Feb Re-read Challenge: A Perfect Hero by Samantha James

Courtesy of samanthajames.comSince she was cruelly left at the altar at the age of twenty-two, Lady Julianna Sterling has resolved to have nothing to do with men. So she is shocked to discover she has unwelcome feelings for the very worst of the breed - a dangerous, unbearably handsome highwayman who has set upon her coach in the countryside and taken her captive. Worse still, her righteous ire turns quickly to disappointment when the irresistible outlaw sets her free.

Viscount Dane Graville knows he should not have revealed his face to the enchanting Lady Julianna - for he has compromised the secret mission he has undertaken for the Crown in the guise of the notorious Magpie. Now their paths are crossing once more, and Dane aches to taste again the sweetness of her kiss. But he must resist what his heart demands, for their passion can only lead to perils beyond imagining.
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This is the third book in the Sterling family trilogy. Usually I love the first book in a trilogy, and am disappointed by the others. I loved all of these books, but this one captured my heart.

Julianna, left at the altar, has resigned herself to living her life alone. On her way to look at property to purchase, she becomes an unwitting victim of the "Magpie", the latest highwayman to terrorize the roads of England. She's injured in the attack, and he takes her to his hideaway to recover.

As they circle around one another and learn about each other, Julianna sees her chance to escape and shoots the Magpie. However, she just can't leave him and returns to nurse him back to health. Of course, they fall in love, and once she returns to society and discovers who the Magpie really is, Dane must reveal his true mission to her.

What I loved so much about this book was the sense of family and true love and caring that envelops the entire Stirling set of siblings. They've suffered, yet have each found love, and they all love and care for each other tremendously, while supporting each other on their journeys toward self-discovery and self-acceptance. I also really loved the interactions between Julianna and Dane. I loved that he was willing to give up everything for her - his life's work, his integrity... everything. Their time together in the cabin was wonderful. Oh! I forgot to mention this one to JenB as a cabin romance! (But Jen, if you aren't into the "Home Office" spy thing, maybe you shouldn't go there, although it is secondary to the storyline. You're just getting into the historical thing, and I'd hate to lose my status as your favorite person, LOL!).

Julianna and her brothers (great heroes in their own right) have a family scandal/secret in their history which is finally brought to a conclusion in this book. It's deeply moving, especially as it relates to the middle brother, Justin. It also brings in the whole "Home Office" spy aspect, so if that's not your thing, be forewarned. However, I wouldn't say that this book revolves around it at all.

The books in this trilogy in order:
A Perfect Bride
A Perfect Groom
A Perfect Hero

Year of the Category - February: Dancing in the Moonlight by Raeanne Thayne

This is a 2006 SSE that was included in the 16 free downloads from Harlequin last month. Maggie Cruz and Jake Dalton have known each other since childhood. He's the town doctor, and she's a nurse who is also a BTK amputee, suffered while serving as a reservist in the war. She's come home to lick her wounds. She holds a serious grudge against Jake's family, believing them to be responsible for her father's death.

SSE is one of the lines that I still really love to read. I loved Jake, and I liked Maggie - a lot. She had a chip on her shoulder, but who could blame her, really? Thayne wrote the characters with a lot of introspective dialogue, and while there was some extraneous storyline, it never took the focus off of the two main characters and their journey toward their HEA. They share a long history together, and Thayne tied that in to how Jake fell in love with Maggie really beautifully.

I also like that Maggie seemed to come to terms with her amputation and her new limitations honestly - determined to overcome the physical while denying the emotional. Seemed a very honest response to me - not always likeable, but very honest.

I enjoyed the glimpses into their families as well. Although I haven't read any of the rest of the series (I'm not even sure how many others there are), I was easily able to understand their stories and fit the history in. I wouldn't mind looking for the brothers' books on PBS or at a UBS.

Jake was a great hero, Maggie a good heroine, despite her bristliness. All in all, a good read, and I'm glad that Harlequin included it in their freebies this month.

February reads

February started out with a bang.  Everything I read was excellent plus I was working on two series: Romney Marsh and Arcane Society.

A Gentleman By Any Other Name by Kasey Michaels *A*

The first book of the Romney Marsh series.  One of the few series I actually started with the first book.  LOL  Really good historical.  There are seven adopted children and one natural child of Ainsley Becket and each one gets a story.  This book is about the oldest, Chance.  He was a teen when rescued by Ainsley but is now an adult who works for the war office in London.  All the characters are fully fleshed.  He has hired Julia to be nanny to his daughter and must travel immediately to Romney Marsh to investigate smuggling for the war office.  He's walking a fine line because he knows there's probably smuggling going on but family loyalty outweighs loyalty to country.  Julia is originally from this part of the country and is very familiar with the smuggling routine.  It takes a while but finally the family trusts her.  There's an ongoing theme in the series where a little more info about Ainsley's background comes out in each book.

The Dangerous Debutante by Kasey Michaels *A*  (Romney Marsh book 2) This is Morgan's book.  She's a fiery temptress who's mistaken for somebody else's mistress when she first meets her hero, Ethan, who is an earl.
  

Beware of Virtuous Women by Kasey Michaels *A* (Romney Marsh book 3) This is Eleanor's story.  She's quiet but has a way of making things happen.  She goes to London pretending to be Jack Eastwood's wife in an attempt to find out who is attempting to ruin their smuggling operation.  Jack has worked with the Beckets for years but hasn't really noticed quiet Elly before.  When they are thrown together he begins to appreciate her and, of course, there's your HEA.  There's more about her heritage and even more is revealed about Ainley's background.

A Reckless Beauty by Kasey Michaels *C* (Romney Marsh book 5) This is Fanny's story. She and her adopted brother, Rian, have been inseparable until he goes to war following Napolean's escape from Elba. She follows him and comes to the attention of Valentine Clement, Earl of Brede. Not the best story in the series but still enjoyable. Fanny learns that her love for Rian really is that of a sister for a brother as she falls in love with Brede.

The Return of the Prodigal by Kasey Michaels (Romney Marsh book 6) *B* This is Rian's story. After he's wounded, he's cared for by the daughter of the Becket's enemy, Edmund Beales. She helps him escape her father. I appreciated her waffling between wanting to do what her father wants because she craves his love and doing what she can to help Rian with whom she has fallen in love. Lots of push me-pull me in this.

Becket's Last Stand by Kasey Michaels (Romney Marsh book 7) *B* This is both Callie and Court's book. She was given into his care by her mother just before her mother was killed and Court has watched over her ever since. She's all grown up now and it's a little hard for him to make the transition. Everyone in the family has assumed they would eventually be a couple when Callie became a woman, even Callie, so it's just a matter of convincing Court. Not really much of a romance but a terrific end to the series.

White Lies by Jayne Ann Krentz *A*(Arcane Society contemporary) Clare is a level 10 sensitive who can tell if a person is telling the truth or not.  Kinda tough to have a relationship when you can tell if your lover is lying.  She meets up with Jake who is a level 10 hunter.  After I started this (picked it up at the library) I realized I'd already read it, but it was a treat reading it again.

Second Sight by Amanda Quick *A* (Arcane Society historical) Venetia meets Gabriel at the Arcane House when she's hired to photograph the artifact collection.  She can see auras, he is a preternatural hunter.
  

The Third Circle by Amanda Quick *A* (Arcane Society historical)  Leona is a gifted crystal worker who runs into Thaddeus when they are both trying to steal the aurora stone and encounter a murdered woman.  Thaddeus can hypnotize people.  Leona insists the crystal has belonged to her family for generations; Thaddeus insists it belongs to the Arcane Society and needs to be in a safe place.  They are playing a cat and mouse game with a hunter who enjoys killing women.

Sizzle and Burn by Jayne Ann Krentz *B* (Arcane Society contemporary)  Maybe I'm getting burned out on JAK, but this didn't seem to have the intensity between Zack and Raine that I'd come to expect from the other Arcane Society novels.  The mystery to be solved wasn't particularly riveting either.  I like this world that JAK has built but this story seemed to be lacking something.

