Book Bloggie Hoppie Time! 7/1-7/4

Yep it's that time again. This is a weekly event hosted by Crazy for Books. I don't participate as often as I would like but do hop in on occasion. Here is what The Book Blogger Hop is all about....

In the spirit of the Twitter Friday Follow, the Book Blogger Hop is a place just for book bloggers and readers to connect and share our love of the written word! This weekly BOOK PARTY is an awesome opportunity for book bloggers to connect with other book lovers, make new friends, support each other, and generally just share our love of books! It will also give blog readers a chance to find other book blogs to read! So, grab the logo, post about the Hop on your blog, and start HOPPING through the list of blogs that are posted in the Linky list below!!

The Hop lasts Friday-Monday every week, so if you don’t have time to Hop today, come back later and join the fun! This is a weekly event! And stop back throughout the weekend to see all the new blogs that are added! We get over 200 links every week!!

RULES:

Your blog should have content related to books, including, but not limited to book reviews.

1. Post about the Hop on your blog (feel free to grab the logo at the top of the post!)

Spread the word about the book party! The more the merrier!

In your blog post, answer the following question (new question each week!).

This week’s question comes from Sue who blogs at Cookie's Book Club! Thanks for submitting a question for our Hoppers, Sue! Be sure to visit her blog and tell her thank you!

“What keeps you reading beyond the first few pages of a book, and what makes you want to stop reading a book and put it back on the shelf?“

 

My Answer: Interesting characters and humor. I read mostly romance (at least right now I do) and find that if an author has a balance of great characters, interesting situations, and humor I stick the book out for it's entirety. Matter of fact if all those factors are there I anxiously turn the pages to see what will happen next. Julia Quinn, Erin McCarthy, Jill Shalvis, Susan Elizabeth Phillips are excellent at this. So is Julie Garwood, Lori Foster, and Lynsay Sands for that matter.

As far as what drives me to put a book back on the shelf...it doesn't happen. It does occur that a book will bore me and I may not pick it up for awhile (but still have it in my currently reading queue). I have obsessive tendencies and just can't let a book go forever unfinished. I have to finish it. Period. 

My First Ever Giveaway!!!!!!!

Thanks to Care Selick from Wunderkind who contacted me and offering me a great oportunity to read a few ARCs and review them. Because I would like to share my good fortune as soon as I finish the book up I am offering to send it to one of my lucky bloggie friends. So, you want to know which book?

Book Description: It's been ten years since Bitten, the first novel in Kelley Armstrong's New York Times bestselling Otherworld series. In that time hundreds of thousands of fans have ravenously devoured the adventures of Armstrong's witches, demons, and werewolves. Now, in Spell Bound, she brings them all together for her most sweeping tale yet.

Savannah Levine is in terrible danger, and for once she's powerless to help herself. At the heartbreaking conclusion of Waking the Witch, Savannah swore that she would give up her powers if it would prevent further pain for a young orphan. Little did she know that someone would take her up on that promise.

And now, witch-hunting assassins, necromancers, half-demons, and rogue witches all seem to be after her. The threat is not just for Savannah; every member of the Otherworld might be at risk. While most of her fellow supernaturals are circling the wagons at a gathering of the council in Miami, Savannah is caught on the road, isolated from those who can protect her and unable to use her vast spell-casting talent, the thing she counts on most. In a story that will change the shape of the Otherworld forever, Armstrong gathers Elena, Clay, Paige, Lucas, Jamie, Hope, and other beloved characters, who soon learn that the greatest threat to supernaturals just may come from within.

This comes out 7/26/11 and since I just got it I don't have much time to have a long giveaway. Sooooooo, here are my hoops you need to jump through (just kidding)

1. Leave a comment saying you want to win including your email address and get one entry 
2. Follow Me (and let me know in a comment) and get one entry. It's not mandatory to follow me but it will make me happy!
3. Spread the word (on your own blog, facebook whatever..just make sure you post the link in the comments section) and get one entry

That's it actually. Everyone has potentially three entries but you don't have to do all but I would appreciate it.




Now for my rules (yes there always has to be rules)....

• Must have a US address (I am sorry but I just can't afford to send outside the country right now.)
• Must be 18 years or older. 
• Each entry must have it's own comment
• Make sure you leave me your contact info
• If you have shared this please leave me the link in the comments section that I can follow
• Giveaway starts RIGHT NOW and ends at 11:59pm CST Wednesday July 6, 2011

Sometime on Thursday 7/7/11 I will take all the entries and list them on Random.org. Random.org will randomize the list and the person in the very first spot will win! I will mail the book out First Class on Friday 7/8/11.  This will ensure that the lucky winner will get the book before publication date. It would be great if the winner could read it, review it and share it too but it's not necessary.

Since this is my first giveaway there may be somethings I am overlooking. Don't be shy in bringing those to my attention and just as a disclaimer that the blog owner (ok that's really me but I just wanted to sound formal Yo!) has the right to change the giveaway in various ways except she will not swap out another book for the one you are expecting, extend the time frame (or shorten it if need be) or for some unforeseen issues cancel the giveaway altogether. That would totally suck but I have to tell you my city slowly flooding (just a few spots right now) because of the Missouri River and I can't predict what will happen. Today I have nice books. Tomorrow I may have to ring them out.

PS: This is an ARC and it came to me with the back cover a bit abused. Just so you know, looks like someone used the book as a hard surface while drawing on another piece of paper. Drawing would actually be not quite accurate. More like making dots...smallish dots...a bit like this..:.:.;.;;.;::::You get the idea right. They aren't holes the cover isn't really damaged just a bit marred. Oh and you know I'm reading it first right? (review to come soon)

Ok, I think that's it! Good Luck All!

Bound By Darkness by Annette McCleave

Synopsis:
Soul Gatherer Brian Webster has long lived with the guilt of his failure to save his teenage sister. When another girl dies in his arms as she protects an ancient coin from a demon, he takes up her cause. The coin is one of thirty pieces of silver paid to Judas. United, the coins are a dark relic of immense power, and in the wrong hands, they could destroy civilization.

Lena Sharpe is on her own mission to find the Judas coins. A Soul Gatherer by day and a thief by night, she's negotiated the most important deal of her life. When Brian intervenes and kidnaps her to obtain the coins, she attempts to escape. But the brazen warrior is unrelenting, as he is fearful that the beautiful felon has made a pact with the devil himself. And he's not entirely wrong.

Bound together by burning desire and a similar darkness in their hearts, they race against time to recover the missing coins. But as the truth behind Lena's bargain surfaces, Brian is faced with a desperate choice: save one or save many.

My Thoughts:

Throughout the book (that took me almost 2 months to finish) I was so frustrated with, what I thought as, cheesy dialogue. I had trouble seeing the connection between the two main characters too. Having read the first in the series I knew the background. It's about gatherers who collect the souls of the recently departed for Death, herself. They entered into a contract when each of them died for the period of 500 years. The series is based on Good vs. Evil with archangels, demons, Satan, God and a whole lot of religion chatter. Nothing as exacting as scripture quotes and I highly suspect that much of the stuff within the book is fictionalized (it is a fiction novel after all) but I got easily bored with it all. This book is about a bunch of coins that if Satan has them in his possession he can cause thousands to suffer on earth. I never really understood why. He had roughly half of them (there was something like 36 of them) but when a character within the "Good" camp accidentally destroyed one of the coins the rest of the coins "inherited" it's power giving Satan more than 50% control (it felt very big business takeover-ish to me). So the Gatherers need to make sure Satan does not get the rest of the coins.

