Innocent in Death

It's no secret that I'm a fan of the In Death series. When I heard that Innocent in Death featured a significant Eve/Roarke conflict, I wondered what it would entail and how I would like the book.

The death of history teacher Craig Foster devastated his young wife, who'd sent him off to work that morning with a lovingly packed lunch. It shocked the colleagues at the Upper West Side private school. And as for the ten-year-old girls who found him in his classroom in a pool of bodily fluids, they may have been traumatized for life.

Lieutenant Eve Dallas, of course, is more hardened to murder cases. And this is clearly a murder case. That lovingly packed lunch was tainted with deadly ricin. And Mr. Foster's colleagues, shocked as they may be, have some shocking secrets of their own. It's Eve's job to get a feel for all the potential suspects, and find out why someone would have done this to a man who seemed so inoffensive, so pleasant . . . so innocent.

Now Magdalena Percell--there's someone Eve can picture as a murder victim. Possibly at Eve's own hands. The slinky blonde--and old flame of her billionaire husband, Roarke, from his days on the wrong side of the law--has turned up in New York, and she's anything but innocent. Unfortunately, Roarke seems blind to Magdalena's manipulation, but not to her shapely figure and flirtacious ways. And he insists that the occasional lunch or business meeting with her is nothing to worry about . . . and none of Eve's business. Eve's so unnerved by the situation that she finds it hard to focus on the Foster case. Still, she'll have to put aside her anger, jealousy, and heartbreak, for a while at least--because another man has just turned up dead, and the case is taking some strange turns and hitting some frustrating dead ends.

Eve knows all too well that innocence can be a facade. Keeping that in mind may help her solve this case at last. But it may also tear apart her marriage.

Innocent in Death is a strong entry in the series: 4 out of 5. I read the In Death books more to follow the relationships, and the way the Magdalena plot plays out is fascinating to watch. Eve's reaction to Maggie's appearance is different from anything we've seen in past books--justifiably so, since it's clear she's different from any of Roarke's other former lovers. Now I'd love to see Roarke react to one of Eve's formers . . . someone who isn't Webster. :)

Eve does something at the end that surprised me a bit, but seemed more in character the second time I read it.

Although I read the In Death books to follow the characters, I enjoy the mystery as well. This one is quite good, and different from anything we've seen in past books. I enjoyed it, I think partly because of its chilling moments. To me, it has even more impact when you listen to the audiobook.

Busy . . .

I'll be announcing the contest winner in the next week or so. In the meantime, I'm a little busy with this.



It's very good so far.

Born in Death

Born in Death is the latest installment in J.D. Robb's In Death series. This is one series I continue to enjoy: 4.5 out of 5.

Technology has advanced in 2060 New York City, but childbirth has been the same since the beginning of time. And despite the brutal double homicide on Lieutenant Eve Dallas's caseload, she has to be there for her pregnant friend Mavis, even if it means throwing the dreaded baby shower . . .

But Mavis needs an even bigger favor how. Tandy Willowby, one of the moms-to-be in her birthing class, has gone missing, just days before her due date--not even showing up at the shower at Eve and Roarke's place that she'd been looking forward to so much. A recent emigrant from London, Tandy has few friends in New York, and no family. When Eve enters Tandy's apartment and finds Mavis's shower gift wrapped and ready on the table--and Tandy's packed hospital bag still on the floor--her spine starts tingling.

Normally, this would be turned over to Missing Persons. Eve has more than enough on her plate trying to find out who murdered Natalie Copperfield and her fiance, both employed at a prestigious accounting firm. But Mavis wants no one but Eve on the case--and Eve can't say no. She'll have to track Tandy down while tracing the deals and double-crosses hidden in some of the city's richest and most secretive citizens, in a race against a particularly vicious killer. Luckily, she has her multimillionaire husband Roarke's expertise to help with the numbers crunching. But as he mines for the crucial data that will break the case wide open, Eve faces an all-too-real danger in the flesh-and-blood world.

If you follow this series, you probably know that a long-awaited event occurs in this book, one suggested by the title. It's been a long wait. While the In Death books usually come out every six months, it's been almost a year since the previous book. I was beginning to feel withdrawl symptoms.

I love the beginning of the story, where Eve's discomfort with the concept of babies and childbirth is clear. There are a lot of nice character moments in this book, and they're really the reason I love this series so much.

