Lori's August reads

Better late than never. I'm starting to find it difficult to track my reads. This is definitely the furthest I've ever made it into the year. I had a bit of a slump last month, in that I didn't really want to read anything on my pile. So I spent the month rereading and coming back to my comfort genres; historicals and romaantic suspense. The rereads were the Hearts of the South series, which I absolutely adore. Many of the things that bothered me so much last time I read the series didn't irk me as much this ttime around. Huh. Anyway... I ended up reading 24 books over the month, bringing my total for the year to 189. Only 1 5-star read, but several 4.5 star reads.


A Kiss to Kill (Passion For Danger, #3) by Bruhns, Nina: 4 stars
Another fun entry in the series.

The Lawman's Redemption by Crooks, Pam: 2 stars
The heroine drove me batshit crazy. She alternated between blaming the hero for her family's woes and noting that her brother and mother weren't the most upstanding folks. She never did acknowledge that they brought their fate upon themselves. I never did see what the hero saw in her. She seemed immature emotionally and unrealistic, constantly blaming Jack for everything. Even afyer she tried to kill him and she kept her pregnancy secret, he still accepted her without any qualms. I wanted her to grovel and grovel hard. Her inconsistent behavior ruined the book for me, unfortunately.

A Little Bit Wild (York, #1) by Dahl, Victoria: 3.5 stars
I liked the story, a lot, but there were a few things that bothered me. First, the first couple chapters were devoted to how ugly Jude is, in the heroine's opinion. Saying it once, maybe even twice would have been sufficient for me. So that threw me right at the beginning of the book.

Second, and perhaps more important, the heroine is selfish and spoiled. And yes, I understand that's the point and that Dahl goes out of her way to show it, but Marissa came to her realizations too late in the book for my wholehearted approval. However, I did like that the hero loved her for that, and for who she was. I also really liked that they both grew and learned about themselves and each other in order to become more accepting.

Loved that by the end of the book, what Marissa saw in the beginning as unattractive features on Jude, at the end struck her as intensely masculine (yum) and perfect for him. (And her).

Lots of bits of humor as well, to keep me entertained. Dahl has a wicked sense of humor, and it shines through. Love that.

And the opening? I really liked it. Very different for a historical, for sure.

Her other historicals have been far more serious (and I admit that I enjoyed them more). This one reads like one of her contemporaries voice-wise, but in the historical setting.

On These Silken Sheets by Darby, Sabrina: 3 stars
Interesting, but I felt like there was so much sex that it drowned out the stories.

The Longest Night by Dees, Cindy: 4 stars
I love Charlie squad. Dees has really brought this team to life. Howdy has always been a character that's been hard to pin a personality on. But I loved how he empowered Shannon and how she brought him back to the land of feeling.

Because the book takes place over such a short period of time, you're required to suspend belief, but I'm willing to do it with this team of soldiers. Another wonderful entry in her series.

Deadly Fear (Deadly, #1) by Eden, Cynthia: 4 stars
I was a bit worried in the beginning that there would be a lot of sex on the run and in completely unprofessional situations. As the book went on, by the 3rd or 4th chapter, Eden seemed to settle down to the story. And although there was still some inappropriate sex, it fit better into the book as it went on.

I really liked the suspense portion, and thought it creepy enough to satisfy me. Looking forward to the 2nd book!

Stolen Kisses by Enoch, Suzanne: 4 stars
Cute but not memorable.

The Icing on the Cake by Kent, Alison: 4 stars
Very interesting - the first group of reality-based romances to be released. I liked it but I felt like I was a voyeur, and that made me a little uncomfortable.

Married By Morning (The Hathaways, #4) by Kleypas, Lisa: 4.5 stars
I love Leo. He maintained his irreverent personaliy and Catherine was ascerbic and gave as good as she got.

What keeps this from 5 stars is that I thought she held out too long. Her indecision lasted too long and began to grate on my nerves.

Love in the Afternoon (The Hathaways, #5) by Kleypas, Lisa: 4.5 stars
Loved Beatrix's book. I'm a big damaged hero fan, and I loved how accepting Beatrix was of Christopher. The ""we'll get through it together"" theme rather than ""you'll be ok"" makes me feel good - acknowledgement that there is an issue, but that they were a team. It wasn't Christopher's problem to fix, but theirs. A terrific ending to the series.

Heaven Forbids by Ranney, Karen: 3.5 stars
This reads much like Ranney's early work - has an epic feel of love found, lost, and found once again. It felt a little more disjointed than others I've read from her, however, and also was a little more morally ambiguous. The hero and heroine fall in love at first sight, but he is married to her niece. It would have been easier to accept had Sarah been a horrible person, but she wasn't.

As Sarah descends into madness (brought on by an OD of laudanum?), Hugh and Kathryn love more and feel guilty as well. But they are unable to turn away from one another. Once they do, they are both miserably unhappy.

In the end, they come back together following a multitude of tragedies.

If you can overlook adultery in the face of true love, and can deal with the imperfections of an early book, then you will surely enjoy this book. If you can't, then I recommend you don't even try.

The Heat Is On by Shalvis, Jill: 4 stars
Loved how each admitted to themselves that they wanted more but I wish they'd told each other sooner. Reallyloved their chemistry, and great dialogue as always. Also enjoyed the secondary characters, Jacob's brothers especially. Another Shalvis winner.

Desiring the Highlander by Sinclair, Michele: 3.5 stars
I liked this one, but not as much as the other two. I thought Elle and Cole were both well-drawn and believable. I enjoyed the secondary characters, too. But a few things bothered me. First, there was a lot of internalizing. Next there was a lot of analysis of emotions with what I perceived to be modern verbiage. "Cole internalizes his emotions" just doesn't sound like something a 14th century woman would say. I was disappointed that Colin was barely mentioned. And that he and hiswife didn't appear for the wedding.

And last, this book contained my latest pet peeve. A kidnapping for no reason. The conflict could have been handled another way, but I just knew a kidnapping was coming and I awaited it with dread. Authors, please stop with the "kidnapping as climax" endings. I beg of you!

So overall I liked this one, but there were a few things that bothered me.

The Chesapeake Diaries: Home Again by Stewart, Mariah: 3.5 stars
I didn't care for this one as much as the first in the series, but I'll definitely still be reading more.

What Mattered Most (Hearts of the South prequel) by Winfree, Linda: 4 stars
Suh a great start to the series. Although I knew what was going on, I have to admit that Lainie bothered me a little more this time around. I don't know why - she acted completely consistently with a head injury, and that is good, but it still bugged me that she was so unyielding.

Truth and Consequences (Hearts of the South, #1) by Winfree, Linda: 4 stars
While the villains are over the top, I really enjoyed everything else about this book.

His Ordinary Life (Hearts of the South, #2) by Winfree, Linda: 5 stars
I love the marriage in trouble trope. Winfree treats it with respect and has both characters accept responsibility and grow and learn. Something about her characters' emotions speaks to me. I always feel kicked in the gut when I read one of her books. Here, Del and Barbara aren't perfect. Tgey each come across as selfish occasionally as well as giving and loving and troubled and in love an all the other things that happen when two people love each other but are committed to working itout. Their kids are also portrayed realistically in their actions and emotions. I liked that even while having difficulties as a couple, they never played the kids to their own advantage. They presented a united front and did what was best for the kids.

I loved this even more the second time around.

Hold On to Me (Hearts of the South, #3) by Winfree, Linda: 4 stars
Tick & Cait's book. Loved it.

Anything But Mine (Hearts of the South, #4) by Winfree, Linda: 4 stars
Another great entry in the series. Winfree doesn't back away from the heartache, that's for sure. She always delivers an emotional kick in the gut.

Memories of Us (Hearts of the South, #5) by Winfree, Linda: 4 stars
Celia and Tom's book. My heart broke for her. And I just loved Tom.

Hearts Awakened (Hearts of the South, #6) by Winfree, Linda: 4.5 stars
As before, love Mark and Tori. Tick being a jerk about Mark still bothered me, but not as much as the first read. Loving rereading this series.

Fall Into Me (Hearts of the South, #7) by Winfree, Linda: 4 stars
Love Troy Lee. Love Angel, especially once she got over her older woman/younger man issues. Love their relationship. Am now afraid to let my teenage boy back in the car. Hate the epilogue. Still.

Facing It (Hearts of the South, #8) by Winfree, Linda: 4 stars
I loved both Ruthie and Chris. But I felt that the romance happened too quickly for Ruthie's past, and it bothered me that that Ruthie was the one who instigated the hurried pace.

I like that they agreed to go slowly, though (even if they couldn't keep to that promise). It showed they were both wary (Chris especially) and that they were aware of potential issues.

However, even though I thought it all happened too fast, I thought that Winfree handled the domestic violence aspect absolutely fantastically. She has a way of dealing with deep emotional issues that cuts right to the heart of the matter.