Finding Ian  by Stella Cameron *AA* This was published in 2001 but I just picked it up at the library.  Wow, what an emotional story.  Years ago, when Byron Frazer's wife died in childbirth, he chose to allow the boy to be adopted.  Now those adoptive parents are dead and the boy has been sent to England to live with relatives he's never met.  Byron visits England to make sure the boy is in good hands.  But while he's there he meets a young woman, Jade Perron, who makes him think he could love again.  He also gets to know the boy and decides he wants to be part of his life.  Although the author didn't capture the cadence and speech of Cornwall, she certainly brought to life the connections in a small town and how everyone knows everyone else's business.  Everyone is  given depth and texture, not just the main characters.  Jade's struggle with her dad's chauvinism, her aunt's struggle to be there for Ian, Byron's agonizing over his past and how to be there for Ian in the future are all dealt with compassionately.  

Tall, Dark and Texan  by Jodi Thomas *A*  This is a historical western.  I admit I do enjoy Jodi Thomas's stories.  This one is about a young, timid widow who ends up on a ranch with a bear of a man.  Jessie's not frightened of him, which puts her one up on everyone in town.  The reason is that she had corresponded with him for many years when she ran a bookstore.  Teagan always thought he was writing to a man since she signed the letters with her husband's name.  Now she needs a safe place and decided Teagan would be just that.  I loved the scenes between Teagan and her little girls.  He doesn't really know what to do with all of them, however.  It's a delight watching them grow into a family.

Double Fantasy by Cheryl Holt *B* Two romances in one story about Jack and Jamie who were twins.
  

To Wed a Wicked Prince by Jane Feather  *B* The wicked prince was a Russian double agent whose mother had been English.

Autumn Lover by Elizabeth Lowell *B* Wonderful story but really wanted to smack Hunter upside the head.  He never remembered that Elyssa was NOT like his first wife, she WASN'T spoiled and she WASN'T a flirt.  He'd realize it and promptly forget.  It got really annoying. 

All Smiles by Stella Cameron *D* A great disappointment.  After reading Finding Ian I expected some powerful emotional writing.  As much as I like regency era romance, this was not very compelling.

Marrying Walker McKay by Lori Copeland  *C*  It was just OK but had too many head-banging moments for me to recommend. Plot setup was so convoluted and outrageous as to be unbelievable.

Star Bright by Catherine Anderson *B* Rainie escapes her abusive husband and Parker teaches her to love and trust again. There was a lot of buzz about the overuse of Catholic references. Personally I liked them and felt they added depth to Parker. I'm not really a fan of stories about abused women running from abusive men because I know they will always be found and it's gonna be scary - Play Misty For Me scary.

A Very Special Delivery by Linda Goodnight A free ebook from Harlequin - Steeple Hill. Since my faith is so important to me I thought I might enjoy Steeple Hill. Meh, not so much, if this is anything to go by.

Baby Bonanza by Maureen Child Another free ebook from Harlequin. A rich man discovers he's the father of twins. Another formula I don't usually read, but I enjoyed this one. Many moments when the emotion hit me in the gut so hard I flushed, so I'd give it a B, maybe an A. I'll definitely look for more by Maureen Child.

Tender Secrets by Ann Christopher - One of my favorite authors. As the story began I wasn't sure I was going to like this one: a reporter all set to do an expose on the family who ruined her father and sent him on the road to self destruction. I should have known the author would make the characters so strong and deep that I'd get sucked in. *A*

Dark of Night by Suzanne Brockmann... JenniferB & Lori Buddy Review....

Jen and I have never done a buddy review in all the time we've had this blog, but after we did reviews for Into the Fire one day apart, we decided that we might try doing one together for Dark of Night. So here you go. Note: Contains multiple spoilers. Read at your own risk!

JB: I personally had no issue with the couplings. Dave w/Sophia and Decker w/Tracy worked just fine for me. Especially given Brockmann's explanation of Decker's issue when it comes to Sophia--specifically that he was troubled by how turned on he had been when she threatened his life. Not a proud moment for him--to admit that--and an obvious reason why he'd rather steer clear of Sophia. And, perhaps, why he--in his interactions with her through the last few installments--has been either domineering (to over-compensate) or withdrawn to the point of being mute. Through this one little window--into his hidden desire to be dominated--Brockmann made a whole lot of things suddenly make more sense.

LS: I didn't have any problem with the pairings, either. I loved how he slowly revealed his desire to Tracy to be dominated. And the "a-ha" moment for her? Wow. His internal struggle when he realized she "got it". Just great. It's a theme that often runs with characters like Decker - the desire to be dominated in bed, when they have to be so strong everywhere else, so in charge, and they want just one place where they can just give in and take orders for once. That shower scene was so perfectly written. And I loved that they were interrupted. I thought it was really hot. So true that Sophia just doesn't have that in her. And I'm so glad that Brockmann didn't try to force it on her.

JB: I'll just add an Oh Yeah here--Tracy's "a-ha" moment. Great, great turning point in the book--really opened both his and our eyes to the fact that he's met his match.

JB: This one got off to a slow start for me. Four pages into it, I got squeamish. Then spent too much time worrying about when we'd get back to those scenes. Then I struggled with the feeling that no one was in character. Looking back now, I'm sure that was just Tracy and Decker--Tracy because this is the first we really get to know her and Decker because this is the first time we get to know him for just him--and not through his relationship to Nash or Sophia. By book's end, no one felt out-of-character.

LS: You know, I remember mentioning it in my review for Into the Fire, and I know what you mean about being uncomfortable with the characters. For me, it's Sophia that makes me uncomfortable. I still don't understand what it is about her. I'm very glad that she ended up with Dave, because she makes him happy and she obviously could never have ended up with Decker, but I can't help thinking that he deserves a better heroine somehow. Someone more engaging, more... dynamic? ... interesting? Any discomfort I had stemmed from her, I think.

JB: Interesting. I'd have to agree on her character's blandness. She had so much depth when Brockmann introduced her (in Nash and Tess' book I think). Then, over the years, she acclimated to her relatively safe life in the States and just seemed to blend into the wallpaper. And though I hadn't thought about it, I agree with your point about Dave--he perhaps deserves better.

LS: I agree that when she was introduced, I thought she was really going to be a great match for Decker down the road. Thought she would be a wonderful Brockmann heroine. But she really did just blend into the woodwork and wasn't good enough for either of them, IMO. A shame, really. One of my few real disappointments with Brockmann.

JB: Not even Jules. Granted, he gave the appearance--more than once--of playing loose with the law and order of things, but overall, he behaved as I would have expected.

LS: For me, in the last few books, Jules has seemed out of his comfort zone, and it always takes him a while to get back into it. Maybe it's falling in love and realizing that there's someone out there who cares if he doesn't come home at the end of the day. I don't know. But although he was always touchy-feely, he was never that way "on the job", in the middle of an op. He was always all business. In the last few books, it's begun seeping into his work - while an op is in progress, not just in the down-time. That kind of bothers me, because I think it perpetuates a stereotype that perhaps a gay man can't handle a tough job like the FBI, which is so obviously untrue and so obviously not Brockmann's intention. I think I mentioned this in my Force of Nature review.

JB: Hmmmm. I don't remember him being ALL about work while on the job. Definitely more hard-nosed focused during the dangerous moments of an op, but still spending some minutes lamenting about his love life with Alyssa or fussing over Max. But I agree that it is more difficult for him now to balance work and personal interests--now that he has Robin. The personal definitely intrudes more, naturally. And it sheds a new light on the impression that he is operating outside the law he is supposed to uphold. Gives me the feeling that this is one of those intentional, whisper layers of characterization and conflict that Brockmann weaves almost transparently.

JB: Even though Decker and Tracy felt the most foreign to me, it was their scenes that finally set the hook. Hot and hilarious. This was the romance that hurtled me forward to the last page. Couldn't get enough of them.

LS: Agree 100%. Loved it. Their dynamic was great. I loved that he recognized her intelligence, and let her know that he recognized it, too. And how interesting that when they finally did have sex for the first time, it was a quickie, and he was completely in charge.

JB: LOL, yeah, that scene was fabulous. And oh-so-funny when Jules gave Decker pointers on setting his office back to rights.

LS: Oh yeah. That was hilarious. A bit squicky, though, when the first thing he noticed was the smell. An ewww moment for me.

JB: Thought this one was very much like the last--Into The Fire. With a bazillion storylines all happening within or under one threat. As opposed to previous installments that featured one primary romance against the backdrop of a historical romance. I like it either way.

