Reread Challenge - April: He Said Yes by Patricial Waddell

OK, I have to admit I'm cheating a little here. I've got the serious blogging blues. I'll say that I loved this book as much this time around as I did the first two. Yup - this is my third read of this one. I haven't read it, though, in 3 years, so it was like opening an old box of love letters. You know that they are something that made you feel wonderful, but you can't quite remember exactly what was in them.

I'm reprinting my original review of this book below, cause I couldn't come close to being this eloquent these days, LOL. How did I manage it all? Ahhh... I was still working part time then. I remember now... So here's my review from Jan 06. You can read the review of the entire series here.
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This, really the 2nd (the first was a short in an anthology that, actually, I never read, but you don't need to read it to begin with this 1st full length), is a story about the Marquis of Waltham, Marshall. He is looking for a long term relationship, although has no intention of marrying. So, a mistress it will be, but he is sick of the "scene" and wants someone he can truly care about (without marrying her, of course). He meets Evelyn Dennsworth. She works in a dressshop, she's the daughter of a pastor, and has been arrested and accused of theft. He feels drawn to her and can't help but exert his standing in society to assist her in clearing herself of the charges. The description of Evelyn's feelings as she goes to trial is remarkable, you really feel the terror and shame right along with her. Marshall takes her home to his estate under the guise of being a companion to his stepmother, who has recently lost her husband, Marshall's father. You can guess the rest.

What is wonderful about this book is the depth of character development - Waddell doesn't shy away from the agonizing feelings of despondence and guilt for going on without your true love (his father's was truly a love match). In many ways, this is really Evelyn and Constance's (the stepmother) story. How Evelyn unselfishly draws Constance out of her shell of grief is beautifully and sensitively written. Marshall's precocious 10 year old half-sister is a wonderful character, full of life and love for her family - no spoiled villains in this family.

Marshall is also truly unselfish, loving his stepmother and wanting her to be whole again. He understands her grief, because he, too, loved his father completely and without reservation. She does not miraculously recover from losing her husband of 20 years. Her descent into grief and laborious climb out of its depths is emotional for all the characters, and therefore to the reader as well.

There is not a false moment, a false feeling or emotion in this book. Although he wants Evelyn for his mistress, he firmly believes she is the right person to be Constance's companion. Watching the love and depth of feeling unfold between Marshall and Evelyn is wonderful as well. Their strength and passion and character are well portrayed. Waddell doesn't rush these feelings, and gives them time to develop. As the reader, by the time I knew they were truly in love, I had totally bought into it. The story is believably, beautifully written. Highly recommended.

Playing Dirty by GA Hauser

Having written a glowing review of Acting Naughty, there was a lot I didn’t like about Playing Dirty. Hauser spent a lot of time in book 1 character building. These guys are moral guys who find themselves in an upside-down crazy new M/M relationship after living their entire lives as straight men – not closeted straight men, but straight men.

There is a conversation in book 1 where Keith says to Carl that he believes that sex should be between two people who love each other. He’s only had sex with two women before meeting Carl.

There’s the set-up. This book deals with the discovery of a new identity as a gay man. Keith spends a lot of time asking himself and Carl, "Can a gay man be faithful?" buying into the stereotypes himself of flagrant, rampant promiscuity among the homosexual community, even though that isn’t how he was raised, and it isn’t how he himself ever believed or acted.

The book picks up almost immediately where book 1 left off, or very shortly thereafter. Keith is suddenly dying to try a threesome (although he agrees that the third guy cannot have intercourse with either him or Carl), and is doing and saying things that are totally out of character for the man that Hauser built him up to be in book 1. This was where I had my biggest problem. His dialogue was all of a sudden very stereotypical, and not at all what I had come to expect from this sweet, bashful, nice guy. Carl, while trying to point out to Keith that this wasn’t who he really is, went along for the ride and enjoyed himself immensely as well.

I don’t know if Hauser was trying to get across that being "who he truly was" felt so liberating that Keith lost himself in the joy of "being gay" or if she was simply trying to introduce the main character of her next book, but either way, it served to really take away my enjoyment of this highly committed, very close and very loving couple.

There were flashes of there wondering, joyful, bemused love that was so beautifully portrayed in Acting Naughty, but most of the book was so out of character for the two men that I was left with a sour taste in my mouth, and thinking that the book should have been called "Feeling Dirty", because that’s the way it left me.

Acting Naughty by GA Hauser

This is one of those books that I had absolutely no idea what to expect when I opened it. It’s an amazingly sweet and emotional story about two straight guys hired to play a gay couple in the hottest nighttime drama on cable. One of the guys, Keith, has a live-in girlfriend, although they haven’t been getting it on a lot lately (her issue). The other, Carl, is the more established actor (he’s been on the show an entire season), and it’s been a long time since his last relationship.

Each week, the sex on the show ramps up, and they are required to do some very intimate scenes in front of the camera. As they grow closer both on and off the set, they have to deal with the emotional issues that come with discovering you have feelings for and are strongly attracted to someone of your own sex.

I thought Hauser did a really good job of showing all of the feelings that these guys would have – the confusion, the insecurity, the self-flagellation, the fearfulness of discovery, both personally and for the future of their careers as leading men. At the same time, their budding feelings of love and sexuality were being played out on a TV set in front of camera and crew. In addition, they had to deal with the prejudices of the external world while everything solid they knew was going up in flames around them. Keith’s father and Carl’s friends all display homophobia in their own ways.

I really liked the honesty I felt portrayed in this book. I liked that internal dialogue that the characters had, especially during their sexual encounters. The "can I suck him, should I swallow, will it be gross?" dialogue both guys had within their own heads was so real. Often in these types of books, guys jump head first (no pun intended) into the sex and are seeming experts their first time out. These guys fumbled their way through their first encounters like the M/M virgins they were. It had a raw, honest, open quality to it.

While it has a semblance of a HEA (they are in love, and happy together), they are still in the closet and unable to be seen together in public, which is what the 2nd book is about. Aside from the very few language issues I had (that should have been caught by her editor) – you can tell that Hauser lives in the UK, we don’t call our cell phones 'mobiles' here, we don’t say we’re 'keen' to do this or that – Acting Naughty was excellent. I really liked it a lot.

Silent In The Grave by Deanna Raybourn

Title: Silent In The Grave
Author: Deanna Raybourn

Type: Historical Romance / Mystery
Published: 2007

Blurb: "Let the wicked be ashamed, and let them be silent in the grave."

These ominous words, slashed from the pages of a book of Psalms, are the last threat that the darling of London society, Sir Edward Grey, receives from his killer. Before he can show them to Nicholas Brisbane, the private inquiry agent he has retained for his protection, Sir Edward collapses and dies at his London home, in the presence of his wife, Julia, and a roomful of dinner guests.