The mystery is nice, too. I thought it was interesting and well-crafted, a nice change from the deranged serial killers that have been in some of Robb's previous books. I also liked the way the second mystery, Tandy's disappearance, played out.

I'd heard that Roarke wasn't in this story as much, but I didn't notice that he was off-stage (I suppose that should be off-page) as much as I'd expected. He is very much a part of this book.

I'm excited to read the next book! I can only hope it isn't as long a wait.

Good News

I love the J.D. Robb audiobooks. I have all the unabridged ones available and listen to them all the time in the car. Unfortunately, many of the books aren't available as unabridged audiobooks. After listening to Memory in Death for about the fifth time, I e-mailed Brilliance Audio (the company that records the other In Deaths) and asked if they planned to do unabridged versions of Rapture in Death through Betrayal in Death.

The answer? Yes. Starting in September, they'll release one unabridged a month, beginning with Rapture in Death (the fourth book). This makes me very, very happy. I will finally have some new audios to enjoy!

Now, if I could only convince them to do audiobooks for the Kelley Armstrong books after Bitten . . .

Memory in Death

I received my autographed copy of Memory in Death yesterday and read it all in one night. I'm now listening to the audiobook: 4.5 out of 5.

Eve Dallas is one tough cop. She can deal with a holiday reveler in a red suit, who plunges thirty-seven stories and gives new meaning to the term "sidewalk Santa." She can take on purse snatchers, drug dealers, and worse. But when Trudy Lombard--a seemingly ordinary middle-aged lady--shows up at the station, it's all Eve can do to hold it together. Instantly, she is plunged back to the days when she was a vulnerable, traumatized young girl--and trapped in foster care with the twisted woman who now sits smiling in front of her.

Trudy claims she came all the way to New York just to see how Eve was doing. But Eve's fiercely protective husband, Roarke, suspects otherwise--and his suspicion proves correct when Trudy, rebuffed by Eve, shows up at his office, demanding money in exchange for keeping the ugly details of Eve's childhood a secret. Using every ounce of willpower he has to restrain himself, he shows her the door--and makes it clear that she'd be wise to get out of the city and never bother them again.

Eve and Roarke will be satisfied if Trudy Lombard just heads back to Texas. Somebody else, though, wants her dead--and just a few days later, she's found on the floor of her hotel room, a mess of faded bruises and fresh blood. A cop to the core, Eve is determined to solve the case, if only for the sake of Trudy's bereaved son. Unfortunately, Eve was not the only one who suffered at this woman's hands--and she and Roarke will follow a circuitous and dangerous path to find out who turned the victimizer into a victim.

There have been more than 20 installments of the In Death series, and I continue to find the characters compelling. Memory in Death is perhaps more character-based than many, since it offers a new glimpse into Eve's troubled past. Eve's time in Trudy's home may have been short, but it had an obvious effect on the nine-year-old Eve.

Trudy herself is quite a piece of work. Although Eve wasn't subject to severe beatings in Trudy's home, the "care" she provided was far from pleasant. Like Eve, I had trouble having much sympathy for Trudy when she became a victim, and I thought that was an interesting aspect of the book.

There are a number of memorable moments: preparing for the annual Christmas party, the gift exchange. The references to past cases are interesting, and they make the story even more rich. I also like the new aspects of Eve's nightmares. The fact that they are evolving makes them realistic and intriguing. The Christmas tree image, for instance, is a disturbing one. I'll leave it at that.

The scene where Trudy visits Roarke in his office is one of the most memorable of the series for me. It's exceptionally well written, and you can see and feel Roarke's anger about what this woman did to his wife. I can't help but love seeing the dangerous side of Roarke as he protects the woman he loves.

Speaking of this scene, it's beautifully done in the audiobook, read by Susan Ericksen. I'm only on tape 3 of 8, but I can tell this will be one of my favorites. Ericksen's portrayals shine even more than usual, and if you're a fan of the series, I encourage you to listen to it if you can, even if you have to check it out of the library.

Origin in Death

I consider myself to be a fan of J.D. Robb's In Death series. I've enjoyed all of the books to varying degrees. Today I finished listening to Origin in Death, and I think it's one of the stronger books in the series. It's certainly the strongest book in the past few years: 5 out of 5.