LS: Now, see? I felt that this one was far more controlled than Into the Fire, with far fewer storylines happening. Yes, there were several different threads happening, but they were all working toward the same goal. With Into the Fire, I felt like I never had a clue as to what anyone was working on, or how it tied into the main goal for the team. Here, I always knew what the main goal was, and where they were headed. I felt like I didn't need to even read the headers at the top of the vignettes that tell you the place and time. I could follow it that well. SO not the case with Into the Fire.

JB: True, true. In that sense, this was more cohesive than Into The Fire.

JB: Have to say I missed Izzy here.

LS: I was ok without him, because I think had he made an appearance, we would have heard about Eden, and lord knows I could have done without that whiny baby. And I do mean baby. LMAO! Yeah, Into the Fire left a bad taste in my mouth, obviously.

JB: LOL! That is one challenge I'm looking forward to--watching Brockmann either turn that relationship upside down (emptying it out) or making it work, for Izzy, Eden and readers. As one reviewer (at DA) pointed out, Brockmann extends some pretty damn long story arcs, and Izzy's is one of those I'm particularly fond of. And, like that of Decker and Sophia, there is no telling how she will unfold this SEAL's HEA.

JB: Also have to say I prefer the international threats more than the domestic ones. Whack jobs in the role of serial killers or cult leaders seem like they should be small potatoes for Brockmann's SEALS and Troubleshooters. And the Agency? Not convincing. Far too much like the formulaic constructs I see in Kent or Croft's books. Just there to serve other plot points in the book(s). Meh.

LS: Agree here, too. I mentioned this one in my FoN review as well. I like it when they have to go wheels up. Agree about The Agency, too. It seems far too cloak and dagger 'bad guy' for Brockmann. Her bad guys are in your face terrorists who are out to get the US. Bottom line. And once again, that's what makes me miss the SEAL stories. Although I have to say, because this one seemed a lot more relationship-driven, I didn't miss them as much as usual. Didn't you think this book seemed a lot more relationship-driven and less action-oriented? Yes, they're all relationship-driven, but this one seemed in particular to be a grown up relationship book. And I was so happy to see Jimmy and Tess finally be settled, too.

JB: Agree--much more about the relationships here. All of them, LOL. Sam and Alyssa. Jules and Robin. Nash and Tess. Dave and Sophia. Decker and Tracy. I leave anyone out?

LS: Nope. Got 'em all, I think, LOL.

JB: SuperDave worked for me too. Just fine.

LS: Yup. Agree. Although I read a review (can't remember whose) that said his internal conflict and insecurity went on too long. Yeah, I thought that maybe he should have let the Decker thing go sooner, but I thought he was pretty secure about who he was internally. It was Sophia that needed to get on board with who Dave was. Have I mentioned that I'm not a huge fan of Sophia?

JB: LOL, errr, you might have mentioned it once or twice.

JB: Sam worked real well for me too. It was a real pleasure spending time with him again.

LS: It was great seeing him, and listening to his "Sam" words of wisdom. I found it interesting how little interaction we actually witnessed between him and Alyssa, though. Didn't you find that odd? I mean, she was there practically the entire time. Maybe Brockmann felt they would take the focus off of Jimmy and Tess if she showed them together, but still... I found it strange that we saw them together hardly at all.

JB: I didn't notice that. Guess I made the unconscious assumption or decision that she was all about work while there. She with the more perimeter concerns and him with the babysitting duties--watching over both Ash and Nash.

JB: Oh, there is one more thing. Brockmann's use of profanity. I love it, LOL. Just love it. And remember my faves, like when Decker thinks to himself "...sure as double-fuck not going..." as opposed to the old "...sure as hell not going..." These guys all carry that extra dose of latent adolescence and profanity that makes me laugh. And never offends.

LS: Totally agree. Never offends. Love words like Absofuckinglutely. It's a staple for these types of characters now. And the genre is better for it.

So there you have it. Our thoughts on Dark of Night. We could have gone on forever. How do they jive with yours?

Dark Desires After Dusk by Kresley Cole

Title: Dark Desires After Dusk
Author: Kresley Cole

Type: Paranormal Romance
Published: 2008

Blurb: Cade of the rage demons will stop at nothing to atone for the one wrong that will haunt him forever. But once he secures the key to his redemption, the halfling Holly Ashwin, Cade finds that the woman he thought he could use for his own ends and then forget haunts him as much as his past.

Raised as a human, Holly Ashwin never knew that some frightening legends are real until she encounters a brutal demon who inexplicably guards her like a treasure. Thrust into a sensual new world of myth and power, with him as her protector, she begins to crave the demon’s wicked touch.

Yet just when he earns Holly’s trust, will Cade be forced to betray the only woman who can sate his wildest needs—and claim his heart?

Why: I'm hooked.

Thoughts: Of all the characters introduced to date in Cole's Immortals After Dark series, Cade appealed the least. Unlike the sexy arrogance or tortured soul found in many of Cole's potential heroes, Caedon sported a childish, petulant attitude. Don't know if it was his casting--little brother to Rydstrom, unable to measure up, or single demon into drink and porn. All I know is that he has always appeared more child than man to me. Not even his lonely roof-top spying of Holly inspired compassion in me.

So was I hesitant to read his book? No. Cole has surprised me with every installment and I expected nothing less here. And, of course, the surprises kicked in the minute I turned page one. Holly's transformation wasn't an earth-shattering twist, but it worked very well to push her and Caedon's romance off of go. Gave the reader one of those "Ahhh, I see how this is going to work" moments.

It also provided for tons of character growth for her. And boatloads of humor. I really enjoyed the clever convergence of Holly's human traits (or ticks) and her 'ancestoral' ones. Seamless, and both heartbreaking and hilarious. And every individual moment--added up to a more collective development of that particular race in Cole's world. Don't know which of these races I enjoy more--the vamps, lykae, demon or valkyre.

Cade's response to learning Holly's true identity--and her purported fate--was another surprise. It provided the first real, whoa-here-it-is conflict for this character. And honestly, like him, I wasn't sure--right up until the end--what choice he would make. I liked that Cole didn't make it a simple matter--she never empowered him with the maturity or experience to devise a superior strategy or tactic. IOW, she didn't turn him into a mastermind--she left him in character, just grappling his way through shit and yeah, in some instances, taking immature advantage of Holly and/or circumstances. Like I said, he's always been more child than man IMO. And in keeping with that, Cole somehow managed to make him more real, more believable. And ultimately, a great hero.

Overall, I loved it as much as I have the others. Easily.

And speaking of a great hero? The teaser for Rydstrom's story? Jaw-dropping. Can't wait.

What I Did For Love by Susan Elizabeth Phillips

Title: What I Did For Love
Author: Susan Elizabeth Phillips

Type: Contemporary Romance
Published: 2009

Why: SEP equals auto-read.

Thoughts: Charmed me to my toes.

You know, I hate to leave the "Type:" listed above at "Contemporary Romance". I almost want to re-enter it as "SEP's Contemporary Romance." She really has created a class all her own. Every single mention of this release in our online community has been followed by comments like "A perfect SEP read," and "SEP is SEP," or "everything I expected from Susan Elizabeth Phillips".. So yep, a class all by herself.

Difficult to fully explain that, for non-SEP readers. For paranormals, we call it world-building. For contemporary romance, we just assume the romance will occur in the world as we know it today, our world. For SEP though, it's really not our world, LOL. I swear her characters occupy a different plane altogether. It's a plane, a world where SEP's celebrities live, like:

1) her actors, agents and producers
2) her musicians (rock stars) and groupies
3) her football players, team owners and agents
4) her circus performers and ring leaders (Kiss An Angel--a top 10 all-time keeper for me)

I'm sure there are more, but you get the picture. SEP's world? Very, very different from mine. Yet she pulls me in and turns my skeptic 'tude to charmed cheers in just pages. We call her characters "quirky"; truth be told, they are nut jobs, every one. And they literally step from the page, because no matter how outside the norm they may be, SEP makes them "real."

So, characterization. Check.

Story, character-driven. Again, check.

Entertaining.
Humorous.
And charming. Sums it--right there--charming. I was, quite simply, charmed by Georgie and Bram. From beginning to end. With plenty of distraction--in the form of her trademark cast of nut jobs--along the way.