So, Lena (a Gatherer) found them and plans on handing them over to Satan's minions for her own reasons (which we kind of learn why throughout the book but not specifics until close to the end). Brian (another Gatherer), who fell for Lena on sight, believes she has motives that are not purely selfish even though she doesn't confide in him....about anything. I hated their romance. I never warmed up to them. I hated Brian's "Babe" term of endearment for Lena because it reminds me of how much I hate smarmy men in bars who try to pick up women by calling them Babe or Baby and every time he said it I had this going through my head "My first name ain't baby. It's Janet. Miss Jackson if you're Nasty." which really pulled me out of the story.

The swearing in the book was not on every page but when used it also pulled me out of the story because it seemed so unnecessary. At one point one of the characters used the big ole "C" word that we women hate with a passion. He was referring to another man being one but it was still jarring.

I also didn't like the names. Weird I know. I am so used to unusual names when it comes to paranormal heroes that Brian Webber just didn't scream "Save me you hunka hunka magic man!" Others might find the average Joe name refreshing but to me it brought pictures of pocket protectors and chess games to mind.

The Gatherers have magic too to fight demons when they collect the souls (because demons are also trying to get the souls to add to the army of the underworld or something.) I just don't understand where they magic comes from. They recite incantations and poof they have shields that stop demonic fireballs, mostly. Anyway, they talk a lot about training but this part didn't really get discussed on how they do it. Do they have a book on it or what? I don't know. Lena ended up using magic chants from ancient Egypt and paying prices for the help to those gods during battle. I didn't understand that at all since they are Gatherers who work for Death who essentially works for God (she hates Satan). So the Gatherer's powers have to be connected to God. Not sure how Lena was able to tap into the ones she did. It kind of explained a bit about which god she had help from (she didn't exactly say they were gods either by the way I just interpreted it that way) but I'm still confused. Also it seemed that the only magic the gatherers had (except for Lena) pretty much was to make shields which didn't stand up to more than a few fire balls honestly. You would think that they would be far better equipped to fight demons than a with a sword and a magic shield.

Now that I have gone on and on about what I didn't like I have to say there were some highlights. Thank goodness otherwise this would have been only a 1 Star read.

1--The secondary characters were very interesting. Specifically Carlos, Emily and Murdoch. Despite my irritation with this book I will read the next book because it's about Murdoch and I'm hoping for more storyline for Carlos.

2--The fighting sequences were actually entertaining. Somewhat thrilling and exciting. There were a few of them and I wish there were more. It would have made the story go a lot faster.

3--When Brian comes clean with Lena about his addiction it was a rather touching scene. It was the first time I actually viewed him as a hero and a tormented man which was a good thing. 

I have to say that without those last 3 things this book would have been horrible for me. As it turned out they made the book bearable and brought my thoughts and feelings about the book to a 3 Star rating. I will continue with the series by reading the third book in the series (since I already bought it) but if it turns out to be 3 stars or less I probably will not read any more books by Annette McCleave.

Darkness Becomes Her by Kelly Keaton

What It's About:
Ari can’t help feeling lost and alone. With teal eyes and freakish silver hair that can’t be changed or destroyed, Ari has always stood out. And after growing up in foster care, she longs for some understanding of where she came from and who she is. — Her search for answers uncovers just one message from her long dead mother: Run. Ari can sense that someone, or something, is getting closer than they should. But it’s impossible to protect herself when she doesn’t know what she’s running from or why she is being pursued.

She knows only one thing: she must return to her birthplace of New 2, the lush rebuilt city of New Orleans. Upon arriving, she discovers that New 2 is very... different. Here, Ari is seemingly normal. But every creature she encounters, no matter how deadly or horrifying, is afraid of her.

Ari won’t stop until she knows why. But some truths are too haunting, too terrifying, to ever be revealed.
  
What I Think About:
The Characters....
Ari--A young teenage girl who is allowed to wander off in the family car by her foster parents to search for the answers to her birth. Granted the foster parents are described as the best she ever had who taught her love in addition to the tricks of the bail bonds trade but I found it a bit hard to accept that any parent (foster or birth) wouldn't want to go with and help out with the search. Anyway, Ari is an interesting character (at least the mystery of her birth and heritage are) but I found her abrasive, swore too much and emotionally all over the place.
Sebastian--Equally young but a leader to a band of misfit kids in New 2. Prickly personality that I never understood why Ari was interested in him other than he was attractive. Quite mysterious even after his heritage was revealed.
The Rest of the Cast--I enjoyed a couple of the kids quite a bit (I mentally referred to them as Lost Boys even though several were girls). The head of one of the Nine Families of New 2, Josephine, was also interesting. Self serving she wants to use Ari in the long run against New 2's biggest enemy...which is Ari's enemy incidentally.
The Setting:
A Dystopian setting in the not so distant future (approx 2025) mostly taking place in the city of New 2 which is a rebuilt New Orleans after massive hurricanes wiped out the city around 2015. I found some of the descriptions of the city the best part of the book. The author did a great job of describing the destruction and the rebuilt Garden District after the storms. 
The Overall Storyline:
I thought the story drug in parts but the Mythological theme was so interesting that I was able to ignore some of those slow parts just to get to the interesting stuff again. It did seem to take quite a bit of time to get to the meat of the story. I kind of expected that as Ari walked around New 2 people would shy away or cross themselves (at least this is what I expected based on the description) but not so much.

What I Didn't Like:
Other than the lulls in the storyline I didn't like the assassins that were sent after Ari. Don't get me wrong, I didn't hate them as characters I just hated what the author named the group of assassins. The author not only used a word that I didn't know how to pronounce she used foreign letters to spell it out. I think it was Greek. I don't speak Greek. It annoyed me.

What I Liked:
Not your typical vampire/werewolf paranormal. The Mythological setting and other world creatures made this Paranormal YA not your Ho-Hum same ol' same ol'.

Overall 3.5 Stars.

Bloggie Friend Giveaway

My Bloggie Friend Kristen is Giving away a great looking book!!!!

So I'm spreading the word! Always With a Book is giving away a copy of Creed's Honor by Linda Lael Miller. This is the most recent release in her newest trilogy The Creed Cowboys, which is actually part of her bigger series The Montana Creeds. Wouldn't you like to win a copy of this book? I know I would. Just click the clicky link and it will take you to Kristen's original giveaway post. Giveaway only lasts until June 27th at 6pm EST and open to US and Canada only. So hurry hurry hurry!

Storm Watch by Jill Shalvis

Synopsis:
Uniformly Hot!: The Few.  The Proud.  The Sexy as Hell.
— SUBJECT:  Jason Mauer, National Guard.
— CURRENT STATUS:  Homeward bound.
— MISSION:  Getting some R & R!
— OBSTACLE:  Lizzy Mann.  Sexy blast from the past.
— After battling a hurricane of catastrophic proportions, Jason needs some downtime -- badly.  But there's no rest for the heroic.  During another deluge, Jason's savior skills are suddenly in demand... by his hot friend Lizzy.
She's fiercely independent.  But that doesn't keep them from having incredible sex as they, ah, ride out the storm!
Jason knows relationships and duty don't mix.  Still, he feels as if he's being swept away by a flash flood of desire for Lizzy.

The permanent kind....

My Thoughts: I haven't read many Harlequin Blaze books. I actually don't seek out super steamy books because I prefer the romance aspect of the books over the sex. I thought though that since I really have enjoyed Jill Shalvis's other books I have read I thought I would give this one a try and was rather disappointed. 