Chris is one of my favorite Winfree heroes, throughout the series.

Uncovered (Hearts of the South, #9) by Winfree, Linda: 4 stars
Last time I gave this a 3. This time it gets a 4. Ash is a great guy, and Maddie grew on me this time. I do love how Winfree weaves the other characters into subsequent stories, and although I still felt like the series is becoming the Tick & Cait show, it felt a bit more balanced to me on the reread.

I've heard that after a hiatus, Winfree is back writing again. Cannot wait to read another from her.

September is proving to be a fairly slow month for me, but I'm incredibly busy at work, and will be so through the entire month. I'm testing web code again for a huge release, so am putting in extra hours and am totally drained by the end of each day. Not a lot of energy left to read. :(

Stand Up 2 Cancer

As I sit here watching the Stand Up 2 Cancer telethon, I've found myself tearing up many times. It's really been beautifully done from what I've seen of it so far.

Cancer and stroke are the two causes that I fight to find a cure for all year long. My dad died 6 years ago today from multiple strokes of unknown etiology. My grandparents all had cancer - for two of them, it was their cause of death. I have many friends who have suffered from cancer, some who have survived, and others who have not. My brother-in-law had melanoma. My mom just lost her best friend two weeks ago from complications from her cancer treatment. My oldest child is named for my husband's grandmother, who passed away from leukemia about 2 weeks before he was born.

Yet, we also have many, many friends who have had a happy ending. My husband's musical partner is a survivor of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. And that is due to positive thinking, wonderful treatment and physicians, amazing families, and the grace of G-d.  The wonderful treatment they received wouldn't be possible without incredible people like you, who support the cause; who support finding a cure in deed as well as in word.

I hope that you will support me in my quest to find a cure for cancer by donating to my Walk for Life. You can donate on my page here. If everyone I know donated only $10, I could make my goal with ease. But even if you can only donate $5, or even $1, you will be making a huge difference in the lives of so many. Every penny counts. I'm so pleased that this year, it's a family affair again. My kids are both walking, and youngest is raising money as well. My husband's band will be performing at the event again, too. And oldest will be walking the graveyard shift with his friends like they do each year (ahhh, the stamina of a teenager!).

This song was written for a friend of my husband's who passed away from lung cancer at age 30. She was a non-smoker and had no family history. A couple weeks later, my husband's grandmother passed away. Mary Carves the Chicken dedicated this song to both of them. I hope you'll listen to it.

Great Wide Open

Please, please help out. All it takes is a few clicks of your mouse. And for those of you who have donated to my walk each and every year, I thank you from the bottom of my heart. You are heroes, each and every one of you.

Donate here. And thank you for your heroism.

ARC: The Icing on the Cake by Alison Kent

Matchmaker, matchmaker, make me a match . . . dot com! An on-line dating service is not Michelle Snow’s idea of how to find love but when the Big 3-0 hits, Michelle decides she has nothing to lose since she hasn’t brought a date home in ten years, she’s professionally burned out, and her climb up the corporate ladder has come at the expense of abandoning her sweet dream: to own a boutique cupcakery.

Todd Bracken, early 30s and a successful technology consultant, isn’t exactly a player after being off the market for ten years, and pours himself into his dual passions of martial arts and home-sweet-home renovations. Only there’s no one to come home to so he decides to give Match.com a try. Todd isn’t so sure the Internet dating scene is his thing—until a message pops up in the wee hours on a weekend night: "I like your smile." Todd likes—a lot—the whole package that glides into a French bistro in Washington, D.C.

It’s serious mojo-at-first-sight but there’s a glitch: Todd and Michelle live in different cities. Will love find its way in the digital age with a You’ve Got Mail courtship when video cam kisses just aren’t enough? And when Todd challenges Michelle to not only go for her dream but let him share it, will they be able to make it happen together despite obstacles more plentiful than a shower of rainbow sprinkles?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This is one of the first three reality based romances from HCI. The blurb from the HCI site is a little misleading because Todd and Michelle only live an hour away from each other. The blurb gives the impression that they are super far apart and have to deal with a long distance romance. Not the case.

When her friends force her to sign up for a month on match.com, Michelle is skeptical, but agrees. Her first match is with Todd. They exchange a few texts, and meet up almost immediately. They both feel the click right away.

It’s interesting to read a book about a true-life romance for a number of reasons. I felt a little voyeuristic. OK, I felt a lot voyeuristic. And plus, this romance just happened, is still happening – it’s not far in the past. I wondered how this couple felt having their love lives splashed all over. But even so, I really enjoyed this book.

I admit to feeling a little bit on the outside looking in at first. That voyeuristic thing. But once I got past that, I really liked it. For those of you who like conflict in their romances, you won’t find it here. There’s only two people meeting, falling in love, and dealing with real-life issues: the loss of a job, the loss of a parent, But it’s also a story about living out your dreams and supporting one another. And all the giddiness of falling in love with that special someone who just “gets” you.

This is definitely a 21st century romance, with much of the initial contact and wooing happening via text messaging. Which is such a foreign concept to me. Yes, I’m that old – there were no cell phones when hubby and I were dating and getting married. But the texting between Todd and Michelle takes the place of the love letters that we used to write. They flirted and felt deeply in those texts. Had the phone been a piece of paper, I could envision Michelle clasping that letter to her chest and sighing after reading a text from Todd.

The biggest conflict is Michelle’s indecision about starting her own business after she gets laid off from her job. She is understandably wishy-washy about starting up a small business in this economy, potentially losing everyting and reluctant to ask her parents to invest at such a risky time. But Todd supports her all the way, pushes her even, because he knows it will make her happy.

I adored Todd. Which creeps me out a little to say, since he’s a real person, LOL. He’s funny, self-deprecating, smart, cute, and he has a dimple. And he supports and loves Michelle with everything he is and everything he has. What’s not to love? In turn, she’s self-sufficient, smart, beautiful, and funny. The just get each other right from the start. How lovely for them.

Alison Kent writes wonderful contemporaries. This had a different feel to it than her other books. Had I not known it was a Kent book, I likely wouldn't have guessed it. There are no graphic sex scenes (which I actually found myself grateful for), there’s no suspense, there’s no dark, mysterious hero. But it does have the wonderfully descriptive writing that I associate with Kent. And she’s a fabulous storyteller. Once I got past the “peeping Tom” feeling, I was drawn into the story, wanting it all to work out for Todd and Michelle without all the drama. Because there’s nothing that feels as good as being totally comfortable with the one you love, and enjoying fun times but also enjoying being quiet with them.

If you like low-conflict love stories written about two really nice, mature people who know what they want, falling in love then this is for you. It’s well written and engaging. If you need lots of conflict, then I suggest you look elsewhere.

Bookwatch: Inside Out by Lauren Dane

Worth the Wait


Ella Tipton is a survivor. In the wake of an attack that left her nearly dead, she’s spent each day putting her life back together. Once vibrant and outgoing, she’s needed to reclaim the best parts of who she was while retaining the hard won lessons. There hasn’t been room for any romantic entanglements, even if she were ready. Still, it didn’t mean she had to stop sneaking looks at Mister Tall, Dark and Tattooed himself.


Security professional Andrew Copeland isn’t quite sure when his jones for the lovely and decidedly skittish Ella developed. He’s known her for years, has watched her triumph over the pain she’d been dealt. Cope is no stranger to women, but he knows the nervous flush he gets every time he talks to her is different than any attraction he’s had in the past. Determined to get Ella to let him in, Andy does the one thing he can think of to get close: he offers her hands-on training in self-defense.


While Ella’s sure he’s just being nice, the prospect of being able to touch him and gain the tools to push away the last vestiges of her fear is more than she can resist. Soon enough, Cope shows Ella his feelings are far more than friendly and re-ignites something deep inside her. Before long desire and love turn them both inside out.

Brown family series
November 2010

The tattoos on the covers in this series just keep getting bigger and more intricate. But gorgeous, too! I love the colors. And look how into her he seems. *swoon*  I think I noted in Brody's book that Dane blew the stereotype off of tattooed guys for me. So don't be like me and let the cover make you think that Cope is a certain type of guy. It looks like we'll get another damaged but strong heroine and another fabulous, caring hero. And the blurb makes it sound like a friends to lovers story. Yummy. Just what I like!

I absolutely cannot wait for this book.

Preorder it here (it's only $10.12 at the time of this posting - 33% off the cover price).

Band of Brothers by Steven Ambrose, a guest review by oldest

When I mentioned on my personal blog that one of the assignments my oldest had to do over the summer for his AP US History class was to write a book review, Leslie asked if I would post the review when he was done.

So, bearing in mind that there were some requirements for content, (and that he wrote it in about 15 minutes, LOL), here is the review for Band of Brothers, written by my eldest.