Don't know what else to say. Oh, I will mention that I was just as turned on by the sweet-and-seductive sex here as I was by the edgy-smokin-sex of Natural Born Charmer.

Totally charmed.

Word On The Web:

Charlotte's Web Of Books Says "What I Did For Love was everything I expected from Susan Elizabeth Phillips and more."

Romance Novel TV Says "I found both Georgie and Bram to be selfish, single-minded people who were really only out or themselves."

Dear Author Says "although I appreciated Georgie and Bram’s vulnerability, I didn’t entirely sympathize with them."

In Response:

I have to admit to not liking either Georgie or Bram much at the outset, but--as always--SEP won me over brilliantly. She charmed me. Did I mention that I was charmed?

January reads

This may be more like a drive-by shooting!  I'll try to be more conscientious in the future.  Maybe.

The Magical Christmas Cat (anth) by Lora Leigh, Erin McCarthy, Nalini Singh, Linda Winstead Jones *B* Enjoyable paranormal short stories.

Stolen Birthright by Margaret Tanner *B* A good, although complicated, historical.

The Healer by Jean Brashear part of a series, Deep in the Heart.  A good story, great characters, but I didn't buy the HEA - at all. *A/C*

The Good Daughter by Jean Brashear part of a series, Deep in the Heart.  Really love Brashear's writing.  Loved this one. *A*

Most Wanted by Jean Brashear part of a series, Deep in the Heart. Not so fond of this one maybe because there wasn't much romance in it. *C*

Undercover by Lauren Dane *A* Good erotic three-way.  Hhhhhot.

Double the Pleasure (anth) by Lori Foster, Dierdre Martin, Jacquie D'Alessandro, Penny McCall *A* Fun read.

Too Much Temptation by Lori Foster *B/A*  This quote says it all.  I'll admit to being a Lori Foster fangirl.

From Publisher's Weekly: The fact that its contrived plot sounds more like a fabricated story for a sex column in a glossy mag than anything that might happen in the real world pleasingly plump, virginal 25-year-old secretary wins undying lust from her boss's bad-boy grandson does not necessarily diminish the fun to be had in the latest contemporary romance from Foster. After Noah Harper finds the fiance he does not love in bed with another man, he breaks off the engagement, deciding uncomplicated sex is all he needs. Besides, he was marrying Kara only to please his difficult grandmother, Agatha, whose popular Gillespe, Ky., restaurant he manages. Enter Agatha's unassuming secretary, Grace Jenkins. Insecure and inexperienced, but with a huge, unrequited crush on Noah, Grace agrees to Noah's terms: she'll become his sex slave and he'll teach her how to enjoy her body. Of course, the reader knows all along that the two will fall in love; it's merely a question of when they'll realize it themselves and what complications they'll stumble over on the path to knowledge. Billed as "a novel of erotic romance," this is harmless entertainment for readers who favor brisk romps between the sheets with a little story thrown in. It is sure to satisfy Foster's fan base and kudos to her for making a full-figured character the star of the show.

Lovestruck by Stephanie Bond Three short stories, loosely connected. *A* I enjoyed this a lot.

Sarah's Child by Linda Howard *D* The hero, no that's just wrong, the lead male character was a total bastard.  Don't know why I finished the book because I just wanted to kill him.

Flamingo Diner by Sherryl Woods *B* Don't really know how to describe this one.  It's heavy on relationships, deals with suicide, teenage alcoholism and rebellion, survivor guilt - lots of angst.  In fact, it got so heavy, I skipped the middle and went straight to the end.  I know, smack my hand.  There's a bit of romance but it's a very small part of this book. 

Give Me a Texan (anth) by Jodi Thomas, DeWanna Pace, Linda L. Broday, Phyliss Miranda *A*  Good westerns.

Holiday Seduction (anth) by Jaci Burton and Lauren Dane *A* Good erotic stories.  I especially liked The To Do List (maybe because I make lists). LOL

Flat Out Sexy by Erin McCarthy *A* First in a series about race car drivers.  When we meet her, Tamara is a single mother and the widow of a race car driver. She has sworn to stay away from other race car drivers, but who does she end up with?  Yup, a race car driver and he's younger than her as well.  He's great with her kids, he loves her but she's really resistant to letting the relationship become serious.  I'm looking forward to the next book.

A Very, Merry Christmas (anth) by Lori Foster, Gemma Bruce, Janice Maynard *B*

Tall, Dark and Cranky by Kate Little *B* I picked this up because I loved the title.

Baby Love by Victoria Pade *C* Forgettable category

Sleeping Beauty and the Marine by Cathie Linz *C* Forgettable category

Baby Be Mine by Victoria Pade *C* Forgettable category

In The Groove by Pamela Britton *B* maybe an *A*  NASCAR story

Heart of the Raven by Susan Crosby *B* A really good category

To The Limit by Pamela Britton *C*  Didn't buy the HEA.

Charmed (anth) by Jayne Castle, Julie Beard, Lori Foster, Eileen Wilks  A fun read but as with most anthologies, no depth.

Total Control by Pamela Britton *B* Another NASCAR story.  Enjoyed it.

Beloved by Diana Palmer *B*

Callaghan's Bride by Diana Palmer Hard to give this a grade, it was emotional but I didn't like the hero, Cag.

Her Baby Secret by Victoria Pade  A forgettable category. *C*

Test of Time by Jayne Ann Krentz *B* This is an older Krentz

Thief of Hearts by Tess Gerritson *C* Another "eh" category.

Moontide by Stella Cameron *B*  A lot of tragedy and sadness in this one.  Starts off with the heroine losing her husband and newborn child in an accident.  The doctor trying to save the child's life falls in love with her.  She returns a few years later and they begin a relationship.  

January Reading Recap

Stealing this monthly recap idea and format from fellow bloggers...

I see it as both a means to motivate myself--read more, review more--as well as a means of excusing myself when I fail, LOL.

Take this first month's recap, for instance. In January, I read 8 books. Not as many as I would have liked. See? Motivation to read more next month. Of those 8, I reviewed 2. Ok, more motivation, LOL.

But also, a big picture view that says--when you're reading less than 10 books a month, it shouldn't be too hard to stay relatively current with reviews. So yeah, that review to read ratio will improve in the next couple of days because really, I have plenty of time to post reviews of my last two or three titles before I finish my first book of February. It's not like I'm reading a book a day. So maybe not an excuse for falling behind on reviews, but at least a little perspective--this time next week, I won't be behind.

Looking back month-by-month makes it easier to remember what I was doing...when I see a particular title for example, I can remember all of the places I carted that book. Gives me a good feel for how busy--with non-reading things--I was. And yeah, if I was pretty non-reading busy? I don't feel so bad about the too few books I read. So I let myself off the guilt or disappointment hook.

This is fun.

Oh, and here is the recap:

Running Wild by Sarah McCarty, 2008, DNF
Hard for me to admit to a McCarty DNF. Hers is a voice I've enjoyed for a long time. Not sure what happened for me here. It's true that weres do not generally appeal to me--no good reason, but they don't. Other shapeshifter scenarios work fabulously for me--even those with similar dominance issues inherent in their pack law. Weres don't. So that's part of it. The rest of it relates to the sex. Crazy I know, McCarty writes some the hottest, emotionally-laden sex out there. But here, I was not convinced that the heroine (of the first story) was really up for sex that fast. It felt more like she was in need of a good, safe rest first. As physical intimacy requires that you give of yourself--significantly--I couldn't buy into the idea that she had enough energy to go at it with the hero. Ended up making him feel selfish and even a little too domineering to me and I ultimately put the book down. Thankfully, I still have Promises Revealed on my TBR stack.

Edge Of Desire by Stephanie Laurens, 2008, DNF
This got off to a great start for me. I love the Bastien Club books and thought Laurens turned this love story on its head--making the hero most emotionally vulnerable. But halfway through, the HEA felt locked down and it looked as though solving the mystery was going to take the rest of the book. Put it down out of boredom at that point. Kept thinking I'd pick it up again, just to see how it all turned out, but no. I've moved on.

The Warlord Wants Forever by Kresley Cole (found in Playing Easy To Get, an anthology), 2006
This is part of my homework reading--catching up a series I absolutely love. Loved this one as much as the others I've read and will mention it when I review Dark Desires After Dusk.