NYPSD lieutenant Eve Dallas discovers a nearly spotless record when she investigates the past of Dr. Wilfred Icove. Then, she finds data disks at his home that are not only password-protected, but encoded. Once deciphered, they hint at medical experiments that may have led more than one person to want him dead.

The In Death books are futuristic, but Origin in Death feels more futuristic than many installments of the series. I was fascinated by the multilayered mystery. Every time I thought I had figured things out, the situation twists. I liked the fact that this story is very different from the one in the other books.

While I enjoy the In Death mysteries, I read the series primarily for the interaction of the characters. If that's the case for you, you'll love this book. There are several terrific moments with the characters. One in particular, where Eve mimics an Irish accent, is particularly funny when listening to it. This story is full of amusing and memorable moments. In fact, I like the book so much, I am listening to it again.

Here's a story that might amuse you. I received the audiobook first (in fact, I'm still waiting for the hardcover), so I've been listening to the book to and from work and in the evenings. Yesterday, I had to drive downtown for work, and I pulled up to a parking garage. The audiobook was playing fairly loud, but since Roarke wasn't in this particular scene (and therefore, he wouldn't be getting it on with Eve right then), I figured I would be fine leaving the audio on. So, the guy asked for $5, and as I dug in my wallet, with the window rolled down, Mavis said, "Check out these t*ts!" Then I was digging in my wallet and fumbling to lower the volume. Oy!

Top Five Humorous Moments

When it comes to romance novels, I prefer drama to comedy. A quick scan of my bookshelves reveals my preference for books that are more dark than light. Still, I enjoy humor as well; here are my five favorite humorous scenes. Spoilers abound, so consider yourself warned.

Living Dead in Dallas by Charlaine Harris
Sookie Stackhouse doesn't usually attend orgies, but she accepts an invitation to one so she can use her telepathy to find out who killed a local man. Unfortunately, her boyfriend, Bill, is out of town, so he can't go with her. She turns to Bill's boss, Eric, for help. She wants him to go with her and protect her if need be. Since the man who was killed was gay, Sookie asks Eric if he can "pretend to be gay." He comes to her house wearing an interesting outfit.

Eric had been wearing a long trench coat. Now he threw it off dramatically, and I could only stand and stare. Normally, Eric was a blue-jeans-and-T-shirt kind of guy. Tonight, he wore a pink tank top and lycra leggings. I don't know where he got them; I didn't know any company made Lycra leggings in Men's X-tra Large Tall. They were pink and aqua, like the swirls down the sides of Jason's truck.

"Wow," I said, since it was all I could think of to say. "Wow. That's some outfit." When you've got a big guy wearing Lycra it doesn't leave a whole lot to the imagination. I resisted the temptation to ask Eric to turn around.

I get such a kick out of Eric. And I can't help loving a man who will wear Lycra when you need him to.

Lord of Scoundrels by Loretta Chase
When readers think about funny stories, I bet Lord of Scoundrels isn't often one that comes to mind. It's got drama, passion, and angst, but I don't think it's remembered for its comedy. But I love the subtle humor that threads throughout the book. Dain finds it hard to believe that anyone could find him physically attractive, so here's what he decides about his wife, Jessica.

With the world securely in order, Dain was able to devote the leisurely bath time to editing his mental dictionary. He removed his wife from the general category labeled "Females" and gave her a section of her own. He made a note that she didn't find him revolting, and proposed several explanations: (a) bad eyesight and faulty hearing, (b) a defect in a portion of her otherwise sound intellect, (c) an inherited Trent eccentricity, or (d) an act of God. Since the Almighty had not done him a single act of kindness in at least twenty-five years, Dain thought it was about bloody time, but he thanked his Heavenly Father all the same, and promised to be as good as he was capable of being.

There are many moments like this, moments of understated humor that I love.

Brighter Than the Sun by Julia Quinn
This may be one of my favorite comedies. Charles's propensity to make lists is hilarious. I also loved the scene where Eleanor goes to Charles, wanting to consummate their marriage.

She shrugged off the peignoir.

"Oh, God," he croaked. His eyes rolled heavenward. "I'm being tested. That's it, isn't it? I'm being tested."

"Charles?"

"Put that back on," he said frantically, grabbing the peignoir off the floor. It was still warm from her skin. He dropped it and reached for a woolen blanket. "No, better yet, put this on."