What I liked....As far as characters go I actually did like both Jason and Lizzy (even though her name annoyed me just a bit). He was a hot military man and she was a smart nurse. 

I also really enjoyed the pace of the book. Lizzy and Jason have to get through town to check on Lizzy's pregnant sister but the area her sister lives has been evacuated because of horrible flooding. Their adventure in getting to their destination was nail biting on the edge of your seat fun.


I loved how Shalvis set her storyline up too. Lizzy and Jason had been in high school together (but not a couple). Sometimes authors who use the reunited type storyline don't pull it off so well and the reader is left feeling that there should have been a prequel book somewhere that they missed. This book definitely did not have that problem.


What I really didn't like....The fact that their lives are in danger while navigating rivers where streets used to be the characters found a lot of time to make out. Jason would get out of the Jeep to move a large branch blocking their way and when he got back into the vehicle they would make out. A little further down the road after almost having an accident they take a breather and make out. Lizzy is scared for her younger sister and to comfort her they make out. Ok that last one might not have happened but you get the idea. Jason is in the National Guard just off a search and rescue mission where flooding was happening. With that in mind why would a seasoned expert spend so much time making out when he knew that time is of the utmost urgency and getting to their destination was priority? I just could not suspend my disbelief enough to accept his actions. I kind of felt as if the only reason all the making out was including was so the hot monkey sex that happened once they were safe didn't come out of nowhere.

I also didn't care for the secondary storyline involving Lizzy's sister. In order to make her interest in her mystery man hero believable I think more time should have been invested (perhaps their own book) and after only 12 hours or so they are suddenly a couple of sorts. 


Overall I would say that this was an average read and I kind of expect just a bit more from Shalvis. Not a horrible book but definitely not one of her better ones. If you are new to Jill I would totally recommend Simply Irresistible.

Kiss Me Deadly by Michele Hauf

Synopsis:
Kiss Me Deadly - Bewitching the Dark, Bk 2 - Silhouette Nocturne, No 24
Death cocktail is what the vampires call a witch's blood. It's poisonous -- a drop will destroy a vampire within minutes. Nikolaus Drake is the rare vampire who has survived his first taste. Now he's on the hunt for the witch who almost brought him to his demise -- Ravin Crosse. — A witch who spends her nights hunting vampire tribes, Ravin has three obligations to fulfill to set her soul free. One of those obligations -- crafting a love spell -- twists her world upside down when Nikolaus draws the spell from her veins. Natural enemies rarely make the best bedfellows -- but is it possible their intentions are really, truly the same? Can Nikolaus's tribal loyalty survive if he surrenders to desires far darker than his own?

My Thoughts:
This was the first book that I read by Michele Hauf and I really wanted to like it but honestly it wasn't that good. 


What I liked.....Witches and Vampires are mortal enemies and even one drop of witches blood can reduce a vampire to ash. So witches totally kick vampire butt! 
.....Satan (or Himself as he is called in the book) appears in the form of the one you most desire/love (makes for interesting conversations.)
....and that's about all I liked about this book...oh except *****SPOILER*****when Nikolaus and Ravin were playing a weird Do You Trust Me game on the rooftop and the love spell wears off Nikolaus drops Ravin off the building. I thought that was pretty cool*****END OF SPOILER*****


What I disliked....Ravin hates vampires but jumps into having sex with one that wants to kill her (or he will want to once the love potion wears off) despite her verbal "I do not want you"s. I got tired of the war yet the result of her going all soft on him knowing he was only under a potion almost put her into the TSTL category.
...Actually I just really hated Ravin. For centuries she has been massacring vampires based on a traumatic event in her childhood...mostly because she could and because vampires are all evil. Her prejudice overwhelms her character.
....Nikolaus is a vampire created in the 70s (I am pretty sure it's the 70's) yet he is the head of his tribe despite there being other vampires who are more powerful and centuries old. He is a baby compared to others.
...Ok I actually hated Nikolaus completely too. Because of the love potion he couldn't think of anything other than sex with Ravin. He talked a lot about this. He did a lot of this. He wanted to do a lot more of it too. I was under the impression that it was a "LOVE" potion. Not  a "Do Me" Sex Potion. Of course he did tell her he loved her while trying to get into her pants and even said it afterwards too so it must be true. 
....Oh and Ravin trying to earn her soul back from the devil....an important part in the continuation of the story in possible sequels but not very well played out. I think that if this particular part of the storyline was hit harder and used to it's fullest the story would have held more promise. As it is there are 3 different storylines competing within this book. It made the book feel scattered.
.....Apparently vampires like to count. It's rather like an obsession.  I read a review that said they loved this little shout out to Sesame Street and the Counting Count but I found it ridiculous of mass proportions. If the rest of the book had quirky character traits or tongue in cheek humor it would have been fine but it came out of nowhere and was completely out of place.
....The ending. Yes the characters got their happily ever after (even though I was routing for Himself to burn them in a pit of fire for eternity) but the author opens the storyline up for a sequel based on Ravin and Nikolaus's child whose soul has been pre-ordered and paid for by Himself in the future. How's that conversation going to go? "Hey son, you know your mom and I love you and this in no way is your fault but....well, we sold your soul to Satan and Himself will be here to collect in *Ding-Dong* um....now."

Calamity Jayne by Kathleen Bacus

Synopsis:
HOW DOES A BLONDE SPELL "FARM"? — E-I-E-I-O
— Tressa Jayne Turner has had it up to here with the never ending string of dumb-blonde jokes and her longtime nickname that's harder to get rid of than lint from a belly button. Crowned "Calamity Jayne" by Iowa Department of Natural Resources officer Rick Townsend, Tressa's out to gain a little hometown respect - or die trying. Unfortunately for Tressa, that may be the case. She's just been handed the perfect opportunity to get "Ranger Rick," the doubting Don Juan of the DNR, and a skeptical citizenry to finally take her seriously. How? By solving a murder no one else believes happened ... no one, that is, except the killer.

Yup, Calamity Jayne is in it up to her hot pink snakeskin cowgirl boots and matching rhinestone belt - and it's a matter of life and death, respect and reputation, love, happiness and the whole shebang. Tressa would tell you her momma never raised no dummies, but the jury's still out on that one. And as she learned in her work at the Dairee Freeze: Sometimes life hands you a big sloppy ice cream cone. You just have to know how to lick it.  

My Thoughts:
This was a fun book but doesn't live up to it's marketing label. It was supposed to be a contemporary romance but honestly other than some love/hate name calling banter and a couple of smooches there wasn't much romance. It was more of a mystery but a weak one at that. I think the saving grace was that there were a few characters I loved. I loved the "hero's" grandpa who informed Tressa (aka Calamity Jayne) that he was the Green Hornet and she was his Kato and just needed to drive. This was before he pulled out a gun that would impress Dirty Harry for their protection which ended up stolen and used to murder a murderer.
I didn't like Bacus's way of wrapping up the mystery either. She builds up a somewhat suspenseful scene where the killer realizes Tressa is on to him/her and Bacus tries to continue the suspense by saying things like The Killer stared at Tressa. The Killer smiled a cold evil grin. So not identifying the killer during the big stand off for a a bit which I thought was a bit over kill and didn't make the mystery better. However, like I said there were some great (well, at least interesting) characters so I gave this book a 4 star rating and will read the next one. Oh and the blonde jokes peppered through the book were fun too.