The Lord Next Door by Gayle Callen, 2005
This was, to quote Lori and Linda, my happy read for January. LOL And I liked it, really. It's just that I would have liked it more had I remembered to wear my rose-colored glasses. Gasp! Can't believe I said that, LOL. Seriously, it was a solid enough read and I'm excited to read The Viscount In Her Bedroom next. My friends are right--I need to take a break from cynicism-inducing gritty and dark stories and recapture my love of the traditional historical. It is the original, and perfect, place to find that romantic hero utterly dedicated to protecting and providing for his heroine.

The Art Of Desire by Cherie Feather,
Liked this one a lot, but am beginning to wonder why I'm more critical of erotic romance than I am of any other genre? In my review, I feel like I'm just picking this book apart. But I liked it overall.

Dark Desires After Dusk by Kresley Cole,
Can't say enough about this series. I'll get a review of this and The Warlord Wants Forever up this week.

What I Did For Love by Susan Elizabeth Phillips, 2009
A perfect SEP read. Another one I plan to review in the coming week.

Mini-aside: Three of my "resolutions" or To Do items coming into the 2009 reading year:

1) Read almost strictly from my TBR list (not stack, list). Check. Every title here was from my list.
2) Read at least one shiny new release a month. Check. Was first in my library's line for SEP's newest.
3) Catch up--right up--to the new releases in each of my favorite series. Check. I'll read Cole's newest within two weeks of its release date. *fist pump*

Reread Challenge - January: Sweetheart, Indiana by Suzanne Simmons

Welcome to Sweetheart, Indiana, pop: 11238. Make that 11,239. Gillian Charles has just moved to ton - and the town's all hers. The New York socialite expected to inherit from her grandfather a mansion or two, and maybe even a Roll's Royce, but certainly not a whole town. There's just one minor caveat: she has to live there. Honoring her grandfather's wishes is a must, but what can a small town possibly offer a Big City girl? Well, for starters, tall, dark, and dangerous Sam Law, the executor of the will, and the man who happens to have his own plans for Sweetheart - and for Gillian. The sparks between them could set the town on fire. Unfortunately, somebody other than Sam is trying to take her breath away - literally...
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With the tragic death of Suzanne Simmons last month, I though this would be a perfect book to begin the reread challenge. When I mentioned her death over at Let's Gab, I noted that Simmons wrote with a wonderful sense of humor and joy. I loved this book the third (fourth?) time around just as I did the first few times I read it. It's just one of those light, fluffy, feel good books that doesn't require a whole lot of energy, but you notice that you are just happy when you close it at the end.

Sam and Gillian are a great couple. Their attraction for one another is adorable, even as they fight it. He is, after all, her attorney. When he tells her to just fire him so they can finally have sex, and she just says, "You're fired," ... so cute. Because you know it was just an excuse on both their parts. And that he was going back to being her attorney the very next morning.

There are some wonderful scenes: a fantastic kissing scene at a town dance that leads no further... HOT; a terrific middle-of-the-night phone call when they are each in their kitchens and can see each other while they are talking on the phone. I love that Sam's dog immediately attaches himself to Gillian and he allows him to stay with her so she doesn't feel lonely in a new town. Yeah, he's a keeper.

Sam is totally content with who he is - I love that about him. He went to the big city, was successful, but decided to come home to his small town. His choice. No angst. Just his comfort zone. Gillian finds that small town comfort eventually. Decides it's the place for her, of course. Finds out some interesting things out about herself along the way.

There is a silly "suspensy" type subplot that I could do without, but it's not terribly distracting, not a primary focus at all, and only serves to bring Sam and Gillian closer together.

This book has all the requisite small-town folk - the meddling older ladies, the quirky weird guy, and plenty of other endearing folks. All in all, I enjoyed this one just as much this time around. Yes, it will stay on my keeper shelf. I just wish I could find where on earth I put the next one... Goodnight, Sweetheart, which is Sam's brother Eric's story.

The Art Of Desire by Cherie Feather

Title: The Art Of Desire
Author: Cherie Feather

Type: Erotic Romance
Published: 2008

Blurb: Museum director Mandy Cooper is obsessed with nineteenth-century artist Catherine Burke and the artist's erotically charged relationship with Atacar, her enthralling American Indian lover. But Mandy's link to the legendary couple runs deeper than she knows. She's having a heated affair herself with Jared Cabrillo, Atacar's handsome great-great nephew who knows precisely what it takes to seduce a woman.

He's in possession of Catherine's explicit journal. He knows every intimate detail of what she wanted and needed. But he also knows how desperately Catherine had loved Atacar and how dangerously he'd loved her. The journal is timeless and tragic, and the secrets contained within its pages can bring Mandy and Jared together, or just as surely destroy them both, desire by shocking desire.

Why: I added this book to my TBR list after reading a blogger review. And I cannot find that review. I'm going to have to start writing my sources down.

Thoughts: Historically, I've not had good luck with erotic romance. Aside from Megan Hart and early titles from Sarah McCarty and Lora Leigh, I've been consistently disappointed. Until last month, when I read three titles from Deanna Lee. [Still trying to figure out which blogger recommended those, BTW.] Emboldened, I reviewed my TBR list for more erotic romance recommendations and selected four to be purchased with my last holiday gift card. Feather's The Art Of Desire was the first I picked up to read.

A very good read. Feather doesn't reach Hart's heights, but she does deliver (like Hart) a sexual relationship ultimately stretched beyond its bounds by emotions both foreign and uncomfortable to its participants. Tough to pull off, no question. How do you give characters emotional depth when their experiences, by definition, are designed to avoid emotion?

How do you start them off with that detachment and then, believably, peel away the layers to reveal the emotions, be they repressed or simply hidden from the other's view? Tough. Hart manages it through a single point of view and dialogue that is often harshly economic. It's like she reveals more through character denial than she does through character thought or action. IOW, her characters are not even honest with themselves, let alone the reader.

Feather does not keep it all as close to the vest as Hart does. She offers a POV from both characters and counters their loveless affair with flashbacks to an affair that is filled with love and deeply romantic. It seemed to make for a shorter, lower-impact route to the acknowledgement of feelings. But it also brought their emotional struggle closer to the surface, giving the reader a better view.

Because Feather writes very, very well, the view is compelling. There is very little waste, very little clutter here. Feather keeps the focus on their relationship, involving secondary characters pretty much only when necessary. I say pretty much because there is one scene that appeared to serve strictly as a sequel builder--setting readers up for a BDSM romance for Mandy's colleague. While Feather's segue back to Mandy and Jared was very smooth, I still felt like I'd been unnecessarily sidelined for a moment.

That upclose view of the romance I mentioned is also very titillating. The erotic scenes--and there are many of them--are wrought with need. Their desire for one another is palpable, their addiction to each other easily understood and accepted by the reader. Even when it is edged by dominance. And this is a sticking point with me, personally. There is such a fine line between sexual dominance that is arousing or seductive and sexual dominance that is repelling (abuser repelling). Feather stays firmly and honestly on the sexy side of this line. Jared may be twisted up about some things, but he is not twisted.

Which leads me to think of him and Mandy individually. So far, my comments apply very much to them as they are together--believable, combustible. Separate them and the impression becomes less clear. I think Feather gives us better insight into Mandy than she does Jared. But still, for both of them, the focus remains on what they have and do together. When we spend time alone with either one, that single-minded focus is still there. Each is thinking about the other. Interesting, when I think back, that I never really got a sense of either one of them on their own. More interesting that I didn't notice it. It didn't matter. In Feather's telling, the power lies in their attraction to one another. It simply overrides everything else. Beautifully.

As for the book's other romance--the one played out via flashbacks or entries from a personal journal--it was equally compelling, just as beautiful. But still, secondary. The reader learns upfront that theirs is a great love story and that Jared is related to them in some way. And as the story nears its conclusion, we begin to see the parallels between past and present seductions. Feather ties that all together nicely. Still though, as the reader, I was glued to Jared and Mandy, curious to see where they would end up. And pleased with the kind of HEA Feather ultimately chose for them.

So, overall, a very good read for me. Not flawless, but very satisfying. I will absolutely be reading more from this author.