For my summer reading book, I chose to read Band of Brothers by Stephen E. Ambrose. The author was well qualified to write this book, as he was a professor of history for forty-five years before his retirement in 1995. Ambrose interviewed the members of E. Company, 506th regiment, 101st Airborne division about their experiences during World War II. They fought Germany after landing on D-Day at the beach of Normandy, and made it all the way to Hitler's Eagle's Nest. He wrote many stories about WWII, and he tells this one from a narrative point of view, explaining the events that occurred through the eyes of the soldiers while providing external insight.

The story is about E. Company's experiences throughout the war. Members of the company are interviewed by Ambrose, and he uses the information to recreate battlefield heroics, barrack life, harsh training, and the friendship of the men of E. Company. It begins by telling the story of how the men of E. Company were trained. They were put under extreme conditions and made to do more work, more running, and more physical tasks than any other company, and made to do so by Company Commander Herbert Sobel. The men did not appreciate the work they had to do at the time and often complained.

"Behind his back the men cursed him, 'f---ing Jew' being the most common epithet." (pg. 24).

But the men soon learned that all of the training that they had so rigorously been put through, would pay off.

"But then, who could say that the men of Easy would have had the discipline, the endurance (they had been marching since 0130, after a night of little or no real sleep; they were battered and bruised from the opening shock and the hard landing) or the weapons skills to carry off this fine feat of arms, had it not been for Sobel?" (pg. 85).

This quote refers to the actions taken by the men of E. Company to take out German machine guns covering Utah Beach. The training by Sobel had prepared them for such harsh conditions, and they were ready and responded perfectly.

The majority of the book explains the things that the men experienced, but I found the end to be more interesting. At the end of the story, Ambrose tells the reader what the soldiers did after the war. Some had success, some had failures; most lived normal lives, though. The injured men had interesting stories as well.

"Sgt. Bill Guarnere also lost his leg, above the knee, in Bastogne. After discharge in the summer of 1945, he was given 80 percent disability. He married, had a child, and went to work as a printer, salesman, VA clerk, and carpenter, all with an artificial leg." (pg. 296).

The story concludes with a letter from Mike Ranney who when asked, "Were you a hero in war?" replied, "No, but I served in a company of heroes." This shows the respect that the men of E. Company had for one another; that they would talk better of others than of themselves.

The main theme presented in this book is that the bond formed between the men of E. Company was stronger than other bonds between members of the service. The author clearly shows examples of how soldiers would directly disobey orders in order to remain with E. Company and their friends. The soldiers who were interviewed gave reasons for this; that they wanted to fight with the best, to put in the extra work, to trust each other with their lives. That was what the men of E. Company were about. The author shows this through the quotes of soldiers that are presented in the book, and even in the book's title. This theme relates to a broader idea of American fellowship. It makes the reader feel as though he or she has a similar bond with these people, and would follow them into battle at any time. It is a powerful story, and leaves its mark on those who read it.

The book is very relevant to the topic of World War II because E. Company served there, but also the nature of how it was written. It was not dramatized by the author, as his descriptions were given to him by actual soldiers who fought in the war. He makes the story more realistic and interesting than other books and textbooks because of that interviewing process. It is easier for the reader to understand what happened as it is given from the perspective of the soldiers themselves. The time period is explained in detail as well, because the author gives examples of what the soldiers did for fun and what they would do with their free time. Free time activities were very different then from what they are today. I think that the author makes the story interesting and honest at the same time, making it an easy read, not in terms of difficulty but in terms of enjoyment.

All in all, this was an interesting book on an equally interesting topic. I would highly recommend this book to those who want to learn more about the life of a soldier in battle during the mid 40s, but not to those who want to learn more about WWII itself. The story does not explain the whole war, only the parts in which E. Company was involved. Because of this factor, the learning is limited to what E. Company experienced and what they did, and not about the war in general. Even so, it was still a fantastic read and a tremendous learning experience and I would recommend it to all readers.

Bookwatch: Impulsive

Katie Long was supposed to be undercover. She was just supposed to watch Deputy Prosecutor Eric Kimura at his ex’s wedding and gather intel on his campaign for prosecutor. But he’s a lot hotter in person, and the kind of intel they accidentally shared in the hotel bathroom might lose both of them their jobs. Especially since it seems to be a recurring incident. Is it possible for a one-night stand to last ten days?

Kimura isn’t usually the impulsive type. He’s driven, he’s ambitious, and he knows what he wants—a respectable future in Hawaii politics. Which means wild half-public sex with a beautiful stranger in a short little caterer’s skirt is just tabloid fodder waiting to happen. Conveniently, just as his campaign is coming under attack. Sabotage, media gossip, and an insatiable desire for a woman he just met? If he’s not careful, Counselor Kimura might lose all control…


Isn't this just the cutest over ever? Except I want to smack that girl. Look how thin and toned she is. She has great calves. And she's tan. And she has that guy with his arms wrapped around her. And she has cute shoes! I hate her!

I adore HelenKay Dimon's books. She has a crazy wicked sense of humor, and her characters always have the right touch of vulnerability to counteract their smart-assiness. SO looking forward to this one!

Coming in November.

Author newsletters

Dear Author,

I receive newsletters from some of my favorite authors and publishers. I opted in to receive your emails because you advertised that I will receive information about your upcoming books and new releases.

I received a newsletter this morning that not only talked about your upcoming books, but also an organization that you are involved with politically. I make no bones about my political leanings, but had this email included information about a moderate or leftist organization, I would have the same reaction as I had to its conservative leanings. My reaction? No!!!! Please don't!!!

I sign up to receive information from authors such as you for one reason only — your books. Period. If I wanted to know more about your politics, I will follow you on Twitter or Facebook, or read your blog. Social media is the more appropriate place, IMO, for such conversations. Because via email, I expect to only receive that information that I've requested, and/or been promised. My inbox is already too flooded with emails from people and organizations I really don't want to hear from - I don't want to worry that the emails I asked specifically to receive are now sending something other than what they promised.

I will give you one more newsletter to determine if I am going to unsubscribe. This may have been a flook, and I do want to know about your upcoming publications. However, if it happens again, I will be forced to unsubscribe. Please don't alienate me from wanting to read your books like that. It makes me sad.

Authors. Please don't send information about political organizations (of any variety) in a newsletter that is supposed to be about your books. Please feel free to talk about the organizations that you feel passionately about. I certainly do. But please don't do it in an email about your upcoming books. Do it on your blog, or on twitter and Facebook, or any other social media.

Much love,
Lori


What do you think? Would it bother you if your author newsletters started containing information on political organizations? Would you rather see it elsewhere, like twitter or Facebook or a blog? Or does it not matter to you? Inquiring minds and all that...

Whatcha reading? And missing authors...

I've been reading a mix of old and new titles. When I get to feeling blah and have no idea what I want to read, I turn to my two favorite genres: historicals and romantic suspense.

So in a fit of "I don't know what the hell I want to read - nothing sounds good!", I read the last 2 Hathaway books by Lisa Kleypas and I'm rereading the Hearts of the South series from Linda Winfree.

Loved the Kleypas books. They were simply feel-good reads for me. And the Winfrees? Well, I've reviewed her enough around here that you have to know how much I adore her writing. Wendy did an interesting post over at Readers Gab that made me think of Winfree. She is always an emotional read for me. There's a point in each book, sometimes in the beginning, sometimes not until the middle, but there's always this point where I feel my stomach clench until it actually hurts. Her books never fail to elicit this reaction.

I'm up to Tom's book: Memories of Us, book 5 (really, I consider it book 6, because for some reason What Mattered Most, the prequel, isn't included in the series order). I'm so damn happy to be reading this series again.

Lately, I've noticed that I don't remember a whole lot about many of the books I read. Remembering character names, plots, authors - it's all becoming more and more difficult for me. Not sure if it's me, or that everything is starting to read the same and there aren't any tremendous stand-outs. I never have that problem with a Winfree book. I always remember the characters' names and the story. Even little tiny details. But I'm finding so much more rich detail this time around that I missed the first time. I even am noticing the times that Ash is seen and mentioned, something I never noticed in my first reads. Loving this series. Again.

But. I haven't seen any information about Winfree since the release of Uncovered last year. Her website hasn't been updated in forever. She hasn't posted anything on her blog. I really want a new book from her. But I also hope that everything is ok in her end of the world. Anybody know anything about her? New books on the horizon? Everything ok?

And what are you reading? Do you have a favorite go-to genre, or author, or series when you get the reading blahs? Help a girl out.

An amazing video about our military heroes

I'm sure we all have had the experience of seeing something so touching, so profound that we just sit there with tears rolling down our faces. It can be a book, a movie (damn you, Katiebabs!), or even, yes, a damn Hallmark commercial. C'mon, admit it. You've cried at a few of those, too.