Flip This Zombie by Jesse Petersen

Flip This Zombie  by Jesse Petersen
4.5 Stars
book 2 in the Living with Zombies series

Synopsis:
This book picks up a few months after the Zombie Apocalypse started and the couple David and Sarah has started ZombieBusters Inc a zombie killing service. They have been surprisingly adept at killing them. When approached by a scientist to capture zombies alive (or is that undead instead of dead dead?) instead of killing them they take the job but what happens if the scientist is more interested in making an army of Bionic Zombies instead of a cure for zombie-ism? David and Sarah may find themselves among the undead that's what....

My Thoughts:
So I have to say that I enjoyed this one as much as the first. I enjoy Sarah and Dave's banter and wicked sense of humor. I also like the emotional changes the characters have gone through from the first book through the second. In a book that has silly conversations and a lighthearted approach to an earth shattering plague there are some interesting and almost touching interactions. The two struggle with maintaining hope when greeted with death and destruction everyday. It would be very difficult to not give up when your world is bleak day in and day out.

We also see additional growth in Dave and Sarah's marriage. In the beginning of book one the couple are on the verge of divorce. Though their need for survival they have reconnected and their relationship is stronger than it ever has been. Enter Mad Scientist who effectively puts a wedge between the couple. I thought the survival of the family unit was just as interesting as the survival of Dave and Sarah's lives.

Although at times this book has a lighthearted approach to zombie killing you should keep in mind that there is a lot of killing. Often with graphic detail. Both Sarah and David tend to swear frequently (as does The Kid who is introduced in this book) and is written in the first person narrative.

Undead and Unfinished by MaryJanice Davidson

Synopsis: Vampire Queen Betsy Taylor is having a tough time getting through the Book of the Dead -- until the Devil strikes a bargain. She offers Betsy a chance to finish the cursed (literally!) thing, and finally discover all its mysteries. There's just one catch... — Betsy and her half-sister Laura have to go to Hell long enough for Laura to embrace her dark heritage (after a rebellious youth of charity work) and finally make nice with her mother, aka Lucifer. That means interacting with their family's past. In doing so, they're impacting the future in ways they never anticipated. Of course that's what Mother wanted all along. Damn her.

My Thoughts:In this book Betsy goes to Hell. Literally. She agrees to go there so her sister can ask her mother, The Devil, some questions. What then happens is Betsy and Laura (who is now being referred through most of the book as Antichrist) goes on a romp through time (which apparently is now one of Laura's hellish talents). I thought much of the hell part seemed to drag. I felt as if I were being dumped upon with a crap load of information which is just silly considering this is not the first book in the series but the 9th.

Betsy's trip through time was interesting though. I thought her jump into the past was helpful not only to learn more about her husband and first in command Tina but it was an eye opener for Betsy. She is really starting to notice how shallow and self centered she really is. I found that by learning more about Sink Lair I like him a whole lot more too. Tina too for that matter.

As far as the book as a whole, I felt that the situations at the beginning of the book, which actually set up the last part of the book, was obvious in it's attempt to manipulate the storyline. I know that all writers do "manipulate" their story lines to produce the outcome they want but it should not be so obvious in my opinion. I also absolutely hated...no, I detested (is that worse than hate?) the epilogue. I was just complaining about the fact that Betsy just isn't maturing as quickly as I would like but Davidson may have gone a little overboard with the learning maturity part. After visiting the past Betsy then visits the future. She meets the future her who is now 1000 years old. What happens, especially in the epilogue, is just ridiculous. Not in a self centered Betsy way but in a MaryJanice Davidson kicked my puppy way. I know she has introduced a new story arc, hence the new covers and several acknowledgement pages telling us readers that there is a new story arc happening. But honestly she took a series that was silly and fun to someplace dark and depressing. It was happening before the epilogue but really it's the epilogue that is the puppy kicker.

So, do I love that Betsy has learned something on her trips to hell, the past, and the future? Yep. But I also hate what is in Betsy's future with a passion. Which may be the point MaryJanice was making. Her next book comes out in July and I am really torn on if I want to read it. I may have to see where Davidson is going with this new arc so I probably will.

Married With Zombies by Jesse Petersen

Synopsis:
Meet Sarah and David. — Once upon a time they met and fell in love. But now they're on the verge of divorce and going to couples' counseling. On a routine trip to their counselor, they notice a few odd things - the lack of cars on the highway, the missing security guard, and the fact that their counselor, Dr. Kelly, is ripping out her previous client's throat.

Now, Sarah and David are fighting for survival in the middle of the zombie apocalypse. But, just because there are zombies, doesn't mean your other problems go away. If the zombies don't eat their brains, they might just kill each other.
 
My Thoughts:
I have to say that first off, zombies really freak me out. Not that I believe in zombies but knowing that the human mouth breeds more bacteria than, lets say, your toilet seat I can see why the bite of a zombie could potentially be so terrible. There is just something about a zombie that is beyond creepy. No higher brain functioning than a need to quench it's never ending hunger for brains....a zombie will just keep coming and coming regardless if they only have one arm and stumps for legs.
 
OK, so lets talk about the book.
 
Classified on the book's spine as a fantasy I would have to maybe disagree. Perhaps an Urban Fantasy but a classic fantasy...nope. Zombies are not what I think of when I think of fantasy. But then I don't think of Vampires and Werewolves as fantasy either. Oh well, not like it's a big deal or anything. I'm just super anal and had to point that out.
 
Perhaps not the next noble prize winning book for literature, Jesse Petersen's first book is fun. It's funny. And it has funtastic characters. Perhaps my favorite, although only for a short time, was Amanda, the lovable annoying cheerleader neighbor of Sarah and David. Sarah put up with her. David hated her. But that's OK because Sarah detested Mandy's boyfriend Jack. David was friends with him.
 
Mandy was one of those characters that you happen to know, for real. You know her. The bubble headed blond that probably couldn't tell you what 2+2 equals but does know the proper way to do a Kick Basket Toss.
 
Upon Sarah and David's arrival home after being almost eaten by their marriage counselor they explain to Mandy about the zombies. When Mandy still looked at them blankly they asked her if she had been watching TV. She replied that she got bored with TV because all the stations were playing the same show. Out of exasperation Sarah and David then explained that their marriage counselor was a zombie and tried to kill them. Mandy's reaction? "You're in marriage counseling?" which she delivered as if it saddened her.
 
Is it wrong to love a character that I would want to kick in the head in real life? I think my favorite Mandy-ism would have to be when Sarah apologized for killing Jack, Mandy said "That's OK. I was going to break up with him."
 
OK, so the book was funny. It cracked me up. But honestly it was a bit thought provoking too. Sarah and David are trying to get out of Seattle to go to his sister's house but the entire time they aren't sure if his sister is still there. If she is alive or if she is now a zombie. The couple have to work together to survive but also make some tough calls. It can't be easy to kill someone you know and love. This is what they go up against. It's one thing to shoot a zombie that you didn't know when they were not infected but something quite different when it is someone you know and like. Possibly even love.
 
As a first novel this book great. It had momentum that never really stopped. I understood the characters and empathized with them. I did think that the ending was more of a stay tuned for more later type as there is a second book and a third one(which  comes out in a few months). I am looking forward to the next book in the series for the further zombie adventures of David and Sarah.

Venus in Blue Jeans by Meg Benjamin

Synopsis....which isn't much of a synopsis but it's what is on amazon.com....Docia Kent figures Konigsburg, Texas, is the perfect place to get over her lying fiance and hide out from her meddling parents, but she doesnt reckon on vet Cal Toleffson, a six-foot-five-inch hunk of gorgeous manhood who takes one look at Docia and knows shes the love of his life. Now if Cal can only convince Docia to give love a chance, while fending off burglars, con men, jealous rivals, and the eccentric citizens of Konigsburg, maybe they can even make it to happily ever after!