Prepared to accept that Edward's death was due to a longstanding physical infirmity, Julia is outraged when Brisbane visits and suggests that Sir Edward has been murdered. It is a reaction she comes to regret when she discovers the damning paper for herself, and realizes the truth.

Determined to bring her husband's murderer to justice, Julia engages the enigmatic Brisbane to help her investigate Edward's demise. Dismissing his warnings that the investigation will be difficult, if not impossible, Julia presses forward, following a trail of clues that lead her to even more unpleasant truths, and ever closer to a killer who waits expectantly for her arrival.

Why: Blogger buzz--sometime last year--put this one on my TBR list. New buzz, this one surrounding another Raybourn release this Spring, called it to mind.

Thoughts: Easily hooked. By its first person narrative, self-depracating humor and English sleuthing. And yes, I pretty much swallowed the hook at the first line (just as many of you reported):

"To say that I met Nicholas Brisbane over my husband's dead body is not entirely accurate. Edward, it should be noted, was still twitching upon the floor."

There was a rhythm to Silent In The Grave and it took me a bit to settle into it. At first, I was simply surprised. SITG was not at all what I expected. I started page one without having read the blurb, without having visited the author's website. So the first person narrative was a surprise. Second, SITG is relatively slow-paced. It felt open-ended, more an unfurling than a complete story. Not sure when I started to wonder about its destination--and whether it would take chapters or books to get there--but I think it was early.

Once I settled down, I began to enjoy and appreciate the narrator's uncertainty. She had an outside-looking-in perspective, even when examining her own life, her own thoughts. That detachment was something I could relate to and I thought Raybourn conveyed it honestly and without prejudice. As though Raybourn could care less if we liked her heroine. She is who she is--neither a convenient product of her environment nor an emotionally-wrought survivor. Personally, I liked her. Although she was unremarkable, she had that maturity about her--the kind of maturity that brings her to step around the opinions of her peers and do what she likes.

Combined with a lethal sense of humor, Julia's mature self reminded me of Captain Lacey--another English sleuth with his own multi-book deal (authored by Ashley Gardner). From here, I became more interested in clues than character development. Raybourn's stubborn pace held me fast however, and I had to sit as impatiently as Julia, waiting for more of the puzzle pieces. I'm not sure I liked Raybourn's refusal to move the story along here. I didn't mind the mystery of Brisbane so much, but I did grow weary everytime Julia was relegated to tidying up this or that room. She seemed to alternate between an active and passive role--in her own life. Artfully done by Raybourn, but difficult to watch for the reader.

As for Brisbane, he was the perfect ass. And flawed beyond the heroine and reader's understanding. I have to say I stuck with Julia on this--curiously affected in some moments and bored in others. I'm fairly certain I was less naive than Julia though. I figured him for a gypsy early on. Julia seemed oblivious to all of those clues. Dumb even. Not sure if Raybourn was going for dumb there, or if she meant for Julia to simply appear distracted by her own coming of age issues. Whatever the intent, the outcome was, well, dumb. Fitting as I read on though...because its her narrative and, more than once, she tells us readers she can be a bit stupid.

As for the whodunit, Raybourn wrapped that to my satisfaction. Really, by then, I was back to caring more about character growth than crime-solving. By this time, I was thoroughly engrossed in Julia's detachment, contrasting it to her father's flamboyance and her sister's bleeding edge sexuality. Trying to reconcile Julia's automaton with her occasional wit and daring. Interesting stuff.

Interesting enough that I've already received the second installment--Silent In The Sanctuary--through my library and am contemplating buying the third on my next grocery trip.

Word On The Web:

Rosario, unimpressed

Carolyn Jean, "wonderfully gothic"

The Book Smugglers, "a stunner of a debut"

Musings of a Bibliophile, A

Reading Adventures, "A terrific read."

My Two Cents, "Excellent debut novel."

You can buy Silent In The Grave here.

A Highlander Never Surrenders by Paula Quinn

Title: A Highlander Never Surrenders
Author: Paula Quinn

Type: Scottish Historical
Published: 2008

Blurb:

Defending Her Was His Duty

Skilled with a sword and quick with her wit, Scottish rebel Claire Stuart cannot be tamed. And nothing can deter her from rescuing her beloved sister and saving them both from arranged marriages—not even the handsome Highlander who vows to protect Claire. His scorching gaze and fiery kiss bring her to the brink of surrender, but she belongs to no man . . .

Seducing Her Would Be His Reward

Graham Grant has had his share of lasses. But he has never met one as headstrong or as bonnie as Claire—or one with such desperate, dangerous plans. Helping her could betray his honor, his country, and more. Graham can't claim her. Yet everything in him says: Take her, make her yours, teach her pleasure, and never let her go.

Why: Recently enjoyed Laird Of The Mist and wished to read its follow-up.

Thoughts: Oh, I liked it. Very much. When I read LOTM, I had a constant comparison running through my head--recalling every character and plotline I'd ever read that was similar to Quinn's. I even commented on it in my review. While reading A Highlander Never Surrenders, I forgot about all else and just enjoyed the journey. This was an arrangement of characters and arcs that did not remind; they simply entertained.

Especially the heroine. She was fabulous. This was a lass (love that term) who really was a warrior; not just one who played at being a warrior. She trained under her twin brother, a rebel leader of sorts, and went off to battle. She knows no fear. Seriously, she was medieval Scotland's version of Eve Dallas. And I loved her.

And because he accepted her for exactly who she was, as she was, I loved the hero as well. This was a man who enjoyed her fighting ability and warrior instincts as much as the fact that she was a woman--one his knuckle-dragger self meant to conquer. Oh yeah, it was all here. The Highlander prescription for romance. If it lacked anything, it was the typical gentle assurances during her "first time." Graham didn't waste time with that and neither did she. All good.

There was a second romance that worked very well too. And while it was nice that Quinn made sure to find someone for Robert--the third wheel in the first half of the book--I have to say I was really enjoying the time spent with him and the H and H. Their insults were as deftly wielded as their swords. That was fun. Even more so when the rest of Quinn's Highlanders showed up.

The mystery here was engaging as well. It may not have been unique, but I was stymied. Enough that I read every word, right up to the end. Of late, I find myself skimming the last dozen or fifty pages wherein the historical romance writer ties up all the loose ends. I feel like I pretty much know how that is going to go--having read a gazillion of them. Not so here. Either I was so engrossed in the romance that I didn't pay close attention to the political intrigue, or Quinn succeeded in making me care about the outcome of that power struggle. Regardless, I was hooked from start to finish.