This video has been making the rounds on Facebook, and in case you haven't seen it, it's a real tearjerker. It made me immediately pray for the safe return of every single service member serving our country. Pray that they will soon be safe in the arms of their child, spouse, sweetheart, parent, friend.

If you have a loved one serving, this is my wish for you.

Lori's July Reads

I had a blast yesterday having lunch with Nikki and Tracy. We live within about 25 minutes of each other, so we do this every so often. I adore my chats with Nikki about books — we almost always, without fail, have the same reaction to books, the same favorite in series, like the same authors and can't get into the same books. Tracy is just full of awesome, and while we have some different tastes in books (she likes the paranormals far more than I do!), of those that we do share, we often have spirited discussions. Plus, both women have families, and we spend a lot of time talking about them. Nikki's rant on All Night With a Rogue got us started discussing "first times" (yes, our own) and it was ummm... interesting, LOL.

Anyway, on to July. July was a huge reading month for me. I think it helped that youngest was off at camp all month, and work was a bit slow, so I wasn't completely exhausted when I got home every day. Turns out I read 28 books. Yes, 28. Including 3 five-star reads. Yay! And OMG. If you haven't read the new Hoyt yet, run don't walk and grab it. Fabulous!

And I'm still on target for tracking my reads this year. Go me! So far, it looks like I've read 166 books.

Books are linked either to reviews here or at Goodreads when I couldn't be arsed to do one here.

The Duke of Shadows by Meredith Duran
Goodreads rating: 5
I have been putting off reading Duran for fear of being disappointed. What a doofus I am. No disappointment here. This was at times heartbreaking, joyous, beautiful, and gut-wrenching. My only niggle was that Emma wouldn't listen to Julian's explanations at first. But then, she'd had some... issues, let's say, and so I was able to forgive it.

Cold Sight (Extra Sensory Agents, #1) by Leslie Parrish
Goodreads rating: 5
Another winner from Parrish. I loved how Adrian let himself open up to Lexie. Lexie was a great heroine. And the "woo-woo" factor was low, but perfectly inserted, on Adrian's part and on the part of the rest of his team. Can't wait for more!

Wicked Intentions (Maiden Lane, #1) by Elizabeth Hoyt
Goodreads rating: 5
OMG, this book is made of awesome. Darker than her previous books, with much less humor written in, but I still ate it up like chocolate cake.


Unbridled by Beth Williamson
Goodreads rating: 4.5
A full-length western contemp from Williamson (whom you know I love). Overall, a wonderful read. Nicknames during sex is a pet peeve of mine, and the continued use of "Cowboy" during sex drove me batty. Excepting that, I loved the story itself and the developing relationships between the heroine and all the rest of the characters.

Remember Me (The Rosewood Trilogy, #1) by Laura Moore
Goodreads rating: 4.5
Thank you to Nikki for this book! It was so good! If you love horses, reunited lovers, unrequited teenage love, and overcoming adversity to triumph, this is the book for you.

Three Nights with a Scoundrel (Stud Club, #3) by Tessa Dare
Goodreads rating: 4.5
The best of the trilogy, IMO. Julian and Lily were wonderful, both separately and together. And I admired Dare's accurate portrayal of deafness.


Knight of Desire by Margaret Mallory
Goodreads rating: 4.5
A re-read for me, and although I generally don't care for medievals, I absolutely adored this book. Fan-freaking-tastic.

The Homecoming (Shelter Bay, #1) by JoAnn Ross
Goodreads rating: 4
Oh, how I adore JoAnn Ross. I'm a crack-ho for her books. This is more like a return to her older books (The Stewart Sisters trilogy is one of my faves of all-time!). A softer, more relationship-focsed book than her High-Risk series. And man oh man, I adored Sax and Kara.

Lady Isabella's Scandalous Marriage (Highland Pleasures, #2) by Jennifer Ashley
Goodreads rating: 4
I liked this SO much more than Ian's book. The story of a married couple finding their way back together is one of my favorite tropes, and Ashley did a fabulous job with Mac and Isabella.

REVELATION (de La Vega Cats, #2) by Lauren Dane
Goodreads rating: 4
Another great book from Dane. Although I normally abhor witch books (seriously abhor), somehow with Dane I'm able to not only stomach it, but adore it. She did the same thing to me with wolves, too. My only complaint is that the ending of both books so far, rather than being a cliff-hanger for the next book, feels more unfinished.
ETA: Note that the HEA is complete, but there's a continuing story arc over these books, and that's what I'm referring to.

My Dangerous Duke (Inferno Club, #2) by Gaelen Foley
Goodreads rating: 4
A totally implausible English spy story, but I admit to loving it anyway. A brash, nasty man, who is a lover at heart, and a scared, isolated woman who is also a lover at heart. Toss in an adventure & roadtrip, plus an amazingly tender evening, and a club full of spies, and I ate it up. Oh, and I should add that I haven't read book 1, and didn't miss out on a thing.
Review coming up for Book Binge.

Tempting a Proper Lady by Debra Mullins
Goodreads rating: 4
I remember really liking this book at the time, but I must admit that I didn't make any notes, and I can't remember a thing about it. So not a story that sticks with you, but I remember enjoying the hell out of it at the time (whatever it was about!).
Review coming up for Book Binge.

Everything Changes by Megan Hart
Goodreads rating: 4
Naked told from Alex's POV. It was too short for my liking, and I wanted to get more interaction between Alex and Anne and Jamie - especially exploring the sexual feelings between Alex and Jamie that were so amazingly portrayed in Naked.

Scandalous by Night by Barbara Pierce
Goodreads rating: 4
Let's just say I'll never look at raspberry jam in the same way again! Actually, there was much to like in this book and I really enjoyed it once I got past the beginning. The first chapter or so (following the prologue) was a little confusing. This is part of a series, and can be read as a standalone.

Just Like That (The Bradfords, Book 2) by Erin Nicholas
Goodreads rating: 4
I liked this book a lot. The Bradfords are an interesting family, and Sam's transition from "no cares in the world" to responsible, loving man was great.

Ruthless Heart by Emma Lang
Goodreads rating: 4
Lang's first book under this moniker (she's also Beth Williamson). A very good read. My only qualm was that Eliza fell so quickly into bed with Grady without so much of a hint of insecurity or 2nd thought. Given her upbringing (which Lang points out that Eliza doesn't believe in) I still thought that she should have been a little hesitant. Otherwise I really enjoyed this book. I liked that there was a morally ambiguous hero, and the heroine accepted him for himself. And a very interesting premise, using the LDS religion as a backdrop. I'm hopeful that in the next book it won't be portrayed as completely evil.

Twice Tempted by a Rogue (Stud Club, #2) by Tessa Dare
Goodreads rating: 4
The beginning was a little odd to me - it seemed so strange for Rhys to decide that he and Meredith would be married in almost a split second, but as the book went on, I was more able to see where Dare (and Rhys!) was coming from. Talk about an angsty hero! Overall, really enjoyed this one, and right now, I think there is nobody in historical romance that writes better prose. Just beautiful the way she paints pictures with her words.

The Duke's Captive by Adele Ashworth
Goodreads rating: 4
Very disturbing book to me, because of the dark nature of the theme. The case for the hero's sense of anger, violation, and desire for revenge was well-founded. Beware there's a forced seduction scene, but it didn't detract from the book at all for me. It fit perfectly.
Review coming at Book Binge.

Colters' Woman (Colters' Legacy, #1) by Maya Banks
Goodreads rating: 3.5
Liked this one quite a bit. I do find the 3 on 1 a bit difficult to deal with, but nobody does this better, IMO, than Banks. She does adore having a trio of brothers share the same woman. And makes me adore it, too.

Untraceable (Tracers, #1) by Laura Griffin
Goodreads rating: 3.5
I adored Whisper of Warning (congrats to Griffin on the RITA for WoW, BTW!). I was so looking forward to this one. It fell a bit flat for me. The setup was good but the heroine teetered on the TSTL line, and I felt she used the hero. He was wonderful, though. Still, a great example of the mix of romance and suspense.

Long Time Gone (Konigsburg, Texas #4) by Meg Benjamin
Goodreads rating: 3.5
I do love this series. Benjamin has a great mix of contemporary voice mixed with humor. She adds in a tiny bit of suspense to drive the hero & heroine together.

Just Right (The Bradfords, Book 1) by Erin Nicholas
Goodreads rating: 3.5
Really liked the heroine here, and thought the hero should have let go of his boohoos a little sooner. But overall, a really enjoyable book about an ER nurse and a hottie doctor.

Colters' Wife (Colters' Legacy, #1) by Maya Banks
Goodreads rating: 3
A "meh" read for me. Seemed like it could have been tacked on to the end of Colter's Woman. And when I discovered it was originally a free read on Banks' website, and then I paid for it, I was filled with sad.