My thoughts.....This was freebie on kindle and not a horrible one but frankly am a little stunned by all the 5 star ratings that it got on amazon.com. It was an OK book but I found it lacking...something. I have been struggling to figure it out for a couple days now and am still not sure. There was some romance, a bit of a mystery, a uppity town witch with a B, a veterinarian and some smallish town charm but I think that other than the uppity witch none of the factors had any oomph to them. Even the sex scenes were a little off. On one hand they were fairly mild but then one or two sentences would throw the book towards an R rating only to finish the page with an "And then....two hours later" feel.

The romance part got better when the couple spent time talking and getting to know each other which I really appreciated because I was able to see a blossoming romance then instead of just having to go by the hero thinking to himself how much he loved her and having me wonder how it happened.

It did almost lose me when Docia and Cal were talking about some sort of party and Docia mentioned balloons and Cal's first thought was something to the effect of "Ballooooooooooons" while staring at Docia's chest. Seriously...it was one of the most ridiculous passages I have read in an adult romance. I don't think I have even read something that silly in a YA. It's something my 14 year old nephew might say to his best friend.

Oh and I don't know who is half naked on the cover but it isn't Cal because Cal is hairy.

What I did like....The chihuahua... the fact that Cal actually did have hair on his chest, because lets face it, men have hair...the nasty witch who hated Docia just because....Cal was from Iowa and so am I.

I guess that is it, my review kind of makes it seem like a bad book but it wasn't. It just wasn't great and it took me weeks to read it which is not like me. So overall 3.5 stars.

Sarah's Child by Linda Howard

Synopsis....

 A tragic accident took everything that mattered to Rome Matthews -- his wife, Diana, and their two little boys. And it robbed Sarah Harper of her best friend. In the two years since the tragedy, Sarah has wanted to reach out to Rome, but she knew she needed to stay away, guarding the secret she had kept from him and Diana all those years -- that she was in love with her best friend's husband.

But now Rome needs her. And though another woman will hold his heart forever, Sarah agrees to be his wife, knowing that everything has a price, including love. Then something totally unexpected rekindles her hidden hope that a marriage of convenience will become a union of love. Now it all comes down to her husband. Will Rome keep fighting his own growing need for a woman who dares him to believe there are second chances in life . . . or will he give in to the power of love and miracles? 



My Thoughts...

Originally published in 1985 I thought it was a solid book that really didn't come across as too "dated". The love scenes are mild by today's standard which is a nice change of pace really. I found my heartstrings twisting while reading this book. Sarah has loved Rome for over a decade but stepped aside when he became interested in her best friend (whom he later married). As the story opens we find that the best friend has died and left a man completely broken by the loss. (not spoilers by the way this is what is included on the back blurb) After a couple years Sarah and Rome find they have a connection and Rome proposes a marriage of convenience. He makes valid points even though I don't do the plot justice it does make sense from where he is coming from. Sarah decides that even though he doesn't love her she loves him and will take him anyway she can. There is so much more that takes place but you have to read the book to get the full effect.

What I liked....Rome. He was a completely flawed man and I liked it. Not drop dead gorgeous but he had a commanding way about him that makes him very attractive to people. Although he admits he has always found Sarah attractive he never strayed from his commitment he made to his wife. His attitude was often harsh and abrasive but his emotions were so raw that even when he was being a complete jerkwad I understood where he was coming from even if I didn't agree.

What I didn't like...Sarah's unfailing dedication to her love of Rome even after he suggested that he wanted nothing to do with a baby but still wanted to stay with Sarah. Suggesting that the kid should never be near him....as a matter of fact aside from some unforeseen illness where the child should need Sarah's attention, when he gets home from work she should dedicate that time to him and make sure the child is out of his way. I am paraphrasing of course but you get the gist. Sarah would never "not" have Rome's baby nor could she give it up for adoption but to sit around and hope for a miracle is a little much. If that miracle didn't happen that child would have been put in a horrible situation of a "Flowers in the Attic" proportion. Luckily this is a happily ever after romance novel so it all worked out. I just didn't think that realistically this should have or could have happened.

Overall a good book. You are either going to love it or hate it (mostly because of Rome). Because of my frustrations with Sarah I am giving this book 4 Stars.

Nightwalker by Heather Graham

Synopsis courtesy of Shelfari....

Jessy Sparhawk has seen firsthand how gambling can ruin people's lives. But one night, desperate for money, she places the bet that will change her life forever. Just as she's collecting her winnings, a man stumbles through the crowd, a knife protruding from his back, and crashes into her, pinning her to the craps table. Hired to investigate the murder, private detective Dillon Wolf finds himself fascinated by the gorgeous redhead who'd been trapped beneath the victim—and by the single word the dying man had whispered in her ear. Indigo. What neither of them realizes is that the nightmare is only just beginning. Because bodyguard Tanner Green may have been killed by that knife, but his angry ghost isn't going anywhere—not without vengeance. Now, literally caught between the living and the dead, Dillon and Jessy have no choice but to forge ahead together. Their investigation will take them from the glitz of the Vegas strip into the dealings of casino magnate Emil Landon, the man who signs both their paychecks, and out into the desert to a ghost town called Indigo, where past and present come together in a search for gold. Years ago, blood was shed on that very ground, and now it looks as if history is about to repeat itself, with the living and the dead facing off for possession of a fortune, and Dillon and Jessy fighting not only to stay alive but for the chance to build a future.




My Thoughts....
I read this book only a couple of days ago and honestly have no strong opinions on it at all. I did think that the character development was much better than the first Graham book I read (The Last Noel) and the romance aspect better. However the romance itself seemed more about sex than...well romance. That doesn't mean I didn't enjoy reading about it, I did. I just wished there were more Awwww moments that make my romantic soul sigh.
 
I think that the strongest point of this book was the suspense. The mystery of the Paiute land gold spanned well over a century into modern date Las Vegas. That rumored gold killed a handful of men in the 1800s and the talk of it in Las Vegas 100 years later ended up killing more.
 
Another strong point was the woo woo paranormal in the form of people who see ghosts. I really liked this part but since my biggest genre crush right now is wrapped up in fangs, fur and witches hats this isn't so surprising. What was really fascinating is that this subject (ghost seers aka Nightwalkers) was prominent in the Indian history that Graham wrote about. There were several different people with Native American ancestry (not all from Paiute but others as well) and the Nightwalker  legends were common among them all.
 
So, I have to admit it was the ghosties that I really liked best. Kind of a Sixth Sense take, once you find out why the ghost is there, the Nightwalker can then help them so they can go towards the light. The spur wearing ghost Ringo added the right touch of history and comic relief to the story.
 
I also liked that Jessy's grandfather Timothy, although an aged Native American, talked liked everyone else. There was no stilted Me Tonto talk which I really appreciated. I just read a book last month that also had Native Americans in it that had the characters talking stiltedly and it drove me nuts. Timothy did refer to Jessy formally as Granddaughter and never really by her given name but his passages flowed just as well as the ones by the teenager of Jessy's best friend.
 
What I didn't like was that Jessy all of a sudden started seeing ghosts. Having never seen them before (not even as a child that she blocked out because it was too traumatic) all of a sudden seeing them really freaked her out (would me too) but the why of it was never explained. She did meet others just like her but none of them talked about their first experience either so it was as if suddenly on the 4th day of the 6th month in her 25th year she was targeted to see ghosts and *poof* she does. {I made up the age of Jessy...I can't say for certain if she was actually 25 years, 6 months and 4 days old or not but just go with me on it...OK?}
 
Overall I would say that this was an enjoyable book and I will definitely read more of Heather Graham's books in the future. 4 Stars.