The Education of Madeline by Beth Williamson (ARC)

Plum Creek, Colorado 1872
Madeline Brewster practically owns Plum City, Colorado. But at thirty-two, she knows she has missed any chance for happiness. Until she finds a tall, strong, handsome Irishman on the wrong end of the hangman's noose. Suddenly this unconventional woman comes up with an outrageous idea...

Teague O'Neal has rugged cheekbones, tousled black curls, and eyes as blue as the sky, even if he is caked in Colorado mud. The men insist they caught him horse-thieving, and there's something desperate about him that says he'd do anything for a buck.

Maybe it was pure chance, or maybe it was something more that brought Madeline and Teague together. But one thing's clear, between a woman who has just about everything she could ever want, and a man who's lost that and more, they might find something in between worth living for.
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Beth Williamson's new book, The Education of Madeline, is being released from Brava on February 24. This is a rerelease of a 2005 ebook from Loose-Id, that is now the start of a series. Beth has kindly consented to give away an autographed copy over on Let's Gab (contest ends Feb 6).

I have long been a fan of Williamson. She combines tough talking, but sensitive men with strong women; women who are able to survive the tough times in which they live. Madeline and Teague are no exceptions.

Madeline is a rich woman, having inherited the town's bank (and pretty much the entire town) from her father. She is determined to treat folks with respect, yet believes the townsfolk can't see past her father's poor treatment of them. She spots Teague as he is about to be hanged for stealing a horse. She rescues him, takes him home, and propositions him because he is a big man, and she believes he can handle a big woman such as herself. Seems she doesn't want to get too old and die without knowing the physical side of love.

Teague is a worn out Union soldier, running from his memories. He accepts Maddie's proposition, and together they embark on a series of erotic "lessons." Although they progressed rather quickly, I liked that they began with kissing in lesson 1, etc before they actually got to intercourse in a much later lesson. Each lesson was not viewed as a means to an end, but a start to finish piece of lovemaking all on its own. Awesome.

Each has personal baggage to overcome, and there is a subplot of several higher-ups in the town attempting to strip Madeline of her power. As wonderful as the sex scenes are (and they are!), I really enjoyed the scenes where Maddie and Teague open up to one another about their pasts. They recognize fairly early on how important they are to one another, and about the last third of the book is spent trying to clear Maddie's name.

Also terrific are the two main secondary characters, Eppie, Madeline's mulatto best friend and housekeeper, and Micah, a Rebel soldier. Eppie has a fantastic mouth on her, and a wonderful sense of humor, and her outrage in certain situations is almost comical. Micah has his own demons to slay, and lives alone as a hermit up in the mountains. The scene where Teague (the Yank) and Micah (the Reb) meet was really well done. The shared experience between them was palpable, and required no words. And the physical reaction that Teague had to the meeting was very well written.

So, yes, a great deal of this book revolves around sex, but there is so much more to it. Gender roles, abuse of power, even a little PTSD - all addressed here. It releases on Feb 24 from Brava. Order it here. But you can have an early copy of it right now!


The second book in the series, The Redemption of Micah, releases June 30, '09. Interestingly, while I love the cover for Micah, and can totally picture Nathan over here «« as Micah, the cover image of Teague (above) isn't how I picture him at all. He seems too young; not tough enough for his character. Maybe it's just that the hat looks a little... girly? Not Teague at all. Go figure.

Year of the Category - January: The Horseman's Son by Delores Fossen

Blurb: From the moment he first saw his son, ranchman Dylan Greer knew the baby he'd adopted was his in every way that mattered. And no one--not even the beautiful, strong-willed cop who claimed she was the child's mother--was going to change that. Collena Drake swore a criminal ring had stolen her baby and that someone was crossing every line to keep the illegal adoption secret. Now, in order to protect one innocent child, Collena made him a tempting offer: get married and share custody. As a businessman, Dylan thought the plan brilliant. But as a man...resisting his "bride," especially as the danger mounted, would be damn near impossible.
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While I still read a lot of Harlequins, I tend not to buy a lot of Intrigues. One of the things that I love about the Intrigue line is also one of the things that I find makes it so unbelievable as well. The stories take place in a very quick, fast, blink-of-an-eye time frame. This one is no exception. Within less than a week's time, Collena and Dylan have met, squared off over their son, Adam, gotten married, are insanely attracted to one another, have sex, and fall in love - all while fighting off attempts on Collena's life. Pretty unbelievable.

Yet there is something tremendously enjoyable about the Intrigue line anyway. I enjoyed Collena's smarts. Her desire to find her son and be a mother to him. She's no victim.

Dylan is not a cookie cutter hero, either. He was a guy with doubts - all the way. Doubts about the right path to take in order to protect his son, doubts about being with Collena, doubts about his past.

This book fits in with the Intrigue model - high on suspense and action; low on the angst and emotion. We never really get a good glimpse into who these people truly are. That's more a product of the length of this book, I think, than anything else. Fossen makes a really good start, especially on Dylan and his past - all his loves have ended up either dead or attacked in some way. The impact on him has been severe. Unfortunately, the length prevents a fully in-depth exploration of this, and the mixup of the danger plots - the attempts on Collena's life are two-fold - make it nearly impossible to delve into any of the issues that either Dylan or Collena have - and Fossen makes it plain that they have many.

I feel about this book the way I do so many of te Intrigue line... I so wish that it could have been another 150 pages long. It could have been a great book. Instead, it was a quick, skimmy read that never completely engaged me. Which is a shame, because I think that Fossen is a terrific author. I enjoyed it, but not as much as I enjoy other books in other lines.

The Lord Next Door by Gayle Callen

Title: The Lord Next Door
Author: Gayle Callen

Type: Historical Romance
Published: 2005

Blurb: To rescue her family from financial ruin, lovely Victoria Shelby has no choice but to marry. Her options for a bridegroom are limited . . . until she remembers the shy servant boy next door. Then she discovers that her childhood friend is actually Viscount Thurlow -- ruthless businessman, future earl, and a man whose family is shrouded in scandal!

After two rejected marriage proposals, David Thurlow needs a wife who will give him an heir, someone who will not only overlook his past but also be above reproach. Victoria is the ideal candidate -- quiet, unassuming, and in desperate need of funds. But even as she strives to be the perfect wife, her calm demeanor masks a shocking secret . . . one that is overshadowed by David's slow, heated lessons in the art of seduction that threaten to transform a "convenient" marriage into a torrid and passionate affair.

Why: Callen is an author on my TBR list as a result of blogger reviews. There are several titles I've listed under her name and Lori graciously sent me a couple of them. This was my first.

Thoughts: Slow and easy. Just a gentle, simple romance through and through. And for the most part, I enjoyed that about it. It really was all about the growing relationship between David and Victoria. I appreciated that focus. I appreciated Callen's single-mindedness, her continuity and her voice. I also appreciated the story's pace--it never seemed to lag.

By all rights, this should have been a very engaging book for me. Unfortunately, despite its appealing focus, voice and pace, there was simply no "grab" for me. No hook that compelled me to "get back to my book" every chance I could. Know what I mean?

I can't say I was bored, because again, Callen's pacing was topnotch. Nor can I say that I didn't want to finish it. I did. It just took me far too long, IMO, because the story and its characters didn't call to me when I was busy doing other things.

And that is probably it, right there. In the characters. I wasn't vested. Interested, yes. Callen's characterization is not weak by any means. But they do live and think within societal confines, measuring their own fathers by society's standards and expending a lot of energy to appear themselves as society dictates. And that made them less believable for me. For two reasons. One, neither appeared all that critical of societal expectations. And two, their adherence to society's rules felt downright pollyanna at times. David's firm dismissal of his mistress upon marrying, for example. And Victoria's determination to see father and son reconciled. Both actions show the reader an attempt--on each's part--to be a good, respectful and loving spouse. But phrased or presented as duty or appearance, they fell flat. For me. In my mind, I wondered at his sex drive and found her meddlesome. Not what Callen was aiming for, I'm sure.

Still, I continued reading and was content to read it through to the end. I guess I looked at it as both an overdue return to historical romance and a break from the dark and gritty stories I've been picking over all others. I was ultimately pleased with Callen's HEA for these two and actually look forward to the next one--The Viscount In My Bedroom. If the characters there pack more punch, then Callen will be a good addition to my reading lists. Like I said, everything else is there--prose, pace, and even romance, albeit a tad tipid.