Bound By Nature (Forces of Nature, #1) by Cooper Davis
Goodreads rating: 3
Loved the premise of this one, but the author didn't give me enough reason to believe it should have been a wolf story rather than straight m/m other than the desire of 2 packs to mate their alpha heir-apparents for a united front.

Under My Umbrella (Fated, Book 1) by Karen Erickson
Goodreads rating: 3
A chance encounter on a rainy walk home. Once again, I didn't make notes, and I don't remember much about the story other than I enjoyed it but wasn't wowed. I'm beginning to wonder if it's me or the books. Hmmm....

McKettricks of Texas: Austin (McKettricks, #13) by Linda Lael Miller
Goodreads rating: 3
I was disappointed in the closer for this trilogy of 3 brothers and 3 sisters fallingin love. But that's not to say it wasn't good, because a meh book from Miller is a good book from anyone else.

Tempting Adam (Seattle Steam, #2) by Shelli Stevens
Goodreads rating: 3
I do like Stevens' voice and style. Enjoyed this one, but thought the heroine should have come clean about her friendship with Adam's brother sooner.

All Tied Up (Pleasure Inn, #1) by Cathryn Fox
Goodreads rating: 2.5
This read kind of like a Blaze, but with less substance. I really like the premise (an interior design firm of 3 women hired to renovate a B&B), but I think each of the 3 heroines deserve a full-length book.

One Lucky Cowboy by Carolyn Brown
Goodreads rating: 2
My least favorite read of the month. Stereotyped hicks and the banter wasn't really banter for much of the book; it came across as simply arguing for argument's sake. I couldn't wait for it to end.

Ruthless Heart by Emma Lang

Sheltered all her life, Eliza Hunter never imagined herself alone in the vast Utah plains, much less trailing a mysterious man hired to hunt down her beautiful younger sister. And when she finds herself sharing the warmth of Grady's campfire, she gives in to her deepest desires.

Grady Wolfe is a man forever on the run. He knows he should leave Eliza alone, but she stirs something in him he hasn't felt before. Now he's lost in the woods for the first time in his life - with a dangerous job to do. And no one - not even the luscious Eliza - is going to stop him.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I really enjoyed both Grady and Eliza in this book. The premise is so different - not many would take on the LDS church, but Lang does. Eliza is the oldest daughter of an elder in the church. Her younger sister has run away from her abusive husband, and Eliza hears her father discussing paying a bounty hunter to find her. Little does Eliza know that that bounty hunter has been paid to kill her sister for having the audacity to run away from the abuse she's been forced to endure.

Eliza is a scholar, something not well accepted in the LDS in the 1800s. She must hide her activities from her father or be beaten. Lang points out immediately that Eliza doesn't believe in the LDS way of life, and although it's clear that the teachings are at odds with her logical outlook on life, I would have liked to see the reasons why more explicitly presented.

Although it's clear that Eliza doesn't hold with the teachings of the church, I thought that she should have at least had some sort of self-doubt or questioned her decision to sleep with Grady almost immediately. It's presented, though, almost as an experiment for Eliza, which however, suits her personality and character.

Lang presents an angsty hero who is full of morally ambiguous awesome, and a smart heroine who isn't afraid to try new things. Some of the funniest moments were when Eliza tried to "fit in" to regular conversation and just ended up totally confounding the folks around her. I liked that she truly connected with one of the women they encountered on their trip.

A terrific ending, where once Eliza's sister is found, Grady intends to follow through on his original deal. Eliza's horror and Grady's feelings of self-disgust at his actions were well-written.

My only qualm with this book was that Eliza fell so quickly into bed with Grady without so much of a hint of insecurity or 2nd thought. Given her upbringing (which Lang points out that Eliza doesn't believe in) I still thought that she should have been a little hesitant. Otherwise I really enjoyed this book. I liked that there was a morally ambiguous hero, and the heroine accepted him for himself. And a very interesting premise. I'd like to see the LDS portrayed as something other than complete evil, and maybe in the next book it will be, since the next heroine is more religious than Eliza. Looking forward to it.

Wicked Intentions by Elizabeth Hoyt... quickie

A MAN CONTROLLED BY HIS DESIRES . . .
Infamous for his wild, sensual needs, Lazarus Huntington, Lord Caire, is searching for a savage killer in St. Giles, London's most notorious slum. Widowed Temperance Dews knows St. Giles like the back of her hand-she's spent a lifetime caring for its inhabitants at the foundling home her family established. Now that home is at risk...

A WOMAN HAUNTED BY HER PAST . . .
Caire makes a simple offer-in return for Temperance's help navigating the perilous alleys of St. Giles, he will introduce her to London's high society so that she can find a benefactor for the home. But Temperance may not be the innocent she seems, and what begins as cold calculation soon falls prey to a passion that neither can control-one that may well destroy them both.

A BARGAIN NEITHER COULD REFUSE

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Wow, this was so very wonderful. Very intense, and quite dark. In Hoyt's other books there was quite a bit of dark humor, much of it self-deprecating, mostly on the part of her heroes. While this book is darker than her others, likely due to its subject matter, I still found myself completely engaged. Watching Caire open himself up to Temperance without even a whimper. And seeing Temperance learn to let her true nature shine through. Yes, it was angsty, but the angst completely fit the story.

The secondary characters are wonderful as well, and as always, the fairy tale told fits the story completely. My heart broke for Silence, Temperance's sister, who risked everything for her love and had it backfire. She and William will have a long road to recover from their heartache. And oh, how I hope that Hoyt allows them to do so over the next couple of books without killing me from the agony.

What I'm reading for the next couple weeks

Blind Spot by Nancy Bush

Deadly Fear by Cynthia Eden

Wicked Intentions by Elizabeth Hoyt

A Little Bit Wild by Victoria Dahl

Infamous by Suzanne Brockmann

Running Scared by Lisa Jackson

Kiss Me If You Can by Carly Phillips

White Heat by Brenda Novak

Should be a great bit of reading! So what will you be reading in the next couple of weeks?

Three Nights With a Scoundrel by Tessa Dare

The bastard son of a nobleman, Julian Bellamy is now polished to perfection, enthralling the ton with wit and charm while clandestinely plotting to ruin the lords, ravish the ladies, and have the last laugh on a society that once spurned him. But meeting Leo Chatwick, a decent man and founder of the exclusive Stud Club, and Lily, Leo’s enchanting sister, made Julian reconsider his wild ways. When Leo’s tragic murder demands that Julian hunt for justice, he vows to see the woman he secretly loves married to a man of her own class.

Lily, however, has a very different husband in mind. She’s adored Julian forever, loves the man beneath the rakish facade, and wants to savor the delicious attraction they share — as his wife. His insistence on marrying her off only reinforces her intent to prove he is the only man for her. Obsessed with catching a killer, Julian sinks back to the gutters of his youth, forcing Lily to reach out with a sweet, reckless passion Julian can’t resist. Can her desire for a scoundrel save them both–or will dangerous secrets threaten more than their tender love?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This one really touched me. I think it's my favorite of the trilogy. I've been watching the obvious love between Julian and Lily since book 1 and couldn't wait to read their story.

I loved that Julian, once he decided to share his past (and only halfway through the book!), really opened up to Lily. And that Lily accepted him, warts and all. I really appreciated that Lily's deafness was portrayed realistically, but that Dare showed that she could still have a mostly normal life. Being half-deaf and a lip-reader myself, I appreciated her noting that when faces were turned away, Lily couldn't see what people were saying. I also liked her noting that Lily basically got the gist of what people were saying, even if she didn't understand everything that was said. How true this is! I spend a ton of time nodding my head to conversations I didn't really quite get. I was surprised, however, to read about a community of deaf people who were signing, and how accepted it was. It made me wonder if I should look it up to see if signing was an accepted language back then already. But not enough to actually go do it :)

Anyway, I liked that even though Julian and Lily love each other at the beginning of the book, they took the time to get to know each other (ok, Lily forced it on him, but isn't that always the way?). It allowed for deeper sharing and acceptance between them.

Julian also had a long road to take toward self-acceptance. Coming from his background, it was good to see him coming to terms with it all. And that even though he had a very rough beginning to life, that he had a place to go where he was loved and accepted as himself. And how awesome that Lily accepted all those parts of him. It was also really great to see Julian work out his differences with Moreland. And to see all the couples interacting.

I liked that Lily never played a victim card. She was a strong, smart, lovely woman. And I was thrilled that Julian recognized this and treated her accordingly (when he wasn't trying to marry her off for her own good, LOL). And I loved it when she called Julian on the carpet for his treatment of her and his poor treatment of himself.

An interesting end to the mystery of who and how Leo was killed as well. SPOILER: The fact that nobody was to blame - a random act of violence - really helped settle Julian. Sill, very difficult to accept for them all. END SPOILER.