Parajunkee's View:Vampire Challenge 2011

So I am adding another challenge to this year that I know I will be able to do no problem. It's a read a vampire book challenge. Hosted by Parajunkee her original blog post can be found here or you can also click my title and it will take you to her post too.

The rules are super easy {cut and pasted from Parajunkee's blog for your viewing pleasure}....

THE RULES:





Post about this challenge on your blog stating that you are participating. That post is the link that you will include in the Mr. Linky below. The link should be the post link not just your blog link.


Grab the button and display it in the post (use grab code underneath the button) or on your sidebar so others can join in the fun.


Challenge goes from January 1, 2011 to December 31, 2011


The challenge is to read 20 books that have a vampire as a main character, either protag or antagonist


Post your reviews on the Review Post: http://www.parajunkee.com/2011/01/vampire-challenge-review-link-up.html

So, easy peasy lemon squeezy. I mean, who doesn't love vampires huh? I have so many of them sitting on my TBR read shelves that they are getting really pissed at me (not to mention thirsty) so what better way for me to apease the masses by doing this challenge?

Monthly Mixer Mele 2010 WrapUp

During this challenge I was supposed to read a book for every letter that spells out the month's names starting November 2009 to the end of October 2010. I didn't quite make it. The letters E, U and Y were my downfall. I think perhaps if I had focused on those letters I would have completely this challenge a long time ago but I just read books and then looked to see where they fell. Here is my wrap up of the challenge. I went back to the original poster's website to update but she hasn't posted anything on her blog since May so I guess this was one of those challenges that I was doing alone LOL.

N--Night Lost by Lynn Viehl (3 Stars)
O--Once and Always by Judith McNaught (4 Stars)
V--Virgin River by Robyn Carr (4.5 Stars)
E--Evanovich, Janet--Fearless Fourteen (3 Stars)
M--(The)Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie by Jennifer Ashley (4.5 Stars)
B--Blood Sins by Kay Hooper (3 Stars)
E--Evanovich, Janet Lean Mean Thirteen (4 stars)
R--Robyn Carr's A Virgin River Christmas (4 Stars)


D--(The)Dream Wedding by MJ Rodgers--A Harlequin Intrigue (4 Stars)
E--Elizabeth Boyle's Love Letters From A Duke (4.5 Stars)
C--Causing Havoc by Lori Foster (4.5 Stars)
E--Evanovich, Janet--Sizzling Sixteen (3.5 Stars)
M--Murder Game by Christine Feehan (3.5 Stars)
B--(The) Bewitched Viking by Sandra Hill (2 Stars)
E--Evanovich, Janet--Finger Lickin' Fifteen (4 Stars)
R--Robyn Carr's Temptation Ridge (4 Stars)

J--Julia Quinn's What Happens in London (4.5 Stars)
A--All I Want for Christmas Is a Vampire by Kerrelyn Sparks (3 Stars)
N--Nice Girls Don't Have Fangs by Molly Harper (4.5 Stars)
U--Unleash the Night by Sherrilyn Kenyon (4.5 Stars)
A--Armstrong, Kelley--The Summoning (4 Stars)
R--Robyn Carr's Whispering Rock (5Stars)
Y

F--Forget Me Not by Elizabeth Lowell (3 Stars)
E--Evanovich, Janet--Smitten (3 Stars)
B--Barbara Bretton's Just Like Heaven (4 Stars)
R--Robyn Carr's Angel's Peak (5 Stars)
U--Under Her Skin by Susan Mallery (4 Stars)
A--Angela Knight's Master of Swords (3 stars)
R--Robyn Carr's Shelter Mountain (5 Stars)
Y


M--Marie Anne Wilson's The Christmas Hubsand Silhouette Special Edition (3 Stars)
A--(The) Accidental Demon Slayer by Angie Fox (3 Stars)
R--Robb, JD--Imitation in Death (4 Stars)
C--(The) Christmas Husband by Marie Anne Wilson a Silhouette Special Edition (3 Stars)
H--Holly and Mistletoe by Susan Mallery a Silhouette Special Edition (4 Stars)


A--Angela Knight--Master of the Night (2 Stars)
P--Paradise Valley by Robyn Carr (4.5 stars)
R--Robyn Carr's Forbidden Falls (4 Stars)
I--It Had To Be You by Susan Elizabeth Phillips (4 Stars)
L--Lie By Moonlight by Amanda Quick (3 Stars)


M--Miller, Linda Lael--Deadly Deceptions (4 Stars)
A--Amanda Quick--Second Sight (4 Stars)
Y


J--Jude Deveraux's Holly (4 Stars)
U
N--Nora Roberts's Remember When (3.5 Stars)
E--Everyday Average Jones by Suzanne Brockmann (4.5 Stars)




J--Jayne Ann Krentz's White Lies (4 Stars)
U
L--Leona Karr's Shadows on the Lake (2 Stars)
Y




A--Ana Leigh's The Lawman said "I Do" (1 Star)
U
G--Gentlemen Prefer Succubi by Jill Myles (4.5 Stars)
U
S--Shadows on the Lake by Leona Karr a Harlequin Intrigue (2 Stars)
T--The Touch of Fire by Linda Howard (2.5 Stars)


S--Susan Elizabeth Phillips's Dream a Little Dream (5 Stars)
E--Elisabeth Naughton's Marked (2 Stars)
P--Patterson, James--Witch and Wizard (3 Stars)
T--Taming the Highland Bride by Lynsay Sands (3 Stars)
E
M--MacGregor, Kinley's The Warrior (2.5 Stars)
B--Beth Fantasky's Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side (3.5 Stars)
E
R--(The) Renegade Hunter by Lynsay Sands (4 Stars)


O--(The) Only Way Out by Susan Mallery (2 Stars)
C--Christine Feehan's Street Game (3 Stars)
T--Teresa Medeiros's The Bride and The Beast (4.5 Stars)
O--One Night of Scandal by Teresa Medeiros (5 Stars)
B--Burning Lamp by Amanda Quick (4 Stars)
E
R--Running Hot by Jayne Ann Krentz (4 Stars)

Read 'n Review Challenge 2011

I will join in on this challenge again in 2011. Once again Miz B is hosting it and it's pretty easy. Just read a book and write a review. Easy Peazy. The blog title will like you back to Miz B's original post....

* review each book you read between January 1st and December 31st of the current year.




* PLEASE keep your reviews clean & respectful ~ these books we read are the hard work of an author, and we don’t need to be mean. Even if you didn’t like the book, please try to find something you can say that would be encouraging to the author.



* reviews can be as short, or long, as you wish

* you MAY overlap with other challenges

* eBooks and Audiobooks ARE allowed

* if there will be spoilers in your review, please note this in the subject line of your post so that those who don’t want to read them can skip that review. Thank you.

2011 TBR Challenge

This fun challenge is great for me (and everyone I know) to get rid of some of those TBR books that just keep stacking up and up and up. I like that it is specific in that your chosen books have to be at least 6 months old. I have books laying around my apartment that I have had for 20 years (sad but true.) The blog title will link you back to the original post. Here are Miz B's rules.....

