Happy Hallowe'en!

I'm not doing anything today (I know - lame!) but I did have a fun time Saturday night before Sandy rolled in to ruin it all. I'm safe and I hope your loved ones are too - I'm sending good thoughts!

Ken there is showing off his ASSets. Get it? I know you do.

I was a steam punk/Victorian girl which practically nobody got

Psy? Psy NOT!

Bob Ross & Dr. Horrible for the win!

I did, by the way, call Dr. Horrible by his title the entire party because for the life of me I could not remember his name. Oh and my big accomplishment? Using liquid latex to pull off this makeup:

P.S. - Taking off liquid latex is both easy and painful. My skin was not happy with me :-/. Consider yourself warned!

What are dressing up as for Halloween?

Teaser Tuesdays (10/30)

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

* Grab your current read
* Open to a random page
* Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
* BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
* Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers! 

"He laid her back on the rose petal-strewn sheets, lifting her legs onto the coverlet, and smiled down at her. She looked unfocused, lost in a dream, her limbs loose, her hair spread out on the pillows like a living thing."

--pg 200, What an Earl Wants by Kasey Michaels (11/20/12)

Tempted by Megan Hart

I had everything a woman could want.

My husband James. The house on the lake. My life. Our perfect life. And then Alex came to visit.

The first time I saw my husband’s best friend, I didn’t like him. Didn’t like how James changed when he was around, didn’t like how his penetrating eyes followed me everywhere.
But that didn’t stop me from wanting him. And surprisingly, James didn’t seem to mind.

It was meant to be fun. Something the three of us shared for those hot summer weeks Alex stayed with us. Nobody was supposed to fall in or out of love.
I didn’t need another man, not even one who oozed sex like honey and knew all the secrets I didn’t know, the secrets my husband hadn’t shared. After all, we had a perfect life. I loved my husband.

But I wasn’t the only one.
~~

When you can't even figure out what label to use on a review it's probably a clue that the review itself isn't going to be any easier. I can't say that Tempted is erotica. It's a novel with parts that are erotic and sexy but that's not what made the story work - and definitely not what has me vaguely uneasy today. Tempted is a hard one to read; the emotions of each character are complicated, messy, and without clear cut solutions, as real emotions often are. I partly define romances by the HEA I'm guaranteed at the end and instead of finishing things off with that uplifting turn, after reaching the end of this one I kind of felt lost. 

It's written incredibly well and thus when Hart writes Anne as confused or disheartened I felt that with her. Bringing Alex into her marriage with James, even if it just turns out to be for a Summer, wasn't an easy decision and things weren't left the same afterward. I didn't get an easy resolution out of anything. Maybe it was worse because my own family is crazy and broken in its own way, but I felt so angry at points when reading this novel; angry at Anne's family for using her to fix the broken pieces and angry at Anne for letting them. 

I don't think I have a grade for this one, because while I didn't end it feeling happy and satisfied I recognize that it's not written to leave me with that feeling. It made me think and while I don't want every 'fun' book I pick up to do that, I don't regret this one.
 
Overall Feeling - ?

Series - 1) Tempted 2) Naked 

Rescuing Christmas by Vicki Lewis Thompson, Catherine Mann, and Kathie DeNosky (ARC Review)

For three couples, this is the season...to give, to heal, to love.

"Holiday Haven" by Vicki Lewis Thompson

All Ben Rhodes wants for Christmas is to be left alone. And yet, in a fit of Christmas-cheer-induced insanity, he agrees to help beautiful shelter director Tansy Dexter find homes for all her rambunctious animals. Little does he know that the one truly in need of a loving home this season ... is him.

"Home for Christmas" by Catherine Mann

Shelby Conrad has had more than her fair share of silent nights. But even though her husband, Tech Sergeant
Alex Conrad, is coming home in time for Christmas, Shelby isn't sure he's in time to save their marriage. Can a road trip to deliver three shelter dogs to their new homes teach the couple that the most precious gift of all is hope?