One more thing. Lame as it is--and probably a trend that grates on your last nerve, but--I cannot sign off from this review without this qualifier. My reading mojo is adrift and my life is presently a warzone with daily "busy versus balanced" battles. I think I'm winning the war and, today, am actually feeling excitement over my next handful of reads. Progress. But in all fairness to Callen, I'll go ahead and admit to a bit of the "it's me, not you" syndrome.

Word on the Web:

Where's My Hero - Didn't care for it.

Pearl's World Of Books - Not good, but not awful.

Mrs. Giggles - Ouch

Ok, I didn't think it was that bad.

Fall Into Me by Linda Winfree

Hmmm... where to start. I'm very conflicted about this book. I loved the characters. I'm just not so sure I liked where Winfree took them. Their individual character-building journeys were excellent. The storyline... I'm not so sure it worked for me. My own personal hangups for sure.

This is the story of Angel and Troy Lee. Troy Lee is the deputy that Tick has been picking on for several books now, and Angel is the bar owner that Mark (Cookie) had his one night stand with in Hearts Awakened (the book just prior to this one). The two characters are written very well. I especially liked Troy Lee and his struggle with coming into his own as a cop. Cookie became an interesting mentor for him, given the history between Cookie and Angel, and he plays a huge role in this book because of it. His interactions with all involved - Troy Lee, Angel, Tori, and Tick, are all well done. I do love Mark as a hero. Mmmhmmmm.... But that may have been part of my problem here. Because Troy Lee was an equally wonderful hero. And is a book big enough for two fabulous heroes? Especially when one has had his tale told already?

If you've been around here for any length of time, you know I can't stand the older woman/younger man theme when it's a problem for the woman - the "I'm too old for you" as a main plot device. It's a "what will the neighbors think" avoidance issue that, frankly, makes me want to pull my hair out. For a good while, I thought that was where Winfree was headed with this book. But she wisely moved off that course, and brought Troy Lee and Angel together, beautifully. Angel grew past that, grew into herself, grew more self confident as a woman, grew into Troy Lee's love. Ahhhhhh, says I. Not so fast, says Winfree.

For Angel has a problem. Troy Lee is incredibly understanding. A saint, really. I expected a little frustration on his part. If anything, Troy Lee was a little too perfect, a little too wonderful. He should have lost it - even if just for a moment. And I was not happy with the resolution of said problem. I will say this: Winfree wrote her characters into a very tight, very realistic corner. No good way out. Someone was bound to be unhappy. In this case, it was me.

There is an entire subplot about teen driving that makes me terrified to let my kid take driver's ed and get his permit (damn, that's coming up quickly!). It's incredibly well written. And heartbreaking.

Interestingly, since his own book, all the glimpses we've had of Tick have been quite uncomplimentary. Even though Winfree has gone out of her way to show his stress, both physical amd emotional, I'd really like to see his good side pop out at some point again, cause he's really starting to be a pain in my backside here.

Winfree has written an incredibly layered, emotionally complicated, and frustratingly complex book that didn't go where I wanted it to, dammit. Don't get me wrong, Troy Lee and Angel get their HEA. Oh yes they do. All the twists and turns just weren't exactly what I wanted. And don't you know, it's all about me?

Reading back over this review, it sounds like I didn't care for the book. In fact, until I read the very last page, I was thinking, wow - damn... great book. Again. I've reflected on the book for a couple weeks (I read it on release day 6 Jan) and all this just came pouring out when I sat down to write my review. But if you ask me if I liked the book? I'd still say, aside from the last page... I loved it.

Buy Fall Into Me, and the entire Hearts of the South series (which I named as my best series of 2008, btw) at Samhain.

2008 Year In Review

Had to wrap up my 2008 reviews (specifically, Demon Bound) before I could put this (unfortunately incoherent) year-in-review up. I'm trying to get current and post often, I swear.

2008 was a dismal year in reading for me. And I'm so tempted to just leave it right there; came close in fact, to just not addressing it. But I will, if only to serve as a reminder of what I need to do differently in 2009.

Statistically:

I read 98 books in 2008. Continuing my downward reading trend, from 158 books read in 2006, to 115 in 2007, to this, less than a hundred books last year. Funny, or not, last year I complained that I had less time to read as a SAHM/WAHM than I did when I held down a corporate (read full-full-time) gig. Yeah, well that's not it either. Because this year saw me working more hours outside of the home (especially over the last 4 months) and not only did I NOT return to old reading levels, I read even fewer books in those months than I did in the first months of the year.

I think I bottomed out in reading as last year ended because even though I went back to working outside the home, I was futilely still trying to accomplish/create/maintain all the SAHM benefits for my son. As this year starts, I'm working even more hours (full-full-time now) and trying to simply adjust to the changes--less time with him and less patience for him and the world in general (because I'm stressed over work and having less time). I've got all the good stuff on perspective and balance, thanks, now I just have to let it settle over me, remind myself daily to take all the minutes I need for the most important things. Somewhere soon, I will fit reading back into all of this.

Moving on to breakdown by genre:

Historical: 25
Romantic Suspense: 30
Contemporary: 26
Paranormal: 16
Non-fiction: 1

Fairly even across the usual genres and the same degree fewer in the paranormal category as previous years. Wish I could explain that last tidbit. Doesn't make sense. Because if you ask me right now what my preferred genre is overall, I'll tell you--paranormal. So, did I read fewer because I had less time for reading? Or because those I did read took me longer (like Demon Angel for example)?

Or was I wasting my reading time on genres/books I didn't like as much.

Because if you ask me which is my least favorite genre overall, I'll tell you it's contemporaries (apologies to anyone who cares). So how did I manage to make 25% of my reading last year contemporaries? No idea. I really, honestly, don't care for them that much.

There might be a clue in this bit of data--I read 58 different authors last year. Filter out the DNFs (of which there were 7) and I read half as many authors as I did books. Looking closely at the authors, I can say there was a fair split between simply spending time with authors and series I liked (Carla Neggers being one, Kresley Cole another) and wasting time on series installments even after the magic wore off (Janelle Denison).

I did try 20 new-to-me authors in 2008, a respectable number. Of those 20, there are 10 I plan to read more from, a respectable percentage.

Best Of:

Looking at titles, I'm hard pressed to find as many TOP reads as I have in years past. I CAN note five:

The Spymaster's Lady by Joanna Bourne
Grimspace by Anne Aguirre
Tempted by Megan Hart
Demon Angel by Meljean Brook
A Gentle Rain by Deborah Smith

And yes, there are two contemps in my top five. I won't take back my earlier words. I'll just amend them to exclude Hart and Smith. (If I were smart, I'd simply recategorize them as erotic romance and women's fiction respectively.)

In an award category of its own, I'll nominate:

Wicked Deeds On A Winter's Night by Kresley Cole

Because I'm really enjoying this series, but fell particularly hard for this one. And the series stands up to the quality of my top five.

I can also note two Honorable Mentions:

Private Arrangements by Sherry Thomas
Seducing Lisa by Deanna Lee

Both impacted, both captivated, but neither left me as appreciative of prose or plot (not compared to my top five's anyway).

So what will I do differently in 2009?

In addition to finding a happy working Mom mojo, I'm going to--at least at the start--stick religiously to my TBR list. Unlike the daunting TBR stacks ya'll talk about, my TBR list is a simple document that lists upcoming new releases from my auto-buy authors, highly anticipated series installments and, most importantly, blogger recommendations. In the past, I've found that if I stick to my "list", I have a higher number of quality (to me) reads, which directly fuels my reading mojo. In 2008, I strayed from the list and picked up books that were either shared by friends (random picks from their keeper shelves) or that appeared on my library's free paperback shelf and only sounded familiar. Overall, I experienced fewer good (to me) reads and far too much lag time...those times where I chugged along for days with zero compulsion to "get back to my book." Not good for the reading mojo.

Demon Bound by Meljean Brook

Title: Demon Bound
Author: Meljean Brook

Type: Paranormal Romance
Published: 2008

Why: I read and loved Demon Angel.