I was also loathe to put the book down, testament to the fun I was having. I am just so, so sorry that Quinn's work ends here. There ARE three non-Scot historicals penned before LOTM, and I may go read them. But truthfully, I want more of Quinn's Scots. THESE Scots. Her site indicates some WIPs featuring the sons and daughters of her LOTM and AHNS protagonists, but I fear that will feel much like it used to when my soap operas grew their offspring into adults overnight. Blech.

Ah well. These two books were great fun and reminiscent of the joy I experienced in my early Garwood days.

Word On The Web: Heather liked it. So did Rowena.

Seraphim by Shelby Reed

Title: Seraphim
Author: Shelby Reed

Type: Paranormal Romance
Published: 2005

Blurb: When a masked group claiming to be warrior angels kidnaps Gia Rossi, she believes it's retaliation for her wealthy husband's shady dealings. Squired into a high-tech underground world by her strangely gentle captors and placed under the tutelage of Joachim, their handsome leader, she soon learns that among her lost childhood treasures is a medallion, which places the fate of the world in her hands. Gia's job is simple: locate the relic and lead the angels to it…and somehow, fight the forbidden attraction that fast develops between her and Joachim.

As commander of the angelic warriors, Joachim must protect Gia and, with her help, locate the sacred relics needed to conquer the demon Therides. But Joachim doesn't count on falling prey to sexual attraction when it comes to their beautiful, headstrong captive and soon another battle commences, one between consuming desire for his charge and a weighty sense of celestial duty. For if Joachim and Gia succumb to the fire smoldering between them, it could prove to be the end of both their worlds.

Why: Years back, I read Reed's Midnight Rose and fell instantly in love with her stunning prose. A friend shared her backlist with me and I just now managed to pull one out and read it.

Thoughts: Wow. The kind of Wow that makes you want to take out an advertisement on behalf of this author. Or storm some publisher's office, demanding she be given her due. Or ring up the author herself and insist she come of out hiding.

Seriously, Reed's prose is more beautiful than any other I've ever read. And, she crafts a story as elegant and moving as the words she uses to tell it. It's a win-win. Fucking fabulous. Fucking flawless. I could go on.

The blurb is dead on, but I will note, for the record, that the romance felt expertly balanced against the higher purpose in the story. I was equally moved by both. Also for the record, Seraphim is labeled as erotic romance. And to be entirely honest with myself, there is a good deal of the physical in here. However, be it through Reed's elegant prose or the emotional connection she forges, these scenes read unlike any other. They are breathtaking, both in tension and repercussion.

There is also a plot--one that pits good against evil in near military-like opposition, with all events leading up to a final confrontation. That being said however, my recollection of Seraphim is entirely of the personal conflict--within and between hero and heroine. Reed deftly breaks Joachim's stoic with passion and breath; and challenges a selfish Gia with joy and humility. A painful contrast that reflected the overarching nature of their conflict.

Joachim is an angel, guardian to Gia. To save her soul, his mission requires him to live as a human. But as he succumbs to the desires of his human body, both Gia and reader ache for him. For his loss. We're selfish in our desire for him, but honest about its cost. The choice between taking his place in the realm of God or spending a human lifetime with Gia is an impossible one. It grows more impossible, more gut-wrenching when he, Gia and the reader realize he is in love with her--a far more potent emotion to him than his Christian love for her.

Reverse the order of this journey and you see Gia's conflict. A selfish survivor, she is now charged with saving humankind--risking her life for all. There is little depth to her in the beginning, and despite her chosen status, even the angels have second thoughts about their ability to tap her goodness. At the personal, H/H level, her initial contempt, soon replaced by lust, for Joachim also cast little hope for her redemption. Amazingly, it his patience--namely his patient (Christian) love--that ultimately penetrates, that equips her to choose right and selfless over wrong. It starts slow, her emotional thawing, but when it's done, it is as painful as Joachim's struggle. Like his, it is painful in its impossibility. She knows joy; she knows humility; she knows she must accept Joachim's place in God's realm, what it means to him. But she also knows a deeper love--for him--than she has ever known.

And none of it--for either one of them--can be reconciled. That is the crux of what drew me here. I need an HEA, expect one. But nothing moves me more, nothing captures my attention more than the impossibility of one. Contrary, I know. The inevitability of an HEA aside, I like being pulled unerringly toward an ending I cannot predict, an ending I may fear or one that make not make me happy. Reed's obstacles were that powerful--and they kept me immersed in Joachim and Gia's story.

Reed's characterization is equally riveting. By the time Joachim and Gia realized the depth of their love, they were real enough to me that I shed tears for them--I experienced the same overwhelming powerlessness and desperation in the face of their impossible love. The same self-righteous denial and subsequent guilt. And the same disquiet, when it was all over and he was gone. Again, Reed held my focus to within inches of these two, letting their circumstances and their peers move around me, getting the rest of it done. It is their emotional journey--individually and together--that I remember most.

Around them, Reed did succeed in staging that battle between God's angels and Satan's demons. Her villains--the demon and his army--were vile and thankfully absent for much of the book. Her angels however--those supporting secondary characters--were fully developed, telling individuals, used magnificently by Reed to show us more, tells us more about Joachim and Gia. Seamless.

There is also some world-building, insomuch as Reed has to explain her angels and demons, but it is handled with enough truths from religious history that it doesn't feel like work. Or fantasy. In fact, in an almost bizarre piece of timing, I read this book during Holy week--significant only because the relic required to defeat Satan (in Reed's plot) is the sword used to pierce Christ's side following his crucifixion. So some emotional overlap for me there. Not enough though, to color my view of the book.

Overall, very much like Midnight Rose, this book swept me away.

Although published through Ellora's Cave in 2005, I believe it can still be purchased here.

Smooth Talking Stranger by Lisa Kleypas

Title: Smooth Talking Stranger
Author: Lisa Kleypas

Type: Contemporary Romance
Published: 2009

Blurb: Ella Varner has it all--a successful career as an advice columnist, a handsome boyfriend, and a circle of friends in Austin. When anyone has a problem, Ella knows the answers.

But one night she receives a call that changes everything. And as Ella's world is turned upside-down, she meets a man who is the opposite of everything she ever wanted . . . a man who will offer her the most irresistible challenge she has ever known . .

Why: Kleypas is an auto-read for me.

Uh-oh: Well, I had this vague recollection that I hadn't liked the first two books in this series. So off I went to see what I had posted about them. Found a short, drive-by blurb about Blue-eyed Devil--wherein I expressed my misgivings AND admitted that I had not yet read Sugar Daddy. And never did apparently. No subsequent posts about it and no entry--anywhere--in my books-read-log. Kind of good news. Cuz I really enjoyed Smooth Talking Stranger. And now I don't have to wait another year for more of this family.