* * * * *

"Don't you want me?" she whispered. "Even a little bit? You did last week, but I wasn't dressed like this, and--"

"Are you mad?" he fairly shouted. "I want you so much I'm liable to perish on the spot. So cover yourself up, because otherwise you're going to kill me."

Ellie planted her hands on her hips, growing just a little irritated with the direction of the conversation.

* * * * *

"Are you sure?"

She nodded.

For a split second he didn't move. Then he came at her with a force that knocked the breath clear out of her. One minute Ellie was standing, and the next she was on her back, on the bed, with Charles on top of her.

Once Charles realizes what Ellie wants, he doesn't waste time. ;)

Boy Meets Girl by Meg Cabot
This is the first of Cabot's books I read, and I laughed all the way through it. There are so many funny scenes, but I love the one during Kate's deposition, when her boss and her boss's fiance try to shift blame onto her.

SH [Mitch's brother and Kate's boss's fiance]: Can't you see what she's doing? This young woman has a grudge against her employer because Ms. Jenkins had to reprimand her yesterday for wearing a skirt of an inappropriate length to the office, and she's just trying to--

JV [Attorney]: Is that true, Ms. Mackenzie?

KM [Kate]: Well. Yes, about the skirt. I mean, Amy issued me a warning letter about it.

MH [Mitch, the man Kate is dating]: That skirt you had on yesterday? That black suede one you wore to the restaurant?

KM: Um. Yes.

MH: I liked that skirt. What was wrong with that skirt?

Vengeance in Death by J.D. Robb
There are so many humorous moments in the In Death series that I may end up doing a separate list. However, I love seeing how people react to the unusual pairing of the cop (Eve) and former criminal (Roarke).

"I didn't properly introduce you to my wife, Brian. This is Eve. Lieutenant Eve Dallas, New York City Police and Security."

Brian choked on his whiskey, thumped his chest to help the air into his lungs. His eyes watered. "A cop? You married a bloody cop?"

"I married a bloody criminal," Eve muttered, "but nobody ever thinks of that."

"I do, darling." Amused, Roarke kissed her hand. "Constantly."

What are your favorite humorous moments?

Alyssa

Top Five Declarations of Love

It's been a while since my last top-five list. So, without further ado, here are my top-five declarations of love, in no particular order. Spoilers are ahead, so consider yourself warned.

Naked in Death by J.D. Robb
I couldn't help but start with Roarke, who falls in love with the brusque and tough Eve Dallas. He is more open than she to falling in love, and he tells her he loves her while they are working on a case.

Roarke had to force himself not to snatch her up as she swept through the hallowed Senate halls. Members of the media were already leaping toward her, but she cut through them as if they weren't there.

"I like your style, Lieutenant Dallas," he said when they'd fought their way to the car. "I like it a lot. And by the way, I don't think I'm in love with you anymore. I know I am."

Eve tells Roarke she loves him in the next book in the series, Glory in Death.

Over the Edge by Suzanne Brockmann
Sam Starrett and Alyssa Locke have a troubled relationship. When they are together, they often argue, and they haven't been able to express how they really feel. Sam is the first to share what he feels, and I love the way he does it. It's so perfectly Sam.

She looked at him. "Are we actually talking about the weather?"

"Yes," he said. "Yes, we are. I thought I'd start with the fucking weather, maybe touch on what you've been up to the past six months, and, shit, work my way up to the conversation I just had with Jules over lunch. See, I had it all figured out that we'd talk for a while, and then I'd bring up your partner. And I'd tell you that I got a chance to talk to him a little and he's an okay guy, and you'd be like, 'Jules and you? Wow, Roger, there's a friendship I never dreamed would happen in a million years.'"

Alyssa had to laugh at his imitation of her. It was pretty accurate, down to her habit of using his given name.

"And I'd say," he continued, "kind of casually, that Jules and I actually have a whole hell of a lot in common because, you know, we're, um . . ." He took a deep breath. "See, we're both in love with you."

Dreaming of You by Lisa Kleypas
Many readers say that this story is their favorite of Kleypas's books. I change my mind frequently, but I'd definitely say it's in the top three. Derek loves Sara desperately, but he doesn't tell her so, even after they are married. Then his club burns to the ground and he believes Sara is dead. When he sees that she's alive, everything changes.

"You said you'd never leave me." He held her as if he feared she would be ripped away from him.

"I'm here now," she soothed. "I'm right here."