One thing I didn't quite catch (and maybe it's because it was 2 am when I finished - not conducive to remembering well) was how Julian and Lily were living - as the Bells or as the Bellamys (given how Lily suggested they use Bell). Also I would have liked to know if they were still accepted by the ton or if they had to move toward a more gentrified set. But very small in the grand scheme of things, for sure.

Tessa Dare is definitely a star on the rise in historical romance today. I can't wait to see what she has coming up next.

Bookwatch: Pride and Pleasure from Sylvia Day

Finally!! A release date for her next historical!!! Woohoo! I love me Sylvia Day's historicals.

Taken directly from Sylvia Day's website:
Coming January 25, 2011…

Wealth has its dangers…

There are disadvantages to being an heiress, as Eliza Martin knows well. Fortune hunters flock to her, acquaintances lie and pander, and lately, someone is engineering "accidents" to propel her to the altar. But Eliza will not be bullied, and she will get to the bottom of this plot. All she needs is a man to infiltrate her assemblage of suitors and find the culprit. Someone not easily noticed; a proficient dancer, quiet, and even-tempered.

…so do certain men

Thief-taker Jasper Bond is entirely too large, too handsome, and too dangerous. Who would believe that an intellectual like Eliza would be seduced by a man of action? But the combination of her stubbornness and the mystery makes the case one Jasper can’t resist. Client satisfaction is a point of pride and it’s his pleasure to prove he’s just the man she needs after all…
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Between this and IZZY, I'm all verklempt.

Bound by Nature by Cooper Davis

It doesn’t take Hayden Garrett’s college degree to figure out why Officer Josh Peterson is the last man alive he wants to face. Not because of the council’s harebrained idea to broker peace between their clans.

It’s the sweaty palms that prove Hayden never got over his embarrassing attraction to his alpha rival. Mate with him? Nothing fills Hayden with more desire—or dread. Josh doesn’t have a gay hair in his fur. At least not one he owns up to.

Despite Josh’s reputation for being a connoisseur of female flesh, he’s always cared about Hayden. In a different world, they might have been friends. Now, face to face after five years, the bitterness in Hayden’s eyes fills Josh with regret for what could have been—should have been.

As Hayden and Josh journey through rituals—and intimacies—that will knit their souls for life, passion and anger flares, revealing a powerful secret. The truth about a long-ago sharing of hearts, bodies and souls that ended in tragedy.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I so wanted to like this book, but I just couldn't. I liked the premise a lot: two young men fallimg in love even though they are from different, rival packs, and both heir apparent to the alpha. An incident in their shared past drives them apart, and the book alternates between the retelling of that past and their interactions in present day. However, the book lost me in a couple places. First and foremost, although it's quite clear they both are to become pack alpha, neither acted alpha at all. They were both sweet boys at 22 and although they had matured in the 5 years between portions of the story, at 27 they still retained that same sense of innocence. Don't get me wrong - it made them really likable, wonderful guys. It just didn't fit in with their portrayal as alpha heir-apparent.

The story itself was told in an innovative way, unfolding both current events and past events at the same pace in alternating chapters, from both POVs. And while I enjoyed it, there seemed to be a lot missing, from pack interaction to a lack of repurcussions on both sides from the past. I would have loved to see either of them interacting with their pack, but it truly seemed as though they were marooned on a deserted island - almost nobody else appeared in the book. On one hand, this is good, because the focus was definitely on the two heroes, but on the other hand, they were being forced together because of their packs - so why don't we see any pack action?

Hayden and Josh are both sweet guys, and I enjoyed their journey back to one another. They are caring, passionate, and nice. The kind of guys you'd imagine as your good friends. I liked that about both of them. The problem was that since they were both "alpha", in my mind, that wasn't how they should come off all the time. And in the end of the retelling of the events of 5 years ago, Hayden came off like a scared guy, rather than an alpha. Same with Josh. Although their weakened states were explained (they'd just mated), and they were still quite young (22), I still didn't buy the attitude that was as un-alpha as they come in a dangerous situation.

So while I liked both Hayden and Josh, and the plot itself had terrific potential, it didn't gel for me. I wasn't quite sure why they were wolves, other than to drive their potential "forced mating" and to allow the author to mention their mating scent ad nauseum. Oh, and in one of my pet peeves, Josh called Hayden "Alpha" during sex. [insert: Cowboy here and gag me]. It is a serious pet peeve of mine when characters call their lovers by a stupid pet name all through sex. Once, maybe. But during sex "that good", one would assume they could hardly remember their own name, much less use someone else's.

YotH: Knight of Desire by Margaret Mallory

FEARLESS IN BATTLE

His surcoat still bloody from battle, William FitzAlan comes to claim the strategic borderlands granted to him by the king. One last prize awaits him at the castle gates: the lovely Lady Catherine Rayburn.

TENDER IN BED

Catherine risked everything to spy for the crown. Her reward? Her lands are declared forfeit and she is given this choice: marry FitzAlan or be taken to the Tower. Catherine agrees to give her handsome new husband her body, but she's keeping secrets, and dare not give him her heart. As passion ignites and danger closes in, Catherine and William must learn to trust in each other to save their marriage, their land, and their very lives.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This was a reread for me, and I enjoyed it even more the 2nd time around. I don't usually care for medievals but this struck all the right chords with me. The opening scene hooked me immediately, with Catherine's desire for a last bit of freedom before she does her duty to her father and the king, and with William's wish to be able to take her away from all her troubles. You see immediately that he is a man of honor, and she is also bound by her sense of loyalty and honor.

William was a wonderful hero who, while a fierce warrior, was filled with love as well as self-doubt. The times encouraged husbands to doubt their wives and wives to doubt their husbands. William's problem is that he's plagued by jealousy. And a right hand man who holds sway with him. William lets himself be talked into doubting and disbelieving Catherine, and she does not care for it at all. K, neither did I. Not one bit. When William realizes that he trusted Catherine implicitly all the years before, and why wasn't he trusting her now, it was like watching a light bulb go off over his head. I also loved how protective he was and how accepting he was of Jamie and Stephen.

Catherine is a strong heroine, yet also filled with softness and love. Her past experiences have taught her that she can rely on herself. Still, once she's married and has no say over her future, she'd rather share her life with William than not. Yet she gives as good as she gets when her loyalty is questioned. And is strong enough to save herself. Fiercely protective of her loved ones, brave in the face of adversity. A wonderful heroine.

It was definitely worth the reread. Oh, and perhaps my favorite cover of the year.

Izzy!!!!!

March 22, 2011
No blurb yet...

Unbridled by Beth Williamson

Hell hath no fury like Alex Finley…

For as long as Alex could remember, life had taken everything from her. Her father had abandoned her and her dying mother, only to return upon her death to reclaim the family’s Wyoming ranch–with a new wife. Alex’s rage drove her away to Los Angeles to live with a man who could never satisfy her.

Only after ten years does she come home–and she hits the town with a vengeance, unleashing her pent-up lust on willing cowpoke Connor Matthews. But she’s in for several shocks. It turns out that the ranch is now a resort, that her late father split the estate between Alex and her young step-brother, and that Connor–the bucking bronco she wants in her bed–is running the place.

Now, Alex is torn between accepting a new family, and a lover who can give her everything she needs–or selling out to a smooth-talking neighbor and leaving the past behind her. But only when her life is on the line does she realize what she desires most of all…
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Although I've read Williamson's contemps, it's always been her historicals that spoke to me. I feel like historicals are her strong suit. However, Unbridled was really, really good. I admit to being worried when there was a menage in chapter 1, but it had meaning, and from there out Williamson built a beautiful story of 2 lost souls finding each other. Feelings are raw and the language is raw to match.

When Alex finally works up the courage to go home after 10 years, she discovers that she can't deal with her feelings of anger toward her father because he has died. This leaves her no outlet for her hurt feelings and anger, and so she lashes out at the people around her. She comes off as coarse, rough, and frankly, a little mean. Once she begins to deal with her feelings, and begins to spend time with Conor, she starts to soften up, and discovers that she isn't the only person affected at the ranch. I admit, she had a lot to deal with. Her family home was no longer her home, but a vacation ranch. Her father wasn't there, but the woman she saw at her mother's funeral and her son were both there. It takes Alex a while to realize that, no, the world does not revolve around her.

For his part, Conor didn't want to believe anything bad about Alex's father - he had taken Conor in at a time when nobody else would, and treated him like a son. Conor had heartbreak in his past as well, mostly of his own making. But he matured and got over it. One could argue that because Conor had a guiding hand as he went through his early 20s, he was better able to cope and come to terms with his past. Alex, on the other hand, missed out on her father's guidance and support, and was therefore years behind in dealing with her hurt. There was a point, though, when I wanted to scream at her to just get over it already and grow up. And, thankfully, that's when she did.