"A Puppy for Will" by Kathie DeNosky

Will Parker hasn't exactly had all his hopes and dreams met, but work has filled the gaps in his life. Or so he thinks ... until an energetic and large Saint Bernard foster puppy and Will's cute neighbor Macie Fairbanks introduce him to the best thing about Christmas and life — unconditional love.
~~

There are few things as genuinely enjoyable as a Christmas themed romance. And when they're combined with puppies? Impossible to resist and this particular anthology is good from start to finish. 

Each story in this anthology is connected through The Haven, a no-kill shelter that's looking for donations to start some much needed improvements. While we start with the The Haven's director Tansy, each subsequent story continues to feature for at least a little the previous couples which makes for a nice sense of community and attachment to their HEA's. Each couple has insecurities to overcome and issues with omission that serve as roadblocks - luckily it doesn't extend into anything too ridiculous, but as a holiday anthology I wanted the best ok? I'm a worrier, lol. 

If I had to pick a favorite it'd be "Home for Christmas" because even while the military relationship has been  covered  in romances before I liked how both Shelby and Alex had to grow and become more for each other. It wasn't a simple misunderstanding, they'd had years where both of them has tried to be what they thought the other wanted and breaking down those doors to was hard - but the results were a wonderfully satisfying HEA.

All in all this is a very sweet anthology and a good representation of each author - I'm definitely going to picking up some of their backlists!

Overall Feeling - B

Series - None (To be published Nov 1, 2012)

**Title requested from NetGalley**

Blade Song by J.C. Daniels

Kit Colbana—half breed, assassin, thief, jack of all trades—has a new job: track down the missing ward of one of the local alpha shapeshifters. It should be a piece of cake.

So why is she so nervous? It probably has something to do with the insanity that happens when you deal with shifters—especially sexy ones who come bearing promises of easy jobs and easier money.

Or maybe it’s all the other missing kids that Kit discovers while working the case, or the way her gut keeps screaming she’s gotten in over her head. Or maybe it’s because if she fails—she’s dead.

If she can stay just one step ahead, she should be okay. Maybe she’ll even live long to collect her fee…
~~

What a great beginning! Blade Song has all the things I enjoy in a paranormal series - action, a smart, witty heroine, a touch of romance, and characters that keep me invested in what comes next. Right from the start I felt like I needed to know more, because Kit is such an interesting personality. Her origins are filled with abuse and it's left her damaged with a soft spot for other lost souls. When Damon walks into her office and pretty much guilts her into looking for his nephew, you just know things aren't going to go well.

From that point on there's a lot that happens - new characters, species, inter-species relationships (especially when it comes in relation to humans) but it never feels like an info dump. One thing seems to flow smoothly into the next so that when the bad guy is finally revealed I have to admit it was a surprised. There are plenty of moving parts and since it is the first book in a new series it's hard to keep track of hidden motivations.

I guess my only little complaint would be the relationship between Kit and Damon. I'm going to try not to be spoiler-y, but as much as I love acrimonious things rapidly change between them right near the end and I kind of felt cheated. They're such strong personalities that I wish more time had been taken in showing how things had evolved from the initial verbal sparks. Still I'm definitely looking forward to the next book and I think this has all the makings of a great new series!

Overall Feeling - B+

Series - 1) Blade Song 2) Night Blade (Winter 2013)

Teaser Tuesdays (10/23)

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

* Grab your current read
* Open to a random page
* Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
* BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
* Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers! 

"He's hoping for a shot at the goodies. Once he gets it, we'll be heading back to Submission Town, USA, where there is no compromise."

Gwen's eyes crossed. "My God, you're weird."

"Don't sound so shocked. You already knew this."

--pg 108, Beast Behaving Badly by Shelly Laurenston

Mini Me: Alone Time by Lauren Dane

Visits to Petal, Part 1

It’s date night in Petal, Georgia, and Nathan, Matt and Shane have some long-awaited alone time with their women and they’re not about to let that opportunity go.