She brushed her palms over his cold, wet cheeks. He was off-balance, his considerable weight swaying against her. "Have you been drinking?" she murmured, pulling back to look at him. He shook his head, staring at her as if she were a ghost. She wondered how to take away the shattered look in his eyes. . . .

"I love you," he told her, wiping impatiently at the tears that kept trickling down his face. "I couldn't say it before. I couldn't--" He clenched his trembling jaw, trying to control the hot flow of tears. It only made them worse. Giving up, he buried his face in her hair. . . .

"I love you," he repeated hoarsely, burrowing against her. "I would have given my life to have one more day with you, and tell you that."

Till Next We Meet by Karen Ranney
Catherine's husband of one month can't be bothered to write to her while he's at war, so his commanding officer, Moncrief, starts writing letters in her husband's name. When Moncrief marries her after she is widowed, he can't bring himself to admit the deception. Finally, however, he returns her letters along with a new one:

My dearest Catherine,
I give these [letters] back to you under duress, because while they were originated by you, they have come to give me great comfort. When I was alone in North America, I found they were my lifeline to all things I valued most highly in the world. I read and reread them until I memorized them. I fell in love with the woman who wrote them. That, dearest Catherine, was my greatest mistake.

These last months in your presence have proven to me how limited your letters truly were. They could not convey your laughter, or the sparkle in your eyes when you are amused. They have no way of demonstrating your kindness, or even revealing your irritation, your habit of expressing your annoyance with a roll of your eyes or a look.

I fell in love with your words until I fell in love with you.

That last line is absolutely beautiful.

Seduce Me by Jill Shalvis
I love this book about Jack and Sam in which traditional gender roles are reversed and Sam is the one afraid to commit. She can't help but be drawn to Jack, though. Their feelings gradually increase until they have this conversation (coincidentally, after a fire burns down Sam's cafe; what is it with me and post-fire scenes?):

"I've never met anyone who's wanted me so much. And I don't mean just sexually. I feel like you really just . . . want me. Me."

"I do," he said. "Very much."

"You never really said, you didn't push--"

Jack shook his head, not sure how to make her understand. "Push? Hell, I could hardly understand the emotions I felt when it came to you. Until last night." He drew in a ragged breath that didn't ease the tightness in his chest. "Last night, I drove up here and had a really bad moment when I saw the flames and not you. Last night, I knew. You're it for me, Sam."

It's interesting that all of my favorites are scenes where the hero declares his love. Do you have a favorite scene?

In case you missed them, here are links to the previous top-five lists:

Top Five Sweetest Moments
Top Five Love Scenes
Top Five First Lines
Top Five Scenes That Make Me Cry
Top Five Books I Want Right Now
Top Five Series Romance Covers

Alyssa

Top Five Scenes That Make Me Cry

This is the third in a series of blog entries about top five book moments. The previous two are Top Five Love Scenes and Top Five Sweetest Moments. (I envy those with blogging programs that allow them to categorize their entries--is it Wordpress?--because I have to look up these entries each time.)

These scenes are in no particular order and spoilers abound, so consider yourself warned.

Inner Harbor by Nora Roberts
This is the third book in the Chesapeake Bay series. Sybill, Seth's aunt, has come to find out more about him. Summarizing the story to this point would take too long, but suffice it to say that Sybill's family has led her to become reserved and aloof. When her emotions break through, they do so in a big way. In the scene before the one I excerpt below, she abruptly leaves Seth's birthday party and Phillip comes after her:

"I can't stand it. I can't bear it." Her hands gripped his shoulders, fingers clenching and unclenching. "She took him away. She took him away. It broke my heart."

She was sobbing now, her arms tight around his neck. "I know. I know it did. That's the way," he murmured, and simply picked her up, sat on the grass, and cradled her against him. "It's about damn time."

He rocked her while tears that were hot and desperate flooded out of her and soaked his shirt. Cold? he thought as the firestorm of grief whipped through her. There was nothing cold in her but the fear of emotional pain.

A brief quote doesn't do justice to the moment, but the story builds to it and makes it incredibly powerful.

This Is All I Ask by Lynn Kurland
This Is All I Ask is one of the best books I've ever read. It's about a woman who was subjected to terrible physical abuse by her father and the gruff medieval warrior who wins her heart. I don't cry at the drop of a hat, but my eyes filled with tears several times as I read this book. In this section, Christopher thanks Gillian and she asks why.

