definitely liked it for many of the same reasons I liked the previous book. Miki is not a heroine who says she can take care of herself and then immediately gets into danger and must be rescued. She is tough and strong. Conall is a great character as well. They are definitely well matched.

I didn't like the end when everyone had to give their opinion about the situation (I'm trying to be vague to avoid spoilers), but other than that, I enjoyed it a lot. I'm interested in the third book of the series, so I'll have to get that sometime. Wish it would come out in print.

5. Was the book designated a DIK or Five Heart book at any of the review sites?
Not sure.

6. Do you agree or disagree with the reviewers?
Not applicable.

7. Is this a new author for you?
No.

8. Would you read more by this author?
Definitely. I just have to decide what.