Thoughts: Enjoyed this one very much. Kleypas offers a first-person narrative that is both economical and seamless. The pages turn themselves and at no point is the reader bogged down in lengthy, introspective passages or tugged off on distracting tangents. It's clean--for lack of a better word--and well-written. Kleypas' words engage, right from the start.

I'm happy about that, as a reader. I'm not a huge fan of contemporaries, but I think the handful that have appealed to me lately have done so because they featured an author voice that is mature and to-the-point--in a modern, grown-up way. Without that level of intelligence, and some degree of plausibility, I can't enjoy myself.

So here, aside from the caricature evangelicals, Kleypas served up the right voice and believability factor. I was easily drawn into the story, relaxed and open-minded. I moved beyond both--going straight to captivated--when Kleypas introduced Luke and, in just one or two scenes, showed readers how inexplicable the relationship between infant and caregiver can be. She captured those moments beautifully, stunning both the heroine and reader in the space of a few words. Like her treatment of domestic abuse in Blue-eyed Devil, Kleypas offered an intuitive and honest portrayal of what it means to parent an infant.

That portrayal also provided the most telling emotional insights to the heroine. Yes, she narrates the story, but because she is self-trained in the art of holding back, we never get to the raw stuff beneath the facade. We learn why she internalizes but, like her, we accept her patterns as healthy enough. She enjoys men, sex, the responsibility of a job and the ability for unconditional love. Good enough. Another reason, I think, that Kleypas' matter-of-fact voice serves the story so well. BUT, in those private moments between Ella and Luke? Meaty stuff.

So, I liked the heroine as much as she allowed and respected her beyond measure for her love of Luke. But the hero? Adored him, even without his POV. To be honest, I was half in love with Jack because he reminds me of someone I know. Same thing happened to me in Rachel Gibson's Not Another Bad Date last year. Strip life's circumstance from the gentleman I know and he could be either of these heroes. Southern drawl, bone-melting charm and innate protectiveness. Here, it was the perfect counter-part to Kleypas' pent-up-but-not-really-pent-up heroine. They enjoyed a natural attraction and their romance held all of the humor necessary in the modern world--especially about sex. Honest, funny stuff.

On his own, the hero added measurable portions of the maturity and intelligence I cited earlier. He was the calm assurance, everywhere. Very sexy and probably the most desirable aspect of their romance, IMO.

As for secondary characters, I thought the ex-boyfriend and the mother were believable--despite the exaggeration of their faults. Not caricatures exactly, but just a hair over the top. And I'd have to say that both went that way later in the book. In the beginning, both walked and talked for me. It wasn't until later, when neither Ella nor Kleypas had to tolerate them anymore, that they thinned to stereotypes. The sister and her TV evangelists held less of a presence for me--other than to demonstrate (more through memories than actual interaction) the relationship between Ella and Tara. All in all, the supporting cast held up their end without too much distraction. Not a complaint--like I said, Smooth Talking Stranger appealed to me most for its clean, get-to-it voice and manner.

On the Travis side, we get a little time with pretty much all of them. (For me--the most shiny of these are all the scenes with Hardy in them. I liked him--not his book so much, but definitely him.) At the book's end however, it's all Travis family--and it worked well enough. It wasn't a total construct, but it was somewhat of a convenient means for the wrap-up.

Overall, Smooth Talking Stranger was a fast, clean read--with enough depth and charm to warm and please. And yeah, I think I'll go check out Sugar Daddy now.

Testament to Kleypas' reader-base, there is far more Word on the Web that I can accommodate here. A sampling though...

KristieJ, 4 out of 5

Stacy, I like what she has to say about Jack

Christine, A-

Brie, A-

Dear Author, B+

Book Smugglers, 5 out of 10

Lady of the Review, A-

Dear Author, Comfort Read

Laird Of The Mist by Paula Quinn

Title: Laird Of The Mist
Author: Paula Quinn

Type: Scottish Historical
Published: 2007

Blurb:

Protecting Her Was His Passion

High-born though she is, Kate Campbell isn't afraid to draw her sword. When raiders strike, she rushes into the fray…and is lucky when a mysterious Highlander shields her from a deadly blow. Swept onto his stallion, she soon discovers that her rescuer is her clan's most hated enemy: Callum MacGregor, the man they call The Devil. Yet she can not ignore his achingly tender touch or the way his fiery gaze leaves her breathless…

Possessing Her Would Be His Pleasure

Callum MacGregor has taken many Campbell lives, but he's never saved one—until now. Mesmerized by this spirited lass, he wants her by his side—even if it means holding her ransom. As his fingers graze her sumptuous curves and tangle in her unruly tresses, Callum realizes Kate Campbell is his most dangerous foe of all. For he can't make love to her without betraying his kinsmen and his honor…and surrendering his heart forever.

Why: I'm fairly certain I came by this title via a blogger--it was either a release announcement with blurb or a review. Didn't make note of it though, so I've no one to credit.

Thoughts: Really, really enjoyed it. Mind you, there is absolutely positively nothing new here--it's all been done before. But Quinn's arrangement, characters and voice render it one of the better Scottish "re-makes" I've read yet. A total romp, brimming with Highland charm and brutality.

Quinn's tortured laird is compelling and his captive the perfect mix of feisty and vulnerable. I hung on every word, every look, and every touch exchanged between these two--and fell easily in love right along with them. In short, I was happily romanced in the finest Scottish tradition set by Garwood years ago. I'm pretty sure I sighed in contentment every time the heroine nestled herself into the laird's massive chest, every time she relaxed into the safety and security those arms offered. Funny too were their shared jokes over her propensity to sleep whenever in his arms.

I also enjoyed the hilarity provided by her laird's warriors. They were genuinely funny, proportionately fierce and just as integral to moving the story forward as the H and H. Their growing affection for their captive helped push both her and the laird toward their HEA--providing just the right insight into both at just the right moments. And in the interest of sequel-baiting, Quinn deftly positioned the mightiest of them as the sigh-inducing hero of her next installment. Again, very well done. I already have it on order through my library.

The laird's quirky but damaged sister--and her instant friendship with the enemy captive--also appealed. I thoroughly enjoyed their innocent, adolescent girl-time spent amidst the sister's barnyard pets. Endearing and funny--I swear there was charm at every turn in this book.

A good thing, because that pervasive charm helped offset the brutality and menace provided by the story's villain. True to the setting and time period, Quinn challenged her characters with the basest of cruelties--going so far as to attach nearly as many to her hero (in the form of violent deaths wrought by his hands; he was never a cruel torturer). Thankfully, Quinn balanced or contrasted this darkness perfectly against the good in her characters and the hope of an HEA. I wasn't nearly as squeamish about the events in this book as I was by the witch hunt stuff in Jen Hollings' My Immortal Protector. Perhaps because here I never doubted the laird's power to protect the heroine.