Warning: This free story is bonus material for readers of the Chase brothers and Petal, Georgia, series and is not intended to be standalone.
~~

So yeah. I love Lauren Dane. You know that, I know that, it's pretty obvious by this point. And while the Brown Siblings have in some individual cases become my favorite, the Chase brothers are near and dear to my heart. As a short vignette into those lives it Alone Time works really well. There isn't any discussion, only hints really, in regards to each couple's back stories so beyond the author's warning, let me say as well: THIS DOESN'T WORK ALONE. But hey, for someone who owns and rereads often the original Chase quartet, it's great and it's never gonna get old, seeing the how the lives of the people in Petal evolve. Yay!

Surrender the Dark by Donna Kauffman

They call themselves the Three Musketeers: three lifelong friends, men who will put it all on the line in the name of honor and loyalty. Jarrett McCullough values those bonds as seriously as he values his job heading a covert group of operatives skilled in handling sensitive international information. But his current mission has suddenly gone very wrong-and he finds himself wounded and near death in the last place he ever expected to be.

Rae Gannon is stunned to find her ex-boss bleeding from a gunshot wound, mere paces from her front door. It has been two years since her move to the remote Blue Ridge Mountains, where she tried to erase the memories and the pain she suffered from having been part of McCullough's team. Yet as Rae tends to Jarrett's battered body she realizes that the air between them is still sizzling with a slow-burning need. But this time there are more than just hearts at stake. The mission that almost got Jarrett killed threatens to put Rae back in harm's way. And if they surrender to their desires, it may cost them their lives.
~~

I simply cannot remember the last time I enjoyed a military romance as much as this. From the first page there is just so much emotion and tension between Jarret and Rae, because of their past history. It never felt old or came off as typical, I think because Rae is such a kick ass character - and because Jarret is obviously so broken. 

Even though Rae goes against her instinct and saves Jarret after he's been shot, there's not another moment in the beginning of this story where she lets him get away with anything. He betrayed her and the faith she'd put in him at the worst possible moment after a horrible ordeal; it made a lot of sense for who she was a person that she didn't just allow him back into her life. In response Jarret had to fight to make her see him beyond his job, a task made even harder by the fact that he still needed her to go on one more mission. It's all so vivid when you're reading, Rae's pain and Jarret's confusion, especially when he finally starts to think/feel beyond his job - beyond the end goal. It makes for a beautiful love story and one that's filled with sparks, action, and a great HEA. Awesome. Plus there's two more!

Overall Feeling - A

Series - 1) Surrender the Dark 2) Born to Be Wild 3) Midnight Heat

**Title requested from NetGalley**

Absolutely, Positively by Jayne Ann Krentz

Unconventional Molly Abberwick, trustee of her late father's scientific foundation, is mad enough to fire her new consultant, Dr. Harry Trevelyan. A brilliant expert on new inventions, the handsome Harry irritates Molly to no end with his preposterous insistence that they have an affair -- and that it could be planned, predicted, and run like a science project. But just when Molly is ready to let him have a piece of her mind -- not her heart -- she discovers that the eminent Dr. Trevelyan is not what he seems.

First, there is his family, a long line of carnival folk who run the Smoke & Mirrors Amusement Company. Then there are the paranormal premonitions which bring Harry to Molly's side when she most needs him. And when her troubles escalate into violence and a mysterious stalker threatens her life, Molly turns to Harry's sixth sense for help, and discovers she needs Harry not just for a week, or for an hour, but forever in love.
~~

'Oldie but goodie' alert! I picked this one off my shelves this weekend and it was so nice to be reacquainted with a couple I enjoy and an author who gets it right. Krentz dabbles, barely gets her toes wet, with the paranormal in this particular romance, but I think Harry and Molly ride the line so well that all romance lovers would enjoy this story. Molly might be looking for someone to help her foundation but Harry's looking for something more and the sparks people - the sparks!