** Pick 12 books – one for each month of the year - that you’ve been wanting to read (that have been on your “To Be Read” list) for 6 months or longer, but haven’t gotten around to.
** OPTIONAL: Create a list of 12 “Alternates” (books you could substitute for your challenge books, given that a particular one doesn’t grab you at the time)
** Then, starting January 1, read one of these books from your list each month, ending December 31. )

By the end of the year you should’ve knocked 12 books off of your TBR list! (of course, if you’re anything like me, you’ll have added *at LEAST* 12 more to the ever-growing pile by then! LOL).
The good news is, though, that you’ll be making some progress! ;o)
Additional rules/guidelines for this challenge:
* the challenge is to read 12 TBR books in 12 months — you can read those all in one month if you want, or one a month, or however you wanna do it.
* you should have a list posted somewhere for others to see
* you CANNOT change your list after January 1st, of the current year!!!
* you can create an Alternates list of MAXIMUM 12 books, if you want, in order to have options to choose from (you can read these in place of books on your original list).
* audiobooks and e-books ARE allowed
* re-reads are NOT allowed, as they aren’t TRUE “TBRs”
* you CAN overlap with other challenges
* OPTIONAL: you can join the Yahoo! Group created for participants of the TBR Challenge, if you want to have a place to keep your list, or just to share with others about how you’re doing!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
My list......some are carrying over from the 2010 challenge that I didn't get to.

Main List

1-Blood Bound by Patricia Biggs
2-Darkling by Yasmine Galenorn
3-She's No Faerie Princess by Christine Warren
4-No Rest for the Wicked by Kresley Cole
5-The Darkest Kiss by Gena Showalter
6-Your Coffin Or Mine? by Kimberly Raye
7-Evermore by Lynn Viehl
8-Lover Avenged by JR Ward
9-Dark Side of the Moon by Sherrilyn Kenyon
10-Bloodfever by Karen Marie Moning
11-Pleasure Unbound by Larissa Ione
12-First Drop of Crimson by Jeaniene Frost

Alternate List

1-The Nerd Who Loved Me by Vicki Lewis Thompson
2-Tangled up In You by Rachel Gibson

3-Twin of Ice by Jude Deveraux

4-Wild Jinx by Sandra Hill

5-With This Ring by Amanda Quick

6-Secrets of a Summer Night by Lisa Kleypas

7-Whitney, My Love by Judith McNaught

8-If You Desire by Kresley Cole

9-Ravished by a Highlander by Paula Cole

10-Blue Eyed Devil by Lisa Kleypas

11-Welcome to Temptation by Jennifer Crusie

12-Back in Black by Lori Foster

RYOB Challenge 2010--update

Well, it is almost December and I am trying to get all my ducks in a row and figure out how many challenges I have met and completed this last year. I joined many many many of them and probably forgot about some. This is an update on my RYOB Challenge for 2010. I read 3 novellas and am not sure if those are allowed or not. I own them so I think they count, if not I will try to read above my goal, which was to read 60 of my own books this year. As of the end of November I have read 53 of my own books. I was thinking that I read more but I guess not. I have read 126 books so far and it's hard to believe that 72 of them were library books but I guess they were. One book was a re-read by the way and it is not allowed so it is not listed. To reach my goal I need to read another 7 books of my own (or 10 depending on if the novellas are not allowed.)

**Updated--goal reached for 2010**

1-Lady Be Good by Susan Elizabeth Phillips (4 Stars)
2-Prince Joe by Suzanne Brockmann (5 Stars)
3-Secrets by Jude Deveraux (1 Stars)
4-Forever Blue by Suzanne Brockmann (4 Stars)
5-Spider's Bite by Jennifer Estep (4.5 Stars)
6-Thanksgiving by Janet Evanovich (2 Stars)
7-Out of the Dark by Sharon Sala (3.5 Stars)
8-When Darkness Comes by Alexandra Ivy (3.5 Stars)
9-The Pagan Stone by Nora Roberts (3 Stars)
10-Marked by Elisabeth Naughton (2 Stars)
11-Dangerous Tides by Christine Feehan (4.5 Stars)
12-Smitten by Janet Evanovich (3 Stars)
13-Ten Things I Love About You by Julia Quinn (4 Stars)
14-McKettrick's Heart by Linda Lael Miller (4.5 Stars)
15-Lover Enshrined by JR Ward (4.5 Stars)
16-Remember When by Nora Roberts (3.5 Stars)
17-One Night of Scandal by Teresa Medeiros (5 Stars)
18-Deadly Deceptions by Linda Lael Miller (4 Stars)
19-Master of the Night by Angela Knight (2 Stars)
20-Public Affair, Secretly Expecting by Heidi Rice (4 Stars)
21-The Hollow by Nora Roberts (4 Stars)
22-Bit the Jackpot by Erin McCarthy (4.5 Stars)
23-Sweet Liar by Jude Deveraux (2.5 Stars)
24-At Grave's End by Jeaniene Frost (5 Stars)
25-Fling or Wedding Ring by Mira Lyn Kelly (2.5 Stars)
26-Grave Surprise by Charlaine Harris (4 Stars)
27-The Bride and The Beast by Teresa Medeiros (4.5 Stars)
28-A Hunger Like No Other by Kresley Cole (5 Stars)
29-Destined For An Early Grave by Jeaniene Frost (5 Stars)
30-Dead Sexy by Kimberly Raye (3 Stars)
31-Aphrodite's Secret by Julie Kenner (4 Stars)
32-If you Deceive by Kresley Cole (5 Stars)
33-Dark Celebration by Christine Feehan (2 Stars)
34-Irresistible by Susan Mallery (4.5 Stars)
35-Second Sight by Amanda Quick (4 Stars)
36-Crossroads by Keta Diablo--novella (2 Stars)
37-Crossroads Revisited by Keta Diablo--novella (3 Stars)
38-Seeing You by Dakota Flint--novella (4 Stars)
39-McKettrick's Luck by Linda Lael Miller (3 Stars)
40-The Dead Girls' Dance by Rachel Caine(4 Stars)
41-Mackenzies Mountain by Linda Howard (4.5 Stars)
42-The Renegade Hunter by Lynsay Sands (4 Stars)
43-Imitation in Death by JD Robb (4 Stars)
44-Dream a Little Dream by Susan Elizabeth Phillips (5 Stars)
45-White Lies by Jayne Ann Krentz (4 stars)
46-Lean Mean Thirteen by Janet Evanovich (4 stars)
47-Fearless Fourteen by Janet Evanovich (3 Stars)
48-Once and Always by Judith McNaught (4 Stars)
49-Street Game by Christine Feehan (3 Stars)
50-The Bewitched Viking by Sandra Hill (2 Stars)
51-Causing Havoc by Lori Foster (4.5 Stars)
52-Deadly Gamble by Linda Lael Miller (4 Stars)
53-The Warrior by Kinley Macgregor (2.5 Stars)
54-Nobody's Baby But Mine by Susan Elizabeth Phillips (4.5 Stars)
55-Born to Bite by Lynsay Sands (4 Stars)

56-Sizzling by Julie Garwood (3.5 Stars)
57-Forbidden by Suzanne Brockmann (5 Stars)
58-Visions of White by Nora Roberts (3.5 Stars)
59-Prince Charming, M.D. by Susan Mallery (3.5 Stars)
60-Sleepless in Scotland by Karen Hawkins (4 Stars)
61-Match Me if You Can by Susan Elizabeth Phillips (5 Stars)

Out of the Dark by Sharon Sala

Synopsis courtesy of Shelfari....