Overall, the perfect romantic escape for the historical Scottish romance lover. Where I thought Garwood may have ruined me for others, Paula Quinn proved otherwise.

Note: Per Quinn's website, this "series" ends with the second book. At present, she is working on a new series featuring the children of these heroes and heroines. Couldn't find any upcoming release dates, so I'm not sure if there is a completed book waiting in the publishing wings anywhere. I'll admit to being a little disappointed. Not that I have any right to be--my TBR list pretty much has me booked until 2011.

Just The Sexiest Man Alive by Julie James

Title: Just The Sexiest Man Alive
Author: Julie James

Type: Contemporary Romance
Published: 2008

Blurb:

COOL. CALM. COLLECTED.
Nothing fazes Taylor Donovan. In the courtroom she never lets the opposition see her sweat. In her personal life, she never lets any man rattle her–not even her cheating ex-fiancé. So when she’s assigned to coach People’s “Sexiest Man Alive” for his role in his next big legal thriller, she refuses to fall for the Hollywood heartthrob’s charms. Even if he is the Jason Andrews.

CONFIDENT. FAMOUS. IRRESISTIBLE.
Jason Andrews is used to having women fall at his feet. When Taylor Donovan gives him the cold shoulder, he’s thrown for a loop. She’s unlike any other woman he’s ever met: uninterested in the limelight, seemingly immune to his advances, and shockingly capable of saying no to him. She’s the perfect challenge. And the more she rejects him, the more he begins to realize that she may just be his perfect match. . .

Why: Blogger buzz. Crazy positive blogger buzz, like:

"I loved this book," from Jessica.

"It was outstanding," from Holly.

"Damn delightful," from Carolyn Jean.

"This book was fun from beginning to end," from Dev.

"Extremely funny and romantic," from The Book Smugglers.

"Filled with snappy banter and sexual sparks," from Stacy.

Thoughts: I rarely get in on books when they are all the buzz. I simply add their titles to my TBR list and get to them later. In this case though, I found the book by accident--sooner rather than later. So, so glad I did. It definitely falls in the fucking fabulous category.

Fucking fabulous because James put dialogue at the wheel and left it there to drive the entire story. Without sacrificing character depth or story density. Intelligent and rich--in word and thought. But without pages of backstory or personality defense.

I've grown so weary of books weighted more by their characters' thoughts--about themselves in large part--than by their interactions with others. I read for the interaction--the romance, duh--and have little patience for lengthy passages wherein the author defends their characters' motivation by letting them prattle on, in their own heads, about how they can't allow themselves to love. It's unrealistic and lazy, IMO.

James bucks that trend entirely--giving us two self-assured individuals struggling more against the balances and choices they've set for their lives and the potential upset unexpected love presents. Realistic and tough to pull off without making either appear shallow or selfish. Particularly in their Hollywood setting. But James proves herself a talented character-smith when she allows Taylor and Jason to simply be themselves--flaws and all. And we like them. Unabashedly. Hell, we love them. Easily and without guilt.

Without guilt because both are smart; and both come by their wit naturally and honestly. Their connection--seemingly there before they even meet--is palpable. An understanding recognized between them, held close and privately shared amidst flashbulbs and twittering secretaries. And therein lies the second fucking fabulous. James manages to paint a quiet but searing romance against a busy and loud backdrop. It truly was as if these two shared a private joke from beginning to end--choosing to keep the true depth of their attraction to themselves; understanding somehow that it was not only too special to be true, but too special too risk.

The third fucking fabulous? James' respect for the romance reader. On top of the whole "shared with a glance" romance, she hits our sigh bones with just a few, well-placed and surprisingly poignant "he gets me" moments. Then arouses with only the barest glimpse of his desire to dominate--like in his insistence on always being the one to drive or his expectation that she will take his name. In all of this, James takes us back to the power of suggestion--sexy, emotional stuff. And not a formula or cliche in sight.

Fucking. Fabulous.

March Reading List - Jennifer B

Five books in March--on par with February. It was an interesting month in reading. Started with a solid bang from Robb's latest and ended (or slid right into April) with the pleasure of a smart, sexy read from a new author. The whole in-between? Dull as dishwater, pretty much.

Promises In Death by J.D. Robb
Solid bang. Didn't mention it in my review, but I agree with many of you--Robb introduced another new character here that I expect--and hope--we'll see more of in the future.

Wicked Ties by Shayla Black (DNF)
Awful enough to warrant its own post.

My Immortal Protector by Jen Holling
Powerful first half, weak ending. Holling's voice though...I'll be back for more.

Never Romance A Rake by Liz Carlyle
Read this out of order it appears. But after ordering the prior release from my library, I opened it and swore I'd read it before. I went back through my log--through three years--and nope, it's not in there. Feels so familiar though. I'll give it one more try before letting it go and moving on. Getting pretty good at that...

Running Hot by Jayne Ann Krentz (DNF)
Took me two weeks to get to the halfway point in this book. It wasn't a bad read at all. It just didn't hold my interest and I finally gave up. Moved on.

Just The Sexiest Man Alive by Julie James
Blogger buzz put this one on my radar (and TBR list) just recently. When I saw it on my library's swap shelf, I grabbed it and ran. Haven't finished it yet, so technically it will be an April read. But...Yay! I'm so enjoying it.

A quick glance at my 2009 reading resolutions:

1) Read almost strictly from my TBR list (not stack, list). Almost Check. The Holling title was an offshoot, so to speak. Every other 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 Promises In Death.

3) Catch up--right up--to the new releases in each of my favorite series. Shoot. I need to pay attention to this one. No series reading last month.

Never Romance A Rake by Liz Carlyle

Title: Never Romance A Rake
Author: Liz Carlyle

Type: Historical
Published: 2008

Blurb: Baron Rothewell lives a dark, shuttered existence by day, and a life of reckless abandon by night. Scarred by a childhood filled with torment and deprivation, Rothewell cares very little anyone or anything. His life on the edge of ruin suits him—until he meets a man who just might be his nemesis. The Comte de Valigny likes to play deeply and dangerously, but Rothewell’s recklessness is undeterred. Until one night when de Valigny wagers something just a little more valuable than gold.

Mademoiselle Marchand is a desperate woman in a strange land, and her pleading eyes seem to swallow Lord Rothewell body and soul—assuming he still has one. Now the baron must play his hand with the utmost care, for at last something meaningful is at stake...

