Oracle's Moon by Thea Harrison

As a second daughter, Grace Andreas never had to worry about the intrigues of the Elder Races. But when her sister, Petra, and Petra's husband are both killed, Grace inherits the Power and responsibilities of the Oracle of Louisville, as well as her sister's two young children - neither of which she is prepared for.

Yet, she is not alone. Khalil, Demonkind and Djinn prince of House Marid - driven by his genuine caring for the children - has decided to make himself a part of the household both as their guardian and as an exasperating counterpoint to Grace's impudence toward the Elder Races.

But when an attempt is made on Grace's life, she realizes that Khalil is the only one who can protect her - and offer her more than a mortal man...

~~

Can I just say one word?

LOVE.

I loved this book! It's so freaking good!! Khalil and Grace are just awesome - her spunk and tenacity, his non-overbearing Alpha male instincts and sex appeal - they're perfect together and their journey is so fun to read. This book has great supporting characters, action, a mystery to be solved and powers to be controlled; all the earmarks of a great paranormal and with Khalil and Grace the romance is never left out or forgotten. I cannot recommend this book enough and hope you pick up the rest of the books first as I can't see this series going anywhere but up :D.

Overall Feeling - A+

Series - 1) Dragon Bound 2) Storm's Heart 3) Serpent's Kiss 4) Oracle's Moon 5) Lord's Fall (not yet released)

Teaser Tuesdays (3/6)

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 felt it again, the shift of the world's axis, the conviction that true north had moved and nothing would ever be the same again.

He felt it. He just had no idea what it meant."

--pg 27, True Colors by Thea Harrison

February in Review

Via

Late is better than never right? Well February was a hard month in the whole reading department because it almost felt like my mind was too burnt out to read. I couldn't imagine sitting down and picking up a new book - there just didn't seem like there was room. I was helping out on a project back at my alma mater that required much time, travel, and organization and apparently I can only do so much of all that at the same time without losing my mind.

BUT things are looking up - I'm done with that side project, I've managed to clean my house (though they're some scrubbing still to be done) and I'm slowly working my way up to the Kim Harrison that I was *supposed* to read weeks ago.

Yay for surviving! 

Also, Happy Belated Valentine's Day! I hope everyone got to eat copious amounts of chocolate and spend the day with whoever means the most to you - significant others, family, friends, etc. I quite enjoyed the time on my couch and an early night's sleep.

The Stanislaski Brothers by Nora Roberts (A+)

Montana Sky by Nora Roberts (Mini Me)

Waiting for Nick by Nora Roberts (A+)

Considering Kate by Nora Roberts (A+)

Worth the Risk by Nora Roberts

Buckhorn Brothers - Morgan by Lori Foster (B)

Buckhorn Brothers - Gabe by Lori Foster (B)

Buckhorn Brothers - Jordan by Lori Foster (B)

Shadow Game by Christine Feehan

Mind Game by Christine Feehan

The Highlander's Touch by Karen Marie Moning

The Dark Highlander by Karen Marie Moning

Into the Dreaming by Karen Marie Moning (Mini Me)

Teaser Tuesdays (2/28)

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!

"You know, you look real shitty, Hoss."

"Thank you very much..." Mace moved his jaw around. At least it wasn't broken.

"So shitty that you look like you need someone to take care of you."

Mace blinked in confusion. "Why? I'll be fine by tomorrow."

"Someone to take care of you, Mace. Tend your wounds. Comfort you in their very large, sweet bosom."

Mace shook his head. "No. Now way, Smitty."

"Would you just trust me."

"That's a shitty thing to do. It's almost cat-like in its evilness."

"See your problem is you underestimate dogs. There's a reason why many of use are let up on the couch, while they keep y'all in a zoo."

--Pg 64-65, A Pride Christmas in Brooklyn by Shelly Laurenston

Mini Me: Into the Dreaming by Karen Marie Moning

Aspiring romance novelist Jane Sillee was completely in love with her fantasy man - the hot and strapping dark-haired Highlander who'd been coming to her in her dreams for years and inspired her sensual flights of literary fancy.

But it was more than her imagination that conjured up the brilliantly woven tapestry sporting the spitting image of her magnificently arrogant warrior. It was more than a dream that transported her to medieval Scotland to break an evil spell. And it was more than she could handle when she found herself wrapped in the muscular arms of Aedan MacKinnon, who had his own fantasies to fulfill...