"For enduring a foul-tempered old dragon with enough sense to wed you and found himself a treasure in the bargain."

"Treasure? My lord, surely you jest. My dowry--"

Christopher chuckled and lifted his head. "I spoke of you, not your dowry."

She was silent for so long that he feared he'd said the wrong thing. He lifted his hand and searched her features gently. Her cheeks were wet.

"Me?" she whispered.

There are so many wonderful moments in this book when Christopher helps Gillian see how precious she is to him.

Bodyguard by Suzanne Brockmann

Brockmann writes amazing heros; Bodyguard's Harry O'Dell is particularly complex. For the past few years, he has been living to get revenge on the man who killed his ex-wife and son. His vendetta has alienated him from his two remaining children, however. In one heartbreaking scene, he sees his daughter running toward him and thinks that she's calling him Daddy. Then he finds out that he was actually calling to Allie, and she runs past him as if she never knew him. He gets in his car and drives away, leaving Allie to believe that she'll never see him again. Then she comes home after work and sees him waiting for her.

"You told me to, um, just to . . ."

His gaze met hers, and for the briefest split second she could see beyond his flip facade, his tough guy, foul-mouthed, don't-care attitude, to the very naked, very lost man inside.

"Just to let you know if I needed you," he finished in a barely audible whisper.

He forced his gaze up again, forced himself to look her directly in the eye despite the fact that now more than just his hands were shaking, despite the fact that tears were brimming in his eyes. "I need you, Al," he whispered. "I really, really need you."

It's so touching that he finally opens up to her and finally decides to do what he needs to do to get back with his family.

When He Was Wicked by Julia Quinn

I devoured When He Was Wicked in one sitting. It's such a good story, and Quinn uses one of my favorite plot elements: unrequited love. Michael has loved Francesca for years, even while she was married to his cousin. She has been widowed for some time now, and while she wants Michael, she feels conflicted about marrying him. He finally tells her how he feels and sends her away.

He'd held this inside for six years, scrupulously kept his feelings off his face when he watched her, never told a soul.

Six years he'd loved her, and it had all come to this. He'd laid his heart on the table. He'd practically handed her a knife and asked her to slice it open.

Oh, no, Francesca, you can do better than that. Hold steady there, you can easily make a few more cuts. And while you're at it, why don't you take all these pieces here and dice them up?

Whoever had said it was a good thing to speak the truth was an ass. Michael would have given anything, both his bloody feet, even, to have made this all go away. But that was the thing about words. He laughed miserably. You couldn't take them back.

Spread it on the floor now. There you go, stamp it down. No, harder. Harder than that, Frannie. You can do it.

Six years.

The letter excerpts and the epilogue in this book are also incredibly moving.

Ceremony in Death by J.D. Robb
This installment of the In Death series requires Eve to investigate Feeney and one of his former partners without Feeney's knowledge. When he finds out about it, he tells her "You're good, Dallas, but you're cold. To hell with you." When she gets home, she breaks down and tells Roarke what happened. Later that night, Roarke pays Feeney a visit.

Roarke: "She made herself what she is, and you helped. She'd go to the wall for you; you know that."

"Cops back up cops. That's the job."

"I'm not talking about the job. She loves you, and she doesn't love easily. It's difficult for her to feel it, and to show it. Part of her may always be braced for betrayal, for a blow. You've been her father for ten years, Feeney. She didn't deserve to be broken again."

Roarke stood, and saying nothing more, walked out.

Alone, Feeney raked his hands up over his face, into his wiry red hair, then let them drop on his lap.

Well, this ends another long blog entry. Have you read any of these scenes? If so, let me know what you thought of them. I'd also enjoy hearing about books and scenes that made you cry.

Alyssa

Survivor in Death

I've lost track of how many books are in J.D. Robb's In Death series--I think it's somewhere around 20. Survivor in Death is a strong installment: 4 out of 5.

Eve Dallas faces an unique challenge in Nixie Swisher, a nine-year-old girl who escapes an attack that kills the rest of her family. As a witness, Nixie is clearly in danger, and she develops a bond with Eve. Therefore, Eve brings her home and begins the search for the killers of Nixie's family.

I was intrigued by the mystery. I won't say much about it to avoid spoilers, but these are not the crazed serial killers we've seen in some of the past books. This aspect of the plot comes together nicely.