Why: Carlyle is an auto-read for me.

Thoughts: I'm irritated as I write this. First, in my search for blurb and cover pic, I realized that I read out of order here. I had both this one and Never Deceive A Duke on my TBR list--but only one in by TBR pile. Never thought to double check before plucking it from my stack. And shame on me for feeling stupid or irked about it. Reading is fun and I swear I make it more like work.

Then, when organizing my thoughts, I realized I could very well be ruined for reading. Cuz again, while I enjoyed Never Romance A Rake very, very much, it still felt less than satisfying. I fear I'm ruined for good old fashioned romance.

What I liked and didn't like: I liked the beginning best. Because it was dark. Rothewell begins as a menacing, self-serving bastard. With a conscious scarred by childhood abuse and a new regret brought on by illness. In just pages, Carlyle pens a vulnerable bastard we long to see redeemed.

Then she introduces him to the heroine. And just minutes into that scene, we ache. For an emotionally-battered heroine, wagered and lost by her slimy father. But ahhh, into the protective yet dangerous hands of our dark hero.

Hooked in pages. Love, love, love this premise. Always have, always will. Especially when written by an author whose prose stands stands well above the rest.

So I was thrilled to have a book inhand that I didn't want to put down. Carlyle went on to introduce new and interesting characters, each with their own depth and free will. She also invited characters from prior books, of which I loved George Kemble the most. Just adore that man.

The story unfolded beautifully. Up until, in one paragraph, Carlyle planted a flat-out stereotypical seed of villainry. Instantly I thought, oh, so that's how it's going to be, a trusted individual turned villain. I was disappointed I think, because 1) it seemed contrived and, 2) the heroine appeared dumb as a box of rocks in the face of it.

I continued on, as the story really was quite good. Totally centered on their growing relationship and with one, yet-to-be revealed conflict or obstacle.

Then, I stalled out. Flooded by too much internal thought or dialogue, by both hero and heroine. Enough already with the should-I-or-shouldn't-I-love-him/her. It grew tiresome. I loved how Carlyle brought each of them into the here and now; both grow up emotionally right before our eyes. His self-examination in particular is almost stunning. But for every moment of self-truth, Carlyle inadvertantly cluttered the feeling with too much hemming and hawing over their relationship.

For these stretches, I found myself preferring the company of Carlyle's secondary characters over the H/H. And they delivered. Especially Kemble. He featured prominently in the undoing of Carlyle's red herring villain. I was very happy with that turn and pleased with the way Carlyle brought it all to a close.

So, looking back, for purposes of this review, maybe I'm not totally ruined for simple romance. I am however, much less tolerant--and more inclined than ever to ditch--when I encounter elements that try my patience. In this case, the prolonged and unnecessary brow-beating over whether or not to love. That made me impatient in more than one place and I'm both irritated and apologetic about it. Apologetic because I'm starting to wonder if it's me.

My Immortal Protector by Jen Holling

Title: My Immortal Protector
Author: Jen Holling

Type: Scottish Historical / Paranormal (half and half)
Published: 2008

Blurb: A fiery witch able to communicate with animals, Deidra MacKay longs to relinquish her powers -- they bring her nothing but misfortune and danger. So when she learns that years ago, her ancestors signed a blood pact with a vampire, cursing the MacKay clan with witchcraft, she presumes that a member of the undead can also take her magic away. So she embarks on a quest to find the one who can hopefully ease her misery.

An embittered and crippled Scotsman, Stephen Ross lives as a recluse -- hiding from the world in a dreary castle. But when the intriguing and adorable Deidra arrives at his door hoping he is a vampire, he is intoxicated and aroused by her company. He joins her on her journey, hoping a vampire's magic might also heal his wounds -- and soon finds himself enraptured in the heat of passion with Deidra, an affair that could put both their lives at stake.

Why: Couple months back, I read My Wicked Highlander by Holling. Liked it enough to consider reading the rest of the series (the MacDonell Brides). JenB commented that she had just finished and liked My Immortal Protector--a spinoff in the same series and much more recent. She graciously sent it on to me (thanks again JenB!) and I finished it this week.

Thoughts: Really, really torn. I adored the first half of the book. And was terribly disappointed in the last half.

First Half:

Holling's characterization was fabulous and, as a result, the romance was engaging and delightful. Both hero and heroine are flawed and both are self-determined, part-time outcasts. He has squirreled himself away in the mountains, but maintains a staff and dutifully corresponds with family and friends. She--gifted with the ability to talk with animals--has purposefully shut them out and lives every day in complete denial of who she is--a witch, ruthlessly hunted by a lunatic.

He is not at all what you expect and she is far stronger than you can imagine. Together, through trial and error, they arrive at a dialogue or banter that is frank and unapologetic. Holling is so clever on this point. She doesn't give us just confident wise-acres. Nor does she give us just sensitive, damaged souls. She gives us layers, depth--characters who are unafraid to speak their mind but emotionally vulnerable to any rebuttal. I could feel the character and relationship growth here. It was palpable and I was enthralled.

I remained enthralled despite the book's scarier moments--where the heroine falls into the hands of the lunatic. Torture or suggested torture is always a look-away moment for me. Can't stomach it. Here, I cared too much about the characters to look away. Skim a tiny, tiny bit, yes; but not totally abandon her. Really, these made for some of the most powerful scenes.

Second half:

This is where the story's premise kicked in. Hero and heroine are brought together to seek out a blood witch believed capable of removing her gift (a curse as she sees it) and his physical disability and pain. A blood witch is esentially a vampire. In the last half (or maybe third) of the book, the hero connects with the blood witch. I didn't like the outcome. At all. It essentially un-did the characterization and relationship established up and to that point. It was such a disconnect that I nearly put the book down, unfinished.

I continued pretty much in hope that Holling would surprise me. With no HEA in sight, she had plenty of room to get inventive. I had to wait until the book's very last pages. Only to learn that Holling was not going to surprise me. She took the expected, most traveled, beaten down path to a workable HEA.

In Holling's defense, I wasn't at all surprised by the book's end. I did read the blurb afterall. My only surprise here was in how much I enjoyed Holling's characters and their romance. Great, great stuff. I enjoyed them so much that somehow my expectation for their future changed. I wanted more for them.

And I think they wanted more for themselves. Because this felt as if Holling's beautiful story of two people was hijacked by her pre-sold plot. I often hear writers speak of characters that tell their own story, characters that demand an arc that doesn't match their creator's. In this book, it's as though the characters' demands went unheeded. Consequently, their voices dimmed and their connection to each other thinned.

One final--and yet another--contradicting thought. The next book in this series--clearly, clearly, clearly on the paranormal side--more than intrigues me. I have definite plans to read it.