Another thing that bothered me was the overuse of "cowboy" during sex. It's a personal pet peeve of mine. Every time I read it, I think it sounds contrived and fake emotionally. Otherwise this was an emotional, deep story, with well-drawn characters and a nice sense of family (yes, even though it took a long time to get there). The characters made their own chosen family, and whenever that happens, it's always a nice touch.

But please, please, please, authors - there is no need for the suspense plot in an otherwise well-fleshed book. This isn't Williamson's to own alone, but almost every author out there. Why must they persist in this? This book would have been just as strong, IMO, had the neighbor just been an asshole and nothing else. Ok, rant over.

Anyway, I think this is by far Williamson's best contemporary, those few issues I had aside.

Getting a mammogram, and finding a cure

Crossposted at Living In The House of Testosterone

Normally, I don't talk about getting a mammogram, but I registered yesterday for the annual Relay for Life walk, and so the timing seems right. (click the RFL logo to donate!)

Today I had my 5th mammogram (hell, now I know I'm old!). And while I hate having my boobs squished and handled by a stranger and smushed into pancakes, it's definitely a small price to pay for ensuring my continued health.

I am fortunate to have wonderful insurance that pays for my annual mammogram. I hate that my mom's insurance changed their recommendations and now doesn't pay for the annual, but only once every 4 years (even for older women - I guess they figure older women are bound to die sooner or later, right? Ugh.) Considering my grandmother was diagnosed at age 70 via mammogram, had a mastectomy and lived to be 84, this change in my mom's insurance irks me no end. Of course, it was my paternal grandmother, so she can't even claim familial risk.

When the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force came out last November with new recommendations for mammograms, women and physicians everywhere were outraged (myself included). I worry about the thousands of women who may be affected and go undiagnosed because they didn't get their mammogram.

So today, I am focused on prevention and cure. Prevention because I had my mammogram, I've changed my eating habits to be more healthy, have begun exercising again, and try to do more to be healthier overall. Cure, because I registered, once again, for the Relay for Life walk. The American Cancer Society is a wonderful organization, and if you've never been to the Relay for Life, I encourage you to do so. Not only is it a fantastic fundraiser for funds to find a cure, but it's such an inspiring event, from the survivor's lap to the luminarias that light up the night.

So... here is my plea. Please, please support me in the 2010 Relay for Life. We all know someone who has/survived/passed away from cancer. The most recent to make their way into blogland awareness is Jennifer Haymore, who just finished chemo and will soon be facing radiation. I wish her all the best and have been thinking of her.

If I make my goal this year, I will have raised $6000 for cancer research. I'd love to make it $10k if I could - so I'll be pimping until October. Please bear with me. To donate to find a cure for cancer, please visit my donation page: http://main.acsevents.org/goto/mctclover

Once you've donated, I encourage you to post this badge of honor on your blog or website:


Thanks for all your support over the years and for your continued support this year. You guys are truly the best. Ever.

JD Robb’s world vs. the current state of affairs

So, as I was reading about the federal Defense of Marriage Act being ruled unconstitutional, and the outcry from that, and thinking on the fact that our conservative SCOTUS will likely overturn the overturn once it hears the case (and I'm sure it will), it got me thinking that we must certainly be on the verge of something big. Some huge uprising. Because as the government (both state and federal) continues to take away rights of individuals & groups of individuals, and we become increasingly ever intolerant of those around us, something somewhere has got to give.

It got me thinking about JD Robb and the futuristic world she has created in the In Death series. And wondering if this storyteller isn't an amazing visionary. Are we on the verge of something equating to the "Urban Wars"? I can certainly see America (if not the world) heading down a path socially that must result in a massive revolt eventually. When things are so tense, that tension has to be cut somehow.

When we read about the world of Eve & Roarke, it certainly never occurs to us that the world in which they live is politically radical by today's standards (ok, it never occurred to me). But think about how 2059 New York:

• Equal rights for all (GLBT)
• Legalization of prostitution (with gov’t regulation - resulting in healthier prostitutes and, I assume, happier johns)
• Gun Control (basically no more guns – and don’t worry, there are still plenty of other ways to kill each other!)
• Birth Control (it’s accepted, y’all!)
• Legalization (and regulation) of drugs. Yes, there are still illegals, but far fewer of them, and likely you can get whatever high you want off of something legal.
• Eradication of multiple diseases (yet I love that they still can’t manage to conquer the common cold).

So, let's look at each of these individually...

Equal rights for GLBT: So many are trying to get here, but as a country (and a world) we have so far to go. Eve & Roarke think nothing of a same-sex marriage. It’s just the norm, like a m/f marriage. And nobody is hurt, maimed, killed, ridiculed, stigmatized, or denied parental rights due to the type of marriage they have. Win. Yet, there are people who still think they have the right to tell others who they can and can’t love. And Love and Marriage? They just go together like… well, a horse and carriage.

Legalization (and regulation) of prostitution: Prostitutes are disease-free, for the most part in Robb's world. There are varied types of licenses, and while licensed companions or LCs) may not be the cream of the crop socially, in general, they can earn a decent living just like the rest of us. Government regulation allows the "profession" to remain clean. It all seems somehow less… skanky, doesn’t it? Win. We're a people who are going to cheat no matter what. So why not make it clean and earn some revenue off the cheaters? Heck, we're willing to do it to the smokers, the drinkers, the SODA drinkers, why not the cheaters? You’d think it hard to improve upon Nevada’s legalized prostitution, gambling, and no income tax, wouldn’t you? Robb seems to have accomplished that.

Gun Control: Robb’s view of the mid-21st century shows that you don’t need a gun to protect yourself against your neighbor (unless you're Roarke). Almost anything will do. And she shows that there are still many ways to commit crimes, so we wouldn’t be depriving criminals of their God-given right to carry a gun and shoot some unsuspecting soul while hiding behind the 2nd amendment be a criminal and kill either. And the police still have weapons to protect and serve, but they are able to set varying levels of strength to incapacitate a suspect without having to have perfect aim. And there are no more accidental shooting deaths of children playing with mommy & daddy's guns. Win. Yet today, we still have gun bans being struck down as unconstitutional. It always strikes me as crazy the way the 2nd amendment, which clearly states the people’s right to bear arms to ensure the security of the nation (not to go bear-hunting for sport or kill your neighbor) is (mis)interpreted these days. Really, we promise to still kill each other - don’t worry. In Robb’s world, the definition of "arms" has simply been altered to reflect the advance of technology.

2nd amendment: A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.

Birth Control: I think we can all agree that it’s better to avoid unwanted pregnancies in the first place than to have gazillions of unwanted children running around. In Robb's world, this is a given. Win. It's the method of avoiding those unwanted pregnancies where we all differ right now. Yet there are still those... read: mostly men – oh, and the Catholic church. Wait. Those are mostly men. Nothing against any religion in particular and please take this in the light-hearted jokey way it's intended, but wanna bet if little boys could get pregnant that the church would change its stance on birth control? Sorry - please don't email me or crucify me (no pun intended) for that statement - I was kidding. Kind of... Sorry, where was I? Oh yes. There are still those who would limit a woman’s right to choose birth control. (note that I did NOT say abortion) To not populate the planet with a bunch of unwanted children.

Legalization (and regulation) of drugs: In this shitty economy, think of the revenue that could be generated by legalizing and regulating drugs. Win. Sure, in Eve & Roarke’s world there are still illegal drugs. Nobody is advocating legalization of everything, but revenue, less smuggling, regulation of ingredients and their levels for safety... it all makes for a compelling argument in Robb’s world.

Eradication of diseases: We are certainly headed toward eradication of many deadly diseases in today's world. In the 50s, who’da thunk that we wouldn’t get polio or smallpox anymore? Robb’s utopian view on disease control is equalized by the notion that we still can’t cure the common cold. Win. Yet today, we still have drug companies and government that get in the way of medical research in the name of money and/or religion.

Given how right these things seem within the context of Eve & Roarke’s world, why can’t we get to a similar place ourselves? Well, apparently, what we need is a good ol’ fashioned revolution. Or Urban War. Once we achieve full-on civil unrest, can we get ourselves over this huge hump that has us marginalizing some people and vilifying others? That has us clinging to our constitutional roots as though they were immovable pillars of stone, rather than ideological pedagogy. I'm guessing the founding fathers would never have envisioned the world of child porn on the internet. Yet we stubbornly use the first amendment to cover this rather than use the Commerce clause. (Aside: Is it because those who look at porn the most are those we would give the right to regulate it? Again, read: men. Or Congress.) So why do we cling to this document rather than use it as a guide in principle to handle the changing times? If the Urban Wars were to actually happen, would government open its eyes and see a different way to go? Would the people?

Interesting thoughts, and they make me wonder if JD Robb is a silly little woman with a rather active imagination or if she’s a visionary.