In the darkness of her memory terror lurks Street artist Jade remembers little of her childhood except for the time she spent under the ruthless control of a cult leader, a time marked by terrible abuse and suffering. For fifteen years since she escaped his grasp, she has survived by living on the streets and never putting down roots. Ex-cop Luke Kelly knows his friend Sam Cochrane wants nothing more to find his daughter, Jade, who was taken from him as a child. So Luke uses all his connections to make that happen, not knowing that by reuniting Jade with her father he is exposing her to a deadly peril. In the healing embrace of her father's home, Jade -- with Luke's loving help -- begins to put fear behind her. But somewhere in the darkness, a man is prepared to kill rather than let Jade reveal the secrets of her childhood. And when her story makes the national news, that someone finally knows where to find her.

My thoughts....

This was my first book read by this author and it was good for the most part. Quite a bit of faith in God thrown in....not completely preachy but more than I care for. After awhile it kind of felt like product placement....think I'm going to H.E double hockey sticks for comparing God to Chex Mix? Anyway, the last 100 pages seemed to drag and I thought as traumatized as Jade was, I felt that her couple months of therapy that turned her into a woman emotionally available for a full on relationship with a man seemed abrupt and not real. The suspense was drug out even though technically Jade was safe for the last hundred pages or so making the story feel longer than it really was. I felt, however, that the situations within the book (the childhood physical and sexual abuse and the emotions that came with it....up until the last part of the book) were spot on and Sala did a great job of convincing me of Jade's plight. I was as emotional as Jade was through much of the book. Overall, as I said, a good book. 3.5 Stars. I will read more of Sharon Sala in the future....at least to get a better feel of her writing.

The Sherbrooke Bride by Catherine Coulter

Douglas Sherbrooke, Earl of Northcliffe, decides that he needs an heir, so quite nonchalantly he thinks about his choices and then chooses the beautiful Melissande Chambers to bestow this privilege on. Unfortunately as he is planning his trip to do the deed he gets called off on a secret mission for the government and sends his cousin Tony to marry Melissande by proxy for him. When he arrives back to his home expecting the diamond, Melissande, he finds her younger sister instead. Tony, married Melissande for himself and to "fix" it he married Alexandra by proxy to Douglas.


My thoughts.....

Honestly I have heard for years that Coulter was an exceptional writer and The Sherbrooke Bride is a great read. I feel lied to. I hated it. After reading the other reviews on this book (most are right around 4 stars) I am wondering if maybe it is just me.

Douglas is pretty ticked off that instead of finding the beautiful woman he expects to come home to he is married to her younger sister that although handsome (Alex said she was quite handsome when listing her attributes to Douglas) she appears dowdy when standing next to Melissande...of course...according to the author....everyone does. So, what does Douglas do? Just figure that he didn't really know any of the girls that well and only wanted a brood mare anyway to give him an heir and anyone would do? Get mad and simply annul the marriage? Nope he treats Alex horrid. Seriously, horrid.

He ridicules her clothes. Saying things like, "That is such an unfashionable dress I doubt it was ever in fashion. I suppose you intend to wheedle me out of a new wardrobe?"

He ridicules her hair. "You will not pleat your hair like that. I don't like it. You look like a little girl."

He ridicules her feelings for him.....I still don't understand how she could have any tender feelings for the man who treats her so awful.

He often tells her that she will NOT ask questions. She will DO as he says and OBEY him. Often telling her that she will respond that yes "She understands" even if she doesn't.

He often referenced to his wife while thinking of her as "the little twit".

Alexandra's own thoughts were just as belittling. When thinking of her sister and herself she knows that Melissande is a diamond and she, Alex, certainly isn't a diamond but perhaps she could be a Topaz. A Topaz is, after all, a quite suitable and a nice gem.

I think that the love scenes (I use the phrase loosely) were the worse to listen to (yes I listened to it on audio without skimming most of it had I done if I had an actual paper version). The love scenes (cough cough) were all about him telling her, quite clinically what he would do to her and that she would enjoy it. The first one was the most painful...granted they all were bad but the first one is like that first plunge into the swimming pool you never know quite what to prepare for and let's just say that the very first love scene will stay with me for a long time....like chicken pox scars.


Douglas did a lot of talking.....a LOT!!! I don't remember much of it thank goodness as I tried to block it but what I do remember is that Douglas doesn't find his wife remotely attractive and can't figure out why he loses control when he has sex with her as he is ALWAYS in control. So even though his wife is not stunning in beauty it must still be her fault he ruts her like a school boy's first outing.

Oh and at one point they were talking about if he found her lovely and irresistible (I am paraphrasing by the way) to which he replied...."Well, No. But you have nice breasts." What a pig!

And what does Alex do while her husband treats her like this???? Why...... she declares her love for him.

One reviewer said that they fell in love with Douglas and mentioned he was the first "Alpha" male that they read. To me there is a big difference between an Alpha male and a jerkwad. Douglas is a jerkwad....perhaps even more of an asshat. Jerkwad is too mild of a word.

I was going to give this book a flat out 1 star rating (I never give less than that because that is the lowest my rating scale goes...although a half star would make sense too if I really was going to think about it...but I'm not at this point) oh, anyway, it fully deserved 1 star up until the last 80 or so pages (I'm guessing by the way since I listened to it and honestly don't know). The last 1/5 of the book picked up and had some sort of a twist that was mildly interesting and made me see Alex and Douglas as actual characters and not horrible plotting mistakes. Unfortunately it only elevated the book half a star...too little too late.

Oh, and there was a ghost in the book called The Virgin Bride. Almost pointless to have had it in the storyline...I suppose it was to give the book an added depth and shake things up a bit but it was a big FAIL....really.

Now I'm kind of in a dilemma...I own 38 more of her books. I'm scared to even pick another up.

The Original TBR Challenge Update

So, it's almost the end of November of 2010 and I have just a few short weeks to try to finish up all my reading challenges. Over the last year I did really well meeting my goals. One of those goals was to do the TBR Challenge which had a list of 12 books preselected prior to January1, 2010. We could also chose books from an alternate list of 12 preselected books to add to the variety. I have read a total of 14 of those books. Not sure how many more I will get done by the end of the year.

Here is a look at my lists....

List 1


1-Imitation in Death by JD Robb (4 Stars)


2-The Hollow by Nora Roberts (4 Stars)

3-Mackenzie's Mountain by Linda Howard (4.5 Stars)

4-Blood Bound by Patricia Biggs

5-Aphrodite's Secret by Julie Kenner (4 Stars)


6-The Dead Girls' Dance by Rachel Caine (4 Stars)


7-Unleash The Night by Sherrilyn Kenyon (4.5 stars)

8-Darkling by Yasmine Galenorn

9-A Hunger Like No Other by Kresley Cole (5 Stars)

10-She's No Faerie Princess by Christine Warren

11-Sweet Liar by Jude Deveraux (2.5 Stars)

12-Dangerous Tides by Christine Feehan (4.5 Stars)

Alternate List

1-The Nerd Who Loved Me by Vicki Lewis Thompson

2-Your Coffin Or Mine? by Kimber Raye

3-Causing Havoc by Lori Foster (4.5 stars)

4-Dark Celebration by Christine Feehan (2 Stars)

5-Dream a Little Dream by Susan Elizabeth Phillips (5 Stars)

6-Master of the Night by Angela Knight (2 stars)

7-Tangled up In You by Rachel Gibson

8-Irresistable by Susan Mallery (4.5 Stars)

9-Evermore by Lynn Viehl

10-Twin of Ice by Jude Deveraux

11-Wild Jinx by Sandra Hill

12-With This Ring by Amanda Quick

I got pretty lazy with posting reviews so not all the books have reviews for them unfortunately.