Karakuri Odette by Julietta Suzuki

Odette is an android created by the young talented scientist Dr. Yoshizawa. Wanting to find the ultimate difference between humans and his android, Odette decides to persuade Dr. Yoshizawa to enroll her in a local high school. Follow Odette's adventures as she ventures through high school, in search of the true meaning of being a human.

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Oh manga - so easy to read and unlike animation you don't have to worry about annoying voice actors, lol. Karakuri Odette was a quick couple of days read that I finished at work, and I enjoyed it quite a bit. It's not the most original of story, the android who wants to be human, but the specific people in this one make it memorable. 

Odette starts off very blase about wanting to go to school or act human, but throughout the series and as her interactions with humans become more regular we see her change. She starts to question why people are they way they are; why they cry or laugh or like other people. Circumstances force her to question her own actions, why she's even able to have a preference for things or activities if she's a robot. Throughout the volumes she meets others of her kind and she even inspires them to look at things differently - to not remain stagnant under the weight of whatever their original programming might be.

Karakuri Odette is a cute series with highschool characters taking on adult themes - I liked it.

Overall Feeling - B

Series - Karakuri Odette, Volumes 1 - 6

P.S. - The whole series is available to read for free online. 

At Last by Jill Shalvis *ARC Revew*

Amy Michaels loves her new life in Lucky Harbor. A waitress in the local diner, she's looking forward to her first weekend hike through the mountains. But when a wrong turn takes her off the trail, she finds herself up close and personal with forest ranger Matt Bowers. And even though she's tempted to kiss that sexy smile right off his face, she won't make the mistake of getting involved with the town heartthrob.

A former cop whose life went south, Matt doesn't let anyone get too close. But something about the feisty beauty caught his eye the moment he first saw her in the diner. After a hot night under a starry sky, Matt can't deny their attraction-or the fact that for the first time in a long time, he feels the stirrings of something more. Now it's up to Matt to help Amy see that, no matter what is in their past, together they can build a future in Lucky Harbor.

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If you haven't picked up a Jill Shalvis novel yet (which really after all the glowing reviews that exist out there on the internet I don't understand how that's possible) you're missing out on a great set of characters. Characters that stick with you long after you're done reading - it took me a day or so to put my finger on that, because it sounds really simplistic to point it out, but it's important. The good feeling that you're left with when you finish is due in part to the fact that you've come to care about these people and their HEA. I like Lucky Harbor and each time I get to go back and visit I still like it. 

Readers have seen the sparks between Amy and Matt for a while but it's in this book that we finally learn about their pasts and why they're (essentially) perfect for each other. It's like the perfect romantic comedy without the self-deprecating or embarrassing humor that makes me want to close my eyes and turn away (yes I have been known to hide in people's shoulders when things get especially bad for a character - I just can't take it). Shalvis keeps things up to date and fun with the inclusion of Facebook not only as a stalking tool but a law enforcement one, and the supporting cast successfully rides that edge of annoying (nosiness can in fact be a bad thing, lol), to result in a nice installment of a wonderful series.

Overall Feeling - B+/A-

Series -1) Simply Irresistible 2) The Sweetest Thing 3) Head Over Heels 4) Lucky in Love 5) At Last (6/26/12) 6) Forever and a Day (7/31/12)

**Title requested from NetGalley**

Mini Me: Date Night by Emma Holly

Olivia Forster never dreamed she’d serve as queen of an enchanted city beneath the sea, something her three sexy husbands know. Though she adores her shapeshifter mates, she’s shy by nature, and they can tell the strain of always being “on” is beginning to wear on her. Sneaking away from their responsibilities won’t be easy, but come hell or high water, they’ll treat her to a night she won’t soon forget!
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A snippet in the lives of Liv and her mates, I can't say that "Date Night" isn't worth a read - especially at $.99. It's a very sexy look at how all of them are balancing being in a committing relationship while also being mostly royalty, with all the responsibilities that entails. I  really liked the fact that Holly doesn't write them all as being perfectly in love with no problems or issues - this is a bit of a delicate situation (or at least it seems that way to me) with three men and one woman. I don't care how much someone's libido is increased, there are only so many emotional patches you can do before leaks break through. As an addendum/epilogue to Hidden Depths this works great, but I wouldn't recommend this without that background - it'd probably come off as too much sexy time/not enough plot time.

Teaser Tuesdays (6/19)

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!

"Tall, with the skin the color of rich coffee, and dressed all in black, Jim looked like was carved from a block of solid muscle. Logic said that at some point he must‟ve been a baby and then a child, but looking at him one was almost convinced that some deity touched the ground with its scepter and proclaimed, “There shall be a badass,” and Jim sprung into existence, fully formed, complete with clothes, and ready for action."

--pg 30, "Magic Gifts" by Ilona Andrews

Weekend Finds!

While not as usually dirt cheap as I like my used book finds to be (these were half price), I'm very excited to add a couple of new books and new-to-me authors to the list:

A Hundred Words for Hate by Thomas E. Sniegoski

As an angel, Remy possess powers and skill he puts to good use in his chosen profession - but only if the situation calls for it. And the sudden reappearance of the Garden of Eden is definitely one such situation.

He's approached by the seemingly benevolent Sons of Adam to find the Key to the Gates of Eden. But there are those who want the Gates to stay shut. For there is something terrible and dangerous buried in the Garden- and they'll do anything to see that it is not unearthed.