Overall...to recommend or not to recommend? As this was a 50/50 read for me--half fab and half fail--I guess I could go either way.

Wicked Ties by Shayla Black

Title: Wicked Ties
Author: Shayla Black

Type: Erotic Romantic Suspense
Published: 2007

Blurb: When a stalker ratchets up his attempts to get to her, cable sex talk show host Morgan O'Malley turns to Jack Cole-a self-proclaimed dominant- for help. Though Jack is a bodyguard, Morgan feels anything but safe in his presence. Because slowly and seductively, Jack is bringing her deepest fantasies to the surface. And when he bends her to his will, what's more shocking than her surrender is how much she enjoys it and how she starts to crave his masterful touch. A willing player in Jack's games, Morgan knows that his motives aren't pure. But she has no idea how personal they are.

Why: Don't really remember...I was either lured by the blurb or a blogger review.

Thoughts: D.N.F. She's an idiot and he's a domineering asshole. For a sex talk show host, she is ridiculously squeamish. And for a highly-touted security specialist, he's remarkably oblivious to his surroundings.

This was one of those erotic romances wherein the author completely fails to construct a believable scenario or plot to accommodate the sex.

It was also an example of how piss poor writing makes it to the published page for no other reason than the hot sex scenes.

Repetitive, mind-numbing internal thought. Abrupt, impossible-to-follow changes in POV. A veritable garbage can of all that is popular--a paranormal touch, stalker, hero revenge, BDSM, etc.

Sigh.

Pulling the blurb and cover shot from Barnes and Noble, I learned that Shayla Black is Shelley Bradley. Any of you ever read Bradley?

Mercy Street by Mariah Stewart

OK, I have said it over and over. HUGE Mariah Stewart fangirl here. The last book, Forgotten, was a meh read for me, which was horrendously disappointing. With Mercy Street, she is back on my praiseworthy list.

This is the first in a new series. Two teens are missing, suspects in the murders of their two close friends. Mallory Russo is an ex-detective brought in as a PI to help find the missing teens, and Charlie Wanamaker is the current detective assigned to the case. Mallory is hired by the local parish priest, but is bankrolled by the Robert Magellan, local gazillionaire, whose own wife and son have been missing for almost 2 years.

As Mallory and Charlie work together to find the missing kids, they discover they are very attracted to one another. Each has personal issues to deal with as well; Mallory was on the police force until she reported her partner to IA, and Charlie has weighty family issues to deal with. But they work beautifully together, and become a wonderful team.

I really liked both Mallory and Charlie. They were down to earth, bright, sharp cops, who thought outside the box and weren't in their jobs for the glory. They wanted the best outcome possible for their case. Neither wallowed in self-pity, nor did they suffer self-flaggelation for any perceived misedeeds. They just went about their business of finding the missing kids and moving on with their lives.

Their budding romance was more than Stewart has put into her books in quite some time... meaning, there was actually a romance, not just a hint of one. Sex and everything. I loved how Charlie cared for Mallory, especially after one particularly harrowing event, and was open about how he wanted to have a relationship with her. In turn, Mallory frequently asked him about his family and offered her support. It reminded me that Stewart started out writing romance with a little suspense mixed in, not the other way around. (side note: if you haven't read any of her oldies but goodies, I highly recommend it!)

The other storyline revolves around Robert Magellan and his assistant. Susanna is obviously in love with him, but he has become increasingly withdrawn since the disappearance of his wife and son, becoming cynical and distrusting. Only Susanna, Kevin (his cousin the priest), and his housekeeper are on his list of trusted close friends. It's a bit heartbreaking to read how this is playing out for both Robert and Susanna, but I hope that Stewart will give him a HEA eventually, as well as some closure.

With any other author (exceptions: Rose and Jackson) I might say the suspense was perfectly written in, but I was surprised at the lack of grizzliness and gruesomeness in this book. I'm torn, because I love that part of her books. However, while the suspense and the villain aren't as gripping as in some of her past books, it's just enough to keep the book moving at a nice clip. This was definitely more of a return to relationship building for Stewart, which was a very pleasant surprise. She writes it beautifully, and I've missed it.

Her characterization was excellent, as always. You really feel as though you know these characters by the end of the book. You care about them. Root for them. Even the missing kids. Through their families, Stewart gives us a glimpse into who they are, and we want them to be alive and well... and innocent.

Stewart ends the book with the foundation for her new series: the Mercy Street Foundation. Funded by Robert and headed by Mallory, it is an independent group of investigators who will take on cold missing person cases. Sounds interesting. The next book, Cry Mercy, is due out April 28.

Find out more about both books here.

Marrying the Captain by Carla Kelly

OBC Blurb: Ever since her father tried to sell her as a mistress to the highest bidder, Eleanor Massie has chosen to live in poverty. Her world changes overnight when Captain Oliver Worthy shows up at her struggling inn. Despite herself, Nana is drawn to her handsome guest….

Oliver planned to stay in Plymouth only long enough to report back to Lord Ratliffe — about Nana. But he soon senses that Lord Ratliffe is up to something, and Oliver will do anything to keep this courageous, beautiful woman safe — even marry her!
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Like Wendy, I am a Harlequin Historicals ho. I admit it. And every now and again, they come up with one that makes me sigh such a contented sigh when I close the book. This is one such book. The focus is almost completely on Oliver and Nana, and their love story.

I loved Oliver and Nana. Their relationship was so natural, so gentle. Oliver is a lifelong military man, yet he's a fair-minded commander, kind to his men, inspiring loyalty. There are definite touches of reality, along with a glimpse of his gentler side, almost immediately. He is embarrassed by having to use the chamberpot in front of Nana (something I always wonder about in historicals, BTW!). He realizes that she has seen him naked while he was ill. I loved the scene where he went to the wigmaker to look at the hair that Nana sold. So sweet, and a wonderful glimpse into his growing feelings for her.

Nana, for her part, was strong, doing what needed to be done. She sold her hair in order to keep food on the table. She matter-of-factly took care of Oliver when he was ill. No vapors for her. But she had a gentler side as well. She didn't feel good enough for Oliver - worrying that as a bastard child she would bring him down. I did like that Kelly didn't drag that storyline out too long, and allowed Oliver to persuade Nana fairly quickly. It's one of my least favorite plots.

As for the romance... it's set against the Napoleonic wars in Plymouth, where many a ship came into dock for repairs or for furlough. I loved how the relationship between Oliver and Nana developed. I loved how Oliver, as the son of a vicar (so many military men were), would call upon something that his father would have said or done, or thought about a teaching from his father. He was obviously a good man, who had a good upbringing. Yet at the same time, as a lifelong military man, his biggest fear was of marrying and leaving his wife a widow.