But in addition to the sparks, this Krentz novel exemplifies so well the type of quirky and interesting supporting characters that round out a good romance book. For better or for worse Harry is the sum of the families he's a part of, and what he's necessarily had to do to remain part of both. It's a tough situation but it makes for good drama, especially once Molly starts meddling and starts to show everyone just how important Harry is to their lives. Molly and Harry have healing to do and connections to make before their HEA can be a HEA for everyone (pretty much) and I loved reading about it all over again.

Overall Feeling - A-

Series - None

Teaser Tuesdays (10/16)

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

* Grab your current read
* Open to a random page
* Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
* BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
* Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

"Nothing will stop this," he said. "Not my job. Not your scars. Because it's not about what I do or about the skin that covers your body. And if you have any doubt of that, I'll warn you now that I intend to find each and every mark on you, Rae. I'm going to see them, I'm going to touch them, and I'm going to taste them. And I won't stop until I'm as familiar with them as you are."

--pg ~95, The Three Musketeers: Surrender the Dark by Donna Kauffman

The Last Bride in Ballymuir by Dorien Kelly

When Michael Kilbride, a handsome man with a dark past, arrives in the Irish village of Ballymuir, rumors begin to fly. While many turn against him, one woman steps forward—the village's beloved schoolteacher, Kylie O'Shea. Kylie's friends have long believed that proper Kylie is bound to fulfill the local legend of being the last bride in Ballymuir. But sparks soon ignite between Michael and Kylie. Will Kylie, who also hides secrets, find the courage to confront her past and claim passion as her own?
~~

I've got to admit I'm a sucker for a tortured hero and a go getter heroine. Both with scars, scared to move on and make a new life for themselves - it's the perfect amount of drama from me, and when combined with a well written supporting cast, I've got to say that this was a very pleasant surprise. I picked it up for free from Amazon after a Dear Author tip and didn't know what to expect - Irish romances have been a favorite of mine forever  (*cough* Nora Roberts *cough*) but me and new authors don't always get along. Kelly's written a romance centered on the emotional journey and the small town setting was perfect in that it allowed Michael and Kylie to shine at the center of it all. 

This is truly a romance where Michael and Kylie are the focus; they're drawn to each other but scared to subject the other to their own personal baggage. Switching view points from Kyle to Michael, Kelly draws the reader in, and makes their eventual happy ending that much more poignant. Neither of them believe they deserve or are going to get that forever love. It's a slow build up to trust, each having to prove to themselves and the other that they can withstand gossip, threats of violence, and family drama. I was very satisfied by the time I reached the end and am very interested in picking up the next two stories in this trilogy.

Overall Feeling - B+

Series - 1) The Last Bride in Ballymuir 2) The Boldest Man in Ballymuir 3) The Brightest Flame in Ballymuir

(And it's still free on Amazon!) 

Men of Smithfield: Seth and David by L.B. Gregg

He’s everything I’ve never wanted—too young, too weird, too wild.

I wasn’t impressed that I had to get my weekly massage from a guy with a toe ring. But when I discovered David Cooke’s skills as a masseur were literally orgasmic, I couldn’t stop thinking about him and his amazing hands, day and night. Especially at night.

He’s full of surprises. And despite my bad behavior, David’s just as eager to explore this chemistry between
us. Turns out, there’s a lot more to him than hemp pants and tattoos. If he’s so wrong for me, why does being with him feel so right?
~~

I was a roller coaster of emotions reading this novella. Up - I'm glad David called Seth on his reaction during the first time they met. Down - why the heck was he on board for stranger danger sex outside? Those are just a couple of examples but I think you get the general idea. Seth's a complicated character emotionally; very closed off, confused with how to raise his niece now that his sister has passed. I hate giving an 'it's ok card' to people behaving like assholes but I'm willing to grant that he has a lot going on in his life. 

But that confusion they have about their individual futures is part of why I'm not completely happy with the rapid fire progression to sex. Things between Seth and David gradually become more even keeled as they learn about each other but just like I'm not ok with early sudden hookups in heterosexual romances, I'm not totally a fan of it here. Yes the sexual tension is just itching to be broken but when people are being mean/jerky I tend not to want to reward them for that. 