~~

I'm not sure if you can still pick this up anywhere for $2.99 but it's such a fun quick read! A mass market-esque paperback at 102 pages the story of Jane and Aedan is a wonderful fairytale. There's intrigue in that Aedan is trying to find himself after 500 years at the hands of the Unseelie King, but for the most part this is a character driven story. Jane works tirelessly to return Aedan's memories not only of his life but of their time spent together - while dreaming. She's determined that she's not going to lose him after finally finding out he's real and I loved the way she convinced the entire village to help her.  Yeah it's a bit over the top that she magically fits in perfectly in the past and is a romance author (of Highlander romances in fact) but you know what? I didn't care and I don't think you will either because the whole story is short and sweet and just makes you happy.

Happy Friday!

Buckhorn Brothers by Lori Foster

Sawyer

Sawyer Hudson, the only doctor in Buckhorn County, took it upon himself to rescue the beautiful but enigmatic woman who came literally crashing into his life. Though he knew he should keep things platonic and professional, around her his body had other ideas. And his heart was no more cooperative.

Honey Malone was on the run, fleeing a dangerous predator, when she lost control of her car, drove into a lake--and found herself up to her neck in breathtaking men. After the brothers nursed her through her injuries, she tried to leave, but she hadn't bargained on their stubborn protectiveness. Or the passionate bond that tied her to Sawyer.

Jordan

Jordan Sommerville was a healer of helpless animals, rescuer of strays, a man who could seduce a woman with his voice alone. Yet he didn't use that power often. His brothers kidded that he was holding out for a paragon of virtue and not many in Buckhorn qualified. But then he met Georgia, and broke all his own rules.

Georgia Barnes supported herself and her kids as a dancer--an exotic dancer. If Jordan Sommerville didn't like it, he could take a hike. So what if he was the most caring, gentle, desirable man she'd ever known--he was still a man like all the rest. Surely he couldn't be as perfect as he looked--or could he?

~~

You know what I kind of felt like reading these books again? Old.  Yeah I said it, old. I don't what's up with me lately but apparently it's my time to notice that the heroines of all my 'oldies but goodies' are younger than I am. Boooooo city let me tell you.

Luckily, despite all that doom and gloom, the Buckhorn brothers are still a fun bunch of books to read. Over the top sweet, respectful, and incredibly sexy Alpha males take the lead in all of the stories and even I can't help but swoon a bit. Even when I roll my eyes and think 'I would  punch him if he treated me like that'. I bought these when they were originally released with the goofy Harlequin Temptation covers (man cuddling a dog? Without a shirt? Hottest thing ever.) and these are some of the books I turn to when I need an uncomplicated happy ending. I like reading about families trying to make it through and find happiness, especially in small towns. You get better supporting characters I think, though to be truthful these books focus so much on the main four brothers that you get less of that than usual.

Still I recommend them and have no regrets about the space they take up on my shelves (which I'm kind of embarrassed to admit is double because I thought I'd lost them and bought the anthologies used...and then found my originals. Sigh.).

Overall Feeling - B

Series - 1) Sawyer 2) Morgan 3) Gabe 4) Jordan 5) Casey

Mini Me: Montana Sky by Nora Roberts

When Jack Mercy died, he left behind a ranch worth nearly twenty million dollars. Now his three daughters—each born of a different marriage, and each unknown by the others—are gathered to hear the reading of the will. But the women are shocked to learn that before any of them can inherit, they must live together on the ranch for one year. They are sisters—and strangers. Now they face a challenge: to put their bitterness aside and live like family. To protect each other from danger—and unite against an enemy who threatens to destroy them all?

~~

Usually, no matter who's doing it, I'm only about 70% positive  that 3-in-1 romances like this work. Somehow one of the couples always ends up being a little less fleshed out, a little less real, and as much as I love Nora Roberts, Montana Sky doesn't completely escape that.Willa Mercy is clearly the stand out; as much as we read about Tess and Lily their romances are more in the 'over and done' category. There might be a bit of conflict here and there, but really we meet them, meet their partners, everybody's happy! Hooray!

The best thing about this book is the murder mystery. Just gruesome enough, Roberts also put a bit (read A LOT) of unexpectedness when it comes to the killer. You just don't get that til the end. And I can't say anymore if I want to keep it that way for everybody else.