The romance between the two was so sweet to watch - even after he left to go back to the war. They wrote letters, he sent her a gift. And in a particularly heartbreaking scene, after they are married, he cries in her arms over the death of his first mate.

She was the perfect mate for him, and I loved it. The ending, with its bit of spying, and Nana chasing after him in order to deliver a ransom, was a bit far-fetched, but didn't dwindle my enjoyment of this wonderful romance. The blurb implies that Oliver felt forced to marry her. Nothing could be further from the truth. This was a love story, through and through. So many of the books we read are difficult to call real romances. I truly felt like I was reading a romance between these two. How marvelous it was.

Promises In Death by J.D. Robb

Title: Promises In Death
Author: J.D. Robb

Type: Police Procedural/Futuristic (calling it what they call it)
Published: 2009

Blurb: Amaryllis Coltraine may have recently transferred to the New York City police force from Atlanta, but she's been a cop long enough to know how to defend herself against an assailant. When she's taken down just steps away from her apartment, killed with her own weapon, for Eve the victim isn't just "one of us."

Dallas's friend Chief Medical Examiner Morris had started a serious relationship with Coltraine, and from all accounts the two were headed for a happy future together. But someone has put an end to all that. After breaking the news to Morris, Eve starts questioning everyone, including Coltraine's squad, informants, and neighbors, while Eve's husband, Roarke, digs into computer data on the dead woman's life back in Atlanta. To their shock, they discover a connection between this case and their own painful, shadowy pasts.

The truth will need to be uncovered one layer at a time, starting with the box that arrives at Cop Central addressed to Eve, containing Coltraine's guns, badge, and a note from her killer: "You can have them back. Maybe someday soon, I'll be sending yours to somebody else." But Eve Dallas doesn't take too kindly to personal threats, and she is going to break this case, whatever it takes. And that's a promise.

Why: Duh.

The case: Good. Strong. Not as complex as the last one, but still interesting. I never guess the villian's identity in Robb's books. Don't know if that's because Robb, a master storyteller, twists and tugs the leads beyond my comprehension or if Robb, a master storyteller, pulls me so completely into the story that I can't look beyond or around the words as I read them. Either way, I'm always surprised to learn who-dunnit and always proud of her--much like Roarke--for figuring it out. I'm also always satisfied with the how of it--doesn't matter to me if she employs brilliant deductive reasoning or simply applies herself to the tedious grunt work until the answer shows up.

Funny. When I think of it, there is such a format here. The cop house and morgue, chain of command and procedure, character and role. It's like Law And Order--in all of its flavors--on TV. We love it. And we've loved it for years.

As for the personal layer to this case, that was...honest. I liked how the women acknowledged how little they knew the victim and more importantly, why. Perfectly juxtaposed against Louise's bridal shower--a total girl-fest. This one gave us as much girl-love as it did H/H love. Liked that.

The cast: True to character, always. And always with the same depth--it matters not if they have one or one hundred lines of dialogue. Summerset, for example. Again, master storyteller at work here, so I don't know if that is sheer talent or the benefit of more than two dozen character-growing books. I know in other series, regular (secondary) cast members don't always penetrate that surface-level purpose (be it to entertain or offer sage advice). Here, Robb's cast can hardly be called secondary anymore. Peabody, Feeney, McNab--they are primary characters with more than the occasional sub-plot spotlight. They are as integral as Eve and Roarke.

Oh, and there was mention of the Catholic priest from last year's installment. Didn't I tell ya? He belongs here, with this group.

Eve and Roarke: Casual, despite the appearance of a huge past nemesis. Static, aside from an unusual moment where Eve flirts for a date with Roarke. Overall, maybe a little muted--a nanosecond flare of his temper, her customary regret over worrying him, their lightening quick banter. It was all there, just...muted, or even-keeled. No unusually high or low points in humor, passion or understanding. Which did not translate into boring or disappointing. There were laughs, there was charm. Chuckles and sighs. Contentment instead of growing pains. But I think I might be ready for them, their marriage, to be challenged again.

I do love that they romp often. That's fun.

In short, I loved it.

Jen's February Reads

Hmmmpf. Here I am again, about to recap the handful of books I read in February and....again, will accompany the recap with more empty promises about actually reviewing those books.

Ah well.

Fewer books in February than the prior month. And no, it had nothing to do with it being a short month.

Fire And Ice by Julie Garwood
I finished it. Don't know if Garwood's voice simply fails to translate well in contemporary romances or if her voice is simply failing. Either way, a disappointment. Info dumps, stereotypes in the place of characters, sparkless romance, far-fetched villainry. Not sure why I continued. I guess it was because I realized--a few chapters in--that this one follows a previous contemp she wrote about an agent (FBI, I think) and a hotel hieress. I recalled liking that one and read this follow up--through to the end--out of loyalty. I guess.

Dark Of Night by Suzanne Brockmann
Buddy review with Lori here. Brockmann is a sure thing for me.

Strip Poker by Lisa Lawrence
This one made it to my TBR list via Wendy's review. I'll say I was as wowed by Lawrence's first person narrative and the characterization of Teresa, the book's (and series') protagonist. It was not however, a page turner for me. Took me two weeks to get through it. I'll tip my hat to Lawrence, no question. But didn't find a must-read author for me here. Not because it isn't romance, but rather because it's info-heavy. More than strong, but not my cuppa.

Kiss Of The Demon King by Kresley Cole
This is one I really should review. Another in my Fucking Fabulous category.

First You Run by Roxanne St. Clair
For the first time in a long time, I read a book--specifically a quick, light read--and it was just right. This was it. I was in my second day of the flu--too weak to move around much but strong enough to read (not true of day one of the flu). So, on that second day, I laid on the couch and read this book front to back. It fit a type--but I won't label it formulaic or stereotypical. It was a solid read and I plan to read the one that follows--Then You Hide--when next in the mood.

Five books. One review (thanks Lori!).

March will be better. I'm about to put my foot down with (on the neck of) our family's cruise director. Plan to tell him that we need not book every hour of every weekend with fun. Nor do we need to schedule 3 to 4 weeknight activities for after work and school hours. [Made my mind up on this as I folded clothes, fresh out of the dryer, at 5:30 this morning. Find a balance and the other half mucks it up. Grrr.] I digress.

March will also be a good month I think because I was able to get a do-over on three Megan Hart ebooks I bought in January. Bought and downloaded them, then switched out computers. Never got to read them. They just reactivated my download buttons last weekend. So yeah, three ebook novellas--that'll get my numbers up.

Plus, it's only March 3rd and I've finished Promises In Death.

Yup. March will be stronger.

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*