Still Gregg doesn't let Seth or David rest on what appear to be their personalities in the beginning. Both of them have some pretty crappy events in their past and it makes it that much harder to trust each other in those initial stages. That eventual coming together is what makes this romance a winner for me, even if the beginning of it wasn't totally my style. Combined with a realistic and logical approach to solving both blackmail threats and custody battles and I'm overall a happy camper.

Overall Feeling - B-

Series - 1) Mark and Tony 2) Max and Finn 3) Seth and David 4) Holden and Adam

**Title requested from NetGalley**

Mini Me: Laid Open by Lauren Dane

This is a digital only novella featuring Ben, Todd and Erin from LAID BARE. It takes place during some of the events in TART… It is NOT a standalone.

All she needed to pack was a few bikinis, a toothbrush and some sunscreen. This is what Ben told Erin when he presented her and Todd with tickets to Fiji and the promise of ten days of nothing but sleeping until whenever they wanted, sex without having to lock the door and lots of alone time.

And that’s what they have. Long days and nights filled with pleasure. Long enough that the stress and exhaustion drops away and the three can simply enjoy each other.

They’ve got heat. More than ever before. Recharging their batteries has also brought new levels of intimacy and connection. But when Erin stumbles over the pain of her past, both men band together to not only help her through, but to help each other as well.
~~

I think this novella is a great representation of what makes the Brown family series so wonderful - family, love, romance, sex, and a whirlwind of complicated emotions.

What you would think is going to be a quick romp in the sun, a vacation for Todd, Ben, and Erin, doesn't stay that way for very long. These are complicated characters who've suffered pain and that pain doesn't just go away. Now I don't sat this to take away from the sexy times - Dane is one of the few authors I think does a realistic representation of a menage pairing in a contemporary setting - but this isn't just about sex. All three love each other and count family as #1; being protective of one another and the spots that make them hurt is part and parcel with that.

Ultimately this isn't a stand alone, as Dane herself says. It works as a glimpse in to the lives of characters we've come to love already and I love having it in my collection.

Cast in Peril by Michelle Sagara

Usually disaster doesn’t strike quite so close to home…

It has been a busy few weeks for Private Kaylin Neya. In between angling for a promotion, sharing her room with the last living female Dragon and dealing with more refugees than anyone knew what to do with, the unusual egg she’d been given began to hatch. Actually, that turned out to be lucky, because it absorbed the energy from the bomb that went off in her quarters…

So now might be the perfect time to leave Elantra and journey to the West March with the Barrani. If not for the disap­pear­ances of citizens in the fief of Tiamaris – disap­pear­ances traced to the very Barrani Kaylin is about to be trav­eling with…
~~

This is just a damn good fantasy series, ok? Even eight books in Sagara continues to write intricate but believable characters, races, and personal histories. Where in some series you might get bogged down by just how many characters share the scene with the hero, in these it never feels like that. Each book might not work so great as a stand alone, especially at this point as the story arc stretches pretty far, but you get to know the players so well. Men and women remain distinct entities and as the reader you want to know how their story ends - or at least where it drifts off into them doing their own thing.

I guess after finishing this particular book my only complaint is that there wasn't more of it! There's kind of a cliff hanger ending, though the most immediate battle does reach a conclusion. I'm an impatient reader and when you've spent 90% of the book setting up this one event, suddenly being hit with a big battle that, while cool, slows down everything else....it makes me a little sad. I want to know what's going to happen between Nightside and Kaylin during the recitation. I want to know how the reading/telling/comprehension of this particular story is going to change what we've already become so familiar with. I won't say this felt like it was dragging, or even so much like a filler book, but it is definitely a step to something grander and having to wait for the next part is hard as hell.

Overall Feeling - A-

Series - ... 6) Cast in Chaos 7) Cast in Ruin 8) Cast in Peril

September in Review

September was such a wild month! 1) I have no idea how it's already October 2) I can't believe I survived it. DC finally succumbed to Fall (even if things are still a bit up and down) so I've actually been able to pull out a cardigan a time or two without dying. Cuddling up in my comfy chair with cool air coming in through my balcony doors? Awesome, I'm telling you. 