Have to say this first: I remember when I first read Tiger Eye from Marjorie M. Liu. I was...astounded. Masterfully drawn to non-human characters of alternate worlds through an arrangement of words as beautiful as the imagery they projected. It was a turning point in my reading history, swinging wide the door to paranormal romance while, at the same time, narrowing my tolerance for weak writing. Liu showed me how good it could be.

Then, of course, no one else ever measured up. Not to Liu anyway.

Until Meljean Brook. (And yes, because I came late to Brook's books, I know that you already know this. You've been telling me and telling me and believe me, I've already kicked my own ass for waiting so long to read her books.)

Thoughts on Demon Bound: The dynamics of Brook's world remain complex--in a challenging and stimulating way--and I found myself still trying to assimilate it all. Given that Brook's world defies...well everything, I don't know that I ever will. And that's part of the charm, isn't it? Seriously:

1. There is no repetition--IOW, Brooks does not necessarily pit the same forces against one another book after book. Nor does she take us to the same places.

2. There are no stereotypes--not even of her own making. Take Michael, for example. Just when I have his position or his role--one of benevelence in my mind--figured out, Brook more than casts doubt on his true nature. In Demon Bound, she completely up-ends it, revealing his origins in nothing less than a matter-of-fact tone. A tone that says "deal with it," accept his fate, whatever it may be. And what of the angel held in the grip of a demon's bargain? We are not assured--in either case--of the characters' inherent goodness. Caged by circumstances and born of sometimes horrific conflict, these characters are as unpredictable as they would be had they breath or blood.

3. There is no balance--not between good and evil and not even within the factions of either force. In Demon Bound, Caelum remains practically deserted. Civil war continues to rage in hell. And there are other species--more than I can keep track of--straddling the good versus evil line on earth. And everyone operates under a different set of rules--some breakable and some not. Clearly, Brook started this series exactly as she meant to go on--with an impossible love affair--between the highest of good, an angel, and the lowest of bad, a demon. Put simply, it's all mixed up.

In my review of Demon Angel, I said that Brook's world did not feel like it was entirely of her own making. And that's exactly it. First, there is enough in here to evoke our own, personal understanding of heaven and hell--places not of Brook's creation. And second, her own rendering lacks clear definition or boundaries. She won't even establish one supreme, "right" force. Yes, the Guardians--hence the series' title--but, through Brooks' eyes, even they're not exactly invincible. Or always right for that matter. In this, Brooks is like no other. Period. Even Liu doesn't compare.

The worlds of Liu captivate, but they are too fantastic to penetrate. Liu engages the senses, absolutely, but the reader remains in her seat, watching. Mesmerized even, but still, simply watching. Brooks has created a world almost "real" in concept, one in which she refuses to assert control. The result is a feeling or idea that we, the reader, could be pulled into that world and then tossed about at the mercy of an unknown and unchangeable fate. Powerful and not just a little bit scary.

In both Liu and Brook's worlds, the reader can never be truly, comfortably certain of an HEA. Yeah, we KNOW to expect an HEA, but Liu and Brook are frightenly adept at making us second guess it. Which is particularly troubling here, because again, in both, reader vestment in the characters is almost painfully instant. A product of the forces (read conflict) at work in their respective worlds.

In the case of Brook, it makes for some amazing characterization. Let's take the matter of complexity first. We learn (and I do mean learn) of this world through Brook's characters. No glossary, no info dump. Best to pay attention to every single word, every single action her characters take. Puts a new spin on getting to know her peeps, eh? You literally can't take your eyes off them for a second or you'll miss something critical. And, keeping the "real" and the "real scary" of her world in mind, we can't AFFORD to miss something critical.

Second, there is the wild assortment of powers or gifts. Interesting in their own right, but also key to defining character. Alice for instance, jiminy. Able to sense spiders, communicate with them, spin her own web of indestructible thread, and so on. Her spinster persona. All of it. I think she even walks like a spider--can't tell you how much time I spent trying to ENVISION that. Like Jake, I couldn't initially figure her out and frankly, wasn't even sure I wanted to.

Totally creeped out by it, just like Jake, whose own gift--that of teleporting--provided more than just insight into his own character. It provided the book's fall-out-of-your-chair humor. Literally. That image of him tipping over backwards in his chair, instantly vanishing off to God knows where, all because Alice creeped him out, was nothing short of hilarious. His latent adolescence; her creep factor. Engaging and endearing. But underscored by the seriousness of Alice's bargain and threatened by the shear brutality of their fight to survive.

Finally, there is Brook's cast of regulars. It's a cast that includes Lucifer. What more can I say on this? His presence alone...yeah.

Going forward (and for me, backwards to catch up with the series), I've no idea how it will all play out. No idea how it CAN all play out. Hers is such a complex world. With a life of its own. And me, completely in its grip.

The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini

Courtesy of Khaledhosseini.com: The Kite Runner is a novel about friendship, betrayal, and the price of loyalty. It is about the bonds between fathers and sons, and the power of their lies. Written against a history that has not been told in fiction before, The Kite Runner describes the rich culture and beauty of a land in the process of being destroyed. But with the devastation, Khaled Hosseini also gives us hope: through the novel's faith in the power of reading and storytelling, and in the possibilities he shows for redemption.
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This is likely the truest blurb I have ever read. In a word, Wow. Just Wow. This book was beautifully stunning in its narrative, in the author's obvious love for his homeland, and his obvious distaste for what has become of it through violence; yet his love of the land and its culture shine through to the end. It is a story about love, forgiveness, redemption, sorrow, betrayal, hope, as well as the loss of all the above - good and bad.

The book takes us from Amir's journey from 1960's Afghanistan, westernized and capitalistic, to the current days of the Taliban, oppressive and violent, and just post 9/11. It is the story of Amir and Hassan. Amir is the son of a wealthy Afghan businessman, and Hassan is the son of their lifelong servant. The two boys are raised as brothers, as were their fathers. Yet Amir, driven by a sense of inferiority and indifference from his father, feels the need to show his superiority toward Hassan, and does so in many small, subtle ways. Hassan is one of those truly good people who never rises to the bait, and only seem to want the best for Amir, and to want to be his friend and enjoy their time together.

The year they are twelve, something horrific happens to Hassan, that Amir may or may not have been able to stop. He hides his involvement, and carries the guilt with him throughout his life. He feels so guilty, in fact, that he drives his lifelong friends away from their home together. Hassan and his father leave, adding to Amir's guilt.

Amir and his father escape and emigrate to America during the war with Russia. We see what life was like for Afghan immigrants in the 70s; those who were wealthy and well known in their homeland reduced to pumping gas and selling garage sale rejects at a flea market to make money. But the Afghan community is a close-knit community, much like most immigrant communities. Their pride in who they are, and their customs remained strong, even as they miss their old life. Their desire to build a better life for their children was strongly felt. Amir's father, in one scene, told him, "I'm doing this for you." Powerful, full of love, and yet, more fuel to the fire of guilt? His wealthy businessman father, who lived like a king in Afghanistan reduced to pumping gas. Baba never presents it this way to Amir, however, and the two regain some of the closeness that Amir so craved in Afghanistan. Amir soon meets a woman and falls in love.

I loved getting a look at Afghan culture - not the one that we see on the nightly news, but the one told with such love and affection by Hosseini. There is such love and respect among the generations, even as the younger generations sometimes wish they could roll their eyes and the intergenerational understanding goes awry.

The guilt that drives Amir his entire life sends him back to Afghanistan when he receives a call from an old friend telling him "There is a way to be good again." Once there, he begins a journey that takes him through old childhood haunts, old childhood enemies, and old childhood nightmares. He learns of a childhood based on a large lie that throws him completely for a loop.

Hosseini tells a gripping tale, an immensely sad tale. Just when I thought the darkness and sorrow would come to an end, he dropped me into its grip once more. Amir earns the opportunity for redemption through Hassan's son, Sohab. Once again, each time I though that Amir and Sohab would have a happy ending, Hosseini ripped it out of my hands. Yet he never managed to make me lose my sense of hope for this family. I felt buffeted by the wind, yanked back and forth, emotionally drained once I finished. An amazingly powerful book. Hosseini has a second book that we immediately went and bought: A Thousand Splendid Suns. When I asked Bob how it was (he's reading it first), he answered, "As good as The Kite Runner, and even sadder." Wow. Just, Wow.

Buy The Kite Runner here, and get A Thousand Splendid Suns here.