Now, caught between warring factions of immortals, Remy must decide how to proceed: Find the Key, or not? Desperate for help, he turns to a very old acquaintance: a fallen angel who is sometimes a friend, sometimes a foe- and always deadly. 

The Magicians and Mrs. Quent by  Galen Beckett

In this enchanting debut novel, Galen Beckett weaves a dazzling spell of adventure and suspense, evoking a world of high magick and genteel society—a world where one young woman discovers that her modest life is far more extraordinary than she ever imagined.

Of the three Lockwell sisters—romantic Lily, prophetic Rose, and studious Ivy—all agree that it’s the eldest, the book-loving Ivy, who has held the family together ever since their father’s retreat into his silent vigil in the library upstairs. Everyone blames Mr. Lockwell’s malady on his magickal studies, but Ivy alone still believes—both in magic and in its power to bring her father back.

But there are others in the world who believe in magick as well. Over the years, Ivy has glimpsed them—the strangers in black topcoats and hats who appear at the door, strangers of whom their mother will never speak. Ivy once thought them secret benefactors, but now she’s not so certain.

After tragedy strikes, Ivy takes a job with the reclusive Mr. Quent in a desperate effort to preserve her family. It’s only then that she discovers the fate she shares with a jaded young nobleman named Dashton Rafferdy, his ambitious friend Eldyn Garritt, and a secret society of highwaymen, revolutionaries, illusionists, and spies who populate the island nation of Altania.

For there is far more to Altania than meets the eye and more to magick than mere fashion. And in the act of saving her father, Ivy will determine whether the world faces a new dawn—or an everlasting night. . .

What about you? Find anything new and exciting this weekend?

The Shadowing by Joan Overfield

Evil is the first word that comes to mind when Anne Garthwicke arrives at Castle MacCairn. Duty bound to help her father appraise the holdings, she has no choice but to stay. And her trepidation deepens after meeting the laird. Proud and powerful, he embodies all the wildness of the Scottish highlands and incites dreams of carnal passion such as Anne has never experienced. Achingly tender one moment and roughly forceful the next, Ruairdh MacCairn has a beast within straining to break loose. And according to legend, it is only a matter of time before the monster will escape. Anne already knows her heart is lost, but she can only hope that when the moment of fate arrives, her body won't be sacrificed as well.

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Look at that face! Look at that hair! How could I not buy this book? Even though it was originally released in 2002, this book gives off serious old school vibes - it might as well have Fabio on the cover! LOL! I didn't know what I was getting myself into, the description to me meant there was a 50/50 shot of it being good-good or bad-good, but I really enjoyed this! 

Ruairdh is a tortured soul, just waiting for 'The Shadowing' to turn him into a raving madman; when he sees Anne and starts to feel something other than depression, he's not too happy about. He's a bit of a jerk in fact, which luckily is balanced by the reader having some insight to his mental state (ie, I didn't hate him because the book is told partially from his point of view). What's especially great about this story is that Anne doesn't just accept Ruairdh being a jerk; while she does keep her station in mind, she tends to give as good as she gets and the sparks between the two are pretty awesome. 

The paranormal plot line doesn't detract from the romance at the heart of this book and I thought the inclusion of 'love conquers all' was done very well with only the slightest hint of corny. If you can get your hands on a copy of this book I'd recommend it, it's a fast, fun read with a satisfying ending.

Overall Feeling - B+

Series - None

Charmed by His Love by Janet Chapman

All Duncan MacKeage wants is to keep his crew building roads and bridges up the mountain to the fancy resort overlooking Spellbound Falls’ new inland sea. He doesn’t want anything to do with his own family magic or with the beautiful widow, Peg Thompson, and her tribe of little heathens. But when Duncan is tasked with keeping an eye on the widow Thompson, trouble starts.

Because of a family curse, Peg fears that giving in to her desires will mean killing off another lover. But Duncan—the strong, handsome man buying her gravel—is unbelievably tempting and determined to take care of her. Torn between her head and her heart, will Peg find the strength to break free of her black-widow curse? Or will pursuing their attraction put these lovers in harm’s way?

~~

Some things I thought about while reading this book:

 

1) Don't ever kidnap me and think that sh*t is gonna be ok with me later.

2) Don't show clear evidence of how long you've been planning to kidnap me and think that's gonna be ok either.

3) I'm about 50% ok with you not reminding me that we've met before but that still means there's 50% of anger left to make your life a living hell

4) If I tell you, my BFF, in confidence something that has me really worried and then you immediately go and tell your husband who then tells the guy I kind of think is hot I will be upset. That is not ok. How about you just keep your mouth shut and help me as my friend?

5) I'm not ok if your magic can suddenly un-tie my tubes. I made that decision, your magic doesn't get to f*ck around with that.

I'm not trying to sound harsh but I think at some point I got fed up with this book. I liked it 90% of the way through and then all of a sudden I had back to back WTF moments. I like Janet Chapman. I like her voice, most of her series, and her combination of strong heroines with even stronger heroes that have to learn to step back a bit. I don't always like it when the book veers in the direction of 'heroine's journey'; things get a little condescending and what I consider to be realistic life lessons become things the heroine should suddenly disregard.

This book wasn't bad. I just had some issues with the way things were resolved - if you like Chapman and enjoyed the characters in Spellbound Falls look this one up. I'm about 50/50 on whether I'll buy the next one but truthfully I'm going to want to know what happens next dammit, and I've never been very patient, lol.

Overall Feeling - B/B-

Series - 1) Spellbound Falls 2) Charmed by His Love 3) Courting Carolina (8/28/12)