I also think it's funny that I actually spent more times with authors and getting things signed after Dragon*Con. Usually that's my mecca but hey, if the writers I love want to come to DC, more power to them! The biggie was the 2012 National Book Festival where I got listen to such greats as R.L. Stine and Eloisa James. It was also the place where I stood in line for 2hrs to get some books signed by Charlaine Harris! Woot! 

After that, last Thursday in fact, I got to hang out after work with Megan Hart! I've read books by her and the past and heard Mandi from Smexy Books rave about her, but this was my first time meeting her. The crowds were low and the whole thing was super chill so thanks Barnes and Noble for hosting a spiffy author! 

And finally, after all that babbling, onto the books!

Burning Wild by Christine Feehan
Howl For It by Shelly Laurenston and Cynthia Eden
Big Bad Beast by Shelly Laurenston
The Mane Attraction by Shelly Laurenston
Bear Meets Girl by Shelly Laurenston
Ashes of Honor by Seanan McGuire (A)
The Lost Night by Jayne Castle (Mini Me)
Midnight Crystal by Jayne Castle
About Last Night by Ruthie Knox (B+)
Run the Risk by Lori Foster (B)
The Search by Nora Roberts
In Too Deep by Jayne Ann Krentz
How to Drive a Dragon Crazy by G.A. Aiken (B+/A-)
Hunter's Season by Thea Harrison (A-) 

Looking at the list though I'd have to say Ashes of Honor wins as the best book of the month. If you are not reading this series you are missing out!!

 

Teaser Tuesdays (10/2)

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

* Grab your current read
* Open to a random page
* Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
* BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
* Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

"He decided there was no point in telling her he'd looked in the fridge and seen none of those things. There'd just be some variation of his mother's standard crack about Male Refrigerator Blindness Syndrome."

--pg 393, The Search by Nora Roberts

Hunter's Season by Thea Harrison

As a palace guard and assassin for the Dark Fae, Xanthe always wore a mask, hiding her emotions to do her duty. But when her identity is compromised, she trades undercover work for guarding Queen Niniane—a position that often brings her in contact with Chancellor Aubrey Riordan.

Aubrey’s trust is shattered. A year ago his wife tried to assassinate their new queen in his name, a betrayal of everything he believes in. And now an attack on his life is proof the dark conspiracy is not yet over. Although injured and weak, Aubrey can’t help but be drawn to this shy assassin and loyal protector. Xanthe is everything Naida wasn’t, and the passion she stirs in him is something he thought had long passed him by.
~~

As someone who loves and owns all of the books in the series but doesn't feel the same way about the novellas, I absolutely loved Hunter's Season. Even though for some reason I'd made Aubrey into an older looking man in my head (maybe I was distracted? I got nothing) the evolving relationship between him and Xanthe was both romantic and wonderfully drama-free. I'm sure someone out there is gonna say things were too easy but you know what? I don't need an epic battle every time supporting characters find their own HEA. 

After a brutal attack Aubrey and Xanthe are thrown together as patient and nurse, and for a woman who already has 'non-guardy' feelings for her charge this is a more difficult task for Xanthe than usual. She sees the honorable man Aubrey is, in spite of all the hardships he's had to endure and the personality he could have developed as a noble Dark Fae. She has less steps to take as her feelings evolve into love thus probably the best part of the story is reading about how Aubrey gets to know - and eventually love - Xanthe. She's so shielded in her normal life that as he gets to know her, to 'see' her, he has to learn what to do with all the new emotions. It makes for a wonderful fairytale :).

Highly recommended, though I can see how someone who hasn't read the books or the other novellas might not love it quite so much.

Overall Feeling - A-

Series - (Elder Races Novellas) 1) True Colors 2) Natural Evil 3) Devil's Gate 4) Hunter's Season