There you have my (somewhat) tongue-in-cheek (but not really) thoughts on our world today and Robb's world, now less than 60 years away. Heck, WW2 is 70ish years old. Think of what's happened in that space of time!

(OK, Nora fans... I'm kidding. I know she's not a silly little woman, although she does have a rather active imagination.)

Bookwatch: Mariah Stewart

So, when HelenKay Dimon informed me at a SoCal Blogger get together a few months ago that Mariah Stewart was leaving her gritty romantic suspense and returning to non-suspense writing, I was heartbroken. But as I thought about it, her older books were wonderful. Heavy on the romance and containing a tiny bit of suspense that made complete sense within the story (no last-minute kidnappings, people!). I think Devlin's Light is one of my favorite books of hers - plus, the recipes! Oy, the recipes!

So I picked up Coming Home. And loved it. It was an offshoot of her FBI Shields family, but much softer and quieter. More contemplative. Set in a sleepy little coastal Maryland town. And I realize I never reviewed it. Damn. (I gave it 4.5 stars on Goodreads).

Anyway, Stewart posted her reasons for the change on her website (no longer there - the reasons, not the website!), and you really can't argue with them. She was going through some things in her personal life and needed to move away from the dark and write more slow, uplifting stories. Fair enough.

So now, book 2 in her new series is coming out on July 27.



Dallas MacGregor is living the Hollywood dream. At thirtysomething, she’s an award-winning actress beloved by the public and bound for even bigger success. But when her soon-to-be-ex-husband, producer Emilio Baird, is caught in a sex scandal, Dallas’s charmed life turns tabloid nightmare. Determined to shield her young son, Cody, from the ugly uproar, Dallas seeks refuge in sleepy St. Dennis, Maryland—the Chesapeake Bay town where her happiest childhood days were spent.

Reunited with her boisterous, beloved great-aunt, Dallas wants nothing more than to leave her Hollywood days behind. And when she crosses paths with local veterinarian Grant Wyler, her high school summer love, she finds he’s everything she remembers, and more—and that the spark is still there. But Dallas’s promising new life takes a troubling turn when the unimaginable happens and she finds herself living a mother’s worst nightmare, and Emilio storms into St. Dennis to save the day—along with his damaged career. Trapped in the unwanted glare of the limelight once again, Dallas discovers that it’s coolheaded Grant who is willing to risk everything for her and her son, and to secure the future they were always meant to share.

I so want to read this one. Who doesn't love vet heroes?

Lori's June reads

In June I read 20 books, bringing my total books tracked so far this year up to 142. This month I actually had 3 5-star reads, which made me really happy considering last month there were none.

Here's the low-down on June's reads. If you are so inclined, you can follow me on Goodreads as I attempt to track my entire year's reads—something I've never managed to accomplish before.

If I reviewed it here or on Goodreads, I've included a link.

The Prize, Julie Garwood, Goodreads rating: 5 stars
Unbelievable, but this was my first Garwood. I must be the only person on earth who hasn't read this, so no synopsis. But holy cow, why didn't y'all tell me?!?!

Song of Seduction, Carrie Lofty, Goodreads rating: 5 stars
As someone who spent the first 25 years of her life immersed in music, as a performance major, this read like a homecoming to me. Giving life not only to Arie and Tilda, but to Beethoven and Haydn (albeit the younger), I was riveted by this story of love, betrayal, acceptance, forgiveness, and redemption.

Silent Scream (book #11), Karen Rose, Goodreads rating: 5 stars
Like so many others, I couldn't wait to read David Hunter's story. Beautifully done. I loved how honest David was, and how he and Olivia fought for their relationship. Suspense aside, the rest of the story was a beautiful romance and also a great friend story. Rose excels at that, even in the midst of spine-tingling suspense.

Pieces of Sky, Kaki Warner, Goodreads rating: 4.5 stars
Oh how I loved Jessica and Brady. The marked differences in their worlds were only highlighted by her initial high-brow attitude and his rough exterior. But he's really a wonderful hero and she is stronger than she realizes. Can't wait for the next book.

Along Came a Husband (Harlequin Superromance), Helen Brenna, Goodreads rating: 4 stars
Another good addition to the Mirabelle Island series.

One Dance with a Duke (Stud Club, #1), Tessa Dare, Goodreads rating: 4 stars
I liked this one, if only for some of the morally ambiguous behavior displayed by the members of the Stud Club. But I admit to being saddened by the separation of the her & heroine near the end.

Night Moves, HelenKay Dimon, Goodreads rating: 4 stars
I think I liked this even more than Dimon's first Intrigue. I can't imagine how hard it is to write nonstop action, keep a decent plot going, and build a romance at the same time, all in a very short page count. Dimon does a good job of it. Looking forward to more.

Fatal Affair (Fatal, #1), Marie Force, Goodreads rating: 4 stars
A departure from Force's earlier books; this is a suspense set against Washington DC politics. For the most part, it worked well for me. I believe that the hero/heroine will be featured in upcoming books. (anyone else notice that Eve/Roarke-type pairings are popping up all over?)

The Secret (Medieval, #1), Julie Garwood, Goodreads rating: 4 stars
The only reason this doesn't get a 5 is the anachronistic language. I remember the hero's brother calling to him, "Wait up!" It threw me for a second. Otherwise this story was perfect, if a little idealistic.

Catch Me If You Can (Romano and Albright, #1), L.B. Gregg, Goodreads rating: 4 stars
Yup, I'm behind. As always, LB Gregg's unique voice shines through and makes what might have been a ridiculous story into a fun romp.

Whisper of Warning, Laura Griffin, Goodreads rating: 4 stars
I complained about the lack of team cohesiveness in Damaged. This book does it right. You see the police team in action. They work together and are definitely not incompetent. I liked this book a lot and will be reading more.

Raising Kane (Rough Riders, #9), Lorelei James, Goodreads rating: 4 stars
Another great entry in the series. The only reason it's a 4 not a 5 is the language. Kane came off sounding like a hillbilly instead of a cowboy. I loved all the interaction between the men in this one. The brothers, cousins, even Ginger's dad and her son with Kane. Loved revisiting them all and seeing them reveal doubts and insecurities even after they've been happily married. Looks like the next book will be Brandt and Jessie. Oh how I look forward to that one.

Imitation in Death (In Death, #17), J.D. Robb, Goodreads rating: 4 stars
What can I say? Loved it.

Remember When (In Death, #17.5), Nora Roberts, Goodreads rating: 4 stars
How cool was this one? The first part set in modern day, leaving a mystery hanging, and the second part set in futuristic NY where Eve and Roarke follow up on the case. Awesome. I really liked the first part, and I usually am not a NR fan.

Shameless (Banning Sisters trilogy #3), Karen Robards, Goodreads rating: 3.5 stars
I loved the beginning and it went well for about 2/3 of the book. I didn't care for the ending, from the time they returned to London until the end. Beth seemed to change from a forthright girl to a game-player and I didn't like that change in her character. The ending itself was totally rushed. So much more could have been done with it, especially when Neil confronts Beth over her behavior. So the first half was excellent and the ending was just meh.

Heat it Up (Out of Uniform, #4), Elle Kennedy, Goodreads rating: 3.5 stars
I liked Becker—he was steady and sweet. Jane was fun and the perfect foil for him. I sure wish these books were a little longer. I want to see more!

The Marquis (Gypsy Legacy, #1), Denise Patrick, Goodreads rating: 3.5 stars
Somehow when I read the other two a couple years ago, I missed this one. The trilogy is based on a gypsy's predictions, etc for her grandchildren (great-grandchildren? Can't recall...) A nice story.

Damaged, Pamela Callow, Goodreads rating: 3 stars
A debut thriller for Callow, there were a lot of things to improve upon, but the basis for the thriller section was fairly sound. I believe her heroine, Kate, is to be the star of a series of books (see my note above re: Eve/Roarke). I'll give her another try to see how she improves with experience.

Cavanaugh Judgment (Silhouette Romantic Suspense #1612), Marie Ferrarella, Goodreads rating: 3 stars
This was pretty standard fare for Ferrarella. Greer was a terrific heroine, strong, capable, funny. It was harder to get to know Blake. I didn't believe as much in the romance and love after such a short time. Blake seemed like the kind to fall slowly. The I love yous after a single night together didn't work for me. With a higher page count she may have been able to pull it off. Good but not great.I miss Ferrarella's old magic.

Going For It, Elle Kennedy, Goodreads rating: 3 stars
Another non-military book for Kennedy, but no less hot. This one didn't work as well for me for some reason. There was a Big Misunderstanding stemming from the hero's initial selfishness, and that bothered me. Otherwise, as always, a hot, quick read.

There you have it. My reads in June. What did you read? Have you read these? What are your thoughts on any of these books?