People who read the In Death series often enjoy the mystery more than the personal relationships or vice versa. I read it for the personal interaction; I love seeing Roarke and Eve's relationship develop, and there's more of that here. I don't recommend starting with this book, though, if you haven't read the series before. Instead, start with Naked in Death and move forward, or you'll miss wonderful dynamics of Eve and Roarke's developing relationship.

In Survivor in Death, it's not surprising that Nixie's presence leads to interesting interaction. Nixie is just a little too close in age to how old Eve was when she became an orphan. (Trying to be cryptic here, just in case.) This brings numerous emotions to the surface. Furthermore, Eve isn't particularly maternal. Like Eve, Roarke is reminded of his painful childhood because of Nixie. In general, however, he tends to be more at ease with the girl.

Many of the standard secondary characters make appearances. I also enjoyed seeing a few characters from past books. Survivor in Death was worth the wait.

Alyssa

I've Got It

Survivor in Death was waiting for me when I got home from work today. Thank goodness--I was really starting to wonder about it. So that's what I'm reading now.

Here is the scrapbook page I did a few days ago. It's from college several years ago. I'm the one on the right. Sadly, I can't remember the names of the other women in the picture. Geez! Maybe I'll have some luck looking through my journals. It's a good lesson to me about how important it is to write down names while I remember them.

College Job

Tomorrow is Friday. I think I've finally conquered whatever cold or flu bug I had, but I'm still ready for the weekend. Rest is a good thing.

Alyssa

Where Is It?

I'm still waiting for my copy of Survivor in Death to arrive. I usually get it on the release date if not a day sooner. Two days have gone by, and there's no sign of it. I'm really, really hoping to get it today. The business of waiting is just killing me.

Alyssa

Monday Morning Realization

I've been so busy being sick that I forgot that J.D. Robb's Survivor in Death is coming out tomorrow. I order the In Death series from her husband's bookstore, which means I should get it tomorrow, or might even get it today. Yay! How nice that I don't have long to wait.

Alyssa

J.D. Robb

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

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

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

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

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

Killer Books, Page 1
Killer Books, Page 2

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

Alyssa

Audiobooks

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

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

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

Alyssa

My Top 100 Romances

At long last, my list of 100 favorites. It's the best I can do at the moment, but this list could change as soon as tomorrow. Whew! This was quite a task, but here goes:

1. Naked in Death, J.D. Robb
2. Immortal in Death, J.D. Robb
3. Glory in Death, J.D. Robb
4. Living Dead in Dallas, Charlaine Harris
5. Inner Harbor, Nora Roberts
6. See Jane Score, Rachel Gibson
7. Dead to the World, Charlaine Harris
8. Over the Edge, Suzanne Brockmann
9. Betrayal in Death, J.D. Robb
10. Club Dead, Charlaine Harris
11. Vengeance in Death, J.D. Robb
12. Holiday in Death, J.D. Robb
13. Night Watch, Suzanne Brockmann
14. Lord of the Storm, Justine Davis
15. Off Limits, Michele Albert
16. Nobody Does It Better, Jan Freed
17. Conspiracy in Death, J.D. Robb
18. Witness in Death, J.D. Robb
19. Prince Joe, Suzanne Brockmann
20. A Man to Trust, Justine Davis
21. Face the Fire, Nora Roberts
22. A Great Catch, Michelle Jerott
23. Love's Duet, Patricia Veryan
24. A Whole Lot of Love, Justine Davis
25. Portrait in Death, J.D. Robb
26. Remember When, Nora Roberts
27. Dead Until Dark, Charlaine Harris
28. Out of Control, Suzanne Brockmann
29. The Reluctant Cavalier, Karen Harbaugh
30. Gone Too Far, Suzanne Brockmann
31. Too Many Bosses, Jan Freed
32. The Defiant Hero, Suzanne Brockmann
33. It Must Be Love, Rachel Gibson
34. Purity in Death, J.D. Robb
35. A Suitable Bodyguard, Kathryn Shay
36. Undead and Unwed, MaryJanice Davidson
37. Summer Campaign, Carla Kelly
38. When He Was Wicked, Julia Quinn
39. The Ice King, Dinah Dean
40. Love, Come to Me, Lisa Kleypas
41. "Going Down," Donna Kauffman
42. Chesapeake Blue, Nora Roberts
43. The Tyrant, Patricia Veryan
44. Sea Swept, Nora Roberts
45. Rising Tides, Nora Roberts
46. Getting Her Man, Michele Albert
47. Bodyguard, Suzanne Brockmann
48. Whispers in the Woods, Helen R. Myers
49. Heartless, Mary Balogh
50. Impulse, Candace Camp
51. This Is All I Ask, Lynn Kurland
52. A Stranger's Kiss, Shelly Thacker
53. Her Secret Thrill, Donna Kauffman
54. The Wagered Widow, Patricia Veryan
55. After Hours, Vicki Lewis Thompson
56. Key of Knowledge, Nora Roberts
57. Behind Closed Doors, Shannon McKenna
58. Hunter's Moon, Karen Robards
59. Something Wonderful, Judith McNaught
60. My Dearest Enemy, Connie Brockway
61. Taking Cover, Catherine Mann
62. Lord Carew's Bride, Mary Balogh
63. Someone to Watch Over Me, Lisa Kleypas
64. Hero Under Cover, Suzanne Brockmann
65. "The Forbidden Daffodils," Mary Balogh
66. "The Nekkid Truth," Nicole Camden
67. The Only Way Out, Susan Mallery
68. The Edge of Light, Joan Wolf
69. Midnight Bayou, Nora Roberts
70. Loyalty in Death, J.D. Robb
71. Night Fire, Catherine Coulter
72. Lone Star Millionaire, Susan Mallery
73. Divided in Death, J.D. Robb
74. Visions in Death, J.D. Robb
75. "The Best Gift," Mary Balogh
76. Lord of Scoundrels, Loretta Chase
77. Just a Memory Away, Helen R. Myers
78. Imitation in Death, J.D. Robb
79. The Counterfeit Coachman, Elisabeth Fairchild
80. Guilty Pleasures, Laura Lee Guhrke
81. Ceremony in Death, J.D. Robb
82. Reunion in Death, J.D. Robb
83. Born of the Sun, Joan Wolf
84. "Touch Me," Shannon McKenna
85. Flight from the Eagle, Dinah Dean
86. Rapture in Death, J.D. Robb
87. Seduction in Death, J.D. Robb
88. Born in Ice, Nora Roberts
89. My Darling Caroline, Adele Ashworth
90. Acting on Impulse, Vicki Lewis Thompson
91. Bad Boys Online, Erin McCarthy
92. Judgment in Death, J.D. Robb
93. A Thing of Beauty, Casey Claybourne
94. The Mandarin of Mayfair, Patricia Veryan
95. By the Book, Nancy Warren
96. Undead and Unemployed, MaryJanice Davidson
97. "The Nutcracker Sweet," Nancy Warren
98. Room . . . But Not Bored, Dawn Atkins
99. Miss Chartley's Guided Tour, Carla Kelly
100. The Lady's Tutor, Robin Schone

I have some definite favorite authors, those with three or more titles on the list:

Mary Balogh
Suzanne Brockmann
Justine Davis
Charlaine Harris
J.D. Robb
Nora Roberts
Patricia Veryan

There are several with two titles:

Michele Albert/Michelle Jerott
Dinah Dean
Jan Freed
Rachel Gibson
Donna Kauffman
Carla Kelly
Shannon McKenna
Nancy Warren

This was an interesting exercise, even if my eyes feel a bit crossed.

Alyssa

Comfort Reads

I turn to comfort reads when I look at my TBR pile and nothing catches my fancy, when I'm having a bad day, or when I don't have much time to spare but still want to read. Comfort reads are those reliable books that you enjoy each time, even if you've read them a dozen times before. When I pick up one of these books, I don't usually start at the beginning and read it all the way through. Instead, I start with a memorable scene. I may read more scenes or I may stop with one--whatever works in the time I have.

Several authors qualify as my comfort reads: J.D. Robb, Rachel Gibson, Suzanne Brockmann, Charlaine Harris. I'm sure I left out a few names. I'll do individual blogs about each of these authors in the future, but for now, I'll simply mention that J.D. Robb's Witness in Death is today's comfort read. I'm a big fan of the In Death series. I read them more for the relationships than the mystery, and Eve and Roarke are particularly sweet in this installment. The dinner scene is perhaps my favorite moment with the couple.

Once I finish Witness, I'll turn my attention to something new. Ah, decisions. But for now, I'm just going to light a scented candle, settle into my book, and enjoy.

Alyssa